A “spotlight” is defined as “intense scrutiny or public attention.” “A lamp projecting a narrow, intense beam of light directly onto a place or person.” Or in my case, possibly a great author. Come back regularly to check out my latest Spotlight!
Alexa Verde 
Welcome to my blog, Alexa. Please tell me and my readers about yourself and your new book.
Thank you so much for interviewing me, Vicky! Happy to be on your blog.
Probably the most interesting thing about me is that I speak five languages. I lived in both hemispheres, and I currently call a small town in south Texas home. It serves as an inspiration for the fictional setting, Rios Azules, in nearly all my books.
Hey, you have a new release. Fill us in!
I’m so glad you asked! Rapsodia is Book 3 in a multi-author series, A Tuscan Legacy, and it just became available for pre-order for the special price of 99 cents. This price goes up a week after the release, but the book will be available for free in Kindle Unlimited.
Why did you decide to participate in this project? 
When Marion Ueckermann and Autumn Macarthur asked me to join, I couldn’t say yes fast enough! I enjoy writing Christian romance and suspense, and I absolutely loved the idea of the series about faith, love, family, forgiveness, and yes, Italy! Here’s a little more about the series.
Eight grandchildren– one legacy!
When Isabella Rossi invites each of her adult grandchildren to her estate in the Tuscan hills for her eightieth birthday, she hopes to reunite a family fractured by distance, death, and secrets.
The birthday gift of a painting, arriving unsigned and with no sender’s details, rips open old heartbreak. One family secret has already been revealed, her youngest son Albertino’s illegitimate English daughter. Now it seems there could be yet more secrets.
Returning home, the cousins scattered across three continents each discover their lifetime love. When they gather again at the villa as summer ends, the remaining secrets are revealed. But can they be forgiven, or will the mistakes of the past be repeated?
What’s your favorite part about writing?
I love writing stories that hopefully bring people closer to God and give them hope. It’s always a huge joy for me when my book touches someone’s soul.
And I enjoy so much to immerse myself in my stories. Sometimes, I live vicariously through my characters. While Samantha, the heroine of Rapsodia, has to endure and learn a lot on the way to her happily ever after, who wouldn’t like to have a hunky Italian executive fall in love with her? Of course, I can’t fight the way Samantha does or have her talent for taking amazing photos that won awards, but from time to time I found myself repeating her gestures. And it was so much fun learning about one of my favorite Italian dishes, pizza.
Apparently, I have many favorite parts about writing, but the first one is the most important.
Where readers can learn more about the series?
Thank you for asking! We’d be so happy if readers visited and/or followed the series Amazon page here and visited our website here. There’s a lot of information there about the books, releases schedule, excerpts, and so much more!
Thank you so much for being with us today!!
Cynthia Roemer
Hey all! I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, Cynthia Roemer. I met Cynthia in 2017 when I had the occasion to read and review her book Under the Same Sky. I loved it, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to get to know Cynthia. I want you to get to know her too. So read on, and meet my friend!
Award-winning author Cynthia Roemer’s thirst for writing began when she was sixteen when, through the prompting of her high school English teacher, she entered a short-story contest at a local collage. Her short-story won first place, and she was hooked. She knew then, the Lord was calling her to write. She’s been writing ever since, whether it be blogs, short-stories or novels.
A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she makes her home in rural Illinois, where she pens tales of inspiration and romance set on the mid-1800’s prairie. When she isn’t writing, you can find her spending time with her family, hiking, riding side-saddle with her farmer-husband in the combine, baking, gardening, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.
Cynthia, tell us a bit about your writing journey. Have there been setbacks along the way, or did everything just fall into place for you?
There have definitely been some setbacks, but I truly feel blessed by how the Lord brought it about. While in college, I began to do research for the historical novel I had churning around in my mind. By the time I graduated, I had written a rough draft of Under This Same Sky, yet my dream of seeing it in print took a back seat as I took a job, married, and raised our two sons. Though I continued to write articles and short-stories for various Christian publications, my novel lay tucked away untouched for years.
