Wednesday, September 30, 2009

LOVE FINDS YOU IN BETHLEHEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE - Lauralee Bliss - Free Book

I know many of you are collecting all the Love Finds You books, so here's another one to add to your collection.

Welcome, Lauralee. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

Each book is different in regards to a theme. I like to write an entertaining book that ministers to the heart. In each of my books I write a spiritual lesson that Christian readers can take away – from forgiveness, to being a servant, to finding hope and purpose in time of greatest need.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I have a three book contemporary romance series set in the beautiful state of Utah coming in 2010 by Heartsong Presents, Barbour Publishing. The first book, “Love’s Winding Path” is based on the biblical story of the Prodigal Son.

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

I would like to spend time with Sarah Palin. What an incredible Christian woman who is living in an incredible state and with her own fascinating journey as a wife, mother, grandmother, and political figure. I believe she is a true inspiration to all women seeking to embrace the call on their lives to go greater with God. I hope she writes a book!

Funny you should say that. Her memoir is releasing in November. How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Since I was fourteen when I wrote creative pieces for my English teachers. They were supportive of my early endeavors, and I owe a lot to them for putting me on the path I’m walking today.

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

Rejection is a tough but a necessary road in the journey of a writer's life. I mean, we can’t have everything accepted. But when it seems like nothing is happening and the doors are closing everywhere, that's when faith must take over. You need to give your writing and its results to God and allow Him to open the doors when the timing is right. And one never knows when that will be. It is our job to make the most of the talent He has given us. One waters, another plants, but it is God that causes the growth.

Tell us about the featured book?

Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, is what one reader calls - a "twist" on the mail order bride story, sort of like the mail order bride meets up with My Fair Lady. In it there’s an uneducated and penniless orphan whose well meaning friend answers an ad for a bride, and the unsuspecting suitor who has no idea what to make of the woman who arrives at the train station. Even if he feels he cannot marry her, he will provide for her. But both are in for a surprise and a change of heart and attitude - thus leading to the idea of the first Bethlehem - that the most precious gifts don’t always come as they're expected.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

“I don’t know if I can make it!” cried a young voice.

The paintbrush shook in his hand, creating a zigzag of azure across the canvas. Tom Haskins tried to set the brush on the easel but it fell, coloring the blades of grass a murky blue. Nearby, a young couple stumbled out of the woods. The man supported a finely dressed lady who limped along, wincing in pain.

“What happened?” Tom called, hurrying to assist them.

“It was silly of me,” the young woman moaned. “You know the many rocks here. I was looking at a flower and didn’t see where I was going. I tripped.”

“My wife hurt her ankle,” the man continued. “I don’t think it’s broken. It’s all right, my love,” he now said to her in a soothing voice. “We’ll take you right away to the doctor and have it examined. I’m sure in a day or two you’ll be fine.”

“Oh, I hope so. I’d hate to ruin our holiday over such a foolish thing as this. You deserve it after all the hard work you put into the company.”

“Never fear, my dear. My carriage is there,” he said to Tom, pointing to the coach Tom had seen when he arrived to this fine wooded setting, not far from the town of Bethlehem.

What an interesting start for the story. I want to turn the page. How can readers find you on the Internet?

On my web site at http://www.lauraleebliss.com/
my blog, http://www.blissfulwritingthoughts.blogspot.com/
or look me up on Facebook – I’d love to be friends!
http://www.facebook.com/lauralee.bliss

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

LAST BREATH - Brandilyn & Amberly Collins - Free Book

Along with many teenagers and older readers, I've been anxiously awaiting the release of the second book in The Rayne Tour Series. Now it's here. Today, we're talking to the mother/daughter writing team.

Brandilyn, it was wonderful to see you at the ACFW national conference in Denver. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

You know, when I write my suspense novels I don’t even have a spiritual theme in mind. I set out to write a good suspense story, and through the dangers and characters, the faith element arises. In this way the faith thread becomes a natural and integral part of the story.

Amberly, what other books of yours are coming out soon?

Book three of the Rayne Tour series (not yet titled) is going to be quite a whirlwind. The story will pick up a year or so after Last Breath ends, with Shaley pulled into immediate and terrible danger. That’s about all I want to say regarding the plot now. We can promise you that the series will end with a bang. Book three will release in the spring of 2010.

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

Brandilyn: I made the decision to pursue learning how to write fiction in 1989, just after Amberly was born. Ironic, huh. Who knew we’d one day be writing together?

Amberly: I never really thought about writing fiction until the chance for creating the Rayne Tour series was presented to us. It’s been a wonderful opportunity. I don’t think being a full-time novelist is in my future, however.

Brandilyn, what can you tell authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Keep at it. That’s all you can do. Keep studying the craft. Read, read, read, write, write, write. I went through 10 years of rejections before I sold my first novel.

And I thought my eight years was a long time. Now Amberly, tell us about the featured book?

Last Breath picks up immediately where Always Watching leaves off. If you haven’t read Always Watching yet—read that one first! Don’t even read the first page excerpt for Last Breath below. You don’t want to miss the excitement and twists in Always Watching.

In Last Breath Shaley faces a burning question, and she’s determined to get answers. But when Shaley tries to seek out the truth, it may not be the truth she’s hoping to hear. Meanwhile new danger arises. Havoc wreaks in Shaley’s once again.

I really like this story. Maybe even better than Always Watching. I know readers of Always Watching are going to like it too.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Your father sent me.

The last words of a dying man, whispered in my ear.
Were they true? What did they mean?
Guitars blasted the last chord of Rayne’s hit song, "Ever Alone," as Mom’s voice echoed through the Pepsi Center in Denver. The heavy drum beat thumped in my chest. With a final smash of cymbals, the rock song ended. Multicolored laser lights swept the stadium. Time for intermission.
Wild shrieks from thousands of fans rang in my ears.

I rose from my chair backstage. Tiredly, I smiled at the famous Rayne O’Connor as she strode toward me on high red heels. In the lights her sequined top shimmered and her blonde hair shone. She walked like a rock star—until she stepped from her fans’ sight. Then her posture slumped. Mom’s intense blue eyes usually glimmered with the excitement of performing, but now I saw only sadness and exhaustion. How she’d managed to perform tonight, I’d never know. Except that she’s strong. A real fighter.
Me? I had to keep fighting too, even if my legs still trembled and I’d probably have nightmares for weeks.

