Let’s Chat! Author Denise Weimer

Welcome, Everyone!

Denise Weimer honors us with her presence this week. She is a hybrid author of historical and contemporary time-slip romantic suspense. Denise loves to write dual time-period stories where modern characters learn life lessons as they uncover a mystery from history.

Denise holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. A former magazine writer, she works as a substantive editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has authored The Georgia Gold Series, The Restoration Trilogy and a number of romantic novellas. She is represented by Hartline Literary Agency. A wife and swim mom of two daughters. Denise always pauses for old houses, coffee, and chocolate!

Denise is offering a giveaway via Rafflecopter that will run the month of May. Just click here  and scroll down to Denise Weimer. Choose to sign up under your Facebook or Twitter account. And you’re entered.

Denise Weimer’s Birth as a Writer

My life before writing consisted of 11 years. As an only child born near Atlanta, Georgia, I traveled with my parents to historic sites. I sat in the back seat and scribbled stories into spiral-bound notebooks about the people who might have lived there. My mother listened to every word and encouraged me to keep writing.

Denise Weimer’s First Steps as an Author

By the time I graduated with a journalism degree and minor in history, I had a Civil War-era trilogy ready to go. In those days, I was able to approach publishers directly, without an agent or prior publishing experience.

Following a string of rejections, my dream publisher called. My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest! This was it! My sample chapters had progressed to the final review committee. But alas … they had just committed to a similar series by another gentleman. (Probably Gilbert Morris. LOL.)

So I concentrated on my public relations job, independent editing, and layout as we started a family. God removed my pressing desire to write so I could focus on our two baby girls.

A Debut for Denise Weimer

When my younger daughter took naps, I wrote a novella. Redeeming Grace’s publisher set the price so high I LOST money when I placed it in a store. That venture looked like a failure. But it led to an introduction to John Kollock, a prominent regional artist who lent me his family letters and diaries . His endorsement and cover art opened doors for my Georgia Gold Series (historical romance with a touch of mystery, set from the Georgia Gold Rush through Reconstruction).

The publisher for that series went under just as book one released. A dreadful and embarrassing situation and six months of hemorrhaging money as I attempted to keep book one, Sautee Shadows, afloat, led me to put my writing on the altar. I was willing to do something different if God wanted.

After a move and another year, I found another traditional, independent publisher, Canterbury House. This time, things went smoothly!

Next Steps for Author Denise Weimer

I followed Georgia Gold with The Restoration Trilogy, time slip romantic suspense. The modern characters uncover stories from three different centuries as they restore a historic property. But someone does not want them at work.

While promoting Restoration Trilogy, I learned the importance of networking with readers via social media and other authors via blogging. My dear friends at Colonial Quills blog invited me to join them in the Backcountry Brides collection. The eight Colonial romances in one volume release this month with Barbour Publishing.

My heart-pounding story, Across Three Autumns, features a strong heroine who doesn’t think she’s worthy of love. However, the swoon-worthy Scottish scout might be stubborn enough to convince her otherwise.

What Denise Weimer Sees for the Future

I have several stories out to publishers via my agent. I pray they’ll invest in an emerging author! I’m also helping out with editing at Lighthouse Publishing. Being an editor was always a secondary dream, a package deal with being an author.

The latest collection, the agent, and the editing position all came about thanks to my Colonial Quills connections. I’ve learned writing is NOT a solo endeavor. In the community of faith, we all need each other. So thank you, Linda, for hosting me today! And thank you, readers, for stopping by.

How to Find Denise and Her Books

Website
Facebook
Twitter @denise_weimer
Amazon
Backcountry Brides Collection – Colonial America

P.S.

On our recent 25th!! anniversary (I was a child bride), I enjoyed three favorites—hot tea, cheesecake, and truffles. But I had to fight off husband Wayne. Guess who won?

~ ~ ~

How fascinating, Lord, the myriad ways You call writers to pen Your stories. Then You bring them together as community in support of one another. You’ve written Your history on the hearts of writers like Denise whose passion is sharing Your story. We treasure books like hers that tell of Your goodness through all generations. We pray You’ll bless each word Denise writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake ~