THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE - Linore Rose Burkard - Free Book

Welcome back, Linore. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write books that I would enjoy as a reader. I love good romances that are clean, a bit of humor, a heroine I can respect, and a great happy ending. I also love “period” films, and I “see” my books as films when I'm writing them, so if I really enjoy my own book, I feel satisfied that readers will, too.

I see my stories as films in my head, too. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I think it would be the day I became a mother for the first time. I felt like Eve, as silly as that may sound! I was astounded, and never happier with myself—something along the lines of, "If I could produce this marvelous baby, well, then God must have made me right after all." It was like I'd entered this new secret world of “motherhood,” and I couldn't believe that I hadn't known, earlier, what a miraculous, wonderful world it was. The joy of motherhood had been hidden to me from an upbringing with seven siblings where each person was basically one more mouth to feed, not a gift from God.

How has being published changed your life?

It has certainly made me a great deal busier! I said somewhere that since getting published, it's like I'm attached to my pc at the hip. But the writing is actually the least time-consuming thing I do. When I'm hot and heavy into a book, I spend a lot of time at it, but once that passes, it's all networking and marketing, marketing, marketing.

What are you reading right now?

I'm just finishing up The Language of Cells. A book I thought would complement the use of the microscope in our home school, but had nothing to do with that. (I have a review of it on my Shelfari page) As for fiction, I recently read Julie Klassen's The Apothecary's Daughter, as I did some proof-reading (fact checking) for it, and Molly Noble Bull's Gatehaven. (We swapped manuscripts to critique for each other.)

What is your current work in progress?

When I finished The House in Grosvenor Square, I started throwing around ideas with my editor for the next book. I think I'm going to finish a novel I started called The Country-House Courtship next, but I have a few others that also need finishing. These are stand-alones so far, meaning, not part of a series, but that could change.

What would be your dream vacation?

A month in England, for sure. I'm hoping to do that this year, but I can't do a whole month. The thing is, I need to see London for its museums and Mayfair, of course; (Regency past); but I'd also love to do the whole Jane Austen thing; Bath, and her other places of residence, and if I could fit in a little Dickens and Shakespeare that would be fab. I have two friends to visit there, who will no doubt accompany me to some of these places, but we'll also need time just to chill and chat.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Since I'm concentrating on Regency romances right now, it's really quite simple. You can do a continent switch, of course, which could complicate it (and I have one started, as a matter of fact), but for the most part you know your setting is going to be England, and from there you just choose whether it's going to be London, Bath, or a country estate or village.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

When I can, I like to bake, decorate, garden, swim, do crossword puzzles and other mind stretchers, and watch period movies. I can't always find time to read a novel, but I can quickly do a crossword. When I feel like I'm getting burned out from too much of any activity, I'll pull a DVD of a favorite period flick from the shelf, and take a mini-vacation by watching it. I enjoy singing in the choir, and being with special friends and especially being with my family.

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

At this point in my life, the most difficult thing is finding time to brainstorm and concentrate on a book. Once I know where I'm going with a plot or idea I can work on it despite all the interruptions in my day; but when I need to really think something through, it's difficult to find enough quiet time. I often just give myself to God, and have to trust that He'll take me in the right direction. On a more technical level, one of my challenges is that I get many ideas, and I don't always wait and ask myself if I've had the best one. I go with the first or second one, and later think, “Wow, I could have done this or that, (with a character, or scene, etc.).”

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Decide whether or not you've been called to write, and if you have been, then give it all you've got. Never put out anything except your best work, and keep in mind that ANYTHING you say online may be there forever. Seek feedback from a professional, but at the same time, learn to trust your instincts. Also, start a web presence as soon as you decide that you want to be published one day.

Tell us about the featured book.

The House in Grosvenor Square is a sequel to Before the Season Ends. Without giving spoilers, I'll say it's a great deal of fun, and has more action-driven movement than I usually write. I'm a character-driven writer, but once things get rolling in this book, the reader will have to hang on to their hat, so to speak, and take the ride to the last page. It's a satisfying deepening of characters from the first book and progress in their story.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is: http://www.linoreroseburkard.com/, and I have three blogs at this time: http://regencyyuletide.blogspot.com/
http://aregencyblog.blogspot.com/
and http://shesgotcharacter.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Lena!

And thank you, Linore for returning to visit with us again.

Readers, here's where you can order the featured book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll have is the winners announcement on this blog. So check back in two weeks on Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this interview on FeedBlitz, Facbook, or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Last May Winners!!!

Peachykath is the winner of What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy.

Linda (desertrose) is the winner of The Taking of Carly Bradford by Ramona Richards.

Carlene (iluvreading) is the winner of Starfire by Stuart Vaughn Stockton.

Laura in Texas is the winner of Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney.

Congratulations. That will be some good summer reading. Now you must send me your mailing address. You can find a link to my email when you click on View Complete Profile in the sidebar. Or you can contact me through my web site: www.lenanelsondooley.com

Come back tomorrow for another interview.

Jill Elizabeth Nelson - WITNESS TO MURDER - Free Book

Welcome, Jill. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I came to Jesus with all my heart at summer Bible camp when I was about ten years old. But then my faith went dormant through some rather wild high school and college years. When I got out of college and was casting around for direction in my life, I realized I was tired of feeling lost and alone. I scooted right back into the arms of Father God, who was patient and faithful all along, even when I wasn’t.

How did you and your husband meet?

At a home Bible study. It wasn’t love at first sight, but almost. At about the third or fourth meeting, I looked across the room and knew that I knew that I knew he was the one for me. We were married within the year. Going on 29 years later, we’ve raised four children and are enjoying our precious first grandchild.

James and met three months and three days before we married, and we'll celebrate 45 years together later this year. Now Jill, you’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

I’ve been on a couple of writers retreats with fellow Minnesota authors, and they were so awesome, I would go with all of them again in a heartbeat. But that’s more than four. It might be fun to go again to the Denver area and meet up with my dear, gracious friend and awesome author, Donita K. Paul. We’d want to include her up-and-coming author daughter, Evangeline Denmark, and our mutual bud, Megan DiMaria. That’s only three, but I’m sure they could invite someone else along. I go to writers’ retreats to fellowship with like-minded, wacky writers so we can uplift and encourage one another. We share our hearts, as well as have an all around hilarious time.

Yes, I've only been on a few of these, but they are awesome. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I love, love, love to talk about my passion for Christian fiction. Most recently, I was invited to do a session at a librarians’ retreat in the Twin Cities. This was primarily a secular group, but the librarians had noticed how the “inspirational fiction” flew off the shelves, so they wanted to hear more about this phenomenon. Most were quite flabbergasted to see for themselves the quality and variety that Christian fiction has achieved. This branch of fiction is no longer limited to prairie romance and nothing like the sermonizing between book covers that they had assumed. It was awesome to be able to visit that epiphany on such an influential group in the book world.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

I don’t know that this is the most embarrassing thing ever, but it’s the most recent embarrassing thing. My husband and I and another couple went camping at a nearby state park for Memorial Day weekend. So here we are all settled into our side-by-side campsites, just about ready to enjoy a meal of grilled chicken, when a monster-sized camper stops on the road beside our sites and a puzzled-looking man gets out. He approaches us and asks, “Are you sure you have the right camp sites? Our names are on the reservations tags.” Sure enough, we look at the green tags on the posts by the sites, and the names aren’t ours!

What happened? I made the reservations weeks in advance . . . the only trouble is, I made them for the weekend AFTER the holiday. Memorial Day fell early this year, so I got my dates mixed up. Oh, man, that was an uncomfortable situation!

What could I do but apologize to everyone concerned—my husband, our friends, the people whose sites we were squatting on. I’m thankful they were all so gracious about it. We had to pack up and move out, of course. The good news (and something of a miracle on a holiday weekend) is that the park manager got us a couple of sites on the other side of the campground. These sites had full water, sewer, and garbage hookups, but they rented them to us for the same price as the electric-only sites we had before. Praise the Lord!

The world is full of nice people, if we only look around us. 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?

First of all, get beyond the wishing phase and start. Second, persevere through the work of it. Third, finish the book. If an aspiring author can actually get that far, then there’s hope that maybe some years down the road, they’ll actually have something publishable. (Most folks never get past the wishing phase.)

That's a true, but sad fact. Tell us about the featured book?

I so enjoyed writing a multi-cultural adventure set in my home state of Minnesota. Multi-cultural, you say? Swedish and Norwegian perhaps? No, a bit more diverse than that. My heroine is half Norwegian, half Nigerian—a pretty interesting combo that plays quite large in the story.

Here’s the short blurb about the story:

Poised for an interview, TV reporter Hallie Berglund walks into a murder scene instead. The victim’s boyfriend stands over the body, murder weapon in hand. Hallie couldn’t stop the crime, but as the star witness, she’ll see the man brought to justice . . . right? Not according to her colleague Brody Jordan, who is convinced the police—and Hallie—are targeting the wrong man. To prove it, he’ll need Hallie’s help. The victim was wearing a bracelet handcrafted by Hallie’s long-dead mother. Now Hallie is the only one who can unearth the secrets of the past—and bring the sinister truth to light.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Channel Six television news reporter Hallie Berglund put her fight foot on the bottom step of the swaybacked porch, then stopped cold. The hairs on her arms prickled. What was that awful noise coming from inside the house? Some kind of music? This century-old Victorian was rented by four University of Minnesota coeds, but even if they liked punk rock, they wouldn’t listen to this. And why was the front door several inches ajar?

Careful to keep the heels of her pumps from clacking against the wood, she walked up the remaining two steps, but angry creaks from the porch boards announced her arrival. Whoever—whatever—was inside gave no indication her approach had been heard. The noise progressed in decibels.

Hallie frowned. There had to be a logical explanation. On the telephone, Alicia Drayton had sounded eager, almost desperate, to do the interview as soon as possible. The part-time fashion model and full-time student had said her roommates would be out all afternoon—a perfect opportunity for the two of them to talk privately.

The sound continued—long, drawn out. Like something a person would hear on a dark and moonless night, not in the balmy afternoon of a cloudless June day. She doused the impulse to back away and wait for her cameraman to catch up with her. She was a reporter, and she needed to find out what was going on. Sooner rather than later.

That's a real hook. I can't wait until I receive my copy of the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My web site is http://www.jillelizabethnelsoncom/. I run a monthly contest for signed copies of my books and regularly give away other people’s books on my blog. Sign up for my newsletter for extra chances at freebies and to keep up on what’s next in the pipeline.

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

Readers, here's a link to order Witness to Murder:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll receive is the winners post on this blog. So check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, come to this blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Susan Meissner - THE SHAPE OF MERCY - 3 Free Books

I'm happy to have Susan on my blog with this book which won Publisher Weekly's Best Books of 2008 in fiction. And you readers will have the opportunity to win one of three Advanced Readers Copies of this book.
Susan, why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of books that I like most to read; a bit literary but not so deep and distant that they don’t seem real to life. I like books that have a faith thread that is subtle and deeply imbedded in the story’s theme such that a believer can hear the voice of God all over the pages and someone on the search for God will hear His whisper.

