EYE OF THE GOD - Areil Allison - Free Book

I'm happy to introduce another of the wonderful Abingdon Press releases. Welcome Ariel. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think every writer portrays themselves in their novels, whether consciously or not. There are bits and pieces of me in each character: hopes, dreams, struggles, sin, and fear. As creative people, writers mimic God in the way he created. To a certain extent, I think we all make our characters “in our own image.”

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

In life or writing? In life: jumping off a forty foot bridge into fifteen feet of water (not something I recommend unless you want to wake up on the bottom of Rio Grande). In writing: finishing the edits on my novel while holding my two-week old baby in one arm and a giant mug of coffee in the other (who needs sleep, right).

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I knew from the time I was five years old that there was no other career for me. This is what I’m supposed to do. Not that the journey has been easy by any stretch, but I’ve never wavered in my desire to tell stories and impact the world through the written word.

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

If you were to look at my bookshelf right now you might question my sanity. My C.S. Lewis collection sits next to my Harry Potter collection. George MacDonald and Agatha Christie are nestled on the top shelf. Tolkien, Dickens, and Dick Francis are scattered amongst books on parenting and writing. Bible commentaries, Christian living, suspense novels, the classics, and a handful of well-loved children’s books are peppered throughout. It’s a random, warm, and eyebrow raising shelf (and home) filled with books by people who love words. I like to think it’s a bit quirky but a good conversation starter – hopefully a bit like me.

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

The first book I wrote will never see the light of day and the world is a better place for it. The only good that came from that novel was proof that I could gut it out and finish one. My skill and my imagination improved a great deal once I got that disaster out of the way and I’ve gone on to publish several books. My first was called Daddy Do You Love Me: A Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2007), and was an examination of the father-daughter relationship, the brokenness that often occurs, and God’s redemption therein. Last year I co-wrote a book with Josh and Sean McDowell called Jesus: Dead or Alive (Regal, 2008). And over the next two years I will release three children’s book in my Justin Case (Harvest House) series. Eye of the God is my first novel.

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

My sanity aside (I have four boys ages six and under) I’m not the type to run, run, run. I like margin. I like having stretches of time during the day where I don’t have to be anywhere or do anything. Especially since my children are little, I limit our activities and our obligations as a family. We try to keep our world small. It doesn’t always work, but I find that my family thrives when we are not pulled in several directions at once.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Honestly? I usually pick names from among my friends and family and shuffle them up. A first name here, a last name there, and viola, I’ve got a character! For instance, the heroine in Eye of the God, is Abby – which is the name of one of my sisters. At one point in the novel I needed to name three security guards so I chose three of my husband’s friends. There are so many things to stress over while writing a novel that I try not to expend too much mental energy naming people. Quite often the name comes to me when I begin the story and if not I select one from my sphere of influence.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Writing books is fun, but I am most proud of my marriage. Not because it’s perfect, it’s most certainly not, but because it’s beautiful in a gloriously imperfect way. And it’s honest. And my husband and I have lived through some deep and hard stuff and we still love each other. More than ever, actually. Jesus is here in the midst of us and for that I am immensely grateful.

A close second would be the fact that I survived childbirth four times even though I was quite certain, each time, that it would be the death of me. Raising these kids, on the other hand, might easily do me in.

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

A polar bear hands down. They get to sleep for six months out of the year.

What is your favorite food?

That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. I love a good meal (especially when not prepared by me) like I love a good book or a good conversation. If I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a chef – or at least attempt. There’s nothing in the world so tasty as a good steak, or a ripe peach (when the juice drips down your chin). Strawberries in summer and roast potatoes in winter. Anything with feta cheese sprinkled on top. Bruschetta. Oh, and coffee. I know it doesn’t actually qualify as a food but it makes me happy and there’s something to be said for that.

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

Time. With four small children I am pressed on all sides to find the time to write my name, much less a novel. But we are each given twenty-four hours every day and I am learning how to make the most of the ones given to me. For a season I stayed up into the far reaches of the night, often crossing over into the next day just to get a few words on paper. And then there was the year that I got up hours before the sun ever considered making its appearance on the horizon. I finished Eye of the God that way, working until my family woke. Yet I find that I’m in a new season where neither of those options work for my tired bones. So our family has unplugged the television for the summer and I have found that the time I once thought to be so scarce makes itself plentiful in the silence now. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with fifteen minutes here and twenty minutes there.

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

Don’t worry about your words at first. Just finish the book. There is something about finishing that breathes life into the heart of a writer. I know from experience how easy it is to look back at half-baked words and want to meddle with them until they’re perfect. But a book is not birthed that way. Keep writing (insert notes in the text along the way for things you’d like to fix) and don’t stop until a complete manuscript sits before you. It may never see the light of day and that is ok. Once it’s done, step away, take a deep breath, and then repeat the process. The ability to finish is what sets a writer apart from an author.

Tell us about the featured book?

It has been said that all of history is in fact, His-Story, God’s story, and that we are just supporting actors. When viewed through that lens, the tale of the Hope Diamond takes on new meaning. But what if the story is much deeper, more intriguing, and significant than simply a diamond owned by some of the world’s most notorious figures? What if the mystery of the Hope Diamond is relevant to us, our culture, and our faith? That would make a story indeed.

The diamond, according to legend, was once the eye of a Hindu Idol named Rama Sita. Late in the 17th century, it was stolen, and Rama is said to have cursed all who would come in contact with the eye of the god. A quick glance at the lives of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Evalyn Walsh McLean give the appearance that there is indeed something to the tale. Yet the curse has only increased the value of the gem, and at auction could fetch well over $200 million. Today, the Hope Diamond sits proudly in the Smithsonian Institute, and has become the most viewed museum object in the world, boasting more visitors each year than the Mona Lisa.

Eye of the God takes the fascinating history surrounding the Hope Diamond, and weaves it together with a modern day plot to steal the jewel from the Smithsonian. We follow Alex and Isaac Weld, the most lucrative thieves in the world, in their quest to steal the jewel for a mysterious art broker. The Weld brothers are the established choice for those dealing in stolen goods but are unprepared for the evil they bring upon themselves when they agree to steal the diamond. Ultimately it will claim the life of one brother, and change life irrevocably for the other.

Brilliant and ruthless, the Weld brothers are not prepared for Dr. Abigail Mitchell, the beautiful Smithsonian Director, who has her own connection to the Hope Diamond, and a deadly secret to keep. She has spent her entire career studying the jewel and learning the truth about the curse it carries. More so than anyone else alive she has reason to love and hate the diamond that has set her life on a collision course with betrayal. However, Abby committed long ago that she would not serve a god made with human hands, and the “eye of the god” is no exception. Her desire is not for wealth, but for wisdom. She seeks not power, but restoration. Abby holds the pieces to a complicated puzzle, and finds herself in the middle of a deadly game. It is in this context that her faith will be put to the ultimate test as she confronts the father that abandoned her, the betrayal of the only man she has ever loved, and the possibility that she may lose her life because of the legendary gem.

When all is said and done, and the dust has finally settled over the last great adventure of the Hope Diamond, we understand the “curse” that has haunted its legacy is nothing more than the greed of evil men who bring destruction upon themselves. No god chiseled from stone can direct the fates of men, nor can it change the course of His-story.

When I was a senior in high school, the seniors in our small school in Arkansas took our senior trip to Washington, DC. I've been to the Smithsonian and seen the Hope diamond. Please give us the first page of the book.

Golconda, India, 1653

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier winced as the soldier chopped off the man’s hand. The thief shrieked and dropped to the ground, clutching the bloodied stump to his chest.

Tavernier turned aside with a grimace and ordered the litter bearers beneath him to move faster. Four slaves,
dark from the sun, jostled between the crowded stalls of Golconda’s hectic bazaar and away from the public spectacle.

The agonized screams faded as they pressed farther into the crowd.

Dense heat settled over the marketplace, and Tavernier wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. Pungent smells assaulted his senses: sweat and urine, spiced curry and sweet chutney, burning incense and rotting vegetables. His litter bumped and rocked through the hustle and bustle of shoppers and merchants haggling over prices. Red and gold bridal wear and precious gold glittered in the stalls. Elephants carried the elite through the narrow streets while dirty children chased each other with sticks.

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

When I’m not immersed in a book, changing a diaper, or rescuing our dog from the death-grip of a toddler, you can find me loitering in my little corner of cyberspace: http://www.arielallison.com/ .

Thanks for having me by the way, it’s been a load of fun!

And thank you, Ariel, for sharing this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, you will be supporting this blog.


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


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

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

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

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SECRETS AND LIES - Rhonda McKnight - Free Book

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

I actually think there’s very little of me in my characters. They’re a combination of different people I know, and my bad girl walked right out of my imagination. I had to dig deep to create her persona. But I will say there are elements of my life in the actual stories, more so in Secrets and Lies than my other projects, probably because it was my first novel.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Oh dear, I’m not too quirky, but I did perform Mariah Carey’s song “Hero” on a cruise boat during Karaoke. What was I thinking?

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

That’s an interesting question, and one without an answer. I read what I’ve written sometimes and ask myself the same thing I did after trying to sing “Hero,” what was I thinking? But I can definitely say, I began writing at age six when I crayola-ed my first story about a family of mice that lived under the boardwalk near the beach in my hometown. My high school teachers noticed a little something special about my writing and I was appointed to senior editor of the school paper, so maybe it was then. I really don’t know.

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

I’ll read just about anything with a lot of conflict. I love anticipating what’s next, even if I guess it before it happens. I’m a big suspense and mystery fan. I love women’s fiction, but it has to include a lot of good, juicy character-driven tension. Victoria Christopher Murray is my favorite author. She’s the queen of purposeful drama. I also don’t miss anything by Sherri Lewis, Pamela Samuels-Young, the writing team of Virginia Deberry & Donna Grant or James Scott Bell.

I love Sherri Lewis and James Scott Bell, too. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

My second novel, An Inconvenient Friend, which I completed this summer, will be released September 2010. My bad girl from Secrets and Lies gets her own book, and she’s so much worse. Prior to my first novel, I wrote nothing. I sold the first book I finished. Isn’t that something?

We'll have to feature you with your new book, too. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I talk to my mother every day. She’s my best friend. When I’m on the edge of losing it, hearing her voice relaxes me. I’m also really good at saying no, which I learned from my mom. When I’m really overrun, I get in my bed at night and I cry and pray, and cry some more and pray some more, and the next day it’s just better. Jesus works it out while I sleep.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

My main characters names come from the Holy Bible. I base their names on the attributes of characters or a theological principle. For example, in Secrets and Lies my main character’s name is Faith and she struggles with her name-sake daily.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Other than potty training my son, I’d have to say finishing and selling a book. It’s dog eat dog in publishing and actually selling is a lot to be proud of.

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

A gazelle, because it’s lean. I’ve never been lean. I’m sure I had queen size diapers.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate; cake, ice-cream, candy bars, drinks, you name it. I’m a choc-a-holic. See why I want to be a gazelle?

I love chocolate, too. When James and I went to the movies last weekend, I had Blue Bell Chocolate Covered Cherries ice cream. It's wonderful. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I’d love to say time was a roadblock, but I can’t. I was unmotivated for a long time. When I finished the last half of Secrets and Lies, I was working about 45 hours a week in an extremely demanding job, nursing a 6 month old baby, running my eldest son to physical therapy 3 times a week, and finishing graduate school. Even with all that going on I wrote 40,000 words in three months. I’m a living testament to the statement we do what we want to do (except sleep of course). I was unmotivated for years and then something happened. I turned 40. That was the year I sorted my life out, separated the chaff from the wheat. I decided it was time for me to walk in my purpose. I really want to hear the Lord say, “Well done.” I also wanted to be a living example to my sons of Proverbs 18:16, that their “gifts would make room for them.”

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

Answer for Authors: Publishing is competitive, make sure to continue to do the things you did prior to being published to stay published. Continuing education is critical to your development. You always want to write a stronger book than the last one. Have some type of critique system in place. If you have a strong editor at your publishing house then it can be the editor, but we all know that’s not as common as it used to be. Find someone to look at your work. I know several authors who have no critique system, because they’re overconfident about their writing and it shows in the quality of what they’re publishing.

Answer for Aspiring Writers: Read a lot and then read some more. Write what you enjoy reading, otherwise it won’t be good. I’m a free-lance editor and I can always tell when someone is writing in a genre they don’t read. Invest in craft books. I have 28 of them and have probably borrowed at least another 15 from the library. Read them and learn from them. Apply the things you learn. Join a writer’s group. If you can’t find one, start one. There are bound to be other writers looking for a group also. If you build it, they will come. Lastly, don’t be thin skinned about criticism and critiques. Be teachable. Writing is a gift, but it’s also a craft that has to be learned.

