Sunday, July 10, 2011

FALLS LIKE LIGHTNING - Shawn Grady - Free Book

Shawn takes us deep inside the exciting and dangerous world of fire fighters. Welcome, Shawn. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
Completing my third emergency suspense thriller with Falls Like Lightning has brought a real sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Bethany House has been fantastic to work with. Presently, I have new book proposals cooking in the oven with my agent and look prayerfully forward to what the future holds.  

Tell us a little about your family.
I'm married with three children. We love spending time outdoors— hiking, going to the beach, surfing, camping and skiing in the winter.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I think I may have less tolerance for writing that appears lazier —i.e. an overabundance of adverbs, consistently telling not showing, poor story flow/structure— than I did before writing professionally. But even then I tried to make it a point to read great writers. I like to pick up books that are not only entertaining, but also by authors who challenge me to be better at what I do.

What are you working on right now?
I'm in the first writing phases for one of the proposals currently with my agent.

What outside interests do you have?
We just got back from camping on the Pacific Coast. Yesterday we spent the day at the beach at Lake Tahoe and this weekend are visiting an ancient Egyptian exhibit at the Nevada Museum of Art.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
So far I've stayed very local with places I know first hand. Falls Like Lighting is the first of my three books that takes place largely outside of Reno, but it is still set in the Desolation Wilderness west of South Lake Tahoe.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Assuming I could speak Hebrew or Greek, then I'd love to share a meal with Peter the apostle.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
How early the ARC's go out (advanced reader copies). For Through the Fire the ARC's were printed off the line edit —still pretty early in the editing phase— and I probably put another hundred hours worth of editing into the final novel before it officially went to press.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
The value of ingesting large portions of His Word on a consistent basis. Too often I neglect to set aside time to read the Bible. But when I do, I feel much closer to Him and things I've read before become alive and active.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
1) Trust you heart. Write from the gut.
2) Expect and be open for trusted criticism. Set your mind to be in it for the long haul, through all the revisions it will need.
3) Read great writers and read tried and true books on the craft.
4) Bonus- Attend a writing conference(s).

Tell us about the featured book?

Falls Like Lightning

Smokejumper Silas Kent never expected to see pilot Elle Westmore again. In fact, reuniting makes him realize what a mistake he made all those years ago. But before he has a chance to try to make amends, he's called to lead a new crew in to battle against a massive fire in the Sierra Nevada.

And then things go very wrong, very quickly.

A suspicious engine explosion forces the crew to parachute early while Elle must attempt a crash landing. Silas reaches the ground safely, but in beginning a desperate race to reach the downed plane, he soon realizes he has more to fear than just a raging forest fire.

Please give us the first page of the book.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
THROUGH THE FIRE is available for free download on Kindle or Nook for a limited time.

Thanks for having me here, Lena!


My pleasure. Please contact me about your next book release, so we can feature it on the blog.



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 4 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

31 comments:

Jo said...

Well it looks like I am the first to write a comment. I enjoyed your interview and learning a bit about you since you are a new author to me.

Would love to read your book. Please enter me in the giveaway.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Annette W. said...

Great interview for a new-to-me- author!

derekannette at gmail dot com

Annette in lovely PA

Anonymous said...

I would be blessed to win a copy of this book.

ANGELA C FROM TRENTON KY

Sandy Jay said...

Please count me in. I'd love to read this. I'm in MI

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Thanks, Lena and Shawn for the great post, interview and giveaway. Martin Whitbread told me a new item - guess you were at the fire in Surprise, Az a few years ago? Small world. would love to win this book of your. mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com

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.

I'm from Oklahoma.

agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mozi Esme said...

Looks like an interesting book!

Jane from Oregon

Roanna said...

Clicked on the link and from what I've read the book sounds very good! I would like to be entered.

Thanks!
Roanna from Ohio :)

Shawn Grady said...

Thanks, Jo! I'm glad to have found a new reader.

Hi Marianne! Martin is a neat guy and Living Books is a tremendous organization. I have photos from my weekend trip up there last fall on my website.

Thanks to all who have commented so far. Enjoy the read!

Sarah said...

Would love to win!

Sarah H
Oklahoma

Katherine Hyde said...

I loved the beginning of the series and would be happy to see that free copy come to Ben Lomond, CA!

Jillian Kent said...

I've read both of Shawn's previous books in this series and they were great. I'm looking forward to this one as well.
Are you headed to ACFW this year Shawn?
Best of luck with planning the next project.
Smiles,
Jill from Cincinnati, OH

Trinity Rose said...

Greetings,
This sounds like a wonderful book. My favorite kind.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Trinity Rose from OH

Judy said...

I enjoyed the interview Shawn! You are a new author to me. Reading is my passion and I love finding new authors. "Falls Like Lightning" sounds like a great read and I'd love to win a copy.

Thanks for the giveaway.

God Bless!
Judy from IN

peachykath said...

I've never heard of this author before, but I really enjoyed reading about him. Being a former firefighter I love reading books about that subject and Emergency services in general. This author has been added to my "to be read" list. Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you.

Katherine from Northern California

peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com

Kristie said...

Gee! Your books sounds wonderful. My soon to be brother-in-law is a fireman. I'll see if I can get him to read this series. I can relate to not reading the Bible enough. I have a brochure about reading a little each day. I need to get on that. *LOL* I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

A J Hawke said...

I've read Through the Fire and Tomorrow We Die. Both are excellent reads and stand along stories. I'm looking forward to reading Falls like Lightning.
Please enter me in the giveaway.

A J Hawke
Texas

Angela C./Ohio said...

Wow!this does sound like a great book...hope I am the lucky one :)

Angela Carpenter

Shirley Thompson said...

Looking forward to having a chance to win this book....Thanks

Shirley T./ohio

PatriciaW said...

The second book in the series (haven't read the first) was great. Expect this one is a good suspenseful read too.

pwriter1[at]yahoo[dot]com

Miss Greer said...

Would love to win this book, sounds like a great one,,,,,
Miss Greer/ohio

Edwina said...

I love Shawn's books and would really like to read this one!

Edwina from GA

edwina(dot)cowgill(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bluerose said...

I've had Shawn's last book on my wishlist for awhile. I would love to read this one, too, though. :)

Alabama

Anonymous said...

Please enter me! I'm a follower and a subscriber. Would love to win the book.

Brenda from Michigan.

dancealert at aol dot com

Krista said...

Sounds like a good read. Please enter me!

Krista from Gresham, OR

Shawn Grady said...

Thanks all for the comments, both new readers and those who have picked my other books. So great to hear from you!

And Jill- nope. No ACFW for me this year. Have fun if you go!

AJ- Thanks for the kind words!

Bakersdozen said...

I would love to read this. This book sounds really interesting. I live in S. CA.

grannyvon said...

Intresting interview. I would love to win this book.
ybutler(at)oppcatv(dot)com


I live in lower Alabama

sarahw said...

looks like a different book that i would like to read.please enter my ncame in the draw. thanks,
sarahw- Mt.Lake, MN

Merry said...

Falls Like Lighting sounds like another winner from Shawn. I loved hearing about his devotion to his family. Please add me!
Merry in TX

Megan said...

I, too, am reading The Word more lately. I finally got an e-reader, and have 2 versions of the Bible downloaded onto it, so it is so much easier to click to it and read whenever I want!!
Thanks!
Megan
inspiredbyfiction at gmail dot com