I like that description. That's how I perceive my spiritual threads, too. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

It is so hard to pick just one day that stands out over all the others. Each of the four days my children were born were indescribably wonderful, the day I married my soul-mate was perfect, and the day I got my first book contract was over-the-top splendid. I am amazed by God’s goodness to me.

How has being published changed your life?

Surprisingly, being published has taught me that that’s just one thing that can happen to you when you are a writer. It doesn’t define you as a writer and it doesn’t complete you as a writer. When your dream of being published is realized, it’s funny, you simply start dreaming a new dream. You create new goals for yourself. You hope for new things. You also find that you still struggle with envy and doubt and frustration – the same as you did before. Everything you brought to the table before you were published, you still have after. It’s all about perspective and trust, as is just about everything that happens to us outside our control.

What are you reading right now?

I am reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and it is phenomenal. It is about a white journalist and two African-American housekeepers - the help – in pre-Civil Rights Mississippi. It’s exceptionally well written.

What is your current work in progress?

I have just started Lady in Waiting, which is due to my editor later this summer and will release in fall 2010. It’s about a woman at a crossroads in her life and marriage who finds something that once belonged to Lady Jane Grey – the nine-day Queen of England back in the sixteenth century. I like blending stories of the current day with threads of the past. And I’ve always been intrigued by Jane Grey’s story. I can’t wait to really sink my teeth into this one. My next book, White Picket Fences, is just now headed to the printers for a Fall 09 release.

What would be your dream vacation?

A month-long stay in a villa overlooking the Amalfi Highway on Italy’s southern tip! Lots of books to read. No internet or email. Pasta and bread and fresh fruit and veggies all the time. My husband on the chaise next to me, making coffee in a French press. A big yellow dog at our feet. . . Mmmmm.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I let the story dictate the setting. After I’ve had a chance to get to know the characters’ personalities I ponder which locale will best let me draw on their quirks and habits and layers. It is often the last thing I choose.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I have always wanted to spend an evening talking with whoever is president of the United States. In this case, that would be Barack Obama. If I am going to have a conversation that matters it should be with someone who can make a difference. There is so much we need to address as a nation. I am not even sure where I would start. Maybe I would ask him first what kind of world he wants to see his daughters inherit from him and then see where his answer takes us.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to travel, spend time with my family, listen to music, play the piano, take long walks on the beach, fiddle with photography, mess about in the yard, cook Italian food.

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

I struggle with confidence and doubt. Like any obstacle that involves self-introspection I have to turn to God and ask Him to help me tune out the noise and listen to what He thinks about me. If He gave me the gift and passion to write, then He means for me to be writing.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Spend every spare minute you have sharpening your skill. Read good books, read good books on writing, write every day – even it’s just random thoughts – surround yourself with other writers and learn from them, don’t give in to apathy or frustration. Keep at your gifting. You were meant to share it.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Shape of Mercy is the story of three women, two in contemporary time and one in the past: Lauren is a privileged college student; Abigail is an old woman with a boatload of regrets, and Mercy is a young victim of the Salem Witch Trials. When Abigail commissions Lauren to transcribe Mercy’s diary, Lauren learns the truth about how we rise to snap judgments about other people and how we allow fear and the crowd to dictate who we will love – and why.

Please give us the first page of the book.

I’ve heard the story countless times, how I grasped the delivering doctor’s scrubs as he guided me into the Durough family universe of opportunity and duty. My father likes to say I came out of my mother’s body insistent on being taken seriously, declaring to the doctor who held my slippery limbs that I was no helpless female unable to forge her way through the world of men. I’ve seen the video.

My father had the camcorder rolling when my mother pushed me into waiting hands. Dad’s aim was discreet, thank goodness, because he’ll sometimes show that video when he tells the story. He’s even downloaded it onto his iPod. I’ve seen my open, squalling mouth, heard my mother’s throaty cries and a nearby nurse’s words: “It’s a girl.”

My infant body is a glistening, angry shade of pink, and I am indeed grappling for the doctor’s clothes as if prepared to wrestle him to the floor. My father loves that.

Whispered conversations over the years — which I wasn’t meant to hear — have suggested my father enjoys retelling this story because he needs to reassure himself it’s not the end of the world that God didn’t bless him with a son. Neither was I supposed to hear that my clutching at the doctor’s clothes could just as easily have been a cry of, “Help! I’m falling!” rather than, “Stand aside! I’ve arrived!”

I’ve long wondered if the whispering people are right. About both.

I can hardly wait to read the rest. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I am on the web at http://www.susanmeissner.com/
and at http://susanmeissner.blogspot.com/
and I have a character blog for The Shape of Mercy at http://theshapeofmercy.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for having me, Lena!

It's my pleasure, Susan.

Readers, if you're not one of the fortunate ones who win a free copy of the ARC, here's a link where you can order the book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free ARC. The only notification you'll receive is the winner announcement on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Or sign up for Feedblitz at the top of the sidebar. The posts will be delivered to your Inbox.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave a comment:

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Cheryl Wyatt - A SOLDIER'S REUNION - Free book

So happy to welcome you Cheryl back to my blog. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

Strangely, I never set out to write certain themes but themes always show up. Common themes that have shown up in my books are God's kindness and the power of prayer. God drawing and keeping us. The importance of community that can be found in family and in a healthy church. And keeping Jesus the core of our existence all have a place in my books it seems.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

A Soldier's Promise and A Soldier's Family are still available online.
Ready-Made Family is still available online and possibly in some stores that keep them longer than a month. It released in April.
A Soldier's Reunion is in stores June 1--now! YEE!
Soldier Daddy releases October, 2009
A Soldier's Devotion releases January 2010
Chance's story (tentatively titled Home Sweet Hero) releases Spring 2010
All from Wings of Refuge Series from Steeple Hill Love Inspired.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

It's a toss-up between two women. Former first lady Laura Bush. Because she is an avid promoter of books and I love that about her. Especially with regards to children and literacy.

Secondly, I'd love to spend an evening with Sarah Palin because I think she's a modern day Esther. There's just something amazing and wonderful about her.

I agree with you on both of these women. I don't think we've seen just how much God will use each of them in our country's history. How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Decades. Seriously. Since I could hold a crayon.

What can you tell authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

The 1 W and the 4 Ps. Don't give up. Seek God for guidance on what to do and who to target. Sometimes He'll want you to wait/stick it out with one story and sometimes we have to martyr stories & their characters for the future one that will eventually sell. Write as worship and the journey won't seem so hard because you know that not one word is written in vain.

Remember that everything, with the exception of deadlines (LOL!) moves slow in publishing. Be patient and persistant. Pray and persevere. Write as worship. That's the 1 W and the 4 Ps.

Tell us about the featured book?

The opening scene was inspired by a true-life experience of a bridge collapse that occurred shortly after my family's caravan drove across it. We watched news footage of the collapse and realized that our entire family (headed back from an out of state funeral) could have been taken out had we been on the bridge less than one hour later.

Here's the back cover blurb:

Despite a decade apart, this isn't the reunion Mandy Manchester expected! She thought she'd put high school sweetheart Nolan Briggs behind her. Now he's back…and the pararescue jumper literally sweeps her off her feet. He's ready and willing to rekindle what they once shared. Mandy, though, isn't prepared to put her heart at risk. He left her before—she won't trust him again. Can Nolan teach this grounded girl to take a leap of faith?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Here is an excerpt. http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?itemid=19563&cid=416

Here is an approximate first page:
--
"Briggs, phone! Chief Petrowski's on the line. Says it's beyond urgent."U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumper Nolan Briggs rushed past teammates Brock Drake and Vince Reardon, who stopped rigging parachutes and looked up. The airmen grew sniper-still and spotter-alert as did the other PJs in Refuge, Illinois's skydiving Drop Zone facility.

Nolan grabbed the DZ phone from teammate Chance Garrison.

"Briggs speaking."

"Nolan, I'm tasking your team to a major bridge collapse."

Nolan pressed the phone tighter against his ear and processed Petrowski's words wafting across the line. "Major bridge collapse? Where?" Adrenaline pumping, Nolan eyed his teammates.They stood at his words and marched close in listen-mode.

"Reunion Bridge over Refuge River—hold on," Petrowski said.

"Refuge." Nolan hiked his chin to his team while on hold.

The room erupted in activity as airmen grabbed gear.
---

I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

By visiting my Web site and signing up for my newsletter http://www.cherylwyatt.com/
Or my blog http://www.scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/ or the author blogs I participate in:
http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/ or http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com/ http://www.loveinspiredauthors.blogspot.com/ or http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/

I'm also active on Twitter and Facebook and other sites as time allows, such as Shoutlife, MySpace and Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers. Shoot me a friends invite!

Thanks SO much Lena! It is ALWAYS a pleasure spending time with you on your blog. But nothing beats hugs in person!

And we'll get those hugs at the ACFW conference in Denver in September. Thanks for stopping by the blog, Cheryl.

Readers, here's a link where you can order A Soldier's Reunion:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification will be the winners post on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Or sign up for Feedblitz in the sidebar so the announcement will come to your Inbox.

If you're reading this post on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Latayne C. Scott - LATTER-DAY CIPHER - Free Book

When I first heard about this book, I knew I wanted to feature it. Then after reading it, I was sure you'd want to know about this interesting mystery. My review of the book will appear in my June newsletter. http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com

Welcome, Latayne. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

In my novel, Latter-day Cipher, I tell the story of a headstrong journalist with no particular religious background who is sent to Utah to cover a rash of mysterious murders in which notes are left beside the victims. These notes are written in the Deseret Alphabet, which is a historical quirk of Mormonism of the 1800s. I of course am a journalist and I have the same “inquiring minds want to know” mindset as Selonnah, the journalist of the novel. However, with other Mormon characters such as Roger and his wife Eliza, I really called upon my memories of being a faithful Mormon and the wrenching difficulty I faced when I left the Mormon Church I loved so much.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My family and close friends would probably ask what I do that is normal. My son came home from college the first semester and said I’d cut my hair, bought a pickup, and become a Trekkie. (All true.) Let’s see -- I have climbed the guard tower at Guantanamo Bay and looked through binoculars at a Cuban guard. My first visit to the British Museum, I spent two full days only in the Egyptian exhibit. I decorate my house with ethnic jewelry. I once ate as a vegan for almost a year. (I actually like tofu.) I hate shopping. Shall I go on?

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In the fourth grade, when I made all the words in my spelling list into a story.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I read the Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon and my Bible (often in Greek) every day. But I also love good murder mysteries, Egyptology, poetry, Oliver Sacks, The Great Gatsby, Faulkner, Annie Dillard, Philip Yancey, and books about time travel.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

My first book, The Mormon Mirage, was first published by Zondervan in 1979, about six years after I left the Mormon Church. Zondervan is re-releasing a greatly expanded version of it in April 2009 that includes my retrospective after all these years out of Mormonism. It tells some of the “hard facts” behind my novel.

Then I wrote 3 Bible study books for Zondervan on the themes of hospitality, stewardship, and 1 Corinthians 13.

Then I wrote three books for Baker: Why We Left Mormonism, Why We Left a Cult, and After Mormonism, What?

Next was Crisis: Crucible of Praise (Zondervan), A Marriage Made in Heaven (Word) and a children’s book, The Dream Quilt (Waterbrook, written under my pen name Celeste Ryan.)

