Welcome back everyone!

Today, I’d like to welcome Cecelia Dowdy to my blog. Be sure to leave a comment to be placed in the drawing. You might just win a free copy of her book!

Cecelia Dowdy is a world traveler who has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember. When she first read Christian fiction, she felt called to write for the genre.She loves to read, write, and bake desserts in her spare time. Currently she resides with her husband and young son in Maryland.

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.
Here’s a short summary of Milk Money: Running a dairy farm alone is a big job. When her dad dies, Emily works hard to save the family farm. Her world turns upside down the day Franklin Reese, CPA, pulls in her driveway, announcing he’s there to do an audit. Frank is appalled at the lack of interest Emily has in her farm’s finances, but he’s determined to help her learn. The further he looks into Mr. Cooper’s dealings, the more uncomfortable he becomes. As he uncovers the truth about Mr. Cooper’s finances, he struggles with his own issues. Can Emily love Frank since he’s an unsaved alcoholic?
Readers should run out and buy my book because it’s a good story that shows how we can lean on God to overcome alcoholic addiction.

How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold? Or if you’re pre-pubbed, how many have you written to date? I lost track of how many books I’d written before I sold. However, I was writing for five and a half years before I sold my first novel.

In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing? Being able to use my imagination to create stories that others will read. Just knowing that thousands of people will be reading the words on the final printed page gives me a euphoric feeling!

What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know? Growing up, I used to get a majority of my reading material from the bookmobile that came through my neighborhood every two weeks.

Me too! I had the schedule memorized and would run out to get the next Nancy Drew book! LOL.

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out? I started seriously writing for publication in 1994. I heard a wide range of reactions from friends. Some said I needed to be friends with people at the publishing house in order to get a contract. Others said I needed a lot of money to publish a book, so I’d never be able to afford to put my work in print. I had to patiently explain that I wasn’t trying to self publish, and they were shocked that publishers actually paid advances and royalties, with the author never paying a dime toward the publication expenses for their novels! I was glad to educate some people about the publishing process!

What is your favorite food? I like tomato-based foods like spaghetti, lasagna, and pizza. I also enjoy desserts. My favorite desserts are chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and lemon pound cake.

Tell us a little about your family.
I’ve been married for five years! We have a three-year-old son. Our life has really changed since we had our son. Currently we’re just raising our bright, inquisitive son while we work full-time. My husband is a computer programmer for the IRS and we met on an online dating service!

Who are your favorite authors?
Too many favorites to name! I love veteran author Janette Oake, and I also enjoy Robin Lee Hatcher, Brandilyn Collins, and the late Jane Peart. These are just a few of my favorites! I love a lot of authors!

What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile?
Believe it or not, I’m reading a secular novel right now: Twilight. I kept hearing about this book and movie, and whenever I hear a lot of buzz about a book, I have to read it! My to-be-read pile includes lots of titles: Love Finds You In Valentine Nebraska by Irene Brand
Showdown by Ted Dekker
Before The Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkand
My Soul To Keep by Davis Bunn
The Making of Isaac Hunt and Loving Cee Cee Johnson (that’s two novels) by Linda Leigh Hargrove
I also have just about every Heartsong Presents and Heartsong Presents cozy mystery novel published within the last year. I probably won’t read them all, but I will pick and choose which ones I’ll read.
Plus an ever-growing pile of more books that I don’t have the time to list!
10. Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does? The theme develops as the story does.

Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this? I’ll use a timeline or a wall calendar to be sure things are in sequence. Also, if I have to research details, I’ll use the internet a lot. Since Milk Money takes place on a dairy farm, me, my husband, and our son went to a small family dairy farm in Maryland during their evening milking. I assisted in the milking process and I also asked the farmer a plethora of questions about his farming routine. He was a wealth of information and my son loved seeing those cows!

Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life?
If I had to pick someone, it would be my Mom who’s had the greatest influence in my life! As far as writing, I think about authors I read growing up, which probably influenced my decision to become a writer. I recall reading the Nancy Drew mystery series and Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House On the Prairie Series. Rosemary Rogers was the first romance author I read when I was in high school. Later, not long after I’d started my own writing, I read Janette Oake’s novels and loved them!

Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after?
No, I don’t have an agent. I’ve sold five books without an agent, but, I’m currently searching for an agent now.

What advice do you have for a beginning author?
Learn the craft and fellowship and learn from published authors via writers organizations like Romance Writers of America (RWA) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)

Any parting comments?
Thanks for hosting me on your blog! It’s been fun!

Thanks for being here. It’s been fun getting to know you a little better.