Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.
I’m so excited to welcome Courtney Walsh as my guest today! I’ll never forget when I first met Courtney at a writers conference last year. My friend Wendy Miller introduced us and said, “Courtney has an awesome blog and is fabulous. You should follow her.” So I did. And I discovered Wendy was right. I love Courtney’s sincerity and down-homeness (is that a word?). Anyway, let’s get to know her and you’ll see what I mean…
Courtney Walsh is a published author, scrapbooking expert, theatre director and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, will be released in February, 2012 by Guideposts/Summerside, followed by two additional novels in the series. She has also written two papercrafting books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper and is currently working on her third, The Scrapcrafter’s Idea Book (F&W Publications, August, 2012.) Courtney has been a contributing editor for Memory Makers Magazine and Children’s Ministry Magazine and lives in Colorado with her husband and three kids where she consumes entirely too much coffee.
You can connect with her at her website, her blog, on Twitter, and on Facebook.
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Welcome, Courtney! Now on to the fun…
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
Creative, encouraging, obstinate, sarcastic, hard-working, persistent, a really bad cook (does that count?) 
Sure, we’ll count it!
Either/Or Questions:
1) Prince Edward Island or Beverly Hills? Prince Edward Island! I’m a HUGE Anne of Green Gables fan, so always Prince Edward Island! I’ve never been anywhere in Canada, but I remember the first time I saw the movie version of that book, I was 100% smitten. Besides, I don’t think my yoga pants would be a good fit for Beverly Hills!
2) Indoors or outdoors? I HATE to say it, but indoors. I am a homebody. Probably the worst one ever. I LOVE to be home, in my little nest, with my family. That said, I moved to Colorado a little over a year ago and the weather here is SO nice that I’m finding myself outside more than I used to be! Maybe this one will change in another few years!
3) Herbivore or carnivore? Carnivore, baby! Truly, I’ve thought about becoming a vegetarian because I don’t eat that much meat anyway, but then I think “gosh, where would I get any protein?” Then I eat a steak.
4) Run a mile or run a bunch of errands? Oooh. Can I say “neither”? I always think I should become a runner. There’s a part of me that wants to prove to myself I can do it, but the fact is, I hate it. I enjoy exercise that’s fun, usually in a class setting. But when I think of running errands, I have to groan. I can’t think of a bigger waste of time!! Unless there’s shopping involved…then I choose the errands!
5) Tacos or lasagna? Mmmm…lasagna!! I do enjoy the occasional taco but nothing beats a great lasagna. I also like making lasagna…it’s like a casserole without the stereotype. (And generally, it’s one dish I don’t mess up!)
6) E-reader or paperback? Paper! I’m a scrapbooker with a severe paper addiction to begin with. I also stare at a computer screen 24/7, so calling reading on a screen for “enjoyment” just doesn’t jive with me. Plus, there is something about the smell of a library, a book store, a new book. Being able to flip through the pages or write in the margins…there’s nothing like it.
7) On the slopes or in the lodge? Ha. First of all, this conjures up the image of me trying to ski, which, if you know me, is beyond hilarious. One time in high school I decided to try roller blading. I didn’t think it’d be that different from roller skating, but I was wrong. I was amazed by the speed I picked up heading down a hill and panicked when I realized there was no way to stop myself. I aborted the mission halfway through and threw myself into a pick-up truck so I wouldn’t fly out into oncoming traffic. Little did I know, this would result in major blood and supreme humiliation. Especially when my high school math teacher had to cart my pathetic self back to my car because I couldn’t walk. Safe to say I’m choosing the lodge!
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LOL, Courtney, what a story! (I was about to say “fun story”, but I’m guessing it wasn’t so fun for you, huh?) And I’ll stay indoors with you too…unless we’re going to Prince Edward Island. Then I’ll run through the Great White Way of Delight and paddle across the Lake of Shining Waters with you. Is it a date?
Thanks for being my guest today!
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A Sweethaven Summer
Campbell Carter has come to Sweethaven in search of answers about her mother’s history. Just before losing a battle with cancer, Suzanne Carter wrote letters to childhood friends from her hometown of Sweethaven, Michigan. Suzanne’s three friends—Lila, Jane, and Meghan—haven’t spoken in years, yet each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together as girls. Suzanne’s letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers.
With the help of a handsome local man and her mother’s three friends, Campbell hopes to finally uncover her mother’s twenty-five-year old secret. In the process, she discovers a family she never knew and the home she’s always wanted.
As the women reconnect over the pages of the old scrapbook, wounds are mended, lives are changed, and friendships are restored—just as Suzanne intended.
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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…If you could travel to any location from a book, where would it be? Do you have any favorite scenes from Anne of Green Gables? Or how about outdoor adventures…If you spent an entire day outside, what would you do?
*Giveaway Details: Courtney has offered to give a copy of A Sweethaven Summer to one lucky commenter! (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!
**The winner of last week’s Sixty Acres giveaway is Barb Shelton! I’ll contact you this week with details.
***Other blogging news: Jessica Patch interviewed me at her site today. Come on over and say hi!
In order to read this post right now, you’ve gotten out of bed today (unless you’re sleep walking), you’ve clicked on your computer or phone and pulled up this page, and your eyes have focused enough to see what’s here.
I can’t tell you how excited I am to welcome Regina Jennings here today! I first met her a couple years ago at a writers conference and then became an agency-mate and then celebrated the news of her debut novel. She’s one of those people who has a permanent smile, and she somehow blends sweet and funny in a winsome combo. (Wow, did I just use the word ‘winsome’? Well, it fits!) 