Along the way, 21st Century Christian re-released one of the Bible study books and Howard Publishing re-released Crisis and Covenant Publishing did the marriage book, expanding it with study questions and entitling it Shout of the Bridegroom.

I also wrote The Red Cord of Hope: When History Stopped for One Woman of Faith (about Rahab) for Covenant. I also have as-yet unpublished books about Sarah, the parables of Jesus, poetry devotionals for the Lord’s Supper and of course my dissertation.

Quite a body of work. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I have to be alone for long periods of time, and I have to pray and read my Bible. I am also working on a first-person novel about Priscilla, the author of the book of Hebrews. It is anchoring my mind in a way nothing I’ve ever before written has done.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

That’s one neat thing about being a novelist is that you can use all the cool baby names you always liked but didn’t have enough children to use up. In Cipher, though, many of the characters have names from Mormon history.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

No question about it – the fact that, with God’s help and a good husband, we raised two intelligent, funny, spiritual, interesting children to be wonderful adults I love to be around.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

The very thought terrifies me unless there is an animal that can read.

What is your favorite food?

Dry roasted almonds.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Lack of time alone – consecutive blocks of it – will shut me down.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Commit your way to the Lord. Make absolutely, unmistakably sure that He has called you to write and publish. Don’t inflict your personality on the world if He doesn’t want you to do that.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

First of all, it’s a literary suspense novel, which is a relatively slim genre. And, I don’t think anyone who is a former Mormon has ever written a novel that shows with compassion just how difficult it is to give up Mormonism if you love it. My editor called it “the DaVinci Code of Mormonism” because of the cipher notes in it, and he said he love that it gives an insider’s view of a religion most people don’t understand.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Several places – at http://www.latayne.com/ and http://novelmatters.blogspot.com/ and of course more academic studies at http://www.representationalresources.com/

Thank you for spending this time with us, Latayne. Hope you'll be back soon.

Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of Latter-Day Cipher:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification of the win will be the winners post on this blog. So be sure to check back on Saturday in two weeks to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave a comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

Memorial Weekend Winners!!!

Sharon54220 is the winner of Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace.

Linda Cacaci is the winner of the Two Writing CDs by Patricia Pacjac Carroll. (If you didn't win, don't forget to contact Patty to get copies of the CDs. They're really affordable.)

Carlene is the winner of Wild Prairie Roses from Lisa Harris. (If you didn't win, you'll get a chance to win a copy from me and one from Laurie Alice Eakes, the other author. Keep watching.)

Karin is the winner of A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick.

Congratulations to each of you. Now you must send your mailing address to me. You can do that by sending me an email. A link to my email address is in my complete profile. Click on that link in the right hand column. Or you can contact me through my web site: www.lenanelsondooley.com

Stuart Vaughn Stockton - STARFIRE - Free Book

I have been looking forward to this interview with great anticipation. I've known Stuart for several years and I respect him as a man and as a writer, who worked intelligently toward publication. Welcome, Stuart. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think I write a bit of myself into my characters. Mostly through the fact that I infuse them with aspects of my own hopes and dreams. No single character will ever be a direct copy of me, but they all contain some portion of my strengths and weaknesses, my virtues and vices.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

At the 2005 American Christian Romance Writers Conference in Denver I wrote down a contest entry in Saurian. Little did I know that this would have me getting up in front of everyone and having to read: Dine lamto loktoe yenku joelodun rekoe dine keenual chae shenyoch glozm nim. (I deserve a free book because I created three words for this.)

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I think I first really discovered it in high school in my English classes. I’d been doing some fun little cartoons with my dinosaur characters since Jr. High, but it was in high school that I actually started writing stories for them and exploring that side of my creativity.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I mainly read fantasy and light science fiction. But I also enjoy any “weird” story or a good spy or action tale. While my reading tastes are fairly narrow I do get quite a bit more eclectic with movies, where I love everything from creature features to whimsical musicals and romantic comedies.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I haven’t been sane since I turned thirteen. These days I mostly ignore the fact that everyone else is running and just take things at my own pace…which varies wildly from day to day.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I usually start with a basic sketch of the character, or the basic idea for who they are and then just start sounding out names in my head that sound like what the culture the character would come from would name a kid. Then when I hit on one I like, that’s what I name the character. It helps that I’m doing all alien cultures. I do try to avoid any totally awkward names that are unpronounceable.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Getting married to my incredible and lovely wife, Tiffany, and becoming the father to our beautiful baby girl.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’ll stick to Earth animals for this question. I would be a noble wolf, not one of those feral wolves that are always harassing travelers at night or stalking girls in little red capes, but the noble creature that roams his territory and cares for the forest, even if that means snacking on a bunny every now and then.

What is your favorite food?

Currently it is fried chicken, white meat please.

Tell us a little about your journey to publication.

It was a little bit like slogging across a desert where there were always clouds on the horizon but never any rain falling. I didn’t really start actively pursuing publishing until 2003 when I attended my first writer’s conference. I received some great feedback on my early start with Starfire at that conference from editors, which gave me the push I needed to finish the novel.

At the time I had bought into what the editors say when they talk about it all being about the story. That the genre didn’t matter if the story was good enough. However, I don’t think any of them really thought about the guy in the audience with a story about alien, computer-using dinosaurs.

One thing I didn’t do was flood the industry with my manuscript. I watched and listened carefully to what houses and agents were looking for science fiction and fantasy and only sent to those people. So I’m not one who has accumulated dozens of rejections (really only about seven or eight), but still I felt like there just wasn’t a place for the story of my heart.

By 2008, I had all but given up on my dream. Thankfully, my beautiful wife, Tiffany, wasn’t ready to let me. She has been a steady support in the year and a half we’ve been married and helped give me the confidence I needed to submit Starfire one last time to Marcher Lord Press. I sent the submission off and then left it in God’s hands. I had decided that if Starfire couldn’t even find a home there, then that particular story couldn’t find a home anywhere.

God blessed me, and Starfire was acquired.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Self-discipline. I am incredibly easily distracted and often go for the flashier and more immediate things than the grind of getting what’s in my head to paper. I often have short intense bursts of focus that last just long enough to get me in trouble, and then I’m distracted by the next shiny thing and I’m off in a different direction.

What helped me overcome that with Starfire was some incredible support by other authors in my critique group and in the American Christian Fiction Writers. Plus I had a clear goal and forced myself to make the writing a priority.

I’m working on getting back to that for my next book.

What advice would you give to others who are trying to get their first book published?

Give the results to God. I know that the book is as much a part of you as anything, and the desire to see it in print can burn in your soul like a bonfire, but you have to be able to give even that over to God. It will still hurt, but I think if I had fully done so sooner, my road would have been easier to travel. Starfire may not have been published any quicker, but I wouldn’t have fallen so far into writing depression over the fact.

And don’t limit yourself to just submitting to the big houses. They might not be the right place for your story. The publishing landscape is changing, and smaller houses and POD publishers aren’t the stigmas they once were. Just make sure you pray about any decision and go in with eyes and heart open.

Tell us about the featured book.

Starfire is a fun, action-packed science fiction novel set on the alien planet of Sauria. The story revolves around Rathe, a young warrior who is just starting his first tour of duty in the Karn Imperial Army and will soon be caught up in events that will force him to decide the fate of his empire and his world.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the relationship that developed between Rathe and an engineer named Selae. Selae is only two feet tall, compared to Rathe’s eleven-foot height, and due to some unforeseen problems during an escort mission she ends up riding on Rathe’s head for the majority of the story. And she’s got quite a sharp tongue and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She really added a nice element of humor to the story.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Rough stone tore Rathe’s palms as he stumbled through the gaping maw of the cave. He tore away the makeshift leaf filter covering his mouth and sucked in the cool underground air, soothing his burning lungs. Pain lanced through his side as each breath tortured cracked ribs.
He turned to the entrance and gazed into the ash-clogged air outside. Grey blanketed the world like a shroud, quickly swallowing his large three-toed tracks, and obliterating any scent that would lead the trackers to him. Satisfied that he would be safe for the duration of the ash fall, Rathe staggered farther into the cave. His claws echoed hollowly on the stone floor, their quiet clack, clack, clack bouncing into the darkness.

The musical trickle of water sounded nearby, and Rathe angled toward it. Sudden wetness at his feet alerted him to the presence of a shallow pool. He lowered gingerly to the ground and stuck his snout into the chill liquid. The bitter taste of ash flowed over his tongue, but sweet relief filled his parched throat. Yet each swallow intensified the pain in his ribs.

The cool, moist rock felt good against his hot skin. He rolled onto his left side, away from the fire in his battered ribs, and stretched out to his full twelve-foot length. His tail-tip lazily slapped against the ground as drowsiness flowed over him. The water’s flow sung him to sleep.

A shrill cry jolted Rathe from soothing darkness. Pain seared through his right side and down his tail. Through the agony, the fading echo of the cry played at the edges of his mind. He groaned as he rolled onto his belly and forced down a few more swallows of water.

He pushed to his feet, swaying slightly as his stiff muscles adjusted to his weight. He cocked his head and listened.

Whatever had made the sound had gone silent. Or the cry had been only the vestige of a nightmare.

I love it. I can hardly wait until my book comes. Now, Stuart, how can the readers find you on the Internet?

They can visit my website at http://www.ritersbloc.com/.

Starfire is available from http://www.marcherlordpress.com/ or http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.bn.com/.

Stuart, thank you for allowing me to be part of the release of your first book. I hope you'll come back with the second, and third, and all the rest.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Starfire. Remember, the only notification you'll receive will be the Winners announcement post on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Ramona Richards - THE TAKING OF CARLY BRADFORD - Free Book

Welcome, Ramona. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I crave a good seat-of-the-pants adventure, and I want to keep the story moving while the hero and heroine come together, which is why I write romantic suspense. I’m basically a sappy romantic at heart, no matter how “intellectual” I like to pretend to be sometimes. And I write inspirationals because I quickly discovered it was easier to write from my own Christian worldview than take it out. It’s just who I am.

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

I’ve been blessed with a lot of happy days. God has been awesome in my life. No one day stands out over the others.

How has being published changed your life?

Networking! Being published is a great high, but it has put me in touch with so many amazing readers and writers.

What are you reading right now?

I read a lot of books. Anything Brandilyn Collins writes. Dark Pursuit made the hair stand up on my neck. I’ve also been working my way through Alexander McCall Smith’s series about the “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.” And I always pick up the latest Love Inspired Suspense books.
What is your current work in progress?

I have two in the works, both about cold case detectives. One, Reclaiming Daisy Doe, is about a private detective who specializes in small town cases, starting with the murder of her own grandmother and father. The other, The Bones of Gregory Miller, centers on a police detective investigating the discovery of a child’s skeleton in the basement of a hotel.

What would be your dream vacation?

