Wednesday, March 31, 2010

ABBIE ANN - Sharlene MacLaren - Free Book

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?

Well, with every one of my books I would have to say my beloved husband plays a huge part in my books coming to fruition. Without his loving support, I wouldn’t be able to spend so much time at my computer. My daughters are also key supporters. Sometimes when it gets down to crunch time they even bring meals. It’s so nice to “feel the love” when I working!

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

I give a number of library talks in which I share my writing journey, a bit of the writing process, and give a few pointers on how to set and reach publishing goals. I have a couple of TV and radio tapings coming up but sadly don’t have airdates yet.

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

Well, I was born and raised in West Michigan. Yes, cold winters, but summers, glorious. Think sand dunes, spectacular Lake Michigan beaches, gorgeous sunsets, swimming and boating—and GRANDCHILDREN!!!! IF I were ever to relocate, it would have to be to a neighboring city or state. My kids and grands all live within minutes of hubby and me. Now, I ask…how could we possibly leave when we have everything we could ever want or need right here in our little corner of the world? (Sorry, not the answer you were looking for, but, oh well. Grins…)

There is not right or wrong answer. If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Never allow those rejection letters to discourage you to the point of quitting. Okay, you can quit for a day or so, but then jump right back into it. If you have a strong urge to write, and you believe in your heart God gave you a passion for it, then chances are good you’ll publish someday. The trick is to keep plugging away. Honing your skill takes hours of hard work and study, not to mention attending conferences, reading in your genre, joining critique groups, and learning the industry. Pray, pray, pray. If God wants you published, it will happen, but bear in mind, it’s all about Him and His perfect timing.

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])

Okay, this will probably sound corny to most, but I’ve never gone on a “Christian” cruise, so that would be my choice. I’d invite the Gaither Vocal Band to head up the music and I’d ask Mark Lowry (hilarious guy) to emcee the entire event from beginning to end.

You'd have to ask James and me to go. We love the Gaither Vocal Band and Mark Lowry. Tell us about the featured book?

Abbie Ann is the third and final book in my current series, The Daughters of Jacob Kane. Here’s a very brief synopsis: Abbie Ann Kane, the youngest of Jacob Kane's three daughters, is a busy woman. Between running the Whatnot, the family's general store, being active in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and assisting the elderly citizens of Sandy Shores, Michigan, she has little time for frivolous matters. And those include matters of the heart. When the recently divorced Noah Carson comes to town with son Toby in tow to pursue a shipbuilding business, Abbie Ann tries to keep her distance—but God has other plans in mind.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Sandy Shores, Michigan
February 1907

Abbie Ann Kane marched through blinding snow on her way to Kane’s Whatnot, howling winds curling their icy fingers around the buildings of downtown Sandy Shores, hissing and spitting and stinging her nose and cheeks. She pulled her woolen scarf tighter about her neck, but the bitter air still managed to find a hole through which to pass, making her shiver with each hurried step.

The Interurban railcar rumbled past, its whistle alerting pedestrians and horses to make way for its journey up Water Street, Sandy Shores’ main thoroughfare. Through its frosty windows Abbie made out a scant number of passengers, even caught a glimpse of someone drawing letters on a foggy pane, probably some bored youngster, she mused.

Turning her gaze downward, she headed into the strong, easterly gusts, passing Joe’s Barbershop, Tim’s Shoe and Boot Store, Mildred’s Tailoring Shop, and then Ed’s Meat Market. Two more doors and she would reach her destination, the Kane family general store. Normally, her sister Hannah would be working today, but Abbie had taken primary responsibility for Kane’s Whatnot since the birth of little Rose-Ann Devlin on January 15. The little girl was Hannah and Gabe’s third child, and Hannah had her hands full also caring for 18-month-old Alex and their 11-year-old adopted son, Jesse. Taking responsibility for Kane’s Whatnot was the least Abbie could do, never mind that she barely had time to turn around what with her Sunday school teaching job, her recent appointment as president of the local Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, assisting Grandmother Kane with the household chores, and visiting the elderly Plooster sisters as often as possible. Poor things depended on her to keep them abreast of all the town’s news.

The bell above the door tinkled as she pulled open the wooden door, a cold blast of air scooting past her ankles. Her father looked up from his place behind the brass National cash register. “Ah, you’re back from lunch, and not a second too soon. I have an appointment with a client at one o’clock. Can you take over from here?”

“Of course, Papa. Just let me hang up my wrap.” Besides owning Kane’s Whatnot, her middle-aged father with the graying hair and matching beard also partnered with Leo Perkins in the insurance business, the Kane and Perkins office building situated directly across the road from the Whatnot. Both businesses thrived in this lively little resort town situated on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan where the winters could be bitter but the summers delightfully warm and cheery.

