Elizabeth Maddrey – Character Interview – Part 3 of 3

Shannon here: Contemporary romance author, Elizabeth Maddrey shares insight into her characters’ romance plus a chance to win a copy of her latest release, Serenity to Accept. Comment on any post dated Sept 9 – 13 to enter the drawing. Deadline: Sept 21st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Elizabeth:

Note from Elizabeth: I’ve asked Karin Reid and Jason Garcia to stop by and do this interview for me. They’re the heroine and hero of Serenity to Accept. Karin isn’t a believer yet, just a warning, because some of her answers are probably not what we’d all prefer – but God’s working in her heart.

“Hi Karin, thanks for doing this for me.”

“Sure, happy to help.”

“First question then: What’s the number one quality you’d require in a mate?”

“Whoa whoa whoa. Mate? As in married? I guess I’d say the number one quality I require for that is that they’re marrying someone else. Watching my mother go through one husband after another while Phil and I grew up was enough exposure to marriage for me. Now, if you can amend the question to say boyfriend or date, then I’d probably say I want him to be faithful. When he’s with me, I’m it for him. Mom was always keeping someone on the side, and so were her husbands, and I know that just never works out well for anyone.”

“All right. Well, that kind of makes it silly to ask about where you dream of getting married. So instead, how about this one: what’s the one habit or lifestyle that would make you run the other way?”

“Hm. That’s a good question. Other than infidelity, I’d have to say vanity. I dated a guy who was all about the hair product and spent more time in the mirror than I do…that’s just never a good situation. He honestly said ‘Enough about me, what do you think about me?’ Unfortunately I was in a bad mood and ended up telling him exactly what I thought. And that was the end of that date. Funnily, he never called me again.”

“Go figure. Last one, then you can get back to work, I’m sure they need you in the NICU. What type of features are you attracted to?”

“You know, I’ve always been attracted to tall, dark and handsome. I know it’s a cliché, but really, there’s something about that combination that catches and holds my eye. If you want to get more into personality…well, I’ll admit to liking a little bit of the bad boy. Not too bad, mind you, but someone who doesn’t necessarily follow every rule just because it’s a rule, well…I like that.”

“Thanks, Karin.”

“Sure…ooh, how’d you get Dr. Garcia up here? And could you introduce us?”

“Not just yet, but maybe that’ll happen down the road.”

“Am I late? I hate being late. I’m not late, right?”

“No, Jason, you’re fine. I was just finishing up with Karin Reid.”

“I’ve seen her in the hospital cafeteria. Is she nice?”

“Maybe we’ll talk about her later. For now, I have just a few questions for you. I appreciate you being willing to take time to talk to me.”

“Sure. What’s first?”

“Well, I think you’ve mentioned before that you do actually want to get married, so let’s start with something about that – is there a place you dream of getting married?”

“You’re right that I do want to get married…but I haven’t really given a lot of thought to where. I guess maybe I’d like to get married in one of the historic churches in New Mexico where I grew up. There are some lovely Spanish style churches there that would make great photos. But I have to say, as long as the woman God has for me is the one walking down the aisle, we could be at the courthouse and I’d be ok with it.”

“In keeping with the idea of the woman God has for you, what’s the number one quality you’d require in a mate?”

“She has to love Jesus and not be willing to compromise on that, no matter how hard it is. I know that’s a tall order in today’s world – it’s not even one I’ve always lived up to myself. So I guess, to be fair, if there’s stuff in her past I’ll be okay with that. I just want her to be at a place now where her relationship with God is even more important than her relationship with me.”

“Great answer. Okay, last question: what would be the best gift a potential mate could buy for you?”

“You know, I’m not sure I need anything. So I guess I’d say something that’s meaningful to our relationship that shows she put thought into it. And it doesn’t have to be anything expensive, either. Something as simple as a pack of gum if it ties into an inside story that only makes sense to us…that’d be great…and I think I just heard them page me, so I should run. Hope you got what you needed.”

About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of math and organization steered her into computer science for college and graduate school, she has always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity. Her debut novel, Wisdom to Know, Book 1 of the Grant Us Grace Series, was released in January, 2013. Courage to Change, the second in that series, was released April 8, 2013. Book 3, Serenity to Accept will be released September 9, 2013. She is also the co-author of A is for Airstrip: A Missionary’s Jungle Adventure, a children’s book based on the work of a Wycliffe missionary.

Elizabeth lives in the suburbs of WashingtonD.C. with her husband and their two incredibly active little boys. She invites you to interact with her at her website www.ElizabethMaddrey.com or on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey.

About the book – Serenity to Accept: Is there an exception to every rule?

Karin Reid has never had much use for God. There’s been too much pain in her life for her to accept that God is anything other than, at best, disinterested or, at worst, sadistic. Until she meets Jason Garcia.

After his own mistakes of the past, Jason is committed to dating only Christians. He decides to bend his rule for Karin, as long as she comes to church with him.

As their friendship grows, both will have to decide if they’ll accept the path God has for them, even if it means losing each other.

Purchase Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Serenity-Accept-Elizabeth-Maddrey/dp/1938708237

Come back Sept 16th for Shannon Taylor Vannatter. Since I have a new release, I get to be my own guest!