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

Secrets and Lies is a great story that anyone would enjoy. Although my publisher is Urban Christian, there’s nothing gritty about it. I know sometimes people associate street-life with the word “urban,” but with respect to Secrets and Lies, nothing could be further from the truth. My folks are upper-middle class, and they live in the suburbs. Nothing gritty about them. Here’s a synopsis:

Faith Morgan is sick of begging her husband to spend time with her. Anonymous hang-ups on their home phone have her wondering if he’s sick of her, too. When she discovers he’s been keeping a secret from her around the same time his coworker accuses him of sexual harassment, Faith wonders if she can believe his side of the story.

Pediatric cardiologist, Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing, his work. The childhood death of his brother has intensified his desire to heal children, at any cost, including his family's plea to be more involved in their lives. When a nurse accuses him with of sexual harassment, Jonah finds himself at a crossroads. Will he continue to allow the memories from his childhood to haunt him or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

Sounds wonderful. I can hardly wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at my website http://www.rhondamcknight.net/  and on just about every social networking site known to man. They’re listed on my website. I also have a blog for the novel at http://www.secretsandliesthenovel.blogspot.com/  and a pretty popular blog at http://www.urbanchristianfictiontoday.com/  where I highlight African American Christian fiction.

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link to order, it helps support this blog.

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


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

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

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

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Last November Winners

Bonnie is the winner of The Case of the Mystified M.D. by A. K. Arenz.

PamelaJ is the winner of What I Saw in the Thorns ~n~ Thistles by Shirley Kiger Connolly.

Donald Lee is the winner of Gemini's Cross by E. R. Webb.

Stacie is the winner of The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom.
 

Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:


Click on View My Complete Profile, then use the Email link.

Go to http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ then click on Contact Me.

You have 6 weeks to claim your book.

If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the interview. It will help support this blog.

THE PRAYERS OF AGNES SPARROW - Joyce Magnin - Free Book

We're introducing another of the Abingdon authors. Welcome, Joyce. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Um, interesting. Not much, I think. I'm sure people who read my novels will say they see a lot of me in certain characters but I don't see it. Unless you consider Agnes's love of M&Ms.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Okay, so the definition of quirky is peculiar or idiosyncratic so I suppose my quirkiest stuff is that I never eat everything on a plate. I always leave something. My mother says I've done that since I was a little kid. Oh and I will drive for miles out of way to avoid traffic jams, I holler at the TV while watching football, I hate mayonnaise and have been known to leave the table if someone is glopping particularly large dollops on the their sandwich, I've never seen an episode of Dancing With The Stars, and I will someday inherit an 85 year old onion plant from my extra-quirky mother and the thought scares me because I am not a plant person and it will probably die ten minutes after I take possession.

I guess I didn't know onion plants lived that long. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In the third grade. Everything else, math, geography became superfluous after that. You can read about it on my site.

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

Oh boy, well pretty much anything from Crime Noir to Literary. But I suppose I enjoy novels with some humor and quirkiness like Fannie Flagg, Joshilyn Jackson, Lisa Samson, Nancy Rue. Not a fan of vampire novels.

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

I wrote a coming-of-age novel I'd like to see published some day. And I have two or three middle grade fantasies floating around that I think would be great fun to publish. Maybe someday.

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

That assumes I have sanity to maintain. But I cross stitch, play video games, watch movies, sit in my son's tree house by myself and pretend I'm a nut.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Now that's a good question. But the simple truth is that they come to me already named. I never spend time thinking or researching names. And once named it is nearly impossible for me to change them. Is that weird?

No, I've given a character a name, and within three chapters that character changed it. Thank goodness for Find and Replace. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My children. Oh, and I recently flew in an airplane for first time in many, many years and I suppose you could count seeing my debut novel published.

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

Um, I've never considered this. But I suppose a strange, twisted hybrid of a bird and dog. Kind of a birddog because birds have a unique perspective on the world and tend to fly into things like clean windows and a dog because I like dogs, they're loyal and can play fetch.

What is your favorite food?

Ice cream.

I just had some Chocolate Covered Cherries Blue Bell at the movie theater, and now I can't find it in a store. It was awesome. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Worrying about every single word and whether it would ever be successful and I still haven't overcome that.

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

Be very certain you are a writer. Try NOT to write and see what happens and then keep going. Don't give up.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do—besides eat. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin.


The rural residents of Bright’s Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, “Welcome to Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.” This is something Agnes doesn’t want and sends Griselda to fight city hall. Griselda’s petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle and Agnes's feet of clay are exposed.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

If you get off the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Jack Frost Ski Resort exit, turn left and travel twenty-two and one quarter miles, you’ll see a sign that says: Bright’s Pond, Home of the World’s Largest Blueberry Pie.

While it is true that in 1961 Mabel Sewicky and the Society of Angelic Philanthropy, which did secret charitable acts, baked the biggest blueberry pie ever in Pennsylvania, most folks will tell you that the sign should read: Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.

October 12, 1965. That was the day my sister, Agnes Sparrow, made an incredible decision that changed history in our otherwise sleepy little mountain town and made her sign-worthy.

“I just can’t do it anymore, Griselda. I just can’t.”

That’s what Agnes said to me right before she flopped down on our red, velvet sofa. “It ain’t worth it to go outside anymore. It’s just too much trouble for you—” She took a deep breath and sighed it out. “—and heartache for me.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

joycemagnin.blogspot.com
Abingdonpress.com
Facebook
Twitter

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you're planning to order the book, using this link helps support this blog.


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


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

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

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

AN AMISH GATHERING - Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron, Beth Wiseman - Free Books

How did your story for the collection come about?

Beth: Our publisher, Thomas Nelson, gets credit for this great idea, which Kathy, Barbara, and I fell in love with. My story, A Change of Heart, is about a young Amish woman who loves to write stories (go figure!) and her struggle for acceptance within an Amish community that doesn’t necessarily encourage her dream.

Barbara: Natalie Hanemann, a senior editor at Thomas Nelson, asked Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and I to do two Amish novella collections. The first is An Amish Christmas, out now, and An Amish Gathering, out at the end of November. We discussed our ideas in a conference call, wrote up a synopsis to be approved, and then wrote our stories with inter-connecting characters just like we did with An Amish Christmas. It was great fun!

Here’s the summary for my story, When Winter Comes: Each year at wintertime, Rebecca Miller mourns the loss of her twin sister who was killed in a skating accident. Ben Weaver has been her friend, but this winter he’s vowed to melt her--heart froze--with grief and make her his wife.

Kathy: Barbara and Beth answered the question perfectly. Here’s a summary of my novella, A Place of His Own: When Josiah Bontrager returns to Paradise to fix up his childhood home, he’s forced to face his past and deal with his feelings for his friend and neighbor, Amanda Graber.

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Beth: We always have Thanksgiving at our house for my family and my husband’s family. There are usually about 20 in attendance, including at least one or two friends who find themselves with nowhere to go for Thanksgiving. All are welcome! It’s traditional all the way! Turkey, dressing, and the works!

Barbara: I celebrate Thanksgiving with my son, daughter-in-law, and three of my grandchildren at their house at mid-day. Rachel, my daughter-in-law, loves to make the meal and it’s a nice break for me since I’ve done it for years. My elderly mother looks forward to being invited all year! We have all the traditional elements. Last year the grandkids watched Paula Deen on the Food Network and contributed a sweet potato dish that was great. Later, my daughter brings the youngest grandchild (he’s 3 ½ now) to my house for Thanksgiving. Oh, and she brings her own plastic ware to take leftovers home. Smart woman, huh!

Kathy: Since we live far from family, we often have a quiet Thanksgiving at home. I’ve made the meal for so long that it’s usually the easiest one of the year for me to prepare. We either have turkey or ham (this year it’s ham), my mother-in-law’s cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and of course crescent rolls, which are a tradition in my family. Afterward we watch football and nap on the couch. It’s a great day for us to relax and reflect on our blessings.

Which is your favorite holiday, Thanksgiving or Christmas?

Beth: Christmas. My boys, Eric and Cory, are 25 and 18 respectively, and I love watching them open presents as much as I did when they were young. And everyone is together! Christmas is my favorite time of year. I could listen to Christmas music all year long.

Barbara: Christmas, definitely. Maybe it’s because it’s such a joy to watch my four grandchildren open their gifts. And I love all the Christmas stories associated with the holiday as well.

Kathy: Christmas. I love the festive atmosphere and the emphasis on Jesus and family. And like Beth and Barbara, I love watching my kids open their presents.

How do you celebrate Christmas?

Beth: On Christmas day, we go to my mother’s house in Houston. We celebrate with my husband’s family usually the weekend before or after. The celebration is similar on both days – everyone brings food, gifts are exchanged, and this year we plan to incorporate some games into the day…like my Amish friends do in the afternoon after the main meal.

Barbara: We celebrate with a Christmas dinner at the son and daughter-in-law’s house and then open presents. The next day my daughter comes to my house and we usually have cheese fondue and then chocolate fondue for dessert.

Kathy: Again Christmas is usually just our family. First thing we do when we get up is open presents, then have breakfast. Then I start on the Christmas meal while the kids explore their gifts, and usually we play a game. Like Thanksgiving, we enjoy a low-key holiday.

Tell us about your family.

Beth: I’m married to a wonderful man, Patrick. My oldest son, Eric, graduated this past May with his masters degree in music performance, and he is a professor at a college in Houston. My younger son, Cory, still lives at home and plans to take college classes next year. I miss my dad terribly this time of year, since Christmas was his favorite holiday. December 1 will be five years since he left for Heaven. My mother still lives in Houston, and we’re very close. My second book, Plain Pursuit, is dedicated to her.

Barbara: I have two children, a grown son, Justin, and a grown daughter, Stephany. They’ve given me four wonderful grandchildren – two boys, two girls! No twins yet even though we have a family history of my mother and my dad being twins…

Kathy: James and I have been married for sixteen years and we have a son, Mathew, who is 15, and two daughters, Sydney (14) and Zoie (11). We also have three dogs and one cat. It’s pretty hectic around our house!

How has writing Amish novels changed you?

Beth: My Amish friends believe that everything that happens is God’s will, therefore they don’t worry as much, and their lives aren’t driven by fear, which ultimately leads to a more peaceful existence. I am a worrier, which I know is a sin, and I’m aware of it. Fear makes it hard to hear God, so I work on that daily in my effort to have the peacefulness my Amish friends are known for. I try not to just ‘talk the talk’, but to live the best life I can. Knowing my Amish friends has made me a better person. For sure.

Barbara: A cousin in Lancaster County took me to visit the Amish years ago and I immediately admired them for their dedication to family and community, their work ethic, and most of all, to live in a spiritual way. The more that I meet the Amish and do research the more I feel I’m doing the writing I should be doing. Even more, I find that I am simplifying my life and trying to treat others in a more spiritual way.

Kathy: My husband and I have long had an appreciation for the land—we used to subsistence farm and we try to be as self-sufficient as possible. As I learned more about the Amish, I could easily relate to that aspect of their culture. I’ve also had the opportunity to examine my faith and belief system and how I live my life. Writing these books has become more than just telling a story, but also a personal journey.

What is your current Work in Progress?

Beth: I’m working on a new project for Thomas Nelson that I can’t discuss quite yet, but I’m very excited about it. More to come on that soon!

Barbara: I am working on the second of a three book Amish series for Abingdon Press. The series is called Quilts of Lancaster County and the books are titled A Time for Love, A Time for Peace, and A Time for Healing (based on a section of Ecclesiastes which I love).

Kathy: Right now I’m finishing up edits on A Summer Secret, the first book in my Mysteries of Middlefield series, which is a children’s series targeted to girls ages 9-12. The children’s series features crossover characters from my Hearts of Middlefield books. As for that series, I’m also working on the third book, A Woman of Virtue, which tells the stories of Stephen and Ruth, the youngest siblings in the Byler clan.

How can my readers find you on the Internet?

Beth: I blog at http://blog.bethwiseman.net/  and http://www.amishhearts.com/ . My website is http://www.bethwiseman.com/ , and I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.

Barbara: I blog at AmishHearts.com with my collaborators on An Amish Gathering.

Kathy: You can find me on my website at http://www.kathleenfuller.com/ . I also blog on Amish Hearts (http://www.amishhearts.com/ ) and I’m on facebook and twitter.

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

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



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LOVE FINDS YOU IN LONESOME PRAIRIE, MONTANA - Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss - Free Book

I'm thrilled to feature this book. I was privileged to read the manuscript for an endorsement. You'll love this story. Welcome Tricia and Ocieanna. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Ocieanna: This book wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Carlton Garborg. As much as I loved writing, I'd been pursuing publication for so long that I was getting discouraged from all the rejections.

Discouragement is a very real part of writing and creeps up in many different ways. So, I prayed a lot about it and even considered stopping writing. What I finally decided was that I wouldn't stop writing (how could I?), but I would stop pursuing publication. I would just write for God's glory and my own joy and let go of all the other stuff.

This decision created a huge amount of relief and revitalized my love for writing. I was very content ...

A few months later, out of the blue, I received a Facebook message from my friend Carlton asking if I wanted to write for his publishing company. I've known Carlton for years and knew he had recently started a new publishing company, but I thought it was only for non-fiction and I didn't know the name. Well, since I wasn't pursuing publication, I didn't respond! I was very impolite and didn't even return his message (shame on me!).

