An Interview with an Author: Clarice G. James
It’s Author Thursday on my blog! Today, meet Christian author Clarice G. James.
Clarice writes Christian contemporary women’s fiction.
The second oldest of six children, she grew up on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. She credits her father for showing her the power of dreams and her mother for teaching the value of working for them. Clarice married right out of high school—a marriage blessed with three children, who have since given her six grandchildren. After 23 years of marriages, she was widowed. Eight years later, she was blessed to remarry (Ralph) David James. David and Clarice live in Hudson, New Hampshire.
Her life verse: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 NIV).
Her published novels include Doubleheader at https://www.amazon.com/Doubleheader-Clarice-G-James/dp/1950051374 (Mountainview Books, LLC, 2015; Second Edition, Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., 2019); Party Of One at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946638137/ref=cm_sw_su_dp (Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., 2017); Manhattan Grace at https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Grace-Clarice-G-James/dp/1948888130/ (Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., 2018); and The Girl He Knew at https://www.amazon.com/Girl-He-Knew-Clarice-James/dp/1951080459 (Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., 2019).
She was a finalist, Jerry Jenkins Operation First Novel Contest for Party of One; second place winner of a publishing contract, Operation First Novel for Doubleheader; and semi-finalist, Selah Award for Manhattan Grace
She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
Learn more about Clarice through the links at the end of this interview.
—By Jessica Brodie
JB: Tell us about yourself and your faith journey.
Clarice: I was brought up in a mass-going Catholic family, where I learned all about God the Father, Jesus his Son, and the Holy Ghost. Later, as a young adult, certain that I had exceeded my allotment of sins, I turned my back on the church. Ten years later, a neighbor friend led me in a prayer to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I knew beyond doubt that God had touched me.
JB: When did you know you wanted to become a writer?
Clarice: In my early years as a wife, mother, and full-time employee, I dabbled in writing, including articles for local publications, marketing material, and church presentations and newsletters. After much encouragement from family and friends, I began writing my first novel in my early fifties.
JB: How does your faith influence your writing?
Clarice: My stories are woven together with colorful threads of humor, faith, romance, and mystery—the faith element being key.
JB: When did this particular story first stir in your heart?
Clarice: The story my first novel, Party of One, began stirring in my heart after I was widowed at fifty. Whenever I would dine out alone, I wondered how other single diners would react if I asked them to join me. My imaginings turned into a manuscript. A few years after the book was published, I actually began a Party of One supper club which met for two years.
JB: Do you have other books coming out in the future?
Clarice: My current work in progress is titled The Least Of These. After blowing the whistle on her boss for fraud, a young woman hides out at her great-aunt’s house in a rural town in Maine, where she learns first-hand how to help the least of these.
JB: What do you hope for readers to take away from your books?
Clarice: We do not need large sums of money or years of experience before we can invest in the lives of others.
Check out Clarice online:
Website: https://claricejames.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarice.g.james
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClariceGJames
Email: cjames@claricejames.com
