Interview with Kathleen Denly (Sing in the Sunlight) + Giveaway

About the Author

​Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting. 
 
Waltz in the Wilderness is Kathleen’s debut novel and the first in a series of three stand-alone historical Christian romance novels connected by secondary characters and their beautiful Southern California setting.
 
Kathleen would love it if you visited her website at KathleenDenly.com. You can also connect with her on social media: ​

 Facebook  | Twitter | Instagram
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Armchair Adventure Krew

The Interview

1-What inspired the idea for Sing in the Sunlight?
It began with the adoption of my daughter who bears scars from something that happened to her before we adopted her. As someone fascinated by history, I wondered what life might have been like for a woman with similar scars who lived in the nineteenth century. I already knew from previous research that many people were highly intolerant of those they considered "other." So I did more research and what I found wasn't good. There were even some cities with laws on the books forbidding people with unsightly scars and deformities from being seen in public. Can you imagine? Most of those laws were enacted toward the end of the nineteenth century (a couple decades after Sing in the Sunlight) but the attitudes which led to them were widely evident in newspapers, diaries, and other written accounts as far back as you care to look. This inspired me to write a character who needed to overcome society's view of her in order to find God's view of her. I think it's a struggle many women, myself included, can relate to.

2-What did you as an author take away from writing Sing in the Sunlight?
This story drew me closer to God in so many ways. One of the things it most reminded me of is our need to be on guard against misunderstanding.  Relationships have been destroyed and families torn apart over misunderstandings. It is too easy to be offended when no offense was intended. Often what we think a person is saying, isn't the message they intended to communicate. So it's important to practice good communication skills. We need to take a step back, breathe, and repeat back to the person in our own words what we think they are saying. If we do this in a calm, non-accusatory way, it gives them the chance to clarify what they intended to convey.

3-What advice would you give an aspiring author?
Pray. Seek God before you begin writing. Every time. No matter how rushed you feel to get the words down or your word count goal met. Being in tune with God makes all in the difference in everything we do, but especially for those of us putting our hearts on the page.

4-What are some of your recent favorite reads?
Honestly, my schedule has been so crazy of late that I am woefully behind on my TBR. But of the few I've managed to squeeze in, these three come to mind:

• The Fishing Lesson by Sherri Schoenborn is a hilarious contemporary romance I definitely recommend. It was my first by that author and I'm looking forward to reading more by her. 
• Otherwise Engaged by Joanna Barker is a unique regency romance that I very much enjoyed. 
• A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano is a beautifly written page turner that tugged at my heart strings.

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5-What is your favorite treat?
S'mores. And I'm a bit of a purist snob about them. There are so many "s'mores" inspired desserts out there, but they just don't compare to the delicious simplicity of the original. 

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GOODREADS | AMAZON

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway link below for your chance to win an e-copy of Sing in the Sunlight.

Enter the giveaway HERE.