Thursday, November 15, 2007

Rachel Hauck

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Rachel Hauck and Her Daddy (Who is Graduating from Ohio State in This Photo) Rachel says,"He's been gone for two years now and I still miss him everyday." Rachel graduated from Ohio State, too!

Rachel is like an open book on her blog. She freely admits to her struggles, her joys and things about her life. A past president of the American Christian Fiction Writers, she has led the worship team, prayer and Christian fiction writers from across the country and beyond our borders. And yet, she is truly a humble person before the Lord.

Plus, I have never seen her turn people away--she always acts like she is glad to see you (me! ha!) with those gorgeous blue eyes and calm demeanor.

So, I can't let November pass without telling you about Rachel Hauck, her fun books and her deep faith and inspirational life. Rachel inspires me to be a better me by what she writes on her blog. In fact, I took up her challenge for the month of November to wake up everyday recognizing that I am God's favorite one!(Romancing the Crystal) You can do this, too, so be sure to follow the links above (after reading this interview with Rachel, of course!)

So, what was Rachel like as a child?

Childhood Ambition:

OOo, I had a few. Model (ha!), singer, actress, but truly, mostly a writer.

Fondest Memory :

My family Christmases, playing some stupid girly hand game with my dad. All us kids in the TV room at night cracking up  over M*A*S*H reruns. My mom's voice, my dad's laughter. Laughing with my sister as we made up  a spontaneous story. Long talks with my brothers.

The following memory is from Rachel's Blog:

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My sister is ten years younger than I am.
She arrived on a March morning after years of begging my parents for help against my three brothers.


This photo is from June of '75. I'm 14, wearing my Publix uniform.(Editor's note: See First Job below!)I've worked there a few weeks probably.

Dig my octagon shaped glasses.


Beka is four. Too cute.


Though I have to admit, she wasn't much help in the fight at first. Just too Gumby.


Then, by the time she needed me, I was off, exploring the world, making my way. "It's all about meeeee!"


Now that we're older, we're sisters and friends. She's a great mom to four kids and writes the best blogs. You have to check them out. And, oh yeah, she's beautiful.

Proudest Moment:

Graduating from Ohio State, marrying my husband, facing my fears. Of course, holding that first published book in my hand.

Biggest Challenge as a Child or Teen:

Nothing outstanding.  Typical kid stuff.

My First Job:

Publix Supermarkets. To this day, I love shopping there. It's a home away from home! I started when I was 14, and worked there for 10 years, earning my way through college.

Childhood Indulgence:

Food! LOL. I loved and still love, french fries.

Favorite Childhood Movie:

Again, can't think of one, but my dad took us to see The Battle of Britain when I was twelvish and it's always been a favorite since.

Favorite Childhood Book:

The Little House books. I've read them at least a dozen times.

Favorite Childhood Activity:

Reading, playing with my friends.

Childhood Hero:

Does Donny Osmond count?

Favorite Hymn or Worship Music?

Wow, tough one. Favorite hymn would be The Old Rugged Cross. My favorite worship music is almost anything that comes out of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.

Anything else you can share with readers about your childhood that developed you into the writer you are today?

Well, I read a lot of biographies. So even young, I was interested in people. Reading how their lives unfolded is something I think helps me today on a subconscious level.


I also used to pretend I was famous and make up dialogue and games. My friend, Jana, and I would turn her basement into a school, an apartment, a store, a something, then play games to suit the situation. We would write stories, too. We had a lot of fun.


I think being able to play and pretend was a great way to develop the art of storytelling. I'm glad I wasn't raised with computers, video games and 200 television stations, or movies on demands.

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From Rachel's bio: I'm a forty-something, a child of the '60's, '70's, '80's, '90's and '00's.

I roller skated through the '70's into the '80's with Farrah Fawcett hair and a three-speed orange Camaro.

Born in Ohio, I lived several years in Oklahoma and Kentucky before my parents moved the family to Florida.

I graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism. As a member of Phi Mu sorority, I partied my way though the last few years of college.

