Sunday, December 04, 2011

DUTY TO PROTECT - Roxanne Rustand - Free Book


Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?        
My plate was really full over the past couple years, and from November, 2010 to December, 2011 I've had six new inspirational novels out, plus two Superromances re-released by Harlequin Heartwarming, which required editing to fit that sweet, wholesome line.  It was a busy time, and during 2010 my dear mom declined and then passed away.  I've had about five months to regroup since finishing my last contract, and now look forward to getting back to work!
Before making a first sale, I wrote one full manuscript that didn't sell.  I plan to revise and self publish it--perhaps I'll even serialize it on my blog at www.roxannerustand.com.  It should be a fun adventure!  I also plan to get to work on some new proposals to submit to a publisher.  I hope there will be more many more books to come!

What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?      
I will be on four workshop panels at the Chicago Romantic Times Convention in April--one secular suspense panel and three with an inspirational fiction focus. 

My friends Cindy Gerard, Kylie Brant and I often give workshops at the national RWA conferences, and we hope to be giving one there in Anaheim, this coming July.  I think I've given (or have been on a panel) in around nine workshops at RWA over the years, and really enjoy it!  I don't know about the September ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference in Dallas.  I adore that conference and wouldn't miss it for the world, and I would love to give a workshop there someday!

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?      

I really enjoy giving workshops on suspense, career planning, plotting, writing inspirational novels, and one I've done quite a few times now, titled "The First Year and Beyond."  I guess I would pick that one, because it addresses what an aspiring author can do to make a first sale, how to make it through that dizzying first year after selling, as well as professionalism, productivity, and how to best place one's self to make many more sales to come.  Many new authors shoot themselves in the foot along the way and either never reach that first sale or cannot make a second, and I think its so important to be well-prepared.  As for other speakers on the panel, I would choose multi-published authors who are prolific, professional and fun to listen to.  J

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?
I would not have sold if not for the wonderful educational opportunities in RWA (Romance Writers of America)---from the articles in the monthly magazines, to the many conferences and workshops I attended, to the dozens of writing contests I entered. 

I discovered ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) after switching from secular to inspirational fiction, and ACFW is every bit as supportive, well run, and valuable.  The website offers a wealth of information, the e-mail loop is wonderful, and the annual conferences are amazing.  I think it's extremely important for any serious Christian writer to belong to ACFW.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?       
I taught Sunday School for around eighteen years while our kids were growing up, and helped with confirmation when they reached that age.  My husband and I have been regularly scheduled volunteer cooks for the SEMP (Saturday evening meal program) for the indigent population of our nearby city since the mid 1980's.  Recently, I signed up for Stephen Ministry classes as well. I quit my day job to write full time last fall, so I will probably become more involved in volunteering in the future, now that life isn’t quite so hectic.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?        
Wow.  Good question!  But by far, the main two people were my parents.  I was in foster care until I was three, but then I was adopted by a wonderful couple--good Christians, loving, hardworking folks. I was so blessed. My mom and dad gave me every opportunity they could, put a priority on higher education, and enriched my life in so many ways.  My dad gave me a love of travel, adventure and photography. My mom was a sweetheart--with a whimsical sense of humor, absolute loyalty and protectiveness toward her family, and such class.  She loved to entertain, had a wide circle of close friends throughout her life, and was always such charming company.  My girlfriends all loved her, too.  I miss her every single day.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?           
She was a warm and loving mom, who always put her children first.

Tell us about the featured book.     
DUTY TO PROTECT is a Love Inspired Suspense that takes place in Colorado and Montana.  It's about a young woman who has spent most of her life in the witness protection program, but now that security has been breached, her parents are dead, she has been framed for murder, and she is on the run.  I had a lot of fun writing this book!

Please share the first page with us.

The soft blanket of new snow glittered under the street lamp and muffled her steps as Emma strode from the city bus stop at the end of the block to the side door of her garage.  Anxiety twisted her stomach into a tight knot of fear.

The snow could muffle the sound of someone else's steps, too.  And even now, that unknown person could be watching her. Waiting. Just as he had waited for her father last week.

She'd been only a few feet away from her dad, pushing a cart of groceries in
the busy Safeway parking lot.  He'd suddenly faltered to a stop. Started to whisper a warning to her.  "We've got to leave," he'd said urgently. "I just saw—

Then he'd fallen face first, a widening pool of crimson spreading through the slushy snow beneath him.   He died at her feet, and she hadn't even heard the gunshot.

Had he seen his killer's face? Why hadn't the shooter taken her out, too? The melee of screaming, frightened people running for cover would have given the shooter ample opportunity to pull the trigger, and he probably wouldn't have missed.  From the perfect placement of the single bullet in her father's skull, the cops figured the killer possessed ample sniper experience.

