A couple of months ago I got an email from Lynne Bowen Walker, an author who has written a delightful book called Queen of the Castle. It’s such a fun book to read; it’s interactive and inspirational and practical and chatty and everything good…perfect reading for a mama on the go.
Well, today Lynne is starting a blog book tour, and I asked her if I could be the first stop on her tour, primarily because it was way easier for me to remember May 1st than any other date in May.
PRACTICAL AS ALWAYS, I AM.
Not to mention:
WINNING OVER THE AUTHORS OF AMERICA, ONE BLOG POST AT A TIME.
Ahem.
So I asked Lynne a few questions about her book, and she was kind enough to participate in my amateurish interviewing efforts, oh bless her heart:
What in the world made you decide to write a book? And once you decided to write one, how in the world did you find time to tackle it?
It was kind of accidental, really. I kept finding myself writing magazine articles, all on the topic of The Importance of Being a Homemaker. After about 20 or so, it finally dawned on me that homemaking was my passion, and that even though I’m not exactly gifted at it, maybe I should write a book encouraging other women who love their homes and families but could use a little help.
And the joy of being forgetful is that every time I pick up the book and read a little, I think, “Oh! What a good idea!†I clearly really really need to read this book myself.
As for finding time, I wrote it in short bits, while waiting for my kids to be done with Little League practice, while I was in the auditorium waiting for the band concert to start, that kind of thing. I ran into one of my son’s football coaches recently, and after learning that I wrote a book, he said, “Oh yeah, I always did see you waiting in the car reading or writing something!â€
Where did you get all the great “words of the week” that you feature? And how did you decide what would go into each chapter?
I love to read, and a lot of the authors I read use really big words. So as I came across words I didn’t know, I looked them up, then put my favorites in Queen of the Castle along with the definitions. Now we can all use really big words. :)
Deciding on what to include in each chapter came about because I love magazines, so I looked at each chapter as three short magazine essays plus some practical sidebars. When I came across great quotes or recipes that seemed too good not to share, I threw those in, too.
At the end of each chapter I included a Bible verse and a prayer, because any wisdom I have on how to live life as a homemaker comes from the Bible, and any strength I have to carry out what I know comes from asking God for help.
I also included a “Chocolate Break†at the end of every month because a girl’s just gotta have her chocolate. Otherwise we get cranky.
What audience did you have in mind when you wrote this book?
I figured moms of little ones would be interested in reading books about how to get their kids to stop biting, and moms of older ones would be interested in reading about how to get their kids into a good college, so it was that middle stage of motherhood that I pictured as I wrote – the moms who were heavy into chauffeuring kids to soccer practice, and who spent most of their spare time in the laundry room trying to determine if that was blood on the shirt and how exactly it might have gotten there.
But I’ve been gratified to hear that women of all ages have enjoyed the book, especially those who are grandmas and even great-grandmas. I think Queen of the Castle kind of celebrates the job we do in raising our families, and women who’ve already done that job appreciate being recognized.
Would if offend you to know that I kept my copy in the, um, bathroom, and that’s where I would read it, a few pages at the time, because it’s QUIET IN THERE?
Not at all, I think it’s a perfect bathroom book! And many moms would be envious that you actually get some quiet time in there.
I’ve also heard that it’s a good right-before-bed book, when you can barely keep your eyes open but want just a few minutes of reading time before dropping off to sleep.
There are so many great quotes and great recipes in your book – as I read, I thought that you must have been collecting both for years. Did you? Or did you accumulate them all as you wrote?
I did collect them for years. And I wrote the book over a period of years, too. So while it was at times frustrating to make such slow progress on writing the book, I think in the end it made it richer than it would have been had I been able to knock it out quickly.
What’s the best way for someone to order a copy of your book – and to make sure that they have it in time for Mother’s Day? (It’s a perfect Mother’s Day gift, you know.)
Thank you for the blatant plug, Boomama! Christianbook.com and Amazon.com both carry it, and I think they can ship pretty fast. Also, some Christian bookstores and Borders and Barnes and Noble stores carry it, so if you need a copy right away you might give your local bookstore a call to see if they have it.
Just for the record, I don’t believe I’ve ever been referred to as The Queen Of The Castle.
But The Queen of Fried Chicken? You betcha.
It’s a title I wear with pride.
And I’ll never relinquish my throne.
very fascinating. I have never heard of this book. I will have to check it out!
Okay, so when you write YOUR book, BooMamma, can I interview you on my blog? I guess I better get busy making my blog cool, or otherwise it wouldn’t work, and you wouldn’t be coming to ME for publicizing, but it is way cool that you have interviewed and promoted this Queen. You rock!
This sounds like a very cool book! Thanks for letting us know about it.
Happy May Day!
Bossy has been known to be the Queen of Taste – so perhaps she could Taste your Fried Chicken?
