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Siri Mitchell is the author of over a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door, and the INSPY Award winning She Walks in Beauty. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As a military spouse, she lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris.
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Welcome to The Engrafted Word, Siri! It’s wonderful to have you here!
Savanna: What was your favorite book as a child?
Siri: It depended on my age. When I was in pre-school/early elementary, I loved the classic Arch Books which recounted Bible stories. I devoured the Little House on the Prairie series and the Anne of Green Gables series as well as Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew. I also loved Sunfire Teen historical romances and the original Sweet Valley High series.
Savanna: The Little House series was one of my favorites too. I actually live a half hour away from Laura’s home where she wrote the books, so that makes me love them even more. π Since you write historical fiction, can you name a historical figure you would have enjoyed getting to meet in person and have lunch with?
Siri:Β Iβm going to succumb to impulse and say Jane Austen. I think we would have been able to commiserate together about quite a few different things and Iβm pretty sure sheβd have made me laugh. (Quite a bit!)
Savanna: Can you imagine how much fun that would be? π What initially sparked the idea for Love Comes Calling, your newest release?
Siri: I was reading Encyclopedia of the Exquisite: An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights and I came across a mention of βHello Girlsβ. The term was popularized during World War I when it was used for bilingual telephone operators. In those days, telephone calls had to be put through by ringing an operator so she could do it for you. I started to imagine the possibilities of a story where the heroine, a Hello Girl, is known to the characters in the story only by her voice. As my editor and I played around with the idea, the concept changed (it always does!) and the result was to have the villains of the story known to the telephone operator only by their voices. Having a Hello Girl locked my novelβs setting into the 1920s. By the end of the decade, automatic dialers had begun to replace the telephone operator at the switchboards.
Savanna: What was your favorite thing about this story? And what was the hardest part about writing it?
Siri: I love my heroine, Ellis Eton. Sheβs just so different and vibrant and funβ¦even if she does leave chaos in her wake. The hardest part of this story was trying to visualize a telephone switchboard and figure out how it worked. I didnβt have access to a period switchboard, so I had to do some reading. And a lot of research in order to find that reading!
Savanna: I can’t wait to read it! Your website says you’ve traveled a lot and lived in many different places. Would you be able to pick a favorite place among them? Can you tell us why?
Siri: Paris, most definitely! I lived there from 1996 β 2000 and learned a lot about myself and God in the City of Lights. I love the lifestyle. I love the beauty. I love the French people. I absolutely love the food!
Savanna: Can you describe for us what was going through your head the first time one of your books won an award? π
Siri:Β Iβve been nominated for several awards, but Iβve only won one (of which Iβve very proud): the Inaugural INSPY Award for Historical Fiction. I was elated because I respect the judges of that award so much.
Savanna:Β Thank you so much for being with us today, Siri! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Siri:Β My next Siri Mitchell book, Like A Flower in Bloom, will be released next spring. Itβs set in the 1850s in Victorian England. And readers who especially liked Loveβs Pursuit and The Messenger might be interested in my pen name (Iris Anthony) novel, The Miracle Thief, which will release this April. Itβs set in the Dark Ages of France.
I love to interact with readers! They can contact me via:
Website: http://sirimitchell.com or http://irisanthony.com
Facebook: Siri Mitchell or Iris Anthony
Twitter: @SiriMitchell or @IrisAnthony
Pinterest: SiriMitchell or 1risAnthony
GIVEAWAY!!
Siri has graciously offered one free copy of LOVE COMES CALLING 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
-Like The Engrafted Word on Facebook
-Share this Giveaway on Social Media
Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends
March 25, 2014. Winner will be notified by email.
I so enjoy reading your blog Savanna!
It’s great to have you here, Carisa! π Thanks for joining us and sharing Siri’s interview. Here’s to a giveaway win!
Liked, commented, and shared:-)
Oh, and you’ll receive 3 entries in the drawing. π Thanks for all your support!
This book sounds fantastic, and thanks for the heads up on your pen name as well. I have liked The Engrafted Word on FB and subscribed as well. Thanks for the giveaway!
Lynda
danandlyndaedwards(at)msn(dot)com
Doesn’t it look great? I can’t wait to read it myself! Thanks for stopping by, Lynda! Good luck in the giveaway.
Enjoyed the chat with Siri. I love how books we read as a child can influence who we are today.
You’re exactly right, Denise. Some of the first books I ever read are the ones I can’t forget. π I’m glad you stopped by!
Thanks for the chance to win! I shared on Facebook and Twitter (@bbulow12), subscribed via email and liked your Facebook page.
Beth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks for visiting, Beth! You’ll receive 4 entries in the giveaway. π
I love all of Siri’s books and can’t wait to read this one! Thank you for the giveaway.
jmsfarmgirl(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi Joelle! It’s always nice to meet another fan of Siri’s. Hope you get to add this story to your reading list!
I like The Engrafted Word on Facebook π
Great! You’ll receive 2 entries in the drawing. Good luck!
I’d LOVE to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win! jennismith1983(at)gmail(dot)com. I’ve also “liked” The Engrafted Word on Facebook.
Welcome to my blog, Jennifer! You’ll receive 2 entries in the giveaway. It’s great to have you join us here and on Facebook. π
Thanks for hosting me, Savanna!
Thank YOU for taking the time to chat with us, Siri. It’s always fun to get to know our favorite authors a little better. π Can’t wait to read this story and your upcoming releases!
I’ve already LIKED this blog on facebook!
missionwife AT hotmail DOT com
I receive your blog news!
missionwife AT hotmail DOT com
I ‘shared’ this link on facebook!
missionwife AT hotmail DOT com
And I LOVED Nancy Drew! My mom would drop me off at the library (I can still remember walking up those marble steps and the inside smell of the books) while she headed to the beauty shop! Would love to read this book!
missionwife AT hotmail DOT com
Hi Melody! It’s great to “see” you again. π I remember my childhood library as well. It always seemed so fascinating, intriguing, and inspiring to me as a kid. I hope you get the chance to read this story of Siri’s. You’ll receive 4 entries in the giveaway. Thanks for following!
Oh I have not had the chance to read one of your books yet, I do so look forward to reading them though.
Blessings
Linda Finn
Faithful Acres Books
http://www.faithfulacres.net
You’ll love Siri’s work, Linda! Thanks for joining us and entering in the giveaway. Good luck! π