We Talk to Ourselves...a Lot! A Spring Interview (with recipes!) by Loree Lough and Cerella Sechrist

You know how it is with gals who talk to themselves (and each other) a lot…one thing tends to lead to another: ”How can it be April already when we just put away the Christmas decorations?” becomes “How did April get its name?” Maybe because aprilis is Latin for second, as in second month on the Gregorian calendar? Or, the Latin word aperire, which means “to open” (as in flower buds and other things that makes us sneeze)? Aphrilis, a variation of Aphrodite? Or Apru, a hypothetical hero? We settled on the second version because, well, it’s Spring, and what better way to “open up” than by sharing some secret stuff about ourselves!


Photo by: zirconicusso at www.freedigitalphotos.net



Q: What are two of your all-time favorite movies, ever, period?

CerellaThe Last of the Mohicans and The Patriot.

LoreeSecondhand Lions and Sound of Music.



Q: Were you a super-student?

Cerella – I was homeschooled, and while I wouldn’t call myself a “super-student”, the independence and flexibility of homeschooling instilled a passion for learning in me. So there were certain topics that I invested myself in wholly because learning was a joy. English and history were my outstanding subjects while math was my ongoing struggle!

Loree – Despite the fact that I blasted through homework like a tornado and read ‘classic novel’ assignments so fast that my mom used me like an oscillating fan, I earned mostly As and Bs. Mostly….



Q: Of all the books/stories you’ve written, which is your favorite character?

Cerella – Sheesh, this is like picking a favorite child! I’m not sure I could narrow down one all-time favorite, but I often develop crushes on my secondary characters such as Dmitri from Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania and Cole from Gentle Persuasion (who earned his own story in The Paris Connection!)

Loree – Dusty Parker, the Harley-riding, tattooed, earringed, ponytailed youth pastor hero in A Man of Honor. <sigh>



Q: What about books you’ve read? Can you name a favorite character from one of those?

Cerella – There are SO MANY I could name, but I think I’ll say Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. After all this time, he’s still a hero most women admire because of his ability to change his views because of his love for one woman. (sigh!)

Loree – Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. Sorry to be redundant, but…<sigh>.



Q: Are you athletic?

Cerella – I could probably be a contender in a pizza eating competition. Does that count?

Loree – Well, 15 years after releasing a bowling ball behind me, my name and photo still hangs near the stinky shoes cubbies at Titan Lanes. I scored 400+ on the golf course once. And another time, when a pal said “Bet you couldn’t hit the side of a barn with a basketball!), it cost me lunch at McDonald’s. So no. The truth is, I’m probably the least athletic person on Earth.



Q: Has anyone ever caught you watching Tom and Jerry cartoons?

Cerella – Not since I was nine. Now, Chip and Dale are another story…

Loree – Nope. But that’s only because they’re on at the same time as The Road Runner.



panuruangjan // freedigitalphotos.net
Q: Is Spring your favorite season? (If not, which is?)

Cerella – My favorite season is autumn, however, my name is Latin meaning “of the spring” so I have a certain affinity for the season thanks to that personal connection!

Loree – Mother’s Day and my birthday are days apart, so yeah, it is!



Q: What’s the title of your next Heartwarming release?

CerellaHarper’s Wish, the first book in my new “Findlay Roads” series.

LoreeSweet Mountain Rancher, #2 in the “Those Marshall Boys” series.

Both books are releasing this September and are available for pre-order now for Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook! (More pre-order links are coming soon!)



Q: Do you have a favorite “springy” recipe (and will you share it with us)?

We always have recipes!


One lucky commenter on this post will be entered to win this adorable 2" bookworm created by Heartwarming fan, Steph Ringle! Enter by commenting below. (Winner chosen in random drawing at midnight, EST, on April 10, 2015 and announced in the comment section on April 11, 2015.)



Catch up with us next month with another edition of We Talk to Ourselves...a Lot!



