Gina Holmes is the founder of  Novel Rocket, regularly named as one of Writers Digest’s best websites for writers. Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW  bestseller. Her sophomore novel,  Dry as Rain was a Christy Award finalist. Her latest novel, Wings of Glass has been named as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and was a SIBA Okra pick and a finalist for Romantic Times’ Reviewers Choice Award. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.
To learn more about her, visit www.ginaholmes.com.
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Savanna: Welcome to The Engrafted Word, Gina! Congratulations on your recent release, Driftwood Tides. What a beautiful cover, by the way. 🙂 What lesson do you hope your readers will take away from this story?
Gina:Â Thank you, the Tyndale team does an amazing job with my covers. I’m really blessed! The lesson I want readers to take away is always a difficult question for me because I don’t set out with an agenda. I just want to tell a story or raise questions that I’m grappling with myself. But it’s a fair question and one I’ll have to answer again so let me do my best. One of the questions I raise in this book is what makes family, family. Is it blood or dedication, love or something else. Another question I raise is why is it we are so forgiving of others but not of ourselves?
Savanna: Which character from your latest book do you most relate to?
Gina:Â Good question. I believe every character I write is a facet of my personality, for good or bad. I guess I can really relate to Libby most closely though. I’ve had to do some personal searching myself regarding family. I wasn’t raised by my mother for most of my life so I learned to expand my definition of parents.
Savanna:Â What has been one of the greatest lessons you’ve learned through entering in writing contests?
Gina:Â How subjective everything is. I entered Crossing Oceans (my debut) into a well known contest before it was contracted. It didn’t place, but went on to earn a contract, many awards and was a bestseller. That doesn’t mean the contest didn’t know what they were doing, just, again, it’s all very subjective.
Savanna: When did you first start speaking? Do you have a particular favorite subject among the many topics you offer?
Gina:Â I learned back in high-school that although I was painfully shy, put me on a stage and I do great. I’ve given lectures and talks ever since. My favorite subject … that’s a tough one. I love teaching about the business of writing, but my heart is to the hurting. I love telling people about Jesus and the restoration and victory that is in Him.
Savanna: There’s no better subject than that. 😉
If you were to give a tour to some visiting friends of your home state of Virgina, what would be your first stop and why?
Gina: Love this question. We have a hiking destination nearby called The Cascades. Hiking to a waterfall sounds nice, but having been to some of the most beautiful places in the world, I can tell you that this waterfall is right up there with them. And when you get to the fall, there’s a natural pool it feeds into. Sure the water is Antarctic cold, but that’s part of the charm!
Savanna: Oh wow! I’d love to see that. 😉 Thank you so much, Gina, for sharing with us today. Many blessings on your writing!
Readers, be sure to visit Gina’s website to learn more about her and her books.
GIVEAWAY!!
Gina has graciously offered one copy of Driftwood Tides to one lucky winner!
–Leave your name and email in the comments below. (You MUST include your email to be qualified)
GET EXTRA ENTRIES:
(Be sure to tell me in the comments below)
-Subscribe to The Engrafted Word
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Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends September 23, 2014.
Winner will be notified by email.
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Gina, thank you for sharing your heart with us. I look forward to reading “Driftwood Tides”. I would love to see the waterfall in The Cascades. Sounds like a very lovely place to experience the Lord. Blessings 🙂
I agree, Caryl! Thanks for joining us. Have a great day and good luck in the giveaway.
Savanna,
My email is psalm103and138″at”gmail”dot”com I do subscribe via email and follow on facebook. I also shared the giveaway on my fb page. Thanks 🙂
Thanks for telling me, Caryl. You’ll receive 4 entries then. 😉 Good luck!
Stories about Family, you put heart into you books 🙂
dkstevensne at outlook .com
Hi Deanna! Thanks for stopping and for following my blog. You’ll receive 3 entries in the giveaway. 😉
I subscribe
I Like The Engrafted Word on Facebook
dkstevensne (at) outlook .com
I’ve been seeing this book around the book blog/author world on the internet and it sounds very powerful! Would love to win a copy.
I am a subscriber
I have liked you on FB.
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
Doesn’t it sound good?! 🙂 Hope you get to read it soon, Patty. You’ll receive 3 entries in the drawing. Good luck to ya!
I loved “Crossing Oceans” and would love to read this one, too!
I shared the contest on my Pinterest “Book Contests” board and liked “The Engrafted Word” on FB. rmaney (at) firstarpchurch (dot) org
Thanks, Rebecca! You’ll receive 3 entries in the giveaway. Hope you get to read and enjoy this story as well!
Love the cover and the book subject! Thank you for sharing with us!
