Monday, July 18, 2011

A VISION OF LUCY - Margaret Brownley - Free Book

I've welcomed Margaret to my blog before and love having her here.
More Love and Laughter in the Old West
From Margaret Brownley


Some Timely Advice for Photographers from Margaret’s New Book:
A Vision of Lucy
A Rocky Creek Romance
To photograph well, women should dress in sedate colors and unobtrusive patterns.  
Even the most morally challenged woman can be made to look chaste
given suitable attire and clever lighting. 

Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I like writing serious themes with a touch of humor and the old west lends itself nicely to laughter, don’t you think?  Times are tough and if I can make readers smile--either because of something the characters do or simply because of a Biblical truth--then I’ve done what I’ve set out to do. 

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I’m basically a happy person regardless of what happens, but I have to say the day I married the love of my life is right up there with the days I gave birth to each of my three children.  

How has being published changed your life?
I’ve been published going on 25 years so it’s hard to remember what it was like before.  I’ve seen a lot of changes in the publishing industry since I first began to write professionally.  It seems like there are more demands on a writer’s time now and keeping a balance is more important than ever.

What are you reading right now?
I’m reading entries for a contest and “The Horse Doctor Is In” by Brent Kelley—you guessed it—for research.

What is your current work in progress?
I just finished the first book in a new series: Brides of Last Chance Ranch, scheduled for release March 2012.   I’m currently working on the second book.

We must schedule that series on the blog, too. What would be your dream vacation?
I think it would be fun to take an “around the world” cruise, stopping at every port.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
I like to choose settings that carry the theme.  A Vision of Lucy takes place in Rainbow Creek, Texas, a fictional town with a troubled past that was first introduced in A Lady like Sarah.   My goal was to create a town that mirrors the spiritual decay of its citizens for the first book in the series.  In Book 2 the town begins to grow and change in positive ways along with its citizens. In this third and last book of the series, we’ll see that the town has change in many positive ways reflecting the changes in the characters and their relationship to God. 

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Before I was a writer I was an instructor. One of my early teachers asked a question that I’ll never forget.  She asked, “When you retire after thirty-five years of teaching, will you be able to say that you taught thirty-five years or that you taught one year thirty-five times?” That’s a question that is relevant to every profession.

I don’t want to keep writing the same book and, for this reason, it gets harder because I keep demanding more of myself, and have to dig deeper and find different ways to describe, say, blue eyes or a loved one’s kiss. Staying fresh is all about creating believable characters that come alive in the reader’s mind and that’s what I strive to do. 

Tell us about the featured book.
The story takes place in 1886 and deals with loss, guilt and forgiveness—themes that are just as relevant today as they were in the Old West.  
The idea for my protagonist Lucy Fairbanks was sparked by an advertisement in an old newspaper. In 1860 Julia Shannon of San Francisco took the family portrait to new heights when she shockingly advertised herself as a daguerreotypist and midwife. 
Lucy doesn’t deliver babies but she is determined to capture the “perfect” picture and she’s not about to let an intriguing stranger like David Wolf and his long-held secrets stop her. Photographs can reveal more than they hide and David and the little town of Rocky Creek are about to find out that anything can happen when posing for Lucy—and usually does. 
How can readers find you on the Internet?
You can find me at www.margaretbrownley.com.  I’m also on Twitter and have two Facebook pages. 
Thank you for having me, Lena!
My great pleasure, Margaret. Come back anytime.
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.

30 comments:

Rose said...

This book sounds very fascinating! I'd love to win.
Rose from WA

Wendy said...

I have read a few of Margaret's books in the past and have enjoyed them.
Wendy - Buffalo, MN

Katie Marie said...

Ohh, A Vision of Lucy looks really good! I have Margaret's first book, A Lady Like Sarah, and would love to add this to my collection. :-)

Katy from Florida

Anonymous said...

Margaret, I would love to add this book to my collection. I can't wait to read it!

srstormo at yahoo dot com
Texas

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the book give away. Thank You!!!
angela
from
KY

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi everyone, thank you for stopping by--and thank you Lena for having me. After reading Lucy's adventures with an old-time camera you'll have a new appreciation for today's technology.

Lourdes said...

I too have read Margaret's books and love them. So please enter me.

Thanks,

Lourdes -Long Island, NY

Pam K. said...

I thoroughly enjoyed "A Lady Like Sarah;" a "Vision of Lucy" sounds equally fun. Thanks for interviewing Margaret and for the book giveaway. This reader from Kansas would be excited to win!

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Patsy said...

Would love to read this books. I don't believe I've read anything by Margaret. Looking forward to it.
From Mississippi

plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

sarahw said...

i loved the other two books and this one looks great as well. please enter my name in the draw.
thanks,
sarah- Mt.Lake, MN

Abigail Mitchell said...

Looks interesting, Thanks for the chance to win.
Abigail
N.C.

apple blossom said...

oh, yes Love to win this I love this cover. thanks live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

scottsgal said...

an around the world cruise is on my bucket list!
Sounds like a wonderful book
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Carol N Wong said...

I come from a long line of artists and photographers on my father's side so I sure to enjoy this book with a heaping helping of humor.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol from Texas

Lorna Faith said...

Love your books Margaret:) I love the western themes and your unique voice.
Please enter my name for a chance to win:)

Lorna from Alberta

lornafaith at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Oh, I know I would enjoy this book. It looks like a great read! Thank you for the chance to win.
Blessings,
Kelly from Virginia

Anonymous said...

I would love to win the book! I'm a follower gfc and a subscriber by email. Please enter me.

dancealert at aol dot com

Brenda from Michigan

Susan H said...

This sounds like a great book. I love the cover.
Susan from Fort Worth, TX

Jo said...

Another book that sounds like a great read.

Blessings,
Jo from Southern Arizona

Krista said...

I would love to win this book!

Krista from Gresham, OR

Anonymous said...

Hi all, hope you're all staying cool! I'm on serious deadline so the fur is really flying around here!

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi everyone. Hope you're all staying cool. I'm on serious deadline so the fur is really flying around here.

Emma said...

This sounds like a great book.Please enter me in the giveaway.Thanks for the giveaway.

Judy Cooper said...

I really like any book written about the old West. I will be looking for the earlier books in this series. Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you8 Judy C. in Louisiana.

Sarah said...

Would love to win!

Sarah H
Oklahoma

Cyndi said...

Just took a look at this at Sam's... looks really good to this Tuscaloosa, AL girl!

wmmahaney said...

Sounds like a very fun read. I've read several books lately set in the West and this one sounds great

Wendy M
Grand Rapids, MI

Coolestmommy said...

Gotta love a woman with spunk!!! Sounds like Lucy and I would be BFFs. :-)

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

Kristie said...

Photography in the 1800's sounds fascinating. Can't wait to read it. I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Bakersdozen said...

What an interesting premise for a book. I would love to read this. I live in S. CA.