Pepper D Basham is a native of the Blue Ridge Mountains, mom of five, speech-language pathologist, and lover of chocolate. She enjoys sprinkling her native Appalachian culture into her fiction wherever she can. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC, where she works with kids who have special needs, searches for unique hats, and plots new ways to annoy her wonderful friends at her group writing blog, The Writer’s Alley. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of Seymour Literary Agency.
You can find her at www.pepperdbasham.com or follow her writing antics on her Facebook page or Twitter.
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Welcome back to The Engrafted Word, Pepper! Congratulations on your recent release, The Thorn Healer. I just finished it and I loved it!
What is it about August that makes him your favorite hero you’ve written?
OH my!! August! I think the way he’s described in the book is what makes him the swooniest at the core. His steadfastness. There’s something about a man who is sturdy and true – and a little flirty doesn’t hurt one bit.
I didn’t realize until I was about ¾ way through writing the book that August was a beautiful example of Christ – so I guess that’s the biggest reason he’s my favorite published hero of mine. He loved Jessica before she knew him, he pursued her until she had no recourse but to love him back, he stood firm through the difficulties and disasters. If he rose from the dead, that would be an even GREATER example of his Christ-likeness. Yes, I think that’s why he’s my current favorite because he reminds me of the love Jesus has for his Bride.
You described him perfectly. He was my favorite too. 😉 What lesson did you take away the most from writing the Penned in Time series?
Writing lessons: I can actually write under deadline!
Life Lessons: The greatness of God’s love! From the first book to the last, the recurring theme is that there is nothing too broken – by the hands of others, our own choices, or even the hardness of our own hearts. God will do whatever it takes to reach into the lives of His kids and bring them to Him.
What is one of your favorite quotes from The Thorn Healer?
What project are your working on now?
Well…I’ll share the TWO I’m working on right now! I am currently writing a book that is arriving in November 2017 and editing one that comes out in April 2017. In fact, I’m going to share the back cover blurb for the April one and it is MY FAVORITE BOOK I’VE EVER WRITTEN!!!
This heroine is hilarious and the hero? British, broken, and TOTALLY swoony! (think dark chocolate)
On April 6, the world will be introduced to Just the Way You Are – a story of my heart for so many reasons. Here’s the blurb.
In November 2017, readers will be able to return to Mitchells Crossroads for the second book in the series, currently titled Charming the Troublemaker. I love it when a previously unlikeable character takes a turn for the better and wins my heart. Alex Murdock has totally done this in the second installment of The Mitchells Crossroads series.
Both of them sound great. Can’t wait! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I am both humbled and thankful for my readers!! Thank you for taking a chance on these stories and me. I hope you find hope on every page…and a few swoon-worthy moments too.
Your books definitely have that! 🙂 Thanks for visiting us today, Pepper. Merry Christmas and Happy Writing!
GIVEAWAY!!
Pepper has graciously offered to give away an e-copy of winner’s choice from her Penned In Time series. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉
Thanks for entering! Contest ends December 20, 2016. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
That paragraph about August ❤️❤️❤️ So very true and beautifully said, Pepper. Can’t wait for your 2017 releases!
Great interview 🙂
Thanks, Katie
Did you know you are one of my new favorite people 🙂
The fact that you have 5 kids too AND you have an awesome accent only adds to your awesomeness 🙂
August. Yes! #swoonyAugust
#swoonyAugust…. love this hashtag! 😉
We’re so glad you could join us, Katie! Merry Christmas!
Savanna, you are such a sweetheart!! Thanks for celebrating with me and being such an amazing encourager! Especially when you’re busy with ‘baby’s first Christmas’ joys 🙂
I hope your Christmas is as beautiful as your sweet family!
You’re so sweet! Thank you, Pepper. Hope you have a great Christmas too!!
We all love August! And, we’ll love your newest books, too, Pepper!
Oh Pam, you are so sweet!
