A Q&A with a fantastic new author and a giveaway!!!

A Piece of Time

by Victoria Fielding

Published September 2011

367 pages

This is everyone’s story, not just Lilly Hunt’s.

Like Lilly, who hasn’t endured peer pressure and fought low self-esteem?
Who hasn’t been angry for their losses and heartbroken at losing a loved one?

Whose life hasn’t been impacted with the scourge of an addiction?
Who hasn’t stumbled under the weight of forgiving someone?
Or, harder yet, forgiving oneself?

It isn’t only Lilly who questions why life is so hard, and what IS the point, anyway?

Like Lilly, we wonder—when we set this world down—what will be behind death’s door?
Lilly discovers what lies far beyond that door. And now, you just may too.

This story is for everyone.

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I was recently able to ask Victoria some questions about her thought-provoking debut novel and would like to share her responses with you! Make sure to read all the way to the end to know how you can enter to win a free copy!

1. What inspired you to write Lilly's story?

My own life experiences inspired me to write Lilly's story. As mentioned on the back cover of the book, Lilly's story is everyone's story. I have found that it almost does not matter the age of the reader; once past twelve years of age, up through sixty-five years of age, there is something in the book that each reader can relate to. And that 'something' is often the end-product of a bittersweet learning experience that the reader had in his or her own life. There are several parallels between Lilly's life and my own.

2. Is Lilly's story based on one person's true story? Or are bits and pieces based on
different stories? Or is it completely ficionalized?

Lilly's story is based on my life experience, your life experience. I tried to put Lilly in situations that every single reader could relate to. Who doesn't remember a 'nemesis' from junior high or high school? Who didn't get their heart broken by a 'dream' guy or girl? Who hasn't had difficult times with a parent while growing up? When haven't we all realized that our parents are human beings first, and parents second? Who doesn't, in darker moments, wish they could just cease to be, or at least truly wonder what awaits them when they set this world down? Some scenes are based on personal experiences; others are totally fiction.

3. Do you have a favorite character? And/or event?

My favorite scene in A Piece of Time is when Lilly decides to take matters into her own hands and prevent a rape by desperate means. That scene seems to be many readers' favorite, but mine particularly because it teaches us that we have power; we can solve our own problems, that the strength is in the struggle.

4. At your "day job," you work with troubled teens - are you hoping this book can help troubled teens in general?

I wrote A Piece of Time for teenagers in general, but particularly for troubled teens who struggle to see their self-worth, who question why they are on this earth, and what contribution they can possibly make. These kids are not broken; they just need to be healed. We all need to be healed. That is one of the main messages of the book. No matter our age, we can healed. 

5. How did you come up with your version of Heaven?

I came up with my version of heaven by reading innumerable books written by authors who had had near-death experiences of their own. I found many similarities and used those similarities in A Piece of Time. The Life Review was strictly a product of my imagination.

6. It seems like Lilly and her mother both share a propensity for being deceived about
the guys they date - did you do this on purpose? Why?

Both Lilly and her mother have struggles with the men in their lives; Jen, Lilly's mother, loved Lilly's father dearly, but his alcoholism destroyed their family. Lilly, being raised in that dysfunction, did not have the modeling to choose relationships with guys wisely. She was looking through a warped lens at guys, and dysfunctional guys 'felt' familiar, normal, to her. That is another lesson within the story. Our family of origin and the manner in which we are raised needs to be challenged by each of us; some things from our family may be good to take with us into another relationship; other patterns, definitely not. 

7. What do you hope A Piece of Time  accomplishes?

 My wish for A Piece of Time is that it is read by those who need its many messages; that it will leave the reader with hope and an eternal perspective that they have always lived, and have always been loved by their Creator. 

Thanks for helping me to get the word out about this story I care so deeply about!

Thanks, Victoria, for letting The Crooked Word get the first peek at what went into providing such a powerful reading experience! To learn more about A Piece of Time or what Victoria plans to write in the future, visit  www.victoriafielding.com

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We would like to give our readers an opportunity to win a free copy of A Piece of Time! We have 2 copies available to win! To enter, just leave a comment on this post by midnight of October 1st. We'll announce the 2 lucky winners the following Monday (Oct 3rd).

Good Luck!