Sarah is in the house!! woot woot 🙂 We are going to have a blast today!
Before we get started, scoot on over to Amazon and pick up a FREE copy of Appalachian Serenade
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Sarah’s books feature characters who seem to have the ability to perform one of Christ’s miracles. In the first book, Miracle in a Dry Season, it’s feeding the 5,000 and in the second, Until the Harvest, it’s healing. The third manuscript, currently being revised, is The Secret of Being Content featuring a character with the gift of tongues.
Let’s play!!!!
Ok. I have the dumbest smile of all time.
The rules are simple. I ask Sarah some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. Have you ever visited a big plantation home?
Sarah –I worked at Biltmore Estate, America’s largest privately owned home, for more than six years. I was in the public relations department working with media outlets from weekly newspapers to HGTV and National Geographic. It was a blast! Plus, I got to unhook velvet ropes and go into rooms–ever under the watchful eye of security–but still. I’ve been on the catwalk in the Library and on the balcony in the Banquet Hall–not to mention in some VERY interesting, behind-the-scenes areas. The attached photo is from my first summer there–my husband (far right) and I (bringing up the rear) went horseback riding for a Southern Living photo shoot. Such fun!
Charity – Oh, yes! I think my favorite was the Vanderbilt Mansion in Rhode Island. It’s called The Breakers.
Of course, I wasn’t as fancy as you…I was just a simply tourist. I didn’t get to do all the “behind the scenes” stuff or ride a horse for a SOUTHERN LIVING photo shoot!!!!
— Definitely Sarah!
Charity 0 / Sarah 1
2. What was your childhood nickname?
Sarah –Sally, which is a traditional nickname for Sarah. My dad was just about the only one to call me that–mostly to aggravate me!
Charity – Well, it was a toss up between “Bows” (My best friend at the time was “Buttons”…Yes, I did want to jam pencils in my ears when I heard it.) and Chirpidee. I don’t know. Weird.
My nephews and nieces currently call me “Aunt Churd” (rhyming with “turd”). I have 18 of those sweet little things!! (nephews and nieces, not turds)
— I get it. Sally is nothing!!!
Charity 1 / Sally 1 😉
3. What’s the perfect smoothie have in it?
Sarah –Root beer and vanilla ice cream.
Charity – uh…? Smoothie? lol
No, no, no…It must be full of cabbage, spinach, strawberries, mangoes, pineapple, avocados, etc…
— Root beer…*shaking head* I get that!
Charity 2 / Sarah 1
4. Have you ever had a backstage pass to any concert or show?
Sarah –When I was in college I asked to go backstage at a Glenn Yarbrough concert. I know, I know. Who?? I listened to a lot of my dad’s music so I was 20 or 30 years behind my peers. Mr. Yarbrough was very nice although I think he was mostly wondering what someone my age was doing at his concert! Go on-line and find a recording of Honey & Wine. Sigh.
Charity – Ok, so I couldn’t find that exact song, but it still had “honey” in the title!!
— I have to concede this point because I haven’t ever been backstage…
Charity 2 / Sarah 2
5. Have you ever driven a tractor?
Sarah –Growing up on a farm I spent my summers in the hay fields. I was pretty good at stacking bales, but the pinnacle of accomplishment was driving a tractor pulling a loaded wagon of hay. I could stop on a hillside for the guys to load bales, then ease it on up the hill without jerking off even one bale–eventually. The first few times weren’t that pretty, but getting hollered at by sweaty guys who have to restack bales is excellent incentive!
Charity – Woh. I am impressed. Ok, “Sarah is woman. Hear her roar.”
— Sarah!!!
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
6. How do you strive to bring God the most glory in your life?
Sarah –I try to love people when I don’t find them all that lovable. I try to see them the way God does–as the apple of His eye. It can be really hard, so this is definitely a work in progress for me!
Charity – ❤
— God wins!
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
7. Best Southern Recipe?
Sarah –To eat or to cook? If it’s eating, I’ll take John Fleer’s sweet tea brined fried chicken at Rhubarb in Asheville, NC. If I’m cooking, I make fabulous collard greens and stone-ground grits with cream. Of course, I’m not really Southern, I’m Appalachian, which means I can also make excellent fried squirrel with gravy. Serve it up with biscuits and I’ll make a convert out of you!