I LOVE to scuba dive, but I haven’t been able to go in several years. My dream vacation would be about a month in Dominica: diving, hiking, and stretching out on the beach with my AlphaSmart and a few good books.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I usually chose settings that intrigue me, that I’m familiar with, or that fit the story. In the three “Jackson’s Retreat” books, including The Taking of Carly Bradford, I set them in New Hampshire because I love the state and they seemed to “fit” there. I have some great friends in NH, and I spent a lot of time with them, exploring NH small towns, including the one they live in. They own a café in Portsmouth, and I used the café in The Taking of Carly Bradford. I’ll also be running a contest on my site, featuring the café.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

That’s tough. I guess my dearest wish would be able to talk to my daughter for an evening. Rachel is severely disabled. She’s a happy kid most of the time, but she can’t speak or do anything for herself, and I’d love to be able to know what she’s thinking, what she really feels about life. After that, speaking with most normal folks kinda pales….although I wouldn’t exactly turn down an invitation from Keanu Reeves or Trevor Eve. (I do have my more shallow side….)

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Scuba diving! I also cross-stitch (although I don’t get to do it enough) and I love to hike and explore the wilderness.

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

I often fight episodes of depression, which crunch my creativity. I overcome it by taking the conquering steps I’ve learned over the past 50 years, including making changes in my life, spending time with friends and God, staying in the sun (light therapy), and occasionally seeking out counseling.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Don’t write about what you know. Write about what you love – or want to love. Knowledge is easy to come by these days – whereas it’ll take passion to get you past the rough times, either with your writing life or with rejections. Listen to your heart and to God.

Tell us about the featured book.

Three years ago, Dee Kelley lost her family. Three months ago, eight-year-old Carly Bradford disappeared. When Dee finds crucial evidence in a case rapidly growing cold, she becomes determined not to let another mother suffer the way she did. She will help police chief Tyler Madison find Carly, whether he wants her assistance or not. But Tyler isn’t the only one determined to keep Dee off the case. And evidence isn’t all that she’ll find waiting for her in the woods.

I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website and blog. I LOVE visitors. I also have Facebook and MySpace pages.
http://www.ramonarichards.com/
www.ramonarichards.com/rr/blog

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order The Taking of Carly Bradford:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification will be the Winners announcement on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Deborah Raney - YESTERDAY'S EMBERS - Free Book

Welcome, Deb. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I’ve always said I hoped to be writing till the day I die, but as I close in on my twentieth book—and my second grandbaby—I can understand more how a writer might retire…or at least slow down a bit. Right now I love what I do, and the empty nest is at hand, which will allow me more time to devote to my writing. The Lord has blessed me with contracts for four more books, so I’ll continue to write as long as He makes that possible. But I also want to always have ears to hear should He guide me in a different direction.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’m not a bit biased: I have the most wonderful family in the entire world. My husband Ken and I have been married for over 34 years and despite the fact that doctors told me I may never be able to become pregnant, God blessed us with FOUR children! Two boys and two girls, ranging in age from 32 to 18 now. And we have a beautiful new daughter-in-law, and a great son-in-law who’s the father of our two little grandsons (who live much too far away). Family is truly the greatest treasure God has ever given me and I feel blessed beyond words.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Sadly, becoming a writer almost ruins one for reading. If I’m reading something that’s not well-written, I can’t help but edit it in my head as I go; if I’m reading something that’s excellent, I find myself studying as I go to see how the author accomplished what they did. Seems I rarely get to just read for the sheer enjoyment of it! It’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out. In addition, so much of the reading I do is for research. Not that I don’t enjoy that type of reading, but it does cut back on my favorite type of reading: novels for the pure joy of story.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a new series for Howard set around the lives of the survivors of six firefighters who died in a tragic blaze in a homeless shelter in (fictional) Hanover Falls, Missouri. The Hanover Falls Novels will explore how tragedy brings people together around a shared grief. My research for this book has taken me out of my comfort zone a bit. I trained as a volunteer at our local homeless shelter and have been taking shifts there whenever our church is scheduled to man the shelter. This new series will have a mild element of suspense to it—though as president of the Big Honkin’ Chicken Club, you won’t find me writing anything too scary! ; )

That's something to celebrate. Deb Raney writing suspense. What outside interests do you have?

I enjoy decorating our home, finding treasures in antique stores and flea markets, and traveling to visit our four kids who all live out of state. An outside interest that is literally “outside” is the prairie garden my husband and I tend in our backyard. Ken dreamed of having our backyard look like the native Kansas prairie, and he’s worked for three years planting bluestem and switch grasses, native wildflowers, and wild roses. It really is beautiful and we enjoy the time we spend outside together. I created a blog for Ken for Father’s Day a couple of years ago if you’d like to take a peek at our garden: http://kansasprairiegarden.blogspot.com/ I also have a blog of novelists’ gardens that I find fascinating: http://novelgarden.blogspot.com/

What fun! How do you choose your settings for each book?

Most of my books are set in the Midwest because I adhere to the write-what-you-know maxim. That’s because research is my least favorite part of writing. When choosing foreign or far-away settings for certain scenes, I choose them based on who I know that can help me with the details. It’s so important to write true to the setting.

I feel the same way. I do a lot or research on a setting where I haven't been. A friend of mine recently went to Golden, New Mexico, which is now a ghost town, but I'm using it for the setting of a historical I'm writing. She took pictures and even brought me back a rock from Golden. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

That’s a tough question…there are so many. I would probably choose Laura Ingalls Wilder, just for a chance to let her know how much she inspired me!

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I wish I’d known what a wealth of books on the craft of writing were available. I didn’t even know there was such a thing when I first began writing. I learned SO much once I discovered these fantastic tools of the writer’s trade.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

He’s teaching me to step outside of my comfort zone and not be afraid to try new things. If I’m going to continue writing, I need to be always learning, always exploring new places and new ideas. I’m also learning that God has a way of making research into ministry. It’s kind of neat that He sometimes allows us to “kill two birds with one stone” that way.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Read, read, read. Don’t ever stop studying and learning.
Keep your seat in the seat. Once you know how to write, the hard part is just doing it!
Always pray for things to happen in God’s timing. As much as you might want to speed things along, in the long run, it’s always better to wait upon the Lord.

All so true. Tell us about the featured book.

Yesterday’s Embers is the third and final book in the Clayburn novels series, and tells the stories of Doug DeVore and Mickey Valdez, whom readers met briefly in the first Clayburn novels. It’s a story about marrying for all the wrong reasons, and finding hope even in the midst of desperation. I think it’s my favorite of the three Clayburn novels!

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is at http://www.deborahraney.com/ and there’s a link to email me on the home page. I’ve also recently become part of the shoutlife community and I’d love to make friends with readers there: www.shoutlife.com/debraney

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order Yesterday's Embers:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification will be in the winner announcement post on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, come to this blog to leave your comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

Patti Lacy - WHAT THE BAYOU SAW - Free Book

Welcome, Patti. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Lena, I’m passionate about sharing the secrets women keep and why they keep them. And ever since I read People and Places, a primer my great aunt used when she taught teach third grade, I’ve dreamed of sailing away to exotic countries. Now you see why the tagline “Spanning Seas and Secrets” fits me like a girdle!
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

When I gave birth to each of my children. My daughter, born December 22, was an early Christmas present, and also an early bird. I held the delicate little doll so close and sang her my favorite carols. Songs about the Holy Infant pierced my soul, and I saw Him in a wonderfully different way! My precious son was born March 13 and was an early birthday present. Because of his blue eyes, I sang “Baby Blue” to him. Even though he was a newborn, his gaze fixed on me, and I fell in love…forever.

How has being published changed your life?

Because of book signings, library appearances, and guest speaking, I have opportunities to share “all my broken pieces” with more people. In each book I write, I try to show, kaleidoscope-style, how God can make a lovely, unique piece of art with shards of glass and bits of metal. He can do the same with us if we give all those pieces to Him.

That is so true. What are you reading right now?

Jill Eileen Smith’s Michal. I just finished The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner and End of the Season by Linore Rose Burkard. Also Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth. Another great book for the summer will be Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana, by Melanie Dobson (I got a sneak peak at this one!) As you can see, I’m an avid reader and truly believe that every good book I read teaches me something about the writing craft. Books have been my friends since I was five, and oh, I have so many friends now! They’ve taken me around the world, gotten me in awful fixes and into some lovely times. Oops! Back to the question. Shape of Mercy helped with dialogue and tightening a framed story. Linore had great flow and control. Mary got me into the heart of a young teenaged boy (not easy!) Melanie has captured the fear of oppressed people. Great job, writers!

What is your current work in progress?

My Name is Sheba. Here’s the tag line: Preacher’s wife Sheila Alexander loves a husband who doesn’t know her and a son she never knew. Then the past comes knocking, in the form of a young soldier and a prostitute, and threatens to expose her deceptive ways. I’ve been to New Orleans and St. Paul and Thailand with this book, the latter two, only in my imagination and through those best friends, books! Thank you, Sandy Sperrazza, for your willingness to share this story. I’m actually going through a second edit to add “visceral reactions” and “tighten the POV.” Those are my “areas of learning” right now!

What would be your dream vacation?

Right now, China, scene of my next work in progress. My husband and I also yearn to plod the cobblestones of Italy and be steered along the waters of the grand canals in Venice before they sink in the ocean. I’ve also heard of a place, Cinque Terre, where five villages nestle in green rolling hills, all in view of an azure sea. Sigh…maybe one day…

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Setting becomes a character in my book and pulses in the lifeblood of the other characters. In My Name is Sheba, my bold little twelve-year-old skips through the noisy farmers markets, ducks into the seedy alleys, and stands behind the artists at their easels in 1940s New Orleans. I usually hear a story that inspires me, like Sandy Sperrazza and her time in a Home for Unwed Mothers in St. Paul, Minnesota, then research that area through either visits, books, or lots of interviews with the inspirer.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Besides family and friends, I’d say Billy Graham, who has led so many to the Lord through the Holy Spirit’s work. In My Name is Sheba, I seize upon a historical appearance Graham made in Chicago to include him in my main character’s conversion. If things really went well, his daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, one of my favorite writers, might be seated across the table!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Since an old boyfriend introduced me to jogging in college, I’ve loved to clear my mind and move my stiff limbs by running. It’s a cheap—and easy—way to exercise my dog, Laura, who is used to sitting for hours while I pound away at the keyboard. My family also looks forward to vacation times, when we can hike the national parks. Sarah, my daughter, just returned from her second mission trip to Costa Rica, and she wants to gather us up and take us there soon. We all have been bitten by the travel bug!

I love to travel, too. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Adding emotion and visceral feeling to my work! Also, unlike many of my ACFW friends, I tend to write slowly, so my day starts at five a.m. to get my set number of daily pages behind me.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read, read, read, and write for the Audience of One.

Tell us about the featured book.

Since leaving Louisiana, Sally Stevens (of An Irishwoman’s Tale) has held her childhood secrets at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband Sam, has heard the truth about what happened to her when she was twelve years old.

Now a teacher in Illinois, Sally has nearly forgotten the past herself. But when one of her students is violently attacked, Sally’s memories of segregation, a chain link fence, and a blood oath bubble to the surface like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally’s story comes to light, the lies she’s told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last—whatever the consequences.

I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Oh, I’d love to have you visit http://www.pattilacy.com/! I host monthly contests for a $15 Barnes & Noble card and post book reviews of some of ACFW’s latest good reads.

