This week we welcome Valerie Hansen to Author Memories.
Valerie Hansen has always loved to write.
Her basic nature is to enjoy every day to the fullest – and that includes her writing. She’s always loved stories about people who have successfully met and overcome life’s challenges, as has she. Valerie and her husband now live on an eighty acre farm in northern Arkansas. She loves to hike the rocky, wooded hills behind the picturesque old house they renovated, watch for the wildlife so abundant in the area, and think up new ideas for her many books.
Her basic nature is to enjoy every day to the fullest – and that includes her writing. She’s always loved stories about people who have successfully met and overcome life’s challenges, as has she. Valerie and her husband now live on an eighty acre farm in northern Arkansas. She loves to hike the rocky, wooded hills behind the picturesque old house they renovated, watch for the wildlife so abundant in the area, and think up new ideas for her many books.
Writin' and Ropin'
by Valerie Hansen
I can’t remember far enough back in my childhood to recall a time when I didn’t want to be someone who lived and worked in the country. Having a writer’s and storyteller’s mind, it was easy for me to imagine that kind of scenario when I had my picture taken on this pony. Even before we found the old photo I was well aware of the event. I had never seen a real horse before and having a chance to actually touch and ride it, even for such a short time, was a dream come true.
My family lived in a big city in Ohio (don’t tell my current AR neighbors that I was born a Yankee, okay?) and the closest I got to animals in those days was the occasional dog or cat.
However, I did have a set of holsters and cap guns that I used to “shoot” anything that moved and a few things that didn’t. I understand that those kinds of working toys are no longer available and it saddens me. I didn’t turn out to be a psychopath ( honest I didn’t) but I did use my mind to create my own world, one in which I rode the open plains with the daring characters of Zane Gray and saved the settlers daily by carrying news to the fort. That is, unless it was my turn to be an Indian, which was fine, too. I had an equal opportunity imagination. Still do, which may be why I actually received letters from American Indians praising my research for some of my historical novels.
My family lived in a big city in Ohio (don’t tell my current AR neighbors that I was born a Yankee, okay?) and the closest I got to animals in those days was the occasional dog or cat.
However, I did have a set of holsters and cap guns that I used to “shoot” anything that moved and a few things that didn’t. I understand that those kinds of working toys are no longer available and it saddens me. I didn’t turn out to be a psychopath ( honest I didn’t) but I did use my mind to create my own world, one in which I rode the open plains with the daring characters of Zane Gray and saved the settlers daily by carrying news to the fort. That is, unless it was my turn to be an Indian, which was fine, too. I had an equal opportunity imagination. Still do, which may be why I actually received letters from American Indians praising my research for some of my historical novels.
Time passed. My husband retired. We left California for the “wilds” of Arkansas – and I came into my own.
Not only am I able to live the life I had fantasized about I can also use the Ozarks as the backdrop for many of my Christian novels for Love Inspired. That has been a double blessing.
In NIGHTWATCH, my October Love Inspired Suspense, I begin to feature CASA, “Court Appointed Special Advocates” for children. These are volunteers who speak for the helpless and defend their rights in court. I’m every bit as proud to tell their story as I would be if I had just galloped my pony into town to warn the settlers of a pending attack.
There are all kinds of heroes and the folks who work for CASA are high on my list.
Not only am I able to live the life I had fantasized about I can also use the Ozarks as the backdrop for many of my Christian novels for Love Inspired. That has been a double blessing.
In NIGHTWATCH, my October Love Inspired Suspense, I begin to feature CASA, “Court Appointed Special Advocates” for children. These are volunteers who speak for the helpless and defend their rights in court. I’m every bit as proud to tell their story as I would be if I had just galloped my pony into town to warn the settlers of a pending attack.
There are all kinds of heroes and the folks who work for CASA are high on my list.
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Leave a comment by midnight, Oct 9th to be entered to win:
a copy of Valerie's October release, Nightwatch
as well 2 other books of Valerie's choice
for a prize package of 3 books to one reader/winner.
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Leave a comment by midnight, Oct 9th to be entered to win:
a copy of Valerie's October release, Nightwatch
as well 2 other books of Valerie's choice
for a prize package of 3 books to one reader/winner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nightwatch, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011
Back of the Book
Fire captain Mitch Andrews can't forget the three young children he saved from a fire. A suspicious fire that left them orphans. In the care of foster mother Jill Kirkpatrick, he knows the little ones will be loved. Even if the sweet, strong widow won't let Mitch close to her. But suddenly the kids—and Jill—are in terrible danger…and one of the children is missing. Mitch and Jill will risk everything to find the stolen girl and keep a makeshift family of five together forever.
Read Excerpt
Fire captain Mitch Andrews can't forget the three young children he saved from a fire. A suspicious fire that left them orphans. In the care of foster mother Jill Kirkpatrick, he knows the little ones will be loved. Even if the sweet, strong widow won't let Mitch close to her. But suddenly the kids—and Jill—are in terrible danger…and one of the children is missing. Mitch and Jill will risk everything to find the stolen girl and keep a makeshift family of five together forever.
Read Excerpt
Visit Valerie at www.ValerieHansen.com
Valerie is a member of the www.loveinspiredauthors.com group blog.
Valerie is a member of the www.loveinspiredauthors.com group blog.
