Sunday, June 21, 2009

LOVE FINDS YOU IN REVENGE, OHIO - Lisa Harris - Free Book

I've been looking forward to featuring this book. Welcome, Lisa.Tell us about your salvation experience.

I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home and my mother took time out of her busy schedule to teach us about God. But while I accepted Christ and was baptized when I was twelve, it wasn’t until college that my faith really became my own. I was away from home and realized I had to decide if my faith was really my own. It was a huge turning point in my life.
 
How did you and your husband meet?

Scott has just finished a two-year internship in France, so when I first met him, at a mixer at University, he had this charming French accent that I loved. I’d already taken a year of French and wanted to do missions in a French speaking country, so from the very beginning I knew God had brought us together. And He’s kept us together as well. This summer we celebrate 19 years of marriage!
 
That's really something to celebrate, for sure. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Only four? That is so hard! I’ve been blessed with so many writer friends that have made such a huge impact in my life. And the thought of a writing retreat sounds like a bit of heaven to me. So, where do I even start? For the past six months, I’ve been writing a medical thriller with Lynne Gentry. Skype’s been great, but meeting face to face would be even better. Beth Goddard, because we’ve critted together for years and she always encourages me. DiAnn Mills, because she believed in me early on and helped me get my first book published. And you, Lena for all the evenings we spent critiquing in your living room. I wouldn’t be where I am now without your support and great critiques. I miss it!

And I really miss having you here. Maybe we can Skype sometime. I'm planning to download it to my laptop soon. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I typically speak at different women’s functions when I’m back in the States, but not on a regular basis.
 
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

A few years back my husband and I were at a retreat with our teammates up in the mountains in South Africa. We stayed in this quaint cottage with only solar panels used to power the house. During this weekend, I somehow locked myself in the bathroom. The owner had to come take off the door handle while I sat on the other side wanting desperately to disappear. Which wasn’t, I suppose that bad. Except that was just the first time! About an hour later, I somehow locked myself in the bathroom. . .again! They’ve never quite let me live it down. Especially when it happened again here in Mozambique. I’d been giving my youngest a bath as it was blistering hot, and somehow, once again, I couldn’t open the door. I could feel the cool air of the air-conditioned room coming through the key hole, so every few minutes I’d press my face to it for some relief. I probably ended up waiting an hour for my husband to return, and even then I ended up having to escape through the small window above the toilet (don’t ask me how I managed that) because it took another hour or so to finally get the door open.
And how did I react to it? Let’s just say, I’ve become a bit paranoid about getting locked in strange bathrooms.
 
Sounds like the year I kept locking the keys in the car and had to have my husband come and unlock it. Maybe sometime I'll tell you about that. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

Start writing! You’ll never write that book unless you sit down and start. There are many resources out there that can help you from how-to books, to face-to-face conferences, to crit books. I also tell people that while my writing journey has been exciting and rewarding, it’s also one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. It can be a lonely and frustrating journey, but if you really want to write, you can’t let it stop you. Use it as a time to grow and learn and write that book!

Tell us about the featured book?
I’m so excited about this story. I grew to love Catherine and her sisters and the challenges they faced. Here’s the blurb from the back of the book.
 
The only thing worse than being a spinster, is being a twice-jilted spinster.

Sensible Catherine Morgan is the first telephone operator in the small town of Revenge, Ohio. Bound by her promise to take care of her three sisters until they marry, she’ll do anything it takes to keep them safe. But Sheriff Corbin Hunter stands in her way. With evidence that her sister’s fiancĂ© is really an infamous bank robber, Catherine finds herself torn between saving her sister’s heart and losing hers to a former jilted love.

A confidence man, a lawman, and a grubstaker converge on the small town of Revenge, Ohio with explosive consequences.
Sheriff Corbin Hunter never expected to return to Revenge. Seven years ago he walked away from the one woman he ever loved, a decision he’s regretted ever since. Revenge, though, can be stronger than love. When Corbin’s father is killed during a bank heist, Corbin vows to avenge his father’s death--even if it means losing the woman he loves a second time.
 
Please give us the first page of the book.

Revenge, Ohio 1884
Chapter One
The only thing worse than being a spinster, is being a twice-jilted spinster. The notion struck Catherine Morgan like a spring tornado and brought with it a deluge of unwanted memories. It didn’t matter that the implied words came from her well-meaning younger sister, Emily. Well-meaning or not, Catherine was tired of afternoons filled with tea and scones that consistently turned into an unrehearsed chorus of matchmaking schemes from one of her three sisters.
Corbin Hunter had been the first suitor to leave her with both a broken engagement and a broken heart. Technically, Robert Foster never proposed. Once he realized he’d be living under the same roof with all four of the Morgan sisters, he bolted. But she’d realized long ago that marrying either man would have been a mistake she’d have lived to regret. Any man unwilling to shoulder a parcel of responsibility in caring for her sisters wasn’t worth the nest egg she’d hidden in the bottom of the sugar jar.
She bit into a sweet piece of molded chocolate to ease the sting and stared out across the tall prairie grasses framing the skyline to the west that eventually merged with the Appalachian forest to the east. A sticky breeze filtered across the wraparound porch of her sister’s house and left her longing for the cooler days of springtime.
"I heard that the new sheriff is unattached." Emily poured herself another cup of iced tea from the cut glass pitcher made at her husband’s shop. "And incredibly handsome."
Once again, Catherine ignored the implications and took a sip of her drink. She caught the smile on her sister’s face that was as bright as it had been on her wedding day fourteen months ago. Catherine couldn’t deny marriage had been good for her younger sister. As for herself, she’d long since given up on any expectations regarding her entry into the so-called blissful state of matrimony of which Emily constantly spoke. Not that Catherine felt she had any say in the matter. Last she looked, there were no eager suitors lining up outside her general store ready to profess their undying love to her.
 
