Book: Legends of the Donut Shop
Author: Terry Overton
Genre: Fiction/Middle Grade YA
Release date: March 19, 2022
At seventeen years of age, Wes Williams is injured in a head-on collision and nearly loses his life. Wes does not know if he will live or die. In a mysterious near-death experience, he travels back in time to his earlier years and the time he spent with his grandfather and his old buddies at the Donut Shop. The humorous gang of old veterans, and one retired sheriff, retell their stories once again. This time, Wes understands the meaning of each story.
This is a book of second chances, life lessons, and forgiveness. Wes’s life is changed forever, and he begins a new chapter in his life.
This book was written for a group of actual Donut Shop friends who gathered weekly with my dad. I often went with him to hear the stories these people told. The men were all veterans. At the suggestion of one particular veteran, I wrote the book so that younger people, middle school age, YA, etc., could experience what these groups of guys are like and to appreciate U.S. history.
My dad had seen the cover of the book and a summary of what I was writing. He and my mom both died of Covid ten days before the book was published. He never got to read it. I was able to pass it out to the men from the local donut shop at Mom and Dad’s funeral on March 30th. I hope to pass these stories on, just like Dad wanted.
Legends of the Donut Shop earned 5 Star Reviews from Reader Views and Readers’ Favorites.
Author Interview
1. Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?For the book “Legends of the Donut Shop,” the story was set before
I began writing the book. It isn’t always this way. But this bookreflects the many encounters I have had with my dad and his
buddies at their local donut shop. The use of the teenage male
character, his close brush with death, was partially true and based
on my own near-death experience.
2. What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? The
writing is not as hard as the marketing. Writing comes easily for
me,
3. What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing? Once I get past
the introduction into the plot, the story flows quickly.
4. Do you pen down revelations and ideas as you get them, right then
and there? Yes. This might happen at 3:00 AM. If it does, I start my
day at that time with coffee, devotionals, and my computer.
5. Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or you can
just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write? I can write
most anywhere-in the car, at a coffee shop, etc. My favorite place is
outside on my patio.
6. When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer? I began
writing when I was 9 years old. I had to write a great deal
professionally when I taught at the university. My fiction writing
began in earnest when I retired.
7. How long does it usually take you to write a book? It varies. If there
is nothing unusual going on in life, I can write a children’s book in a
matter of weeks or a few months. Novels require more time.
8. Where do you get your ideas for your books? Truly the gift is from
above. Sometimes an entire book comes to me at night, such as the
book “Benjamin Buys Time” which is a children’s picture book. Other
ideas come from history or life and the gift is to see the book within
these events.
9. What is your work schedule/routine when you write? If there are no
interruptions from life, I prefer to begin writing in the morning and
have a block of 6-12 hours of writing. When it all comes together, I
lose track of time,
10. Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters? Absolutely.
Friends, family, etc. I often joke, “That’s a great story. I might use
it in a book.” I don’t actually quote people, but the ideas might
emerge in a character’s personality.
11. Anything else you'd like to share? Writing makes me feel very close
to God, especially when I am using Scripture or the if the story is
one involving Biblical history.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
More from Terry
This book was written for a group of actual Donut Shop friends who gathered weekly with my dad. I often went with him to hear the stories these people told. The men were all veterans. At the suggestion of one particular veteran, I wrote the book so that younger people, middle school age, YA, etc., could experience what these groups of guys are like and to appreciate U.S. history.
My dad had seen the cover of the book and a summary of what I was writing. He and my mom both died of Covid ten days before the book was published. He never got to read it. I was able to pass it out to the men from the local donut shop at Mom and Dad’s funeral on March 30th. I hope to pass these stories on, just like Dad wanted.
Blog Stops
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 26
Lights in a Dark World, August 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27
Texas Book-aholic, August 28
Inklings and notions, August 29
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 30
For Him and My Family, August 31
Bigreadersite, September 1
Blossoms and Blessings, September 2 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, September 2
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 3
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 4
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 6
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7
Simple Harvest Reads, September 8 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/210c9/legends-of-the-donut-shop-celebration-tour-giveaway
3 comments:
I would love to share this book with my sweet niece!
Great interview, Terry, thanks for sharing Legends of the Donut Shop with me, I like your inspiration behind the book and I am looking forward to sharing your book with my grandkids!
Have a splendid TGIF!
I enjoy interviews with authors like this. Thank you.
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