Interview & Review: Life on Hold by Beverly Stowe McClure

Today I would love to welcome Beveryly Stowe McClure to my blog. Lets begin with a little blurb about yourself....
I’m Beverly Stowe McClure, and I live in the country with my husband, two cats, and a variety of wild critters that stop by for a visit. My three sons are grown and married and have blessed me with lovely grandchildren. One son and a granddaughter are angels in Heaven. To relax, I play the piano and sing. The cats do not appreciate my musical skills so they run and hide when the music starts. I’m a retired teacher and now spend my days writing, as well as searching dusty archives and the Internet for information about my ancestors. I also teach a ladies Sunday school class at my church.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
For years I had no desire to write. Schoolwork was enough writing to last me for eternity. But as my sons grew older I started reading to them so they‘d enjoy a good book, unlike their mother. Before long, however, I discovered Dr. Seuss and was hooked. If Dr. Seuss hadn‘t made me a reader, the Newbery books my fifth-graders read at school would have. It took me many years to learn what I was missing, but today I know, and I read constantly. Then one day, a little voice whispered in my ear: Why don’t you try writing a story, Beverly. So I did; I haven’t stopped since.


How long did it take you to write Life on Hold?
I spent approximately two years writing Life on Hold. The first draft took several months because the English teacher in me had to make every sentence just right, with correct punctuation and spelling. Then came the second draft, the third and the fourth, before I felt the manuscript was ready to submit.


While writing how many times do you go back and rewrite a plot?
I rewrite the plot as many times as necessary. When I’m revising, many times new ideas will come to me and if I think they belong in the story and improve it, then I add the new material. The major plot may not change, but often a character will tell me something new about himself, resulting in a new subplot.


You run into a bookstore, where do you go first?
The young adult section.


How many books in a month do you tend to read?
Two to three, depending on how many reviews I’m doing.


In all the books you've read. Who is your most favorite character and why?
Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. She’s selfish and sassy and will do most anything to get what she wants. She’s also searching for love and meaning to her life, though she doesn’t realize it. By the time she discovers the truth, it’s too late. I think she’s like a lot of people even today, who have so much but always want more.

State 5 random facts about yourself.
I was a majorette in the junior high and senior high school bands.
Once, I fell off a mountain and landed on my head. (Hard head.)
I was an actress for one afternoon when I played Snow White at summer camp.
I love to take pictures of birds and deer and other wildlife.
Music is my favorite way to relax, and I play the piano.

Your favorite Genre?
I enjoy most all types of stories so it’s hard to pinpoint just one genre. I guess, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and fantasy are a three way tie.


What are you currently reading?
Griffin’s Fire by Darby Karchut, the second book in the Griffin series.

What is the best book you've read?
Gone With the Wind. It’s historical, romantic, and adventuresome with characters you either love or hate.

Any new projects coming up?
I’m working on a YA contemporary tentatively titled Survivor’s Club about four teens that form a club to survive their families and school. Also, I’m writing a sequel to my MG/Tween story, Just Breeze. And another historical is whispering in my ear.

Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?
Life on Hold is a contemporary YA novel, published by 4 RV Publishing LLC, about family, love, and forgiveness.
The jacket blurb:
A paper found. A secret revealed. A girl’s life changed forever.
Myra Gibson’s life is a lie. For sixteen years her parents have kept their secret, but the adoption paper she discovers while cleaning the guest house tells the truth. As the past and present collide, Myra finally stands up for herself and begins a journey she may regret.
Many young people who are adopted or have friends that are adopted will relate to Myra’s situation. A newspaper article I read about a high school boy and girl that had a baby and gave the baby up for adoption sparked the idea for the story. Their story had a happy ending. Others I read for research were not so happy. Readers may agree or disagree with Myra’s decisions in the story. But each of us makes choices every day, and we live with the choices we make.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Review for LIFE ON HOLD:

Life on Hold is a story about a girl named Myra Gibson, who discovers that her parents have been hiding a secret. Her family life as she knew it, will never be the same. The once goody two shoes girl begins to rebel against her parents because of their betrayal. Beverly did an awesome job with this book. Myra's character and the decisions she make throughout the book are believeable. Her friends, family and love interest, Jeremy, are all characters that the readers can relate to. None of them are perfect, they each have their own "demons" to face, throughout thre book and the way Beverely constructed the plot, will keep you glued to the book to see what will happen next.
Now that Myra know she's adopted, and the man she knew as "Dad" is not really her father what will she do? Will she look for her real father? Will she be happy with her real father or will she be disappointed? Well you have to read the book to find out! ^-^

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where you can find author Beverly Stowe McClure:

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ GOODREADS ~ WEBSITE ~ BLOG ~ OTHER


Other books by Beverly S. McClure

Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines


Tumbleweed Christmas:

Kaitlyn and Dakota Review of Tumbleweed Christmas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkSM-mOU0HY&feature=related

Rebel in Blue Jeans: