Interview with Erica Vetsch  & GIVEAWAY  | The Engrafted Word

 

Erica Vetsch is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and reading, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical fiction set in the American West. Whenever she’s not following flights of fancy in her fictional world, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two terrific teens, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron.
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Savanna:  Welcome to The Engrafted Word, Erica.  I’m so glad to have you here today! Congratulations on your upcoming release, Colorado Dawn. I LOVE the cover! 😉

As you wrote about these three Colorado couples, what became the overall theme of the book you’re excited to share with your readers?

Interview with Erica Vetsch  & GIVEAWAY  | The Engrafted WordErica: Thank you! The cover artwork is amazing, isn’t it? I have a friend who recently returned from Rocky Mountain National Park, and she took a picture of one of the mountain lakes on her vacation, and it turned out to be the same lake from about the same angle as on the cover of Colorado Dawn. 🙂

The theme for each of the stories in Colorado Dawn is centered on how God guides us. We aren’t given to know the total of the journey, and often God only gives us enough light to see that next step, asking us to trust Him not to lead us off a cliff. In the first story, Before the Dawn, my heroine jumps ahead of God’s plan with a rash act, trying to fix a situation. She has to be reminded that God has a plan that she can trust, and if we run out ahead of Him, we suffer consequences that could’ve been avoided. In Light To My Path, a young woman appears to be completely out of options. She has nowhere to go and no way to get there, but at every turn, God provides a way. He is never stymied by circumstances or depleted of resources. And in Stars in Her Eyes, the hero has a life-changing choice to make. Both paths he could opt for are good things, and there are valid reasons to go either way. He has to trust God to show him what is the best way, the way of obedience.

Savanna:  I’m intrigued already! Can’t wait for the release. 😉

Interview with Erica Vetsch  & GIVEAWAY  | The Engrafted WordYour website calls you a History Museum Addict. What’s your favorite one? And what was the last fascinating detail you were surprised to learn there?

Erica: I am such a museum addict. How could I possibly choose a favorite? Right here in Minnesota is the best state historical society I’ve come across—and I’ve visited MANY state historical society museums. I love all the MNHS sites. This past summer I visited the Chickamauga and Vicksburg battlefields, the site of Andersonville Prison, the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum…I love the Field Museum in Chicago, the Fort Larned National Historical Site in Kansas, the Argo Gold Mine in Idaho Springs, CO…so many museums!

I haven’t yet been to the East Coast. I want to someday see the Smithsonian, Gettysburg, Boston, Richmond…

Savanna:  Wow! You’ve seen some incredible places.  Many of those are on my “To Visit Someday” list as well. 😉

What has been the most memorable book you’ve read so far this year?

Interview with Erica Vetsch  & GIVEAWAY  | The Engrafted WordErica:  Whew, that’s a tough one. I just started reading Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, and I can already tell I’m falling in love with his writing style. I have very eclectic tastes when it comes to fiction. I love mysteries, thrillers, cop dramas, romance, military/techno thrillers, historical mysteries, sweeping sagas.

Savanna:  If you had to pick just one historical figure from the past, who would you enjoy meeting in person and why?

Erica:  You know, my go-to answer for this question for years has always been Winston Churchill, because he lived during such tempestuous times and saw and affected so much of the history, not just of Britain, but of the world, but lately I’ve been thinking I’d really love to sit down and talk to Wyatt Earp. Not only for the remarkable life he lived, but all the interesting people he knew, like Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday, Luke Short, Charlie Bassett and more.

Savanna:  Out of all the books you’ve written through the years, is there a particular hero and heroine that still stand out to you the most?

Interview with Erica Vetsch  & GIVEAWAY  | The Engrafted WordErica: Hmm, that’s like asking which of my children I love the best…I tend to be obsessed about the couple I’m writing about at the moment, so right now, I would say Bear and Emmylou McCall are looming the largest. Bear is a mountain man who inherits his cousin’s three little girls and marries a jilted mail-order bride to help him out. When the girls’ birth-father shows up, Bear and Emmylou have to decide if they will let them go or if they will fight to be a family. A Bride for Bear will appear in the Convenient Bride Collection, coming in June 2015 from Barbour Publishing. 😉

Savanna:   You’ve participated in many contests and won multiple writing awards. What has been one of the greatest lessons and fondest memories you’ve taken away from those experiences?

Erica:  I think the friendships I’ve made along the way. The first time I finaled in a contest was the 2007 Genesis. I met one of the other finalists in the hallway at the contest, and she said, “I’ve been praying for you since the finalist list came out!” That was so humbling and encouraging. I’ve been friends with Carla Stewart ever since. I’ve found that the awards are nice, but the people are even nicer.

Savanna:  What a great memory. I know the writers I’ve met are some of the greatest bunch out there! 😉 Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?

Interview with Erica Vetsch  & GIVEAWAY  | The Engrafted WordErica:  2015 is shaping up to be a busy year for me. I have several new releases.

A Palace on the Plains in The Homestead Brides Collection releases in February, 2015.

The Archaeologist’s Find in The Most Eligible Bachelor Collection releases in May, 2015

A Bride for Bear in The Convenient Bride Collection releases in June 2015

And The Cactus Creek Challenge, a trade-length novel releases in July 2015.

Savanna:  That’s exciting, Erica.  Hope 2015 is a blessed year for you! Thanks again for joining us.  I can’t wait to read your next stories. 

Readers, be sure to connect with Erica on her website: www.ericavetsch.com

GIVEAWAY!!

Erica has graciously offered a copy of Colorado Dawn to one lucky reader! Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends December 3, 2014.  The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody! 😉