Author Interview (plus a Giveaway!): Tanya Eavenson

I’m delighted to welcome a new-to-me author to the blog today!

Tanya Eavenson is a bestselling and an award-winning inspirational romance author. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Tanya is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book.

You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/ on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google, or on Amazon.

Her newest novella, To Gain a Valentine, released January 14th from All Roads Publishing.

Pediatrician Patrick Reynolds works wonders with sick children, yet when it comes to pets, he’s clueless. But caring for his sister’s menagerie while she’s on vacation is the perfect answer to working through a broken engagement. Hoping to escape the memories, he returns to his hometown, the last place he’d expect to find love.

Life as a single mom is never easy, but pet shop owner Amabelle Durand has found contentment. When an old friend returns to care for his sister’s pets, he enlists her assistance to keep the animals alive. But when Amabelle’s young daughter falls ill, she finds herself attracted to more than the handsome pediatrician’s medical skills.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, will Patrick and Amabelle miss out on the love they’ve always desired? Or will their love take flight under the stars on this very special night?

Hi Tanya! Welcome to the blog! I start all of my guests out with a fast four:

Tanya: Oranges, though I like both. When I was growing up in Florida, we’d pick oranges from my grandparents’ trees and eat them. That is, if I wasn’t throwing them at my brother. Fun times!

Carrie: haha! A sister’s prerogative!

Tanya: Winter! I love the chill in the air, bundling up in layers, and the feel of a fire by the fireplace.

Carrie: Yes! Yes! me too!!

Tanya: Both! I love animals!

Carrie: A very diplomatic answer 😉

Tanya: Coffee for sure! I enjoy the different flavors, the aroma… Speaking of, I think I need another cup!  =)

Carrie: haha!

Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?

Tanya: Invisibility. I think that would be cool!

Carrie: Think of all the book research you could do!!

If you knew you were only going to be allowed FIVE books for the rest of your life, besides the Bible, which five would make the cut?

Tanya: Great question, Carrie! Here’s my list in no particular order, but these are the books I can read and reread.

1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
2. The Proposal by Lori Wick
3. The Princess by Lori Wick
4. Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz
5. Revealed by Tamera Alexander

Carrie: YES! Three of my very faves on your list – Redeeming Love, Morrow Little, and Revealed (that whole series by Tamera actually).

If I snuck a peek in your purse right now (which I would never do, I promise!), what would it tell me about you?

Tanya: Oh, goodness! Let’s see… My purse would say, first and foremost that I have children. I know I have at least one of my kids’ artwork in my purse. Maybe my purse would say I’m a student of some kind because there’s two spiral notebooks with tons of pens inside, and that I’m busy since I also carry two calendars. And perhaps with the receipts and trash, I’m not too neat. But honestly, who has time to clean out a bag as big as mine! LOL!

Carrie: LOL ain’t nobody got time to clean out bags when there are books to read and books to write!

Your new novella is called To Gain a Valentine. What is your favorite Valentine’s Day memory?

Tanya: When my husband and I were dating back in high school, he took me to Olive Garden for Valentine’s Day. After, he opened his trunk and brought out the biggest bear I’d ever seen, a mega size box of chocolates, and a card I could sail on if we’d been near water. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me and to this day holds a special place in my heart.

Carrie: awww! That’s so romantic! (and hilarious) I love that!

To Gain a Valentine follows Patrick and Amabelle as life brings them back together and gives them both another chance at love. Of these two characters, who did you most relate to and who most surprised you?

Tanya: Though my life is different than Amabelle’s, I could relate to how her life hadn’t turned out the way she’d anticipated. But who really anticipates their life to be a military training course with mire or barb wire? And yet, in God’s goodness, He has a future for us, to prosper us and to give us hope. A life we never dreamed or expected.

Who surprised me the most? Definitely Patrick. He has a “special” way with animals! Never call someone like him to pet-sit for you!

Carrie: LOL Patrick sounds interesting…oh dear.

What do you most want readers to take away from To Gain a Valentine?

Tanya: Sometimes life is messy, but love still conquers all.

Carrie: Amen.

Tanya, thank you so much for taking time to talk with me! 🙂 Before we say goodbye for today, tell us what‘s coming up next for you.

Tanya: Thank you so much for having me, Carrie! I’d love to! I have another novella set to release this Christmas entitled To Gain a Stocking. But until then, I’m changing gears from contemporary to historical romance. I’m working on a series of full-length novels set in the late 1800s. The first novel in the All Roads Lead to Texas Series is called The Rescue, which will be releasing this spring! Each heroine has circumstances that will drive them to a small town in Texas. This series has been such an adventure to write!

Tanya is giving away a copy of To Gain A Valentine in ebook to one of my readers! This is open internationally, except where prohibited by law. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What about you? What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day memory? (totally doesn’t have to be romantic!)