In the meantime, my critique friend told me about this new company called Summerside. She was all excited and said it had received lots of good reviews and was the newest "thing."

About three weeks later, Carlton sent me another message on Facebook asking if I wanted to write a book for his new company. This time, I thought I should at least respond, and I sort of flippantly told him about all my ideas. He sent me his catalogue and to my complete amazement, it was Summerside!

At this point, a friend told me God was opening a door and I'd better walk through. I was very happy to do so (although a bit scared, too.) So, I wrote up some synopses and they liked the idea that Tricia Goyer and I had come up with a few years before.

So you can see how vital Carlton was in this whole process!

Tricia: Yes, it was one of those “Surprise we love your idea” moments! Ocieanna and I had come up with an idea with Rosie the Riveters years ago. Summerside loved this idea, but after working through a release date challenge (I couldn't release two WWII books within the same season) Ocieanna and I came up with the idea for Lonesome Prairie, and we started with that one first.

There are other people who helped us too. One of them was Hank at the Fort Benton Historical society, who helped us with research. Hank also connected us with Keith Edwards who is 91-years-old and whose parents were some of the first settlers in Lonesome Prairie. Many of Keith's true stories made it in to the novel!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

Tricia: I have some fun things coming up next year. First, I'll be speaking at two Hearts at Home Conferences. I'll also be teaching the Teen Track at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference—two of my favorite audiences, moms and teens!

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

O: Super easy! Hawaii—Maui to be specific. I love it there. Sometimes the cloudy northwest gets a little depressing.

T: The Czech Republic! I've been there twice for mission trips and I love it there. We're going back in 2010, which excites me!

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

O: Rather than chasing after getting published, pursue excellence and hide in Christ, leaving the results to God.

T: Think about the “one story” you would want to tell before you die and tell that story. Don't worry if you think that story is “in” right now. If you write the story that God has placed on your heart there will be a place for it.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

O: I like people who have lots of intellectual thoughts and ideas. So, I’d invite Newt Gingrich for his grasp of history, RC Sproul so we could talk theology, and U2 just because they’re cool.

T: Tom Hanks or Clint Eastwood, because they both have a passion for WWII like I do. Third Day, Hillsong United, Sara Groves, and Fernando Ortega … my favorite musicians!

Tell us about the featured book?

New Yorker Julia Cavanaugh never meant to be a mail-order bride. When Julia finds herself stranded in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, unwittingly promised to an uncouth miner, she turns to a respected circuit preacher to protect her from the marriage.

Tricia: It's a fun, sweet, and heart-warming read.

Where can we find you on the Internet?

http://www.ocieanna.blogspot.com/
http://www.triciagoyer.com/

Tricia and Ocieanna, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you plan to order it, please use this link. It helps support this blog.


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


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

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

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THE PALLIUM PROJECT - E. R. Webb - Free Book

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of fiction that I enjoy reading: mystery, action, thriller, drama; but mainly I want to get the Gospel of Christ before people that otherwise may not hear it. Feedback from readers encourages me that that has been accomplished to some degree.

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

It may seem cliché-ish, but there is no question that it was the day that Vicki said “Yes” when I asked her to marry me.

How has being published changed your life?

My life has been changed through the joy that I have received from the feedback that my writing has changed other people’s lives.

What are you reading right now?

I am reading Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny; and Grisham’s The Appeal.

What is your current work in progress?

The Beginning of Sorrows is at the publisher. I am currently writing Denial of Power.

What would be your dream vacation?

I have taken it many times over. My wife is a travel agent, and we travel as much as we can. We have had a fabulous trip to Israel, two great weeks in Europe (Italy, Greece, Turkey), the Bahamas, Jamaica, and many trips to many cities in Mexico.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Besides traveling with my wife, my work has taken me to England, Japan, China and Taiwan. I observe, take notes and lots of photos. The main venue, however, which occurs in my books is my hometown Spring, Texas; a suburb of Houston, because I know it best. I have sat many times in the spot that I am describing. It seems to add dimension, like painting on location rather than from your head.

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

I would choose President George W. Bush. I would like to interview him. I think he got a bad rap.

I so agree with you on that. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I paint with oils and acrylics, and I have enjoyed photography for many years. I find there is a correlation between painting and writing. You start with a blank page/canvas and you don’t know what the final result is going to be, just a glimmer of an idea. You learn to recognize serendipity when it comes knocking.

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

It is still the obstacle of having the discipline to make time to write. I am still overcoming it.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read as much as you can. Write, write, write – and then re-write. Never settle. Don’t quit. Let others read your work and be open to their feedback.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Pallium Project is a fast-paced thriller that involves mystery, spies and counter-spies, espionage and intrigue at the highest levels of world governments. The same primary protagonists, family attorney David Baxter, and Homicide Detective John Parella are in the book. Added are three super-cerebral, Christian teen agers, Dorothy Masters, Chad Beeman, and Phillip Weston, dubbed “The Texas Trio”, who work for NASA Johnson Space Center on a top secret program that can propel the US into a position of undisputed world leader or towards the beginning of the End of the Age.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The first page is the Prologue.

Prologue

The Visitors first appeared on a bright Saturday morning in early May of 2002. Benjamin Marcus Tiny, a black man of forty-two, could not remember the exact date but knew that he could find it if necessary, because it was definitely on a Saturday. He always watered his vegetable garden early Saturday mornings. Benjamin delighted in his okra, cucumber, turnips, collards and tomato crop; delighted as well in watering them, losing himself in the process; and further delighted in giving his produce away in brown paper bagsful to friends and neighbors. Benjamin had no known relatives nearby. He had only a cousin Lois Jewel Carver in South Carolina, much too far from Houston, Texas, to grant a portion of his produce.

Tiny, who lived alone, having never married, was surprised by the sudden appearance of the Visitors in his backyard. He had not heard them approach, attributing his lack of awareness to the fact that he was engrossed in watering and to the reality that it was not reasonable or probable for someone to simply appear in his backyard. It had never happened before.

The Visitors looked remarkably similar in every way. They were fair-haired men, fair-skinned, of medium build, with sparkling blue eyes and charitable smiles. They each were dressed in khaki trousers, white pullover shirts, and oxblood loafers. They stood somewhat stiffly with arms to sides, looking at Benjamin intently.

Although the intruders had startled Benjamin, he was not afraid. The Visitors were not threatening in any way. He released the trigger on his nozzle, shutting the stream of water off.

“Ah, can I help you gentlemen?”

“Mr. Tiny,” the one on the left said, motioning toward the small freshly painted frame house. “Let us go inside where we can speak in private, please.”

“Of course,” Benjamin Tiny said, laying the watering hose on the ground. “My pleasure.”

Had Benjamin Marcus Tiny known the enormity of this visit, he would have most certainly felt some trepidation, if not downright terror. As it was, there were no warning signals, no red flags, nothing in his gut to indicate that anything was amiss. Benjamin had no way of knowing that this meeting had the potential of altering the framework of history, the entire course of mankind, and would ultimately lead to his own, early demise.

“Would you gentlemen like some iced tea?” Mr. Tiny asked as he escorted the Visitors to the small oak dining table.

Thank you, E. R., for spending this time with us. Your book sounds really intriguing.

Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of the book. If you plan to order it, please use this link. It will help support this blog.


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


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

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

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6 Winners This Week!!!

Julane is the winner of White Mountain Brides by Susan Page Davis.

Katherine is the winner of Truth or Dare by Nicole O'Dell.

Jamie is the winner of All That Glitters by Nicole O'Dell.

April is the winner of Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell.

Rose McCauley is the winner of Gone to Green by Judy Christie.

Hope is the winner of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida, by Sandra D. Bricker.

Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:

Click on View My Complete Profile, then use the Email link.
Go to http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/  then click on Contact Me.

You have 6 weeks to claim your book.

If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the interview. It will help support this blog.

THE CALL OF ZULINA - Kay Marshall Strom - Free Book

Today, we're featuring another of Abingdon Press fall releases.

Freedom...more than the absence of chains.
Grace...more than a name.
The Call of Zulina...more than historical fiction...
a modern message regarding
slave trade and trafficking in the modern world.

About the Author:

Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve their own writing potential. Kay has written thirty-six published books, numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim. Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers’ conferences, and special events throughout the country and around the world. She is in wide demand as an instructor and keynote speaker at major writing conferences. She also enjoys speaking aboard cruise ships in exchange for exotic cruise destinations.

How did you come up with the storyline of The Call of Zulina?

While in West Africa working on another project, I toured an old slave fortress and was struck dumb by a set of baby manacles bolted to the wall. The characters of Lingongo and Joseph Winslow, Grace's parents, are modeled after real people who ran a slave business in Africa in the 1700s. I "met" them when I was researching Once Blind: The Life of John Newton, a biography of the slaver turned preacher and abolitionists, author of Amazing Grace. The more I thought about them, the more I wondered, "If they'd had a daughter, who would she be? Where would her loyalties lie?"

What inspired you to write a book so entrenched with uncomfortable issues?

I used to think that non-fiction was the meat and potatoes of writing and fiction was the chocolate mousse dessert... fun, but not of much value. But I've come to understand that truths can be revealed through fiction just as powerfully as through non-fiction. Sometimes, more so! The fact is, for so long we have tried to look away and pretend that this horrible chapter in history never happened. But it did, and we still feel the effects today. Moreover, the roots of slavery--hunger for power and money, fear and diminishment of people unlike ourselves, and humanity's endless ability to rationalize evil actions--abound today. The time seemed right.

How have your travels around the world equipped you for writing such a historical novel?

People ask me where my passion for issues such as modern day slavery come from. To a large degree it is from the things I have seen and heard on my numerous trips to India, African countries, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia, and other places around the world.

Tell us a personal story regarding modern day slavery.

A most pervasive type of slavery is what is known as bonded servitude, where entire poor families are bound into virtual slavery--sometimes for generations--because of a small debt. This is especially common in India. I visited a village in central India where the women had been freed from bondage and set up with a micro loan that allowed them to raise a small herd of dairy cows. They worked so hard and saved every rupee. When they had enough saved, they persuaded a young teacher to come and start a school for their children. Then they used further profits to make low interest loans to others in the area so they could start their own businesses, too--a little bank. I sat in a circle with the five women who made up the "board of directors." Only one could read and write. I asked, "How will the next generation be different because of what you have done?" They said, "No more will be like us. When people look us, they see nothing. But when they look at our children, they see real human beings with value."

From invisible slaves to human beings... all in one generation!

Grace, the lead character in The Call of Zulina, forsakes all to escape the slavery of her parents and an arranged marriage.How common is this scenerio today in other countries?

Horrifyingly common. Slavery today takes many forms. According to UNICEF's more conservative count, there are about 12 million people living as slaves today--three times as many as in the days of the African slave trade. As for child arranged marriages, I have talked to girls "enslaved" to husbands in many countries. Examples include a girl in Nepal married at 9 to a middle-aged man, one in India married at 11, a 13-year-old in Egypt married to a man older than her father. I've seen it in Africa, Eastern Europe... so many places!

What about in America, are there slavery and trafficking issues here?

Unfortunately, there are. The U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the Untied States each year, although it concedes that the real number is actually far higher. And it's not just states like New York and California that are affected, either. According to the U.S. Justice Department's head of the new human trafficking unit, there is now at least one case of trafficking in every state.

You've had 36 books published, and more written and contracted for future release. How has this one impacted your own life?

Some books report, some tell stories. This book has torn my heart.

Briefly tell us about the next two books in this Grace in Africa trilogy.

In Book 2, Grace watches her reconstructed life smashed by slavers and revenge, and she is forcibly taken to London. There she faces a new kind of tyranny and another fight for freedom... and for her husband, who is enslaved in America.

Book 3 is set in the new United States of America, in the heart of the slavery. It is a story of slavery at it's worst and redemption at its best.

What Can Concerned Citizens Do to Raise Awareness?

Find out all you can about Modern Day Slavery: then watch for chances to pass on what you have learned.

Write to your elected officials: Petition them to place a high priority on enforcing anti-slavery laws and to put pressure on countries that tolerate forced labor or human trafficking.

Buy Fair Trade products: Fair trade provides a sustainable model of international trade based on economic justice. To find out more, see http://www.fairtrade.net/ .

Support organizations that are in a position to make a difference. When you find an one that is doing a good job on the front lines, contribute to their cause so they can continue on.

Be willing to step into the gap. If you suspect someone is being held against his or her will, call the Department of Justice hotline: 1-888-428-7581. Or you can call 911.

About the Book:

An arranged marriage, a runaway bride, and an ugly family heritage of brutal and inhumane slavery operations leave no room for a fairytale story. Grace Winslow, daughter of an English sea captain and African princess, finds herself in a horrific position of betrothal. Doomed to marry an obnoxious white man, whom she does not love, Grace runs away to escape the slavery she’s been surrounded by all her life. Instead, her journey from home brings her face-to-face with issues of extreme slavery, abuse and human trafficking. In the end she discovers slavery is more than just chains and finds grace that exceeds a name given to her by her parents.

