G. Edward Snipes – Real Life & Fictional Romantic Interview – Part 2 of 3

Shannon here: G. Edward Snipes shares more of his real life romance and delves into his fictional characters’ romance. Comment on any post dated May 23 – 27 for a chance to win a copy of I Called Him Dancer. Deadline: May 28, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Eddie:

     1.     Who is most romantic, you or your spouse?
Me, no she, we…I mean us.
     2.     What is the most caring thing your spouse has ever done for you?
Calling 9-1-1 when I fell off the roof. It’s the everyday things that show love. She stays at home with the kids, works hard at homeschooling, managing the home, and she still finds ways to show she cares. She does the little things that mean a lot.
     3.     What is the most caring thing you’ve ever done for your spouse?
I’m generally a creative type person. I like to craft things. One Christmas I wanted to make her a sofa table with inlayed wood. It was my first attempt and it was harder than expected. I knew I was in trouble two days before Christmas. I really wanted her gift to be ready, so I stayed up two nights working on that thing so it would be done in time for Christmas morning. It really turned out well, but it was a job. You do appreciate that table, don’t you honey? Honey?
     4.    Who said, “I love you” first, you or your spouse?
 Definitely me. And I quickly discovered that it was too soon. Two years too soon.
     5.    Where did you and your spouse go for your honeymoon?
Callaway Gardens in Georgia. We actually visited several places, but spent the most time in Callaway among the gardens.
     6.     What’s the most romantic thing your hero ever did for your heroine?
In my book, the hero spends most of his life running from people. He doesn’t feel loveable, so he doesn’t know to show love. At least not until he discovers how true love transforms his heart. I don’t want to give away any secrets, but when the time comes, he realizes that his love for my heroine, Raquel, is more precious than his own life. He then has to put his own life in peril for her.
     7.    What’s the most romantic thing your heroine ever did for your hero?
When the hero, Michael, falls apart, he becomes homeless. A drug addiction destroys his life. Yet Raquel never gives up on him or rejects him. At one point, she dances with the man in rags and finds hope in the sparkle she sees in his eyes. What greater romance is there than to hold on to someone the world has cast off as a failure?
     8.     Where is the most romantic place your hero and heroine have ever been?
They dance together on the stages of Broadway. I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil the story.
     9.    Do your hero and heroine have a favorite romantic restaurant?
They love to eat at a cozy table near the window at the Top of the Tower in Manhattan. The restaurant is 26 stories up and gives a view of the city. This is where they reminisce about all they have been through and dream of the future.
   10.    Do your hero and heroine have a favorite song?
Yes – I Know No Other Way. It’s a song they heard as teens and later becomes a song that eventually draws them together. It does so by- well, let’s just keep that a secret for now.
   11.    What’s the most romantic present your hero ever bought your heroine?
It’s very valuable – in fact, it’s highly coveted. But it can’t be bought, only earned and awarded. I’d tell you, but that wouldn’t be as much fun as finding out by reading the story, now would it?
   12.    What’s the most romantic present your heroine ever bought your hero?
Her heart. I know, that should be the part of any love story, but it’s significant here because love is so difficult. As their relationship grows, Michael says, “I know I should love you, but I just don’t know how to do that.”
There are reasons why he is afraid to love and has built walls around his heart, but she won’t discover why until years later. Though he flees love, her heart is bound to him in ways that she cannot understand. Love is a strange force. At some point he’ll learn how valuable her love has been, but the gift of her heart was truly a selfless act.
   13.    What is your hero’s favorite romantic vacation destination?
Michael has no real attachments to any place; he just enjoys being where Raquel is. His dream is to take Raquel to London and tour the Kew Gardens, dine at the Belvedere, and watch a performance at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. These are the things he knows Raquel will love.
   14.    What is your heroine’s favorite romantic vacation destination?
She likes coming to her hometown of Bristol, TN. She loves the slow pace and appreciates her escapes from New York. She enjoys driving over to watch productions in the Knoxville Theater and visiting the friends who still perform there. She’s a small town girl and loves the country life. Sharing her heritage with Michael is like sharing an important part of her heart.
About the book: For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but one bad choice turns his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washes windows for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.
I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman’s enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeless man who has given up on life.
About Eddie: Eddie Snipes is president of the Christian Authors Guild (www.christianauthorsguild.org) and founder of Exchanged Life Discipleship (www.exchangedlife.com). He has served as a pastor and interim pastor. Eddie also contributes to several online resources including OnePlace.com. He’s also a member of ACFW and the Atlanta Writers Club.
Over the last two years, Eddie has won five writing contests and in April, his first novel, I Called Him Dancer was released. He has two other books in the process of being published. Watch for an upcoming release called Simple Faith.