Monday, October 18, 2010

LoRee Peery's "Moselle's Insurance"

We're happy to have LoRee Peery with us today talking about her book, Moselle's Insurance. To learn more about LoRee and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
My ideas evolve from life experiences mixed with imagination. I was captivated by the novelty wrapped up in a group of women’s shops in neighboring Louisville, Nebraska. Frivolities was born. My maiden name is Mosel and I always thought a niece or granddaughter named Moselle would be sweet. So I birthed another girl with that name as a heroine. My husband is a retired insurance agent, thus Eric’s occupation. Often in life, first romantic relationships end without closure, so I’m drawn to reunion stories. I had so much fun creating Moselle’s mother and aunt that they became heroines of the next two stories. I’m revising the fourth in the series, in which Eric’s ex-wife is the heroine.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I’ve been writing a long time. And I’ve tried to quit writing several times, but I guess the Lord doesn’t want me to. When I had three or four book-length manuscripts (and piled up rejections from editors in the process), I searched for an agent. Moselle’s story was rejected by five agents, but feedback led me to believe I was close to acceptance. I had never considered going the route of an online publisher. But at the time, there was only one NY publisher that accepted unagented material, and they had rejected half my stories. Lori Graham, an editor for The Wild Rose Press and then editor for White Rose Publishing, came to Prairieland Romance Writers. She invited me to submit Moselle’s Insurance. It was rejected twice by White Rose editors, with the invitation to resubmit. I was devastated by the second, very detailed rejection letter, and quit writing for several months. At retreat in January of 2010, my fellow writers encouraged me to reconsider that best-kind-of-a rejection. So I went through the editor’s comments, agreed with her, revised, and resubmitted. Moselle’s story was accepted in less than a week.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
My father’s homicide remains one of Nebraska’s unsolved cold cases.
I would rather clean a toilet than dust furniture.
Before lumbar fusion I wanted to ride a burrow to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I mentioned that I’m polishing the fourth story in the series. It’s less about Frivolities, since the heroine only works there part time, and contains a suspense element. I’m also fictionalizing my dad’s death. This time, there will be closure.

5) Parting comments?
At the end of the day I like to agree with George Strait, and say, “I Saw God Today.” I look for evidence of God every day. For me, it often comes from something visible seen in the nature of country living. If I don’t see Him in the colors of the sky, a flower or butterfly or deer, He gives me peace through His Word. His presence also comes through the trust of a grandchild, the eyes or smile of a friend. He’s with me, His blessings are all around. He is ever-present.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.loreepeery.com/
http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/

15 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry about your father. I hope your writing can help you through this process. What a great assurance that what may remain a mystery here on earth is known to our Heavenly Father.

    Amazed by Grace,
    Brandi
    vi2005@aol.com

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  2. Thank you, Brandi. His grace is amazing! To be chosen by the Father as one of His children blows me away. Ultimately, He is God, and He sees the whole life-path each of us walks.

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  3. I want to thank K. Dawn for her graciousness in granting me this interview. And I wish you all a gorgeous fall like the one we are having in eastern Nebraska.

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  4. Hi LoRee,
    I to look for God in everday..I was lucky and had 3 beautiful daughters that I watched grow in to becoming adults, 2 of them are doing great and my oldest has a lot of issues..but so far God has helped me watch over her and keep her going.. I pray for her I think almost every hour each day...But with all that he has given be , God did it again by blessing me with a beaitful baby boy 4 yrs ago out of the blue..We always want a boy but it didnt happen and you know your just grateful for what I already have..this little guy has given me so much to look forward to and even more hope that everything will be o.k. I see God's grace in every little smile, light in his bright blue eyes and in his laughter..
    It was great reading yur post and I cant wait to enjoy your book.
    Heidi
    heidijohnjeff@verizon.net

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  5. Hi, LoRee, very nice interview! I felt the same way with my writing. I'm glad you pursued. I always said I'd rather clean toilets than cashier...:)

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  6. Sorry about your father. I like to write, but with 5 children (3 still at home) and a part time job, I have very little time to do anything else. Maybe I'll be able to write again someday!

    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. Heidi, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a nice long comment. We often find connections with others who see the hand of God in their lives. Aren't you glad we all don't walk the same path? Each of us have special needs, many not obvious until we know one another better.

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  8. Lisa, thanks for stopping by. Writers write. Period. We do different things with that calling. There's just something about dust . . . we haven't had rain in several weeks. Life in the country is interesting because it's either muddy or dusty.

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  9. I hate rejection letters too, and tend to react like you do. I am blessed by a good friend and a husband who won't let me give up.
    The book sounds really good.

    telsiacharis at yahoo dot co dot uk

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  10. Clare, good to see you here. A long time ago I decided to look at rejection letters as reassurance that I'm at least still working at writing. I look forward to reading your work.

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  11. K. Dawn, thanks for inviting LoRee to be your guest and giving us an opportunity to learn more about her and her writing.

    LoRee, my heart goes out to you in the loss of your father and the pain the circumstances surrounding it caused. I think it's great that you're using your writing to help in your healing process.

    Let's hear it for those supportive writer friends who encouraged you to edit your story and resubmit. They believed in you, and they were right!

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  12. Oh, Keli, In some ways it is true that time heals the hurt. The raw pain has passed. The Lord has filled my life with so much. I miss my parents when one of the kids or grandkids brings them up. The Lord catches my tears and reminds me He is the Father to orphans.
    And, don't I know how that group of gals has blessed me. There is only one who hasn't published--her turn is around the corner.

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  13. a great posting...would love to read this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  14. What a different and pretty name you have. Am so sorry your Dad's murder is unsolved. I know of some in our area. We know that these horrible people will get the justice in the end.
    Thank you for offering a copy of your book!
    God Bless
    Maureen

    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  15. My monitor went bad, my hubby had a pacemaker implantation, and now he's about to select a winner. Thanks for stopping here, Karen and Maureen. I wish my mom was alive so I could pass on the compliment about my name.

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