Your father sent me.
I had to find out what those words meant.

“You’re a very brave young lady,” a Denver detective had told me just a few hours ago. I didn’t feel brave then or now.

Yes, I have to read that book! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Amberly: Join our Rayne Tour group on Facebook! Here’s the link. My personal page on Facebook is here.

Brandilyn: Please visit my Web site to read about all my books, including the first chapters. I’m also on Facebook. And Twitter. My “Fans of Brandilyn Collins” group page is here.
Thank you, Brandilyn and Amberly, for sharing this new book with us.
Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

TWO BRIDES TOO MANY - Mona Hodgson - Free Book

I'm thrilled to be featuring Mona right now. Her historical novel will release in Walmart in October. I was privileged to read it for endorsement. You will love this story. Welcome, Mona. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Oh. I think I give away pieces of myself to each character—male or female, young or old. Mostly, an intuitive act in the process. Personality traits. Experiences. Interests. Frustrations and joys. Struggles and triumphs. Family and relationship dynamics. Certainly, lessons being learned on my spiritual journey.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Well, I’ve ridden a camel, fed a giraffe food from between my lips, and I petted a crocodile. I went for a helicopter ride for my 50th and a flight over Sedona in a bi-plane for my 55th.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I accepted the possibility in November 1987 when I received an envelope from The Secret Place (a quarterly devotional publication) the day before Thanksgiving. Inside, my first rejection letters along with my first acceptances.

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

Children’s books are a big favorite—picture books, poetry, and middle grade fiction, mostly. Novels for adults—historical (mostly 1700s and 1800s) and contemporary, romance, mysteries, and westerns. A good story for any age pulls me in.

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

I’ve had 28 children’s books published, including Real Girls of the Bible: A Devotional (Zonderkidz), Bedtime in the Southwest (Rising Moon Books), and The Princess Twins Series (Zonderkidz I Can Read).

I’m currently writing Too Rich for a Bride, Book Two in the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series.

I can hardly wait for that one. Please contact me, so we can feature it near its release, too. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Bubble baths and smacking the ball in a heated match on the Wii tennis game.

I've done Wii bowling, but I haven't tried tennis. We don't have the game at our house. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Usually from a list of names I’ve collected. Those names can come from badges on waitress or store clerks. They can be the names of newscasters or musicians. Sometimes I use the names of people I know or names from my family history. In other cases, I look at lists of names from particular time periods or countries.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Professionally? The writing of this book—Too Rich for a Bride. It is my first completed novel, and I wrote it from concept to draft, including the research.

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

A roadrunner. I tend to move too fast at times. I’m a wistful wanderer every chance I get. And I’m a curious explorer, keeping an eye out for the next lizard . . . i.e. story to chew on.

What is your favorite food?

A carne asada taco with avocado, lime, and cilantro in a fresh corn tortilla. Or a spinach enchilada with green sauce.

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

Perfectionism. Fear of not getting it right. Having a two-month deadline and a two-book contract worked wonders.

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

Remember that writing, being a writer, and publishing is a process, and persevere.

Yes, it's all about the process. Tell us about the featured book?

Two sisters arrive in an 1896 mining camp expecting marriage, but finding love.

Cripple Creek is a booming gold mining town nestled in a saddle valley near the base of Pike's Peak on the front range of Colorado. At an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet and just below timberline, the city’s history is one of ups and downs with fires, disease, and labor wars. Two Brides Too Many is the 1896 story of Kat Sinclair and Nell Sinclair, two of four sisters who make their way to Cripple Creek from Maine to find love and God’s design for their lives.

Please give us the first page of the book.

1895, Portland, Maine

“I have you cornered.”

Kat looked up from the writing desk to the table, where Nell was grinning. Nell’s match with Ida had been particularly animated on this Sunday afternoon. Both were fiercely competitive, and Kat knew better than to challenge either one of them at checkers, or most any game.

Ida perched on a cushioned chair, face to face with Nell. The oldest of the four Sinclair sisters wasn’t accustomed to losing, and it showed in Ida’s furrowed brow. She stared at the board, but the pattern of the red and black disks didn’t change. When she finally made a move, Nell snatched the red game piece off the board, her blue eyes sparkling.

“That’s five out of seven, Ida.” Vivian, the youngest at sixteen, called the tournament from the sofa where she lounged with Sassy, her Siamese cat.

“You’ve been dethroned, sis.” Kat closed her journal. “We have a new Sinclair Checkers Champion.”

While Ida lifted an imaginary crown off her head, Nell stood and smoothed her skirt. Ida placed the invisible trophy atop Nell’s wheat-blond twist. “I present the new queen of checkers.” Ida bowed. All four of the sisters giggled.

Kat picked up her journal and walked to the window. Fabric ties held tartan curtains open, framing the idyllic outdoor scene. Crimson and golden leaves adorned the maples and oaks outside, and a couple of squirrels frolicked while a handful of leaves twisted and twirled above them like autumn acrobats.

Acrobats in fall colors

Twist and twirl . . .

Kat hurried back to the writing desk and recorded the words in her journal, her pencil flying over the page. Sunday was the most inspiring day of the week. The Sabbath’s time of rest and reflection always left her refreshed and full of new ideas.

Nell cleared her throat. “I don’t suppose you’re writing about my victory for the Portland Press Herald.”

“A recounting of your conquest, as great as it was, isn’t Kat’s cup of tea.” Vivian laughed. The name Sassy fit Vivian as well as it did her cat.

“Now if Nell were the writer in the family, we’d all be reading a most romantic love story,” Ida said, returning the checkerboard to the bookcase.

“I believe in love.” Nell shrugged. “Is that so bad?”

“Believing in love is not at all bad, Poppet.” Father’s warm voice drew their attention to the doorway. He wore a herringbone suit, his auburn mustache and beard neatly trimmed. He leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest.

“We have a new checkers champion, Father.” Nell raised her hands to her head and formed a crown. “Me.”