The Call of Zulina links historical slavery issues with the modern-day crisis tainting many countries. On the heels of important legislature regarding human trafficking, Strom tackles the subject boldly as she sheds light on the practices and techniques used by angry slave traders. Seen as an advocate for those who have no voice, Strom finds words to communicate the message of history to today’s readers. While this book shines the light on an uncomfortable subject, the message of hope, freedom, and justice prevail and eternal truths discovered.

Thank you, Kay, for spending this time with us and alerting us to this horrendous problem.

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



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


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

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

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

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GEMINI'S CROSS - E. R. Webb - Free Book

Once more we're welcoming an author who hasn't been on the blog before. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Probably more than I can quantify. Everything that I see, hear and touch is filtered through my perception; so when I feed it back through writing or other means it will naturally have some of me in it.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My wife Vicki and I were vacationing on a Florida Island. She wanted to look for a carved wooden pelican for our patio at home, so, hopping into the car we headed back across the long bridge to the mainland. We did not find a pelican on that trip, but I did discover that I had left my wallet back at our bungalow on the beach. We did not have a nickel between us, and the bridge was a toll bridge. So – I did the only reasonable thing. I parked the car in a super-market parking lot and begged passers-by for a dollar. I finally found a kind manager inside who provided the necessary cash. Vicki and I crossed the bridge, returned to our cabin and enjoyed the remainder of our vacation at the expense of a little humiliation.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I started keeping a journal when I was eight, I think. I really knew that I wanted to write, though, when I read adventures like Treasure Island, Call of the Wild, Moby Dick . . . at about the same age.

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

Over my lifetime – a wide range. Fiction – classics and modern. Non-fiction – theological, spiritual, self-help, political, biographies.

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

The Pallium Project is my second published novel. My third book, The Beginning of Sorrows is at the publisher, and I am writing my fourth, Denial of Power. My Sci-fi novel, The Landau Journals, was rejected many times. I thought it was quite good. About 30 years ago I wrote and illustrated a manual titled What’s All This Fuss About Feelings? We copied and used it in church for counseling. Revell was interested in publishing it, but I foolishly said I did not have the time for the process at the moment. I don’t know what I was thinking.

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

Jesus Christ and my wife Vicki – always in that order. I do not see how a lost people can lay their heads on their pillows without Christ, The Hope of Glory. Vicki often reminds me that Christ is my hope. She helps me stay grounded.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

That is one of the fun parts of writing – naming these guys, then watching them come to life. If they are foreign characters I rely a lot on the Internet. There are a number of Israeli and Russian characters in my novels. English names are sometimes composites of friends. Character’s names say a lot about the character, and can evoke an image of the person.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

High on the list is getting published.

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

I would be a dog. Dogs have great qualities, they are generous and faithful; and they love unconditionally.

What is your favorite food?

It would have to be chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, pinto beans and corn bread – topped off with a slice of pecan pie.

That sounds like just the meal my husband would say was his favorite, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I find that making the time to write is a huge roadblock – there are so many time stealers. It takes a lot of discipline. I am still working my way through this roadblock.

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

a) Write what you like to read. Ask yourself if you are enjoying the process. If it’s drudgery to write, it will probably not engage the reader.

b) Write it, write it again, and write it again. I think a common misconception for some writers is to write a paragraph or page and move on. Go back and write it again. Write and re-write a paragraph until it’s right, then a page, and then a chapter. Then go back and re-write it. Then don’t get upset when an editor asks you to re-write it once more.

c) Let family and friends read your work before you submit it. Listen to their comments and critiques. Find as many readers as you can.

d) Write.

e) Read. Why did you like what you read? Why did you not like it?

Tell us about the featured book?

Gemini’s Cross’ main protagonist, David Baxter, is arrested and jailed for the horrendous murder of a teenaged girl in Spring, Texas. All of the evidence points to him. Family attorney and pillar of his church Baxter, although supported by family and his church, feels that God has abandoned him. Discovering the existence of consummate evil in his own flesh and blood, Baxter must clear his name, proving himself innocent while defending his wife and daughter from the threat of death. Ultimately the book reveals the limitlessness of God’s grace.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The first page is the prologue.

Prologue

The Present

His cooling off period between recipients was becoming shorter, and still he had not accomplished his mission—to bring the Light into the world. Perhaps—he was not sure—his last object for introduction to the Light had received a glimpse of it, but nothing more than a tiny glimpse. That was just two months ago, and he was ready to minister again. He was not quite ready for his supreme ministry, however. There still remained the necessity for another interim challenge. He was almost there, just not quite. Needing some fine-tuning, he knew just the right subject to provide it. She was so close to the ultimate object that it was exhilarating just to think about her.

There had been a time when he had wondered if he was crazy. It was only a brief span of uncertainty; then he had put it aside. His mission was too crisp, his strategy too clear, his means too perfect for him to be crazy. Also, it had occurred to him that genius was often mocked, considered peculiar and even crazy. Certainly he was not crazy, but it would be an honor to be considered so by others.

Would a crazy person be given the privilege, the tribute, of seeing the Light?

Certainly not.

He had seen the Light—twice. That first time, of course, was when he was six and had died. The other time was in 1980—he was just thirteen. The second seemed more special than the first for a number of reasons. First, it had occurred, not as a result of any physical trauma, but simply, apparently, as a tribute to him, as an accolade of admiration directed toward him. Secondly, it had been accompanied with a message, a message that had given him a purpose and a destiny, which, as a result had provided healing to his psyche. This healing was his third reason for remembering the second sighting. After that he no longer cared how people looked at him, nor what was whispered about him behind their shameful hands, nor who were openly repulsed by him. He was, now, who he was.

Unique.

Special.

Chosen, even.

He remembered lying in his bed, his body damp with sweat. Something had awakened him, a noise, and a movement. The green numbers on his bedside clock face said 3:00.

Then, suddenly, there came the soft refrains of music. But, not really music—more like an orchestra tuning up, except softer and more melodic. Then came the gentle breeze, cool and quiet.

At once there had appeared a dim, steady light at the foot of his bed. He sat bolt upright, fully awake now, his skin prickling. Growing brighter, the light emitted a greenish glow. Beginning slowly, it drifted upwards until it was about even with his feet, where it remained, about the size of softball, slightly bobbing up and down.

The voice was in a low whisper.

I am truth and light.

Straining to hear, his trembling wouldn’t stop.

I have chosen you; you have not chosen me. You are special to me, and you shall be my special envoy. Do not be afraid to do what I say. I will be with you. You will bring my light into the world to whomever I will.

The light brightened as the music rose to a screeching crescendo. He did not care that everyone in the house might be awakened. The light became so brilliant, the breeze warm then hot, and the shrieking dissonance so loud that he had to cover his ears and close his eyes. Strangely, no one came into his bedroom to rescue him or investigate the ruckus.

Then it stopped. The room was cast in darkness and became utterly quiet. The only sound was his rapid breathing. He fell backwards onto his pillow, heart pounding, perspiring profusely.

It was true.

It was confirmed.

He was chosen

Then, improbably, he fell asleep.

Intriguing. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be found at http://www.erwebb.com/

Thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, you will be supporting this blog.


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


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

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

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WHAT I SAW IN THE THORNS ~N~ THISTLES - Shirley Kiger Connolly - Free Book

Today, we're featuring a nonfiction book by an author who hasn't been on the blog before. Welcome, Shirley. You are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?


I write both, so for me it is like wearing two hats. I love sharing my thoughts and reflections in my nonfiction writing, but I take great delight in using my creativity and spending time in research for the historical work I do. Both reflect who I am.

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

Let’s see. Many might have read already about much about my personal life, so I think for you, Lena, I will share something different. Although my husband and I, at the time of this writing, live on the Southern tip of Oregon, here at the coast, we both are avid travelers and vagabonds, of a sort. Since we married (over 100 years ago, it sometimes seems) we have lived and traveled in some of the most amazing places. I have been blessed to have lived in North Queensland, Australia, and we have also spent some time over in Grenada, over in the West Indies. I’ve lived from here in Oregon, down to California, over to Indiana, and all the way across the US to New York, and had the pleasure of visiting many states in between. Right now we are praying about where the Lord would have us go once this house sells. We are open to anything. (I guess you would say we are somewhat gypsies more or less!)

Tell us about your family.

My husband and I have three children, all grown, and four grandchildren, three grandsons and one step step-granddaughter. One of my sons is an officer in the US Military, while the other lives with his wife here in Oregon. My daughter is praying for a husband.

I have a grandson who who is active military right now. Have you written other nonfiction books?

The book we are talking about today, I See God in the Thorns n Thistles, is the second of a three-book series. The first was I See God in the Simple Things and I have another coming out next spring, I See God on That Narrow Road.

What other books have you written, and where can the readers of the blog find them?

Flame from Within and It Happened Near the Cliff Rock and I have one is in the oven! Readers can find all my books at http://www.amazon.com/  or http://www.bn.com/ , http://www.booksamillion.com/ , http://www.vrpublishing.com/ and Target Stores. They can also be ordered at any bookstore if they don’t happen to be in stock. (But I guarantee, most can get the best deal probably at Amazon.)

Actually, I went to Amazon just now and didn't find the featured book there. Your others were though. Do you have any other books in the works right now?

I told you the third devotional, but there is something else in the works that I’m not yet supposed to discuss.

Sounds intriguing. Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

Please tell the readers to come visit me at http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/  or at http://shirleykoinonia.tripod.com/  or they can drop me an email at shirleylovestowrite@gmail.com  I am good at responding.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I love walking. I also love to play my piano and sing, but I don’t have time much on my piano lately. And when it’s raining and dreary outside and I’m sitting by my fire in the evening, I love needlework, or reading, or watching old classic movies on TBN or just plain vegging out.

Why did you write the featured book?

This devotional (as well as the others I am writing) came by way of simple reflections on my heart that I used to share only with my Koinonia Community (a very large group of readers, writers, and women who love the Lord). Each month I would send out a Koinonia Update, and in it I would pass along a reflection of my heart—something God showed me that day about life in general ,and how He could minister to us in any circumstance…whether it was in a simple situation we were in, or some thorny issue we were involved with, or even perhaps something poignant having to do with the seriousness of our personal walks with Him. The responses I continued to receive from my readers drove me to compiling these together into devotionals that could be available for anyone, saved or unsaved, who just needed a pick-me-up at that perfect moment. I hope all that makes sense, Lena.

Yes, it does. What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

How God can be with us no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, no matter how we feel. It is so easy to take Him for granted. He shows us through the simplicity of these devotionals, that this is not His hope for us. He wants to be real to us 24/7. It’s up to us to allow Him that privilege and blessing.

Thank you, Shirley, for spending this time with us. I'm partial to your name. My younger sister was named Shirley, and she's gone on to be with the Lord.
 
Readers, 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.

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THE CASE OF THE MYSTIFIED M. D. - A. K. Arenz - Free Book

Welcome back to the blog. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I have always enjoyed reading mystery/suspense/thriller type books, so it seemed to be a natural extension. But I’ve found that I can’t write anything if God doesn’t move me to do it. That might sound trite, but it’s true. If I try to go it alone, or go in a direction that I think is right, and He’s not there to guide me, nothing works, and it will have to be redone.

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

I’d have to say the day(s) my daughters and grandchildren were born.

How has being published changed your life?

I feel a responsibility now to those who will read my books—and to my publisher. I’ve also had to learn to be more proactive and outgoing. This is really hard for me. I’m an introverted introvert.

What are you reading right now?

I’m nearly finished with Double Cross by James Patterson. When I’m finished with that, I’m going to read more in Joel C. Rosenberg’s The Last Jihad series.

What is your current work in progress?

The next in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery series.

What would be your dream vacation?

Um . . . I have always wanted to visit the British Isles, especially Ireland & Scotland. I’m not a fan of flying, though, and going over the water like that . . . it scares me. Still, I’d love to go there.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I don’t choose. It actually chooses me.

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

Maybe this sounds strange, but I wouldn’t choose a celebrity of any kind. And politicians, well, are politicians. Aside from quality time with my family, I don’t really have an answer for this one.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I used to love to sew and do crossword puzzles, but problems with my hands and fingers pretty much keep me from those. Playing games with my family—a rousing game of UNO attack (I think it’s called) is always fun, as is Boggle (when my hands are doing ok). I enjoy music, both Christian and older rock and roll, good movies, and select TV programs (NCIS, BONES, HOUSE, THE MENTALIST).

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

Coming up with the right words to describe things and getting stuck and not being able to move forward. I know a lot of this happens when I’m trying to force the writing instead of just letting it come. But when you have a deadline . . . I haven’t figured out yet how to overcome the problem.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Be really, really sure this is not just what you want to do, but that it’s also what God wants you to do with your life. Once you’re sure, read everything you can get your hands on, study the craft, take classes, go to conferences, and most of all, PRAY. Don’t expect it to be easy—because I guarantee it won’t be.

