BLOGWORDS – Thursday 30 October 2025 – CHAT THURSDAY – STEPHENIA H. McGEE
BLOGWORDS – Thursday 30 October 2025 – CHAT THURSDAY – STEPHENIA H. McGEE
CHAT THURSDAY – STEPHENIA H. McGEE
Please give a warm feathered welcome to author and friend, Stephenia McGee.
rem: Hullo Stephenia, and welcome. Tell us three random things about yourself.
STEPHENIA: Hi! Happy to be here. Let’s see… 1. I have a degree in Equine Science. 2. I carry my dog on my hip like a toddler. 3. I can’t stand pumpkin spice.
rem: #3) 100% agree! What is your favorite quotation and why?
STEPHENIA: I love the quote from Winston Churchill. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” There’s so much truth to that. Whenever my boys get discouraged or they fear failing, I remind them of this quote. Life is all about moving forward. There are always going to be victories and failures. Refusing to quit is what matters.
rem: So true. If you quit, you’ve already failed. When reading, what makes or breaks a story for you? Your fiction pet peeve?
STEPHENIA: I used to be determined to finish a story if I started it. I don’t do that anymore. If I’m not enjoying a book, I’ll put it down and grab another. There are so many good stories out there, and I’ve found my taste can change based on mood or season. I say read what you enjoy.
rem: Oh, I feel ya on that! It’s still hard to stop reading a book before I finish it. But you’re so right; there are so many truly good—better—stories waiting. What are you reading right now?
STEPHENIA: I’m on the 10th book in the Uncharted Series by Keely Keith.
rem: Oh, I love her books! I’ve read all but 2 of them. Tell us a little about your writing journey.
STEPHENIA: I planned on being a horse trainer. rem: Thus the degree in Equine Science. #winkwink Then I started having trouble with my back. When the doctor asked what I did for a living and I told him I trained horses, he said, “not anymore you don’t.” During that season I felt God nudge me toward the passion I’d always had for writing stories. So, I dove in. I took classes, learned under mentors, and studied the craft. I planned to go for traditional publishing, but after a bit of a disaster with the company that published my first book, I once again felt God nudge me in a different direction. I started an LLC and published The Whistle Walk on my own. It did so well I continued with my own little publishing company for many more books until I was approached by a large traditional house. I loved the experience of releasing two novels with them, but then returned to my own company. I now have 22 books out and my own online bookstore where I can sell my work directly to my readers.
rem: Well booo to back trouble, but yay to God’s nudge to writing! What genre(s) do you write and why?
STEPHENIA: I write historical, time travel, and contemporary. I like to explore different genres, and I love the freedom of letting my creativity flow where it wants to. I started doing time travel because I thought it would probably be pretty funny if modern me suddenly wound up in one of the eras I like to write about. I have a blast sending unsuspecting characters to medieval England or to dine with the Founding Fathers.
rem: I’d love to sit down to dinner with President Lincoln; he and I share the same birthday. Tell us a little about your latest book? What is your current project?
STEPHENIA: My latest release is A Victorian Visitor, the 7th book in my Back Inn Time Series. Each book features new characters who end up in different eras and find love in the most unexpected places. Book 7 is the first time I not only send the hero back to the past, but he also comes home with a lady from 1864.
Currently, I’m writing the third novel in my River Romances historical series. All three of these books are set on the Mississippi River in the early 1920s.
rem: Oh, I adore the Roaring ‘20s! What is YOUR favorite part about the book or why do you love this book? Why should we read it?
STEPHENIA: My favorite part about A Victorian Visitor is when Amanda goes to the beach. She is unprepared for modern swimwear, and I found the entire situation hilarious. I enjoyed introducing her to hot showers, dishwashers, and smartphones. If you enjoy light and funny books and have ever wondered what it might be like to visit another era, then you would enjoy the Back Inn Time Series.
rem: Well obviously, now I have to check it out!! What is one take-away from your book(s) that you hope readers identify with?
STEPHENIA: Most of my books have a common theme. What do we do when God’s plan looks nothing at all like our own? I hope readers will find threads of hope and encouragement while they enjoy my stories.
rem: When God’s plan looks nothing like our own? Try all the time. LOL One more and then we’ll close. Do you have a life Scripture?
STEPHENIA: My favorite verse is John 15:5. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” I feel like this pretty much sums up life. Stay connected to Jesus, girl, because you won’t be getting much accomplished without Him.
rem: And yet we still try to do things on our own… ‘according to our own plan…’ Anything you’d like to add?
STEPHENIA: Thanks for having me over today! It was fun chatting. If any of the readers would like to join my author newsletter, they can get a free copy of Mrs. Easley’s Guide to Unexpected Time Travel and Other Peculiar Predicaments. Link: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3tyvnumbyo
rem: I love that title! Stephenia, thanks again for chatting with us on my blog today!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephenia H. McGee is a multi-published author of sweep-you-away historicals, laugh-out-loud time travels, and hometown feel-good contemporary novels. She lives in Mississippi, where she is a mom of two rambunctious boys, writer, dreamer, and husband spoiler. Her novel The Cedar Key was a 2021 Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice award winner and The Accidental Spy Series won A Readers' Favorite award. A member of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), she loves all things books and history. Stephenia also loves connecting with readers and can often be found having fun with her Faithful Readers Team on Facebook, sipping sweet tea on the front porch, and carrying around her dog Spinnie on her hip, who has yet to realize she isn't a human toddler.
#Blogwords, Chat Thursday, Interview, Stephenia H. McGee, Winston Churchill, Uncharted Series, Keely Keith, The Whistle Walk, A Victorian Visitor, Back Inn Time Series, River Romances, John 15:5, Mrs. Easley’s Guide to Unexpected Time Travel and Other Peculiar Predicaments
Thanks so much for having me!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Stephenia. Pop back any time.
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