The line at the cash register wound around the center aisle. There was Maxine Card and her young daughter Lily, their arms full with candles, two loaves of bread, a wooden bowl, and a mixing beater, Landon and Florence Meir each toting grocery items, and Fred and Dorothy Link, Fred hefting a sack of flour over his shoulder and Dorothy holding some canned goods and a few miscellaneous items. Abbie moved past her father to hang her winter gear on a hook in the small closet behind the counter, which also served as a washroom. After doing so, she glanced in a tiny mirror to rearrange the side combs in her flowing black hair, rubbed her icy fingers together, and joined her father on the other side of the curtain, the potbellied stove at the back of the store not giving off near enough heat to quell today’s sub-zero temperatures.

I've loved both of the other books in this series. I know I'll love Abbie Ann just as much. Where can we find you on the Internet?

Please come look me up at any of the following sites:

http://www.sharlenemaclaren.com/
http://www.sharlenemaclaren.blogspot.com/
www.shoutlife.com/sharlenemaclaren
http://www.facebook.com/  (*request my friendship!)

Thank you, Sharlene, for this fun time with you.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using this link when you order, you'll 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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40 comments:

Sarah G said...

I would love to win this book! Thanks so much for the chance!

apple blossom said...

Love to win. Thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Wendy said...

Please enter me.
Thanks

rubynreba said...

Great book - please enter me.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Trinity Rose said...

Greetings,
Great interview and book.
Please enter me.
Thanks and Blessings,
Trinity Rose

http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/

Cherie J said...

Enjoyed the interview! Please enter me. Thank you!

SHARLENE said...

Hey, you wonderful interview readers, thanks for stopping by Lena's fabulous blog. Isn't it great how she makes it available to so many?

I wish you all a glorious, blessed Easter weekend.

He is RISEN. He is risen INDEED!

(((HUGS)))
Shar

Casey said...

I would love to read this book- lovely cover too! Thanks for the chance. :)

Anonymous said...

Please enter me.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Nancye said...

Sounds like a great book! Please count me in.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Coolestmommy said...

Love a chance to win. Thanks!

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

misskallie2000 said...

Hi Sharlene, Loved the interview and fell in love with Abbie Ann.. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
I tried to friend you on FB but could not figure out how.. Usually the button will take me but not this one.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

enjoyed this posting...thanks for the chance to read Sharlene's book

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

Please include me. I'd love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Sheila Deeth said...

I loved reading the excerpt - would love to read more.

Unknown said...

This sounds like a really good read and I would love to win it!

lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

Brittanie said...

I would love to win a copy of this book. :)
treewaterduchess (at) yahoo (dot) com

Merry said...

I'd love to win Sharlene's newest book. Thanks for a sneak peak!

worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Theresa N. said...

I've always heard Michigan is beautiful and think more people should write about their home states.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

Julia M. Reffner said...

I'm a big Mark Lowry fan, too. This sounds like a fun read. Please enter me.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Desiree said...

Would love to win this book for our church library!

Carla said...

Would love to win. Thanks.
Carla

CarlybirdH said...

Please add my name to the drawing. Thank you!

Judy Glidden said...

I love the cover of this book and would want to read it by just looking at the cover. I did appreciate the interview though.
Please enter me in the chance to win.
judyg54(at)juno(dot)com

Lori (sugarandgrits) said...

The covers for this series are stunning!

I'm so excited to read Abbie's story. Thank you for the opportunity to do so. :)

sugarandgrits at hotmail dot com

Carole said...

I enjoy Sharlene's writing very much and hope to read Abbie Ann soon. Thank you for the interview and chance to win a copy.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Cindy W. said...

Sounds like an awesome book! Please enter me into your giveaway and thank you for the opportunity.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Edna said...

I would love this book as I am an advid reader and love to collect them

mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Sarah R said...

Please enter me in the drawing. This sounds like a book I'd like to read.

Katherine said...

This book looks amazing! I would love to read it! Please enter me.

kefarley89(@)gmail(.)com

Mimi N said...

I LOVED the first 2 books in the series!! Would love to win Abbie Ann. So excited for it!

~Mimi
mnjesusfreak at gmail dot com

Rosalie Patience said...

Please enter me in the drawing. It sounds really good!! Thank you for the opportunity.

~Abby

abster . rose @ yahoo . com

Judylynn said...

Please enter me in this giveaway!

seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

Deborah M said...

I read the last book in this series and would love to read the last one on the sisters. Please sign me up.
Deborah M.
debbiejeanm[at]gmail[dot]com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

Please sign me up, I would love to win this book! Thanks.

dancealert at aol dot com

Stormi said...

Love this series and would love to win this book.

Thanks,
Stormi
booklady2007[at]gmail[dot]com

Megan said...

I love historical books - and this sounds like a great one. Thanks Lena!

Megan

Marla said...

Please enter me in the drawing. Sounds good. Thanks!

koinonia572001@yahoo.com

Megan said...

I would love a chance to read this!
Thanks

inspiredbyfiction at gmail dot com