Saturday, June 12, 2010

THE HOMECOMING - Dan Walsh - Free Book

Readers, I just wrote a review of this book. You can read it by clicking on the Book Review tab at the top of this blog.

Welcome back, Dan. Thanks for letting me be a part of your blog tour. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Because they are the kind of books I like to read, the kind of stories when made into movies I like to watch. I guess you’d call them inspirational historical fiction. Stories that have big things going on in the background, characters I instantly care about, facing things I hope I never have to, experiencing things that will change their lives forever. I guess it’s fair to add, a strong love story element is usually involved. I’m writing my 4th novel now. Books two and three are definitely love stories and in my current work a love story is once again in play.

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

My wedding day in 1976. I was only nineteen. I met Cindi when I was 18, but I instantly knew she was the one. More importantly, I believe God showed me she was the one. I say that, because that has made all the difference these last 33 years. She has made me the happiest of men.

How has being published changed your life?

What can I say? It’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. I’m not a fulltime author, but after reading my 2nd novel, The Homecoming, my publisher (Revell) offered me a contract to write three more, so it may happen one day. It’s certainly added a wonderful sub-plot to my life. I love everything about the writing life, but knowing that what I’m writing now will be published, and that I already have a growing readership, has made it even more worthwhile.

What are you reading right now?
Jim Rubart’s debut novel, Rooms. Go get this book. It’s very good.

I've read and reviewed the book. Readers can read my review on the same page where your review is. I loved it, too, and I interviewed Jim on this blog. What is your current work in progress?

My current work, like my first book, is a Christmas novel set in 1980 between Thanksgiving and Christmas called, The Book Nook. It’s about a small Christian bookstore that seems to have an almost enchanted affect on everyone who goes there. Most say it’s because of its owners, Art and Leanne Bell, who constantly demonstrate Christ’s love in so many small but profound ways.

The book opens with a homeless man finding Art unconscious in the store. He’s suffered a life-threatening aneurysm. Leanne must stay by his side in the hospital at the busiest shopping season of the year. Her son, Rick, reluctantly agrees to leave his CPA firm in Charlotte and come down to help out. Art is not Rick’s father. He married Leanne when Rick was a teen and Rick has rejected every attempt Art has made to be a part of his life. What affect will The Book Nook have on Rick? As he interacts with the colorful cast of characters who frequent the store? As he works every day beside Andrea, the single-mom who works there part-time?
I must feature that book on this blog, too, Dan. What would be your dream vacation?

My wife Cindi and I touring Ireland, England and northern France together with plenty of money to spend, and I don’t kill us both by forgetting which side of the road I’m supposed to drive on.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

So far there’s no system. “Write what you know” would seem to be at work for the most part. My first two novels are set in the suburbs of Philadelphia, in a fictitious town that closely resembles where I spent the earliest years of my childhood. My current novel is set in a fictitious seaside town in Florida that closely resembles the Daytona Beach area where I live now (if it had stayed small and cozy the way it was when I was a kid). My 3rd novel, The Deepest Waters, was inspired by a true story, so that setting was fixed by actual events. But I loved researching old San Francisco and New York City in the 1850’s. For my 5th novel, my wife and I will be touring New England for a few weeks, looking for inspiration.

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

To be honest, as a historical fiction writer …most of the people I’d love to spend an evening with are dead and have been for years. Most of the living people I’d like to spend an evening with aren’t well known.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Since I began writing again in earnest in 2007, all my other hobbies have suffered terribly. I used to golf, but I was never that good. Now I’d probably make myself so mad I’d have to repent as I put my clubs back in the car. I can certainly be talked into fishing by any friends with a boat.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Time. I’d love to have more time to write. I don’t overcome this obstacle. I’m now able to write two days a week, which is real progress from a year ago. So I focus on being grateful to God for what He’s given me and try to make the most of it.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Put all your focus on writing a great book, not on all the things you must learn once you get published. If you write a book that readers will absolutely love and talk to others about, a good agent will eventually say yes and a good publisher will too. There are so many things out there now to divert a writer’s attention away from that which matters most.