Tell us about the featured book?

First a foot, now a hand—what body part is next?

The Case of the Mystified M.D. is the second in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery series. When Glory’s puppy finds a severed hand on a walking trail, she’s positive she recognizes the signet ring as belonging to a missing college professor who’s been causing a lot of trouble around town. Her insatiable desire to solve the mystery of his murder finds her in over her head with a community filled with secrets, blackmail, and arson.

With her sister Jane overwhelmed by the arson fire in her home and trouble with her fiancé, Glory latches onto an unlikely partner, and soon feels as though she’s stepped into a whacked out version of the Twilight Zone—where nothing is as it appears, and danger lurks around every corner . . .

Including from her boyfriend, Detective Rick Spencer.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

I inhaled and almost choked from the heat as it seared my throat and lungs. The air was more than humid, it actually fit the meteorologist’s most recent terminology of juicy. The deep blue of the late afternoon sky was so hazy it seemed a bit out of focus. Or maybe that was just the sweat pouring down my forehead.

As I turned toward the sound of a tractor in the nearby field, an enormous horsefly dive-bombed, landing smack between my eyes. Batting at it only seemed to make it angrier. The more I tried to dodge its attempt to take out one of my eyes, the more determined it was to harass me. All the activity increased the excitement of the puppy at my side. Misty took my strange gyrations to discourage the ardent bug as a new form of play and began barking. But it was her jumping around and tugging on the leash that nearly landed me on the asphalt walkway.

“Janie!” I called out to my sister who was a good fifteen feet in front of me. “You want to come get Misty before she yanks both of my shoulders out of joint?”

Jane didn’t break her stride—which was more of a jog than a walk—just turned and headed back to me. When the puppy realized Jane was returning, she became even more anxious, wagging her tail and wiggling so her entire body shook. It was further evidence that this beautiful five-month-old Golden Retriever should belong to my sister instead of me.

“What’s wrong Misty-girl?” Jane knelt in front of the ecstatic puppy and allowed the thick pink tongue to lick her hands and face in greeting. “Is Glory still too slow for you?”

“If you didn’t insist on running in this heat—”

“I’m not running, Glory,” she said as Misty slathered her face with more doggy kisses. “If you walk any slower you won’t be moving at all.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at http://www.akawriter.com/  and http://www.bouncinggrandmamysteries.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you so much for having me here today, Lena. It was a pleasure to visit with you.


And I've loved having you.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this particular link, it will help support this blog.

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


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

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

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5 Book Winners!!

Bethany is the winner of Together for the Holidays by Margaret Daley.

Jackie Castle is the winner of Thirsty by Tracey Bateman.

Abi is the winner of Field of Danger by Ramona Richards.

Cheryl St. John is the winner of All or Nothing by Ashley Ludwig.

Carman is the winner of Cowboy Christmas by Mary Connealy.

Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:

Click on View My Complete Profile, then use the Email link.
Go to http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ then click on Contact Me.

You have 6 weeks to claim your book.

If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the interview. It will help support this blog.

LOVE FINDS YOU IN HOLIDAY, FLORIDA - Sandra D. Bricker - Free Book

Because today is my birthady, I'm giving you a bonus interview with a very funny author. Welcome, Sandie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Well, I write Christian books because that’s where my heart is. There’s so much really awful secular fiction out there, the kind that makes me close the book very quickly. Once I knew that this was God’s plan for my life, it seemed like a no-brainer that I would use that gift to uplift Him and His children. I write comedy because … I’m a very funny person! LOL

I first met Sandra in person at the ACFW national conference, and she's a lot of fun to be around. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I fought for months on end against stage 3 ovarian cancer. There were surgeries and radiation treatments and what felt like YEARS feeling horrible. Even at that, I’d heard so many statistics about how this disease likes to sneak back up on you, and there’s a huge percentage of women who face it again within five years. On the day that I’d been clean for five years … that was a spiritual and physical jubilation like I can’t even adequately describe.

I can imagine. I lost my sister that way. Praise the Lord, He healed you. How has being published changed your life?

I spent a great deal of my life as a publicist for actors, essentially telling the world how wonderful my clients were. I kept it to myself, but I often thought how great it would be if some of them would use their celebrity to bring enlightenment to hurting spirits, or at least to inspire people to be more effective in their lives. I never really realized until recently that I’ve been given that opportunity as a published author. I receive emails and notes all the time from readers who have really been moved by something I’ve written, or I’ve made them laugh at a time when they didn’t think they had any more laughter in them. I’m so humbled and grateful every time I hear a story like that, and it strengthens my resolve to continue providing entertainment AND encouragement through my books. The scripture says a merry heart is as good as medicine, and I feel like that’s been my assignment, to provide light-hearted truths.

One of my novellas was titled The Best Medicine, based on that scripture. What are you reading right now?

Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson. She’s phenomenal.

What is your current work in progress?
I am just putting the finishing touches on my second novel for the new Abingdon Press fiction line. It’s called Always the Baker, Never the Bride, a comedy (of course) about a baker who is diabetic and can’t eat her own creations. I’m having such fun with this book. It’s going to be hard to say good-bye to the characters when it’s finished … but a relief to stop thinking about cake and pastries all the time!

What would be your dream vacation?

It’s really funny that this should be one of the questions because, just this week, I was talking to a friend about needing a break when this next book is complete. She asked me the same question, and my instinctive answer was this: Somewhere tropical like Sanibel Island, Florida, with 6 of my favorite women (and my dog), just getting some sun, sharing a few meals, reading books, taking long naps, leaving the computers behind and turning off the cell phones.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

For the Love Finds You books, Summerside chooses them, and they ask me to write for that location. For my other books, it’s just somewhere that I’ve either lived or visited, somewhere that’s left a lasting impression. The Big 5-OH!, due out in February, is set in Cincinnati (where I spent much of my childhood) and Sanibel Island here in Florida (my favorite escape).

Actually, I chose the setting for the Summerside book I'm writing right now. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

My friend David. We’ve been so busy lately that we haven’t had any real time together. He’s one of my favorite people. He’s uber-smart, and he always makes me laugh, and I can fearlessly bear my soul to him. How many people can you say that about?

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to scrapbook and take pictures, and I’m also a bit of an armchair designer. I make greeting cards and specialty tee-shirts and even paint pottery and ceramics. My creativity gene is an over-achiever.

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

That would have to be balancing my life. I’m still working a day job as an editor in Corporate America, so that’s 40+ hours every week that belong to someone else. Balancing a full-time writing career with that is rough, and then adding some sort of life into it … well, you can imagine.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Finish something. I meet so many people who talk about writing, and they start a hundred projects, but they’ve never finished a single one of them. I think it’s very important to get beyond a synopsis and three chapters. To do that, there’s no substitute for putting your fanny in the chair and writing, writing, writing until you finish something. And when you do … take a break … and then do it all over again.

Tell us about the featured book?

Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida, isn’t your typical romantic comedy. The hero and heroine are in their mid-50s, and the humor is extremely quirky and unusual (just like the town of Holiday!)

Bostonian Cassie Constantine is only in Florida long enough to use her Christmas break to get the vacation house that she’s always despised ready for the real estate market. But her widow status is like a target on her back, and the elderly matchmakers around town manage to sidetrack her mission at every turn. Holiday is a land mine of golf tournaments, ballroom dancing competitions, shuffleboard and day trips. But the biggest obstacle of all? Nope, not Sophie the crazy Collie. It's Richard Dillon. The stuffed shirt she’s paired with on the dance floor makes her heartbeat tap faster than the rhythm of The Quickstep.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Cassie rounded the curve of the street and pulled into the driveway, and there they were! Those horrible neon pink flamingos, grinning at her from beneath the palm tree in the front yard. Just that morning, she’d deposited them in the trash receptacle, hoping that would be the end of them. Something told her she would never be rid of them.

Oh, what a thought!

As she climbed out of the car and stalked toward them, the horror of it buzzed around her like a swarm of gnats. The picture was a vivid one: Sitting on the back deck in her old age, sipping one of those terrible Southern beverages Zan was always experimenting with, her silver hair standing on end and frizzy from the Florida humidity. And poking out from beneath the dock … or peering at her from around the side of the house … or possibly standing tall in one of the large flowering plants … Those eyes. Those gawking, neon eyes, just staring back at her, mocking her with their presence.

Cassie yanked the first one out of the ground where its hard plastic spike anchored it to the front yard, and she tossed it to the grass behind her. Just as she wrapped both hands around the beak of the second one, Zan’s laughter taunted her from across the street.

She turned her head slowly toward him, narrowed her eyes and stared him down, the distance between them bridged by a look her husband had come to know all too well.

“Hi, baby,” he called out to her, grinning as maniacally as those flamingos he loved so much. “Want some help carrying in the groceries?”

Lounging on the front step of Millicent’s porch with his faithful dog Sophie at his side, Zan could surely be spotted from the space shuttle in that colorful Hawaiian print shirt. He waved his arms at her, and then the old woman in the rocking chair began to wave as well.

“Hello, Cassie!”

Cassie planted both feet and faced him, hands on hips. “Alexander Constantine, I won’t have these horrible things displayed in the front yard. What will the neighbors think of us?”

“Ah, come on, Mac. They’ll think we’re kitschy. Don’t you want to be known as kitschy?”

“I certainly do not.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Web site: http://www.sandradbricker.com/
Personal blog: http://sandradbricker.blogspot.com/
Group blog: http://bestilldevos.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Sandie Bricker

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. Using this link will help support this blog.

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


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

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

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

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GONE TO GREEN - Judy Christie - Free Book

Here's another new author on our blog. Welcome, Judy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I was a journalist for many years, and Lois Barker, the lead character in Gone To Green, is a journalist, so there is some of me in Lois. However, the personalities of the characters unfolded as I wrote, and they are definitely their own people. That’s part of the fun of it – creating these new people. It’s amazing how real they are to me.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

A couple of years ago, I got a black eye playing putt-putt golf. Does that count as quirky?

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I started keeping a journal when I was nine years old and have all of them. I was the editor of “The Barret Banner” in elementary school, complete with a column and a photo. I’ve always loved words and books.

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

If you look at my overloaded bookshelves, you’d probably think I need therapy – not only for the number of books but the variety. Fiction is my favorite, but I enjoy inspirational nonfiction and read lots of books about how to be a better writer, marketing and small-business, antiques, and running (much easier to read about it than actually do it). My guilty pleasure: Home-decorating books.

My guilty pleasure books are cookbooks. I like to read them. I don't use them to cook. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

Goodness Gracious Green, second in the Green series, will be released in August 2010. I’m in the rewriting-before-surrendering-it stage. The third book in the Green series is Green Through and Through, due out in Fall 2011, and it’s under way.

The Hurry Less, Worry Less series (all published by Abingdon Press):

Hurry Less, Worry Less at Work (Fall 2009); Hurry Less, Worry Less: 10 Strategies for Living the Life You Long For: (2005); Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime (2007); Hurry Less, Worry Less for Families (coming, Spring 2010); and Goodbye, Murphy’s Law: Whatever Can Go Wrong, God Can Make Right (2008); Awesome Altars: How To Transform Worship Space (co-authored with Mary Dark).

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

I try to live by my own “hurry less, worry less” advice. I remind myself that saying “no” to one thing is saying “yes”’ to something else. I make course corrections on a regular basis, adjust priorities and allow time for fun. I sit in the porch swing, walk in a nearby park or write in my journal. And I pray a lot!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I play with names and consider what I know about my characters and what name suits them. I also choose names for sentimental reasons.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My debut novel, published as part of Abingdon’s fiction launch, ranks right up there. Running two marathons and starting a successful consulting business, all in my 40s, are on the list. I didn’t get married until I was 35, so finding Paul is another great accomplishment!

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

One of those cats that lives in a bookstore. Think about how spoiled I’d be!

What is your favorite food?

Crawfish bread and fried green tomatoes at the New Orleans JazzFest.

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

Like most people, I have lots going on in my daily life. I’m always juggling and have had to discipline myself to sit down and write. I still wish I were more consistent in my daily writing habit. I’ve gotten better by selecting projects I love and mapping out a timeline to complete them. I’m still learning about the characteristics of great fiction and trying to practice what I learn.

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

Choose a project that excites you and get started. Attend a good writers’ conference and learn about writers and writing. And as my wonderful agent, Etta Wilson, says, “Guard your writing time.”

Tell us about the featured book?

Gone To Green is about a big-city journalist who changes a small southern town while the townspeople change her. Lois Barker trades her life as a corporate journalist at a large paper in the Midwest for the ownership of The Green News-Item, a twice-weekly newspaper in rural North Louisiana. As the not-so-proud new owner, Lois is obliged to keep the paper for at least a year, despite her doubts and fears.