“And such a humble winner.” A weak smile turned up one side of Father’s mouth, and an uneasiness began to niggle Kat’s stomach. Something wasn’t right.

I hope that hooked other readers as it did me the first time I read the words. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.monahodgson.com/
www.twitter.com/monahodgson
www.facebook.com/mona.hodgson
www.plaxo.com/monahodgson
www.linkedin.com/monahodgson

To receive my quarterly e-update, email me at mona@monahodgson.com with Mona’s Update in the subject line.

Mona, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, check in your local Walmart in October to get a copy of this book

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Last September Winners

Erin (ellybean) is the winner of A Widow's Hope by Mary Ellis.

Lady Araujo is the winner of Rebecca's Promise by Jerry S. Eicher.

Christy--Southern Sassy Girl is the winner of Rebecca's Return by Jerry S. Eicher.

Katherine (kefarley89) is the winner of Look to the East by Maureen Lang.

All winners must send me their mailing address so their book can be sent to them. Click on View My Complete Profile and use the link to my email or go to www.lenanelsondooley.com and click on Contact Me.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS - Allie Pleiter - Free Book

I'm pleased to feature Allie on the blog again. Here's her bio:

An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools, and finding new ways to avoid housework. She grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University, spent fifteen years in the field of professional fundraising, and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The “dare from a friend” to begin writing nine years ago has given rise to a career spanning two parenting books, eight novels including the multi-nominated MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing.

Welcome, Allie. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I’m in talks for a new series of linked historicals and contemporaries for Steeple Hill. I love both formats, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of pulling them together into one sweeping multi-generational series. I can’t say much more than that--and that I’m very excited!

Tell us a little about your family.
They put up with more than most families, that’s for sure. I’m afraid being a writer only exaggerates all my goofy tendencies. And we will not discuss how much yarn is all over my house--I’m an obsessive knitter. I’m in the midst of raising teenagers, so life is never, ever boring. My husband is a car guy, and has the patience of a saint.

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

I’m a very impressionable reader, so I have to be careful what I read. I don’t read historicals when I’m writing historicals, although I’ve learned that audiobooks can be useful because they put the musicality of the language into my head. I read very widely--non-fiction, fiction, historical, contemporary, all sorts. It’s much harder to read for pleasure when you write for work...I still love to read, but it’s not the “getaway” it is for me that it is for other people.
What are you working on right now?

I’m finishing up the novella, Bluegrass Easter, that will be in Easter Promises released from Steeple Hill in March 2010. Then I’ve got to polish up the historical/contemporary proposal and get right back into final re-writes for the sequel to Masked by Moonlight, called The Midnight Messenger, which comes out later next year.

What outside interests do you have?

Many people know me as much for my knitting as for my writing. That’s my passion off the page, definitely. Well, and cupcakes. And chocolate. And coffee.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I choose a city I want to get to know. It’s an important part of my process to spend time in the city where my books are set. It’s part of the fun for me. So I choose a location that calls to me somehow. Right now, it’s Charleston, South Carolina, that’s calling my name--the perfect escape from Chicago’s challenging winters, don’t you think?

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

Right now, it’d have to be the World War I dirigible pilot that I’m researching for my book. I’d have a ton of questions to ask him!

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

I’m glad I didn’t know much--I’d never have pushed forward if I’d known all that was waiting for me. I suppose, then, that I’d say I wished I’d known that many of the frustrating things about writing don’t go away with success or publication. You never, ever “arrive.”
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

I’m at a place where I can only see a small bit ahead. There’s a lot of unknowns in my future, and I’m the kind of person who wants a detailed plan (but I’m a “pantser”--I never plot!--go figure). So the lesson for me is trust. And faith.

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

Write. Nothing beats it. Nothing replaces it. Nothing happens if you try to get around it.
Gather friends who write. This business has the oddest of challenges and you need folks around you who understand the idiosyncrasies.
On the other hand, don’t live all your life on the page. Make sure your real life is as rich and compelling as the tales you tell. I always tell writers “your books will not come and visit you in the nursing home.”

Tell us about the featured book.

Bluegrass Christmas was great fun to write. Middleburg and its quirky inhabitants make funny material for a holiday episode. Mac MacCarthy isn’t expecting to find the love of his life living over his office. And Mary Thorpe isn’t getting anything close to the “perfect small town Christmas” she was seeking. Like all good love stories, they make each other miserable before they make each other happy, but there are lots of good laughs along the way.
Back Cover Copy:
BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS
#4 In the KENTUCKY CORNERS Series
ISBN 13# 978-0-373-87556-6
An Old Fashioned Christmas...
That’s what led new believer Mary Thorpe to start over in quaint Middleburg, Kentucky. As director of the church’s Christmas pageant, Mary’s job is to bring the townspeople together, to remind them what the season is really about. But everyone is all riled up over one very handsome man: the man daring to run against Middleburg’s popular long-standing mayor. Mac MacCarthy wants change. Mary wants things to stay as they are. Is there a happy medium? Both Mac and Mary are in for one very big Christmas surprise.
How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.alliepleiter.com/, and if you are a knitter, my knitting blog is http://destiknitions.blogspot.com/. Come visit!
Thank you, Allie, for spending this time with us. I love to knit, too. I talked to Camy and another author at conference about knitting Victorian lace. I'm just going to have to get started on that. I've ordered the book.
Readers, here's a link where you can order Bluegrass Christmas:
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

ACFW Conference in Denver Last Weekend

At conference last weekend, I headed downstairs from the mezzanine where I had been taking paid critique appointments. I meant to say, "I'm going to my room to decompress."

Unfortunately, it came out, "I'm going to my room to decompose."

I've been doing a lot of decompressing the last two days. Trying to get into the groove of writing again. All day Monday was spent on laundry and dealing with 500+ emails. Then yesterday, I was back writing my contracted book for Summerside Press.

I've attended every ACFW conference, even the two Texas regional ones before we started the national conferences. This one was the best one yet. Someone reminded me that was what I said every year. And it's been true each year.

The conferences keep getting better and better. I loved the hotel, and the staff was exceptional in both serving us and expressing special care.