But, the truth is, and always will be, I belong to Jesus. At the age of six, I knelt at the altar of a Tulsa Methodist church and gave my life to the One who loves me.

After graduation, hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. And I did it without a laptop, a cell phone, an iPod or portable DVD player. Those were hard times.

But, I traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine. Life on the road is difficult. Working twelve to fourteen hour days, one doesn't get to see many of the sites. In Ireland, our company's distributor drove me around at night so I could see something of Dublin.

I met Tony, my husband, in '87, at church, of all places. We got married in '92. Tony has been a pastor for twenty years. I've worked with him in eighteen of those twenty. Our heart is to see teens and adults passionate, radical and whole-hearted for Jesus.

Tony and I don't have any children of our own, lots of kids-in-the-Lord and we love them all. However, we do have a very spoiled dog, and an even more spoiled cat.

I've always wanted to be a writer. My dad used to tell me, "You're a writer."  I have letters he wrote me post college, exhorting me to write. In this, I believe he had the heart of God.

In '93, I started an epic WW2 novel with two plots. It was well-rejected. After that ordeal, I took a break and put efforts into my job as a software project manager. But, I missed writing and in late ' 99, I took up the craft again.

With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ' 04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. I love writing chick lit and romance. I love writing. What an honor.

 

Some of Rachel's Chick Lit and Romance:

Sweet Caroline

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Thomas Nelson

Life's menu isn't offering many choices for waitress Caroline Sweeney until she inherits a lowcountry Cafe the same time her best friend offers her an international challenge.

But giving up ownership of the Beaufort Cafe is not as easy as serving up a steaming plate of hot Frogmore Stew. The people she cares about most consider the Cafe a close friend and if she surrenders the Cafe, she betrays them.

Caroline seeks answers from a God she hopes exists while falling for a handsome Deputy. But love eludes her until local boy-turned-country-music star, Mitch O'Neal, returns home to find his root and his faith.

In the aftermath of a hurricane, Caroline discovers her faith, destiny, and that everything in life happens just in time.

 

Diva NashVegas

Thomas Nelson

“Aubrey James is the holy grail of celebrity interviews. Whoever gets her to sit first wins.”
—Beth Rose, Inside NashVegas

 

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Read the first chapter of Diva NashVegas

"Hauck once again takes us into the country music world, this time through the experiences of mega-star Aubrey James. Aubrey's life journey is filled with flaws, as well as a great deal of joy, and real life locales makes this highly original story authentic. The extra tidbits - from Aubrey's liner notes to quotes from the "media" at the beginning of the chapters - add extra sparkle to the plot."

- 4 Stars, Melissa Parcel, Romantic Times Book Club

"I am not sure there is a better author out there at creating interesting characters than Rachel Hauck."

- gonecountrymagazine.com

Georgia On Her Mind

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4 Stars - Romantic Times Book Review

"Hauck's first chick lit is splendid!"

Read the first chapter of Georgia on Her MInd

"Rachel Hauck is a hilarious and powerful new voice in Christian chick lit. Readers will love Macy and her high-spirited antics while coming away with something more than just a frothy read."

- Kristin Billerbeck, bestselling author of What A Girl Wants and She's All That

Until 10:30 a.m. Monday February 6, Macy Moore was Miss Most Likely To Succeed. By noon, she was all but fired... and dumped by her materialistic boyfriend. How in the world could she go home to Beauty, Georgia now? Thank goodness for the Single Saved Sisters. Can they help her put her life back on the right path?

2006, Steeple Hill Cafe

4 comments:

Kathryn Mackel said...

What a terrific way to get to know someone.

Kathryn Mackel said...

What a fun, creative way to get to know someone!

Rachel Hauck said...

Crystal,

Thanks so much for having me. What a great idea.

Hugs, Rachel

Crystal Laine said...

I love Rachel's writing and love her blog--do go by and check her links.

Thanks, Rachel, for doing an interview.

Thanks Kathryn for coming by!