Interview with Delia Latham
Published 2014-12-08.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Oh, my...no. I've been writing stories in one form or another (poem, song, short stories, etc.) since I could hold a pencil and scribble on paper. lol I do vividly remember a 3rd grade essay contest, in which the teacher challenged us all to write a story about ourselves when we were babies. I won the girls' portion of the contest, and was so, SO excited! I knew then that I wanted to be a writer.
How do you approach cover design?
I design my own covers for the books i self-pub. (I design covers for others, as well. Samples are available on my design site, at www.heavenstouchdesigns.webs.com). I usually search through stock photos until I find 1-3 that suit my purpose, then I head into the design phase, which I really love. :)
What do you read for pleasure?
I love inspirational romance, and I love, love, LOVE devotions by Max Lucado. But I'm also a fan of Dean Koontz and Stephen King (much to the dismay of a lot of folks). Robert R. McCammon's SWAN SONG - an epic tale of good vs. evil in a post-apocalyptic world - is one of my all time favorite novels, right along with Stephen King's THE STAND. I love good vs. evil on a grand scale, and that's what these authors inevitably offer.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
My iPad. But I owned a Kindle first, and I really liked it. My daughter still uses it - it's a first-generation Kindle, and she loves it. :)
Describe your desk
LOL - I do have one, surrounded by nicely framed photos of all my book covers. But most of the time I sit in the living room with my laptop.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a tiny farming community in California. Weedpatch. We were dirt poor, but I didn't know it...you can't miss what you've never had. I had a large, close-knit family, and I was happy. My first novel, Goldeneyes, is set partially in Weedpatch.
What's the story behind your latest book?
My latest novel is JINGLE BELLE, a Christmas-themed romance. It's part of Pelican Book Group's Pure Amore Book-a-Month Club. The Pure Amore line promotes chastity before marriage, and I'm so excited about the chance to minister to young people in that area. Find out about Pure Amore at www.pure.pelicanbookgroup.com.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
My little book of devotions, MORNING RENDEZVOUS, is a collection of my online devotions and random musings about life. They were scattered all over the internet, and half the time, I couldn't remember where to find them. So I set about getting them all together, and turned them into Morning Rendezvous. That was my first self-publishing experience. I've recently also self-pubbed a Christmas-themed romance. DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? is book one in a series of four books (each by a different author) set in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Look for the A Smoky Mountain Christmas series on Amazon.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
I had no idea how to go about self-pubbing. Smashwords makes it pretty easy, and then makes the books available in places I've never even heard of. What's not to like? :)
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