Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Author Susan Page Davis - A NEW JOY - Free Book

I'm glad to welcome Susan back to the blog. So tell us, Susan, How did you come up with the idea for this story?

My sisters and I visited Dover, New Hampshire, together and toured the last standing colonial garrison house there. I read a lot about the 1689 massacre, where half the village of Cochecho (now part of Dover) was captured or killed by Indians, including our ancestor Richard Otis, a blacksmith who was killed, and his daughter Judith, who was captured but rescued. I have written three books about young women captured during that time and later returned to the town. This book, A New Joy, is the second. The heroine, Jane Miller, honors a real young woman who endured captivity and determined never to undergo that experience again.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Wow. I think I’d invite my critique partners and friends, Darlene Franklin, Lynette Sowell, Lisa Harris, and some of the other authors from Heartsong Mysteries: Nancy Mehl, Dana Mentink and Lisa Ludwig. The “Spyglass Lane” gang has way too much fun when we get together.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Hm, Kelly Hake and her mom, Cathy, come to mind right away, Tracie Peterson, DiAnn Mills, Vickie McDonough … and you, Lena, because I know it would be a fun party if you came!

Thank you. That group would be fun. Maybe we need to do it. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?
Right now, I am making my deadlines, but I have so little time for anything else it’s made me rethink my writing calendar for 2009. It’s important to guard your family time and also to have a little refresher time in between books. Time is also required for writing new proposal, revising the work in progress, doing interviews, and other writing-related tasks.

Tell us about the featured book.

In A New Joy, it’s 1694. Jane Miller has returned to New Hampshire from a life of captivity in Canada. Orphaned at a young age, she was indentured as a housemaid. During an Indian raid, she was captured and carried north where a loveless marriage was arranged for her. Now she is widowed and ransomed back to the colony, but she has no hope for a happy life. She would rather serve others and be safe than take risks.

Charles Gardner isn’t looking for a wife. He, too, once endured Indian captivity and is only beginning to rebuild his life. But he can’t keep himself from thinking about Jane. When her old master appears in town demanding that Jane return and serve out her interrupted indenture, Charles longs to help her. But can Jane endure a cool marriage and another encounter with hostile Indians? Does God have joy in store for those who remain faithful to Him?

Susan, how can readers find you on the Internet?

Come visit me at http://www.susanpagedavis.com/ . I love to hear from readers.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. But don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. I choose winners every Saturday. Because I have three book deadlines, I won't have as much time to hunt down winners. Here are some I'm still missing:
Mommyhood is thankless
Carly (fecarly){2 books}
Katie 8407

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great interview. Would love a chance to win the book!

Thanks,
Kristi

Jessica @ Piece Of Me said...

I won the Wyoming Christmas Heroes on you blog over a month ago and I still haven't received anything. I was wondering if it had been sent yet?
livlifelov at yahoo dot com

Merry said...

A New Joy sounds like a very interesting story, please include me.
Thanks!
worthy2Bpraised{at}gmail{dot}com

Katie said...

Hello
I would love to be entered for this book... Thanks..

Katie said...

Hello
I won the Long Journey Home... here is my email.. katie8407(at)gmail(.)com
Thanks....

Susan Page Davis said...

Glad to see some many who like to read historicals. Thanks for coming out today.
Susan

Robyn said...

Great interview with great questions. The authors party sounds like it would be fun. It would be great to be able to go and meet those authors as a reader/guest. Look forward to reading the new book at some point!

Robyn

Robyn.Flenner@uscm.org

Lisa Harris said...

Congrats on yet another great book Susan! You all won't want to miss this one!

Lisa

Doreen said...

Oh, I love historicals! Congrats on the book Susan! purposedrivenlife4you (at) gmail (dot) com

Susan Page Davis said...

Thanks! You ladies are a great encouragement. Thank you, Lisa for stopping by--she's one of the critique partners I invited to the imaginary party. I love Lisa's mystery and suspense books. Thanks bunches, Robyn and Doreen. Right now I'm working on a contemporary suspense book, so I'm in a different century than I was while writing A New Joy, but I love going back in time when I do historicals.

apple blossom said...

Oh, this sounds like a lovely book. Please throw my name in the hat.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

NancyMehl said...

Hey, Susan!

Thanks for including me in your meeting. I'd be honored!

Your new book sounds wonderful. I'm so glad we're Heartsong buddies!

Nancy

windycindy said...

Susan Page Davis's interviews are always fun and interesting! Her new book cover is lovely and the story sounds delightful! Please enter me in your book drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Your books sound like just what I love to read. I hope to find a copy at our local library. God Bless.

Ninette

Susan Page Davis said...

Cindi mentioned the cover. I have to say, Barbour has been great with covers. The first mock-up for this book had Jane in a Pilgrim costume. The editor asked me what I thought. I was taken aback, since Jane was not a Pilgrim or a Separatist. They kindly changed it and gave me a feisty, fashionable (1695-style) heroine. In the past, they've also changed uniforms and backdrops for me, and made the fire more, er, fiery on Return to Love. My next Heartsong is a contemporary featuring endurance riders. Can't wait to see the cover for that one!
Susan

Vickie McDonough said...

I just want to say the A New Joy is a great read, as are all of Sue's books.

And I'm ready to attend that historical party. Just tell me when and where. Sounds like a blast!!

Unknown said...

Please count me in!
frog123 (at) cyipcom (dot) net

Norma said...

This book sounds very interesting - I would love to win it!

Unknown said...

I'd love to be entered, thank you!

Heather said...

Sounds like a great book. Count me in! THanks!

Anonymous said...

This story sounds really good. Kind of different and that's appealing.

Susan Page Davis said...

Great to see so many people coming out to read, chat, and enter the drawing. Hope you're having a great day today! Thanks, Vickie!
Susan

Martha A. said...

It sounds like an amazing book!
martha(at)lclink(dot)com

Ausjenny said...

love the interview. i want to crash both dinner parties. (I love spyglass lane) and would love to meet some of the histrical writers. (tracie peterson is one of my favourites) I love histrical fiction. please enter me. just finished snowbound colorado christmas and loved it.

Anonymous said...

I love history! Would really enjoy reading this one! Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

A New Joy sounds like a very interesting read! I'd love a chance to win it!