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Author Interview,  Giveaway,  Hope-filled Fiction

Greta Picklesimer: Romance, Kentucky, a Giveaway & More

April 6, 2022 /

I hope you enjoy meeting debut author, Greta Picklesimer this week. She’s sharing about her Historical Romance, Second Chance at Happiness. Be sure to comment on her interview by April 12 for a chance to win a copy! She’s also gifting the winner a spiral notebook with a picture of the cover of the book on it.

Welcome to the blog, Greta! Tell us a little about yourself and your family. 

My name is Greta Picklesimer. I’m happily never-married and owned by one senior, rescue cat named Pearlie Blue. She was named after a bluegrass song my father liked. I was born and raised in Michigan where I happily reside. I work as an office assistant helping people apply for welfare benefits by day. At night, I write.

Wonderful to meet you. Share how and when you started writing.

I’ve been writing since I was eight-years-old. My first stories were very short plays about vampires. I later graduated to writing about people that lived in sunbeams, a sun world, my dog and a vegetable world that I made into a booklet.

Fun! What genre do you write and what inspired you to write that particular genre? 

I write Christian historical romance. One day at work I grabbed a romance off the common bookshelf, read it and thought, I want to write my own romance, so I did. My first foray into writing romance took me about a month. Since then, it takes me much longer to write.

Wow, one month! That’s fast. What is the setting of your current novel? If it’s a real location, have you visited? Tell us about it. 

My debut novel, Second Chance at Happiness, is set in the fictional town of Harrisville Kentucky in 1870. My parents grew up in Kentucky and we spent many happy times visiting relatives in the Eastern Mid and Southern areas of the state.

One of my granddaughters was born in Kentucky. It’s a beautiful state. What do you hope your readers take away from Second Chance at Happiness? 

I hope readers take away the fact that no matter the sin, the Lord is always ready to forgive and forget. He casts our sin as far as the East is from the West.

Amen! How do you incorporate Christ and hope into your writing? 

I love incorporating Christ’s love and forgiveness into my stories. My characters are flawed. They’ve made mistakes and bad choices, but have found hope and healing through forgiveness by the Lord.

Sounds like my kind of book. What do you enjoy most about being a writer? 

I love that I am a writer. I love having written Second Chance at Happiness and that it is being published by Ambassador International. It will come out April 12.

Congratulations on your book launch! What advice would you give an aspiring author? 

Don’t just talk about writing. Do it. And don’t give up. Join a writers’ group to be encouraged to stay the course and keep writing even when it is hard. And it is hard, but it is worth it.

Speaking of writer groups…Do you have critique partners or a critique group? What are the pros and cons of participating in such a group? 

I belong to an online critique group. I don’t always agree with everything that is said, but it is helping me become a better writer. It is hard receiving constructive criticism on my book babies. Even so, I appreciate the guidance I receive from my critique group.

I agree wholeheartedly. Do you enjoy marketing and social media? Which platform are you most active on? 

I enjoy marketing on social media. I’m most active on Facebook. You can find me by searching for Greta Picklesimer Christian Author. I enjoy sharing about my writing process and such there. 

Who is your favorite fiction author? Favorite novel? 

My sister, Sandra Aldrich, is my favorite fiction author. She wrote three novels with Zetta’s Dream being her first. It is loosely based on my grandmother and grandfather’s time spent in a coal camp in Kentucky. Besides my sister, I love C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. I wish Narnia was real.

How cool that your sister is also an author. What’s next from you? 

I’m working on the sequel to Second Chance at Happiness, the brother, Harl’s, story. I hope to finish it by May of this year. 

Thanks so much for sharing on the blog this week! May the Lord bless you as you continue to write for Him.

Join the Conversation. Do you enjoy reading Historical Fiction? What do you like most about it? What about stories with flawed characters who find hope and healing?

Be sure to comment by April 12 for a chance to win Greta’s book. (Keep scrolling to find the comments section)

Second Chance at Happiness by Greta Picklesimer

Click the book cover for purchase link. If you’d like an autographed copy, purchase through PayPal and send Greta $20 through friends and family to cover shipping. A tiny bookmark of the cover will be included.

After Catherine Reed’s husband dies in a tragic logging accident, Catherine and her four-year-old daughter, Clair, move home with Catherine’s mother and brother in order to accept a new position as the teacher for the town’s one-room schoolhouse. But Catherine carries a dark secret that she hasn’t even shared with her mother. Will she ever find forgiveness? 

Samuel Harris has suffered his own loss, losing his wife and unborn child over a year prior. Although he is the town’s preacher, he struggles to trust God, blaming God for allowing him to be absent when his wife died. The guilt has burdened him ever since. But when his old flame Catherine Reed comes back to town, he wonders if they can find healing together.

Catherine believes that anyone who wants to learn should be allowed to learn, but she is quick to find a town divided on that issue. As she and Samuel set out to change people’s minds in a post-Civil War era, they find themselves drawn to each other over and over again. As they join together for the same cause, could they also find a second chance at happiness?