Tell us about the featured book?
When I finished my debut novel, The Unfinished Gift, I had no intention of writing a sequel. But two things happened. I found I wasn’t ready to leave these characters yet; they’d become almost like family to me. And it was clear there was at least one more story that needed to be told. A love story. Almost everyone who’d read the first book before it was published, asked me the same thing: “Now in the sequel, this is going to happen right?” And they’d be talking about this inevitable love story I had already begun to consider. The Homecoming is that story.
Shawn Collins returns home from WW2, a reluctant war hero. He wants only to care for his son, Patrick, and grieve the loss of his wife in private. But the Army calls on him to travel the country by train on a USO war bond tour, accompanied by beautiful Hollywood starlets. Shawn asks Katherine Townsend, the social worker who cared for Patrick in the first book, to be his nanny while Shawn is on the road. This sets the stage for The Homecoming. Bestselling author Colleen Coble called it, “One of the most delightful and touching love stories I’ve ever read.”
Please give us the first page of the book.
I can give you much more than that. If you click on this link, you can read the first 15 pages: http://www.christianbook.com/reader/?item_no=733896

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can visit my website: http://www.danwalshbooks.com/
Or my blog: http://danwalshbooks.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Dan, for another wonderful interview.

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using this link when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)


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/

39 comments:

Coolestmommy said...

Sounds like I would enjuoy both the first book and this sequel.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I have The Unfinished Gift. Maybe I will be lucky and win this one. Thanks for the chance.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Claire Koenig said...

Would love to check it out. Thanks for the chance!

Katrina said...

Sounds like a really good book.

Anonymous said...

I would love to hear the ending of The Unfinished Gift. Please enter me.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Merry said...

The Homecoming sounds so interesting, I would love to win it and find the first book too. Thanks for a chance!

Carole said...

Dan Walsh is one of my new favorite authors because, like he said at the beginning of the interview, he writes the kind of books I like to read. The Book Nook is one I will definitely watch for! I enjoyed getting to know him through this interview and appreciate the chance to win a copy of The Homecoming.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Anita Yancey said...

Please enter me! I'd love to read it.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Pain SUX said...

I love the Unfinished GIft, so I know I will love the second part.

Thanks for the opportunity.

~Steph
soklad@hotmail.com

Cindy W. said...

Thank you for the wonderful interview. I love stories set during the WWII period. The Homecoming sounds like a wonderful read. Since it is a sequel, I need to find a copy of your first book. I'm sure I will love them.

I am currently reading ROOMS as well. It is an awesome book and much like The Shack it needs to be read and digested.

I would love to win a copy of The Homecoming. Thank you for the opportunity.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Dan Walsh said...

Thanks to all those who've commented so far. Have a signed copy waiting to send to someone :)

For those who haven't read The Unfinished Gift, it may be hard to find it in retail stores, since most of them remove Christmas-themed books in January.

But it's still available at all the online stores (a nice hardback priced the same as paperback).

Revell is about to release a paperback version, to make it easier for people to get.

A J Hawke said...

A new author to me that I'm going to have to check out.

Rooms was a mesmerizing read.

Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.

A J Hawke

Michelle said...

Great interview. Would love to win this one.


mchapman (at) windstream (dot) net

Jan Marie said...

I really enjoyed this interview with Dan Walsh. I was not familiar with him before I read this, but I will definitely be on the lookout for his books now.

janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

Dan Walsh said...

I know this is about my new book, and I'm real excited about its release...but I have some other exciting news. Seems silly not to mention it.

My wife Cindi and I just found out we're going to be grandparents for the first time.

We are so ready (we've been treating our two mini-aussies like grandkids for almost 3 years.

fredamans said...

I read Rooms and loved it as well!

This book looks great too! Thanks for the chance!

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Dan,

You'll love being grandparents. James and I have four grown or nearly grown grandchildren and one great grandson. They're so much fun.

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

apple blossom said...

please include me thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Michelle said...

I would love to be entered to win this book! Thanks so much for the opportunity.

