Tuesday, July 31, 2012

THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT - Sibella Giorello - One Free Book


Welcome back, Sibella. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
Raleigh Harmon adventures. She has much more room to run, and many more cases to solve.

Tell us a little about your family.
My birth family has some interesting origins. My great-grandparents moved to Alaska in 1884. They were Orthodox Jews. Our family stayed in Alaska for another 110 years.  My own family now lives in Washington state. My husband is a very funny and talented Italian-American from Queens, New York. We have two lively boys, a neurotic dog, a silent parakeet, and a Russian tortoise with a dangerous attitude.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
It would be an understatement to call my reading tastes eclectic. I read a lot of odd non-fiction, since I'm constantly researching topics related to geology, geography, or criminal behavior.

What are you working on right now?
I'm writing the next Raleigh Harmon adventure. Actually, two of them. One novel goes forward, the other goes back to her beginnings in Richmond, Virginia.

What outside interests do you have?
My main interest is my family. So whatever my husband and kids are into, I'm right there. Currently that's lacrosse, golf, episodes of "Psych," learning about "Halo," and listening to Blues music. None of which I would otherwise do.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Some places haunt my imagination. I can literally see a world behind the world -- an imaginary   place with characters moving through it. And because my protagonist is a geologist, I'm drawn to places with interesting geological features --- mountains, rivers, volcanic activity.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Teddy Roosevelt. He lived such an enormous life yet combined his accomplishments with salt-of-the-earth wisdom. He also loved books and was devoted to family. In one night, he could probably dispense words that would last me a lifetime.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
That each book works like a bead on a necklace. No single one is the crown jewel because writing is a never-ending apprenticeship.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
Each new lesson is a variation on His great theme: Love. Right now He's teaching me new ways to love people. Unlikeable people. Abandoned people, shunned. Outsiders. It all comes down to supernatural love.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
1. Consider your motivation. Are you writing to become rich and famous, or because you feel a story burning in your heart? The burning story is a great motivation; fame and fortune is not.
2. What are you willing to sacrifice? No book gets written in ordinary time. Each day holds 24 hours and books require vast amounts of contemplation and hard work. Personally, I gave up watching television (unless it's something my kids want me to watch with them) and I say no to many social events that I'd like to attend. For books to get written, sacrifices must be made.
3. Don't give up. When it comes to writing, persistence is more crucial than talent.

Tell us about the featured book.
The Stars Shine Bright begins with Raleigh Harmon coming back from an FBI suspension. her first assignment is undercover at a horse track, to discover who's fixing the races. But she soon  realizes something even sinister is going on -- because horses are dying and somebody's trying to kill her.

Please give us the first page of the book.
The glass skyscrapers towered over Puget Sound, like crystalline prisons for office slaves. I stood at the corner of Third and Madison and watched the hurried workers, toting their Starbucks and battered briefcases, while down the hill, between the city's steep reflective walls, a basin of salt water sparkled under late-summer sunshine. Puget Sound looked dappled and calm, nothing like the busy people. Nothing like the emotions warring inside me. And nothing like the woman who walked beside me, gripping a strand of pink pearls.

            "Don't do this," said Aunt Charlotte. Her pudgy fingers worried the silken beads. "Come work in my shop."

            "It won't help."

            "I'll pay you double minimum wage."

            I waited for the crosswalk light to change. Hurry up. The breeze tunneled through the buildings, bearing scents of wet salt and city pavement and the close of summer. A city bus wheezed to a stop on Madison and belched diesel fumes before releasing more serfs. They lurched out, sighing like pneumatic doors.

            I glanced at Aunt Charlotte.

            She had switched the pearls to her other hand, presumably because her fingers were fatigued from all that rubbing. It had started early this morning, when she told me I needed some geological magic to save my job. I looked back at the light. It refused to change.

            "I'm fine," I told her.

            "I'll send you to all my rock shows," she said. "You're a geologist -- they'll love you."

            I was a geologist, a forensic geologist. but I doubted the poor . . . .

 How can readers find you on the Internet?
You can visit my website and blog, www.sibellagiorello.com or visit my Facebook page and Twitter account. I love hearing from readers -- so don't be shy!


Thank you, Sibella, for the interesting interview.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Stars Shine Bright (A Raleigh Harmon Novel) - paperback
The Stars Shine Bright (A Raleigh Harmon Novel) - 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

Monday, July 30, 2012

PHARMACIA - Precarious Yates - One Free Book


Welcome back, Precarious. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
Earlier this month, I had a reader named Angie give this feedback to me: “Since I was little I wanted to do something courageous and after reading this book I immediately fell in love with Hadassah and I wish I can be her. She is a type of person I wish I could be. To be walking with God in total sync and to live a life of adventure doing His work. I love this book I can’t wait for the next one to come out.”

This is why I write the kind of books that I do.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
That would be the day I received a letter telling me the adoption of my daughter was finalized. As soon as I opened the letter, the two of us dressed up and went to the Children’s Museum to celebrate!

