My friend, Delores Topliff, joined me today to talk about her new Christmas novel, Christmas Tree Wars. In addition, we also talked about some other fun topics.
The premise of Christmas Tree Wars sound like fun. Here is a teaser:
Christmas is meant to be a time of goodwill, but there’s no peace between two neighboring Christmas tree farmers involved in a longstanding feud. Can this year be different with a bit of holiday romance tossed into the season?
When the financial planner son and forestry major niece of feuding Christmas tree farmers come home to help their families in crisis, it takes Christmas tree wars to a whole new level. As the young people seek success by competing to provide a national Christmas tree, romance fills the air and connects them like mistle to toe.
Books with a Christmas theme make the best Christmas gifts. Available on Amazon!
What are you working on right now?
More and more Amish families have been moving into the area surrounding our small central Minnesota farm. Most I’ve met are delightful and we’ve become friends. Visits into their homes and their visits in mine have given me windows into their world, so I’m writing an Amish romance tentatively called Winter Valentine. One dear Amish friend trusts me and she says she will answer any question I ask. So far that’s proven true, and we have great discussions.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go and why?
It’s not the right time to go there again now, but so far I’ve traveled throughout Israel nine times during 40 years for 135 days total. I’m grateful for my rich friendships there and enjoy staying in touch with my friends via Zoom, WhatsApp, and other means.
If you could have an unlimited supply of money for the rest of your life, what would you do with it?
I’ve been involved with some fabulous mission outreach programs in various countries for many years. Some have raised and educated orphans who are now amazing leaders in those organizations and are investing and multiplying their strengths in those around them. I’ve been blessed to visit Israel nine times since 1984, the Philippines six times, the jungles of SE Colombia once for 3 ½ months where my younger son and I traveled by canoes in piranha-filled waters, taught kids, trained teachers, and fell in love with the people. I’ve been privileged to visit many other nations as well. I would increase my gifts to the deserving groups I already know who use donations well, and continue traveling there as well as to new places. Education and medical care would remain priorities for me.
Is there someone famous (alive or passed) who has inspired you positively or negatively?
The librarian in the small library across the street from our sub-division home guided me into widespread reading and encouraged my childhood hopes and dreams. Also, my high school English and creative writing teacher, Jane Weber, believed in and nurtured her students so well, she inspired me to want to be an excellent teacher and writer and do all I can to inspire and nurture in the same ways.
Tell us about your next writing project.
As author friends and I were batting around story ideas, I recalled the experiences of a courageous military mp friend of mine who survived danger and heartache during her service in Iraq. I’m adapting some of her experiences into someone who returns home from current military duty and as much as she’d like to forget behind, encounters crimes and crises here that require intervention. I’m 20,000 words in and like where it’s going. This fast-paced action is a new genre for me, but I’m enjoying it very much.
Describe what you feel is the hardest part about writing.
For me it’s creating the dialogue pacing and conversations uniquely tailored to each individual character.
What do you find is the greatest blessing of being a writer?
Having readers of any age tell me how a story line or character spoke to a something personal in their lives and blessed them. It’s not a cliché to say that even if only one or two readers per book write sharing how they were impacted, the hard work of writing books is worth it. I have some messages and photos I’m keeping forever.
Do you have a funny memory you’re willing to share with us?
I was typically a good kid, but one night during my college freshman year, homework overload got me and I began reciting words from a Fun with Dick and Jane elementary school reader while beating their rhythm on the table top as if I were playing bongo drums. The small older librarian wearing half-moon glasses came my way, held a finger to his lips, and beckoned for me to gather my pile of books and follow as he ushered me out of the library.
Contacts for Delores:
Website: https://delorestopliff.com
Blog: https://delorestopliff.com/blog/
Email delores@delorestopliff.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DETopliff
Twitter: @delorestopliff
Instagram: delorese.topliff
Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/919a77d66e15/newsletter-sign-up
Great interview! I had to reread the part about getting kicked out of the library. Fun with Dick and Jane? While in college? Hilarious. I love Christmas Tree Wars. I am convinced it would make a wonderful Christmas TV show or movie. Excellent work Delores.
She made me laugh with that story about her misbehaving. I can’t imagine her getting herself kicked out of any place, especially a library.
Thanks for commenting, Jenny!
I want to to thank you for this fantastic read!!
I certainly loved every bit of it. I’ve got you book-marked to check out new
things you