Thanks, Lena, for hosting me today! Happy writing—and reading!

And thank you, Patti, for spending this enjoyable time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order What the Bayou Saw:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The winner announcement post on this blog will be the only notification you'll receive. So be sure to check back a in two weeks to see if you won. Or you can sign up for Feedblitz at the top of the other column, and all the posts will come into your Inbox.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave a comment:

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Winners!!! Are You One of Them?

Sorry to be a little late posting. This is the first weekend in a while that I haven't had to get up early to give my husband an IV antibiotic, so I slept longer.

Rachel Rossano is the winner of Always Watching by Amberly & Brandilin Collins.

Helga Marie is the winner of Enduring Love by Bonnie Leon.

~ley is the winner of Deadly Competition by Roxanne Rustand.

Deborah is the winner of Coming Attrations by Robin Jones Gunn.

Congratulations! Now to complete the process, you must email me your snail mail address. Click on the View Complete Profile in my profile. You'll find a link to my email.

Jane Kirkpatrick - A FLICKERING LIGHT - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Jane back to the blog. Jane, why do you write the kind of books you do?

A few years ago I took some time and worked out my philosophy of writing and it goes something like this. I want to be able to “Inspire and promote, through speaking and writing, the power of story to Divinely heal and transform.” I believe sincerely that God speaks to us through stories. Aside from that, the stories come to me and I try to listen to them. I write historical novels in part because I think much of women’s history is lost, and I think there is spiritual value in exploring ordinary lives and being informed about the way that faith was expressed in ordinary days. I’ve written non-fiction books as well, in part because of my mental health background and a wish to offer healing words inspired by God’s grace whether a memoir, a book for grief, or a book of history and legacy. But overall, I believe that story is a powerful influence in our lives: stories we tell ourselves affect us and our lives are the stories other people read first.

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

I really had to think about this one! There’ve been many. But I have to say the day I got to help deliver a baby. I was the birthing coach for a woman I worked with on an Indian reservation. I’d had the courage to ask her if I could be her coach when I overheard her tell the nurse that she didn’t have a partner she could count on; so I was it! And the day the baby came was truly one of the happiest in my life. I got to cut the cord, a privilege usually reserved for the father in Indian country. She’s going to be thirteen this year! A teenager! I felt so fortunate. I have no children of my own though I’m blessed with step-children so being a part of this moment of life was truly an amazing experience.

How has being published changed your life?

Big time, though for 17 years I continued to work in my day job first as a mental health director of a clinic and then as a consultant to people on an Indian reservation. So I commuted a little over two hours to work but I stayed on the reservation two nights a week. Those nights I got up really early 4:00 AM and wrote before going to work. It energized me for my social work day. Seven years ago I was able to quit my job there and write full time. I teach classes, lead women’s retreats and am often asked to be an inspirational speaker for businesses, at universities, charitable groups; and I continue to write. We also have a ranch so we have to work travel around seasons sometimes. I’ve met tons more people than I ever did before I published! And I’ve been privileged to receive some of the most amazing letters from people saying how much the words have helped them in their lives. My spiritual life has also grown as a writer though that began before I was actually published. Writing is a leap of faith, every time we sit down to do it!

What are you reading right now?

A bunch of things. With my husband morning and evening, I’m reading Ann Spangler’s book The Tender Words of God. I also read a piece from Frederick Buechner’s Listening to My Life each day. A Perfect Red a book about dyes and the history of the world’s desire to find the perfect red. The Song Weaver by B.J. Hoff…I’m way behind in her books, I know! The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama because I think there’s value in knowing how our President sees the world. I just finished reading Loving Frank (about Frank Lloyd Wright because the period is the same as my current novel) and The Geography of Love by Glenda Burgess because I love reading memoir. I’ll read a few pages at night before zoning out so it takes me awhile to finish a book.

What is your current work in progress?

The working title is An Absence So Great. It’s the second book in my Portrait of a Heart series based on my grandmother who was a photographer at the turn of the century in Minnesota. She made some poor choices in the first book, and she’s moved to Milwaukee to help a widow run her photographic studio. Photographers at that time often became ill from mercury poisonings from the developing chemicals and she was trained not only to do the photographic work but to run studios while the owner recovered from his illness. She did that in several cities over her lifetime until she married.

What would be your dream vacation?

I get one every now and then: It’s being on a houseboat moored to one spot with tons of books to read, a little music now and then, good food, and my husband and friends. A second would be to travel to places I’ve never been but again with people I enjoy spending time with and being able to be casual and bring the dog along. He’s a wire-haired pointing griffon.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My stories tend to be character driven and most are based on the lives of real people. Marie Dorion, an Iowa Indian woman who traveled with 60 men, her husband, and two little boys with the Astor Expedition in 1811, began her life in the Wisconsin area. A Name of Her Own, the first in the series about her, I began in St. Louis as that’s where the expedition gathered to leave. I knew that Sacagawea was in St. Louis at that time and there was evidence the women knew each other, a fact that worked into the story later. I started A Clearing in the Wild in Bethel, Missouri, as that’s where Emma Giesy was living at the time. The second book begins in Western Washington and the third in Oregon. It’s nice when the setting is the west because I like to go to the places more than once while I’m writing.

Basically, the settings grow from the characters. I’m also interested in how the landscape affected the characters. I see my writing weaving threads of landscape, relationship, faith, and work around the spine of character and history. My newly released novel A Flickering Light, is about my grandmother, an early photographer in Minnesota in 1907.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Frederick Buechner. Because he’s a fine writer of both fiction and nonfiction, he’s a brilliant scholar and theologian who continues to explore his faith, continues to find new things within scripture and can convey those insights in ways that touch people deeply. I can’t read his Listening to my Life without being overcome with emotion because he has such a way of tearing away the fabric of façade and cutting to one’s heart.


What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

The other day someone asked me that and I have to say I was really stumped because reading is my number one hobby. I used to do needlework, embroidery, but don’t much now. I guess I’d say walking with my dog, working with him so he won’t be “ruined” as the dog training people say. I have my pilot’s license but since we don’t have a plane anymore I haven’t flown much but I used to enjoy learning how!

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

Silencing the voices sitting behind me saying that what I’ve written or am writing is drivel, is worthless, won’t matter to anyone, isn’t faithful, doesn’t ring true, you name it. I have a whole list of harpy comments as I call them. I actually developed a workshop about the seven stories that hold us hostage and how we can transform them. Most of my internal comments fall into seven categories and I have phrases I’ve developed for each one, to change the story.

My biggest harpy buster is a little note I have at the top of my computer that I can read when I feel scared, unworthy, guilty, angry, anxious, perfectionistic, or have hurt feelings. It reads: “You don’t have time for that.” That helps me remind myself that it isn’t my job to write the great American novel or to get Oprah to know my name. It’s my job to show up, to assume the position of a writer and to tell the stories I’ve been given the best way I know how and to trust that I’m not alone in the telling.

Excellent advice. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

To listen to their heart. To set aside time every day or a particular schedule, each weekend for four hours, or whatever fits into their lives, and to not wait for inspiration. I’d encourage them to make a commitment, to set a goal. As the lyric poet Goethe noted that what people don’t realize is “once you make a commitment to something, then Providence moves.”

Tell us about the featured book.

A Flickering Light is about my grandmother who was a photographer in Winona, MN at the turn of the century. At fifteen she began being trained by her mentor, a man 26 years her senior. She was a natural from what I could learn; but she also made some unwise decisions as she began to fall in love with this very married man.

In part it’s an exploration of temptation but also a tendency I’ve seen in very capable and competent people at times, that they do things to sabotage their gifts. It’s caused me to do some real thinking about my own mistakes, even the actions I take in my writing that might very well be shooting myself in my foot and asking myself why I do that and how far that takes me from my relationship with God. It’s a more emotional story than what I’ve written before, or maybe it’s because it is my own grandmother, but I’ve really been thinking of her a great deal and wish she was alive to ask her questions. I’m having to speculate about the answers but that’s what fiction is all about, right?

There’s a video trailer promoting it on Godtube, Shoutlife, Amazon, and my website and some other sites as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm81HyoX_K0&feature=channel_page

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=44ed1f4e66a8a12f8bdb

http://www.shoutlife.com/profile_view.cfm?uid=136956&view_mode=video&folder_id=1551&vid_id=2574

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My web address if http://www.jkbooks.com/.

My blog is http://www.janekirkpatrick.blogspot.com/. It’s called The Harvest of Starvation Lane. I’m on Facebook and shoutlife as well. For those interested, I write Words of Encouragement each month on my website that are essays about writing and life. I’d love to hear from any of your readers.

Thanks so much for letting me share my thoughts! Happy writing! Jane

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order A Flickering Light.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll receive is the winner announcement post on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave a comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Lisa Harris - WILD PRAIRIE ROSES - Free Book

This is the first of three interviews we'll be running for Wild Prairie Roses this month. So you will have three chances to win a copy, and you'll get to know each of the authors. I'm one of the authors. We're really proud of this collection. I was at Walmart yesterday, and it was on the top shelf of the Inspirational fiction section.

Welcome, Lisa. What contribution did your story make to the collection?

Tara’s Gold is the second book in the Wild Prairie Roses collection. It continues the overall story of three women’s quest for gold and personal fulfillment. Living up to the reputations of her aunt Rachel, who worked as a spy in the War Between the States, and parents who were instrumental in Boston's Underground Railroad is a difficult task for Tara Young. So when she finds mention of an unsolved gold heist in her aunt's journal, Tara decides her claim to fame will be finding the missing gold. Aaron Jefferson is a government agent seeking the same illusive goals-the cache of gold, but more importantly, a place of worth in his own illustrious family. When Tara and Aaron find their paths converging, however, each is determined to find the gold on their own. But their Heavenly Father has another plan. Will they ever learn that God Himself is to be desired more than fame or fine gold?

Did you enjoy working with the other authors in the collection?

It’s always a blessing to work with other authors and develop those friendships. I consider it both an honor and a privilege to work with both Lena and Laurie Alice.

Did it take a lot of interaction?

In the beginning it was necessary for the three of us to work together closely as we developed the overall theme and mystery for the collection. After that, we were able to write the stories pretty independently, in keeping with the theme and setting we’d chosen.

Have you ever been to Iowa?

I’ve never had the chance to visit Iowa, but it’s given me the desire to see more of our beautiful country.

How was the setting chosen?

To be honest, I don’t remember exactly. :-) We wanted a place that would work for our idea of the lost gold from the Civil War, and one that was still available in the Romancing America series.
What do you like most about this collection?

I love the overall thought that we all are searching for things as individuals, but the one thing that will bring us true joy is our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.” (Matthew 7:7)

What book are you currently writing?

I’m currently working on book two in my International suspense series for Zondervan. Book one, Blood Ransom, will be released in March of 2010.

And I'm very excited about that series, too, Lisa. I can hardly wait. Tell us a little about your family.

My husband and I live in Mozambique with our three children where we are involved in a church planting movement with African Outreach Ministries. The past few years have been an adventure, to say the least, but we know without a doubt that God has us exactly where He wants us to be. We love to travel as a family and one of our favorite things to do is go on safaris through southern Africa. We’re into our second year of homeschooling, which has been a fun challenge, and one of the most rewarding things has been learning Portuguese as a family.

