Author Interview (and a Giveaway): Sunshine Rodgers & After You

As part of the Celebrate Lit tour for After You, I am pleased to welcome Sunshine Rodgers to the blog today!

Sunshine Rodgers has been writing professionally for over three years. She is the author of four faith-based books, all unique ranging from fiction, nonfiction, and a children’s book. Graduating from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Communications, Sunshine took a more on-screen approach to storytelling by working as a technical director and part of the production crew to television, movies, and the entertainment industry for over ten years. She always had a heart for the written word, and once she decided to share her literary talent, her writing career just took off. She has signed with two different publishers, worked with editors and cover artists and has seen her books in retail stores and online bookstores. She now spends her days traveling, appearing in signings, festivals, and speaking engagements. Sunshine is married to her best friend, Travis, who is also the unofficial editor to her manuscripts.

You can connect with Sunshine on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Oh, that’s right, we talk about your love life. We sit with you in class. We know all about that thing you did last night. How do we know? We watch you.

We go to those dance clubs with you. We scheme hideous outcomes for you. We know exactly what it is that will get you to our side. We create those wrong friendships you wished you never had. We invite you into those relationships that break your heart. We give you the life you never wanted, but it came at such a sweet price. We promised you the world and you took it like a kid wanting candy.

All. Too. Easy.

All I can say is, please, don’t let me get in the way of the worst ending of your life. I’m right behind you. I’ll open that door to frustration, nonsense and destruction.

Hi Sunshine! Welcome to the blog!

Sunshine: Summer. My name is Sunshine, so it’s quite obvious I like the heat and the sun. Hence the reason why I had to leave the north and migrate down to the south to live in Florida!

Carrie: I think I need to change my name to Snow…. 😛

Sunshine: Tea. Preferably hot tea. It relaxes me instantly and I seem to get a great nice sleep after one cup of hot mint tea.

Carrie: Tea does seem relaxing… i wish i could like it lol.

Sunshine: the ocean. I grew up with mountains in my backyard, spending some time in the Tennessee Great Smoky mountains. Though it was beautiful watching the leaves change, I think being near the ocean can make me feel like a get-a-away from life.

Carrie: I can see that – but those Smoky Mountains are my happy place!

Sunshine: Print. I never have read an ebook. Ever. I am one of those annoying readers who dog-ears the pages, highlights lines and marks up the pages with pen

Carrie: I didn’t think there was anyone left that hadn’t read at least one ebook out of necessity. I’m impressed!!

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

Sunshine: Controlling the weather!! When I was growing up, I loved X-Men and I wanted to be Storm. I thought, since I was named Sunshine, I should be her long-lost sister or something. I always wanted that superpower!

Carrie: hahaha! I love it!

Q: When you walk into a bookstore, where do you head first?

Sunshine: the cheap section of dvds. (that’s a horrible answer, but since there are no Blockbusters around and bookstores sell cheap dvds…I’m always the first to look there!). Though I will spend the majority of my time at the Christian Living section of bookstores, I can help but meander over to the children’s section to add some nostalgia to my life by picking up Dr. Seuss or The Little Mermaid or Bernstein Bear books.

Carrie: Children’s books that can be enjoyed by adults are just the best, aren’t they? 🙂

Q: Do you have any strange writing habits/quirks?

Sunshine: I wouldn’t say strange. But when I’m writing I have to have non-lyrical background music on (my go-to is “The Holiday” Soundtrack or any of the Narnia soundtracks). I get in the zone pretty quickly. I will write on my lunch breaks at work and if my co-workers come up to me to ask a question, I will give them a nasty look as if to say “My headphones are on. You know the rules. When I am writing, I am not to be interrupted!” except of course by my alarm clock to tell me when my lunch break is over :p

Carrie: Oh those dreaded alarm clocks lol) and The Holiday soundtrack is a superb choice!

Q: Which character was the most difficult to write?

Sunshine: Oh my golly! The demon in my book “After You: A Demon is Always Lurking Nearby.” That was very hard to write. I had to get in the head of a demon!? My co-workers asked if I was okay; I was writing so intensely! I had to get dark writing that and I am very Sun-shiney by nature.

Carrie: Yikes! I bet that was difficult

Q: Did you have the whole plot outlined before you started writing, or did you let the characters dictate what came next?

Sunshine: I have one line ideas of what the story will be. Other than that, I let the story go where it wants to go. I love it that way. I’m not writing the characters; the characters come to life on their own and start talking by themselves. It’s a cool feeling to let the story unfold naturally and organically.

Carrie: I love hearing about that from authors!

Q: What do you most want readers to take away from After You?

Sunshine: In every book that has my name to it, I promised God one thing: to showcase that He is good! God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been key players in every book I’ve written! And no matter what mess the characters find themselves in, or no matter what Satan tries to throw their way; I want my readers to understand how personal, how real, how near and how good their Heavenly Father is!

Carrie: Our Heavenly Father is so sweet, isn’t He?

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.

Sunshine: Sooo many things! In 2019, I am excited to announce the release of my 5th book, “The Creation Project” which is a Christian Fiction told from God’s point of view about Lucifer’s fall and the Genesis story.

My 6th book, a children’s book, will also be released in 2019.

And I am writing my 7th book now which will be a Christian Romance.

To celebrate her tour, Sunshine is giving away a grand prize of a “Last Night, When I Prayed” coffee mug, a bookmark, scripture, little bible pamphlets on the subject matters such as integrity, finances and miracles, a CD sermon message entitled “God’s Plan for your Life” by Dr. Creflo Dollar and a $10 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

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This giveaway is hosted by CelebrateLit, not RimSP.
Follow along with the tour for more chances to win!