I’m so excited to introduce you to Ramona K. Cecil today! I first met Ramona at a writers’ meeting, and her passion for writing and all things history were immediately evident. She has a new full-length historical romance out with Barbour this month, so keep reading for details!
Ramona K. Cecil is a wife, mother, grandmother, freelance poet, and award-winning inspirational writer. Now empty nesters, she and her husband make their home in Indiana. A member of American Christian Writers and American Christian Writers Indiana Chapter, her work has won awards in a number of writing contests. More than eighty of her inspirational verses have been published on a wide array of items for the Christian gift market. She enjoys a speaking ministry, sharing her journey to publication while encouraging aspiring writers. When she is not writing, her hobbies include reading, gardening, and visiting places of historical interest.
You can connect with her at her website, www.ramonakcecil.com.
Welcome, Ramona! Let’s get to the questions, shall we? 🙂
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
Optimistic, trusting, happy, determined, resilient, dreamer, crier.
Either/Or Questions:
1) The Grand Canyon or Yellowstone? Yellowstone; I prefer grass and trees to sand and rock and bison and bears to snakes and scorpions.
2) Gourmet chef or Chef Boyardee? Chef Boyardee; Nothing against gourmet, but I’m all about comfort food and Chef Boyardee qualifies.
3) On the move or Home sweet home? Home sweet home; I enjoy an occasional trip, but Dorothy was right, “There’s no place like home.”
4) Snoopy or Garfield? Garfield; Hey, I’m a Hoosier. I have to like Garfield better, his creator is fellow Hoosier Jim Davis.
5) Strawberry sundae or Chocolate cheesecake? Chocolate cheesecake; This was a close one, but in the end cream cheese trumped ice cream.
6) Full steam ahead or Life in the slow lane? Life in the slow lane; I was born with one speed—slow.
7) Sunflowers or Roses? Roses; Though corny, cliché, and trite, roses have always been one of my favorite flowers. When I was growing up, we had rambling rose bushes growing all along our front fence.
Fun answers, Ramona! I love that you’re an optimistic, happy crier…living proof that emotion doesn’t have to be all sad. 🙂 And your Yellowstone answer made me laugh. As a person with phobias of all things creepy and slithery, I completely understand. The scenery in both places is gorgeous, but at least we can see the bears from farther away, right? 🙂
Thanks for being my guest today! It’s been a pleasure to have you here!
A Bride’s Sweet Surprise in Sauers, Indiana
Regina Seitz’s sisters were allowed to marry for love, but Regina has been told by her father she must marry a man she has never met—just so Papa can have a German son-in-law to inherit the family homestead. Diedrich Rothhaus is as reluctant as she is, until her striking beauty and deep faith stir emotions he hadn’t expected. Against both their wills, love claims their hearts. Then a cruel family secret is revealed, and Diedrich must fight to save the most precious thing in his life—Regina’s love.
Blog Readers: Let’s talk…Do you have any phobias of creepy or crawly things? Any stories of overcoming or facing your phobia head-on? Or if it gives you the willies to think about, let’s talk emotion…Are you a happy crier? What’s the silliest thing you’ve found yourself crying about? Anybody known to cry at a commercial?
*flower photo by Twigy Posts
SPIDERS! Can’t stand em. And one year, I went with some friends to launch their boat, and we had to guide it through a tunnel that went under a road. The boat had to idle through the tunnel, and in the last minute they asked me to help guide the front so it didn’t crash. I had to put my hands on the top of the tunnel to “walk” the boat through…and there were so many spider webs up there. I about died. BUT I DID IT!!
Loved this interview…so fun to read!
Eek, Bekah! Hopefully the only thing you saw were the webs and not the spiders themselves! 🙂
I like Joyce Meyer’s advice: Do it afraid.
Hi Ramona! Nice to meet you. Thanks, Sarah, for a fun interview.
Hi Susan! It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m not crazy about spiders either, but they don’t send me running screaming. Guess I saw too many of them growing up in rural Indiana. Good luck in the drawing.
If it creeps, crawls, or especially if it springs or jumps, I’m against them being anywhere in my presence. Of course, one might think that rules out little boys, but I’m talking about the four or six or 8 legged variety and usually with antenna. Of course, that would include those little green men from Mars.
godleyv at yahoo [dot]com
Hi Vera! Thanks for checking out the interview. I don’t mind most creepy-crawlies except for snakes. Can’t stand snakes. Little green men with antenna might make me run, too. LOL Good luck in the drawing!
I hate snakes. I almost faint at the sight of them! Once while mowing (walking mower) I came across a snake in the back yard. We live in a sub-division for goodness sake! Where oh where did that snake come from?? I was paralized. My husband couldn’t understand how someone could scream so loudly at the sight of a little ole snake. I kid you not that snake was at least 6 feet long…o.k. maybe 8-12 inches long!
I enjoyed the interview with Ramona. I live in Indiana so I’m a fellow Hoosier too! I would be delighted to win a copy of “A Bride’s Sweet Surprise in Sauers, Indiana.
I can’t enter for extra points because I don’t Tweet and I gave up FB for Lent.
Blessings everyone!
Judy
judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
I am a happy crier! Yes, yes, yes, I’ve cried at during a commercial before. Those Hallmark card commercials get me everytime!