Please give us the first page of your story.

Chapter 1
July 1870

Tara Young stuck her hand into the satin lining of her fringed jacket. The thin paper crinkled between her fingers, assuring her of its presence. All she had to do was carry the message into the mercantile and pass it to the young clerk who worked there. A simple task considering her last assignment. Stopping in front of the sheriff’s office, Tara measured the distance between her and the front door of the store. Ten steps, maybe eleven. A quick look down the boardwalk, which ran parallel to the town’s whitewashed storefronts, confirmed her assessment that no one was paying attention to her.

And why should they? There was no reason for anyone to sense anything out of the ordinary with her presence in the busy passageway. She looked like any other fashionable young woman out for a day of shopping for ribbons or perhaps a peek at the latest dress fabric that had just arrived from the East. There was no cause to suspect her of carrying confidential information on the war. No grounds for anyone to guess she was a spy for her country. A man stepped in front of her, his boots clanking on the wooden flooring. The afternoon sun caught the shiny ivory handle of a gun beneath his black overcoat. Tara swallowed hard. The moment of truth had arrived. And this time, she was ready.

Tara’s head smacked against the back wall of the stagecoach, jarring her from her slumber. She sucked in a deep breath of air and held herself upright, hoping the other five occupants of the horse-drawn vehicle hadn’t caught her snoring. Two trains, and now a stagecoach that had seen better days, had been enough to prove to her the inconveniences of traveling. How was a lady supposed to endure mile after mile of wheels jarring at every rut and fellow passengers snoring like an off-key church choir?

Sighing, she glanced down at the fawn colored material of her traveling suit and winced at the condition of the garment. When she’d purchased it two weeks ago, it had been one of the most stunning ensembles in the store, guaranteed by the saleswoman to travel with ease. Now the folds of fabric were wrinkled, covered with a layer of dust, and stained with coffee. Any positive
first impressions she’d hoped to leave with her new employers were bound to be sadly lacking.

Where can the readers find you on the Internet?

I love to hear from my readers. You can visit my website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/ or my blog for a taste of Africa at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/

Thanks for letting me stop by and chat with you Lena!

And thank you, Lisa. We enjoyed visiting with you.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Wild Prairie Roses:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy. Your only notification will be the winner announcement post on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. If you're afraid you'll miss it, sign up for FeedBlitz in the right hand column. Then every post will come into your Inbox.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave a comment:

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Patricia Pacjac Carroll - Two Writing Books - Free books

Today, I'm featuring one of the women in the critique group that meets in my home, and a very good friend. Patty has written two books every aspiring author needs. This picture is of Patty at the booksigning at the Mall of America at the national American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Minneapolis.

Welcome, Patty. I know these books are different from the usual ones I feature. Tell us the title of each one and why you wrote it.

Things I Learned on the Way to the Last Page is a book for writers trying to get this writing thing down. I started writing years ago and could never finish a book. Then I started learning things that I wished I’d known. So to help struggling writers I compiled the things I wished I’d known in the beginning: basic formatting, computer helps, use of beats, deep POV and character POV, along with character and setting worksheets and writing a synopsis. The book is written in an easy-to-learn style with the use of examples to help explain the techniques.
Writing ~ It’s Your Business is to help the writer get organized and establish the writing as a business. I’ve included Excel worksheets for time, expenses, mileage, sales, submission tracker along with a to-do list. The best thing is it is all at your fingertips on the computer. No paper to chase and lose.

Why are you self-publishing them in CD format?

I decided to self-publish because I wanted to get them into the hands of writers now. The publishing track is long and hard and I didn’t want to wait. Though I am not published in a fiction, yet, I plan to be soon. I have confidence that these books will be a help to all who get them. I even give them a guarantee that if the writer isn’t helped they can get their money back.
As far as the CD format, I had a brainstorm and decided what better way. My Pordable™ Books save paper and in our politically correct green world I thought it would be a good idea. Some people can do fine reading books on the computer while others like the feel of the paper in their hands. So the books can be printed by the buyer for their use. The CD also offers a format in which the reader can download forms into their own computers without having to rewrite them.

These books on disk are nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?

I love fiction and have several stories going right now. From westerns to romances and the supernatural. I don’t seem to have a problem coming up with a story to write.

And Patty has interest from a publisher with one of her books right now. Now, Patty, what would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

I am blessed beyond my imagination—and that is saying a lot. I love the Lord and am thankful that He has given me this gift and the time and ability to go after it. And I really desire to help others on the road to writing.

Tell us about your family.

I have a wonderful husband who gave up his retirement so I could quit my job and write. Hopefully, he too can soon join me at home, but for now he works hard so I can make up things. :-) I also have a wonderful grown son. He is a blessing and I know the Lord has good things for him. And to round out our little family we have a papillon, Jacs. He’s spoiled rotten and wrapped us all around his little paws.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I used to own a pet store, but after twenty years we had to shut it down. Couldn’t compete with the big boys and make a dime. After the store was gone I didn’t want to see another fish tank, until this year. One little betta in the fall has turned into several aquariums and once again I find that I enjoy watching the fish swim in their little worlds.

I also love to travel. YAY road trips. Just ask my writer buddy friends.

Oh, yes, we all know about Patty's road trips. Many times one or more of us join her. Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes! I have two contemporary romances, two westerns, a spy spoof thriller, and a futuristic supernatural. Needless to say, I try and put blinders around my imagination so I won’t see another story attacking me.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

My website is : http://www.patriciapacjaccarroll.com/And my Blog http://patriciapacjaccarroll.blogspot.com/

What do you want the reader to take away from the books?

I want them to get a grasp on the basic techniques that will make their writing come alive. Although writing is a lifetime of learning, there are certain concepts that will take their writing to another level. When I started writing, my story sounded like an episode from Dragnet—just the facts ma’am. It is my hope that after going through Things I Learned on the Way to the Last Page their writing will draw readers into the lives of their characters.

Writing ~It’s Your Business is great for the serious writer who means to make this a career. If you don’t take yourself seriously, no one else will. This book will help you track your time, money, and efforts in this crazy writing life.

Thank you, Lena, for the opportunity to be on your blog. And for all the gracious time you put into forwarding the careers of others. May God bless you double for all your efforts.

And thank you, Patty, for spending this time with us.

Readers, you can order these two books through Patty's website.

Of course, you can also leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of both books. Your only notification will be the winner announcement on this blog. So check back a week from Saturday to see if you're the winner.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, you must come to the blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Amy Wallace - ENDURING JUSTICE - Free Book

I've been waiting for this book to release, so I could have you back. Welcome, Amy. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Because I write about Crimes Against Children FBI agents, I get this question often. Especially from moms. And I love having the opportunity to explain. My heart is to show God’s redemptive hand even in our worst nightmares and also to explore the Christian life beyond the Sunday school answers that don’t work for many of us when life hurts. Suspense is a unique venue to address those issues because I get to tell a fast-paced and exciting story mixed with the depth of tackling big questions through real-life characters. I also hope that the research I pour into the story and the perspective of the villains will help us as parents remember to pray hard and lean on the Lord in all areas of our lives.


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

As a mom awed by the tough and wonderful privilege of parenting, I’d have to say my happiest days were when my three newborns were each placed in my arms. With my last child, I almost died in childbirth and remember praying as people scrambled around me, “Please, God, I just want to hold her.” And then she almost died after childbirth and had to be put on oxygen. My getting to hold her came after hours of tears and fears. But the moment she was placed in my arms was so God-kissed, I’ll never forget it.

Yes, they are such a miracle. I have loved watching my children and grandchildren grow and mature. And thanked God that He entrusted them to us How has being published changed your life?

It’s made a regular at Starbucks and Godiva to survive. ;-)

Being an author has also changed my perspective on life. I’m living a dream and don’t want to take that for granted. It’s a tough business in so many ways, but there are so many amazing things too. Like the wonderful people: authors, editors, agents and the great folks at my publishing house. And the thrill of my children telling any readers they meet about how awesome a writer their mom is.

Writing has also drawn my family closer together. They’re part of everything I do. From story ideas, titles, and character names to booksignings and teaching events. They’re my first audience and my prayer warriors.

What are you reading right now?

It’d be easier to tell you my favorite authors (the ones I’ll stay up waayyy too late to read) since what I read is constantly changing. I love Sharon Hinck, Mark Mynheir, Robin Jones Gunn, Cindy Woodsmall, Claudia Mair Burney, Trish Perry, and Mary Griffith. Their work leads me worship as I read and that’s why I’ll read them rather than sleep.

What is your current work in progress?

That’s a tough question to answer because I have three projects (all suspense) on the prayer table and I’m researching, praying and getting to know the characters in all three and waiting to see which one I’ll get to complete first.

What would be your dream vacation?

Two weeks at the beach with no sunburn, unlimited Starbucks, swimming with dolphins and some cool restaurants and shops to enjoy in between surfing with my kids and reading great books.

Can I come along? How do you choose your settings for each book?

Like a number of elements to my stories, they sort of choose me. More accurately, the Lord impresses ideas, names, themes, plot ideas and settings as I start with one or two ideas and grow from there. I like to stick with places I’ve either lived in or visited. But there’s a plethora to choose from as I was an Army brat and moved every three years growing up. And now I love to tag along with my husband on business trips.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I would love to hang out with Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. My husband and I have met them a few times over the years, but it’d be amazing to sit down for an evening with this couple who have weathered some intense storms and held onto Jesus.

They are an encouragement to so many of us. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love scrapbooking, playing basketball, and teaching. I used to collect teddy bears and still have a good number of the ones I collected from all over the world.

For several years, my husband gave me a Valentine bear each year. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

The most difficult writing obstacle I have to tackle every time I sit down to work on a new project or release a book baby into the world is the issue of believing truth and not lies. It’s so easy to get discouraged in the writing life and consider giving up. But when I focus on the Lord and on His call and what He has to say through me, there’s peace.

The old Enemy of our Souls does tell us authors a number of lies, doesn't he? What advice would you give to a beginning author?

I would say the most vital thing to remember is who God is and what He has to say through you. Then when you sit down to write, open your heart and your past to the Lord and allow Him to use it through the pages of your story. That way you and your readers will sense the presence of the Lord and be touched.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s a sneak peek at the back cover blurb for Enduring Justice…

A PAINFUL PAST

Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.

A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLER

As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A LIFE-ALTERING CHOICE

A racist's well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line between the two is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?

I'm intrigued. Can hardly wait until my book comes. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’d love it if readers would visit my Heart Chocolate home on the web: http://www.amywallace.com/.

I can also be found in the blogsphere at http://peek-a-booicu.blogspot.com/

And four times a year, I send out my Dark Chocolate Suspense newsletter packed with heart chocolate thoughts, tips on keeping kids safe, nice and easy recipes and some inside info on the writing life. You can read past newsletters and sign up at http://www.amywallace.com/Newsletter.html.

Hearing from readers is a highlight of the writing life! So please stop by my home(s) on the web and leave a note on the blog or in the Heart Chocolate guestbook. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Lena! It was great to visit here today!

And thank you, Amy. I love having you.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy. The winner announcement post on this blog will be your only notification if you win. Be sure to check back on Saturday in two weeks to see if you won.

