Saturday, December 26, 2009

SEASIDE LETTERS - Denise Hunter - Free Book


I'm happy to welcome Denise Hunter back to my blog. So, Denise, why do you write the kind of books you do?


I write romantic fiction, and I guess that means I'm a romantic at heart. I always tell new writers to write in the genre they prefer to read and for me, that's a good love story.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

That would have to be a three-way tie between the births of my sons. There's nothing like holding that new life in your hands and knowing it's a blessing straight from God.

I know. I wondered how He knew He could trust me with their lives. How has being published changed your life?

Before I discovered writing, I lacked direction and passion in my life. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, never mind that I was twenty-something. Being published ten years ago (Barbour Publishing) was validation for me that I was headed the right direction. As the contracts for new books kept trickling in, I began to realize God was totally in charge of this writing thing, and he wanted me to make a career of it. Along the way, I've learned to depend on Him for my stories, for my daily writing, and for the next contract. I've learned to balance home, and kids, and writing--well, I should say I'm learning this one. I feel so blessed to do the thing I love, with a wonderful team (Thomas Nelson), for special people--my readers.

What are you reading right now?

The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne and Believing God by Beth Moore.

What is your current work in progress?

I'm working on love story set on a Montana ranch which will likely be the first of a 3-book series.

Sounds wonderful. What would be your dream vacation?

I love to travel! The past several years we've taken family trips all over the United States. I think I'd like to do a European cruise. I've always wanted to see New Zealand and Australia too, so it's a toss-up.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I always try and determine where my readers might like to spend a few hours, because that's essentially what they're doing when they read a novel. Once I have the setting down, I begin to think about what kind of characters might live there and what kinds of problems they might have. I always go to the place where the novel is set. I went to Nantucket to research my Nantucket series and fell in love with the island. I've been there in my imagination for three years. Ahhhhh . . . .

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

It always surprises people, but I play the drums for my church's worship team. I taught myself to play 6 years ago and have been happily banging away ever since. I also enjoy baking sweets, mainly because I like to eat the finished product.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Fear is my biggest obstacle. Creative jobs are so much different than non-creative jobs. You have to do it, yet it's brand new each day, and you have to pull every bit of it from some mysterious place in your brain. The fear is: what if it doesn't happen today (or tomorrow and every day after that???) You'd think that fear would go away after a dozen or so books, but no, there it is again.

I recognize that feeling. I've shared it, too. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

1. Read a lot of books on writing. You can learn a lot from other writers. My favorites are Stein on Writing by Sol Stein and The Breakout Novel by Donald Maas.
2. Write the book you want to read.
3. Finish your story, submit it, then start your next one. You learn the craft of writing by doing it.

Tell us about the featured book?


Seaside Letters is the 3rd book in my Nantucket series--though it's a stand-alone in that there are no overlapping characters. Here's a blurb:

Sabrina Kincaid didn't intend to fall for Nantucket native Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning-a man tied to a past she deeply regrets. But she has. And she's fallen hard.

But she's kept this a secret from her handsome customer. And now Tucker wants to hire Sabrina to help locate his friend "Sweetpea"-the mysterious woman he's falling in love with online. Sabrina is not inclined to help, but if Tucker hires someone else, it could spell disaster. Because if someone else sifted through the emails and figured out the truth-then Tucker would discover that the person he's trying to find is . . . her.

Sounds intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

Sabrina Kincaid heard the jingle of the café’s glass door open and glanced at the clock above the workstation. Seven-twelve on the dot.

She grabbed the fresh pot, turned toward the tables crowding the Cobblestone Café, then headed straight to his table—might as well get it over with—table seven, a two-topper near the front.

He would be seated against the bead board wall, facing the kitchen, unfortunately. He would be wearing his blue “Cap’n Tucker’s Water Taxi” cap, a light-colored T-shirt, and a crooked grin. She would offer him coffee, he would accept, then he would spread open the Inquirer and Mirror and take thirty minutes on all twelve articles while she waited on other customers, her bony knees knocking together like bamboo wind chimes.

“Evan,” Gordon called from the kitchen. “Table twelve needs to be bussed.”

Evan’s blond ponytail flipped over his shoulder as he turned and wiped his hands on his stained brown apron. “Right, dude.”

Sabrina stopped a foot from the scarred maple table, avoiding eye contact, looking only at the fat rim of the ivory mug as he slid it toward her.

How many words had they exchanged in the year he’d been coming to the café? One hundred? Two hundred? Couldn’t be much more than that.

As always her expression was free of emotion, though a powerful hurricane brewed inside. It was a skill she’d learned early, perfected well, and if that had earned her the title of Ice Princess, so be it.

“Morning, Sabrina.” Tucker’s deep voice was raspy. And, as usual, he cleared his throat after the greeting.

Was she the first person he spoke to each morning? The thought made her hand tremble. A stream of hot coffee flowed over the cup’s rim and onto Tucker’s thumb. He jerked his hand back.

Idiot! Her first spill in months and it had to be Tucker. And with hot coffee.