I'm really looking forward to going to national next year in Indianapolis. I've already started saving the money for the trip.
Here are a few pictures:

I attended the advances Continuing Education section with Allen Arnold and Karen Ball. Gail Sattler shot this picture of me when I was answering a question.


Then on Friday night, Ted Dekker came to the hotel to hang out in the lobby. He recently joined ACFW, but not soon enough to sign up for the conference. I'd featured him on this blog, so I was glad he was still hanging out when my Barbour author's party was over.

On the night of the Awards Banquet, I hung out with a lot of my friends. The only pictures I have downloaded right now are the ones of me with my friends agent Tamela Hancock Murray and Angie Briedenbach (who is also Mrs. Montana).
Then when we left the hotel on Sunday, my roommate, Marilyn Eudaly, and our friends Anne Greene and Margo Carmichael had a real treat. Marilyn's neice Carol, the one on the right side of the picture, took us to Golden, Colorado, which is a suburb of Denver in the foothills of the Rockies. We ate in this Inn and enjoyed the trip that gave us more sights to see before going to the airport.
Carol's husband, oldest daughter, and granddaughter joined us for the meal. Thank you, carol for the special treat.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

THE SOUND OF SLEIGH BELLS - Cindy Woodsmall - Free Book

Today, we're doing something different. I've featured Cindy on this blog several times and love her books. For her newest release, a Christmas book, instead of an interview, I'm giving you the first chapter.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

The aroma of fresh-baked bread, shepherd’s pie, and steamed vegetables filled Lizzy’s house, mingling with the sweet smell of baked desserts. In the hearth a bank of embers kept a small fire burning, removing the nip that clung to the early-April air.
The noise of conversations rose and fell around Lizzy’s kitchen table as her brother and his large family talked easily throughout the meal. His grown and almost-grown children filled the sides of her fourteen-foot table, and his grandchildren either sat in their mothers’ laps or in highchairs.

Nearly four decades ago her oldest brother had put effort into finding an Amish bride. When Stephen found the right girl, he married her. He’d handled life well, and the fruit of it fed her soul. Lizzy had focused on her business and never married. She didn’t regret her choices, not for herself, but she’d crawl on her hands and knees the rest of her days to keep her niece from the same fate.
Beth was like a daughter to Lizzy. Not long after the family’s dry goods store passed to Lizzy, Beth graduated from the eighth grade and started working beside her. Soon she moved in with Lizzy, and they shared the one-bedroom apartment above the shop. When Lizzy had this house built a few years ago, her niece had stayed above Hertzlers’ Dry Goods.
Lizzy studied the young beauty as she answered her family’s endless questions about her decisions in the middleman role between the Amish who made goods and the various Englischer stores who wanted those goods.
That was her Beth. Answer what was asked. Do what was right. Always be polite. Offer to help before it was needed. And never let anyone see the grief that hadn’t yet let go of her. Beth had banned even Lizzy from looking into the heartache that held her hostage.

The one-year anniversary of Henry’s death had come and gone without any sign from Beth that she might lay aside her mourning, so Lizzy had taken action. She’d prepared this huge meal and planned a social for the afternoon. Maybe all Beth needed was a loving, gentle nudge. If not,
Lizzy had a backup plan—one Beth would not appreciate.

Over the din of conversations, the sounds of horses and buggies arriving and the voices of young people drifted through the kitchen window, causing Beth to look at her.
Lizzy placed her forearms on the table. “I’ve invited the young singles of the community for an evening of outdoor games, desserts, and a bonfire when the sun goes down.”
Two of Beth’s single younger sisters, Fannie and Susie, glowed at the idea. With grace and gentleness, Beth turned to her Mamm and asked if she would need help planting this year’s garden.
It didn’t seem to bother Beth that five of her sisters had married before her, and three of them were younger than she was. All but the most recently wed had children. Lizzy knew what awaited Beth if she didn’t find someone—awkward and never-ending loneliness. Maybe she didn’t recognize that. It wasn’t until Henry came into Beth’s life that she even seemed to notice that single men existed. Within a year of meeting, they were making plans to marry.

Now, in an Amish community of dresses in rich, solid hues, Beth wore black.

Through a window Lizzy saw the young men bring their rigs to a halt. The drivers as well as the passengers got out of the carriages. The girls soon huddled in groups, talking feverishly, while the guys went into the barn, pulled two wagons with plenty of hay into the field, and tied their horses to them. It was far easier to leave the animals harnessed and grazing on hay than to have to hitch a horse to its buggy in the dark. The young people knew the routine. They would remain outside playing volleyball, horseshoes, or whatever else suited them until after the sun went down. Then they’d come inside for desserts and hot chocolate or coffee before riding in wagons to the field where they’d start a bonfire.
Fannie and Susie rose and began clearing the table. Beth went to the dessert counter and picked out a pie. She set it on the table beside her Daed, cut a slice, and placed it on his plate. Then she slid a piece onto her Mamm’s plate before passing the pie to her brother Emmanuel. She took her seat next to her mother, still chatting about the upcoming spring planting. Lizzy hoped her brother saw what she did—a daughter who continued to shun all possibility of finding new love. Beth clung to the past as if she might wake one day to find her burning desires had changed it.
Fannie began gathering glasses that still held trace amounts of lemonade. “You’ve got to join us this time, Bethie. It’s been too long.”
Flatware stopped clinking against the plates as all eyes turned to Beth.

Susie tugged on her sleeve. “Please. Everyone misses you.”
Beth poked at the meal she’d barely touched as if she might scoop a forkful of the cold food and eat it. “Not this time. Denki.”
“See, Beth,” Lizzy said. “Every person here knows you should be out socializing again. Everyone except you.”
Beth’s face grew taut, and she stood and removed the small stack of plates from Fannie’s hands. “Go on. I’ll do these.”
Fannie glanced to her Daed.

