Monday, May 9, 2016

HIS PRAIRIE SWEETHEART ~ Character Interview with Erica Vetsch

Hey, y'all! I'm so excited to have Erica Vetsch here on the blog for the very first time. Just to let you know, I plan to read every title this lady publishes. Her books are always lots of fun and speak to the heart. Stick around for a giveaway of her book His Prairie Sweetheart at the end of the post! 



Before we get into this character interview, here's a little about the book:

 
A Home for Her Heart 

After being jilted at the altar, Southern belle Savannah Cox seeks a fresh start out West and accepts a teaching position in Minnesota. But between her students' lack of English, the rough surroundings and sheriff Elias Parker's doubts and distrust, Savannah's unprepared for both the job and the climate. However, she's determined to prove she can handle anything her new town throws her way. 

Elias gives it a week—or less—before the pretty schoolteacher packs her dainty dresses and hightails it back home. But no matter how many mishaps he has to rescue her from, Savannah doesn't give up. Yet the real test is to come—a brutal blizzard that could finally drive her away, taking his heart with her…
 


Here's Erica, answering as Savannah Cox, the heroine of His Prairie Sweetheart:

                                                               
Has anything significant happened in your life in the past two weeks?
People back home call it “The Humiliation.” I was jilted at the altar, all dressed in bridal array, with the flowers and music and guests…and my groom didn’t show.

Your most embarrassing moment?
For a long time, I thought “The Humiliation” would be my most embarrassing moment, but my most recent come-down was when I got sprayed by a skunk. Right in front of the man I wanted to impress. I was mortified right down to my shoe soles!

What is your first reaction when you meet a handsome gentleman? Blush? Stutter? Run? Flirt? Engage him in intelligent or witty conversation? Start an argument to see him flustered? Offer a helping hand? Ask a friend about him?
My sisters tell me that I put on my “Queen Face.” I sort of freeze up and fall back upon being ultra-polite. On the surface I look calm, but beneath, I’m in a bit of a dither.

Are there any children or pets in your life? What do you love about them?
I am a school teacher, and though I suppose I am biased, I think I have the most wonderful class in the world. As to pets, I wasn’t used to dogs, but there is a collie in my life now. He belongs to the local sheriff, and for a dog, he’s got quite a lot of character.

What happened the last time you spoke to a large group of people?
I’m not certain what you would consider large, but I have a class of eleven that I speak to every day. The challenge is that they only speak Norwegian, and I only speak English.

What are your hobbies?
I play the harp. Sometimes I play in church, but often I play for my students. Music seems to bridge the gap in our languages.

Do you have any grandparent figures in your life? How have they influenced you?
I don’t have any living grandparents, but my aunts, Carolina and Georgette, have had a big influence on me. Carolina is all starch and vinegar, and Georgette is all flutters and femininity. They had the raising of me and my sisters when our mother passed away.

Siblings? How many? Do you get along?
I have two younger sisters, and I love them very much.

Any current romantic interests?
I have sworn off men after being left at the altar, but I find myself strangely drawn to Sheriff Elias Parker. Though my head knows better, my heart doesn’t always listen.

When’s the last time you had a really good meal? Courtesy of whom?
Elias Parker’s mother is an amazing cook. She’s Norwegian, and she’s introduced me to the cuisine from that country. I love rommegrot and krumkake and lefse, but I do NOT like lutefisk at all.





Erica Vetsch is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and romance, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical romances. Whenever she’s not immersed in fictional worlds, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron.

Erica Vetsch - Faith, Love, & History-Ever-After



Erica is generously giving away a copy of His Prairie Sweetheart. Choice of e-book or paperback for US residents, e-book for non-US entrants. To enter, leave a comment with your email address (email AT server DOT com). Ends May 23, 2016.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES: 

1. Let me know in your comment that you've subscribed to:
  • Erica's e-newsletter
  • My e-newsletter 
  • My blog by email 
  • Erica's blog by email 
2. Paste a link from where you've shared the giveaway on social media
3. Let me know where you learned about the giveaway.***

***If you learned about this giveaway on a Facebook page, please let me know which page (I post on several). That way I'll know which page better reaches you for future giveaways!


Comment Fodder:
-- Do you have a memorable experience teaching children school or Sunday School?
-- Have you ever had to communicate with someone who didn't know your language? Tell us about the experience.
-- Do you have a dog or a pet you love? What kind of pet? What is its name?
   
TWEETABLE:
Giveaway: HIS PRAIRIE SWEETHEART by Erica Vetsch (Click to Tweet)

11 comments:

  1. I am so excited to see Erica Vetsch branching out to LIH books. It's interesting to read about traditions and foods from other countries and I know I'd love to read this book.

    I posted the giveaway post here https://www.pinterest.com/pin/382594930826091949/
    Erica's e-newsletter yes
    My e-newsletter yes
    My blog by email yes
    Erica's blog by email yes

    Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
    Deanne P.
    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

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  2. Deanne, thanks so much for spreading the word about His Prairie Sweetheart. I'm thrilled to be writing for LIH!

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  3. It's not too often you see a book with Norwegian being talked about much. I would love to win a coy of this book as I'm half Norwegian so I'm looking forward to reading "His Prairie Sweetheart".
    Erica's e-newsletter-yes
    My e-newsletter-yes
    My blog by email-yes
    Erica's blog by email-yes
    Shared on FB: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.newcomb.92
    Learned about the giveaway from Fiction Addiction Fix newsletter

    wfnren at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Twitter share.https://twitter.com/cheetah1959.
    Fition addiction fix newsletter.
    Erica newsletter yes
    My newsletter yes
    My blog yes
    Erica blog yes

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  5. Wendy, if you ever get a chance to visit Vesterheim in Decorah, IA, you will LOVE it. I was so impressed with the fortitude of the Norwegian American immigrants. I have a feeling they will show up in more of my stories. :)

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  6. Kim, thanks so much for sharing!!!

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  7. I'm not entering this giveaway as I have a copy of this beautiful book awaiting me on my shelf :-) I just wanted to chime in!

    I've had a taste of Erica's writing when I read "The Cactus Creek Challenge", and I have no doubt this will delight just as much :-) I love her characters and quirky humor in her stories. That being said, now I'm looking even more forward to meeting Sheriff Elias Parker and Savannah Cox and those children in her school :-) If I know Erica the way I think I do, I'll fall madly in love with each one & wish them a part of my own life. Her characters take on a life of their own and you can't help but want to get to know them!
    Thanks for letting me crash your blog and chime in with my own opinion :-) Such a lovely character interview :-)

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  8. Trixi, you are a gem! I hope you love His Prairie Sweetheart!

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  9. I signed up for Natalie's blog and newsletter and Erica's newsletter.
    I work as a special ed para at an elementary school, have taught Sunday School in the past, help with VBS and our church Wednesday night kids' program, used to work in child care, and have two (grown)kids of my own, so I have lots of experience with kids, in and out of classroom settings. Working with kids helps keep me young (in attitude, if not in years).
    I very much enjoyed Erica's book, The Cactus Creek Challenge, so I'm looking forward to reading His Prairie Sweetheart. I love the humor she adds to her books. Thanks for the chance to win the book.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  10. I signed up for both newsletters and Natalie's blog. I learned about this giveaway on Loraine D. Nunley's facebook page. Thanks for this giveaway. I love reading Love Inspired books!

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  11. It was so exciting to see this book on your blog, because it is on my to-buy-book list. :)

    My email: hsnyder4@liberty.edu

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