Or you could sign up for Feedblitz in the right hand column. Then you won't miss a single post on this blog.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave a comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Winners!!!! Winners!!!! Winners!!!!

Rebornbutterfly is the winner of A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher.

Renee(steelergirl83) is the winner of A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman.

Patricia Pacjac Carroll is the winner of The Prairie Romance Collection from Lena Nelson Dooley.

Sherrinda is the winner of Courting the Doctor's Daughter by Janet Dean.

Please get your mailing address to me. You'll find a link to my email if you click on View Complete Profile in the right hand column under my profile.

Robin Jones Gunn - COMING ATTRACTIONS - Free Book

Welcome to my blog, Robin. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

It’s been a combination of reasons over the past 20 years. I started writing the YA books because the teens in our youth group challenged me to write books for them and they even helped me work on the Christy Miller books. After getting Christy through high school the publisher asked me to write about a new high school characters, so Sierra Jensen showed up. Then I wrote the College Years, because I wanted to find out what was happening with all the characters! I’m writing the continuation of the lives of those characters now in the Katie Weldon series so we can see what’s going on with Christy’s best friend, Katie, as well as check in on everyone else.

As the readers got older, they asked for more love stories. That’s why I started writing the eight Glenbrooke novels. We had just moved to Oregon and I loved the idea of connecting all these 20-something-plus characters to Glenbrooke, an imaginary small town in Oregon. How did these couples meet? How did they know they were in love? Those were the sorts of questions my readers were asking when I started that series. How to you meet a godly man? That was a delightful series to write.

Sisterchicks® sort of happened. I was actually writing a novel for The Women of Faith and it turned out to be its own sort of new beginning. That was Sisterchicks on the Loose! So, instead of that book going to The Women of Faith, I wrote Gardenias for Breakfast for them and launched the Sisterchicks stories into an eight-book series.

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

What a lovely question. I feel as if I’ve had so many happiest days. Our wedding day, of course, flies right to the top of the list. That was 33 years ago! Hard to believe! Other very happy days include my 50th birthday spent on Maui with my husband, the birth of both our children and our 25th anniversary spent in Italy. I feel so blessed.

Sounds wonderful. How has being published changed your life?

Since everything has happened one small step at a time, I don’t know that I feel my life has changed. This became my life almost 25 years ago when my first children’s books were published.

What are you reading right now?

I’m glad you asked this question. Every Christmas our children give me an interesting book. This year it was the Journals of Captain James Cook and C.S. Lewis’ Letters to Children. I’m reading both and loving every page.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m just finishing the final changes on the third Katie Weldon book, Coming Attractions. I’ve loved writing about these characters again and yes, I did cry when I finished the last page. We don’t have plans for more in the Katie collection yet, but you never know.

What would be your dream vacation?

Wow. Hard to say. I feel I’ve already had a dozen dream vacations while traveling around the world for speaking events and doing research for the Sisterchicks books. Lord willing, I’m going to Africa for the first time this fall for a writer’s conference. That’s been a dream for a long time. I loved Brazil and would love to go back there. Anytime I can put my toes into the sand on the Hawaiian islands I’m a happy mama.

Everywhere I get to travel feels like a dream to me.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

With the Sisterchicks books, the settings were partly chosen by me and partly suggested by the publisher. It worked out well because I’d been to some of the places, like Finland and Mexico and Hawaii. But they wanted stories about Australia and Venice and London, so they sent me there to do research. Pretty amazing, huh?

For the teen books and the Glenbrooke series, I just went with the old saying of “write what you know.” I grew up in southern California so it was easy to picture Christy in that location. When we moved to Oregon, I put Sierra in Portland.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Aside from my family and closest friends, I think I’d have to say Phyllis Tickle. I’ve only chatted with her a few times at publishing events but every time I wanted to sit down beside her and just soak up what she was saying.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Travel. You might have guessed that, right? I love long conversations over dinner at a variety of restaurants with a variety of people. Maybe my hobby is simply collecting stories, which is why I love to travel and take notes on all the experiences that happen to me. I love to listen to others tell their life stories, which is why long, leisurely dinners are my favorite.

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

After a car accident several decades ago I have a neck injury that bothers me pretty much any time I sit or type or travel or sleep or . . . you get the picture. 80% of the time it grieves me.

I do exercises. I go to a good chiropractor. I take joint improvement herbs. I have gone to physical therapists off and on. I just live with it.

My obstacles in crafting stories are not in finding time to write, coming up with ideas, working with publishers or any of the usual challenges. It’s just pain.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

First, commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3) It was His idea to infuse your imagination as He did. How does He want to use this gift He gave you?

Second, learn how to discern between criticism and advice. Be open to both but know what to sift out and throw away and know which gems to pick up and hold on to.

Very good advice.

Please give us the first page of the book.

All first pages are available online.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.robingunn.com/
On Face Book and My Space I’m listed as Robin Jones Gunn
On Twitter it’s Robin Gunn

I’d love to invite all your readers to go to http://www.robingunn.com/ and sign up to receive my Robin’s Nest e-newsletter. I offer drawings for free books each time a newsletter comes out so please sign up and enter the drawings!

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

Readers, if you can't wait to get your hands on Coming Attractions, here's a link where you can order it:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Your only notification will be the winner announcement post on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, you must come to the blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Roxanne Rustand - DEADLY COMPETITION - Free Book

Welcome back, Roxanne. What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Save the Last Dance will be out in August, 2009. This is an Everlasting, and will be shelved with Harlequin Superromance. The themes involve the importance of family, life-long love, trust and forgiveness--and not waiting until it's too late, even if the past has been rocky. Though it wasn't written for an inspirational house, the heroine is a woman of faith. There's a thread of suspense in it, too. I loved writing it!

Final Exposure, the first book in my Big Sky Secrets series for Love Inspired Romantic Suspense, will be out in September of 2009, and the second in that series, Fatal Burn, will be out in February, 2010.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I think an evening with Michelle Obama would be fascinating--and fun. She is an intelligent, accomplished woman in her own right, and seems to have such strong family values.

How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

I never gave it thought until 1993, when a friend asked if I'd like to write articles for her regional horse magazine, and offered me a computer. Once I found out what a joy it was to use a word processing program, I kept writing articles and eventually toyed with a story...wishing I could create the kind of magic I read on the pages of my favorite novels. I never dreamed that I could ever actually sell a book, until I stumbled upon the 1995 RWA Golden Heart contest, entered it, and gained the interest of an editor. I owe my old friend a great deal, for guiding me toward a part of my life that I now enjoy very much.

What can you tell authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Very few people enter this business without facing rejections first. I've heard stories about the incredible determination of some aspiring authors who have overcome many, many rejections. Thirty, fifty, even a hundred of them--but these people persevered and ultimately, succeeded. I guess the saying I used to have above my computer is true: "God doesn't give the desire without also giving the ability." We just have to work hard at improving our craft, keep writing, hold on to our dreams, and never let go!

I submitted my first manuscript to an editor in 1995, and made my first sale in 1998. During the interim, I faced my own rejections, but I now see that they were a blessing. If my first novel had sold, I wouldn't have had enough experience to successfully follow an editor's revision guidance. I didn't have even a glimmer of an idea for a second book. I knew nothing about the business. Those extra years gave me time to learn, and grow, and to become better prepared.

Tell us about the featured book?

DEADLY COMPETITION is part of a Love Inspired Suspense series called "Without a Trace." In this story, my heroine is on the run and is hired by the hero to help take care of his young niece...in a town where danger is already lurking, and where murders have taken place in recent months.

Please give us the first page of the book.

At the sound of his sister Leah's old Mustang pulling to a stop in the driveway, Clint Herald opened his front door to the damp, gray January evening, his heart heavy.

Could his three-year-old niece even grasp the concept of death? Did Sarah still think her daddy would be coming back?

There'd been no forewarning of her father's apparent suicide two days ago, and it still made no sense. And now the troubles were just beginning for his widow and young daughter.

Clint leaned down to scoop Sarah up for their customary hug, but did a double-take at the stark expression on his sister's face.

"Keep her safe," Leah whispered, casting a swift glance over her shoulder. She thrust her daughter forward into his arms and backed away. "Please."

Surprised at the tension in her voice, he reached for her hand, but she took another step back.

"What's going on?"

"N-nothing. I just have to go." But from the oddly desperate look of yearning on Leah's face as she turned away from her daughter and hurried to her car, she must be in even deeper trouble than she'd revealed.

"Wait a minute!" Clint called out.

She climbed into her car, shut the door, and rammed the stick shift into reverse, grinding the gears. Something she never, ever did to her beloved old car.

"Leah?" He felt his pulse quicken. "Leah!"

I ask for the first page for a teaser. Wow! You really gave us one. I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.shoutlife.com/roxannerustand
http://www.roxannerustand.com/

Thank you, Roxanne, for spending this time with us. It's always interesting.

Readers, if you can't wait to get your hands on the book, here's a link where you can order it:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy. The only notification you will receive will be the winner announcement post on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave your comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Bonnie Leon - ENDURING LOVE - Free Book

Welcome back, Bonnie. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I’ve worked hard to get my books “out there” and my efforts have been rewarded. I hear from people all over the globe. My last two series have been published in Dutch and so I receive these lovely letters from Dutch readers. One came through written in Dutch so I wrote back explaining that I couldn’t speak or read the language. She graciously responded in English.

As with many writers I’m perpetually living a balancing act of family, writing, church, friends and everything else. Recently I’ve been feeling called by the Lord to reevaluate where I put my energy. I’m certain part of that process is sharpening my writing skills. I’m praying for better health and the funds to attend more conferences where I can soak in the teaching of others. Truly, the learning never ends.

I’ve always enjoyed teaching and speaking and I hope to do more of that. I love meeting people and when teaching at writing conferences it’s always exciting to see young writers grab hold of new concepts and move forward. I adore speaking to women’s groups. I believe the Lord’s given me something to say, and through the process He always has something to teach me.

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband and I will have been married thirty-eight years this August. We met when I was just seventeen. I was just a baby.

We have three adult children. Our son and his wife live in Central Oregon, our oldest daughter and her son, Gabe, live in Washington and our youngest daughter, her husband and three children are off on a new adventure. Her husband, Fernest, joined the army this year and in June they’ll be moving to their new post. We’re waiting with anticipation to find out where that will be.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Absolutely. I used to spend hours reading just for pleasure. Now adays, life is too full to read all the books I’d like, but I manage to work in pleasure reading nearly every day. I read more non-fiction than ever before, mostly because my stories require a lot of research. However, I thoroughly enjoy history and research feels like a treasure hunt.

A sad change is that I have difficulty reading without editing. Not until I’m well into a story do I set that aside. And I’m pickier about what books I read.

What are you working on right now?

I’m the midst of an Alaskan adventure, and I’m having a lot of fun. The story opens in 1935 with Kate who has long desired to work as a bush pilot in Alaska. The shadows of her past, however, push her to prove herself and that desire may cost her more than she imagined.

There is also Paul, who lives in the bush. He has a past, but no one knows what it is. He’s hiding from something and Kate’s determined to find out what.

