Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A MEMORY BETWEEN US - Sarah Sundin - Free Book

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


I ended up writing historical fiction almost on a whim. I wrote a few contemporary novels (badly), when I had an idea for a story that would only work in a historical setting. I had no idea how much research the story would require, so I dived in. And then the World War II time period grabbed me. There are so many dramatic stories and settings—a novelist’s dream. This was a time when ordinary men had to do extraordinary things, and when women first explored non-traditional roles—while remaining ladies.

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

How to choose? My wedding day, the birth of each of my three children, my first day of college, getting the e-mail that my first book would be published, touring England with my husband, watching my husband carry all three kids piggy-back at the beach (he can’t do that anymore!), moving into our first house, whole days spent at the library as a girl—God is so good.

Yes, He is. How has being published changed your life?

The nicest part is that people take my writing more seriously. It used to be, “Oh, isn’t it cute that Sarah’s writing a book?” Now they’re more likely to see it as a career. I’ve had to make the same mental transition—it’s no longer a hobby. Before publication, I spent long luxurious hours playing with my stories and chasing research rabbit trails. Now I have to be more efficient and focused to take care of research, writing, and publicity.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (amazing!), and started Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz, which I’m really enjoying.

What is your current work in progress?

Recently I turned in the manuscript for Blue Skies Tomorrow, the third book in the Wings of Glory series. Now I’m working on a proposal for another series.

What would be your dream vacation?

England with my husband. I don’t think I could go there often enough. London is one of the few large cities in the world I actually like, much less love. And I’d really love to explore the English countryside away from the tourist spots.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

A combination of story needs, what I know, and what I want to know. For the Wings of Glory series, I decided to have my pilot hero brothers serve in the US Eighth Air Force based in England, partly because my great-uncle flew a B-17 bomber with the Eighth, and partly because I love all things English. I was blessed with the opportunity to visit England twice while writing this series.

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

This is a tough question. I’d love to meet Kay Arthur. I’ve taken lots of her Precepts Bible studies, and I love her passion for God and His Word, and her transparency and sense of humor.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Hobbies? Can you hear me laughing? My kids are in middle and high school, so I live in my car. Thank goodness I find writing so relaxing and enjoyable. I used to do lots of sewing for myself, the home, and for my daughter when she was little and let me choose her clothes. Oddly, when I started writing, I lost my interest in sewing, as if the minuscule creative section of my brain could only handle one outlet at a time.

I used to have a bumper sticker that said, If woman's place is in the home, why am I always in my car? What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

My biggest distraction is a yellow Labrador retriever named Daisy, Satan’s emissary to keep me from writing. When the kids are at school and my husband’s at work, I assume it’s writing time. Daisy tells me it’s play time! Always play time! And if I don’t play, she eats my pens. I overcome this obstacle with “bully sticks”—a nasty meat-product condensed into hard stick—Daisy can gnaw one of those for at least an hour.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Be teachable and soak up all the good instruction you can. Read books on writing craft, and then read your favorite authors and analyze how they did it.

Join ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Their e-zine, e-mail loop, and monthly courses are outstanding.

Join a local writers’ group or an online critique group.

Don’t submit to agents and editors until you’re ready. That means a complete manuscript, positive feedback from experienced writers, and enough knowledge of the publishing industry to know how to submit properly. You want your first impression to be stellar.

Lastly, when you’re ready, submit and keep submitting. Keep polishing your craft, and keep praying for the Lord’s guidance.

Very good advie. Now tell us about the featured book.

 A Memory Between Us is the second book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II. Each book is stands alone.

In A Memory Between Us, Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge—until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she carries a shameful secret that keeps her from giving her heart to any man. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

Sounds interesting. I love that kind of romance. Please give us the first page of the book.

2nd Evacuation Hospital; Diddington, Huntingdonshire, England
March 3, 1943

Lt. Penelope Ruth Doherty braced open the window and drank in cool air to settle her stomach. “There, gentlemen. Isn’t it nice to have fresh air in here?”

In the bed next to the window, Lieutenant Lumley snorted. “Ma’am, I’m from Arizona. To me, this soggy English air is more lethal than Nazi bullets.”

Ruth smiled at her patient, who had broken an ankle when his P-38 Lightning crashed on landing. “Good air circulation is important for wound healing.” And for clearing the nauseating smell of breakfast sausage from the tin can of a ward.

“Say, Red, you know what would heal my wounds?” The new patient, Lieutenant Holmes, pointed to his lips and dropped Ruth a wink.

Ruth gave him a sweet smile. “You’d like another dose of castor oil?”

