Valerie: Good morning, Maisie! I think this is the first time we’ve had a child on the Inspy Romance interview hot seat. How old are you?
Maisie: I’m almost eleven and going into sixth grade.
Valerie: Great! Tell our readers about your family.
Maisie: Well, it’s just me and my mom. Mom refuses to talk about my father or even about my grandparents. I don’t think that’s fair, actually.
Valerie: I’m sure she has her reasons. Have you lived in Arcadia Valley, Idaho, all your life?
Maisie: Just two years. Before that we lived in Memphis.
Valerie: That was a long way to move! Was your mom transferred in her job, or what happened?
Maisie: No, my mom used to be a waitress, and then she went to college, and now she’s a… a…
Valerie: What did she take in college?
Maisie: Something about business (shrugs). She’s got three jobs now, but she needs one more, I think.
Valerie: Seriously? A woman with three jobs, and that’s not enough? How do you figure?
Maisie: Well, we live in this apartment building that doesn’t allow pets. Mom won’t let me have a horse, or a dog, or a cat, or even a hamster. So I think she needs another job so we have enough money to rent a house, instead!
Valerie: That’s one way to look at it. Which job does your mom like best?
Maisie: Her newest one. That’s working for Grace Fellowship and running the greenhouse program. We’re going to donate all the vegetables to the soup kitchen, and it’s going to make all the homeless people have great food (she grins proudly). That was even my idea. If your friends haven’t read about that yet, they should get Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley.
Valerie: I was meaning to talk to you about romance. After all, this is a blog for romance readers.
Maisie (looks nervous): I think I’m too young for romance. At least that’s what Mom says.
Valerie: I happen to agree with her! But how about her? Do you think it would be cool if she fell in love and got married?
Maisie: Oh, she doesn’t want to get married. She told me. She says it is just me and her against the world, right? She doesn’t really trust men.
Valerie: So, um, what would you say if I showed you this book cover?
Maisie: Wait, is that MY MOM????? Who’s that guy? I think I’ve seen him somewhere…
Valerie: You might’ve. He’s lived in Arcadia Valley all his life. Actually, he has an acreage just out of town.
Maisie (perks up): Does he have horses? Dogs? Cats?
Valerie: I think I should leave some surprises for later, don’t you? I wanted to ask you a more serious question.
(Maisie raises her eyebrows, as if wondering what could possibly be more important than animals.)
Valerie: I understand the Grace Greenhouse project was your idea initially. It’s pretty unusual to have a ten-year-old kid set out to change the world. What gave you the idea, and why do you even care what the homeless people eat?
Maisie (pokes the toe of her shoe at the ground): Back in Memphis, me an’ Mom didn’t really have a place to live for a long time, and some days we didn’t have food unless we went to the soup kitchen. So I know what it’s like.
Valerie: I’m so sorry to hear that.
Maisie (face brightens): But there was this girl named Katie, and she grew a cabbage so huge that it made enough cabbage rolls to feed nearly three hundred people! That’s when I figured out that kids could make a difference, so when Joanna and Grady couldn’t figure out what to do with those greenhouses, I was like “duh!!! I know what you can do.” And that’s how it all started.
Valerie: I read an article about Katie’s Krops on her website. She’s turned one cabbage into quite a program involving kids across the USA.
Maisie: Cool! I’m going to look it up.
Valerie: What are you up to today?
Maisie: I’ll be down at the greenhouse project, pulling weeds. Lots of other people will, too. It’s so much fun!
Valerie: Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers today before you get going?
Maisie: Two things. One, if you can help people who need help, just do it. And two — is that really my mom on the cover of that book?
Valerie: Yeah, it is.
Maisie: Then I guess people should buy it and read it (she grins). How about me — can I read it?
Valerie: If you want to, but you might want to ask your mom first. I promise you’ll like the end result.
Maisie: Is there kissing?
Valerie: Um… probably yes.
Maisie: That sounds kind of gross. But I tell you what. If I get a puppy out of the deal, I’ll tell readers to buy the book (she heads out the door with a wave and a grin).
Valerie: I think that can be arranged. One puppy for Maisie — oh, why not throw a kitten in, too? — and one sweet romance novel for everyone else.
About Sprouts of Love
Single mom Evelyn Felton takes on a third part-time job managing a greenhouse and garden project for Grace Fellowship. Formerly homeless, she’s thrilled to offer truckloads of fresh produce to the Arcadia Valley food bank.
If only Ben Kujak weren’t running Corinna’s Cupboard singlehandedly, he’d be delighted to be on the receiving end. But Evelyn and her dynamo daughter, Maisie, won’t take no for an answer, even if it means restructuring Ben’s charity.
Soon Ben finds himself wishing they’d transform his personal life, too, but can true love sprout when their pasts collide with the present?
Sprouts of Love is now available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iBooks. There will also be a paperback, all releasing in just a few weeks. Reserve your copy today!
Click here for more information about Arcadia Valley Romances!
Waitress and puppy photos from Pixabay. Maisie’s photo was purchased from Deposit Photos.
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
Fun interview, Val! Maisie certainly is adorable. I’m happy she got her puppy. :)
Hi Valerie, what a fun interview with Maisie:) The Arcadia Valley books have all been good so far, looking forward to this one.
It was ANZAC Day today, so a fitting time to think about how we can serve others.
Blessings:)
Hi Valerie, What a fun way to introduce this book. I really enjoyed the interview with Maisie!