Which meant it was someone sent by the drug organization that had been trying to kill Emma and her family for over ten years.  And now she was the only one left.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
www.roxannerustand.com    (website, and The All Creatures Great and Small blog)
http://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerustand

Thank you so much, Roxanne, for sharing this book with us. It sounds like a book I will love reading.



Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Duty to Protect


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:

RoxanneRustand said...

Hi Lena,
Thanks so much for letting me visit your wonderful blog!

Unknown said...

Thanks Roxanne and Lena for the great post and giveaway! i enjoy getting to know the authors, and you do this so well, Lena! The novel sounds intriguing! please enter me

mitzi[underscore]wamham[at]yahoo]dot]com

El Mirage, Arizona

Wendy Newcomb said...

Great sounding book, thank you for hosting this giveaway.

I live in FL.

wfnren at aol dot com
wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

Bethany said...

This looks like a great book, I'd love a copy-
Bethany in Ohio :)

Merry said...

I enjoy stories about witness protection, Duty to Protect sounds like a great romantic suspense book. Please include me in the drawing.
Merry in TX

Anonymous said...

So sorry about your mother, Roxanne. She sounds like a lovely lady!

Can't wait to read Duty to Protect!

Samantha
from Michigan

Rebecca said...

Oh this book looks amazing. I would love to win this. Thanks for the chance to win.

I am from Oklahoma.

Lourdes said...

It's always so nice to read when somebody has happy memories of thier life. Thank you for sharing.

Book looks like it will be great.

Lourdes, Huntington, NY

scottsgal said...

Westerns are one of my fave genres - enjoyed the interview
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Jo said...

This sounds wonderful. Please add me.

Blessings,
Jo from Southern Arizona

Angela - Bookaunt said...

Thank you for the chance to win - Angela in Florida

griperang at embarqmail dot com

Kristie said...

I like a little suspense with romance thrown in. Sounds like a good read. I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

A.Jones said...

Wow! What a beginning! I really enjoy a good suspense novel, so please enter me in this giveaway!

I live in New York

Mary Preston said...

I'm glad you had a lot of fun writing DUTY TO PROTECT. I know I will have fun reading it. I loved the first page thank you.

Mary P.

QLD AUSTRALIA

RoxanneRustand said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RoxanneRustand said...

Hi everyone, its so nice to see so many of you here, and especially nice that you take the time to post comments. Lena has a wonderful blog, doesn't she?

So....are you all ready for Christmas? With the holidays approaching and our son's wedding coming up in January, we have a lot to be grateful and excited about these days. Today, we are checking out the venue for the groom's dinner and then we're going to the caterer for a sampling of that menu. What fun!

Coolestmommy said...

Wow--I don't know if I should be excited to read that first page or a little miffed at you...now I won't know what's going on until I can get to the store and buy the book. :-)

What a grabbing opener!! Can't wait to read the rest.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

Rebecca said...

This sounds like a great book. I would love the opportunity to read it.
rrgreene62(at)gmail.com
Durham, NC

JJ said...

Happy Holidays to all...

I am originally from Georgia but staying with my oldest daughter in NC with my younger children.

gahome2mom/gmail/com

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me I would love to win a copy of this book! It sounds like a great story! Thanks and God bless.
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoy reading your suspense
novels and I would love to win your
new book. Please enter me in the drawing. God Bless You!

Dennie Richmond
Blanch,NC

apple blossom said...

please enter me thanks
Live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Deborah M said...

Enjoyed the sample of "Duty to Protect" and would like to read the rest. I live in the North Georgia mountains.
Debbie Malone
debbiejeanm at gmail dot com

Ginger Solomon said...

This book is going on my TBR pile whether I win it here or not. It sounds AWESOME. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

Ginger in AL

Katie said...

Please enter me! I LOVE this kind of book! :) I'm from NC.

God bless!

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

It looks very interesting!!
Please enter me in the drawing.
God Bless,
Sarah Richmond
Blanch,N.C.

Abigail Mitchell said...

Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.

Nathanael Richmond said...

Enter me!
Nathanael Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Patricia said...

I could not imagine being put in a witness protection program and not being able to contact any of my loved ones. Just knowing they were out there when I needed them the most.
This sounds amazing I am anxious to read the book.
I live just northeast of Houston, Tx in the Piney Woods.

Blessings,
Patricia aka Mamaw

plb1050 at gmail dot com

Bakersdozen said...

I enjoyed the interview and would love to read this. I live in S. CA.

rubynreba said...

I'd really enjoy this book. Thanks for the chance!
I'm from Iowa.