He nodded. “Why don’t you all finish up and go on out? Emmanuel and Ira, do you mind helping set up the volleyball nets?”
Emmanuel wiped his mouth on a cloth napkin. “We can do that.”
Chairs screeched against the wood floor as most of the brood stood. Fannie and Susie bolted for the door. Two more of Beth’s sisters and two sisters-in-law went to the sink, taking turns rinsing the hands and faces of their little ones before they all went outside.
Lizzy longed to see Beth in colored dresses, wearing a smile that radiated from her soul. Instead Beth pasted on smiles, fooling most of those around her into thinking her heart continued to mend. But her quieter, more stoic behavior said things no one else seemed to hear. Lizzy heard, and she’d shared her concerns with Beth’s Daed, Stephen.
Beth took a stack of dishes to the sink and flicked on the water. “You can leave that for now,” Stephen said.
She turned off the water and remained with her back to them.
Beth’s Mamm glanced at Lizzy as she ran her finger down a tall glass of lemonade. “Beth, honey—”
Beth turned. “I’m fine, Mamm.”
Stephen got up and piled more plates together. “Of course you are. And I’ll throw my favorite pie at anyone who says otherwise.” He stuck his finger into his half-eaten piece of chocolate pie, placed it in his mouth, and winked at Beth.
She smiled, an expression that probably looked real to her Daed but reminded Lizzy of fine silk flowers—only beautiful to those who aren’t gardeners.
“Beth, sweetheart,” Stephen said, “you know how me and your Mamm feel. We love you. It’s no secret that you’re different from our other girls. You’ve always had more of a head for business than a heart to find a beau, but now…well, we just want to make sure you’re doing okay. Since you don’t live with us, that’s a bit hard to know sometimes.” He set the dirty dishes beside the already full sink before he rinsed his hands and dried them. “Officially, your period of mourning was over nearly six months ago, but you haven’t joined the young people for a single event. You’ve not left the store for your usual buying trips. You eat half of what you should. You continue to wear black. And those are things a stranger would notice.”
“I…I could plan a buying-and-selling trip. It’ll take me most of the summer to get completely organized for it, but I can be ready by August. I know I should have sooner, but…”
Lizzy hoped Stephen didn’t fall for the diversion tactic Beth had just thrown his way, but since Beth was listening to him without getting defensive, Lizzy wouldn’t interfere.
“Good. If that’s where you feel like beginning, I’m glad to hear it. I know the community will be too, because without you they can’t sell near as many of their goods.” He walked to the table, took a seat, and motioned for Beth.
She moved to the chair beside him.
“But other people’s financial needs are not what this is about. Tell me something good and hopeful about you—something I’ll know in my gut is true—and I’ll end this conversation right now.”
The four of them remained silent as shouts and roars of laughter echoed from outside. If anyone could touch Beth’s heart and cause her to change, her Daed could. But the silence continued, and Beth’s inability to think of anything hopeful to say made Lizzy sick with worry.

The grandfather clock chimed the half hour, startling Lizzy, but no one spoke. Long shadows filled the room, and she lit a kerosene lamp and set it in the middle of the table.
Whatever happened the night Henry died consumed Beth. When Lizzy arrived on the scene, her niece didn’t even acknowledge her. The only words Beth spoke were the ones she whispered for days—God, forgive me. Lizzy had tried to talk to her about it, but Beth never broke her polite silence on the topic.
Beth’s Daed cleared his throat. “I’ll wait all night for an answer if I need to, Beth.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but it was another five minutes before she uttered a word. “I don’t trust my feelings about…certain things anymore, Daed.”
“Then can you trust mine?” her Daed asked.
“Always, but I don’t want to be one of the single girls looking for a husband. Not ever again. Is that such a horrible thing?”

“It’s not what we’d figured on, but we can adjust.”
Lizzy repositioned her glass of lemonade. During church the singles sat separately from the married couples. Lizzy’s memory of growing too old for the singles and removing herself from them still stung. From that day on she’d carried the title of alt Maedel—old maid. She’d been older than Beth’s twenty-six years, and her prospects of finding someone had faded into nothingness. If Beth thought navigating life after Henry was difficult, Lizzy dreaded the pain that lay ahead for Beth when she openly admitted to the Amish world that she didn’t fit—not with the single folk and not with the married ones.
Stephen had yet to mention anything about the color of mourning Beth still wore. If she would wear something besides black, young men would gravitate to her, and she stood a chance of finding someone.
He covered Beth’s hand with his and bowed his head, silently praying for her. He lifted his head. “There’s somewhere you’d like to be tonight other than washing dishes or working in that stuffy office in the store. Am I right?”
“Ya.”
“Then go.”
Beth kissed her Daed’s cheek, told Her Mamm and Lizzy she’d see them later, and left.
Lizzy moved to the window and watched as her niece walked past small groups of young people. She overheard both women and men asking Beth to stay. Beth shook her head, smiled, and waved before making her way across the road and into the pasture near their store.
“You said nothing that will nudge her to change how she’s handling life,” Lizzy said.
Stephen placed his hands on her shoulders. “Henry’s death is the hardest thing this family has faced. Pressuring Beth isn’t the answer. Trusting God is.”
Lizzy stood in silence as Beth harnessed her mare to a carriage. She knew where Beth was going.
The cemetery.
Again. And again. And again.
“Please, dear God, move a mountain for her.”
Stephen squeezed her shoulders. “Amen.”
© Material Excerpted from The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall, Copyright © 2009 by Cindy Woodsmall. Excerpted by permission of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Thank you, Cindy, for sharing this with us. I can hardly wait to read more about Beth. I will be reading and reviewing Christmas books in October and November.
Readers, you can find out more about Cindy at her web site: www.cindywoodsmall.com
Here's a link where you can order The Sound of Sleigh Bells:
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

HEARTS IN THE CROSSHAIRS - Susan Page Davis - Free book

** cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises, Limited. All rights reserved.
Welcome back, Susan. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

It just came to me one day, as ideas often do. Perhaps it was a combination of things I’d heard or read in the news, or seeing the state Capitol building again. All of a sudden, I knew I wanted to give Maine a female governor—something the state has never had. And she would be fighting for her life.

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

Dee Henderson, Susan Meissner, Terri Blackstock, Angela Hunt, Linda Nichols, and Margaret Daley. That sounds like a pretty good mix to me, and they’re all people I’d love to brainstorm with.

I'd like to hide in the corner and listen. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Ooh, another party! DiAnn Mills, Darlene Franklin, Tracie Peterson, Robin Lee Hatcher, Vickie McDonough, and you. I would love to sit down with this group and talk shop!

