Spotlight on my friend Leanna Ellis!!!! and a bonus

I want to introduce a new friend of mine Leanna Ellis. She has two books out in the Christian Market Elvis Takes a Backseat and Lookin' Back Texas. I have to say I love her writing. Lookin' Back Texas is her latest and it was laugh out loud funny with the right combination of pull at your heartstrings. Leanna came to my church last year for our Mother Daughter Tea and was our keynote speaker. She is just one of the nicest people I have met.

She is also going to give away a copy of Lookin' Back so be sure to follow the instuctions at the end of this post to enter!

So let let the spotlight shine a little on Leanna Ellis.

Leanna, Please tell us a little about you.
Hi, Donna! I’m a wife, mother of two, herder of four animals and a writer. Life is never dull in our house. There’s always some activity with the kids, a puppy chewing on my toes or the cat attacking.

Tell us all about this wonderful new novel of yours Lookin' Back Texas.


Lookin’ Back, Texas is about a devoted wife and mother who must return to her Texas hometown of Luckenbach, Texas to help her mother plan her father’s funeral. Trouble is – he isn’t dead! And neither are the secrets she buried there years ago.



What is the craziest thing you have ever done? I’m not telling!Well that's no fun!

Beside salvation, what is the best gift you have ever received? Oh, my hubby and my children. They are definitely the best gifts. I waited a long time to be a mother and I’ve enjoyed my children.

Who is the most important influence in your life besides God? My husband without a doubt.

Let’s pretend money is not a factor, if you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? So many places, so little time. Hawaii … and then would hop across the pond to Australia. But I usually have a deep need to get to the mountains too, so sign me up for Colorado or Wyoming. Oh, and we love Scotland … I could go on and on. I love to travel too.

What book are you reading now? What books are found lying around your home? I’m embarrassed to say that I’m not reading any fiction book right now. But that’s typical for me when I get to the end of writing one of my own. I am reading ‘Save the Cat’ by Blake Snyder for non-fiction/writing. But I actually haven’t picked it up in a week. Just can’t concentrate on anything else. And there are stacks of books everywhere in my house, even in my car. Some of the books are mine, others are my kids who are also bookaholics.

What is your favorite children’s book? The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Weird, huh? I took that book to the hospital with me when my son was born … in June! That is a bit strange!

If your book was being discussed at a book club what do you think the focus of the discussion would be on? I love talking with book clubs. I’ve been able to visit a few, and sometimes I phone in a call to the group. So if your group is interested, send me an email and we’ll see if our schedules coincide. For Lookin’ Back, Texas, the discussion usually revolves around forgiveness and perfectionism. I think that the family dynamics would also be great in a discussion of this book.

I always am trying to learn new ways to be organized in the office, what is your favorite organizational tool? A bulldozer. I usually need one to clean out my office after I finish a book. Other than that, I usually just say about the stacks and mess – it’s a creative mind at work. I think we have the same organizational style.

I love old black and white movies and the old musicals. What is your all time favorite movie? I love many of the old black and whites too, and adore musicals – anything with Gene Kelly. But it’s very hard to pick my very favorite. Some of the top favs would be: It’s A Wonderful Life, Singing in the Rain, White Christmas, Dances with Wolves, When Harry Met Sally. Well have to have a girls night and watch old movies!!

What would you like your readers to say about your writing? That they laughed and cried and were irrevocably touched. I can say Lookin' Back Texas made me do both!!

What are your pet peeves in the writing industry? Waiting! Patience is not easy for me. I think I have heard that before.

What are your dreams of 2009? What do you hope to accomplish this year? To just continue doing my job, to turn my books in on time and to find time to write that screenplay. I can't wait to see what you do next!

What do you enjoy doing when you are not slaving over the computer creating another wonderful novel? I love to spend time with my family. I love to travel. And of course, I love to read.

What is your favorite verse from the Bible? Jeremiah 29:11

What advice do you have for aspiring authors? Don’t talk about writing, just do it. Something I need to do more of!!

What do you want your readers to take away from your novel? For Lookin’ Back, Texas, I’d like them to think about the different angles of forgiveness and what grace really means.

Leanna, thanks so much for visiting with me at Write By Faith. I loved Look'n Back and look forward to reading your next novel.


If you would like to purchase a copy of Lookin' Back Texas you can do so by going to this link: Lookin' Back, Texas


To visit Leanna on the web you can find her here

To win a copy of Leanna Ellis' Lookin' Back Texas please leave a comment and a way to contact you. TODAY'S DAILY QUESTION: I think Texas is the best state in the U.S.A but I understand others may or maynot agree with me. What do you think is the best state? I will not hold it against you if you don't choose Texas, I'll just accept that you are wrong. hehe!

As always you can earn extra points by:
2 extra- bring a friend and have them put your name in the comment section. You will both get an extra point.
2 extra- Visit Leanna's site and come back and tell me something you found interesting.
2 extra- subcribe via email to this site or be a follower.
2 exta- blog about this post on your own blog or go tweet on Twitter about this giveaway be sure to leave the link to your blog. If you want to follow me on Twitter I'm writebyfaith