Sunday, December 23, 2012

THE FAIREST BEAUTY - Melanie Dickerson - One Free Book


Welcome back, Melanie. Since I loved the first two books in this series, I've anxiously awaited the release of this book.God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
God really has been moving! Very soon I should be able to make an announcement about a new adult historical romance series with a great Christian publisher, and I am hoping to write more Medieval fairy tale retellings for Zondervan as well. I LOVE writing historical romance from a Christian point of view, and I see myself doing it for many years to come.

Tell us a little about your family.
I am married and have two wonderful daughters who make me very proud to be their mom, one in high school and one entering middle school next year. We like to make paper beads and necklaces and bracelets in our free time.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I started reading Christian novels for the first time when I started writing again almost ten years ago. I have always loved to read, and while I used to mostly read the classics, I now mostly read books by contemporary authors.

What are you working on right now?
Right now I am working on a Regency novel that is my own personal tribute to Jane Austen’s novels. My heroine’s situation is a cross between Jane Fairfax’s situation in Emma, and Fanny Price’s in Mansfield Park, with a few of my own twists thrown in. 

What outside interests do you have?
I like to make paper beads with my daughters, I like to cook and bake, and I love castles and medieval architecture.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
My stories just seem to come to me with the setting already intact. I love medieval settings and the romance of that time period, and certain stories just seem to work for that setting. All of the stories I’ve written so far have been inseparable from their setting, including my Regencies. The setting is a big part of the story and the characters.

I love those kinds of settings best. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Probably Jane Austen, because I think she would be witty and fun and it would be fun to talk writing with her, as she is my favorite novelist.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
I wish I had known, way back in high school, that if I just persevered, I would get published some day. Then I wouldn’t have stopped writing for fifteen years.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
God is always teaching me to trust him more, and teaching me what’s really important in life. God is also teaching me just how loved I am by him and that he truly can satisfy me, and that I am important to him. That has always been something I had a hard time believing, and for whatever reason, he is really knocking that point home to me lately!

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Persevere, because only those who persevere succeed in this tough business. Give up the lesser things, like watching TV or playing video games, and make writing a priority. And third, pray and listen to God’s leading.

Tell us about the featured book.
In this young adult retelling of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” by Melanie Dickerson, a woman arrives in Hagenheim claiming the young woman betrothed to the duke’s son, Valten, is still alive. With Valten injured, his younger brother, Gabe, defies his family to find Sophie himself. When Gabe arrives at the castle, Sophie must make a choice: go to the Cottage of the Seven and fend for herself, or trust the handsome stranger who seems ready to do anything to keep her safe.

This is also a sequel to The Healer’s Apprentice, as the hero, Gabe, is the son of Duke Wilhelm and Rose.

Please give us the first page of the book.
                                                            Prologue
            Pinnosa passed through the town square and the cobblestone Marktplatz. Hagenheim Castle loomed straight ahead. Once she passed the guard at the gatehouse, she would need to find her way to the young lord.

            A chill passed over her thin, old shoulders. This fever, brought on by rain and exhaustion, would probably kill her, but if she could only make it to the castle, could only tell them that Sophie was still alive, Pinnosa’s life would not have been in vain. Perhaps God would forgive her for helping the duchess perpetuate so many lies.

            She plodded forward, wanting to hurry, but she could only force her swollen feet to take slow, mincing steps. Sweat dripped from her eyebrows even as she shivered and fought the urge to drop to the ground, close her eyes, and sleep.

            “Who goes there?”

            Pinnosa stopped, then leaned her head back as far as she could. When she parted her cracked lips, no sound came out. The guard’s face began to blur, her knees trembled, and the ground quickly came up to meet her. Strange how she didn’t … even … feel it.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
You can keep up with all my book news on my facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks and on my website, www.MelanieDickerson.com

Thank you for sharing your story and this story with us Melanie.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Fairest Beauty - paperback
The Fairest Beauty - 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

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would love to win. ANGEL FROM KY

Bookishqueen said...

I really really want to read this book!!!!
Rebekah TN

Wendy Newcomb said...

Sounds great, thank you for hosting this giveaway.

Wendy from FL

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

Amy C said...

Nice interview. I look forward to this book.
Amy C
VA

Cathy said...

Would love to win this one! Loved 'The Healer’s Apprentice' :)

Cathy from BC Canada

Leauphaun said...

I've wanted to read this book for a while... thanks for the chance to win it!!