When she pulls into Green on New Year’s Day, her expectation of a charming little town full of friendly people is shattered. Instead, she must battle prejudice and financial corruption, while making friends and enemies with a host of fascinating characters who will change her life. As challenges unfold, her year in Green results in a newfound faith and unexpected blessings.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Post Media Company announced yesterday that its multimedia division will offer newspaper readers information around-the-clock, relying on the latest technology and innovation. For more information, see our Web site. —The Dayton Post

I glanced down at the floorboard and noticed it was Thursday.

Somewhere in the last dozen years or so, I had gotten into the habit of figuring out what day of the week it was by checking the number of coffee mugs rolling around. At least I don’t keep tuna sandwiches and an ancient typewriter in the backseat, the way a guy in sports does.

Hurrying into the building, I flashed my security badge at the guard, who reluctantly lifted his head from his Word Jumble puzzle to glance and nod. Let it never be said he didn’t get his money’s worth out of the daily paper—especially since free papers are one of the perks of working at The Dayton Post.

He saw me every day, several times a day, but still made me show my badge.

When I hit the front door of the newsroom, I dashed to my desk. I spend a lot of time dashing, especially in the morning when I slide into my cubicle just in time to make eye contact with my staff before the news-planning meeting.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.judychristie.com/  and Facebook.com/judychristie . I love hearing from people and hope people will befriend me on Facebook.

Thank you, Judy, for spending this time with us today.
Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link, you will be supporting this blog.


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


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

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

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

LOVE'S PURSUIT - Siri Mitchell - Free Book

Welcome back to the blog, Siri. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write historicals because those are the stories that live and breathe in my imagination. I’ve always been fascinated by history and I’ve always wanted to know what life was really like for women of past generations. Writing historicals allows me to delve into the past and answer those questions!

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

It would have to be the day I married my husband, my best friend and fellow adventurer in life.

How has being published changed your life?

It’s made it a lot busier! I’ve had to learn to juggle my writing responsibilities with my responsibilities to my family…and I’ve never been a good juggler. Not even in fourth grade when we learned how to juggle scarves in PE.

What are you reading right now?

I wish I could say that I was reading a fabulous novel, but right now, I’m working on revisions for spring 2010’s release. I do have a stack of books waiting on my desk that I can’t wait to dive into. I’m experimenting with my writing, so I’m hoping that stack of books will teach me how to write from a new POV.

What is your current work in progress?

It’s my spring 2010 release, a historical set in New York City in the 1890s. When Clara Carter is told she’s to debut a year early, her social education shifts to high gear. There’s more than dance skills and manners that she’ll have to learn. There are corsets to be fitted and bosoms to be enhanced, for a girl so tall and gangly as Clara could never hope to attract a man by simply being herself. But the more enmeshed she becomes in New York City’s social scene the more she begins to wonder if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she’s pitted against her best friend for the hand of the most eligible bachelor in town. When she does manage to find a kindred soul, a man who seems to love her simply for who she is, her heart begins to assert its case. But there’s more at stake this social season than just Clara’s marriage, and the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

It sounds interesting. We need to feature it here when it releases. What would be your dream vacation?

September and October in Paris.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I generally start my books with the characters; they suggest their own settings. For my historicals, sometimes past events have made it necessary to place stories in particular cities or countries. In other cases, research led me to believe that the kind of characters I was writing about would most likely have been living in specific locations (i.e. immigrant populations of certain ethnicities).

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

 My best friend from college. It’s been years since I’ve seen her!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I enjoy weight training at the gym. I like playing golf. And—I never thought I would be saying this—gardening!

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

Plotting does not come easily for me. As I plan each book, I turn to James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure and Jeff Gerke’s How To Find Your Story. Both resources are written for the plot-impaired writer, so they’re simple to understand. Jeff’s book actually uses my strength (character development) to combat and overcome my plotting weakness.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Persevere. Attend writing conferences. Become familiar with the Preditors & Editors website.

Tell us about the featured book.

Love’s Pursuit is a Puritan story set in the 1640s in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town's wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love's path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith.

The more I researched Puritan beliefs, the more I discovered just how profoundly they grappled with the interplay between grace and good works. I think the concept of God’s grace can be difficult for some people to understand…and even more difficult for some people to believe in. It seems almost too good to be true. The tragedy of the Puritan movement is that they just couldn’t bring themselves to believe that God truly loved them. In some respects, the consequence of their unwillingness to accept God’s unconditional love was their belief that if they did this thing and that thing and made sure to always follow God’s laws to the letter then God would have to save them. He would owe it to them. The concept of Assurance of Salvation was unknown to the Puritans. I hadn’t realized, before I wrote this book, just how integral that idea is to our faith. The Puritans would have given almost everything to know that God loved them – a concept that believers today take very much for granted.

Please give us the first page of the book.

"Do you never tire of being good, Susannah? Do you never think any rebellious thoughts?"

I turned my eyes from my sister and back to my work in the blueberry canes. "Aye. I do."

Mary gasped, though I detected laughter in the sound. "'Tis not possible."

"'Tis not only possible. 'Tis probable. Like this one I think right now, about you." I threw a blueberry in her direction.

She dodged it. "I shall report this harassment to the selectmen. At once!"

I looked up at her tone, for Mary was unpredictable and she might have done it just for spite. But her eyes were dancing despite her labors and the unseasonable heat. Warmth rose in my cheeks as well. But it was not the sun that scorched my flesh. It was my own conscience.

My sister's question had found a mark too close to the condition of my soul. To those in Stoneybrooke Towne, Susannah Phillips was indeed a fair and obedient girl. But I knew myself to be vastly different than the person they imagined me to be.

Aye, I did tire of being good. And I did think rebellious thoughts. Often. Especially on days like this one. I wanted nothing more than to abandon my task and plunge into the nearby brook. I longed for the luxury of one hour, one minute, that needed nothing done.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at http://sirimitchell.com/ . Registrants of my e-newsletter are automatically entered into a monthly drawing for books and I love hearing from readers!

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you're planning to order from Amazon, please use this link. It will help support this blog.

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


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

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

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

TRUTH OR DARE & ALL THAT GLITTERS - Nicole O'Dell

What has drawn you to writing for the YA market?

Fear! Seriously.

When I was a young girl, my mom was my hero. I really believed that she could do anything and that she knew everything. Somehow, when I entered my pre-teen and early teen years, that all changed. I became angry and really gave her a hard time. I regret much of those years now that I see the truth of them. My mom is now my very best friend. I wish I had known, then, what I know now and how temporary all of that angst and confusion really was.

Ever since I had my daughters, I have feared those years. My parenting has really been shaped by my desire to avoid as much of that destruction as possible. My heart’s desire is to reach hormonal, confused, pre-teen girls, protecting them from themselves and their families from the confusion that can ensue as the girls face those life changes.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

At 15, I decided that I was tired of high school. I convinced my parents to let me homeschool myself and finished three years of high school in five months. I entered Bible college a month before I turned 16.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was in the fourth grade, I entered and won a literary competition. I had to write and illustrate a children’s book—I remember the feelings I had as the process unfolded and I got to see the story in my head come to life on the page. My book, The Girl on the Runaway Pogo-Stick, got “published” and put in the school libraries in my district. I was hooked!

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

I really love to read literary non-fiction, memoirs, that sort of thing. My favorite book, though, is a novel by Randy Alcorn, Deadline. Of all the many hundreds of books I’ve read, I know this was my favorite because of how much I cried when I read it, how often I’ve thought of the characters and how much I miss the experience of reading the book for the first time. It’s really a beautiful book.

I love that book, too, as well as other of Randy's novels. What other books have you written?

As far as full-length published works, these are my debut. I was also a contributing writer for six devotional books for Barbour Publishing.

Whispers of Wisdom for Busy Moms (Barbour, 2008)
Whispers of Wisdom for Single Moms (Barbour, 2008)
Whispers of Wisdom for Mothers of Preschoolers (Barbour, 2008)
Whispers of Wisdom for Young Women (Barbour, 2008)
Whispers of Wisdom for Wives (Barbour, 2009)
Whispers of Wisdom for Girls (Barbour, 2008)

Unpublished, I’m working on two non-fiction parenting books about which I’m currently “in talks”. I also have one full-length fiction manuscript that I’m finalizing this year. And, most importantly, the next two books in the Scenarios series are in the pipeline.

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

I don’t. (ha ha) No, seriously, life IS busy. There’s no disputing that fact. The publishing world is a funny one. It’s a lot of wait, wait, wait and then, when it hits, WOW! There’s a lot to do in a short amount of time. But, that’s not all, I’m also a mom of six—the youngest of which being infant triplets. And, I’m an online college student. So, it’s even busier than people realize. But, I love every minute of it and I wouldn’t change a thing!

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?

Besides family, I’d have to say that the release of these two books is among my proudest moments.

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

Hmmm…a lobster because they are tender and fiercely loyal to their loved ones, and once they grab on to something, they never let go.

What is your favorite food?

I’m a perpetual dieter, so I’m a really boring eater. People probably hate to have me over for dinner because they never know what I’ll eat at any given time. Hmm…you’d think I’d be skinny! I do love a good salad bar, though…and lobster…!

Is it hard to break into the YA market?

I know it would be common for me to say that it took years of effort, with rejection after rejection, but that’s not how it happened for me. I had what I believed was a great idea that God put into my heart. I honed my pitch and perfected my query until I believed it was ready to go. I wrote to one publisher, one time. That one query led to a proposal, and then a contract for two books. I wrote those books; they were published; here we are. I know that it seldom happens that way, and I recognize that it was a complete anomaly (miracle) that it did.

What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?

Write a perfect query and then a perfect proposal. Don’t send out weak work. Be patient.

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

The goal of this series is change. My prayer is that the thinking of young girls is changed as they realize the full weight of the consequences of their decisions. The unique quality of these books is that the reader gets to make the major, moral decision for the main character. That puts the reader right into the story and lets her feel the effects of her decision as the various endings unfold.

Please share the first page with us.

Sure! This is from All that Glitters:

Chapter 1

Time for a Change

A fancy sports car on one side and a shiny, brand new SUV on the other, the Daniels’ slid into a parking spot at the mall. More than any other year, shopping for school clothes this year was a very important task. Dani and Drew, identical twins, were starting the ninth grade, freshman year, the first year of high school! They knew full well how important their first impression was, well, at least Drew did. She had spent most of her summer planning and researching fashion trends, hairstyles and make-up tips by reading Cosmo and other fashion magazines. Not that it would do her much good, she often thought. Their parents didn’t allow them to wear make-up and her long, straight, dark hair looked just like her sister’s hair and was cut and styled in the same style they had always had.

“Mom, I think it’s time for a change,” Drew announced as they were walking through the parking lot toward the mall.

“What kind of change?” Mrs. Daniels asked hesitantly.

“You know, change isn’t always a bad thing.” Drew thought her mom might need some convincing before she tried to state her case. “Change can just be a part of growing up and a sign that a girl is secure and comfortable with herself.”

“Yes, Drew, I’m aware of that. Why do I have a feeling that I’m not going to like what you’re about to suggest?” Mrs. Daniels sighed good naturedly and looked at Drew’s twin sister who shrugged her shoulders not knowing anything about the big change that her twin was proposing. “Well, let’s have it. What have you got cooked up?”

“Oh, it’s really not a big deal, Mom. I’d just like to get my hair cut.” Drew pulled a picture of a hairstyle out of her pocket and showed it to her mom. Mrs. Daniels could see immediately that the softly layered style would cascade to a very flattering place just below Drew’s shoulders. She looked at Dani and raised her eyebrows, “Do you want your hair cut like that?”

“No, Mom, you don’t understand.” Drew interrupted with a slight whine, nervous that she wasn’t getting her point across. “If Dani cuts her hair like that, too, then I don’t want to. This is how I want to look…by myself. I want to make a change, even just a slight one like my hairstyle, to separate myself from just being ‘one of the twins.’ I want to be an individual; I want to be Drew.”

Read on to find out what Drew does to make herself even more of an individual. Does she go too far?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.nicoleodell.com/
Writer’s Blog: http://www.nicoleodell.blogspot.com/
Family Blog: http://www.odelltrips.blogspot.com/
Email: nicoleodell6@gmail.com
Twitter: Nicole_Odell
Facebook: Nicole O’Dell

Thanks so much for having me here on your blog, Lena! I’ve had a great time with your questions. I think I may have even learned a thing or two about myself.

Thank you, Nicole, for coming by.

Readers, we're giving away a copy of each of the books, even though we only had the first page from one of them.

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


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/

WHITE MOUNTAIN BRIDES - Susan Page Davis - Free Book

We're featuring Susan with her New Hampshire series collection. Welcome, Susan. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?

I’m very excited about a couple of deals in the offing. They’re not quite ready for me to talk about, but readers can look for more history and mystery from me! My Ladies’ Shooting Club series will debut in December, too.

What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?

I plan to attend ACFW in Indianapolis in September 2010. I don’t know yet whether or not I’ll be speaking. At the last one, I gave critiques, and I found that very rewarding. There’s a possibility I’ll be at a couple of others, but nothing definite yet.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?