How has being published changed your life?
Being published has opened doors for a number of projects to help others achieve their publication goals. For instance, I’m helping my dad publish his historical novel. But being published also means I’m busier than ever! Marketing, and learning new marketing techniques, keeps me on my toes.

What are you reading right now?
I’m in the middle of four books at the moment, because that’s just how I roll. The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson, Anointed by Sarah Witenhafer, Crowded by Shaina Cilimberg, and The Angel Crest Deception by Gregory and Mikayla Kayne.

What is your current work in progress?
Aside from starting on Book 3 of Revelation Special Ops, I’m finishing up the second book for my fantasy trilogy, as well as working on a YA coming-of-age novel about a hyper-intellectual girl and her broken family relationships. Both of these books should be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What would be your dream vacation?
Anywhere near the ocean!!! It could be Alaska or Madagascar, as long as I’m close to big waves. Give me lots of paper, a handful of Pilot V5 roller ball pens and a good amount of surf, and I’m living my dream vacation!

How do you choose your settings for each book?
My spy novels are set all over the world. Since I write to raise awareness about human trafficking, I choose locations that I know have this issue in greater measure. For my current novel, Pharmacia: Those Magic Arts, I did invent one location, but other than that, all the locations are real places.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to spend an evening praying with Misty Edwards, my favorite musician. She’s out of Kansas City, and her music inspired my Revelation Special Ops series.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Since I have a five year old, this gives me the excuse of playing on jungle gyms without looking strange! Also, I play guitar and cook exotic foods that my husband gags at and my daughter loves.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Sleep. I’m serious! I find myself becoming an insomniac in order to write, and that’s not the healthiest way to live. I’ve learned to take days where the only writing I do is to the Lord.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Finish. Write out that first draft all the way to The End. Once I finished my first novel and learned that I could do it, finishing became attainable. And once finishing is attainable, all the rest falls into place after a while.

Tell us about the featured book.
Pharmacia: Those Magic Arts is Book 2 of the Revelation Special Ops series. In this book, we learn what happened to Matt, Hadassah’s love interest from Book 1. We also learn about modern slavery in America through the eyes of three R.S.O. operatives, and about human trafficking in Russia through Hadassah.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Since I published with KDP Select, I can only give the link to the book:
You’ll find the first chapter and more there.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Here’s where to find me:

I look forward to connecting with all of you!

Thank you for sharing book two in your series with us.

Readers, l
eave 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.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

GROOM WANTED - Debra Ullrick - 2 Free Books, Winners Choice, Book or Ebook


Welcome back, Debra. How did you come up with the idea for this story?
I love mail-order bride stories. I was trying to think of a different twist on this one, as I had already done the brother-ordering-a-bride-for-his wife in The Unexpected Bride and a she-wasn’t-what-he-was-expecting in The Unlikely Wife. With Groom Wanted being a part of a mail-order bride series, I needed something different. So, I thought about Jake Lure from The Unlikely Wife and Michael’s sister, Leah because the two of them had become such good friends. I thought it would be interesting if they both decided to place an ad for a spouse, but for two very different reasons though. Thus, Groom Wanted, was born.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
Only six, huh? Wow, that’s going to be hard, as I love so many authors and would love to party with them all. But, if I’m only allowed six, I would pick: Staci Stallings, Jillian Hart, Sandra Bricker, Sharon Gillenwater, Cheryl Wolverton, and Francine Rivers.  Why? Because their writings are either very poetic or extremely memorable and romantic. I would invite them so that I could pick their brains to see how they came to write so beautifully. There are many more authors whose books are memorable, and who I would like to get to know, but, you only allowed me six. Shame on you, Lena. Just teasing. *smiling*

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
Again, only six. Okay. Wow. Once again, there are many I would love to party with. But, if I’m confined to only six, I would first of all invite Jane Austen. Okay, okay, I know she can’t come because she’s deceased, but if she wasn’t, I would invite her. I would also invite Lori Wick, Traci Peterson, Janette Oke, Julie Lessman,  Mary Connealy, and Lori Copeland. Why? For the same reason I would have invited the contemporary Christian authors. Because their books are either memorable or very romantic or humorous, or all of those things combined, and I feel that I could learn so much from them. As I have from you, Lena. Thank you for all the numerous times you have helped me. You rock!

My pleasure and great blessing, Debra. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?
Actually, I recently struggled with not wanting to write anymore, and I couldn’t understand why especially since it was something I used to love. I coined the words “used to” because writing was becoming a chore, and I had started to detest it, and yet I had no idea why. I hated feeling this way, so I asked God to show me what was wrong. Are you ready for this? It was Fear of Failure. Didn’t matter that I had sold ten books. Didn’t matter that the ones that are already out had great reviews. I still felt like a failure. After more soul searching and much prayer, I realized that I had allowed the editor in my head and other people’s opinions to take control of my writing instead of the Holy Spirit. I had started writing for man, to please man, instead of God. Anytime I do that, it is doomed to fail. So that’s why I was feeling like a failure. Right after the Lord revealed that to me, I sat down to write and asked the Lord to guide me. I told Him I wasn’t writing for anyone else but Him and asked Him to show me what He wanted me to say, the way He wanted me to say it, and the flow started again. I am now enjoying and loving the journey of writing again. 