Michelle T.
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

P.S. Congratulations to Dan and his wife on becoming grandparents! : )

Anonymous said...

Hi, Lena!

What an amazing interview. What a blessing it was to read about such a Godly man and the relationship that he has with his family. It sounds like my family, in a way.
******************************************************************
Dan--It's so awesome to be a grandparent; you're going to LOVE it! My husband and I became first-time grandparents a year ago to the sweetest little boy named NOAH CHRISTIAN HAMMOND, and he's the joy of our lives. He has the sweetest little spirit and he's always smiling and happy. The Lord has truly blessed our family.
******************************************************************
I would LOVE to win this book! I would have to buy the prequel to this book before I read it, of course, but I don't mind. Both books sound AMAZING.

cyndelouwho22(at)gmail(dot)com

Sincerely,
Cynde

Kristen said...

Sounds great. Please enter me:)
thanks

Anonymous said...

please count me in...thanks :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Dan Walsh said...

Happy Monday to those of you who jumped in today (and thanks). Just got back from a book signing in Orlando and a fun lunch with two other Revell authors, .

Then Cindi and I ate a crazy good dinner at Villa De Flora's at Gaylord Palms (near Disney). We ate like kings (and queens). Anyone ever eat there? It's almost too good.

Thanks to those who encouraged us about becoming grandparents. So exciting.

Annette W. said...

Woo-hoo! I can't wait to read this book!!derekannette at gmail dot com

Cynde L. Hammond said...

Hi again, Lena.

I made a comment earlier and I don't understand why it came out as "Anonymous". That's never happened to me before.

I'm pretty sure I was signed in because when I went to post my comment, the "Choose an Identity" section was all filled out, PLUS it also stated "Cynde L. Hammond said..." on the top, left-hand side of the preview of my comments, so I can't imagine how it changed to "Anonymous"!

Anyway, I was probably listed as "Anonymous" for all the comments that I made yesterday, so I thought I'd make this one so you'd know who I am, just in case you need that information, OK?

cyndelouwho22(at)gmail(dot)com

Have a blessed day and sorry about the mix-up. Gosh, I sure hope it comes out right this time!

Sincerely,
Cynde

misskallie2000 said...

Great interview Dan. Your book sounds like a wonderful story. I can't wait to read. I have added you as a new author for me and your books to my wish list.

Lena, thanks for hosting and the opportunity to enter.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I'd like to enter the contest. Thanks.

Nancye said...

I enjoyed reading the interview. Congrats, Dan, on the impending arrival of the grandbaby! This book sounds great! I would love to be the winner!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Cara Putman said...

Dan is an amazingly talented author. Loved his first novel and can't wait to read this one.

Dan Walsh said...

Thanks Cara, and all of you for your enthusiasm! Wanted to check in and say hi.

Maybe some of you could pray for us. Taking our son, Isaac, to a specialist all day in Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL tomorrow. He's had life-dominating asthma for years, but it's gotten worse this past year. Had to cancel his wedding plans, unable to work.

Hoping God will give them wisdom to find the right mix of meds to get it back in control (or just heal him completely).

Thanks, Dan

Marla said...

This sequel book sounds very good. If I win, I will be sure to order the first book. Thank you, Lena!

Marla

Anonymous said...

I have the first book so am dying for this one....please enter me.
Thanks!!!
jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

Carol said...

I've started a list of Dan's books to look for. They all sound good. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

choco1950 at netins dot net

MaureenT said...

Oh Dan Congratulations!!! Grandchildren are the best!!
Would love to read your book!
Thank YOU!

Dan Walsh said...

Thanks Maureen and all of you who've posted recently, and for those who prayed for us re our son's asthma.

The appointment at Shands on Thurs went very well. We feel like we had a breakthrough in terms of getting him back on track.

Dan

Megan said...

We posted about your giveaway at Winning Readings.

Shaz said...

What a great interview Dan. Would love the chance to read your book. I always enjoy reading inspirational fiction.

Thanks for the opportunity to have a chance to win a copy of The Homecoming.

wmmahaney said...

I would love to read this one.

wmmahaney(at)Att(dot)net