I’d like to hear acquisitions editors tell what makes them reject a manuscript, and also what convinced them they needed to buy the last five they accepted.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

I wouldn’t say you couldn’t succeed without it, but I know it was a tremendous help to me, and a great blessing to discover groups like American Christian Fiction Writers and Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers, where people support each other in ways I’d never dreamed. I met my critique partners through ACFW, for instance.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?

I am my church’s financial secretary. Right now that’s the most of it. I used to lead a home school support group and take part in DAR volunteer efforts.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?

Definitely my parents. They were saved a couple of years before I was born, and they did their best to bring up their children in the Lord. My three sisters are high on the list, too. We are all very different, but when hard times come, we turn to each other.

Tell us about the featured book.

White Mountain Brides is an anthology of three stories. It begins with the 1689 massacre at Cochecho, N.H., and each focuses on a young woman who was captured by the Pennacook Indians and taken to Canada. One stayed with an Indian band for five years. One was married against her will to a French farmer. The third lived with nuns in a convent. When the three return to New Hampshire, the townspeople have trouble accepting them back into their circle. But in the Lord’s timing, each finds love and a new life.

Please share the first page with us.

chapter one
Cochecho, New Hampshire, 1689

Richard Dudley bolted upright, his heart pounding in the dark. The sound that had wakened him came once more—a distant but terrible shriek, splitting the night. Only an Indian out for blood could make that gruesome noise.

“Richard!” His father’s forceful voice came from below.

“I hear it.”

“Quick! Wake your sister. We must run to Otis’s.”

“I’m awake,” came Catherine’s voice from behind the half partition that separated their sleeping areas in the loft.

Richard scrambled to pull on his breeches and shoes. A moment’s hesitation could mean death in an Indian raid. He leaped down the ladder, pausing only to be sure Catherine made it safely down in her billowing skirts. His parents hadn’t built up the fire, and only a faint glow from the coals lit the room. Richard sensed movement and knew his mother was gathering emergency supplies. No doubt his father had dashed to grab his loaded musket that hung above the door. Richard groped his way to the corner where his own weapon leaned against the wall.

“Stephen,” his mother gasped, and Richard’s heart sank at the thought of his younger brother.

“He’ll be safe at Otis’s garrison,” her husband said. “It’s ourselves we must worry about. Catherine?”

“Here, father.”

“Come, then.”

“Take this.” Their mother’s voice was low and urgent. She pressed a sack into Richard’s hand, and he knew it held food. He suspected his mother and Catherine also carried food or blankets. They had discussed sudden flight many times across the supper table and practiced it once before when an outlying farm was raided and the warning came to fort up at the nearest garrison.

That would be Otis’s, the closest fortified house. The blacksmith and his large family offered protection for other settlers whenever needed, as did Waldron, Heard, and other prominent men in the struggling community. Their houses were fenced all around, and built of sturdy oak, with rifle loops for windows above and the second story protruding over the first, so that attackers could be fired down upon. Richard prayed the people within would be safe, as well as the other families that were certainly running toward them.

The four of them crept outside and headed silently across their newly planted cornfield, avoiding the path. Richard cringed with each step, knowing he crushed tender plants he and his father and brother had worked hard to nourish. Worrying about that was senseless. If they did not make it to the safe haven, the corn would not matter. His thoughts flew to the Minton family—Sarah and her parents. They were closer to Waldron’s garrison. Had they made it there in safety? He couldn’t think of her now. Distraction could mean death.

His mother stumbled, and his father reached to steady her. Richard hurried on, taking the lead and hearing Catherine panting behind him. Ahead, the savage screams increased, and a flash of foreboding told him they were running the wrong way, even as his feet took him onward.

They topped a rise, and Richard stopped abruptly. Catherine slammed into him, and the air burst from his lungs.

“Sorry,” she gasped, clinging to his jerkin.

“Look.” Richard held her arms and turned her toward what he had seen. A fiery glow lit the sky ahead.

His parents came up beside them and stood silent for a moment except for their labored breathing.

“Otis’s is burning.” His father’s voice quivered with hurt disbelief. The stronghold they had counted on, near the center of the settlement, had been attacked.

How did you get the idea to write this story?

I am a direct descendant of Richard Otis, the blacksmith who was killed in that raid. Several of his children and his wife were captured. His daughter Judith, my ancestress, was captured but rescued by men of the village. After visiting the Woodman Institute in Dover, N.H., where the last 17th-century garrison house is preserved under a pavilion, I knew I wanted to write about these people. Richard Otis’s house was burned, and 400 years later, archeologists dug up the site. My sisters and I were able to see artifacts including hinges and nails that were probably made by Richard Otis. This visit impressed me deeply, and I began collecting true captivity narratives. After several years, I felt I was ready to begin writing about it. My stories are fiction, but I believe they ring true to the times.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Visit my Web site at: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/ . I’d love to see you there. I’ll also be reading and talking to people at the Lithgow Library in Augusta, Maine at 10 a.m. on December 5. If you’re in the area, drop in and say hi!

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you're going to order from Amazon anyway, using this link will help support this blog.


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


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

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

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

Winners on My Anniversary!!!

TheresaN is the winner of Fit to be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher.

MichelleV is the winner of The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren.

Abster.Rose is the winner of The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir.

Jackie.Smith is the winner of Emmy's Equal by Marcia Gruver.

Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:
Click on View My Complete Profile, then use the Email link.
Go to www.lenanelsondooley.com then click on Contact Me.

You have 6 weeks to claim your book.

If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the interview. It will help support this blog.

COWBOY CHRISTMAS - Mary Connealy - Free Book

I'm glad to welcome Mary Connealy back to the blog. She writes romantic comedies with cowboys for Barbour Publishing. Cowboy Christmas is in bookstores now. Montana Rose, Book #1 of the Montana Marriages series, released in July, book #2 The Husband Tree comes in January and book #3 Wildflower Bride comes in May 2010. Mary is also the author of the Lassoed in Texas series and a cozy mystery collection, Nosy in Nebraska. Mary is a Christy Award finalist.

I've read Cowboy Christmas, and I loved it. A review will be posted in my December newsletter: http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com/


What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I don’t really set out to do it, but I tend to tackle really serious themes. I’ve got no idea if that is some deep personal psychosis or they just lend themselves to drama. But in Montana Rose I tackled wife beating and child abuse. In Gingham Mountain the hardest theme there is ‘why does God allow suffering’. In Petticoat Ranch the underlying them is ‘how do Christians deal with very justifiable hate’.

In Cowboy Christmas, the theme my heroine wrestles with is when to stop being a ‘good girl’ and stand up for her faith against authority. Being willing to risk pain and even death rather than compromise her faith. She keeps failing but she keeps coming back to try again.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

The Husband Tree is next. It releases in January. Book #2 of the Montana Marriages series. I think it’s the funniest book yet. My hero and heroine are so determined to never risk their hearts again that they fight love with everything they’ve got.

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

I’d love to meet Sarah Palin. I hate the ugly way she gets attacked. I think she’d a pretty normal ambitious, hardworking person, only unusually gifted with expressing herself. I just wonder how shocking she finds all the nastiness that’s been aimed at her.

I'm with you there. How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

I’ve always expressed myself in words. I wrote my first book when I was twelve but I don’t remember much about it. How long it was or nuthin’. It might have been two pages long. I wonder whatever happened to it? My children’s baby books are covered in writing. Most people put pictures and locks of hair and birth announcements in there. I just wrote all over those things. I’ve just always felt like I could do justice to whatever was going on with words. . .and plenty of 'em.

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

Well, I’d tell them, it means you’re in there pitching, and I’m proud of you. I means you’re growing that rhino hide that you need to survive as a writer. You should be entering contests to get the critiques. It will help you strengthen your work. You should join ACFW and spend serious time reading through all the online class archives. Those are a gold mine and worth the entire price of the ACFW dues. These are all inexpensive things. If you can afford it, attend conference. It has an impact on editors. I think they immediate put you in a different category or writers who are serious about getting published. Not that they’ll immediate buy and not that people don’t sell who’ve never been to a conference, but it does help.

Tell us about the featured book?

Elijah Walker's lost his father at the hands of a deceitful woman. The one thing he can’t abide is lies.

Citified Annette Talbot is on the run from something, and Eli knows a liar when he sees one.

After a lifetime of being a good girl who does what she’s told, Annette’s obedient nature has led her straight into danger. She’s determined to live more bravely and she prays for God to give her crosses to bear. Too bad every time she gets one, she ends up dropping her crosses on poor Elijah’s head.

Elijah can’t ignore a damsel in distress, especially since God pretty much dropped Annette straight into his unwilling arms.

But helping her isn’t the same as trusting her, and that he will never do.

As Annette and Walker fight their attraction, danger draws near and Christmas approaches. They’ll get one special chance to follow their star to True Love.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“You’ll wear that dress, Songbird.” Claude Leveque grabbed Annette Talbot’s arm, lifted her to her toes, then he shoved her backward.

Annie tripped over a chair and cried out as it toppled. The chair scraped her legs and back. Her head hit the wall of the tiny, windowless shack and stars exploded in her eyes.

Stunned by the pain, she hit the floor and an animal instinct sent her scrambling away from Claude. But there was nowhere to go in the twelve by twelve foot cabin.

Her head cleared enough to tell her there was no escape, so she fought with will and faith.

“Never.” Propping herself up on her elbows, she faced him and shouted her defiance. “I will never go out in public in that dress.”

“You’ll sing what I tell you to sing.” Claude, in his polished suit and tidily trimmed hair, looked every inch civilized, or he had until tonight. Now he strode toward her, eyes shooting furious fire, his face twisted into soul deep rot and sin.

“I sing as a mission.” Annie tried to press her back through the unyielding log wall. “I sing hymns. That’s the only thing—”

A huge fist closed over the front of her blouse and Claude lifted her like a rag doll to eye level, but he didn’t strike.

He would. He’d proved that several times over since he’d come here with his disgusting demands.

She braced herself. She’d die first. Claude might not believe that, but he’d know before long.

“So, you’re willing to die for your beliefs, heh?” Claude’s fist tightened on her blouse, cutting off Annie’s air.

“Yes!” She could barely speak, but he heard. He knew.

“Are you willing to watch someone else die, Songbird? Maybe your precious friend Elva?” He shook her and her head snapped back. “I can always find another piano player.”

“No!” Annie had to save Elva. Somehow. Of course Elva would be threatened. Annie hadn’t had time to think that far.

Elva would never stand for this. Elva would die for her belief’s, too.

A wicked laugh escaped from Claude’s twisted mouth. “She’s easily replaced.”

“But I’ll never,” he shook her viciously, “find another singer like you.”

How had it come to this? God help me. Protect Elva and me.

“My answer is no! Elva wouldn’t play the piano for me if I wore that.” Her eyes went to the slattern’s dress hanging, vivid red, near the door. “She would refuse to play the piano for those vulgar songs."

“We’ll see, Songbird.” Claude laughed again. Annie saw the evil in him, the hunger to hurt. He wasn’t just hurting Annie to get his way, he was enjoying it.

Her vision dimmed and blurred as she clawed at his strangling fist.

“I’ll go have a talk with your frail old friend and then we’ll see.” He shoved Annie backward, slamming her against the wall. She hit so hard her knees buckled. What little air she still had was knocked away. Claude charged out, shutting the door behind him.

Annie heard the sound of a padlock snicking shut as she slumped sideways.

That should grab a lot of interest. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I just got a facelift (on my website, shut up!) and I love it. Go have a look.
http://www.maryconnealy.com/
http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/
http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of the book on Amazon. If you're planning to buy it from Amazon, using this link will help support this blog.

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


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

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

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

ALL OR NOTHING - Ashley Ludwig - Free Book

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

As a starting point, I tend to imagine myself in a certain situation - pose that “what if” question – and imagine how I’d respond to the pressure, the problem, then ultimately seek out a resolution. When I first started writing, I’m sure I was the heroine of every tale! But now, I am attempting to branch out more – in fact, many things I’m working on at present are starting from the hero’s point of view. One thing is for sure – my characters all have my same core of beliefs – or will, by the end of their journey.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

What a funny question! I’d say, if you mean – quirky interesting – I would tell you that I graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Anthropology/Archaeology – and worked across Arizona and part of New Mexico studying prehistoric and historic people. Thus – my love of the west. However, it wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds! I spent 6 months living in a trailer on the outskirts of a postage stamp of a town in eastern Arizona! Some of my fondest memories are of that extended survey…

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

As a child, my mom always helped me transcribe my stories. As a kid in school, I loved our journaling class. Most kids loathed it, but I still remember the green notebook where I kept all of my innermost thoughts, and the thrill of seeing the A+s on the page! Now, not all teachers were that generous as I went along, but I’ll never forget that. I still have a trunk full of my early writing – someday, I’ll share it with my daughters… but every word helped me learn the art of storytelling.

