Blogside Chat | Molly Noble Bull, Author of Gatehaven

Today, I'm pleased to host Molly Noble Bull for a Blogside Chat! Molly's sharing about her newest book, Gatehaven, the 2013 Creation House Fiction Writing Contest Winner.

Gatehaven is a Christian Gothic historical novel set in a haunting mansion in the north of England where Ian Colquhoun and Shannon Aimee battle a Frenchman with dark secrets—spiritual warfare vs. the occult. Will they learn enough about God’s words to defend themselves and others or will evil overcome them?

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i blog 4 books: Molly, thanks for stopping by today! What was the inspiration behind Gatehaven?

Molly Noble Bull: I like big old houses surrounded in mystery and unspoken secrets, and I once read a lot of scary Gothic novels like Jane Eyre. I wondered if a plotline like that would work if some of the characters were devout Christians and living a Christian lifestyle.

Gatehaven’s publication date is March 4, 2014. I guess we will learn whether or not a story like mine will have reader-appeal in the weeks and months after that date.    

ib4b: What do you hope readers will take away after reading it?

MNB: I’ve concluded that many Bible believing Christians never really read Deuteronomy chapter 18. Otherwise, they would never take part in what some might call harmless fun—occult practices like Yoga and reading their daily star-sign predictions in newspapers or magazines.

I hope Gatehaven readers with enjoy a fast-paced, vampire and werewolf-free novel with a Christian message running though it.

ib4b: Which character in Gatehaven do you most identify with?

MNB: In Gatehaven, Shannon Aimee is a naive nineteen-year-old heroine in love with love and also with a handsome young earl out to harm her.  Like Shannon, I was once a young girl in love with the wrong boy. But for the Grace of God, I might have married him.

ib4b: Are any of the characters based on people in your life?

MNB: Ian Colquhoun is kind and truly devoted to Shannon. My husband is like that.

ib4b: What did you do in your "former life"?

MNB: I’ve always loved writing, especially fiction. However, I was an elementary school teacher and later a kinder and pre-K teacher before I decided to write professionally. My first stories were written for children. As I read to my young students each day, I realized that I could write stories too, and so I did. My first sale was to a magazine for young children.

ib4b: Who encouraged your love for reading and/or writing when you were younger?

MNB: I was an only child. My dear mother read to me constantly, and I loved every minute of it. She expected me to love reading as much as she did. How could any of us have known that reading would be a problem for me after I entered public school?

I am dyslexic. In fact, I tell about my experiences in a non-fiction book I wrote with four other authors titled, The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities.

Once I could barely read at all. Today, I write books that other people read.

God is good.

ib4b: What were some of your favorite books as a child?

MNB: I loved all the Grimm Fairy tale stories, dreaming of being a princess one day. I especially liked all the Raggedy Ann and Andy books and had a Raggedy Ann doll, of course. I hope Ann and Andy stories come back in style for a new generation to read and enjoy.

ib4b: Can you tell us a bit about what you're working on now? When can we expect to see it in stores?

MNB: I now own the rights to The Rogue’s Daughter, a western romance novel I sold to Zondervan in 1986. It is set on a cattle ranch in south Texas in 1890, and I plan to make it my very first Indie e-book later in 2014.

ib4b: Do you have a "life verse" or favorite Scripture? (If so, please share it with us.)

MNB: I love to read the Old Testament as well and the New Testament, and I have gobs of favorite Bible verses. But recently, I heard a pastor on TV give an amazing one-liner regarding the political scene in 2014, and I would like to quote it here.

He said, “I’m not for the donkey or the elephant. I follow the Lamb.”

To me, that said it all.

ib4b: Molly, thank you so much for chatting with us today!

About Molly Noble Bull

Molly Noble Bull was born in Kingsville, Texas—home of the famous King Ranch. Her father and maternal grandfather were real Texas cowboys, and she enjoys writing western romances. But she also writes historical novels.

Gatehaven, her long Christian gothic set in Europe in 1784, won the 2013 Creation House Fiction Writing Contest while still a manuscript, and Gatehaven is the novel being featured today. However, Molly’ first two published novels came out from Zondervan. Her Zondervan novels were later reprinted and published as Promise Romances from Guideposts. Molly also sold novels to Love Inspired and Tsaba House, and Westbow Press published The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities, a non-fiction book she wrote with four other Christian authors. Molly owns the rights to her Zondervan romance novels now, and she will soon self publish The Rogue’s Daughter as an e-book. Rogue is a western set on a South Texas cattle ranch in 1890.

Giveaway

As part of this blog tour, Molly is giving away a print copy of Gatehaven. You may enter through the Rafflecopter below. (Note: I am not moderating this giveaway, but am posting as part of the tour.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway