Welcome Steena Holmes

ABOUT STEENA HOLMES

I’m Steena Holmes. A wife, a mother of three daughters,and I live in Calgary, Alberta. I’m an author and a chocoholic.

I love to read, write, and bake.

Growing up as a small town Canadian girl, there wasn’t much to do but ride your bike, hang out with friends on the beach and daydream. I always wanted to write but never dreamed it was something I could do as a career. I love to travel and fell in love with the sheep covered hillside, old castles and romantic history of Scotland and England. I dream about waking up in Tuscany and touring small town shops in the south of France with my husband, of placing my toes in the ocean and experiencing history first hand. As a mother with three daughters, I’m learning that teaching them to pursue their dreams is a lasting legacy. I love to wake up to the Rocky Mountains, will forever enjoy the taste of coffee and chocolate and can’t imagine the day when a story doesn’t unfold in my heart. Living a life with passion and pursuing dreams is a life well lived.

ABOUT THE MEMORY CHILD  

When Brian finds out that his wife, Diane, is pregnant, he is elated. He’s been patiently waiting for twelve years to become a father. But Diane has always been nervous about having children because of her family’s dark past. The timing of the pregnancy also isn’t ideal—Diane has just been promoted, and Brian is being called away to open a new London office for his company.

Fast-forward one year: being a mother has brought Diane a sense of joy that she’d never imagined and she’s head over heels for her new baby, Grace. But things are far from perfect: Brian has still not returned from London, and Diane fears leaving the baby for even a moment. As unsettling changes in those around Diane began to emerge, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

A woman’s dark past collides head-on with her mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama.

GET TO KNOW STEENA

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite holiday?

STEENA: Christmas - I love all the decorations and cookie baking!

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

STEENA: My Fair Lady

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite “love” word?

STEENA: chocolate ;)

MAUREEN: What really scares you?

STEENA: the idea of losing my children and my family.

MAUREEN: Who was your favorite teacher in grade school? Why?

STEENA: Mr. Brown. He was my high school principal and he made me believe that I could be more than I thought I could be.

MAUREEN: Where in the world would you most like to visit?

STEENA: Germany

MAUREEN: What are you working on now?

STEENA: A new series to come out this fall called Stillwater Bay.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

STEENA: Beauty and the Beast

MAUREEN: What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?

STEENA: a chocolate tour to Brugge, Belgium

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

STEENA: smurfette

MAUREEN: Would you rather sky dive or scuba dive?

STEENA: um...neither :) I'd rather meander my way through an old town in Europe or a seaside village

MAUREEN: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

STEENA: no, unfortunately I need quiet to write

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite kind of cheese?

STEENA: goat cheese and fresh cheese curds

MAUREEN: What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done to research a book?

STEENA: go on a chocolate tour

MAUREEN: Vanilla or chocolate?

STEENA: chocolate!!

MAUREEN: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

STEENA: take a day off and get my nails done! I also catch up on life - make appointments I put off, clean the house. When I'm on a deadline, everything gets placed on hold.

MAUREEN: What do you do to unwind and relax?

STEENA: have a hot bubble bath and read

MAUREEN: Strawberry daiquiri or a beer?

STEENA: strawberry daiquiri. I like sweet drinks.

MAUREEN: Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?

STEENA: I would invite Jack for dinner. He reminds me of my father and grandfather all rolled into one - whose last name happens to be Jack :)

MAUREEN: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

STEENA: I do. It's hard not to. If enough people say the same thing then I use that to see how I can better my storytelling.

MAUREEN: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

STEENA: so many! We took our kids to Disneyland, bought a house to fit the size of our family. I'm able to be home for my kids and I can now travel.

MAUREEN: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

STEENA: depends on the season. I love and need coffee to be sane but I love cold flavored teas in the summer.

MAUREEN: What color would you make the sky if it wasn’t going to be blue anymore and why?

STEENA: I would love the sky to always look like a beautiful sunset. It's the perfect way to end an evening - full of promises and dreams.

MAUREEN: What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon?

STEENA: complete relaxation, a quiet house and fresh baked chocolate cake.

MAUREEN’S GOTTA ASK--STEENA’S GOTTA ANSWER

MAUREEN: If you weren’t an author, what would you be?

STEENA: I used to be a virtual assistant but I've always wanted to be a pastry chef!

STEENA ASKS READERS

What's your favourite type of ending to a book? One where you knew all along or one that surprises you and makes you think back through the story to see if you missed any clues?

FOLLOW STEENA HOLMES

E-mail:  steena@steenaholmes.com 

Website: www.steenaholmes.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/steenaholmes.author

Twitter: @steenaholmes

UP NEXT FOR STEENA HOLMES

March 18 - The Memory Child

May 1st - A Sweet Life collection with Brenda Novak

May 1st -Sweet Dreams

August 15 - Return to Sender - part of the Invitation to Eden multi-author series

GIVEAWAY

I would love to give a chocolate reader gift! Just leave a comment letting me know if you've read any of my books and what's your favourite dessert.

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