Dark Glass Ponderings

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. -1 Corinthians 13:12

Welcome Regina Andrews to Dark Glass Ponderings!  Regina's In Good Faith was a semi-finalist in the 2009 National Ebook Contest.  She has also written Destiny's Designs, Spotlight on Love, and The Perfect Proposal.  Regina Andrews' s blog contains interviews with other authors with a focus on e-books. 

First of all, I'd like to say, "thank you" very much, Julia, for inviting me to visit you today!  I am thrilled to be here!

Its a pleasure to have you visit Dark Glass Ponderings today.  Thank you for being here.

What do you most enjoy about the Christmas season?


Christmas in New England is filled with tradition, snow, sentimentality, sending Christmas cards and religious services.  Many times families and friends will go door-to-door, singing Christmas carols. I love the celebratory nature of Christmas, the hope and the humility of the Lord’s beginnings. 

(Oh, how fun!  I love caroling!  And hot chocolate afterwards!)



Does your family have any special holiday traditions?

We all get together for a buffet on Christmas Eve, and then attend Midnight Mass together.  On Christmas morning, we wake up and race downstairs to put the turkey in the oven and see the gifts Santa has left for us all. Then we have  a big breakfast and go for a walk to see our neighbors, particularly the ones who might not have a lot of family in the area. After that, it's back to my house! My family and I prepare a Christmas feast, and everyone starts arriving around 1pm. The visiting and feasting winds down around 9pm, and then we go next door to my sister's for dessert. She makes sugarplums and mince pie tarts, yum, and we toast with champagne. Then we go home and collapse!

(Yum, I've never had sugar plums, but it sounds delicious!)


When and how did your fiction writing journey begin?

Well, my wonderful mother read to me as far back as I can remember and I am sure that’s why I love reading so much.  Loving reading, and being a natural talker, I think writing became the next logical step. It came in handy when I didn’t have an audience to tell my stories to, I could just keep going, and write everything down.



What have you learned along the way that you wish you’d known in the beginning of your publication journey?  

I think the main thing is patience.  My nature is quite impatient when it comes to me putting pressure on myself, and I have not been blessed with this gift! However, I have cultivated patience and I am very grateful. 

(Oh, I can so relate to the struggle with patience!  I'm in the trenches of learning this one myself and when it comes to my writing I think I have quite a ways to go until the publication goal is reached).


I notice you have a master’s degree in American Civilization.  What is your favorite era in American history and why? 

What a great question, thank you for asking!  I would have to say the era of Nathaniel Hawthorne, in the 1850’s.  This was a time of great artistic and literary enlightenment in the US, particularly in the Northeast.

(Note to readers: Regina mentioned that the heroine of In Good Faith is named Haley Hawthorne).


If you could spend a day in any museum in the world where would you go and why?

One of my favorite hobbies is museums, Julia! Most definitely I would go to The Hermitage Museum in St.  Petersburg, Russia. I have never been to Russia, but I am enthralled by its vast size, rich heritage and passionate approach to life.

(I love museums, too, and that one definitely sounds like a great trip).


Who are your favorite classical composers?

I love music so much! Mozart is my very favorite. Also, Handle, Chopin, Beethoven, Bach and Bizet and Scarlatti. I could go on and on!


You are involved with InSight, I see, which aids those who are visually impaired.  What types of services do you provide and how were you led to become involved with this organization?

InSight is a great organization. It began in 1905 and the mission is to inspire confidence, build skills and empower people who are blind and visually impaired to become fully integrated, equally valued members of society by providing diverse services that produce opportunities and choices. In 1938 Helen Keller came to RI to cut the ribbon on the InSight building and open it. For the past thirteen years, my partner Andy and I have been doing a live radio show on Saturday mornings where we read the paper and banter back and forth. It’s really fun!


What country would you most like to visit? 

It would be fascinating to visit Japan, I think, absolutely so high-tech – but getting there would be rough for me! But in the same breath I would love to see Africa, and I’ll probably go there.
 


What 3 items can always be found in your refrigerator?  

Apples, cheese and half & half J

(I always have cheese in mine, too...probably part of why my cholesterol is borderline).


Are you a tosser or a saver?  

Sentimental beyond words, I save save save because I don’t want the wonderful experience to be over! However, reality kicks in and I do have to purge items occasionally. I know I can keep wonderful memories, but it’s nice to have something tangible. I have every greeting card ever sent to me!
  




GIVEAWAY!!  Regina has generously offered to give away TWO e-books to readers.  Destiny's Design AND In Good Faith.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Please include your email in this format:
name (at) wherever (dot) com

The contest will end Tuesday, December 14th at midnight.

_____________________________________________________________________

My birthday is coming up this week.  I would love to gift a reader with a big box of books...Be sure to stop by Thursday for Shawna K. Williams' interview AND my box of books giveaway!

This giveaway is only going to be offered for followers of my blog!!    