Charity – 😮 I am not so sure that you would…
So easy and sooooooo yummy. I want it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
— Tie
Charity 3 / Sarah 4
8. What’s your favorite season? Why?
Sarah –I used to say autumn. I love that bittersweet time of year when nature puts on a show before giving itself over to winter. But as I get older, and like winter less, spring has become my favorite. I can’t wait to get into the woods in March and April to see what new, green thing is poking up through the leaf litter. And the wildflowers! Bloodroot, trillium, dwarf iris, showy orchis, lady slippers–seeing them is like running into a friend you’ve been missing. I love to walk the trails calling out their names.
Charity – Ohhhhh. I am in love with Autumn. ❤ ❤ ❤ Pumpkin EVERYTHING! ahhhhh!!! Pumpkin candles, Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, Pumpkin Decorations, Pumpkin Chili, etc… Plus, the holidays are in the air. ❤
— Tie. We both are pretty passionate about that question, it would seem.
Final:
Charity 4 / Sarah 5
Thank you, Sarah! So cool hearing about all your fun stories 🙂
Guess what?? YOU GUESSED IT! These authors are the BEST!
Sarah is giving away a copy of her latest release. All you have to do is
head on over to the Rafflecopter Giveaway link and start entering!
Good luck!!!
*U.S. Rez only (Sorry! We do love the rest of you too!)
*Entries will be checked
23 responses to “Face-Off with Sarah Loudin Thomas!!”
I’m reading Miracle in a Dry Season right now (loving it!), and I’m pretty sure I have Until the Harvest in my TBR stack, so I guess I won’t enter the drawing. Just wanted to let Sarah know how much I ma enjoying it!
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Hearing that readers are enjoying my books is one of my VERY favorite things! Thank you for letting me know!
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Wow! How do you get a job working at a place like the Biltmore? Have you used it as inspiration for any novels?
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I haven’t used Biltmore although I’ve thought about it. I’d probably end up writing about the servants!
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Such a fun interview!! Just added all Sarah’s books to my TBR list. 🙂 Looking forward to reading these!
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Hope you like reading them as much as I did writing them!
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New author for me. Always enjoy your faceoff’s.
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Aren’t they a hoot??
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Sarah, I enjoyed the first two books in this series! Thanks for doing the giveaway here with Charity!
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My pleasure!
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Fun interview, it is interesting to find out random things about people, such as you grew up on a farm and worked at Biltmore Estate. Interesting stuff.
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Isn’t it? I say everyone has a story, you just have to ask the right question.
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Thanks for the recipe. Looks good
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Doesn’t it, though? Probably better than fried squirrel . . .
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I just finished UNTIL THE HARVEST and really enjoyed it. It was fun to read more about Emily, Perla, Angie, and Frank, plus meeting new characters. I’d previously read Sarah’s other books in this series so knew I’d like this book too. I’m looking forward to the next one.
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I wish Frank could be in every book! He’s the most fun to write.
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Glenn Yarbrough! Are you kidding me! My parents played his music all the time. How about “Baby, The Rain Must Fall” or “Mattie Down” or “More I Cannot Wish You.” His music is just beautiful. Romantic too. When it comes to the Face-off, you crushed that question 🙂
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Next time we get together we’ll break out the CD!
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I have to share a story that Sarah’s squirrel meat meal reminded me of. Last summer my 12 year old son, Samuel, was determined to trap, kill, and skin a squirrel in order to cook and eat it. My husband was supportive and I wouldn’t have anything to do with it. They forget who cooks in our house. Samuel saved his money and bought a trap while my husband called animal control and talked to friends as work for help. Unfortunately, local animal control allowed it. The trap was set and he waited the rest of summer and into fall with no trapped squirrel. I thought we were safe until a neighbor boy “accidentally” shot a squirrel with a pellet gun (I say accidentally, because that’s what I was told.) The squirrel was injured and my son was elated (the shame!) My husband and son set out to take care of the squirrel and then cook it in MY kitchen. I left for the afternoon, b/c I just couldn’t stomach it. We live in suburban Washington State, for goodness sake. The little bit of meat that was cooked was laughable, but it cured my son from wanting to catch any additional squirrels. Thank goodness.
Sarah, I understand that it is perfectly acceptable to eat squirrel in some places. Listen, I saw the movie Winter’s Bone! I’m just not accustomed to it after seeing them innocently scrambling around my yard for years. 🙂 – Terrill
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HAHAHA! That’s amazing!!!
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Oh my. I can see how that would turn you off squirrel!
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Too much work for little reward. haha
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