I enjoyed meeting Anita Higman at the ACFW conference in Indiana. She's as beautiful as the stories she tells. Join me in hearing what she has to say about Winter in Full Bloom.
Winter in Full
Bloom
is set in Texas as well as Australia. What made you want to set the novel in
these two places?
Well,
I live in Texas, and so I wanted to make use of my home state. After living
here for about thirty years I have a soft spot for Texas now. Also, I’d visited
Melbourne, Australia for about three weeks and had taken notes, and since it
was such an exotic place and I’d had such an amazing time there, I wanted to
share some of my experiences with readers.
The
cover is beautiful. Did you have any input in this cover?
Yes,
actually, I did. The publisher sent me a few samples to look at, and I chose
this one. But the cover you see now was tweaked a number of times. One of the
changes was the addition of the red tulips all along the snowy path. I’m so
glad the publisher was open to changes. I’m very happy with the final cover. It
reflects the story even better than before, and I think that bit of unexpected
intrigue along the road will be eye-catching to the bookstore browser.
That
title is unique. How did you come up with Winter
in Full Bloom?
Sometimes
I brainstorm titles, and then sometimes I use a phrase I find within the
manuscript that works well as a title. Winter
in Full Bloom was created during one of my brainstorming sessions. As a
side note, there are a couple of meanings to this tile. The heroine’s name is
Lily Winter. Also, half of the book takes place in Houston at the advent of
winter, but when she flies to Melbourne at the same time of the year, Australians
are experiencing the beginning of spring. So, even though Lily has begun
getting ready for winter, she suddenly enters into a season of springtime—literally
and in her personal life.
Are
the characters from your imagination, or do they come from real life?
My
characters are a mixture of both. I’ll be watching someone at the airport or
the mall or at church, and I’ll think, “Wow, that gesture or laugh or walk is perfect
for my character.” Then some of my character’s traits will come straight from my
imagination. Usually, it’s a fun brew of all the above.
Do
you and your husband travel a lot?
We
travel much more now that we have empty nest. Last year we went to Alaska,
Hawaii, and Canada. This year we’ve been to Mexico, California, and right now
as I type this answer, my husband and I are waiting at the airport to fly to
Ireland. Can’t wait. I’m hoping to set one of my future novels in Ireland.
Why
do you write?
I
have a real need to express myself creatively—guess I was born that way—and
writing and I fit well together.
Your
heroine, Lily Winter, is experiencing empty nest. Why did you add that element
to the story?
I
was going through this same rough phase of motherhood, and I thought it would
be good to add this to the story. I hope it added an element of authenticity to
the tale. And too, forcing myself to write about the pain surely helped me deal
with it better.
How
long have you been writing?
I’ve
been in this profession for about thirty years. It’s been a long, stumbly kind
of journey. I’ve had some dark hours—those moments when I really didn’t know
what I was doing or why I was doing it. Moments when rejection swept me under
like a scary undertow. Moments when getting published seemed pretty much
impossible. But I never gave up, and I’m glad I didn’t. I’ve had thirty-four
books published in many genres, and even though it’s been a rough ride, it’s
also been deeply satisfying.
This
story is about twin sisters? Are you a twin and do you have a sister?
I’m
afraid I have to say no to both of those questions, but I’ve always wanted to
have a sister. And that desire I suppose fueled the dialogue and some of this
story.
Winter in Full
Bloom
is a love story but also a story of family reconciliation. Have you experienced
that last part in your own life?
Yes,
I have known the miracle of family reconciliation, and it has brought me great
joy!
Any
final words for your readers?
If
you have ever taken the time to read one of my novels, I thank you with all my
heart. I sincerely hope that Winter in Full
Bloom inspires you and makes you laugh, and when you come to the last page and
close the book, I hope your heart and your step feels just a little lighter.
If you would like to win a copy of Winter in Full Bloom, leave a comment about your favorite season of the year by October 12. I'll choose a winner and let Anita know and she will send you a copy of this delightful story.