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

I love all genres – I’ll plop down with a historical fiction, romance, a sci-fi adventure, paranormal, thriller, and of course westerns! Every book is unexplored territory.

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

Who said I was sane? Seriously, I belong to several groups of like-minded writers and we’re all in similar life situations. Women who write, have families, are trying to find balance. I also have a new-year’s resolution to say “no” whenever prudent. (This is a BIG one for me, who never wants to turn ANYTHING down.) It seems to be working so far! Time will tell.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I start with a theme, and choose names for the hero and heroine that are appropriate. For example, All or Nothing is loosely tied to the Book of Ruth – so, the main character became “RuthAnne” and her love interest – a strapping cavalry soldier named “Bowen Shepherd.” All other characters just either jump up, fully named or – if I’m stuck, my husband’s a pro at naming people. Usually, he just makes me laugh, but his names always find their way into my stories somehow.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My two daughters – at 5 & 3 ½ - they’re 19 months apart and full of energy. Seeing them turn into sweet, thoughtful kids – that is the joy of my heart. The novel is quite a thrill, also, and finding a publisher who believes in me doesn’t hurt!

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

Oh, that’s easy. I’m a desert girl – so you can call me “Packrat.” I save EVERYTHING.

What is your favorite food?

Sushi!

A desert girl who loves sushi? Interesting. Tell us a little about your journey to publication.

I wrote All or Nothing while on maternity leave, with my baby in the crook of my arm, typing one handed! That book sat on my desk. I took chapters to critique group when I could get out of the house, and one day – after many rejections by agents, and reading up on a new publisher, I decided to send them my query letter. Two days later, I had a request for the full manuscript. One week later, I had a contract in my lap. I had no idea if I’d made the right choice, but after the experience I’ve had with my editor and the publisher as a whole, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve since published a short story with them, "By Another Name," and am working on two more submissions at present.

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

Was and still is – finding the time to write. Really write. Not edit, not do promotion. It takes dedication – sitting down whether you feel like it or not. Pushing through the rough spots until you’re in the groove and words flow like water. Whenever I start a new project, I pledge myself three pages a day. If I can just get through three pages a day, I have a short story within two months. A novel within four. And usually less, because if the words are flowing, I’ll write fifteen. If I’m in a lull, I’ll eke through those three, but I’m always moving forward.

I think what you're calling short story is actually a novella. They're totally different things. What advice would you give to others who are trying to get their first book published?

Join a critique group of like minded folks. Find writers – not just friends who’ll praise you for your eloquence. Learn your craft. Have someone you can trust to call you on those POV slips, or the use of passive voice! You’ll never be sorry. Learn the rules of writing, practice, and share your pages.

Tell us about the featured book?

A young widow starting over nearly dies on the perilous, winding road to Tucson, Arizona, in 1876.

An accident turns out to be a cover-up for a heinous crime at the hand of a murderous bandit. Robbed and left for dead, all that remains for RuthAnne Newcomb is her faith, and the talents God gave her. She needs both to endure the handsome, vengeful cavalry captain who saved her life.

Captain Bowen Shepherd offers aid in exchange for information leading to the criminal’s capture. El Tejano, as the bandit is known, is bound to strike again and RuthAnne is the only living witness to his crimes. Left with nothing but her savvy and unwavering faith, RuthAnne is forced to return to the scene and help with the intolerable soldier’s quest.

Already, the criminal is after the lone witness who can destroy him. Bowen and RuthAnne must risk everything to unmask the bandit once and for all, before he can strike again at the one who cost him the most. Will their newfound love, or their lives, be the cost of bringing a murderer to justice?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

Arizona Territory, 1876

It’s too steep!

RuthAnne Newcomb’s mind raced as she clung to the rattling stagecoach door.

“Easy! Steady!” Their driver hollered at the horses from up above. There was nothing easy or steady about the twisty pass over the rugged mountain or the sheer drop into the jagged canyon below. Suddenly, at the bend, the road vanished into a wall of tumbling boulders and clouds of dust.

Wind whipped RuthAnne’s honey-blonde hair into her eyes and stung her cheeks, burned from exposure to the desert sun. Fear gripped her heart as she stared ahead in disbelief. Debris buried the road by half. Rocks and pebbles flowed down the mountainside in an insane torrent that rained onto the carriage roof and pelted her forehead through the open window. Her quick touch yielded fingertips flecked with blood.

Still, the horses showed no signs of slowing. She could do nothing but hang on and pray for herself and her sister, trapped and at the mercy of the out-of-control stagecoach. …

That beginning really grabs a reader. How can the readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at my web site: http://www.ashleyludwig.com/  or at http://www.mamawriters.com/  

I twitter @wiremamma

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you're planning to order the book from Amazon, using this link will help support this blog.

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


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

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

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FIELD OF DANGER - Ramona Richards - Free Book

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

I’m hoping for more books! I have several proposals in development, and I’d love to sign with an agent soon.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’m a single mom. Rachel is 22 and with her disabilities needs constant care. I have three caregivers who help out (Phyllis, Marti, and Kim) who are also like family to me. Field of Danger is dedicated to Phyllis.

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

I read more romance! I’ve always read it, but now I read more kinds. I love regencies and other historicals, as well as other romantic suspense authors.

What are you working on right now?

The sequel to Field of Danger. It’s called House of Secrets and is due out next summer.

What outside interests do you have?

I love the outdoors, mostly scuba diving and hiking. I also go to a lot of plays and movies.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

They sort of choose me, in the same way the plots do. I get ideas from everyday events, and by the time to plot evolves so has the setting. For me, they are intertwined. For instance, Field of Danger came from weekly trips to Phyllis’s house. She lives in a farming community, and the story came together from a whole bunch of different tales that had risen from that small town.

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

Ooh, that’s like choosing a needle from the haystack. There are many I admire, but if I had to choose one, I’d probably pick Alexandre Dumas. I truly love his novels, his prolific output, and his humor.

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

How hard it is to stay focused on one story. I have so many ideas, that I find it hard to focus on the hard work of writing when so many others are waiting to be born.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Patience, perseverance, and managing fear. He’s really working on me with those!

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

Network and persevere. There’s a lot of about the publishing business that can be learned from your peers, and rejection is a fact of the business. It’s not personal, so file those rejection letters and emails away and keep working. And most of all, listen to your own voice instead of trying to copy what’s out there.

Tell us about the featured book?

Eyewitness to a murder, April Presley wants to answer Deputy Sheriff Daniel Rivers’ harrowing questions about the crime. But she can’t. She barely caught a glimpse of the crime through the deep Tennessee cornfield, and cannot recall anything to help the investigation. Or can she? Daniel Rivers is certain that April remembers more of his father’s death than she realizes. And the killer agrees. In the race to uncover April’s missing memory before the killer finds her, Daniel is the only one she can trust to keep her safe. Yet will he stay by her side when the shocking truth is unveiled?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

When the shotgun went off, April Presley dropped her thermos and screamed.

Hearing her own scream scared her almost as much as the man with the gun did, and April clamped both hands over her mouth as she watched her next door neighbor, Levon Rivers, crumple in the middle of his newly plowed section of the field. Levon and his killer were almost 50 yards away, but even at that distance, April could see the blossom of red on Levon’s chest and a cold brace of fear flooded through her.

Then another screech burst around her tightly clamped hands as the killer swung around to face her, his face a blurry mask of rage. Without hesitation, he lifted the gun and fired again.

April ran.

And the morning had started out so peacefully.

As usual, April had spent her morning half on business and half on enjoying the luscious garden of flowers, herbs and vegetables behind her cottage. Since moving to the tiny town of Caralinda, Tennessee, April had found solace and a kind of spiritual comfort in her gardening.

What an opening. Really grabs the reader. How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me on my website, my blog, or on Facebook and Twitter. I love visitors.

http://www.ramonarichards.com/

http://ramonarichards.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ramona.richards

http://twitter.com/RamonaRichards

Thank you, Ramona, 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.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

THIRSTY - Tracey Bateman - Free Book

I was fortunate to catch my friend, Tracey Bateman, for a few minutes to answer five questions for us about her most recent release. This novel is a real departure from the other things you’ve written. Can you tell us why you wrote a Christian vampire novel?

I find the concept of the vampire to be intriguing and find it really difficult to pass up a good vampire book, movie (a GOOD one) or show like Buffy. If I had thought I could get by with writing a vampire book ten years ago when I started in the publishing industry I’d have written one back then. But the doors weren’t open yet. It’s not so much of a jump for me personally. Just for me in terms of genre. But I’m something of a genre jumper anyway. So it’s a natural leap. When the opportunity arose to write up a proposal, it seemed too fantastic to pass up. I spent a few weeks in prayer over it and when I felt like God said, not only was it okay, but an open door from Him, I went full throttle.

I know the vampire novels are all the rage among young people reading ABA books. Where do Christian vampire books fit in all that’s going on?

I think the latest, more conservative vampire series has opened up the opportunity for writers to tackle vampires for the Christian market. It shows there is a more conservative readership that would accept it, if done well. The main issue I am having is convincing people (my friends and family included) that “Christian vampire” doesn’t mean the vampire is a Christian. I’ve started calling it A Vampire novel for the Christian market, but that doesn’t really describe it either. I guess readers will have to draw their own conclusions. Which is what I prefer anyway. Most of my readers don’t want to be told what to think!

Many Christian young people are reading the Twilight series. Although there are a lot of good things in those books such as the purity, I’m disturbed by the lack of redemption in the books. Will readers find redemption in your novel?

I wonder why you would be disturbed by lack of redemption in a secular novel? It’s interesting from reader to reader what they’re actually looking for. That’s why as a writer I have to write what my heart is leading me to write and not consciously dwell on what I think the reader is going to want. I DO care about my readers a lot. But I’m aware that there is a very different audience for THIRSTY than for my chicklit or historicals.

To answer your question: What readers will find is entertainment and if they’re looking and want more than entertainment, they’ll find a message of hope and second chances. News reporters and freelance writers have gotten pretty free describing the book (before it was out or even had galleys available) so they’ve described some things that maybe aren’t necessarily there. My books are never written with sermons or even prayers built in unless it’s a natural event for a character. Again, I write from that place in my heart that belongs to Jesus and what comes out is a message of hope whether I mention Jesus by name or not.

Are there plans for a series?

No. There’s a second vampire book in the works that takes place in Abbey Hills, but it’s not a series. The books stand alone.

I hope you will let me feature that one, too. Where can readers find you on the Internet?

Facebook, Twitter, and we are working on a new website that will be traceybateman.com

Hope to have that done in a month or so.

Thanks for the great questions and the opportunity to share with readers my heart about this new book.

So glad to have you, Tracey. When I went to the Randomhouse.com website and read about the story, I was intrigued.

There's no place like home, they say.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

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.


Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

TOGETHER FOR THE HOLIDAYS - Margaret Daley - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Margaret back to my blog.

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Holt Medallion, Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines. She has sold sixty-five books to date.

Margaret is currently the Volunteer Officer for ACFW. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She served as vice-president for two years in WIN-ACFW and is still on its board as an advisor. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired last year, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community.

You can visit her web site at http://www.margaretdaley.com/ and read excerpts from her books and learn about the ones recently released and soon to be released.

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

I hope more books. Now that I’m retired, I want to write more and explore other writing opportunities.

Tell us a little about your family.

I have a wonderful husband of thirty-nine years and one son. He and his wife have four little girls.

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

Yes, I don’t get to read as much as I wish. Also, when I do read I want something different from what I write.

What are you working on right now?

I am writing the second book in my home schooling series for Love Inspired. It is called Heart of a Cowboy and will be out next July 2010.

What outside interests do you have?

I love to do things with my friends and family. Most of my life revolves around my church, family and friends.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Sometimes the subject of the book dictates the setting. Often it is a place I’ve been to or am familiar with.

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

That’s an easy one. Jesus. There would be no better evening.

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

How hard it was going to be—not that it would change what I did. But it would have been nice knowing that before I started. On second thought, maybe not.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Patience and to give control over to Him. In the writing profession an author does a lot of waiting—to hear from an editor, to have a book publish.

Don't I know it. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Be determined and don’t give up.

Write almost every day, if possible.

Network with other writers and industry professionals.

Tell us about the featured book.

Together for the Holidays is Lisa Morgan’s story (the fifth book in the Fostered by Love series).

A single mother with a traumatic past, Lisa Morgan only wants to raise her son with love and values. But lately the boy is struggling. When his basketball coach becomes a reluctant role model, Lisa is relieved. Until she learns that David Russell is also a cop. She’s not ready to share her past—or her heart. And neither is the world-weary detective. Yet as Christmas comes closer, the true meaning of the holiday brings them together in ways they never dared dream.

I can't wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at:

http://www.margaretdaley.com/

http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/

http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/

http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/

http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com/

http://twitter.com/margaretdaley

Thank you, Margaret, for sharing 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.

The only notice you will receive will be the winner announcement on this blog. So be sure to check back in two weeks to see if you are a winner.

You will have 6 weeks to claim your book.

If you're reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com