It is an honor to feature my friend and author, Teresa Wells, as a guest on my website. She is fun, sweet, kind, a woman of faith, and a great storyteller. Isn’t this the prettiest book cover you’ve seen in a long time? What Brings Us Joy is book one of The Truitts of Texas series. The bluebonnets on the cover reflect the beauty of the setting and are famous in Texas. Here is a hint related to the storyline:
1895: After losing their Georgia home, eighteen-year-old Delia Truitt and her family move to Blooming Grove, Texas, to work for a relative on a ramshackle farm. Set on helping her family dig out of their impoverished circumstances, she plans to open a dressmaker’s shop, combining her sewing skills and her keen fashion sense. But owning a business takes money she doesn’t have.
Unless she can finish her quilt in time to enter the county fair. The prize money would be just enough to open her shop. Determined and resourceful, Delia sets her sights on success—until her heart takes an unexpected detour when she meets handsome Clarence Parker.
Bent on respectability, Clarence refuses to let his past get in the way of his future happiness, especially after falling for spirited Delia Truitt. But his hopes shatter when headlines declare members of his former gang have broken out of jail and are heading his way, set on revenge. Though Clarence doesn’t regret testifying against the outlaws, he fears his future with Delia is in jeopardy. Clarence will protect her from the killers, even if it means risking their future together.
Can Clarence keep her safe? And will Delia love him after she finds out about his past?
Teresa answered some fun questions for us (below).
What makes your current release special or different from other books?
I think what makes my books different from other Christian historical romances is the mingling of grit, grace, and humor in a place that refuses to be tamed.
The Truitts of Texas series takes place in Blooming Grove, Texas, in 1895. In that time, women were demanding the right to vote, railroads crisscrossed the state, and luxuries such as automobiles, electricity, telephones, and indoor plumbing were reality in big cities, but in small towns, they were merely rumors of progress. Outlaws roamed the land, and men got away with murder. The people of that time, including my fictional Truitt family, worked hard, married, raised their children, and helped their neighbors—all while keeping an eye out for trouble.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on the second book in The Truitts of Texas series, called Seeds of Hope. The main characters are Rabb Truitt and Sallie Parker who we got to know a little in What Brings Us Joy. Rabb is fun to write, because he’s a guy everyone loves to watch. He’s bigger-than-life, confident, loud, loves being the center of attention, unpredictable, loves to tease his sisters and flirt with pretty women. He’ll go to the mat to protect those he loves, and has a hard time letting go once he gets an idea in his head. His charm has saved him from punishment more times than not. Which makes his new role as deputy sheriff of Blooming Grove a little ironic.
Sallie is the perfect foil for him. She’s a no-nonsense, practical kind of girl with a soft spot for the underdog. She’s a great listener but will call someone out when they’re doing the wrong thing. She values fairness, friends, and gardening. She hates wearing spectacles, bullies, and being the center of attention, and couldn’t care less about fashion and frilly things. She can’t stop loving Rabb Truitt, even when it’s obvious he will never see her in a romantic light. Which makes helping him on a secret project both thrilling and excruciating.
What genre would you like to consider in the future that is different from what you write now?
I’d like to try writing romantic suspense. I love to read a book with an element of looming danger.
What book or book series have you recently enjoyed reading?
I’ve really enjoyed the Timeless Series by Gabrielle Meyer. And I just finished reading This Promised Land by Cathy Gohlke, which grabbed me and wouldn’t let go! My frontrunner favorite author never changes—Lisa Wingate.
Is there someone who inspired your writing?
My mom always encouraged me to write. She wrote prose and poems and loved playing with words.
Describe what you feel is the hardest part about writing.
For me, the hardest part is the first draft. It never lives up to my vision for the story! The words on the page (or on the computer) are surface level and underwhelming. I love revision, when I have a chance to go back and make it better.
What is the greatest blessing of being a writer?
The opportunity to touch someone and help them see they aren’t alone. Fiction doesn’t preach or shake the finger of shame. It lays out a story and shows how characters dealt with hard situations. We learn from seeing others grapple with hardship and conflict, and often forget they’re made-up characters. I love that Jesus shared truth through parables.
If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would you like?
I’d love to have an endless supply of Mexican food (i.e., TexMex) from El Fenix! I never get tired of good TexMex.
How do you relax and recharge when you step away from writing?
My husband and I watch true crime shows! Not exactly relaxing or recharging, but it’s a great diversion from historical romance. I also like to cross stitch. However, as a true extrovert, I’d have to say getting out of my house and being around people recharges me.
What is the one thing we’d never guess about you?
I have ADD. The biggest way it affects me is being able to focus in a crowd or outdoors. Some people thrive when they write or read outdoors. Not me! I look at every bird, bee, and plane that flies by. Everything captures my attention except the task before me. So my best writing happens in my office, all by myself. Until a squirrel dashes by my window…
What is your superpower?
I’m really good in emergencies! By that I mean when something urgent happens (i.e., tornadoes, car wrecks, and children with boo-boos), I’m the one who can think logically and seek appropriate solutions. If you’re acquainted with the Enneagram, I’m a 6, which means my mottos is, “Plan for the worst-case scenario!”
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Scotland. Some of my ancestors lived there long ago, and I’ve always wanted to see the castles.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be and why?
I think I’d be Skeeter Phelan from The Help. She was deeply troubled about how the servants were treated and took action to make their lives better. When her friends treated her like an enemy, she didn’t cave to their demands. In fact, she worked even harder. I like that she sees a bad situation and works to make things right. Even though things didn’t work out smoothly, Skeeter made an impact on her community despite their resistance to change.
Learn more about Teresa at these locations:
Website: https://www.teresawells.com
Bookbub: https://tinyurl.com/twellsbookbub
GoodReads: https://tinyurl.com/twellsauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresagreenwells_writer
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/teresawellswriter
Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/twellspinterest
Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/TeresaExclusiveUpdates
Ellen, thank you for having me as a guest on your wonderful blog!
It was such a delight to feature you and your wonderful book!