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 excited to welcome Naomi Rawlings as my guest today! I met Naomi at a writers conference last year and felt an instant connection with her as a fellow writer-mom. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her here today, and hopefully you’ll jump in for the chance to win her debut novel, which sounds fabulous! (Keep reading for details. 
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A mother of two young boys, Naomi Rawlings spends her days picking up, cleaning, playing and, of course, writing. Her husband pastors a small church in Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula, where her family shares its ten wooded acres with black bears, wolves, coyotes, deer and bald eagles. Naomi and her family live only three miles from Lake Superior, where the scenery is beautiful and they average 200 inches of snow per winter. Naomi writes bold, dramatic stories containing passionate words and powerful journeys. Her debut novel, Sanctuary for a Lady, releases in April of 2012. You can visit her at her website www.naomirawlings.com, her blog makinghomeworkblog.blogspot.com, or her Facebook page www.facebook.com/author.naomirawlings.
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Welcome, Naomi! Your home sounds amazing. And I know all about chasing little ones around, so let’s get straight to the questions…
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
Short, sweet (hopefully), romantic, nerd, wife, mom, author
Either/Or Questions:
1) New York City or Los Angeles?
NYC. Does that make me crazy? I live way up north, and we never get any sun in the winter, and LA would definitely be sunnier and warmer than NYC. But then, does anywhere in the world compare to NYC?
2) Fierce competitor or Cheering on the sidelines?
Sidelines. Clearly you’ve never seen me try to play volleyball or softball. I’m one of those weird people who runs the other way when a ball flies at their head (as opposed to running toward the ball and trying to hit it in a certain way). Phys Ed was my perpetually worst grade in school.
3) Chicken noodle soup or Chili?
Chicken Noodle Soup. Way more comforting than chili.
4) Snow boots or Flip flops?
I’d love to say flip flops. I want to say flip flops. But the average snowfall where I live is two hundred inches per year. That translates into about 17 feet. So definitely the snow boots. I own maybe two pairs of flip flops and six or seven different pairs of boots. It’s sad, I know, but it’s a reality where I live.
5) Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny?
Oh goodness. I can’t pick because I never watched cartoons growing up. No, my parents weren’t ultra strict, I was just always in a corner reading a book rather than watching a cartoon.
6) From scratch or From the microwave?
Middle of the road. I don’t like to cook, but I don’t really like microwave food. I’m more the five-ingredient-recipe kind of person.
7) Dogs or Cats?
Dogs. Way more friendly.
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Fun answers, Naomi! I tend to agree with you about the five ingredients thing. I remember the peanut butter pie recipe you shared on your blog and how easy and yummy it sounded. I still need to get around to making it…just as soon as I finish this diet I’m on. And I know what you mean about P.E. class. Even though I love fitness, there’s a big difference between exercising and participating in a competitive sport. Competitive I am not.
Thanks so much for visiting today! I loved getting to know you better.
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Sanctuary for a LadyRunning to freedom, she found love . . .
The injured young woman that Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat, and in the midst of France’s bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.
Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La Rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke’s daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land. Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be . . .
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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…Are you competitive by nature? Any former sports stars among us? If you’re non-competitive like Naomi and me, what other extracurricular activities did you do in school?
*Giveaway Details: Naomi has offered to give away a copy of Sanctuary for a Lady! All you have to do is leave a comment. (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 Jessica Nelson giveaway is Karen Lange! I’ll contact you this week with details.
