Friday, June 24, 2011

IDAHO BRIDES - Erica Vetsch - Free Book

Why do you write the kind of books you do?
History and romance were a natural mix for me. I’m a sucker for a happy ending, and I’ve always been interested in history. I taught history when my kids were small, and I love museums and history books. I admire the pioneer spirit of 19th Century Americans, and I love learning more about their lives.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
This is a tough one. I’ve had a wonderful life so far. My wedding day was amazing, but then so were the days when my babies were born. The day I held my first published novel in my hands is a day I will never forget.

How has being published changed your life?
Deadlines! I’ve released nine books in the last 20 months, with six more in the pipeline. Barbour has really kept me hopping.

What are you reading right now?
An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor. My mom recommended it.

What is your current work in progress?
I’m currently working on a novella collection that will come out next spring entitled Sagebrush Knights. Four sisters become mail-order brides in Wyoming Territory.

We must feature it. Let me know when you have a pub date. I love mail-order bride stories. My Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, is one. What would be your dream vacation?
I’d love to spend about a month touring New Zealand. Ever since high school when I first read romances by Essie Summers, I’ve longed to see New Zealand.

I read a lot of Lucy Walker romances set in Australia, and I love to go there. How do you choose your settings for each book?
I’m always on the lookout for an interesting historical site or event to set a story around. My debut novel was set in Duluth, MN and features a shipwreck that actually occurred in 1905. The Idaho Brides stories were a bit different because I was filling an open slot that Heartsong had for an historical series set in Idaho.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I think I’d like to have dinner with George W. Bush. I’d like to hear his testimony, and talk with him about his time in the White House.

I’d love to be there with you. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Visiting museums. Watching movies. Building jigsaw puzzles. I particularly enjoy building Charles Wysocki puzzles.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Focusing while at home. I have a hard time writing at my house, so I overcome this by writing at a coffee shop or at the library.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
I’d advise a new author to write a letter to themselves. Put in all the reasons why you love to write and want to be a writer. Tell yourself what you’re going to do when the going gets tough. Put it away, and when disappointments come, rejections, long waits, setbacks, etc. take the letter out and remind yourself of why writing is precious to you and why you’re going to keep going.

Tell us about the featured book.
Idaho Brides - Experience the Wild West through the eyes of the three McConnell brothers who long to overcome their troubled childhood as drunkard’s sons. Can Alec show that he’s worthy of the ranch boss’s daughter? Can Trace help a distraught woman trust again? Will Cal prove his innocence to a U. S. Marshal in disguise? Will they each find a woman with whom they can trust their tender hearts?

Justice is demanded from the McConnell brothers who are tainted by association with their abusive father. Can Alec show that he’s worthy of the boss’s daughter? Can Trace help a distraught woman trust again? Will Cal prove his innocence to a U. S. Marshal in disguise?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Clara and the Cowboy – Book One of Idaho Brides

Idaho Territory, 1883
A bullet shattered the window frame beside Clara Bainbridge’s cheek,
and in an instant drowsiness fled. Robbers! She gritted her teeth, heart
thumping.
Another shot ricocheted off the door. The driver cracked his whip, shouting
at the six-horse team. The coach lurched like a drunken cowboy.
Clara tumbled to the floor amid the packages and parcels that had shared her
seat. She hit her chin on a fellow traveling companion’s knee, rattling her teeth
and sending a jolt through the top of her head.
“Wha—?” The passenger—Sparks, ma’am, call me Sparks—rocketed upright,
blasted from his nap by the commotion. He blinked, floundering. “What’s
going on?”
Clara scrabbled and swayed, trying to find a good purchase to propel herself
upright again. Her pulse threatened to jump out of her throat. More gunshots
sounded, some thudding into the coach, others whining past overhead.
Sparks’s flailing elbow dislodged her hat and sent her carefully pinned hair
tumbling into her eyes. Sprawled as she was in the minimal floor space, she
could hardly tell up from down. Her hand found the edge of the bench, and
she dragged herself onto the seat once more.
“The floor might be a safer place for you, Miss Bainbridge.” Mr. Devers, the
other man in the coach, raised his voice to be heard above the clamor. Polished,
polite, and devilishly handsome, he seemed none too worried over their
present situation. The poor greenhorn had no idea the peril they were in. He
and Mr. Sparks had boarded the stage in Elko and appeared to be traveling
together. Though truthfully, Clara hadn’t paid too much attention to the pair.
She had focused all her attention on how close she was to home. And seeing
him again.
Of course, all that had changed when the first bullet hit the stage.
“How many are there?” Sparks tried to stick his head through the window
but yanked back when a bullet chipped the paint near his ear. He drew his pistol
and checked the chambers.
Mr. Devers stuck his head out then pulled back in, blinking hard.

All right. I’m hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet? 
You can find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/erica.vetsch

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



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. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

48 comments:

Jo said...

This book sounds interesting. I like books that involve more than one person in the family and from this time period.

Blessings,
Jo

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Jo,

I'm a big fan of family series. I love to read how they interact with one another and how the people they marry relate to each other.

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read erica's latest novel ;)

karenk (from PA)
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Judy said...

I loved the interview with Erica. Was interesting that she would love to sit down with George W Bush and hear his testimony and talk to him about his days in the White House. I too think that would be interesting.

Would love to win a copy of "Idaho Brides".

