Sometimes I wonder what people who lived even two hundred years ago would think of the world we live in right now. The cars we drive, the cable TV, the MacBooks, the flameless LED candles.
Amongst other things.
Like, for instance, the e-book. I have a confession to make: When the Kindle first released, I swore I would never in a million years read a book on one because I really love the feeling of holding a book and turning actual, touchable pages.
But then I got an iPhone and I downloaded the Kindle app and found ALL MANNER of free and very low cost books for instant download. And when I was nursing in the middle of the night? Instant, lit-up book.
I changed my views on the Kindle right then and there.
With the future of books looking more and more like it will continue swinging to the digitalized side, it’s important for authors and would-be authors to keep this in mind.
Which is why I’d like you to meet my friend Diana Prusik! Diana and I have a very weird story on how we met – her daughter’s grandmother-in-law is very good friends with my grandmother and gave her my books. So fun!
Diana is a mom, grandma, gifted photographer and a Tyndale author! Her novel, Delivery, is part of a new Tyndale Digital First e-book initiative. Very cool! Diana has an AMAZING story on how she became a writer, so I’ll let her take over now!
Erynn: Okay, Diana. Big question. What’s your favorite kind of cheesecake?
One of each? Okay. If I’m forced to choose, soft and chewy oatmeal raisin wins. Or wait! Maybe chocolate chip . . . . See, usually I would be indecisive about food, but my mind gets made up the second I hear the word “chocolate”. Any new books coming out or in the process of coming out? 
My heart aches when the story comes to a close. By the time I wrote the final chapter of Delivery, I loved the Wilson’s Florist gang as if they were my dearest friends. While I typed those final sentences, I grieved that our journey together had come to an end. The florist shop was such a great setting for your story! Made me want to start arranging flowers, something I have no talent for. Tell us a little about the genre you write in. Why did you pick that route? Experts often advise, “Write what you know.” I know small town life. I know strong yet wacky girlfriends. I know heartache. And I know God’s amazing love and mercy. So Christian contemporary fiction/women’s fiction is my niche. I write, as my website says, Small town stories. God-sized grace. I love that slogan!! Want to tell us what your favorite part of writing is? 
I love when the story feels so real that I forget I’m not part of it–when my characters suck me into their lives so completely that I laugh when they laugh, blush when they blush, and cry when they cry. Not going to lie. I have definitely made the same face in the mirror for much longer than I’d like to admit to just so I could try to describe it. Sort of like how I just had to try all kinds of lattes to get the taste descriptions right for the Cool Beans series. 🙂 What’s your favorite character you’ve ever written?Without a doubt, my favorite character is Mom Robinson, Delivery’s community matriarch. She takes weekly strolls down Main Street to offer gifts she receives at one business to employees she visits at the next–sharing the weekly edition from the newspaper office with customers at the bakery, pastries from the bakery with the flower shop gang, and posies from the florist with tellers at the bank. She is no stranger to heartache, but instead of becoming angry or bitter about her losses, she performs quiet acts of kindness that speak one loud message of unconditional love. When I grow up, I want to be like her. Any last advice for prospective authors?
Read. Learn. Write. Pray. And never, ever, EVER give up on your dreams! Amen and amen. Ok. You’ve got one minute to grab whatever you can at Target and money is no object. What do you buy? First, I’d empty the gift card rack. Then, I’d race for the greeting cards, especially the new postage-paid kind. Cards adorned with handwritten notes work wonders to brighten someone’s day. Our world could use some brightening, so I’d launch a send-a-card campaign. I’d tuck an unsigned greeting card inside each signed card I’d mail, include a gift card for each, and send instructions for the first recipient to “pay it forward” by choosing the next recipient– much like my Share the Gift Double Kindle 3G Giveaway, where the winner of the first Kindle 3G will choose the recipient of the second Kindle 3G, Mom Robinson style. And if a second or two remained, I’d snatch an Almond Joy bar on my way to the check out! Definitely going to check that contest out on your site now!! Thank you so much for hanging out with us, Diana!
So, Diana has very graciously offered to give a copy of Delivery to one lucky winner! Leave a comment on this post to enter. Remember, one comment per person and please leave some sort of identification in there. Diana’s book is an e-book, but there are lots of completely free downloads available for all kinds of computers, phones, droids and GPS systems. Just kidding about that last one.
Today’s comment question: In true s’macon fashion, what would be the most adventurous thing you would ever put on a s’more?
Today is my baby sister Cayce’s 21st birthday – what a treasure she is to me! I love you, Kiki! 🙂
Have a great night!
Hmmm. Maybe mandarin orange slices alongside the chocolate?
Hmmmm im not very adventurous but I might try putting honey on it lol 🙂
I think the most adventurous thing I would put on s'mores would probably be bread an butter pickles. It probably sound rediculous and gross but I would totally do it. 😛
Hot sauce! 🙂 Just Kidding! Maybe an Apple, or Caramel, or both 🙂
My friends and I have made s'mores with oreo's, reese's, and cinnamon…the traditional is still my favorite though. 🙂
Probably adding carmel sauce or hot fudge.