Oooo! I can hardly wait for my copy to arrive. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’d love to hear from readers! You can visit me at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/ or on my blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for having me, Lena!
I'm glad we had this time to visit, Lisa.
And readers, you'll want to visit her blog often. Maybe even sign up for it, like I have. I love reading about Lisa's life in Africa.
Here's a link where you can order the book:
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
Notice: The only notification that you've won the book will be the winners post on this blog. So check back on Saturday in two weeks to see if you won.
If you're reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here's the link:

30 comments:

Deborah said...

please enter me! love those summerside books!

Lori (sugarandgrits) said...

This sounds like another great "Love Finds You" book to add to my collection!

Thank you for a chance to win!

Lori S.
sugarandgrits[at]hotmail[dot]com

Judygg said...

I love the "Love Finds You in . . ," theme of these books. This sounds like another good one to add to my collection. Please enter me in the contest.
Thanks!
judyg54(at)juno(dot)com

Carmen said...

The song Matchmaker, Matchmaker instantly came to my mind. Jilted once is hard enough, but twice??? Ouch!. Please enter me!
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Sherry Kuhn said...

Thanks for the great interview! This sounds like a another wonderful installment to the "Love Finds You" Series. (which I am collecting)!

Please enter me in the contest.

Thanks,
Sherry K
love2stitch(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

sounds like a fun book to read.

Anonymous said...

oops!! I forgot my name! my name is Abby and my comment is the anonymous one. thanks

windycindy said...

What an inspiring person! I have had 3 years of French and my paternal grandmother came from France to the USA when she was 13! Please enter my name in your book drawing.
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Laura Frantz said...

Lena, You have a wonderful blog here! I'm always thrilled and thankful to meet another author. Bless you for your wonderful books and posts.
Laura

Sandy said...

Please enter me in the contest.
Thanks
Sandy R
Fort worth, TX

Unknown said...

I can't wait to read Love Finds you IN Revenge, Ohio. I have Love finds you in Valentine, Nebraska and can't wait to collect all the books. Please enter me. Do you know if there is a site where I can find all of the Love Finds You Books?

Val
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

apple blossom said...

oh, I'd love to win Lisa's book. Thanks.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

G.R.I.T.S. said...

I love this series!!! And this sounds like a great book to add to it!!!! Thank you for hosting this giveaway!

Rae Byuel

Wendy said...

Thank you for a chance to win. I like Lisa Harris.

Marla said...

Sounds like a great story. Thank you for the entry.

koinonia572001@yahoo.com

Sheila Deeth said...

Oh, that sounds fun. And Lena, Skype is great and so easy. I use it to talk to my Mum in England. Which reminds me, I'm due to call...

Roanna said...

Oh, this book sounds very good! I live in Ohio, too, so that makes it even better. I would LOVE to win this book, as it sounds like a good one and it is a "Love Finds You in. . ." and I've been wanting to read one.
Thanks!

ohiobuckeye91 [at] gmail [dot] com

Lisa Harris said...

Thanks so much for stopping by ladies! I've finally made it to an internet cafe in South Africa to take a peak after a week plus without internet. Had to drop by Lena's blog and quickly say hi! Hope you all love the book. It was so much fun to write and yes, a wonderful series!

Blessings all!

Merry said...

I would love a chance to win Lisa's book. Revenge, Ohio sounds like quite a place! Thanks.

worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Megan said...

Your salvation story sounds just like mine, it's like I was reading my own!

I would love to hear what you are doing in Mozambique now... maybe I will click on over to your blog.

And I hope I win, I love the "Love Finds you in..." series!

megan

Anna Weaver Hurtt said...

Sounds amazing! I've wanted to start the "Love finds you" series, and this one looks like a good one!

Anna W.
writer_weaver(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm so curious to find out what happens!! Please enter me in the giveaway! Esther

Ashley E said...

I bet you're paranoid! That's a lot of getting locked in bathrooms! LOL. Thanks for the great interview.

Jo said...

I'm enjoying the Love Finds You In books and would love to get entered for this drawing.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

ladybug said...

Please include me! The 'Love Finds You' collection sound like my kind of books.

host said...

Hi! I had such a laugh with those bathroom scenes. Great interview!

peachykath said...

Yeah I can't wait for another Love finds you book to come out. I have been reading them and love them all. Please enter me in the drawing for this book.
Thanks
Katherine

peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com

Renee (BlacknGoldGirlsBookSpot) said...

I'd love to read Catherine and Corbin's story which I'm sure will be another great Love Finds You book! Please enter me! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

MMM..... sounds like a great one. I'm loving the LFY series!

Lisa Harris said...

Val asked where you can find all the Love Finds You books-- They are available at Christianbook.com as well as your local Christian bookstores. They are also sold at Wal-mart, so you should be able to find the entire series!

Thanks for all your great comments, ladies!