Monday, July 02, 2012

JOURNEY'S EDGE - Dora Hiers - One Free Book


Bio:
After a successful auditing career, Dora left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons. When her youngest son didn’t want her hanging out at school with him anymore, Dora started writing heart racing, God-gracing books. Dora belongs to the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Carolina Christian Writers. Dora and her husband make their home in North Carolina. When she’s not writing, Dora enjoys reading and family gatherings. She despises traffic, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book. Her books always end with happily-ever-afters.

Welcome, Dora. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
Because I enjoy reading them. Stories sprinkled with grace and forgiveness, courage and faith, and always a happily-ever-after. What I like to call heart racing, God-gracing romance.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
God has blessed me with many happy occasions, but most recently, the birth of our first grandson. What a joyous time and such a precious gift!

How has being published changed your life?
My rump logs more hours in front of my laptop and the dog gets fewer walks, but I still mop floors and mow the lawn.

God is helping me overcome my fear of public speaking. I’m not quite there yet, but my limbs don’t rattle with terror anymore and my tummy doesn’t threaten to give up my lunch. I’m growing more courageous and stepping out of my comfort zone.

What are you reading right now?
I’m in between books, debating on which to start next. Breathless by Kathryn Bain, a new author to me, or When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason, a favorite author of mine. Hmmm…

What is your current work in progress?
I just submitted When Truth Whispers, my first book in a new series. Next up on the agenda, research for my next book based on a recent WRP prompt: A fire. A new identity. An old girlfriend. When I saw that prompt, I knew I couldn’t let it slide.

What would be your dream vacation?
My dream destination? Wandering around the Holy Land for a few days.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
I create fictional areas based on places we enjoy vacationing.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
My husband. He’s my best friend. Evenings are so much sweeter when he’s around to share them.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
In the summer, my hubby cranks up the smoker for family gatherings. When the temperature cools, you’ll catch me flicking the fireplace switch on and kicking back under a blanket to cheer for the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Just about any time of the year, we’re game for a quick jaunt to the mountains. And nothing beats spending time with our grandkids! See those cuties!

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Staring at a blank screen. Knowing I have to fill 200+ pages with words. And not just words, but an entertaining story. A heart racing, God-gracing book with a guaranteed happy-ever-after. How do I overcome it? Plant my tush in the chair and get busy.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
If you get a rejection, cry and rant, just don’t fling it in the fireplace or spill your hurt all over facebook. Stop writing for a few days, a few months even. Then, whip that rejection out and look at it again with a fresh perspective. Pick out the constructive criticism on how to make your writing stronger and dig back in. Attend writer’s conferences. Start building a platform. Blog, even if you don’t think you have anything to blog about. Leave comments on blogs that you follow. Get your name and mini-photo circulating. Build relationships, friendships, connections. Because the feeling is ever so sweet when you get that affirmative email or phone call.

Tell us about the featured book.
Why, Lena, I thought you’d never ask.

A Routine Audit? Hardly.
Red flags—including some goon who's following her—raise McKinley Frasier's suspicions that numbers don't add up at the insurance firm. When someone tries to snatch McKinley's daughter from school, she turns to police officer and ex-fiance, Renner Crossman—the cop who walked out on her a month before their wedding. But Renner's not the same guy who broke her heart ten years ago. He calls himself a "new man." She trusts the new Renner with her daughter's safety...but what about her heart?

Please give us the first page of the book.
Client Evasion 101. She could teach that course.

If she lived long enough.

Hiding her rental car between a truck and a shaggy evergreen tree, McKinley Frasier huddled against the steering wheel and fumbled to find the switch for the headlights,
determination to outsmart this creep outweighing the fear churning in her belly. For now.

Her gaze darted to the road in front of the hotel. No sign of him yet. She turned the knob one more time and the lights flickered off. Sliding a hand into her purse, she pulled out her cell phone, her palm slick against the cold plastic case.

A car slithered past, stealthy, stalking. Malcolm Brugman, this week’s client. At least she thought it was him. She’d only gotten a glimpse of his profile at the stoplight. McKinley held her breath, waiting, not moving, in case he changed directions and doubled back.

She’d bought some time. Was it enough to get checked in and out of sight? She couldn’t waste another second. She exhaled and escaped the tight confines of the car, her legs and hands shaking as she opened the trunk.

Keeping her eyes glued to the road, McKinley hoisted her suitcase and laptop case from the trunk, hand still clutching her cell phone. She pushed the

Way to leave us hanging, Dora. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Readers can connect with Dora:

Thank you, Dora, for another interesting interview.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Journey's Edge - paperback
Journey's Edge (Marshals of Journey Creek) - Kindle


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:

Dora Hiers said...

Thank you so much for featuring JOURNEY'S EDGE today, Lena! I appreciate your gracious hospitality. :-)

collettakay said...

I love the premise of this book! I would love to read it :)

I live in PA!

Colletta

Patty said...

Very intriguing! Sounds like a great read.