19 comments:

My favorite tradition is getting dressed up and having dinner with the whole family. So fun to get together at this time of year and it is extra sweet this year as my niece is heading to the missions field and probably won't be here for Christmas next year.
wsmarple(at)gmail(dot)com

Hi Julia, thank you so much for having me visit today! Your site is lovely and I feel very blessed and grateful to get to know you. Thank you :-)

Hi Regina! I enjoyed getting to know you better. Since half and half is a staple in your frig, you must be a coffee drinker, too.

InSight sounds like a great organization, and Regina shared some fun traditions. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the music. I love that radio stations and stores and all kinds of folks play the traditional songs--and among them are many which tell the true meaning of the holiday. It's the closest my part of the country comes to being focused on Christ!

I'm glad to see you posting and making comments, Julia! It seemed quiet without you and Laura out and about in the blogosphere!

reneeasmith61 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Our tradition is to go to my mom's via my sister's house, as my mom is in assisted living. Getting together, seeing how the nieces/nephews have grown. Just pray the snow/ice/rain stays away!

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

@ Wendy, Enjoy that Christmas with your niece. What a blessing that she will be serving for Christ, even though I know you will miss her. Thanks for sharing your traditions.

Gina,
Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! I really enjoyed your answers to the questions and being able to get to know you a little bit.

Renee Ann,
Thanks for your kind words and thanks for sharing your tradition. I love Christmas hymns and carols, too. I know K-LOVE has an online station that only plays Christmas tunes, too. I always miss blog friends pretty quickly.

Linda,
That's wonderful that you are able to get extended family together. I know its a challenge and a blessing with older relatives sometimes.

REGINA/JULIA-excellent blog interview,Regina is a wonderful author.Please have her on your blog often.Happy Hoildays!!!!!!!!!!!!REGARDS BEN SMITH

REGINA/JULIA-I read DESTINYS DESIGNS and it was an excellent book.IN GOOD FATH was also very good by Regina.Desert Breeze authors are usually very good indeed.REGARDS BEN SMITH

Hi Regina,

What an interesting interview. I enjoyed learning more about you. Merry Christmas to you and your family and Julia.

Hi Regina--great interview. I'm so intrigued by your degree in American history, or civilization. How special. I really enjoyed learning about your holiday traditions. Good luck with your books!

My favourite Christmas tradition would be Carols in candle light. most towns in australia have a version and ours is in the town square normally on a friday a week or so before christmas. It starts around sunset (8pmish) and we sing carols in candlelight. there is normal some community singing and a few items and a message. its a good night.

Please dont enter me. I love hearing others traditions and what they do for Christmas

Oooh, Jenny. I love your tradition! That sounds wonderful! I love candles and caroling and so neat that so many in the town get involved.

I think part of its cos its summer here. Most cities have a big carols and people start setting up in the morning to get there spot. I will watch the Sydney and Melbourne ones on tv. it is a lovely tradition as alot of towns the carols are put on by the Ministers fraternal or with the help of the Churches so there will be a christian message which is nice too.

Our favorite tradition for the family at Christmas is gathering Christmas Eve for potato cheese soup, all the condiments that taste good with the thick soup. We have caesar salad and hot garlic bread. Then we all go to church together. We return home to exchange gifts and have a special dessert to end the evening. Then everyone takes their families home for a good night's sleep. That's one of our many wonderful Christmas traditions that our daughters and sons are carrying down to their families. Regina, I enjoyed your interview and have become an admirer already. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win. I hope I do.

Blessings of Joy,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Julia!!! Happy, happy birthday, girlfriend, and what a GREAT way to celebrate!!

I hope this year is even better than the last in every way possible -- life-wise, faith-wise, book-wise and blog-wise!

Hugs,
Julie

Good Morning Friends and Happy Birthday Julia! Yay, I am back in, I had trouble posting since Tuesday. Thank you everyone for visiting and for your nice comments. You're all wonderful friends and I wish everyone a very blessed, merry Christmas! Hugs, Regina

And here's a fun and delicious recipe for Holiday Sugarplums:
24 pitted, sliced dates
2, 8 oz. Packages cream cheese
Sugar sprinkles - white, red and green
Invite two of your favorite young and/or young-at-heart friends over to your home.
Fill each date with softened cream cheese and roll in sugar. Vary it up with the holiday colors and arrange on a festive platter, mirrored is always effective, adorned with trimmed evergreen boughs and 2 or 3 colorful ornaments! Tra-la-la-la-la!

Yum, thanks for sharing, Regina! Sounds delicious!

My favorite Christmas tradition is baking cookies with my family

raluk.93 at gmail (dot) com


Julia M. Reffner

About Me

My photo
Christ-loving bookworm & homeschool mom of 2 stealing the rare quiet moments to pursue that all elusive writing dream. I also write book reviews for Title Trakk and The Historical Novel Society.

Followers

Contributor at The Writer's Alley:

http://bookblogs.ning.com/main/embeddable/list#

FeedBurner FeedCount

counter