God Bless,
Judy from IN

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, KarenK,

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. :)

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Judy,

That was such a tough question for me to answer. If it had said who would you like to have dinner with that was dead, I'd have picked Winston Churchill. :)

Diane Ashley said...

Hi Erica, I am so impressed with your speed and skill in writing so many books. I can hardly wait to read your newest book - it really starts with a "bang" Thanks, Lena, for your wonderful blog. Love your insightful questions.

Janet Lee Barton said...

Great interview, Lena and Erica! I love family series, too! You've hooked me with your excerpt! I can't wait to read it! :)

A J Hawke said...

Cowhands and brides, sounds like a fun read.

Thanks for the opportunity to win a giveaway.

A J Hawke
Texas

Aaron McCarver said...

I had the extreme pleasure of editing these stories! I enjoyed them all. Of course, I enjoy everything Erica writes! Everyone, be sure to read her next HP series set in Colorado and her first full-length set in Dodge City. You will love them all. Great interview, Erica. Looking forward to the novella collection.

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Diane,

Thanks for coming by! I'm a big fan. I love the cover of Tennessee Brides.

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Janet!

I always love when an author has family series, because then you don't have to let go of favorite characters at the end of book one. :)

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, AJ,

I would love to steal your name for a character from Texas!

Warren Baldwin said...

Looks like a good book! Used to live in the NW, so anything in Wyoming, Mont, or Idaho is an attention-getter.

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Aaron!

Thanks so much for coming by and for your kind words. :)

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Warren,

I live in Minnesota now, but I was born and raised in Kansas. I miss those wide-open spaces.

Rhonda Gibson said...

I love the sound of these books! My maiden name is McConnell :) and when I saw this book on the shelf, I had to have it. It's in my bookshelf now waiting to be read! Thanks Lena and Erica for reminding me I need to pull it out and read it!

Patsy said...

Erica's book sounds great. I love happy endings too! Would enjoy reading it.
From the Bible Belt

plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Erica Vetsch said...

Rhonda, how cool about your maiden name. I hope you enjoy the book! :)

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Patsy,

As a transplanted Kansas now living in MN, I miss the Bible Belt. :)

misskallie2000 said...

Hi Erica, Idaho Brides sounds like a great cowboy story and 3 brothers makes it even better.
Please enter me in giveaway Lena.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Georgia

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Miss Kallie!

I'm a sucker for a cowboy story myself. :D

Sarah said...

I loved Love Finds You in Golden Mexico.

This one looks great, too!

Sarah H.
Oklahoma

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Thank you, Sarah, for the kind words about my book. So glad you liked it.

Rebecca said...

Thank you so much for the chance to win this. This sounds like a great book. I would love to read this. Thanks again.

agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Sarah and Rebecca! Thank you for stopping by, and good luck in the drawing. :)

Coolestmommy said...

Love getting a 'series' under the cover of one book. Sounds like a great read.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

Jamie Adams said...

I enjoyed the interview. Erica's a very talented writer.

I'd love to be entered in the drawing.
adamsfammys at Yahoo dot com

Jamie Adams

Karin said...

I know I have a few Essie Summers books around here somewhere -- I should pick one up and read it!

Karin A.
MN.


karin56381 (at) gmail.com

Krista said...

Ooohhhhhhh.... sounds good!
Please enter me! :)

Krista from Gresham, OR

scottsgal said...

9 books in 20 months? That's a lot of writing - enjoyed the interview
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Emma said...

The excerpt of Idaho Brides sound wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.Thank you for the chance to win this.

apple blossom said...

love the cover and love these books would love to win thanks for a chance.
I live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Unknown said...

Thanks, Lena and Erica for a great post and interview. i would love to win Idaho Brides. mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com from Peace River Country, Alberta

Anonymous said...

I love books about brides and from this time period!

Thanks. I'm a subscriber and a follower gfc.

Brenda from Michigan.

dancealert at aol dot com

Faith's Grandma/Ohio said...

Hi Erica, sounds like a great book...and if you do get invited to George Bush's home, please email me, I'd like to go too :)
Would like to win this book.

Faith's Grandma

Molly said...

This series sounds interesting. I love that it set in Idaho as that's where I'm from and that it is a family series because I like when characters continue to stay involved.

Kristie said...

My mom loves Charles Wysocki paintings. I HATE puzzles. Glad it's you and not me. *LOL* Your book sounds good. I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Robyn,

I'm a fan of getting a whole series at once. I'm not patient when it comes to reading the next book in a series. :)

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Jamie!

Thank you for coming by! I hope you get a chance to read Idaho Brides.

Erica Vetsch said...

Karin, Essie Summers books are GOLD! I love her writing and I wish I could have met her.

Erica Vetsch said...

Krista, Thank you for stopping by! :)

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Cheryl/Scottsgal,

It has been a lot of writing, but I LOVE it. I've been truly blessed.

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Apple Blossom,

I hope you're not near Minot and all that flooding. I feel so badly for all those displaced.

Erica Vetsch said...

Marianne, I love where you live. The Peace River Country would make a great title for a series. :)

Courtney said...

Sounds like a great book. I also love reading about more than one person in a family. Thanks for the giveaway!

Courtney
WA state

Erica Vetsch said...

Hi, Courtney! Thanks for commenting! I hope you get a chance to read Idaho Brides.

Faith's Mom said...

Would love to read this book.....enter my name in this contest....
Faith's Mom/Ohio