Peggy
Blann Phifer is an author and columnist, book reviewer and author
interviewer, whose work has appeared on various Web sites and writer
periodicals both in print and online. She is also an avid reader who
loves to escape by diving between the covers of a good book. Peg enjoys
handcrafts of all kinds and her home shows off some of her work, though
most end up as gifts for friends and family. A retired executive
assistant, Peg now makes her home in southern Nevada with husband of 25
years, Jim.
TO SEE THE SUN is her debut novel, released January 2012
Contact her at her website
Visit her blog "Whispers in Purple"
As an added bonus to reading about Peg and her book, if you comment, dear reader, I'll enter your name into a drawing to win either a paperback or E-book of "To See the Sun." I'll close the contest after a week on February 16th. and announce the winner on the 17th. Please leave your E-mail address within the comment box.
Welcome to Peg's world!
Peg, is
“To See the Sun” dear to your heart, and if so why?
Yeah, it is. Mainly because I carried it
for so long! As my ‘first born’ I think it will always have a special place in
my heart.
Tell
us a little about who you are. How would you define yourself?
Seriously introverted. I took the Briggs-Myers test (or is it the other way around?) and came out as 80% Introvert. Which did not surprise me in the least. Alone, I’m the star of the show, witty and charming, outgoing. In public, I’d just as soon blend into the wallpaper. I don’t enjoy meeting strangers. Not a good thing for a writer, and especially troubling now that I’ll be required to be all those things in person.
Is this book’s setting based
on a real place?
Las Vegas,
yes. This is my adopted home town, now. I’ve lived here since 1980. I’ve
mentioned some real places, like Ruby Tuesday’s and McDonald’s, I don’t give
any specific locations. The Las Vegas Hilton, is, of course real. The North Las
Vegas airport is real. Green Valley is real, but Erin’s gated community and
bungalow are completely fictional. And Vegas is rampant with high-rise
condominiums, so Erin’s penthouse could be anywhere. The same with Doug and
Astrid’s estate.
Would you give us the jacket
blurb from the book?
Pregnant and widowed hadn’t been part of her “happily
ever after” dream. And now, someone was trying to kill her . . .
Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother
in the same year, anymore than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone
calls, and a strange homeless man who seems to know all about her. The thought
of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no
idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life
begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.
When P.I. Clay Buchanan, stumbles upon Erin at her husband's
gravesite, he’s totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous
reaction at seeing him, however, was
predictable. But Clay can’t let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not
when he has evidence that proves Erin’s life is in danger.
With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay’s help
. . . and it just might be her undoing.
Very nice blurb, Peg. What
keeps you the most humble as a writer?
The realization that I’m just one small
frog—make that a tadpole—in a huge pond. Each step along the way has already
been taken by countless others ahead of me. I am not unique. I need those
others who’ve “been there, done that” to teach me . . . from whom to learn.
(Hm, I think I’ve mixed my metaphors.) When I get a little prideful, I get a
gentle whisper that goes something like “Hey, Peg, you wouldn’t be where you
are without Me.”
Is
your writing journey as you envisioned it? If not, how is it different?
Not in the least! I think most new writer
wannabe’s believe they’ll be an overnight success. They’ve got the best story,
best plot, best characters to write that Great American Novel. Then reality
hits. My reality was a twenty-year struggle to get the book of my heart
written. Never saw that coming. Talk about humbling.
What
do you do to rest, but still be creative?
I read. Reading relaxes me while still stimulating my mind. A turn of phrase, an exquisite description . . . will have me reaching for a notepad because it’s given me a creative idea. No, I don’t copy, but it will trigger a new thought. Does that make sense?
Yes, it does make sense, because I do the same thing. So, Peg, what
motivates you to get out of bed and head to your keyboard?
Nothing. Ha! Because that’s not the way
my day starts. It may be several hours before I can get to the computer.
If
you weren't a writer, what would you most likely be doing instead?
I love writing and being a writer. But I love designing, creating beauty. I’d probably be an Interior Designer. I love playing with colors and effects. When my hands were still cooperative, I loved crafting.
What
sparks your creativity when feeling drained?
See above. J
If
you were an ice cream, what flavor would you be?
Chocolate
What
is your favorite dessert and least favorite?
I’m not a dessert/sweet-tooth person.
Weird, huh?
I don't think it's weird, that's great! What types of books do you like to read?
My reading tastes are all over the place.
I love historical fiction set in other countries and eras . . . Medieval,
Regency and Victorian, but the majority of my reading these days is in
Suspense, since that’s the genre I write in.
Tell
us a few things about yourself some folks may not know.
Oh, dear. I have a temper. And yes, it
gets me in trouble. I’m not particularly fond of ‘Prairie Romance’ novels. I
can’t stand oatmeal. I fear dark basements.
Who
was the greatest influence for you as a writer?
A prolific writer named
Emilie Loring. She wrote the most wonderful books, mostly set during the
1940’s-50’s. Not exactly suspense, but definitely had antagonists that created
havoc for the protagonists. Conflict aplenty. I devoured them and thought I’d
like to write like that. Clean, moral fiction, though secular, but I often felt
she was a Believer. I’m certain a lot of Emilie Loring rubbed off on me.
Where can readers get your
book?
Thank you, Peg, for agreeing to this interview. I am sure your readership will grow as more folks hear about and then read To See the Sun. I don't doubt that word of mouth will spread the news, also. I'll certainly share the news!