Greta Picklesimer is Michigan born and raised by Kentucky transplanted parents. She accepted Jesus as her Savior at the age of five—a happy day in her memory. Besides writing, Greta spends time working on her art journal and painting with watercolors and oil pastels. She is owned by one rescue cat by the name of Pearlie Blue who was named after her father’s favorite Bluegrass song. By day Greta works as an office assistant. By night, she writes.

Connect with Greta: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads / TikTok

Please share Greta’s interview on social media to spread the word about her book!

If you missed last week’s interview with Barbara Britton, find it here.

As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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41 Comments

  • Deena Adams
    April 13, 2022 at 10:50 am

    Thanks to everyone who read Greta’s interview and joined the conversation! The winner of Greta’s book is Marilyn. Congratulations, Marilyn! Look for an email from Greta soon.

  • Amy Lynn Walsh
    April 9, 2022 at 7:49 pm

    Second Chance at Happiness sounds like a great novel! I am curious to find out what the dark secret is! And I LOVE books about teachers! (Ha ha — since I am a teacher!)

  • Rhonda McDermitt
    April 9, 2022 at 7:34 pm

    This book sounds so good and I can’t wait to read it! I also live in Michigan!

  • Greta C Picklesimer
    April 9, 2022 at 4:50 pm

    Hi Cindi,
    I have trouble with my cat 🐈 sitting in front of my computer while I am writing. She definitely needs my attention. So I wrap her in the shawl I wear when writing. She’s content and soon falls asleep.
    Thanks for joining us.

    Greta Picklesimer

  • Cindi Myers
    April 9, 2022 at 3:37 pm

    Hi.. I really enjoyed this interview. My background is in psychology and love learning about people. I too love cats… My MaineCoon, Phoenix is currently trying to sleep on my keyboard… Thanks for sharing about a – new to me – author.

    • Deena Adams
      April 9, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview, Cindi! Thanks so much for stopping by and joining the conversation. You’re generous to share your keyboard with your cat. LOL

  • Greta C Picklesimer
    April 9, 2022 at 7:58 am

    Teresa,

    I hope I spelled your name right. Isn’t being single the best? I don’t have to pick up anyone’s socks including my own if I don’t want to lol.

    Thanks for your comment.

    Greta Picklesimer

  • Teresa+Moyer
    April 8, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    Glad to meet you Greta! I too never married and I do not mind being single. I love cats and hope to get one when I move. Look forward to checking out your book 🙂

  • Jeanette Davis
    April 6, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    Your book sounds so good. Yes we all sin and have fallen short, but His love, mercy and grace knows no bounds! What Savior. I love how you state that you are ‘happily-never married’ because I believe that not all are meant to be married even though most believe we are ! I don’t know if I am expressing that right, just that you are embracing where you are. Also you kitty who owns that I totally get having two younger but still certaintly own me .

  • Sherry Moe
    April 6, 2022 at 12:08 pm

    Hello! I really enjoyed reading this post and about your book. I’m also a Michigander. Although I was raised in KY. I grew up in one of those hollers where you might not see anyone for weeks. I think that’s when I really started reading more even though I loved reading prior to our move to KY. One of the most memorable book I read when we first moved there was Christy by Catherine Marshall, a book definitely that has characters who find hope and healing. It’s been my favorite ever since. And then I read Gone With the Wind, my first historical fiction book. So those two books began my love of historical fiction and those filled with love, hope, blessings, faith, etc. I will find you on Facebook as I’d love to get to know you more. Thank you for your giveaway and sharing your writing talents for others to enjoy. Many blessings to you.

    • Deena Adams
      April 6, 2022 at 4:29 pm

      Thanks so much for reading and joining the conversation, Sherry! I really enjoy historical fiction, too, among other genres. It’s fun to learn about true events from the past while reading fiction.

    • Greta C Picklesimer
      April 6, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      Sherry,
      Thank you so much for your comment. I love that you grew up in Kentucky but now live in Michigan. I enjoyed visiting relatives in Salyersville and Harlan. What county did you grow up in?

      Blessings,
      Greta Picklesimer

      • Sherry Moe
        April 7, 2022 at 1:38 am

        BTW, I have 4 cats that own me. And they’re bed hogs, it’s a good thing I’m alone cause otherwise my queen size bed wouldn’t be big enough. 🤣

      • Sherry Moe
        April 7, 2022 at 1:41 am

        How interesting. I grew up in Salyersville and Royalton. My two oldest children were born there. They’re Prater’s. I forgot to send you a friend request earlier but came back here so I could make sure I got the spelling of your name correctly. I’ll find you now before I head to bed. It’s my reading time. 😊

  • Greta C Picklesimer
    April 6, 2022 at 5:19 am

    Deena,

    Thank you so much for interviewing me.
    I enjoyed rereading the questions and my answers.
    I’m so excited my book is coming out next week, April 12th.
    Please pre-order a copy on Amazon.com or on some other
    Christian book carrier.

    Thank you again Deena. You and your blog are a blessing to many.

    Greta Picklesimer