Patty in SC

Unknown said...

i'm not sure if i've read any novel by Dora, but if Lynette Eason is one of her favorite authors, i'm sure i would love Dora's novels, too. Please enter my name into the hat. Thank you for a great interview and a chance to win an great giveaway!

marianne from northern Alberta

mitzi underscore wanham at yahoo dot com

apple blossom said...

please enter me thanks.
live ninND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Myra Johnson said...

So nice to learn a little more about my friend Dora via Lena's blog. I started reading your first novel, JOURNEY'S END, a few days ago and I'm hooked! This next book will definitely be on my list of must-reads!

Dora Hiers said...

Colletta, thanks so much! Hope you're staying cool in PA!

Hey Patty. Thank you for your kind words. So sweet!

Hi Marianne. Yes, I LOVE Lynette's books, and I'm so looking forward to meeting her at Carolina Christian Writer's Multi-Author book signing event to benefit CVAN, a local charity, part of Hope Tour 2012. Thanks for your kind words, Marianne.

Hi Apple Blossom. Love your name! Thanks for your interest in JOURNEY'S EDGE.

Myra?? Hear my squeal? You're reading JOURNEY'S END? How cool is that! You're so sweet. I'm so glad that you're in my stretch of the US now and that we can work together on library presentations! Thanks for stopping by!

Linda, thanks for your kind words. I appreciate your visit. :-)

Mary Preston said...

My sister lived over in Israel for a few years to work in a hospital. I would love to have gone with her. One day perhaps I will visit the Holy Land.

JOURNEY'S EDGE looks wonderful. I did enjoy the first page.

Wendy said...

I would love to read this book. I am in accounting and find it interesting you were an auditor.
Wendy
buffalo, MN

Judy said...

I'd love to win this book!

Judy
Aberdeen, NJ

Amy C said...

This book sounds great!
Amy Campbell
Southwest VA

Kandra said...

A great opening to the story! Here in Tennessee, I would love to read this!

rubynreba said...

Wouldn't it be great to walk around the Holy Land for a few days? Great interview. Love to read this.
Beth from Iowa

Bethany said...

Sounds interesting! I'd love to be entered- I am in Ohio :)

cbus.blogger at gmail dot com

Nancee said...

Lena, another wonderful review! This sounds like a great mystery. I'd love to win a copy. Thank you for offering another great giveaway!
Nancee in Michigan
quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Dora Hiers said...

How exciting for your sister, Marybelle. I hope hubby and I can get over there one day. I'm so glad you enjoyed the first page of JOURNEY'S EDGE!

Hi Wendy. Yes, I understand from personal experience that first kick-in-the-gut reaction to discovering fraud, then, with certain people, fear at retribution. Hope you enjoy reading JOURNEY'S EDGE!

Judy, I appreciate your enthusiasm! Thanks for entering!

Amy, hubby and I just drove through VA last month, but ended up near the coast. Beautiful scenery. Thanks for entering!

Kandra, thank you! I'm glad you liked it. We visit my parents in Sevierville, TN, quite a bit over the winter months. What a gorgeous area! Thanks for stopping by!

Beth from Iowa~ yes, wouldn't it be thrilling? Maybe one day. Thank you for your excitement about JOURNEY'S EDGE!

Hi Sarah from Blanch NC. Love to meet fellow NC'ians. Thanks for entering!

Hi Bethany. Hope you're staying cool in OH. Thank you for your kind words!

What a lovely group of new friends. Thanks so much for your interest in JOURNEY'S EDGE! :-)

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Katherine said...

I'd love to read this! Thanks for the chance, I'm from Utah!
Katsaddress at gmail. dot com

Abigail Mitchell said...

Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.

Lourdes said...

Would love to read this. I see that Lynette Eason is a favorite of yours Dora mine too...

Lourdes in Huntington

Dora Hiers said...

Hi Sharon and Abigail. Thanks for your interest in JOURNEY'S EDGE! Love meeting fellow NC'ians!

Hey Kat. I have not made it to Utah yet. One day I hope. Thanks for stopping by!

Hey Lourdes. I have so many favorites, but Lynette ranks right at the top. Thanks for your sweet words of encouragement.

Unknown said...

Sounds fabulous!!

Brenda
Lake Worth, FL
brendon8@bellsouth.net

Liz R said...

Sounds like a good read!

Liz R in AL

Diana Gardner said...

Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks! Portsmouth, VA

Janet Kerr said...

I find your cover of "Journey's Edge" captivating.
Please enter me in your draw.
Jan from B.C., Canada

Dora Hiers said...

Brenda, great to meet you. We moved to NC 5+ years ago from Temple Terrace, FL, right outside Tampa. Thanks for your interest in Journey's Edge!

Liz, thank you for your kind words. Good luck in the drawing!

Diana, we were just in your neck of the woods last month. Visited York County for hubby's conference, and I spoke at the Tabb branch library. Great to meet you! Thanks for entering. :-)

Jan, Nicola Martinez with Pelican Book Group designed the cover for Journey's Edge. It's beautiful, isn't it? All of my covers are gorgeous, and I couldn't be happier with them. Thank you for your interest in Journey's Edge!