About Loree:


With nearly 5,000,000 books in circulation, best-selling author Loree Lough's titles have earned numerous 4- and 5-star reviews and industry awards. She splits her time between her home in Baltimore and a cabin in the Alleghenies (where she loves to show off her “Identify the Critter Tracks” skills). The release of Once a Marine (#1 in the “Those Marshall Boys” series for Harlequin's new Heartwarming line) brings Loree’s number of books in print to 104! Loree loves to hear from her readers and answers every letter, personally. Visit her at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and www.loreelough.com!



About Cerella:

Cerella Sechrist lives in York, Pennsylvania with two precocious pugs, Darcy and Charlotte, named after Jane Austen literary characters. She has won various competitions and a scholarship for her writing, which include devotionals, full-length plays, and novels. She divides her time between working in the office of her family’s construction business and as a barista to support her reading habit and coffee addiction. Her novels exhibit her love for both the written word and food in fiction. You can find her online at her website www.cerellasechrist.com where she pens “Literary Fare: Fiction & Food”, a blog for readers.

Comments

  1. Good morning, everybody! Just stopping by to thank all of you for visiting and to invite you to leave a comment, because this month, we're offering a cute little prize from the names listed in this section: A handcrafted bookworm figurine created by my pal (and Heartwarming fan), Steph Ringle. (You'll see a photo of it on my Facebook timeline; just look for the Heartwarming logo!)
    Until later, have a fantastic Friday!
    Loree

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  2. I love your posts, and Loree, it's a little scary how our "favorites" coincide. I've watched "Second Hand Lions" so often I can almost quote its dialogue, and I thought I was the only one!

    Great recipes, too!

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    1. That happens to be one of those movies with everything...including Robert Duvall, one of my favorite actors! I'm always stunned when I mention the title and people's eyes glaze as they say "Second WHAT?" LOL

      Wishing you a restful and good-weather weekend, Liz!

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    2. Secondhand Lion is such a good movie, but I confess, I've only seen it once! I'm glad you and Loree have found a mutual admiration for it, Liz!

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    3. Let's schedule Movie Night: Secondhand Lions, followed by Last of the Mohicans! We'll whip up some of our favorite recipes, too! :-)

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  3. We have a mascot in the church library. She is a green ceramic bookworm with false eyelashes and a jewel for a belly button. Her name is Clarisse. I would send pictures but don't have a "smart" phone.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. This li'l guy would make a great mascot! Several months ago, I gifted one to the owner of a small bookstore who hosted a signing for Robin Bayne and me. She kept it on her sales counter. No jeweled belly button on this one, though! LOL

      Enjoy your weekend, Janet!

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    2. Janet, this sounds like a perfect (and adorable!!) library mascot! My aunt always says she doesn't have a "smart" phone, just a "dumb" phone. lol

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    3. My youngest daughter dragged me kicking and screaming into the 21st century...gave me a smart phone for Christmas. I thought I'd hate it, but after just a week or so, I was tickled pink with it! Maybe I can get a jeweled case for it...and it can be my mascot! LOL

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  4. Ladies, what a great way to kick off a Friday morning. I hope everyone fared well after yesterday's Midwest storms. Your spring meals sound wonderful. You're both talented in so many areas. Wishing you a good weekend.

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    1. Hi, Roz! I'm with you...sending thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by the awful storms...and hoping no one else has to contend with one of Mother Nature's tantrums.

      Thanks for the weekend wishes! Here's me, wishing the same for you and yours! :-)

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  5. As always, an interesting post. I can understand about talking to oneself. I do it a lot. I pretend I’m talking on a Bluetooth.

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    1. LOL Marion! I'm so far gone, I don't even pretend anymore! I pity my poor husband, who's forever saying "What?" only to hear "Ignore me, I'm just talking to myself." Believe me, I thank God every day that he doesn't take the 'ignore me' line seriously! LOL

      Here's hoping you and yours will enjoy a safe, happy, and restful weekend!

