Dark Days of Promise is author Shaunna Gonzales' debut novel and is chock full of promise.
Thirty-four year
old Vicki Laramie must learn to trust before she can love, but she might die
trying.
While Vicki’s children grapple with the death of their
father -- a man whom she’s successfully fabricated as loving, a lie her
rebellious teenager recognizes -- she must find a way to support her family and
find a role model for her boys. She never intends to fall for Staff Sergeant
Chase, her best friend’s son, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD). She’d much rather choose a safer man to love, but her children have a
voice in the decision she makes. With two deaths to deal with, a suitor after
her money, a rebellious son, and Sergeant Chase’s repeated attacks, she can only
hope to survive the danger she faces. If she doesn’t, her children will be left
without either parent.
Oooh! Sounds suspenseful!
Shaunna, it is so good to have you on my blog today! First question:
Where did you get the idea for Dark
Days of Promise?
Would you believe me if I said the Lord? I had this love story so smooth that
it bored me, the writer to tears, literally. I knew I had to "speed"
it up, give it something to make it fly but didn't know what. I prayed and
pulled my chair up to the computer. My fingers flew with very few mistakes,
something that is unusual for me. That scene is in the book with very few
changes -- only a few grammatical corrections. I'll give you a hint: Victoria
goes flying!
How did you choose the title?
Dark Days of Promise, was initially inspired by an untitled
Christmas tale for the young women I was working with at the time. I thought
the story was good and targeted their needs but the comments I got were along
the lines of, "Wow, that's a real dark story." I responded with,
"But it is so full of promise!" After the final veto and the passing
of the season the title came to life every time someone asked me what I was working
on.
What surprises you the most about being a published author?
The work that goes
into promoting a single title. I'm hoping that with more titles the work
doesn't increase. How would I get the third title written?
Hey, I agree with you on that. So--what advice to you give to aspiring authors?
Write what you know and love. Write for
yourself, not your imagined perfectly matched editor or publisher. Should you
one day find them, they will, if they know their stuff and we all hope they do,
bruise you and your precious fledgling novel. (Smile - those bruises heal and
make you both better.)
What are your goals in writing, your next project?
To write several novels before
my health fails. Right now I'm working on finishing Talisman: Crisscross in
Time. I'm hoping to have it ready to go when the editor asks for it. That means
pressure on me.
Why should we read Dark Days of Promise?
I hope readers will become
more aware of PTSD. It effects more than the veterans and their families, but all who love them. It isn't unusual for me to be talking with someone and get this
"Oh, they are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress" this way or that
way. The "Disorder" part, as far as I have learned, comes from
intense stress, such as battle and other potentially fatal situations. Some
deal with PTSD with faith and prayers on the one hand while others use
counseling and sometimes drugs to manage the disorder. But for me, my PTSD is
rather low key and manageable.
What is something that most people don’t know about you that you wouldn’t mind
sharing?
Wow! I've really pulled back recently. I'm scared to death of being
stalked.
What? Well, that issue we will address in the interview for your next novel. :-) Thank you, Shaunna, for the interview!
Reader can buy Dark Days of Promise here.
Visit Shaunna Gonzales on her blog.
Please leave a comment for Shaunna!
Today my guest is non-fiction author Valerie Steimle. We have been members of the same writers group for years, and she has been an inspiration to me.
What surprises you the most about being a published author? 
I hope readers will become
more aware of PTSD. It effects more than the veterans and their families, but all who love them. It isn't unusual for me to be talking with someone and get this
"Oh, they are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress" this way or that
way. The "Disorder" part, as far as I have learned, comes from
intense stress, such as battle and other potentially fatal situations. Some
deal with PTSD with faith and prayers on the one hand while others use
counseling and sometimes drugs to manage the disorder. But for me, my PTSD is
rather low key and manageable. 
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