“And it’s Lieutenant Doherty to you.” Ruth’s medic, Technical Sergeant Giovanni, set his supply tray next to Lieutenant Holmes’s bed. “Now, time to swab your wounds.” A German shell had filled the navigator’s back with shrapnel.

“Besides, her hair is more auburn than red.” Lieutenant Lumley’s gaze had a softer cast than usual. Thank goodness, he was due to be discharged.

More compelling now. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/
Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahsundin
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

Thank you, Sarah, for dropping by.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it 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.

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39 comments:

collettakay said...

I'd love to win this book!

pepsi324[at]yahoo[dot]com

Annette W. said...

Historical war-time romance sounds great to me!

Ann Lee Miller said...

Me, too! Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com

apple blossom said...

please count me in on this giveaway. thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Patsy said...

This book sounds great!Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for giving away a copy.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Coolestmommy said...

Love WWII books. Best wishes!!!

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I loved her first book, and would love to win this one!

Anonymous said...

Great post. I just got this book but haven't had time to read yet, it sounds so interesting.
tarenn98[at]yahoo[dot]com

fredamans said...

Please include me. I read A Distant Melody and loved it but couldn't sign up for the tour due to moving. I would love to read on in the series though. Thank you.

grannyvon said...

The cover grabs me without even reading the reveiw. The review just confirms that I have to read this. Thanks for the chance to win it! ybutler(at)oppcatv(dot)com

Michelle said...

SO HAPPY to see another opportunity to win this book! Thank you so much for entering me!

Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Cherie J said...

Enjoyed the interview! Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you!

Bakersdozen said...

I want to read this book and the previous book in the series. Thanks for the interview and excerpt. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lydia M. said...

Thank you for the opportunity to win.


lindawn{at}hotmail{dot}com

Pam said...

I like reading books set in this time period. "A Memory Between Us" sounds very good. I'd love to win this book.

Sarah Sundin said...

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by. I'm so excited at the interest in the book - and all the familiar names!
Revell did a lovely job with the cover, didn't they?

Tammi said...

Please enter my name into the hat.

Thank you!

~Tammi

dandtdearing@myfairpoint.net

Cindy W. said...

I loved A Distant Melody and I know I will love A Memory Between Us. Thank you the chance to win a copy.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anne Payne said...

I'd love to read this book!

homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Nancye said...

This sounds like a book I would enjoy. Thanks for the chance.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Wendy said...

I have heard so much about this book. It looks really good and I can't wait to read it.

Jennifer said...

Sounds like a good book. I look forward to reading it.

Lourdes said...

Looking forward to reading A Memory between us. Read A Distant Melody thought it was great.

Lourdes11743[at]gmail[dot]com

Pain SUX said...

I love the historical books, especially when the wars are involved. Please count me in.

~Steph
soklad@hotmail.com

Kameko said...

Enjoyed your interview, Sarah. But Daisy really can't be bad enough to be Satan's emissary, can she? Your books are wonderful and I thank you for the chance to win "A Memory Between Us."

Blessings,

Beverly

bgrider2 at cox dot net

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

Please enter me! I would love to win the book!

dancealert at aol dot com

Sarah Sundin said...

Thanks, everyone! You make my day!
Beverly - you haven't met Daisy. She has eaten (a partial list) - two pairs of prescription eyeglasses, one pair of reading glasses, the tubing for the pool vacuum (several times - she thinks it's a sea serpent), my son's retainer, countless socks and wooden spoons. She's pulled up the carpet and chewed holes in the drywall. We have no beach towels without holes in them. And just once I'd like to use a pen without toothmarks in it.

Anna Weaver Hurtt said...

Ooh, please drop my name in the hat! Thanks for the giveaway!

holdenj said...

This looks like a wonderful book! I agree with Sarah that WWII has so many great settings for stories. Thanks!

wmmahaney said...

I have really begun to enjoy books set in the WWII era. Would love to read this one.

Anonymous said...

Would enjoy this book, I am sure. Please enter me! Thanks!!!
jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

MaureenT said...

I would love to win this book...the first book ...I kept picturing my parents.
Sarah you have a wonderful gift that I'm happy you have shared!

God Bless
Maureen

Anonymous said...

Please enter me.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

A J Hawke said...

Sounds intriguing. Please put my name in the draw.

rubynreba said...

Thanks for the chance to win and read this book. Historical romances are always good.

Megan said...

Sounds great! I love army books with a little romance thrown in! Thanks Lena!

Sarah G said...

Thanks so much for the chance to win! :)

Roanna said...

The book sounds interesting... Please include me in the drawing. Thanks!