Thank you for including me. That would be one I'd like to attend. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Right now, it’s having time to develop good, strong proposals.

I know what you mean about that. Tell us about the featured book.
Hearts in the Crosshairs is suspense all the way. I spent a lot of time skulking around the Maine State Capitol while writing this, and calling people I would never have the nerve to approach in person. Here’s the blurb for the book:

She came for her inaugural address—and found herself dodging bullets instead. Newly elected Maine governor Jillian Goff doesn’t know why someone wants to kill her. But she knows they came close. Too close. Enter Dave Hutchins. A member of the state’s Executive Protection Unit, Dave’s mission is to protect the governor and find the would-be assassin—without getting emotionally involved. Yet the more time Dave spends with Jillian, the less he can imagine ever leaving her side. Not with her life—and his heart—caught in the crosshairs.

Bring it on. I can hardly wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Visit me at my Web site: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/. I’d love to see you there.
Thank you, Susan for spending this time with us.
Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

More!!! Book!!! Winners!!!

Linda (desertrose5173) is the winner of Kathryn's Fountain by David J. Claasen.

Host is the winner of The Rose Conspiracy by Craig Parshall.

Rose McCauley is the winner of One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson.

Lynn McCallum is the winner of Surrender the Wind by Rita Gerlach.

All winners must send me their mailing address so their book can be sent to them. Click on View My Complete Profile and use the link to my email or go to www.lenanelsondooley.com and click on Contact Me.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Two Hardback Large-Print Editions - Lena Nelson Dooley





For the first time, I've had two of my books go to Thorndike, large-print, hardback editions. I only received two copies of the book, so there won't be a giveaway for this one. However, if you or someone you know needs large print books, you might be interested in these two. They are available at the Thorndike Press web site and on Amazon. Also, many libraries buy these books. So if your library doesn't have them, you could ask the library to stock them. I'd appreciate it.





The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner

The Cactus Corner singles scene is shrinking. . . . Many were unmarried by choice, others by circumstances, but single women living the 1800s carried the unfortunate label of “spinsters.” Once branded, can a spinster find love?

India Cunningham is happy running the ranch her father left her when a man she doesn’t remember from her childhood arrives to help her. Can she trust Joshua Dillinger, or is he there to steal her land?

Lawyer Anika Windsor is pitted against her first and only love, law school beau Tucker Truesdale. Can these two opposites find true and lasting love, or will their differences keep them apart forever?

Elaine Daly has dedicated her life to caring for orphaned children and has no desire for a husband. But when new doctor Dan Murray comes to town, he changes her world. Can he also change her heart?

Jody McMillan is determined to raise enough money to buy a vacant property to expand the overcrowded orphanage. Unknown to her, Aaron Garrett has already bought the lot. Can they come to an agreement? Or will both lose what they want, including the one they love?

Can You Help Me? and Caught Red-Handed

When Valerie Bradford asks a Home & Hearth employee for assistance, she doesn’t guess that she will get more than she bargained for. Austin Hodges can’t believe what the feisty blond woman plans to accomplish by herself. Because of his profession, he knows how much help she needs, but for right now, his advice will have to do. Can God lead them through the misunderstandings they encounter toward a bright future together?

Gary Andrews works security at the H&H when Janice Jones begins working in the flowers and plants department. Soon her activities become suspect. He can have her arrested or try to save her from a life of crime when personal feelings and moral responsibility become entangled.

This Carolina superstore is buzzing with romance, but will love find a firm foundation to build upon?
Readers, thank you for stopping by. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of either of these books, here are links where you can order them.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

LOOK TO THE EAST - Maureen Lang - Free Book

It's a great pleasure to welcome Maureen back to my blog. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

This is one of the most exciting aspects of Christian fiction—the spiritual layer that can be represented subtly or overtly, symbolically or blatantly. The theme in Look To The East is misplaced faith—how people can put their faith in the wrong thing, like themselves, or another person, or even in a group of people. In previous books, as in My Sister Dilly, I wrote about God’s unconditional forgiveness, and in The Oak Leaves my characters learned to trust God even when everything else in their lives seemed to fall apart. I have an upcoming book (Book Two in my Great War series, still untitled at the moment) where the hero’s faith has become elusive, impossible to hold on to. Unfortunately, it’s usually challenge, heartache and conflict that bring us closer to God, and it’s no exception for my characters.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I wish I could tell you the title, but as of right now Book Two in my Great War series is untitled. Being “Book Two” is just a technicality, by the way. The fact is, each book will stand alone, with characters only loosely related. I’ve just turned this second book in and had a blast writing it—or should I say rewriting it, since it’s actually an updated version of a story idea I had several years ago. I’ve always loved this story and its characters, but when I first wrote it, it was not only too long, it didn’t easily fit into a specific genre. It straddles the fence between historical fiction and historical romance—so I’ve cut the length and turned up the romantic element so that it better fits the historical romance genre (my favorite kind of book!).

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

I’d like for my husband and I to be able to spend an evening with Charles Krauthamer. Who’s he, you might wonder (if you don’t watch Fox News in the evenings). Dr. Krauthamer is a syndicated columnist who, to me, is one of the most insightful conservative voices out there. You won’t see him on shows like "The McLaughlin Group" or other venues where panelists are trying to out-shout each other. He’s soft spoken but sure of himself, which I admire.

Sounds interesting. How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Seriously, since I was ten years old. I’ve always wanted to tell stories, and I completed my first novel at age ten. Handwritten. A romance (of course!). I passed it around to neighborhood kids and they were so encouraging I decided all those years ago to never give it up.

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

It’s easy to be really candid with a faceless person, so my advice will be candid. It depends on how long a person’s been at it, the quality of the rejections they’ve received, and the kind of personality a person has in order to withstand this kind of business. If a person writes a book, polishes it, and then is so eager to start getting feedback they start mailing it out to agents (and editors, if they can connect with one or find one still taking submissions without an agent) they may be jumping the gun. In that case, early rejections might not be coming because the author doesn’t have talent. They just didn’t let enough time go by to achieve a fresh eye to really polish their work. Perhaps they didn’t get enough outside input—from other writers rather than friends or relatives—someone objective enough to tell them if their project is working.