Without a doubt! 😉 Thanks for stopping by, Pam
Congratulations on your new book, Pepper. Thank you so much for the interview. I’m looking forward to reading The Thorn Healer
As to a hero that still sticks with me, I think I will say a couple of true life heorines of The Hiding Place, Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom. Their faith and lives are amazing and inspiring.
Oh Anne,
That story is incredible and inspirational!! They were definitely heroes!
I’m so glad you could join us, Anne. Good luck in the drawing!
Great interview, Savanna and Pepper! I think Pepper creates amazing heroes. Don’t tell my husband, but I think I’ve fallen a little bit in love with each of them. They are the perfect hero for each of their stories. I can’t wait to meet the next two of them. 😀
Winnie, you are too cute! LOL (and I’m really glad you love my heroes 😉
Haha! I know just what you mean, Winnie. I’m so glad you enjoyed our chat. Good luck in the giveaway!
When I read romance, I always become most enamored with the hero I’m currently reading about. To be fair, I will go with my most recent fave, Colton Werner from Sherri Shackelford’s novella, Mistletoe Bride. Normally, I’m not a big fan of novellas, but this one stood out with its broken, but amazingly compassionate hero. Mistletoe Bride is the second story in the Love Inspired book titled, Cowboy Creek Christmas.
I wish I could say that August from Pepper’s new release was my current fave, but very soon, I’m sure. 🙂
Terrill,
I hope you get the chance to meet him soon too. He’s a sweetheart!
And I usually have that “love the one your with” mentality when I’m reading too. 🙂
Hi Terrill! I haven’t heard of that book. Thanks for sharing!
I too love the most current hero I am reading about. August sounds like a hero I need to get to know. 🙂
Becky
Becky, He’s certainly worth your time 😉
Yes, you’ll love him, Becky! 😉 Happy Reading!
You don’t need to enter me into the giveaway because I received an ARC of The Thorn Healer. I would really like to know how you pronounce Eisley, the heroine of your April book. Is it Ease-lee or Ize-lee? Also, is the April book stand-alone or part of a series?
Sylvia, it’s Ize-lee. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this upcoming story. it’s a true Rom Com.
And yes, if I get my wish, it’s going to be the first in a series
It’s great to have you here, Sylvia. Can’t wait until April, can you? 😉
Thank you for this giveaway!
A Hero that stands out to me….Um…a lot. ^.^ I’ll go with Walter from “A Distant Melody” by Sarah Sundin. 🙂
Oh Sarah Sundin writes beautiful stories!
Yes, I agree, he was a good hero. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Raechel!
Haaken Bjorkland from several of Lauraine Snelling’s books stands out in my mind as my favorite hero. He was there for Ingeborg Bjorkland after her first husband, Haaken’s cousin, died and made a great husband and father after marrying Ingeborg. Thanks for the interview and giveaway. Good luck everyone!!
You know, Debbie, I haven’t read Lauraine Snelling in a long time. I need to pick up aonther one of her books sometime.
Oh, I sooo want to read that series. I’ve had my eye on them for a long time. Glad to hear there’s a standout hero in it too. 😉 Happy Holidays, Debbie!
Ann Silver in Dee Henderson’s Books
LOVE Dee Henderson!!
Must add that to my TBR list, Barb! 😉
Aragon is my favorite hero in the Lord of the Rings.
sonnetta_jones@hotmail.com
Aw, yes. Aragorn. Sigh. 😉 Good luck in the giveaway, Sonnetta!
Aragorn is one of my top FAV heroes!!!
Great interview, great book!
Thanks, Melanie!
So glad you stopped by, Melanie!
Hello Savanna and Pepper! Savanna, your review is #swoonworthy.
Pepper, I’m so excited for the release of TTH. The cover is striking!
Blessings to you both!
Haha! Caryl, I LOVE this cover so much!
And I can’t wait until you can read the entire series and tell me what you think!
Haha! Caryl, you MUST read these books soon!! 🙂 Great to see you stop by.
Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia…..such a amazing picture of Christ!
I need to read those books. I’ve heard soooo much about them. My reading list grows longer every day. 😉