Monday, March 28, 2011

Trish Perry's "Tea for Two"


We're happy to have Trish Perry with us today talking about her book Tea for Two. To learn more about Trish and her book, read on!

Title: Tea for Two
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Cover blurb: Zack Cooper tries his best to raise his children, but he's losing his grip on them in their teen years. They've both had scrapes with the local law.
Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel has the perfect woman in mind to help Zack. Counselor Tina Milano meets weekly at the tea shop with her women's group. Milly encourages Zack and Tina to work together to draw the teens back before they get in even hotter water. Milly never thought things might heat up between Zack and Tina. Or did she?
Tina's connections with the Middleburg police department prove a mixed blessing for Zack and his kids. Both her best friend and old boyfriend are officers on the force.
And when Tina's women's group gets wind of her personal pursuits and clashes, they want to help. The group's meetings at the tea shop take on a slightly different flavor. Tina wonders who, exactly, is counseling whom.

1) How did this story come to you?
This book is a follow-up to The Perfect Blend, the first book in my Tea with Millicent series with Harvest House. After my editor first suggested the series to me, I put together a few story ideas that could revolve around Milly, the tea shop proprietress who figures in all the books. I already planned to have a women’s group that met regularly at the shop, so this book focused on the counselor in charge of that group. And because Middleburg is a town with a wide socio-economic spectrum, I wanted to incorporate someone from farming or horse breeding into the plot. So our hero’s connection to the shop is the produce he provides. After that, it was a matter of getting the young farmer and the busy counselor together so they could fall in love!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This series concept wasn’t my idea. My editor contacted me with the suggestion, and I loved the character and storyline possibilities. Since I’ve already worked on a number of books with Harvest House, I provided one-page summaries for Tea with Millicent, as well as a number of different series ideas. This was one that came to fruition, and I couldn’t be happier.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) I met Telly Savales at a disco in Washington, D.C. in the 80s. He was a charming gentleman.
Even though I had been thoroughly warned ahead of time, I almost fell prey to a pickpocketing ruse in Rome. b) It was the forewarning that finally came to mind and foiled the attempt.
c) I once had dinner at a restaurant in Jamaica while a donkey stood outside, repeatedly poking his entire head in through the window by my table.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m finishing up devotionals for Summerside Press’s Your Grace is Sufficient But Decaf is NOT, a follow-up devotional to Delight Yourself in the Lord…Even on Bad Hair Days, which released March 1. Then I’ll write Labor of Love for the Barbour collection The Midwife’s Legacy, releasing March 2012.
And I recently turned in my manuscript for my Christmas novel, ‘Tis the Season, which will be coupled with Debby Mayne’s Deck the Halls in Summerside’s September release, Love Finds You on Christmas Morning.

5) Parting comments?
Lately I’ve come across a few fellow authors who have received some pretty harsh online reviews on their books. We’ve all received them—that’s just part of this business. But if you’re a writer, I want to encourage you to stay focused on what the Lord puts on your heart to write, and then do the very best you can with the talent He’s given you. You can’t do any more than that. And if you’re a reader, I want to encourage you to remember that most novelists pour their heart and soul into what they write—especially those who try to serve God and entertain readers with their writing. And all of them are people, just like you and me.

6) Where can fans find you on the Internet?
My site is http://www.trishperry.com/. I feature fellow inspirational fiction authors twice a week, and they give away signed copies of their latest releases to readers who comment.
I’m also on Facebook as Trish Hawley Perry and on Twitter as TrishPerryWrtr.

21 comments:

  1. Thanks for the encouragement for writers to stay focused. That's been a major struggle for me, but your "word" just confirms the "Word" I received earlier this year about focus. I look forward to reading your work! Blessings to you.

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  2. Enjoy reading your post! I'd love to be entered in the giveaway. want[_]adventure[_]write[at]yahoodotcom

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  3. This book really sounds great. Actually the series does and one that I definitely want to read. Please enter me.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  4. I already have this book on my wishlist!! Trish Perry is a "new" read for me as I've not read any of her books previously but am intrigued by the story line in this and am definitely adding her to my "preferred" author's list!! I'm sorry some writers have received harsh critiques because I don't feel that is constructive...If you don't like a book, there are ways to express that without being harsh...we are supposed to build each other up in the Lord!!! margieatmijaresdotnet

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  5. Great interview! Please enter me in the drawing.

    edwina(dot)cowgill(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  6. I'm praying for your focus, Karen. Keep turning to Him each morning, and He'll keep you on the path He set out for you. I do that, and it really works!

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  7. This book sounds so charming! I'm tossing my name in for the drawing. pprmint777 @ yahoo . com

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  8. Sorry, I posted my comment anonymously! I've never done this before and the choices were tricky! As I wrote, I enjoy afternoon tea and have a tea shop here in my town now that I enjoy visiting. Would love to win the book so I can read about the tea shop in it as I sit in my tea shop!

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  9. thanks for the opportunity to read this wonderful book :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  10. Please enter me into the drawing.
    dancealert at aol dot com

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  11. Thanks, Dawn and Trish for the interview and chance to win Tea for Two. I'll be looking for the complete series, but would love to win this one. mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com
    i subscribe to your blog via email and follow you on face book. Marianne from Arizona

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  12. Thanks for writing books that honor God, and give Christians good stories without all the trash some popular writers include. I'm a tea person who would love to win your new book! workamper2530@yahoo.com

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  13. Awesome book! I am tea person too. :)

    AJPsMOM2006@gmail.com

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  14. This should a great book. I am coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. I really like that there is a counselor in this book. That is what I trained for, did some marriage counseling but had to get a better paying job for the bills.
    This is the first time that I have seen a counselor in a book!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  15. Have read several of your books, Trish, and loved them. Anxious to read this one so please enter me. I just received the devo book Bad Hair Days and am loving it and look forward to your next devo book!
    jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

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  16. Please drop my name in the hat. This sounds awesome! :)

    writer_weaver at yahoo dot com

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  17. Love the interview...could just picture that Donkey!!


    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  18. Hi Trish, I like the name of your new devotional book. Also, I'm glad to see your Tea for Two book up as a giveaway again. I tried so many times before to win your book, but didn't win. Maybe I'll be more fortunate this time. Thank you for offering it and for the chance to win. I hope I win.

    Sharing His Faith,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  19. This book sounds great! I would love to win a copy! Thanks for the chance. I'm an email subscriber

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  20. I enjoyed my first trip to Millie's and would love to go again, please include me in the drawing for Tea for Two. Thanks!
    I'm a subscriber.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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