If a person studies the market by reading the kind of book they’re trying to publish, has joined a critique group or partnered with someone else who can give them objective help, has attended some workshops on craft (either online or at writer’s conferences) and is seriously pursuing professional writing, then they stand a chance at publication. The competition is tough, so the quality of work has to be stellar.

Secondly, is the writer consistently receiving only form letter rejections, despite all their efforts at learning to improve, polishing? There are levels to rejection, from form letter to the more personal but encouraging rejections. Ones that include lines like “although this project doesn’t work for us, we’d like to see something else by this author,” or “if the author could make a few changes, we’d like to see this again,” or some other form of “please consider resubmitting in the future.” If, after years of trying, of submitting and resubmitting, an author still only receives form letter rejections, it might be time to reevaluate. I’ve seen many reasons for an author not to progress. Some people are simply uncoachable. They have a story in them and want to tell it, but have no desire to listen to any advice they’re given; for whatever reason they just can’t see their work from a fresh perspective. On the other hand, I’ve seen writers bring in work that seems entirely unpublishable. But with time spent improving their craft, market study, more reading, withstanding critiques, I’ve seen a number of writers go on to produce wonderful (and definitely marketable) work.

Third, there are some people who wither over rejection. I do not mean to belittle how painful rejection is. It’s terribly difficult, because it feels so personal. But in reality the rejections a writer receives on the early portion of their journey in this business are the first steps to prepare a writer for the professional side of things. Just because a person is published doesn’t mean rejection doesn’t still come. After publication, most rejections are no longer private. A bad review for all to see, a withdrawn contract, a short career. This business isn’t for the fainthearted, and someone with a fragile ego might be spared all kinds of heartache by not ever getting published.

That may sound harsh, but for some, God gave the gift of writing as a way to communicate with Him. Writing, in its purest sense, is fulfilling and can be a great way to learn and grow—in faith, in insight. Publication feels like validation, but the truth is, if writing brings a person closer to God, greater insight into themselves or others, then that’s the real validation.

Tell us about the featured book?

Look To The East is one of my favorite projects! It was one of those stories where, at times, my fingers couldn’t keep up with what the characters were doing. Don’t you love it when that happens?

This story follows the romance of Julitte Toussaint and Charles Lassone. Charles tries to volunteer to fight against the Germans just as the First World War breaks out, but he’s too late. He’s caught behind the battle lines, forced to take shelter in a small French village where he meets Julitte, the adoptive daughter of a sailor. They fall in love despite the danger—if the Germans were to find Charles, it would be death for him and perhaps the same for anyone helping him. And when Charles escapes, he comes back for Julitte, proving to himself and to her that he’s not the coward he thought he was at the beginning of the book.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.maureenlang.com/ or visit my blog at http://maureenlang.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Maureen, for once again sharing one of your books with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Look to the East:

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

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

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

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

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

REBECCA'S PROMISE and REBECCA'S RETURN by Jerry S. Eicher - Free books

Readers, today I'm introducing you to a new author to me. Welcome, Jerry. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

That’s what I stay away from. Did write of my growing up years in the first self published novel, A Time To Live. Which worked…sort of…because the story was in the distant past. Current things, nah…I think not.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Well…that’s a little hard to say. I tend to do things the unusual way. The latest would be this writing venture. Didn’t plan to write fiction in the first place, then discovered that being the only male writer in the female dominated field of Amish fiction wasn’t exactly the expected thing. Nicholas Sparks helps me feel normal.

Choice Books then took me under their wing, taught me the basics of publishing, and I launched my own label. After the third novel, Harvest House kindly signed me up for the real publishing world with The Adams County Trilogy.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

If I look back I see the first signs in grade school. Wrote a social studies assignment, or some such sort of thing, as a fiction story. Not the usual thing to do, but the teacher did read the story in front of the class. Said that it was the second best class paper turned in.

I also won a years subscription to a magazine around the fifth grade--for an entry to a writing contest. Again for fiction, but I never pursed stories. Thought it was too easy--I suppose--to be of much value.

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

Quite wide. Love Grisham, and of course Frank Peretti. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Tried Virginia Woolf, The Years, but got nowhere. Had to read, The Lincoln Lawyer, to clear my brain. For romance, there is the great Nicholas Sparks. Loved Whitaker Chamber’s Witness, Karen Blixen’s Out of Africa. Religious material-- that would be about anything C.S. Lewis--and earlier--the novels of George MacDonald.

Read the competition…shhhh. Enough to know what goes.

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

I intended to write theological books, and self published two through Winepress. Cost me a lot of money, and purchased little results. Not the fault of Winepress. They put out a quality product for me.

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

Ah…we try to keep the pace down, say a lot of no’s to things.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Since I write Amish fiction, the choices are limited. Keep an Amish directory from Holmes County handy.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Well…there are my children. Last night would perhaps be an another example. I needed to speak in public, and said what I had to say, twice, in perfect speech. Zero stumbles.

I grew up--till my teens and extensive speech therapy--with a severe speech impediment. I will live with a version of it for the rest of my life. Yet when the chips are down, I can talk. For those who were ever locked out of the marvel of language, they will understand.

One of my daughters had speech impediments and took speech therapy. So I understand. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Haven’t really thought of that. My wife says I go where the angels fear to tread. That might lend itself to, bold as a lion. Perhaps?

What is your favorite food?

Gram Cracker Fluff. They must have dropped that recipe from the heavens.

I'll have to find a recipe for that. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I don’t normally write full time, and have found recently that repeated days tend to run me dry. Not sure how to work that all out, other than to find something else to do, and not panic.

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

Not sure, as writing is so individualized. Learn the craft, and what is needed in the publishing world. I dream big, shoot for the stars, and learn from the miss. This might not be advisable for everyone, nor may my example be the best. I break a lot of the rules.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Rebecca series begin with Rebecca and John’s engagement. Rebecca then remembers a promise she made in grade school, and the ring she has hidden in her dresser drawer. The trouble starts there and grows.

This series has a strong secondary plot line, of a woman who has lost her father’s inheritance. The two threads don’t come fully together until book three.

