Plus an ebook giveaway!

About Gail Pallotta…

Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, Mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. She’s been a Sunday school teacher, a swim-team coordinator and an after-school literary instructor. A former regional writer of the year for American Christian Writers Association, she won Clash of the Titles in 2010. Her teen book, Stopped Cold, was a best-seller on All Romance eBooks, finished fourth in the Preditors and Editors readers’ poll, and was a finalist for the 2013 Grace Awards. She’s published short stories in “Splickety” magazine and Sweet Freedom with a Slice of Peach Cobbler. Some of her published articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums.

Follow Gail

Website | www.gailpallotta.com

Blog | www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Facebook | www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore

Twitter | @Hopefulwords

About Stopped Cold…

Teen Margaret McWhorter, a freshman in high school in Mistville, North Carolina, enjoys flirting with her first romantic interest, swimming and hanging out with friends. Then her brother, Sean, suffers a stroke from taking a steroid. Now, he’s lying unconscious in a hospital. Margaret’s angry at her dad for pushing Sean to be a football star, but a fire of hate burns inside her to find the criminals. While she, her heartthrob and best friend look for them, she calls on her Christian faith, asking God to cure Sean, heal the hate and open her heart to love.

Q&A with Gail…

Tiffanie Lynn asks, “What inspired you to write this book?”

Hi Tiffany Lynn. As a young adult I saw lots of heartache in several instances when people weren’t number one. Sadly, the drive pushed some of them to destructive behavior. I could only imagine the pain they must have gone through and how their God-given talents were wasted simply because they weren’t “the best.” The fact that God gave us all a gift or gifts to use for Him kept rattling around in my head, andl I decided to write about it. When I thought of being number one, even though we can win everything from a pie-tasting contest to a spelling bee, sports came to mind. I wanted to write a mystery and thought of how much I loved Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys as a young person. I pondered how to connect a sports story and a mystery, and steroids came to mind. When I researched steroid use, one of the main reasons given for taking them was a desire to excel in athletics. This rounded out the premise for my book.

Diane E. asks, “How do you “get over” the insecurities of everyone not liking you / your books?”

Hi Diane.  Well, some people will like it and others won’t, just like some people like strawberry ice cream and some don’t. If one feels called to write then that person must stay focused on the calling. Writers most definitely should try to please their readers. I make every effort to learn all I can about my craft and to produce worthwhile work that readers will enjoy. That’s an important part of it, I think. The more one knows about what he or she is doing, the more secure he or she feels about it. True, it’s subjective and that makes it difficult. I’m a spiritual person, so I try to think in terms of what God would like me to do with the things I write. A wise person once told me, “If all’s right between you and the Lord, nothing else matters.”

Chickie B. aska, “If you weren’t a writer, what would you do, or what do you also do?”

Hi Chickie, I can’t not be a writer any more than I can not have brown eyes. I’ve held many jobs other than that of a novelist, but no matter what I’m doing I also write. When I helped my husband start his business, I didn’t have time to create books, so I wrote

articles in my spare time. I’ve worked as a receptionist, a file clerk and typist then an editor and copywriter. While I sat at my desk in the various offices, I often wrote poems between my duties. I’ve also been an after-school program literary instructor. When I’m not writing, I volunteer at church, swim and spend time with friends and family. I also enjoy arranging flowers and like to travel.

Ashley A. asks, “What motivates you to write?”

Hi Ashley. Simply put, the world around me. Sometimes I write stories based on things I observe, such as in Stopped Cold. Lots of people ask if writers draw from their personal experience. I do, but it’s not a life chronicle. I may have enjoyed a particular place, occasion or time in my life that inspired me to write about something similar. We all share the same emotions—happy, sad, grief-stricken, etc. I relate the emotions from events that happen in my life to the pretend people and their situations in my stories.

Daniela D. asks, “What is your favorite book and why?”

Hi Daniela. My favorite book is the Bible. In a more commercial vein, I don’t read a particular genre, but enjoy many different kinds of stories. The ones I like best are well written. There are so many great books it’s difficult to choose just one. As a Southerner, I’m certainly partial to Gone with the Wind. When I was in college, out of all the novels I was required to read, I preferred, An American Tragedy with Of Human Bondage, a close second. When I was growing up, my first choice was any Nancy Drew mystery.

Thanks to all of you. I appreciate your questions and would love to hear from you if you have more.

The Giveaway…

Gail Pallotta has graciously offered to give a copy (ebook) of Stopped Cold to one of you, my super awesome readers. Simply leave a comment or question for Gail below. Other entries available via the Rafflecopter. Enter through Friday, October 31st. One random winner will be chosen and announced in my November Newsletter (so be sure to sign up using the form at the bottom right hand side of this page. You won’t want to miss it!)

Thank you, Gail for taking time to share with us today!

And thank you, readers for always reading and commenting. Until next time, happy reading!

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