Delia8 Delia, describe yourself for our visitors.

This is always a hard thing for me to do. I spend much more time looking at and studying others, so I really have to think when I talk about myself.

Well, I’m a Christian woman, married to a Pentecostal minister. I have four grown children and four completely perfect grandchildren – no, really, they are! I’m involved in the music ministry at our church, where I play piano and sing, mostly Southern Gospel music, which is always my first choice.

How do you find time to connect with God?

First thing in the morning is my time with the Lover of my soul – before anyone else in the house is awake, and my little world is still peaceful. Making God the first connection of my day helps me get through the remaining hours. Besides, I find that if I don’t connect with Him first thing, I get bogged down in life and it just doesn’t happen. Not good …

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?

For a Christian author, my answer will be surprising. My favorite books are Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon and The Stand by Stephen King. These books are unsurpassable epics of good vs. evil.

That said, I love any good inspirational fiction – women’s fiction, romance, mystery, etc. It just makes the book better when there’s an element of godliness woven in. I’ve reviewed quite a few of my “read for pleasure” books this past year. A trip to my website (www.delialatham.com), and a jog through the “I Reviewed …” page would be quite revealing as to my taste in books.

Tell us about your journey to publication.

I’ve been writing something for many years (actually, since third grade!), with even an occasional submission to a publisher here and there – usually a magazine or greeting card company. However, I didn’t get really serious about writing until 2006, when I submitted my first novel, Almost Like a Song, to a publisher I’d never heard of before. It was accepted and released, with somewhat disappointing results. I learned a valuable lesson about patience and the importance of quality publishers. However, through that journey, I learned so much about marketing my own material, because I had to do that. It was a valuable experience for me. I now have the rights to that book back, and am currently reworking it a bit before I start pitching it under a new title.

goldeneyesFinal2Tell us about your current book?

Through my marketing efforts for Almost Like a Song, I came in contact with the Dawn Carrington, editor of Vintage Romance Publishing. I submitted Goldeneyes to them and they liked it. I’ll never forget receiving “the call,” when they let me know they wanted the book. I’ve never been so excited in my life! Goldeneyes will be released March 30.

How did you come up with ideas for this book?

It had been “brewing” in the back of my mind for some time – at least, the basic premise for it. I grew up in a little farming community called Weedpatch, and I wanted to use that for the setting. Perhaps because so much of the background was very real to me, it was difficult to start turning it into a fictional tale. I prayed a lot! Once God gave me the go-ahead, He also filled me with inspiration, and Goldeneyes was finally off and going.

List your three most recent books.

  • Almost Like a Song
  • Goldeneyes
  • Karissa’s Dream (Just completed, and currently with an agent)

What’s next for you?

The release of Goldeneyes will keep me busy marketing for quite a while. In the meantime, my current WIP is coming along, and will tie together certain components from Almost Like a Song (a contemporary romance) and Goldeneyes (an historical romance). Didn’t know that was going to happen, but … oh, well. I’m just the writer, you know!

Where can visitors find you online?

My official website: www.delialatham.com

My blog: www.themelodywithin.blogspot.com

Another blog for writers, which I co-author with a group of writers: www.dailymuseforwriters.blogspot.com

Shoutlife – a Christian web community: www.shoutlife.com/delialatham