- Leauphaun from BC

Melanie Dickerson said...

Thanks for coming by, Angel!

Rebekah, I hope you get to read it! You can always request it from your local library! :-)

Thanks, Wendy and Amy C!

Melanie Dickerson said...

And thanks to Lena for having me on your blog! Right now I'm listening to Charlotte Church sing O Holy Night. Still my favorite Christmas CD! Her voice is divine.

Melanie Dickerson said...

Thank you, Cathy! I hope you will like this one just as much as The Healer's Apprentice!

Leauphaun, thanks for your comment! I hope you get a chance to read it!

Casey said...

Ooo! I want to read this book! Looks like the PERFECT winter read. :D

Oregon

Norma S said...

Hi Melanie,
Thank you for the chance to win " The Fairest Beauty " Do your daughters enjoy making paper beads with you? Do they cook and bake with you? The book sounds really good with it being an adult retail of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas in celebrating Christ's birth. God bless you.
Norma Stanforth from Ohio

Mary Preston said...

Fairy Tale re-tellings can be absolutely wonderful thank you.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this fairy-tale :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
from PA

Lyndie Blevins said...

Thanks for the opportunity to get this book!
Lyndie Blevins
Duncanville Tx

Brooke @ i blog 4 books said...

Looking forward to reading this one! Great interview!

Brooke @ i blog 4 books
iblog4books [at]gmail [dot] com
Southeast USA

ASC Book Reviews said...

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this! Merry CHRISTmas Eve all!

Amada Chavez, NM

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me this book looks great!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch,NC
sharonruth126@gmail.com

Kandra said...

I love her books! Please sign me up!
Kandra in TN

rubynreba said...

Love the idea of a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! It sounds like a very good book.
Beth from IA

Pam K. said...

My daughter and I really enjoyed The Healer's Apprentice. I'm giving her The Merchant's Daughter for Christmas; I'm sure we'll enjoy reading it as well. I'd love to win a copy of The Fairest Beauty to give her. Melanie's re-telling of these fairy tales are superb. Thanks for the chance to win.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Kansas

Linda Cacaci said...

Ooo, this book looks great. Please enter me in the drawing.
Linda Cacaci
LinCaca3@aol.com

Shopgirl said...

This looks amazing! I love fairy-tale retellings. I'm in MN.

Mozi Esme said...

Would love to read this! Living in OR...

Unknown said...

Hi, everyone! Sorry I forgot to come back and say hello! :-)

Norma, my daughters DO like to make paper beads with me and bake with me! They are the reason I got into making paper beads in the first place. There was a class at our local library and they wanted to attend, so I went with them. I didn't intend to even try it, but I got sucked into it anyway! :-)

Melanie Dickerson said...

Ooops!!! I was signed in as my daughter! That "Grace Dickerson" was me! :-)

Ginger Solomon said...

I love Melanie's books and would love a chance to win this one.

Ginger in AL

Unknown said...

I love everything about fairy tales, especially snow white! This book sounds amazing!!


Christy Netzband NY

Sparks of Ember said...

This book looks too intriguing!

from the black hills of SD!

Katie said...

Please enter me! I LOVE Melanie Dickerson and the fact that this is a sequel to THA is so exciting! I cannot wait to read it! I'm from NC.

Katie G.

Jean said...

Please enter me as well...would live this book!

Jean K
West Palm Beach, FL

Bluerose said...

Fairy tale re-tellings are my favorite books! I can't wait to read this one. -Tammy from AL

Merry said...

The Fairest Beauty sounds like another winner from Melanie, please add me!
Merry in TX

Jasmine A. said...

I would absolutely LOVE to read this book! I enjoyed her first two so much, I am very much looking forward to reading this one as well!
Jasmine A.
(in snowy cold Montana)

Lane Hill House said...

Would love to win this book! Thank you for entering me in the drawing for Melanie Dickerson's The Fairest Beauty. Kathleen ~ Missouri
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

Hannah said...

I love Melanie's book The Merchant's Daughter!
Hannah P
CA

Michelle said...

Would love to read this one. Please enter me.

Ketucky

Michelle said...

Would love to read this one. Please enter me.

Kentucky

Liz R said...

I love fairy tales and can't wait to read to read this one! The cover is gorgeous! Thanks for the chance to win!

Liz R in Al

Anonymous said...

was there a winner?

Anonymous said...

loved the book, it was amazing!

Anonymous said...

loved it!