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  6. Good grief! We were all separated at birth - well, I came along a long time before the rest of you. But all those movies are my faves, too. I love the end of Second Hand Lions, when Jasmine's grandson shows up and you know for sure that all those stories were real! Ron and I decided the first time we saw that, that's how we're going to go - in a biplane, trying to fly through the barn. Great post, ladies!

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    1. LOL Muriel! I can think of far worse ways to go!

      Here's hoping you and yours enjoy a wonderful weekend!

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    2. Wouldn't it be so fun if all of us Heartwarming authors could have a movie night together??? That would be a blast! And clearly, we all have similar tastes!

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    3. Omigarsh...see what I mean? Great minds really DO think alike! I hadn't seen your post, Cerella, when I said almost the exact same thing, above! LOL

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  7. Loree, I have always said that I could not hit the broad side of a barn. A friend told me to go into the barn! Well, maybe I could if I got close enough. LOL Cerella, I am with you, as long as the pizza is garlic sauce with lots of veggies!

    That is such a cute little bookworm! Thanks for the chance to win!
    Debbie
    debbiemcla(at)msn(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. How weird is this: I posted that "can't hit a barn with a basketball" thing and miraculously put a wadded-up ball of paper into a trashcan...three feet away. What're the chance, I wonder, that I could do the same if I moved to, say, FOUR feet away? LOL

      Have a beautiful weekend, Debbie! :-)

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    2. Mmmm, Debbie, you're making me hungry! My favorite pizza topping is mushrooms. :)

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    3. LOVE mushrooms! Not wild about black olives, but if the sauce is tasty, I don't pick 'em off. Heh heh heh

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  8. I always enjoy your posts. Thank you for another entertaining one!

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    1. It helps to be JUST a tad loony, Kate! LOL

      Wishing you a beautiful and restful weekend!

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    2. Our posts are so much fun to write, too! Although I have to give Loree credit for all the great questions in this one - she wrote them all up!

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  9. Ladies, another wonderful post! Two of my favorite movies, too--Sound of Music and Secondhand Lions!! And thanks for more great recipes.

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    1. Shh...don't tell Cerella, but I'm going to make her salad for the Lough family reunion this August...and I might not give her credit! LOL

      Have a lovely weekend, Carol!

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    2. Aw, Loree, you know you will. I gave you credit at Thanksgiving, for the green bean recipe, after all! ;)

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  10. I love Last of the Mohicans!
    I watched Tom and Jerry last night. No, the night before. Last night was Scooby Doo. The joys of having a ten year old. And, the truth, I miss having a three year old and watching Thomas the Train.

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    1. The grandorables are IN LOVE with Little House on the Prairie, Full House, and all the great family shows my girls watched when they were kids. When they visit, I have a perfect excuse to watch them. The rest of the time, I just look like a silly old grandmom! LOL

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  11. First comment seems to have disappeared! LOL Enjoyed what you shared. :)

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    1. Ack! The Blogspot ghost strikes again! Sorry about that, Rebecca!

      Hope you have a terrific weekend!

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  12. I love The Last of the Mohicans and the Sound of Music. Have not seen Secondhand Lions.
    I talk to myself too, just like my mother does so I say it's hereditary. ;-)
    I really like that cute little bookworm.
    Blessings,Tina

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    1. First chance you get, you really need to see Secondhand Lions, Tina...you'll love it! Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!

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  13. Love the post, love the worm!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  14. ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE 'COMMENT TO GET THE BOOKWORM' DRAWING:

    Debbie Clark, please send your mailing address to my email or Facebook private message box so I can send your prize! Thanks for visiting and commenting!

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    1. Just saw this. WoooHooo! Thanks so much! I will private message you my mailing address. :)

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  15. Thanks for the recipes. I pinned them to try later. They look so yummy. :)

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