I can hardly wait for my book to come, so I can read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is: http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/
I also have a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=124248046980
And a Twitter account: http://twitter.com/deniseahunter

Thank you, Denise, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link when you order, you will be supporting this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

44 comments:

Sarah R said...

I have been wanting to read this book! Enter me in the drawing please.

Roanna said...

Please enter me. Thanks!

Mark said...

I'd like to enter, thanks

Katy said...

This book sounds like fun! :) I'd love to win a copy!

Laney4 said...

I like the premise of this book, as it should be interesting the way the story unfolds and how Tucker learns the truth. Thanks for sharing the excerpt plus the interview!

Deborah M said...

Sounds like a good read! Please enter me in the contest.
Deborah M.
debbiejeanm[at]gmail[dot]com

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

Anonymous said...

Please enter me, looks great! ~Donna K.

djkeoppel(at)yahoo(dot)com

Casey said...

I read this book from my library and LOVED it!!! I couldn't put it down and finished it long before the due date, so I passed it onto my mom to read. She really liked it too. I don't own a copy though, so I would love to win this book! Thanks so much for the chance.

For those interested you can read my book review of Seaside Letters at www.acfw.com and click on book review.

Jaedyn said...

What fun! I really enjoyed the interview and the author's advice - I feel like I'll put off actually writing forever if I wait to read books on writing... lol I have read a few, though. :-)

That's very cool that she plays the drums, too!

Love the cover and the first page definitely has me wanting to read the rest. :-) I would love to be entered!

Lindsey
kindredspiritreviews at gmail dot com

Anna Weaver Hurtt said...

Great interview and great advice to aspiring writers! Please enter me!

Anna W.

Nancye said...

This looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Giveaway Lady said...

Please enter me:) Thanks!!

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I have read a lot of your books and this one sounds interesting. Please enter me. Great post.
tarenn98[at[yahoo[dot]com

apple blossom said...

Love to win this one. Thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

cheryl c said...

Great excerpt! This story sounds a little bit like one of my favorite movies...You've Got Mail. Thanks for a chance to win this book because it sounds great!

castings at mindspring dot com

Rose McCauley said...

Please enter me to win this fun-sounding book! and hoping you and Denise both had a Merry Chritstmas, Lena, and wishing you both great yesrs in 2010 with many new contracts and the time to write the books!

PatriciaW said...

I've heard so many good things about Ms. Hunter's books but have yet to read one. Please enter me.

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I love the Small Pink Daisy
Flower Hair Clip

dancealert at aol dot com

Denise Hunter said...

Thanks, ladies! And thanks, Lena, for having me on your blog. You don't need to enter me in the drawing. ;-)

JoAnn said...

Sounds like a great book. I also enjoyed the interview. JoAnn

joann4us(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carole said...

Nantucket is one of my favorite settings and I have all these books except for this one. Thank you for an interesting interview and chance to win a copy.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Michelle said...

I would love to win this book! Thank you for entering me!

Blessings,
Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Carman said...

I loved this book! Please enter me to win.

Unknown said...

I am excited to read this book! please enter me in the giveaway thank you!

Anonymous said...

The beginning of the story has me hooked! Please enter me in the drawing.

Candee Fick said...

What a fun story. Enter me please!

I also love Denise's advise to beginners to write it, submit it, and start the next one. I keep getting bogged down trying to re-polish the last one instead of moving forward.

casey said...

Thanks for an opportunity to win!

Anonymous said...

This book has been on my 'wish list.' Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com

Bekah said...

Sounds like hilarious fun.
I'd love to win it.

Anonymous said...

Looks excellent! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

This one I am so anxious to read. Please enter me. Thanks!!!!
jackie.smith(at)dishmail(dot)net

Cynthia A. Lovely said...

I love all things ocean-related.
And live in cold wintry upstate NY.
Please enter me in the drawing, thanks!

Cherie J said...

Ooh! This one is on my wish list. Please enter me. Thank you!

Jo said...

I have been wanting to read this book for awhile now. Please enter in the drawing.

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

Marla said...

This really sounds like an awesome read. I will definitely be putting this book on my "To Read" list. Thank you for the giveaway and Happy New Year!

koinonia572001@yahoo.com

Jen U. said...

Would love to win this book, please enter me in the giveaway!

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would love to read this book. My auto fill for the google identity put something stupid as my comment.

Please enter me in the contest!

dancealert at aol dot com

Hope said...

I have been wanting to read this book for a while! Please enter me!
onepilgrim86[at]yahoo.com

Ashley (Ibreath2read) said...

I hope I'm not to late to enter. Please enter me in.
i95fahrenheit[at]ymail[dot]com

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

Please enter me!


Rae Byuel

adge said...

I have wanted to read this book for awhile. I wish my library had it in. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks.

Megan said...

Don't know if this winner was drawn on the 2nd, but if not, please enter me!

and Denise - I'm learning to play drums at church too. I love it!

Rosalie Patience said...

Please enter me in the drawing! It sounds great! ~Abby


abster dot rose at yahoo dot com