Saturday, September 17, 2011

TALL, DARK, AND DETERMINED - Kelly Eileen Hake - Free Book


Why do you write the kind of books you do?
It’s no great secret that my mom (Cathy Marie Hake) also writes Inspirational Historical Romance. Most people assume that’s the reason I write what I do—and let’s face it; I was raised to love the Lord, history, and books. It’s only natural to combine them, and I started doing so early on. After reading a short story I wrote about a young woman on a voyage to the Americas, my fourth grade teacher, Miss Mary Meek, was the first person to tell me I should write!

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I’d always been nearsighted and worn coke-bottle glasses for everything except reading, but by my early twenties I was two degrees away from legal blindness. I had a powerful fear of anything happening to my eyes, but I prayed and gathered every ounce of courage to undergo LASIK surgery. The day of the surgery, I went home with bandages on my eyes. The second day things were a little blurry and I was light sensitive. By day three… I could see! That clarity and freedom is a continual blessing J

How has being published changed your life?
Since I began early, when I was in high school, I don’t know that it changed my life so much as shaped it!

What are you reading right now?
Reader’s Digest: How to Do Just About Anything
I love this book! Over 400 pages, it’s like an instruction manual for basics on a wide range of skills, from butchering to building, gardening to baking, old tips and tricks for almost every topic. Just leafing through gives me ideas.

What would be your dream vacation?
A castle tour through Ireland and Scotland! And I mean the whole thing, where you sleep in the castles and get to wander around up in the turrets. Maybe someday when I’m retired I’ll be able to enjoy something like that. I hope so!

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Since my books are historicals, the time and place are always vital elements. Sometimes the setting itself and/or an historic event is the impetus behind the story. Sometimes the story is more character driven, but requires certain criteria from a setting, so I have to find the right one. It just depends on which tale I’m telling!  

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I keep looking at this question and something inside me crumples a little. My grandfather passed away two weeks ago. He’s no longer alive, so he’s not a valid answer. Nevertheless, he’s the one I’d want.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I collect and repair vintage jewelry—particularly rhinestones!

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Deadlines—and I don’t think I overcome them. At best, they overcome me. But they make for great motivation J

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
The first (and often hardest) thing is to stop plotting and researching and actually write the story. Then (probably the next hardest) you have to let someone else read it and (this is absolutely key) take in the honest feedback. Never stop trying to improve your writing and your story!

Tell us about the featured book.

When Short and Bubbly

 Lacey Lyman led a sheltered life for the past eighteen-plus years. Only in the past few months has she been able to really step beyond the role of social decoration to plan amazing adventures and embark upon them with her friends. Nevermind that things aren’t quite going the way she’d hoped when she sent out the ad for their husbands, or that her brother isn’t thrilled with her scheme to renovate the fallen mining town into a booming sawmill…this is her chance to prove she’s more than just a pretty face.

Meets Tall and Dark,

Chase Dunstan sees Lacey as more than just a pretty face. She’s also a chatterbox. And too curious for her own good. Which makes her the worst thing of all: In His Way. Nevermind that her steady babbling drives away every animal he’s supposed to be hunting to earn his keep—and keep his cover. How is a man supposed to hunt for clues into a suspicious mine collapse with a beribboned, parasol-toting tagalong?  

Will Pride or Love Determine Their Future?

With Lacey determined to learn independence from a man desperate to be free of her, sparks fly in the fertile forest surrounding Hopefalls. Will Chase be honest about what he’s really hunting in the Rocky Mountains and accept Lacey’s help in uncovering the truth? Or will deception tear apart their shared adventure—and the love God nurtured through it? It all depends on which heart knows best, and which is most determined…

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One 
Colorado Territory, May 1887

Dead men told no tales, but jailbirds sang aplenty. Chase Dunstan knew Braden Lyman, victim of a mine collapse, wouldn’t be telling anything. Neither had anyone associated with the man Chase once respected and worked with.

            Which brought him to the jailbird; an associate foolish enough to miss their rendezvous four days and three counties back. Getting thrown in a cell was no excuse for failure.

“What did you find out?” Chase waited while his quarry paced the small room, still not responding. He waited while the other man drank a dipperful of water and almost choked. A dry throat and slippery nerves made anything hard to swallow, and the man before him dealt lies thick enough to block a bison.

            But Chase knew what all good trackers knew; waiting was the longest part of the hunt. So he tested his patience against man instead of an animal until Robert Kane faltered.

            “You’re not going to like it.” When Kane finally spoke, Chase didn’t so much as shift on the hard wooden seat he’d chosen. “That much, I can tell you plain and simple.”

            “That much, I already knew when I found you in a cell.”

I can hardly wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?
KellyEileenHake.com 

Thank you, Kelly, for the fun interview.


Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Tall, Dark, and Determined (Husbands for Hire)


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

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

PLEASE ENTER ME IN THE DRAWING. THANK YOU!!
ANGELA FROM KY

Judy said...

I really enjoyed this interview with Kelly. She looks too young to be a writer! but....this book sounds so good. I'd love to win a copy of, "Tall, Dark, and Determined".

Judy B from Indiana

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Kelly, on your LASIK surgery!! I can't imagine what a joy that must have been for you. I, too, would have to say that I want to spend an evening with my Papaw. I miss him and he passed nearly 12 years ago. "Tall, Dark, and Determined" looks to be a great read! I have enjoyed a few other of your books, so I'm sure I would love this one, too. Thank you for the giveaway!
Blessings,
Kelly Y in Virginia
kelly*dkcountryarts*dot*com

CarlybirdH said...

This sounds like another fun read from Kelly Eileen Hake. I would love to win a copy. Thank you!
Carly in NC

Cindy W. said...

Enjoyed the interview. I'm so sorry you lost your grandfather Kelly. I pray God will ease your pain.

Tall, Dark, and Determined sounds wonderful. I would love to win a copy. Thank you for the opportunity.

I live in Indiana.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Coolestmommy said...

I really enjoyed your interview. Glad to read about young people doing great things. Can't wait to read this book.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

Rebecca said...

I love the title of this book. It is amazing. Thanks so much for the chance to win this. This looks like an amazing book. I would love to win this. Thanks again.

I am from Oklahoma.

Lourdes said...

What a great interview. So glad the surgery worked so well for you. I'm loving the title Tall, Dark, and Determined.I would love to win a copy. Thanks for the opportunity!

I live in New York.

Jo said...

Great interview! I didn't have LASIK surgery but had cataract surgery in both eyes and lost my glasses traveling from Arizona to Florida and discovered that I don't need them at all. I see fine without them.

The book definitely sounds very interesting and would love to read it. Please enter me in the giveaway.

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

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

oh my this has my interest and anticipation... sooo good!
i teared up at the thought of having sight after years of near blindness. what a blessing! so pleased for you Kelly! and every cont'd success on your writing ~ from CA

scottsgal said...

How nice that she'd pick her grandfather to spend the day with
Sounds like a wonderful book
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Raquel Byrnes said...

Oh this sounds so sweet and the mine collapse mystery really got me interested!
Edge of Your Seat Romance

Jackie S. said...

I would love to read Kelly's book. Have read some of her Mom's and loved them. Thanks...from NE Georgia.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE Kelly's work! Please include me in the giveaway!

Molly from NC

Unknown said...

Sending out an ad for a Husband? It's a good thing we aren't required to do that.

Tammy from Ohio

Wendy Newcomb said...

I would really like to read this book, thank you for the chance to win it.

Lorna Faith said...

I would love to read this new book of yours, Kelly. Sounds like a fun book:)
Please enter me in the drawing!

Lorna from Alberta

lornafaith at gmail dot com

Angela - Bookaunt said...

Thank you for the chance to win this book, it sounds good. I live in Florida and my email is griperang at embarqmail dot com

holdenj said...

Kelly's dream vacation sound pretty awesome! As does her new book! Thanks for the chance to win.
Julie in MN

Melissa Jagears said...

oh my, I've not wanted to do Lasik because my eyesight is so bad and I'm so young. I didn't want to mess up my eyes for life, I'm a little bit further away from legally blind than you and my eyesight has been holding. But if it worked for you...argh, I'll have to think about it again. :)

KS

Sharon Richmond said...

Please enter me in the drawing. I love Kelly's books, I read a few and they were very interesting, hard to put down, and made me feel like I was there in the story! thanks and God bless.
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Abigail Mitchell said...

I love Kelly Eileen Hake's books, This one looks wonderful. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!
God Bless!
Abigail Richmond
Blanch, N.C.

Ingrid said...

Thanks for the Interview, I always like to read about the Author of the Books I read. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Grandfather, I miss mine every day, he was a great Man.
I'm so happy for you that they Eye surgery went well for you, I can't imagine not being able to read.
Please enter me in your drawing, I would love to read your new Book, it sounds great.

I live in S.Illinois
ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

Faith said...

Very cool interview. I've heard about this series and what a fun twist on Mail Order Spouses :)

Faye from South Dakota

crazi.swans at gmail dot com

Lady DragonKeeper said...

I thought the name "Hake" sounded familiar ... nice interview -- "Tall, Dark, and Determined" sounds great.

Thanks for the chance to win!

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

(As my e-mail suggests, I'm from Hawaii).

Roanna said...

I like the cover and the title makes it sound very interesting. :)

Please enter me.
Thank you!
Roanna from Ohio

Courtney said...

Sounds like a great book, thanks for the chance to win it!!

Courtney from WA state