I would probably add hot sauce to the chocolate. I love all things spicy!
Y'all are making me hungry…and I'm trying to eat healthy! 🙂
Mmmm . . . we just bought a fire pit yesterday. Great timing. I'm pondering a holiday Reece's cup (like a pumpkin or a Christmas tree–when they're flat and BIGGER) with some marshmallow cream and a flat fudge cookie on the bottom. (Is it bad for computers to drool on the keyboard? I'm asking for a friend of mine.)
I would try candy corn!
Hmmm I like the traditional not sure if I would be adventerous but maybe peanut butter
I have to chime in! I'm pretty strict about a s'more being a s'more and nothing more. 😉 BUT….if forced, the only thing I can think to add would be peanut butter or strawberries. Turn it into chocolate covered strawberry pie with marshmellows haha.
I like the classic s'mores but if I had to try something new then peanut butter. : )
I don't know if I would go with something wierd and "out there" cuz I am not that adventurous when it comes to food, but I'm actually working on that because I'm going into culinary arts! But the most adventurous thing I HAVE put on one is a reese's cup. It was pretty good, but I still like the normal way MUCH better.
My favorite way to eat a s'more is with a peanut butter cup instead of plain chocolate. I think the most adventurous I could go would be to add a strawberry (but in that instance I'd go back to a good ol' Hershey’s bar with it).
My answer might not qualify since theres not chocolate in it but I thought I'd share anyway. Powered lemon cookies with a burned marshmellow and fresh blueberries. My second favorite is with a Reese's.
Erynn I've never dried a s'more with bacon. How would you describe it or how would Maya or Lauren describe it?
I really want try making a s'more with a snickers instead of a plain chocolate bar.
The most adventurous thing would be cheese! But that's probably about as gross as it sounds!!(:
I would have to say bacon. I'm not very adventurous in trying new things when it comes to a classic food like s'mores… 🙂
I'm reading these answers and just giggling! This was a fun question 🙂 honestly, I'm usually up to trying almost any food once, so I'd tried bacon! I may have to try now that you've been talking about it. I think it'd be fun to make a pumpkin s'more.
Most adventurous, idk? How about something spicy! Like you know Mexican hot chocolate but it'd be a Mexican s'more. Yeah, that might be good because there's a place in Colorado that seeks chocolate covered jalepenos and they are popular there so a jalopeno s'more!
Jalapenos. At first I was surprised by my own madness, but as I thought about it, I realized that it could be good. The yummy chocolate and marshmallow would help bring down the screaming taste of the jalapenos. lol
Not going to lie – not a huge fan of s'mores. BUT when I do eat them – I like them much better with dark chocolate!
I would be willing to try some of te adventurous things that everyone else has listed (jalapeños, bacon, apples, ect.) but if I could choose something just for the yummy-ness of it, I'd go with some type of caramel, with milk and dark chocolate. Yum:)
-Madison Akins
Strawberries, maybe?
I would put reeses pb cups on it. I know – not adventurous but I've not yet done it and chocolate with peanut butter is a perfect combination. Plus I wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly good s'more!
The most adventurous thing I would put on a s'more…probably strawberries, you can never go wrong with strawberries and chocolate!
Last year at Easter we made Smeeps – s'mores with peeps! They were yummy!
Most adventurous thing… hmm…. peanut butter?!? lol I'm NOT adventurous with food, as a rule! 😛
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I think some sort of fruit, like apples or bananas would be absolutely delicious!
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Umm…nothing? i'm not big into trying new things
I love s'mores, but I'm not a very adventurous eater… that said, peanut butter and strawberries on a s'more sounds like a pretty good combination! Chocolate with strawberries and chocolate with peanut butter are both good, so why not combine them all 🙂
Hmm… caramel is yummy!!
It's not very "adventurous" but if I wanted to make a s'mores more delicous, I'd scrap the graham cracker and sub it out for pretzels. Sweet needs salt to make it better. . . .in fact, just roast a marshmallow til it's brown on the outside and gooey on the inside, then top it with a dark chocolate covered pretzel and I bet it's nearly perfection. Just sayin' . . .
Diana is a great woman!! I dont think i could have had a nicer teacher when i was in school!!
I love putting reese's on my smores! it'sso dang good!!!
happy birthday to your sister!!
In the spirit of all things autumn, I would pumpkin and cream cheese on my s'mores. If all turned out well, it might resemble a pumking/chocolate cheesecake, if not it would at least be fun to try 🙂
I hate to mess with something SO good, but I have heard that they are delicious when made with Reeses!
I've always wanted to put peanut butter on one but never have…maybe I need to have a bonfire and try it! 🙂
What a fun interview! I loved your preface, though, unlike you, I still refuse an e-reader. Instead I use my flameless led candles to give me just enough light for late-night reading. Ha! I also loved your interview style, and how you included fun questions. Finally, it was nice to hear encouragement to not give up, from both you and Diana.