Fun interview with an adorable girl, Valerie! You definitely have me hooked for your book Sprouts of Love, which is preordered. Living in SW Michigan we have several garden projects and outreach programs for people in need. We have a farmer’s market which also takes government assisted food cards. The market is near a resale shop which trains people who are down and out in retail and in their cafe. Mosaic is opening a new restaurant in June. Thanks for your creative weaving of fact and fiction. Best wishes. Happy Spring and Happy Writing
Valerie, your interview shows that you definitely know the mind of a young girl. Must be spending time with your precious granddaughters.
I enjoyed the interview, Valerie! How fun!!
Love the interview. Nice touch interviewing the child.
So much fun to read! Three jobs? Wow, poor little girl.
I really liked Maisie’s role in the first book. I’m looking forward to seeing her more. She’s a great kid and I’m looking forward to reading their story. Great interview!
I agree with other comments. What a fun interview! Maisie is smart and adorable, and her idea is awesome. What a great way to introduce the book!
What a cute interview! Love it!
I made her go through a lot for that puppy, LOL!
This Canadian had to look up ANZAC day! Maisie is definitely one who would jump in to serve anyone, anywhere.
In case anyone else wants to know, Google told me, “ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day is the anniversary of the landing of troops from Australia and New Zealand on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, in World War I on April 25, 1915. The bravery of all military personnel who participated in this campaign and the lives of those who died in all military actions are remembered. “
Thank you! I hope you enjoy Sprouts of Love :)
Thank you so much, Renate! It’s always fun to weave some fact in, and thanks for the approval of Maisie’s voice. She is a few years older than my granddaughters, the oldest of whom is seven, but Maisie’s personality is so strong that she easily took on a life of her own!
Thanks, Melanie!
Shhh, don’t remind Maisie she’s a child! She likes to think she’s in charge.
I know, right? And all three together don’t equal one full-time job. But Evelyn is doing everything she can to make ends meet and provide stability for Maisie, and only one of the jobs requires going into a child-free office every week, so they make it work.
Great interview! We’re waiting for the book release.
I love when a character strolls into a story larger than life, with a solid personality. Maisie will find it hard to take a backseat in the last two Arcadia Valley books! She kinda likes the limelight.
Thanks, Alexa! Maisie was an awesome character to write, but I had to be careful she didn’t dominate in her mom’s romance!
Thanks, Merrillee!
Thanks, me too! I’m expecting it back from my editor later today, so I’ve got one more round to go on Sprouts before it releases.
I hope she doesn’t disappear completely in the last two books.
She won’t! Rooted in Love (the next one) will be Cameron Kraus’s story, and you know Maisie gets along well with Cameron’s twin sons! And the final one is Kenia Akers’s story, so Granddad will be back… and Maisie has pretty much claimed him as her own. I don’t think I could keep Maisie out if I wanted to… and I don’t want to. That’s part of the community feel we’re giving Arcadia Valley Romances, with characters swinging in and out of the other stories!
I’ve just read Danica Favorite’s The Thought of Romance, which releases in June, and it was fun to see cameos of some of my characters in her story!
I loved the interview too! I’ve got the book pre-ordered and look forward to reading it!
Thank you SO much, Margaret!
What a fun interview! Loved it!
I was wondering when Cameron was getting his story. For some reason I was seeing him with Kenia, but not sure why. I’m really enjoying Arcadia Valley Romances series exactly because of this community feel (and how characters show up in series from other authors as I’ve mentioned yesterday).
I did know you lived in Canada (per your reply to my comment yesterday), but for some reason I let my imagination get the best of me and pictured you all in some sort of Rocky Mountains retreat talking about your books and sharing about your cute characters (like Maisie) so they could show up in each other’s stories. I guess romance writing works just like academia.. we Skype, Hangout, and call each other all the time so we can get a paper out for publication. I should have known better… (though I’m guessing it was more like wishful thinking since your world of writing sounds a lot more fun with all the creativity involved).
I know in my head that Maisie isn’t “real” but my heart just loves her!!! This little interview brought tears to my eyes. HUGS for Maisie!!!
Love this, Valerie! Maisie seems real to me, too. In fact, she helped get my heroine’s daughter out of a bullying situation in my Arcadia Valley novel. She’s larger than life!
Priscila, I can see why you thought Cameron and Kenia might go together – and I almost dropped a hint in that direction in Sprouts of Love (bad me LOL), but I have other plans for them both.
Don’t I wish we could all hang out in a Rocky Mountain resort! Alas, real life is just what it is, but technology makes such a difference.
Thanks, Robin!!
YES!!!!! That’s definitely what an author loves to hear! (Maisie likes hugs. She also likes flowers – the larger the bouquet, the better. FYI.)
Maisie’s a good kid. I’m so glad she was there for Trina!
Fun interview, and I look forward to reading this! Thank you!
LOL! I will keep that in mind ;)
Thank you!!
Looking forward to Sprouts of Love. I enjoy all your books. (Also looking forward to finding farmers markets in our new home town. )
Thank you! Local markets can be so amazing to meet people and get great fresh food. Ours starts up for the season the first Saturday of May.
Very cute interview!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. :)
What a fun interview! Can’t wait to read the book!
Thanks! I can’t wait for it to release, either!
What a fun post! This is a book I must read now.:)
That’s what an author likes to hear! ;)
It was a fun interview! Maisie is a great kid!
She really is! But she’s not perfect…
I enjoyed your interview. Maisie sounds like an awesome kid.
Thanks for stopping by, Jessica!