Monday, June 21, 2021

Fresh Scars Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

 

Fresh Scars JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Fresh Scars by Donna Mumma, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


Fresh Scars Title: Fresh Scars
Author: Donna Mumma
Publisher: Firefly Southern Fiction (Iron Stream Media)
Release Date: June 15, 2021
Genre: Southern Fiction

Time heals all wounds . . . or does it? 

Asia Butler and her sister, Ivy Butler Morelli, have not spoken in fifteen years. As children, they endured brutal emotional abuse from their mother, Veronica, and want only to forget the past . . . and each other. 

But the past comes calling when they each receive a letter from Veronica s attorney promising much-needed cash if they will fulfill her dying wish and consent to cleaning out their childhood home. Asia and Ivy reluctantly return to their hometown of Emerson, Florida, only to discover the house is a hoarder's nightmare filled with strange mementos and clues hinting that they were not the only victims of Veronica's sadistic nature. 

Can this new pain be the path to their healing? Will they be able to choose forgiveness over resentment? 

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Donna Mumma

Donna Mumma perfected storytelling in her first grade classroom, spinning tales exciting enough to settle a roomful of antsy six-year-olds. She is an award winning author, and loves to write about flawed people who find a way to overcome and thrive. A Florida native, she loves spending time with her husband, adult children, and their energetic collie, Duke.

CONNECT WITH DONNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


Welcome Donna! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and allow my readers a chance to get to know you and your newest book Fresh Scars.

I like to start these interviews the same way, with something fun to break the ice. Can you share 5 random facts about you that we will not find in your bio.

·         I love monster movies (except when they are overly gory)

·         My favorite animals are alligators (fitting since I’m a native Floridian and graduated from the University of Florida-Go Gators!)

·         I play three different musical instruments- piano, alto sax, and soprano sax.

·         I love Italian food and never met a pasta I didn’t like.

·         Because I grew up in a tiny town in rural Florida, my husband had to teach me how to drive on six lane highways when we moved to our current home. Didn’t have that where I grew up!


 When did you first discover you had a passion and talent for writing?

I remember my fifth-grade teacher gave us an assignment where we were to pretend our pillowcase came alive and write a story about it. I included dialogue and humor in mine, and my classmates all laughed. My teacher told me I had a very creative mind, and often reminded me how much she enjoyed my story.


Did you always know that this was something you would pursue professionally? If not, how did that come about?

I wanted to write a book since I was in high school. I started composing my first novel in a composition book. It was never finished, and I went on to study elementary education and became a teacher. I always had stories floating around in my head but did not get serious about writing again until my children started school. I mentioned an idea I had for a short story to my husband, and he encouraged me to write it down. Once he read it, he said I needed to keep going.

I started writing Christmas plays for my church’s adult and children’s choirs after that, then wrote my first novel. It never found a home in the industry, so I shelved it and started Fresh Scars.


What was the most challenging part of bringing this story to life?

There were many. First, I had to learn how to portray my characters’ emotions on the page. I’ve never written a book like this, as I usually wrote stories that focused more on action, adventure, and plot rather than what the characters were feeling. I had to learn how to dig deep and understand the why behind their actions and emotions.

Secondly, I wanted these two characters to be authentic. Many people have gone through experiences similar to those in the story, and I didn’t want to portray this in a way that wasn’t real and genuine. I spent several weeks researching how childhood trauma affects adults, how it seeps into their behavior and colors the decisions they make, or how it often causes addictive behavior and anxiety. I talked with a close friend of mine who is a mental health counselor so I could understand not just the usual obvious signs of trauma but also the subtle ones that often cause more problems for the individual.

I also spent time studying scripture so I could portray the situation in a way that reflects how God is with us when we come to a point in life where we must face a painful past, forgive, and then move on to a place where we see hope beyond the pain. That was the most important part for me. Getting there took a long time and more rewrites than I can remember.


What is the best writing advice you have been given? What advice would you share with other aspiring writers?

The best writing advice I’ve been given is join a critique group, like Word Weavers International or ACFW. This gives you the opportunity to build a network of fellow writers who will cheer for you, encourage you, help you learn your craft, and correct your writing so it will sing from the page.

 My best advice to other writers is don’t give up. Writing is hard. Getting published is hard. But if you’ve been called to write, your voice needs to be out there. Learn your craft, make connections within the industry by going to conferences, and keep writing.

Can you tell us a little bit more about Fresh Scars?

Fresh Scars tells the story of Asia Butler and her sister, Ivy Butler Morelli. They have been estranged for fifteen years and want nothing more than to forget about their childhoods and each other. But a letter from their abusive mother, Veronica, calls them back home to fulfill her dying wish. Both sisters are in need of quick money, and their mother offers that if they will return to clean out their childhood home.

They discover that Veronica has hoarded the house, and as they clean out the filth and clutter, they find she has collected strange mementos that she claims will lead them to the truth about the past. As they dig deeper, they discover dark family secrets and evidence that they were not the only ones who were victims of their mother’s sadistic nature. Cleaning out the house forces the sisters to confront their painful pasts and decide if they can move on to a more hopeful future or keep things how they were and try to make the best of the situation.


What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

We all have something painful in our pasts. I hope readers will see the value in facing that pain, forgiving, and then moving forward. Being anchored to past pain keeps us from reaching forward and becoming who God wants us to be. Philippians 3:13-14 were my inspiration for the theme of this book.


Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?

I am working on a couple of different stories. One is about a woman who is the family pariah and was shunned for something she did not do. She discovers there may be evidence to prove her innocence so she goes in search of it so she can present it to the family at her sister’s funeral.

The second story deals with sibling rivalry, a conniving stepparent, a missing family fortune, and a kidnapping/murder plot.


(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Fresh Scars plus a $10 Amazon gift card!

Fresh Scars JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 21, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 28, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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6 Comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the interview!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for being part of the blog tour for "Fresh Scars" by Donna Mumma.

    Enjoyed reading the interview with this new to me author. It's a great way to learn more about book and author. Can't wait for the opportunity to read this book that is now on my TBR list.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is definitely going on the tbr! Thanks for this awesome book rec!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like an excellent read.

    ReplyDelete

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