Friday, December 30, 2011

SMALL-TOWN SWEETHEARTS - Jean C Gordon - Free Book


Welcome, Jean. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Sometimes too much, but my critique partners are quick to point out when that happens.

I love those critique partners who can keep me on the right track. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I had to consult my family on this one. They said people are always surprised at my love of rollercoasters. The bigger the better and if they go out over water, perfect! Normally, I’m pretty wimpy about heights and anything that goes fast.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
It seems like I’ve always been a writer. I was on the high school newspaper staff and had an essay on my family’s Christmas traditions published in the Buffalo Evening News when I was a senior. From THE high school paper, I moved on to my college newspaper (I was a journalism major), followed short stints at the Batavia (NY) Daily News and the Montebello (CA) News, and then to my current job with a financial publisher in Albany, NY.

My first published piece was in the college literary magazine. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I primarily read romance. Historicals are my favorite. But I also like women’s fiction and nonromance historical novels.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I’m not sure I do. Sunday church service and coffee hour afterwards really help me unwind before the next week starts. We regularly sing a hymn I particularly like, ‘Come and Find the Quiet Center.’

How do you choose your characters’ names?
Sometimes I name characters after people I know. Other times, the characters come to me with their own names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Publishing my books.

What is your favorite food?
Ice cream, just about any flavor but coffee. My second favorite food is broccoli.

Broccoli and ice cream. That would make a good character trait for in a novel. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Time and giving my novel writing the priority it should have are my biggest roadblocks. I put in about nine hours a weekday at my day job. Since that’s not something I can change right now, I’ve been working on prioritizing the rest of my time and tasks.

Tell us about the featured book.
I got a germ of an idea for Small-Town Sweethearts when a family member told me she liked her new church because the members were more standoffish and private. From that germ, the story evolved:

With the help of God and the love of Drew Stacey, a down-sized Wall Street analyst turned church camp manager, NYC assistant art director and former town misfit Emily, ne Jinx, Hazard finds the thing she wants most in the place she least wants to be Paradox Lake. Through having to be responsible for her niece, interaction with the towns’ people, and falling in love with Drew, she learns the meaning of Christian fellowship.

Like all of my books, Small-Town Sweethearts is set in my native Update New York.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The thrumming in her head started at the Essex County line and crescendoed into a pounding by the time she’d reached Route 74. She wiped one hand, then the other on her jeans and gripped the steering wheel of her rented SUV. She was in control. She was Emily Hazard, assistant art director at an award-winning New York City advertising agency. Not Emily Hazard, the klutz-queen jinx-deluxe of Schroon Lake Central High School.

She drove through Hazardtown, the four corners community in New York’s Adirondack Mountains that her ancestors had settled two centuries ago. Little remained to show the once-bustling logging town it had once been. A new name on the diner told her it had changed ownership again. The gas station convenience store proclaimed “Souvenirs Here” in a big red, white, and blue roadside sign. Kitty corner, the Community Church sat as it had for the past one hundred and fifty years with its double entry doors that had originally separated the women parishioners from the men. As a teen, Emily had made a point of entering through the “men’s” door. The new-ish brick volunteer fire department building occupied the fourth corner. Ironically, the old clapboard hall had burned down when she was in college.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Look for me on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/JeanCGordon.Author. I also tweet, @JeanCGordon. And my website is www.JeanCGordon.com.

Thank you for stopping by today, Jean.

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Small-Town Sweethearts (Love Inspired)


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

29 comments:

Merry said...

I enjoy going home stories and Small-Town Sweethearts sounds terrific. Beautiful cover!
Merry in TX

Unknown said...

This sounds like a great read, again, Lena. So glad i can count on you for finding the good ones for me! Thanks for the opportunity to learn more about the authors, and to win. Me- i am small town or country, so would love this one.

marianne in Arizona

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

scottsgal said...

sounds like a wonderful book - what a nice cover as well

cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Lane Hill House said...

How interesting! Double-doors for separate entrances ~*~ better than for wide caskets, I guess. I would like to be entered in the drawing for this book.
Missouri
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

Jean C. Gordon said...

I love the cover, too, and am very excited to have my first Love Inspired out.

Judy said...

I love the cover on this book. I really enjoyed the interview with Jean. She is a new author to me. I'm looking forward to reading her books.

I would love to win a copy of "Small-Town Sweethearts".

Blessings and Happy New Year!
Judy B from Indiana

Coolestmommy said...

Sounds like a great book. I like small town settings and loved reading where the 'germ' of an idea came from for this book.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

Lourdes said...

Yum Ice Cream is my favorite too. Small-Town Sweethearts definatly looks like a good read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

Lourdes from Long Island, NY

Mary Preston said...

I love reading Historicals too, but you can keep the roller-coasters & the broccoli. I know I will enjoy reading SMALL-TOWN SWEETHEARTS.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Kentucky Lucky Lady said...

I am small town and country and love books like this.Hope I win this one....I'm amazed that you're favorite food is ice cream, but you didn't like coffee flavor, when you like coffee.....I like broccoli,but it would be far from my favorite food :)Kentucky Lucky Lady/Oh

Jean C. Gordon said...

Anyone who might want to read my earlier books from Avalon books, check your local library. And a very happy and prosperous new year to everyone.

apple blossom said...

broccoli and ice cream would make a good character trait for a pregnant character in a novel.

love the love inspired books

live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

rubynreba said...

I'm from a small town and still live in one. Sounds like just the book for me!
Beth from Iowa

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

Please enter me in the drawing...
God Bless,
Sarah Richmond
Blanch,N.C.

Nathanael Richmond said...

Enter me!
Nathanael Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Abigail Mitchell said...

Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch,N.C.

Ingrid said...

Great Interview, thank you. I live in a small town and like it so I would love to win your new Book.
God Bless.

I live in S.Illinois

ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jo said...

This sounds like a wonderful book.

I love ice cream also. Yummy!

Blessings,
Jo in Southern Arizona
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Bethany said...

I would enjoy this book! I'm in Ohio :)

cbus.blogger at 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.

Carol said...

I grew up in a small town in Iowa and I love to read stories about small towns. Sounds like a good book!

Carol

Jean C. Gordon said...

Nathanael -- Your comment jumped out at me because our son is also named Nathanael, same spelling as yours. I'm also a huge Buffalo Bills fan (no matter how many games they lose), having grown up in Western New York.

Mozi Esme said...

I'd love to read this!

Jane in Oregon

Angie Adair said...

Sounds like my kind of book...can't wait to read it! Angie in Illinois

Nancye said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.

Nancye in Kentucky

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Kristie said...

I'm glad that you manange to find a little time to write. I'm sure it would be nice to write full time but you probabaly need food and heat. Your story sounds like my type of story. Sweet and happy (eventually). I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy 2012!

misskallie2000 said...

I love romance and going home stories and know I will enjoy reading "Small-Town Sweethearts.
Great interview Jean. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.

Thanks for the giveaway Lena

I am from the Great State of Georgia

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Rebecca said...

This sounds like a wonderful story! Please add me to the giveaway.
Rebecca from NC
rrgreene62(at)gmail.com

Nancye said...

I am so excited to be the winner of this book! Thanks for the giveaway.

Nancye in KY.