In 2012, my dream of writing novels was revived when I joined the American Christian Fiction Writers group. With the help of critique partners and online courses, I began fine-tuning my writing skills and entering contests. In August of 2016, I met with the owner/publisher of Mantle Rock Publishing who requested a book proposal and later a full manuscript. In September of 2016, MRP offered me a two-book contract. In April 2017, nearly thirty years after I’d penned the original draft, Under This Same Sky was released, though a much different version than the original.
What is your favorite part of writing?
Oh, most definitely creating characters. There’s something about breathing life into a character that invigorates me, sort of the way I imagine God feels when He creates each of us and gives us all our individual personalities. I love developing my characters’ names, descriptions, mannerisms, learning their likes and dislikes, and watching them grow and change as the story progresses. After a while, they seem to write themselves. Often I learn from their flaws and mistakes right along with them.
How would you compare your two heroines, Becky Hollister (Under This Same Sky) and Charlotte Stanton (Under Prairie Skies)? Are they similar in temperament or quite different?
Interesting question. Becky and Charlotte are cousins, but very different in nature. Though both are strong-willed, that’s where the similarities end. Where Becky is sweet-natured and thoughtful toward others, Charlotte is fiery-spirited and temperamental. If you’ve read Under This Same Sky, you’ve seen how they clash. There’s a particular scene where they end up in a girlish brawl. =)
Becky’s biggest setback was that her faith was shaken after a horrific tragedy. But she never gave up on God and always put others ahead of herself. Charlotte is out for herself and needs a strong hero to tame her—which she finds in Chad Avery. But there’s a hidden vulnerability within her that Chad sees and is able to draw out. I love creating strong lead characters, but ones that are real with weaknesses that offer growth.
Today, March 13, 2018, Book 2 in your historical romance series, Under Prairie Skies goes on pre-order. Please tell us about it. 
I’ll be glad to. Here’s the blurb:
~ Beyond shattered dreams lies a realm of possibilities ~
Illinois prairie ~1855
Unsettled by the news that her estranged cousin and uncle are returning home after a year away, Charlotte Stanton goes to ready their cabin and finds a handsome stranger has taken up residence. Convinced he’s a squatter, she throws him off the property before learning his true identity. Little does she know, their paths were destined to cross again.
Quiet and ruggedly handsome, Chad Avery’s uncanny ability to see through Charlotte’s feisty exterior and expose her inner weaknesses both infuriates and intrigues her. When a tragic accident incites her family to move east, Charlotte stays behind in hopes of becoming better acquainted with the elusive cattleman. Yet Chad’s unwillingness to divulge his hidden past, along with his vow not to love again, threatens to keep them apart forever.
Okay, just for fun so we can get to know you better; what’s your favorite…
Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life
Snack Food: Chex party mix
Candy: Peanut Butter M & M’s
Place to visit: Shawnee National Forest
Hobby: Reading, Hiking
Color: Mauve
Book: The Frontiersman’s Daughter (Laura Frantz) & A Noble Masquerade (Kristi Ann Hunter)
We have a lot in common, Cynthia! Peanut Butter M & M’s and It’s a Wonderful Life are incredible! Thank you so much for sharing with my reader’s today. It’s been fun for me to learn some new things about you!
I encourage you all to connect with Cynthia. You’ll be so glad you did! And remember to pre-order a copy of her newest book, Under Prairie Skies. It’s sure to be a great read!
Website: http://cynthiaroemer.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com@cynthiaroemer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16785237.Cynthia_Roemer
Join her Author Email List and receive timely updates on her novels, along with giveaway opportunities: http://cynthiaroemer.com/
Under This Same Sky is available for purchase on Amazon.
With a release date of April 10, Under Prairie Skies is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I’ll be getting it soon, and can’t wait to read it!