The series is full of fun, adventure and drama.

I can hardly wait to feature that series. What outside interests do you have?

I have lots of interests, just not enough time to do them all. :-) I’m a family sort of gal so any time I can get out with my family it’s a good day. This spring I’ll be making a couple of special trips with my grandchildren, one to a science center and another one to a butterfly farm. And we’ll definitely get out and pick some of the stunning wildflowers that grow here in our forests.

I’m also determined to take some time with my husband to do some boating and fishing. I especially enjoy mountain lake fishing.

In my church, I oversee the women’s ministry. I’ve always had a heart for women so I stay involved teaching Bible studies and working with the women in my church and community.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I have no formula. The settings often find me. My first Alaska tales came from my heritage. My ancestors are Aleut and my mother grew up in Alaska.

Other story locations often come through research I’m doing. While researching one project I often discover a piece of history that entices me to take a closer look. The stories in Australia (six in all) came out of a request from my editor. I’m glad she asked because the country is extremely interesting and its people are top notch. I love their history. I’m truly sorry to say farewell to my Australian tales. Enduring Love is the last one scheduled. However, one never knows. There may yet be other stories to tell about that incredible place across the pond.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person who would it be and why?

This is a tough question. There are so many people I’d love to spend time with. I have a long list. However, if I have to choose just one, I guess it would be Corrie Ten Boom. She lived her faith in an amazing way. It astounds me how God can take one life, even a life that seems inconsequential, and use that person to change the world. With Corrie Ten Boom it happened because she trusted, believed and ultimately obeyed God’s call for her.

I love her story. Actually, God used part of her story to tell me to become a professional writer. What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I was an absolute babe when I stepped into the writing world. The first book I’d ever written sold to the first publishing house that looked at it. I was unprepared for what was to come, in every way. Still, doing my best to trust God, I stepped through the door He’d opened.

So, when you ask what I wish I’d known, my answer has to be everything, since I knew nothing. At the top of that list is how much work is involved—it’s a job. A writer has to plant themselves in front of their computer whether they want to or not. We can’t wait to feel inspired because there is a deadline waiting.

I was unprepared for the way the business works—the time schedule feels like waiting for a snail to make its way across town. And I had expected a more touchy-feely sort of business. Although I’ve met and worked with outstanding Christian people, the bottom line is this is a business—quality and numbers count.

Sorry that’s three answers.

That's okay. What new lesson is the Lord teaching you right now?

God is always teaching me something new. The difficulty is that I’m not always a quick learner. He often has to drag me along.

Recently I spoke at a women’s retreat. My topic was “Daring to Live Without Masks.” I looked forward to a weekend of fellowship, worship and teaching. And it was a great time. But God had more planned for me. He revealed a mask that I’ve been wearing. I had no idea. Now God and I are working on this together, and it has the possibility of changing my life dramatically.

As I walk through this lesson with the Lord, I’ll be sharing more about it on my blog at http://www.bonnieleon.com/. I will say that I’m hanging on for the ride of my life.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Only three?

If I’m speaking to Christian authors, number one is to spend time with God. He’s the author of our story. He is our inspiration. How can we step forward without Him?
Secondly, write from the heart. What is the story you want to tell? If you’re creating something that comes from within you the story will be genuine with real people who can touch lives and carry readers beyond the last page of your book.

And lastly, don’t forget to have fun and be thankful for the gift of writing. What a privilege it is.

Tell us about the featured book.

Enduring Love is book three in the Sydney Cove Series, which began in London in 1804 with book one, To Love Anew. Hannah Talbot and John Bradshaw were both imprisoned unfairly and then transported to New South Wales. The two met on a prison ship and both were living a life without hope. By the time we get to book three in the series, John and Hannah’s lives look ideal, and they are filled with optimism.

However, life often brings the unexpected. When John’s first wife, whom he believed to be deceased, shows up in Sydney Town all seems lost for the couple who has endured so much. John and Hannah’s faith is tested. Will their lives be destroyed by circumstances or will they trust in a God who is greater than all our troubles?

I love this story and think readers will too. I’m hoping it will have them on the edge of their seats as they try to figure out how even God can solve the terrible mess John and Hannah find themselves. Does He answer our prayers or create new hearts that desire His will above our own?

Please give us the first page of the book?

Love can overcome anything, thought Hannah Bradshaw as she stepped out of the modest theater and looked down the street toward the center of Sydney Town. It had only been three years since that terrible winter in 1804 when she’d first set foot in this community as a prisoner. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Sydney Town was growing up. The town bustled with activity. There were clothing shops, apothecaries, bakeries, a bank, and even a fine restaurant. A carriage moved past, its inhabitants hidden inside. Glancing up at her husband, Hannah thought, Life is perfect.

“What a splendid day,” John said. “Even if it is unseasonably cool for autumn.”

“I’m almost afraid to feel this happy.” Hannah rested a hand on his arm, liking the feel of his wool coat.

She leaned against him; thankfulness for his enduring devotion enveloped her in warmth. Although they’d begun their journey together under dire circumstances, they’d managed to find love and, together, had stood resiliently against the world’s storms.

He smiled down at her and Hannah felt her heart quicken—John still had
the power to take her breath away.

I can hardly wait to read the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

The best place to find me is at my website at http://www.bonnieleon.com/. I blog every week, keep readers up on my most recent books, and even have tips for new writers. Stop by and say hello.

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

Readers, if you can't wait to get your hands on the book, here's a link where you can order it:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Enduring Love. The announcement post on this blog will be the only notification. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, come to the blog to be included in the drawing:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Amberly & Brandilyn Collins - ALWAYS WATCHING - Free Book

I've been looking forward to the interview with this mother-daughter writing team. I've yet to meet Amberly, but Brandilyn is a friend.

God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Brandilyn: More Seatbelt Suspense® novels for me. Amberly and I also will be doing a third Rayne Tour series book, which will release in the spring of 2010. (The second book in our series, Last Breath, releases in September.)

Tell us a little about your family.

Brandilyn: My husband, Mark, and I have been married for 28 years. Amberly is the youngest. She has two brothers, both living in the area of Spokane, WA, near our Idaho home.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Amberly: Yes! I never read the end of the book first anymore! Haha. It's an author pet peeve of my mom’s, and now I understand why. It ruins the twists in a book—especially suspense—if you know what’s going to happen.

What are you working on right now?

Amberly: I’m plotting the third book in The Rayne Tour series. It's going to be a great ending to the series.

Brandilyn: I’m writing another adult Seatbelt Suspense® novel, which will release next year. After I’m done with that I’ll write the third Rayne Tour book that Amberly is now plotting.

What outside interests do you have?

Amberly: I'm currently in school to earn a degree in fashion merchandising, with a minor in marketing, so I'd say fashion is a big interest of mine. Also, I'm in a sorority, Alpha Phi and that takes up the rest of my time. And I have the cutest little puppy, a Yorkshire Terrier. His name is Bear.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Amberly: We started with San Jose, California for the first book, Always Watching, because that’s where Mom and I have attended concerts. Since it’s close to our California home, we were easily able to go and tour all the backstage areas in our research. (Mom had a broken ankle at the time and had to do the tour in a wheelchair. I pushed her around.) For the second book, Last Breath, we chose a large arena in Denver, because that would be a logical next stop for a touring group. The third one will be in southern California, where Shaley and Rayne—and all the band—live.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Brandilyn: It’s a lot harder to consistently write to deadline than I thought it would be. Truth is, having your first novel published is just the beginning, not the end. It’s not always an easy career, but it’s the one God called me to, so I’m very grateful.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Amberly: How to depend on Him during time of new adventures like releasing a YA series!

Brandilyn: He’s continually teaching me to trust Him more—in all circumstances. That’s an act of will, not emotion.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Brandilyn: 1. Keep working on your craft. Write, write, write. Attend conferences. Join writers’ groups and critique groups—whatever it take to help you learn your craft at a deeper level.

2. Read a lot. Read books in your genre especially. Learn from your reading—what works and what doesn’t work. And reading in general keeps you aware of what’s going on in the industry.

3. Most importantly, dedicate your writing to God—and allow Him to lead you in it.

Now, tell us about the featured book?

Always Watching is the first in the Rayne Tour series--young adult suspense featuring Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star. The series is targeted to readers around the ages of 12-16. We thought it would be exciting to write about a girl like Shaley. What is her life really like? For a girl who seems to have it all, what would her private struggles be? Then—what would happen if a murder suddenly turned her life upside down—with all the world watching?

From the back cover:

This daughter of a rock star has it all—until murder crashes her world.

During a concert, sixteen-year-old Shaley O’Connor stumbles upon the body of a friend backstage. Is Tom Hutchens' death connected to her?

Frightening messages arrive. Paparazzi stalkShaley. Her private nightmare is displayed for all to see. Where is God at times like this?

As the clock runs out, Shaley must find Tom's killer—before he strikes again...

Here is a link to the trailer for the book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hooLmPRoz0

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue
It’s not my fault I have to kill.

He’d been watching since the tour began. Eyes straight ahead, keeping cool, like he wasn’t even paying attention. But he noticed everything. Even got a sense for what was happening behind his back. His past life had taught him how to do that—out of necessity. When it was something bad, he felt a vibration in the air, pulling up the hair on his arms. And he’d know. He’d just know.

Sometimes he acted behind the scenes. Nothing that would be noticed. Just ended up in a certain place at a certain time—a presence that kept the wrong thing from happening. Other times he’d say what needed to be heard. Real casual, not sounding like a threat at all. No, he was just talking, shooting the breeze about some previous experience. But beneath the words there’d be a point: don’t cross me or mine.

Sometimes people were too dumb to get it. He’d give them every chance, trying to be the nice guy. Trying to do it the easy way. But no. Those kinds of people had stubborn minds and black hearts. Couldn’t be trusted. They were headed for a fall and about to take some good people with them. His people.

That’s what it had come to now.

“Hey, can I see you a sec before you go?” He motioned, and the one who must die came, humming.

Humming.

Like a lamb to slaughter.-------------------------------

Read the first chapter, which introduces Shaley, here.

You have me hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Brandilyn: Web site
Facebook
Twitter

Amberly: Rayne Tour fan group on Facebook

Teens 13-18—enter our Live Like a Rock Star sweepstakes! Grand prize is an $850 night on the town, including dinner for six at a restaurant of your choice and limo service. Enter here.

A very interesting interview. Too bad I'm more than 18 years old. Thank you, Amberly and Brandilyn for spending this time with us.

Readers, if you can't wait to get your hands on this first book, here's a link where you can order it:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Your only notification about winning will be the announcement post on this blog. So be sure to check back on Saturday in two weeks to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, go to this blog to leave a comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

Winners!!!!

Fran is the winner of Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina, by Tamela Hancock Murray.

Judy is the winner of Peachtree Dreams by Debby Mayne.

Renee is the winner of Chasing Charity by Marcia Gruver. I just posted a review of this book in my May newsletter on my newsletter blog: http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com .

Eileen Key is the winner of Inside Story by Susan Page Davis.

You winners need to email me your mailing address so we can get the books on their way to you. It will help me if you put the title of the book you won in your post. You can find a link to my email after you click the View Complete Profile in the right hand column.