Hi Judy! It’s always nice to meet a fellow Hoosier! I’m with you, I HATE SNAKES!!! Happily, there are no snakes in A Bride’s Sweet Surprise in Sauers, Indiana. I think you’ll like the story. Good luck in the drawing and stay clear of those snakes! ~shivers!!~
I’m with Bekah, spiders freak me out. Once there was a tarantula-sized one in the house and hubby wasn’t around. I was terrified, but I got it. (No way did I want a chance of that thing crawling in my bed at night!)
Fun meeting you, Ramona!
Hi Heidi! Thanks for stopping by and checking out the interview. I don’t generally mind spiders, but a tarantula. . . now that might be a different story! Speaking of stories, I hope you like A Brides Sweet Surprise in Sauers, Indiana. Good luck in the drawing!
MAGGOTS: I can barely type the word. The thought of them makes me ill.
I would love to read “A Bride’s Sweet Surprise ” thank you.
I cry when I’m happy & sad. You don’t want to watch a movie with me.
Hi Mary! I’m with you on the maggots! Just the thought makes my skin crawl! I’m also a crier. I cry at the drop of a hat. I’d love to watch a good tear-jerker movie with you. We could cry together. ~smile~ I hope you like the book. I guarantee it will bring at least a couple tears to your eyes. Good luck in the drawing.
Yeah, not such a fan of snakes. One time in junior high, my friends thought it would be funny to put one of their brother’s rather large snakes on me and see if I woke up. I did. And was not happy.
Hi Lindsay! EEEKKK! I probably would have screamed so loudly I’d have given the snake a heart-attack! That would be, of course, after HE gave ME one! LOL Years ago when I was working in an office setting a co-worker decided to pull a trick on me. She handed me a folded piece of paper and said there were snake eggs inside she’d gotten on a trip to Arizona. I took the folded paper and it began to move in my hand. I screamed and threw the thing nearly to the ceiling! Another co-worker bending over a hanging file cabinet almost jumped head-first into it. The offending paper turned out to be nothing but a paper clip and rubber band contraption designed to unwind when the person holding it let go. The office erupted in thunderous laughter and the jokester got her desired result. Me. . .I felt like the worlds biggest dufus! LOL
Oh my word, Lindsay, I would have FREAKED. OUT.
And Ramona, I think I would have reacted the same way you did. What a mean prank! 🙂 I’m just waiting for the day my kids figure out my phobia and start planting stuff in their laundry.
If they did that, Sarah, I think someone would be getting a looooong time out! LOL
I enjoyed the interview, Sarah and Ramona. Fun questions. I’m a charter member of the Weepy Women’s Club. I cry when I’m happy. I cry when I’m sad. I’ve learned to travel with tissues. 🙂
I started reading A Bride’s Sweet Surprise just last night and am liking the story. Can’t wait to read more.
Hi Keli! Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you are enjoying A Bride’s Sweet Surprise. I’m a crier, too. I’m glad for water-proof mascara. LOL
Love this interview! Yes I sometimes cry at silly things…most recently, the trailer for warhorse… 🙂
Hi Melissa! Oh, I LOVED the movie Warhorse! If you cried at the trailer, take a box of tissues to the movie!
Nice to meet you, Ramona! Thanks for hosting, Sarah!
I’m a fellow Hoosier, and Garfield it is!
Sarah, I tagged you on my blog today. No pressure.
Hi Loree! Nice to meet a fellow Hoosier! LOVE that Garfield cat!
Nice to meet you, Ramona! Very nice blog today.
Hi Holly! Thank you. Good luck in the drawing. Either way, I hope you get to check out the book. :o)
Hey everybody! I’m trying to stay strong while I read all these creepy-crawly stories. *Shudder* When the weather gets warmer, the first thing I have my hubby do is spray around the house for bugs. It looks like he may be spraying soon! 🙂
Thanks, Ramona, for letting us get to know you better today! It looks like we’re not alone in our critter-phobia. 🙂
Hi Sarah! Thanks for hosting me and my book on your blog. BTW, your blog is FANTASTIC! You’ve done a great job and I’m enjoying the interview very much!
Congrats to Jackie! 🙂
Thanks, Sarah, for the intro to Ramona! I enjoy these interviews. It’s good to learn more about her book too.
Hi Karen! Yes, isn’t this fun? I hope you get to check out A Bride’s Sweet Surprise.
Ramona’s book sounds so, so good. I’ve always like the arranged marriage & then they fall in love scenario.
OK: phobias.
Spiders. Hates ’em, hates ’em.
And I feel no need to get over that phobia at all.
[email protected]
(And I did tweet this post!)
Oh thank you, Beth! I do think you’d like this story. I’m with you. There’s nothing wrong with a good healthy phobia. LOL
it’s nice to “meet” you ramona! aren’t sarah’s interviews fun? i love clicking over on mondays to read them.
as for a phobia….my husband and i BOTH are scared of having another child. is that awful, or what?!? we’re freaked about it. at least we’re on the same page. (weren’t expecting that one, were you?) 🙂
Hi Jeannie! And yes, I’m loving this interview! So much fun! I have to say, I wasn’t expecting that phobia, though I doubt you and your hubby are alone in that one. :o)
a great posting/interview…
my biggest phobia is bugs/spiders/snakes, etc…
thanks for the chance to read this wonderful story.
Hi Karen! Sounds like your phobias include just about everything creepy and crawly. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!