Deanna Klingel's "Cracks in the Ice"

Title:  Cracks in the Ice.
Publisher: Write Integrity Press, in Georgia.
Cover blurb:  This is teen and women's fiction about the niece of a mafia don who has a dream of Olympic gold in figure skating. She's almost there. Everything is in place. She's favored to win. Then tragedy derails her. As so often happens to athletes who can no longer compete, Gina loses her identity, along with self-worth. She spirals into despair, alcoholism rules her life. Two people who never give up on her are able to show her she is still loveable, still worthy, still a daughter of God. Is it too late for Gina to reinvent herself? Too late to hope?

1. How did this story come to you?

How this story came to me is a mystery to me. This has happened in some of my other books as well. The character comes to me, already named, and tells me their stories. Not knowing anything about Gina's world meant a lot of research, but as I learned more and more I realized it was just as Gina told it to me.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
After writing, rewriting, and polishing, I began the difficult search for a publisher. I didn't have an agent at that time, so I started with smaller publishers. Then on the ACFW loop one day came the announcement that a new Christian publishing house was accepting teen fiction, so I took a chance and submitted to Tracy Ruckman at Write Integrity Press. The first thing I heard from Tracy was "I Love It!" She came to a festival in North Georgia where I was signing books, and hand delivered the contract. It was very exiting.

  
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

You want to know three things about me that would surprise my readers? I can't think what that might be. I'm pretty wide open, kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get sort. I think everyone knows I love golden retrievers and train therapy dogs. They're in all my pictures. My bios are all short, but they all say I live in the mountains of western North Carolina. But maybe they don't know I'm originally from Michigan, then lived in New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland and Georgia. Most probably know I raised seven children, but maybe don't know I've been married for fifty years! I have eleven grandchildren. Now you know everything.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?

What I'm working on right now is keeping up with blogging, facebook, traveling, newsletters, bookings and marketing. It all cuts into my writing time! I don't have to spend sooo much time with submissions anymore because now I have an agent who does that part of it for me. I'm looking forward to getting started on my next writing, so I'm trying to get ahead of all the other things so I won't be interrupted for the summer. I'll be starting a new novel in June, historical fiction, YA.

5) Parting comments?

I'm looking forward to giving away a copy of Cracks in the Ice. I've gotten some wonderful comments from readers who really love it. It was a Selah Finalist, which was terribly exciting, and has the Seal of Approval of the Catholic Writers Guild.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?

You can find me at BooksByDeanna.com. That's my website and my blog is on the first page. I'm on facebook, twitter, Goodreads. My book is available at your favorite indie bookseller, on Amazon.com, kindle and nook. Please suggest it to any teens you know.