Over the next few weeks, I’ll be spotlighting my fellow Inspirational category finalists. First up is Kristi Ann Hunter from Georgia. Welcome Kristi!
Tell me about your GH Finalist manuscript. Is this your first time entering and/or finaling?
My GH finaling manuscript, My Lord Valet, is a Regency romance set in 1813 England. It deals with spies, families, and an embarrassing childhood crush that never quite died. This is my second time entering the Golden Heart, but my first time finaling. Last year they didn’t have the Inspirational category, so I entered the Historical.
Chocolate or peanut butter?
BOTH! Love me some peanut butter M&Ms.
What’s your day job?
Mom to my kids and a bit of a personal assistant for my hubs.
Tell me a bit about yourself. Family, hobbies, etc.
I have three young kids that keep life more than interesting. My husband is a bi-vocational youth minister (he works a full-time job in addition to part time at the church). That keeps us busy, but I love working in ministry with him. When I’m not living out of our mini-van I enjoy over-analyzing television shows, crocheting, and messing around on my computer.
Who are your favorite authors? Your go-tos for fiction?
I read a wide variety of authors. I have everything from Karen Witemeyer and Julia Quinn, but they have some good company on my shelf. Robin McKinley, Lindi Peterson, Laurie Alice Eakes, Patty Smith Hall, and Trish Perry take up a good bit of space as well. While certain authors get my first attention, it usually matters more if the story catches my interest.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere. Seriously, we don’t get to vacation much. We do take an annual trip to the lake (Lake Blackshear) with my whole family and that is a lot of fun and very relaxing.
Are you coming to San Antonio this summer and what are you looking forward to most?
Sadly, no, I won’t be in San Antonio. I’ll be on that annual trip to the lake, which might take a little of the relaxation out of it. 😉 I’ll be anxiously waiting by my phone for my friends to text me the results from the gala.
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
Gee, I don’t know. I would NOT be a Bradford Pear. Those are the worst trees ever.
I don’t know what kind of tree it is, actually, but there’s a style of tree my husband likes to photograph a lot. I’d want to be that. The limbs are always in interesting angles and twists. They make great sun flares when he takes pictures through the leaves. I like them because he can go back and photograph the same tree and it is recognizable but then not the same. I want to be a tree like that.
What did you do/think when you got “the call” (that you are a finalist) on March 26th?
Danced around my house squealing, then proceeded to be ticked off at all my friends and family because none of them were answering their phones.
What are you currently working on?
This questionnaire. 😉
I actually have two projects going at the moment. One is another Regency. The other is a contemporary. Having two projects going at a time allows me to step away from a problem area but still keep my brain engaged in writing. This is the first time I’ve had two projects going from different time periods though, so that’s interesting.
Thanks, Kristi! And God’s blessing on you and your work.
Writer of Sweet Small Town Stories of Love and Family 
Thanks for having me, Carrie! So excited to be a part of this group of finalists.
Great interview Carrie and Kristi!
So generous of you to have this feature Carrie! And I love the name of your blog, so cute!
Thanks for stopping by! I’m exciting about getting to know everyone better.
I love interviews like this and am so glad for any opportunity to get to know my GH sisters better. I am also so glad that the Inspy category wasn’t canceled this year. Although I write romantic suspense, I do read Inspy’s!
Kristi, an all time favorite of mine is The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. It was years before I realized it was a YA book! I’ve read it multiple times.
It’s great getting to know you a little bit. I’m sorry you won’t be at National.
I liked the Blue Sword, but I REALLY love her fairy tale retellings. My copies of Beauty and Spindle’s End are looking more than a little ragged.
I’ve enjoyed both her Beauty re-tellings. I’ll have to get Spindle.
Fun interview, ladies! I loved the question about the tree. And I’m very curious to know the type of tree that is BECAUSE I WANT IT. No wonder you’re a writer, Kristi! The way you described that tree, it could be in my backyard now. But, sadly, it’s not. 🙂
I’m sorry to hear that you won’t be in SA, but you’ll be with us in spirit.
Thanks for the introduction, Carrie. Keep ’em comin’.
Great interview. Although….I question anyone who puts peanut butter on the same level as chocolate. No matter – with three kiddos, I hope you have an endless supply of those peanut butter M&Ms.
Thanks for sharing!
What a fun interview!
So nice to get to know you a little Kristi Ann! I’m so impressed that you can write two books at once– I’m so linear I can’t even think about another one while writing my current ms.
And Carrie– great questions for a fun interview!
I have spaghetti brain. There’s at least five stories marinating up there at any given time. I just focus on two and dump the rest into an idea file.
Great interview, Kristi. So sorry we’ll miss you in San Antonio but know you will have a great time with the fam.
Love this interview, ladies! And love the answer about the tree. Recognizable but not the same. That’s exactly what we should strive to be from book to book! Sorry to hear you won’t be able to attend Nationals, but I hope you have a great time at the lake!
Great interview! Thanks for sharing, Carrie.
Kristi, you inspire me with your two-project load. I may have to give it a try, because my current WIP is kicking my behind. Maybe I’ll work on something else for a bit instead of grumbling (but still not writing!). I laughed out loud at your Bradford Pear tree comment. I can’t agree more! Vicious, smelly, weak-branched things. 🙂
Our house had eight big ones when we moved in seven years ago. We’re down to two and a half. We had one split in the big storms this week.
The two project thing helps keep me writing. I don’t think it would work for everyone, but that’s why it’s a “creative process” I guess. 😉 It’s worth seeing if you like it though.
I’m sorry I didn’t get here yesterday for this awesome interview!!
First of all, I love the idea of your story. I write 19th century RS as well as YA, so this is right up my alley!
Second, I’m sad I’ll be missing you at San Antonio, but your family trip sounds wonderful. We’ll all keep you posted, of course!
And I’ve never heard that particular explanation about writing two books at once but it makes so much sense. When I try to work on two things at once, I always feel guilty, like I’m “cheating” on my manuscripts. LOL! Because it was always drummed into my head to finish finish finish before you move on. But I like this! Thanks!