How fun! I just heard this author interviewed this morning on our local radio station here in Houston. BTW, it was while I was shuttling kids back and forth to school (my kids start school one hour apart, so I “get” to enjoy lots of morning radio time!) I enjoyed listening to her speak on several topics and then when I checked your blog was pleasantly surprised to see your interview. This just proves I need to get out and get this book!
What a delightful interview! And it sounds like a fun book — and that’s something right up my alley!
And yes … a girl’s gotta have her chocolate — which makes me want to read the book even more! Gotta get it!
I’m hosting Lynn tomorrow, and at first when I saw your interview here I thought mine would be anti-climactic coming after yours. :D But I was pleased to see we came up with a few different questions.
This is a great book — I am enjoying it a lot. And Lynn seems to be a really neat person. I hope she writes more!
Looks like a great book!! Yep, I know about the chocolate thing……I’m getting ready to fix that chocolate cake that the “Pioneer Woman” (in BooMama’s links) gave us the recipe to.
Oh, this looks good. I have had to make those kinds of laundry decisions before!
Must get this book.
This is the first time I’ve heard of this book. Thanks so much for the review! I’ll check it out at Amazon.
Speaking of books, I’m giving away a FREE book this week, “Unbroken” by Tracey Elliot (Mrs. Texas, 2006).
I”m hosting Lynn on the 21st. It was so exciting to see you were first on the blog tour!
Gayle
I liked your interview..questions real mom would like to know the answers to, like the best place to read the book, and how long it took her to write it. And the chocolate, she must be a kindred spirit.
It does sound like the perfect mother’s day gift, I will be looking for it.
I’m reading it and enjoying it too –
and blogging on
May 17th – May 17th – May17th –
don’t let me forget!!
ps
Mine’s in the bathroom too!!
This sounds like a fun book. I am, THANK THE LORD, moving into that middle-motherhood phase now that my oldest is almost 6 and my youngest is 18 months. I can think of a few moms who love something like it for Mother’s Day! Thanks for doing this. :)
I.want.this.book. GREAT interview, Boo Mama.
Oh, Boomama…I just adore you!
HMM I have never heard of the book either – I might seriously need to go take a look at that for My mama!
i keep a stocked magazine rack in my bathroom. it’s the ONLY place I can read. sad, sad but true :)
This book is right up my alley – and boy, does my alley need cleaning! I’ll definitely be checking this one out. Love the blog, by the way. I’m partial to the name – it’s my nickname too!
Anyone who believes in monthly chocolate deserves to have a bestseller!
Our youngest used to call me “The Queen”. Not sure where he got it from…he was about 5 at the time. He used to say it so…reverently. He still says it now and again (he’s 11)…but only when he wants something!
I LOVE this book, and am slowly making my way through it – I usually read the weekly reading on the weekend, but am now officially one week behind – not my fault, we SOLD OUR HOUSE on Saturday! I am just a little excited.
I enjoyed the interview – you did a great job!
I’ve been using this book each Friday to set me off on a family-focused, homeward inspired weekend adventure for the past five months. I love Lynn’s style and humor. She feels like a friend at this point!
Thanks for doing the interview and highlighting a great resource for moms. I’ve posted often about Queen of the Castle at my site, including it in my Mending Moments list of resources and TLA book club. The more that can get blessed by this book, the better.
Blessings,
Elisa
I’ll be hosting her at my blog on Monday. It’s a good book!
Can’t wait to read it. Maybe it could be a fun/light read (it seems to be light anyway) for our next bloggy book club?? =)
Let me add my two cents’ worth: great little book! I had to read it straight through, none of this waiting for next week! Tried a couple of the recipes: yum! Every mom need it!
I adored your interview with Lynn about this book. I adored her answers as well. In fact, there was so much adoration, that I clicked the linky link to Amazon and purchased it this afternoon. It should arrive hopefully Monday. I sure hope so. It will give me just one more book to read while my little PG is having his cleft palate repair surgery on Tuesday. The other book I’ll be taking with me is what’s left of Mere Christianity, if I haven’t devoured the whole book before then. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this book. I can tell I’m gonna enjoy it, and probably most of it in the bathroom. Sometimes my husband starts to worry about me when I’m in the bathroom for a long time. HeeHee. He just doesn’t realize that sometimes it’s because I’ve gotten to a really good part in something I’m reading, and am willing to risk a numbing backside to finish that one part. LOL! Ta for now dahling!
I got this book from a friend several months ago and I LOVE IT!!! Every one of her recipes is fantastic, so easy to make too. I love the book mostly for it’s humor and all the encouragement and advice–every mom has to have this!! (and it’s such an easy-read, you can pick it up for just a minute at a time and get a lot out of it…) Thank you for hosting her, BooMama!
I think I remember reading you were the Queen Mother of Blogging at http://www.jennasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
That direct link would be
http://jennasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html