I subscribe
I like
I shared on FB, Pinterest, and twitter
Cagoar(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you, Cindy, for reading and sharing. You’ll receive 4 entries in this giveaway. Good luck!
“Another question I raise is why is it we are so forgiving of others but not of ourselves?” … Sounds like a book I need to read, and thinking I might need the tissues handy when I do. I also live in Virginia. I need to look up the Cascades! Thank you for the giveaway and the great interview! Definitely one to add to my “To Read” list!
Blessings!
Kelly Y.
kelly *at* dkcountryarts *dot* com
We all need to read it! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping in, Kelly. I’m so envious of you girls living in Virgina. Would love to visit that area someday. 🙂 We’re glad you enjoyed the interview. You’ll receive your 4 entries in the drawing for this book. Good luck!
Thank you, Savanna, for always responding! That is such a sweet gift to me and I know it is time consuming. Come visit Virginia! The trees are gearing up for their fall colors! From the beaches to the mountains, the country to the cities… we’ve got it all! 🙂
Blessings to you!
Awww, you know how to tempt me, Kelly! 😉 Believe me, one of these days I hope to take that road trip. During the fall would be even better. There’s so much I want to see there! 🙂
Thank YOU for always stopping in and commenting. It means a lot to me and I know it’s a blessing to the authors as well. Have a great weekend!
I subscribe to and like The Engrafted Word on FB. I also shared on FP and Pinterest.
Blessings!
I love the cover. It makes me want to take a vacation there!
I subscribe to The Engrafted Word
I like The Engrafted Word on Facebook
I shared this Giveaway on Facebook
Isn’t it beautiful? I love book covers that just draw you in like that. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Kathryn. You’ll receive 4 entries in this giveaway.
Great story line, The cover is so pretty!
I Subscribe to The Engrafted Word
I-Like The Engrafted Word on Facebook
dkstevensne @ outlook . com
Hi Deanna! Thanks for following and commenting. You’ll receive 3 entries in the drawing. Good luck and happy reading!
Hi, Gina! What makes family, family. That is a difficult question, and means different things to different people. The Cascades is a wonderful place, isn’t it? We live right down the road from there. Have you been to Angel’s Rest? It’s just a little farther down the road. Thanks for the interview and giveaway! I have subscribed to The Engrafted Word, Liked on Facebook, and shared. Thanks!
tscmshupe [at] pemtel [dot] net
Welcome, Sally! Thanks for sharing with us today. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the interview. You’ll receive 4 entries in the drawing. Hope you get to read Gina’s story soon. 😉
I subscribe to The Engrafted Word & I like it on Facebook
Stimmer@familylife.com
Thanks, Sharon. You’ll receive 3 entries. Good luck!
Thanks for the giveaway! I subscribed to your newsletter, like your facebook page, shared on my facebook
Thanks for joining us today, Rita! You’ll receive 4 entries in the drawing as well.
Thanks for this great giveaway. I subscribe to the newsletter, facebook page. best wishes.
We’re glad you stopped in, Anne. You’ll receive 3 entries in the giveaway. Here’s to a win, right? 😉
Like Virginia! Subscribe to The engrafted Word and like FB
Hi Joan! I’m glad to see you here. Good luck in the giveaway, with your 3 entries. Have a great week!
Sally, I haven’t heard of that but will look it up and more than likely, go! BTW, I’ll be signing at Lifeway in Roanoke on Sat. Sept 20th from 1-3 if anyone’s interested.
How fun! Hope you have a great time this weekend, Gina. Be sure to post some pictures! 😉 Thanks again for being my guest this week!
These look great!
I like you on FB.
And I subscribe to your e-mails! Thanks!
Thanks, Danielle. You’ll receive 3 entries in this giveaway. Good luck and have a great weekend!
Great interview, beautiful cover, fantastic book!
I am a subscriber.
I have liked on FB.
I have also shared on Twitter
mobile.twitter.com/cps1950/status/512699889977790464
Connie Saunders
cps1950@gmail.com
So glad you stopped in, Connie! 😉 Thanks for sharing the word and following my blog. You’ll receive your 4 entries in this drawing.
I am a subscriber and like the engrafted word on FB 🙂
this book looks really interesting!
Hope you get to check this one out soon, Sierra! You’ll receive 3 entries in the giveaway. Good luck and happy reading, as always!
Interesting review with Gina. I loved the cover, and the book looks great. I think family is more about dedication and love than blood.
I subs Engrafted Word
I liked on F B And shared giveaway
Thank you
mcnuttjem0@gmail.com
Well said, Jackie! I’m so glad you could join us today. It’s always nice to have you here. You’ll receive your 4 entries in this drawing too. Good luck and have a great weekend!