We'll have to have you back with book three. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One - Rebecca’s Promise

The buggy slowed as it approached the Duffy side road, then
turned right toward the old covered bridge. The horse, a sleek
black gelding John Miller purchased last fall at a farm auction, was
tired from the fast downhill drive. Its nostrils flared, specks of foam
lathered its chest strap as it obeyed John’s gentle tug at the reins.
Rebecca, seated beside John, had tossed the top of her shawl on
the shelf above the backseat of the buggy. The lower part of the shawl
hung over her shoulder on John’s side. She left it there, not certain how
to remove it in the tight buggy without touching John. Not that she
would have minded, but she knew he stood strong when church rules
were concerned, and never had he voluntarily touched her yet.

Out of the corner of his eye, John saw Rebecca tuck a strand of her
dark hair under her kapp and look off to her left—east to the community
of Harshville. To the west, just around the sharp bends of
the road and across a smaller creek, was her home. Lester and Mattie
would surely be expecting Rebecca soon, but John was in no hurry to
take her there. Instead an idea, long in the back of his mind, now took
sudden, solid form. He knew this was the time and the place. At the
realization of what he wanted to do, his hands tensed on the reins.

To calm himself, he breathed in deeply the late November air,
winter on its edge. Wispy clouds, driven by the eternal Ohio wind,
scurried across the sky. He tried to hide his nervousness by glancing
at the sky and opening the front of his black suit coat, loosening the
hooks and eyes with one hand to let in the warmth of the sun.

“Weather’s nice. Especially for this time of the year,” John offered,

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m on Facebook. Search my name…I suppose. The fan page lets you on without the usual friends request.

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

Readers, here are links where you can order the two books:


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

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

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

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

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Sunday, September 13, 2009

A WIDOW'S HOPE - Mary Ellis - Free Book

I'm introducing a new author to me on the blog today. Welcome, Mary. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I try not to put myself into my books but it’s impossible. I love heroines who are kind-hearted but headstrong; faithful, but also willful, who often bite off more than they can chew. In A Widow’s Hope, there is a scene in which my main character starts six or seven projects at once, hoping that multi-tasking will accomplish much. Disaster ensues. I’m afraid that scene is straight from my everyday life.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

While teaching school, I went on a climbing/rappelling outing with the school geology club, never imagining my fear of heights would get in the way of a good time.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I have always been a storyteller since childhood, but didn’t start writing until about ten years ago.

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

Oh my, my tastes are quite varied. I like historical fiction such as Cold Mountain or Killer Angels; I enjoy romantic suspense to curl up with; and I love inspirational stories of women who rise above challenges/adversities to achieve their dreams. And of course, I love Amish fiction because the stories soothe and center me in this hectic world.

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

I have written a Civil War historical romance, my favorite historical time period, and a pair of mystery/romances set in New Orleans, my favorite city in the US.

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

Ah, that is the challenge, isn’t it? I often escape into Amish Country, either into a book by one of my fellow authors, or jump into my car and drive an hour. Once in beautiful, rolling Holmes County, I find my serenity. It’s so much easier to feel close to God while in His rural creation.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I take them from the Bible, but I must admit, it’s much easier for male names. Far fewer women are mentioned in the Bible, and those names often sound archaic and foreign to our modern-age ears.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I was a dutiful daughter to both of my parents. One suffered a very long, debilitating illness, while the other lived to a ripe old age but needed much help maintaining his independence and autonomy.

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

I guess I’d pick a dog, since right now my dog is curled up in the sunbeam, with a full bowl of her favorite food and plenty of treats. Later she’ll take a nice walk, then curl back up and nap. She’s just had a bath and looks gorgeous, too, without even trying!

What is your favorite food?

We don’t have that kind of space, do we? If I had to narrow it down, it would be popcorn, ice cream, chocolate, and broccoli. (one must eat something healthy now and then, no?)

I like the way you think. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Blocking out enough time without interruptions to get something done. And I haven’t actually overcome it, only learned to better handle it.

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

Try not to compare yourself to others. Have faith in yourself, keep working hard, don’t take rejections to heart because every writer faces them, and leave the outcome up to God.

Tell us about the featured book?

A Widow’s Hope is the story of a woman making a fresh start in her sister’s home and community. When she moves from Lancaster, PA, to Holmes County, OH, she brings along her flock of sheep. Those gentle creatures cause a ton of problems for Hannah who has a few secrets to hide from her newfound love, Seth. Seth Miller has a child still plagued by her mother’s death, and in desperate need of a new mother. But the district deacon feels that mother should be anybody…but Hannah.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Baa. Baa. Baaaaa. Hannah Brown nearly dropped the clean dress she was hanging on the line into the dewy grass. But she couldn’t help herself. Every time she heard a sheep bleat, her heart jumped like a new human mom when her infant cried. Hannah pinned the garment to the clothesline and hurried to the pasture fence. Seeing nothing amiss, she breathed a sigh of relief.
It was only a couple lambs energetically vying for their mother’s attention. One never could completely relax with a flock of sheep. A lamb might escape the pasture and get lost, drown in the swiftly flowing creek, become entangled in the blackberry briars, or wander into the road. Then there was the possibility of a hungry predator selecting one of her beloved creatures for his evening meal.

Hannah lifted her long Plain dress and stepped up on the bottom rail so she might survey the orderly farm her late husband had so cherished. Two years had passed since his death, yet hot tears still stung the backs of her eyes when she remembered what a kind soul Adam had been. There was much to be said for a girl marrying a childhood pal and later her best friend as they grew to adulthood.

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Saturday, September 12, 2009

9 Winners!!! Yea!!!

DebsDesk and Buulluvr81 are the winners of An Amish Christmas by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Barbare Cameron.

Lori (Sugarandgrits), Sandra Robbins, and Connie e are the winners of Christmas Homecoming by Debby Mayne. Elizabeth Goddard, Elizabeth Ludwig, and Paige Winship Dooly.

Sheila Deeth is the winner of Eye Witness by R. Luedke.

Marjorie, JenniferB, and Lastnerve are the winners of Wild West Christmas by Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Darlene Franklin, and Vickie McDonough.

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