Another problem I have encountered is: I have to be careful to not write the same things that are in my other stories. For example: My heroine being accosted or rescued from a robber. I started to write that in my WIP and caught myself. As for others thinking I have it made, well, I have to laugh. One time, I had asked a writing loop a question concerning writing. At the time I had six published books. A person wrote me back completely befuddled. They said something like, “You’re published, right? How come you need to ask this? Don’t you already know the answer?” I had to chuckle. I, too, used to think the same thing, that multi-published authors had all the answers. I soon learned that we’re all still learning and growing with each new book we write. I think when we stop learning and growing, then our job of writing is over.

Tell us about the featured book.
Here’s the back cover blurb: It's a perfect plan—best friends Leah Bowen and Jake Lure will each advertise for mail-order spouses in the papers, and then Jake will help select Leah's future husband, while Leah picks Jake's bride-to-be! Surely the ads will find them what they seek: a wife who'll appreciate Jake's shy charm and a groom who'll take Leah away from the Idaho Territory she detests. When the responses to the postings pour in, it seems all Leah's and Jake's dreams will soon come true. But the closer they each get to the altar, the less appealing marrying a stranger becomes. Is it too late to turn back—or to turn around and find the happiness they truly seek together, at last?

Please give us the first page of the book.  
Here it is:
Paradise Haven
Idaho Territory, 1886

Nine men had replied to her "Groom Wanted" ad.

Leah Bowen couldn't believe she'd received so many that quickly. Her heart skipped as she fingered the envelopes that might very well hold her future and her only avenue of escape from the nightmares that plagued her.

"You, too, huh?"

"Twinkling stars above!" Leah gasped and whirled toward the sound of Jake Lure's deep voice. Her nose came within an inch of jamming into the napped wool shirt covering her friend's massive chest. Pleasant scents of springtime and sunshine floated from him.

Near the front door of Paradise Haven's post office Jake stood, looking over her shoulder at the posts in her hand. Most people were intimidated by his massive size, but she wasn't. Underneath that outdoorsy, muscular exterior was a gentle giant.

"What—what do you mean, 'you, too'?" Leah glanced at the top envelope with the very noticeable masculine script and tucked them into her reticule. She tossed the end of her purple knit scarf over her shoulder and gathered the edges of the collar of her wool coat closer together.

Jake held up a packet of letters. "Got these in the mail today."

"Oh? What are they?" she asked with all the innocence she could muster.

"Same thing as that stack you just put in your purse."

"What? You mean letters?"

"Those envelopes you have aren't just any ole letters." One of Jake's eyebrows rose. "They're answers to your advertisement."

Advertisement? She swallowed hard. Did he know she'd placed an ad for a husband? "What are you talking about?" Leah hated playacting, but she had no choice. She refused to offer Jake any information concerning her personal ad. Just because he had mentioned how he wanted to place an advertisement for a wife during one of the many times she and Abby had visited him over the past eleven months didn't mean she had to confide in him that she, too, had wanted to do that very same thing. So how did he know? Or was he only speculating?

How can readers find you on the Internet?
You can find me at my website/blog: www.debraullrick.com or you can Tweet me at www.twitter.com  @DebraUllrick


Thank you, Debra, for the fun interview. I love mail-order bride stories, too.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Groom Wanted (Love Inspired Historical) - paperback
Groom Wanted (Love Inspired Historical) - 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

Saturday, July 28, 2012

WINNERS


Colletta (PA) is the winner of Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang. 
Eldra (BC) is the winner of Tributary by Lisa T Bergren.
Instructions in the interview post for everyone to get a free copy of Kicking Eternity by Ann Lee Miller. 
Dale (NSW) is the winner of Waiting for a View by Debby Mayne. 
Wendy (MN)  is the winner of Inescapable by Nancy Mehl. 
Debbie Clark (OR) is the winner of Oregon Outback by Elizabeth Goddard.

If you won a book and you really like it, consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations
, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won the ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.
When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the individual interview. By using that link when you order, you will help support this blog.

Friday, July 27, 2012

THE RIDE OF HER LIFE - Lorna Seilstad - One Free Book


God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
It’s been an exciting time for me, and I feel very blessed. I can’t wait to introduce readers to my next series about three sisters who pledge to help each other live their dreams.

Tell us a little about your family.
My husband David and I have been married for twenty-two years. We have three children. Our son will be a junior in college, and our oldest daughter will be starting her freshman year this fall. Our younger daughter will be in eighth grade.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I know some writers find themselves being more critical, but the biggest change for me has been thinking things like, “Wow, what a great way to say that!” or “How did she/he think of plotting it that way.”

What are you working on right now?
I’m working on book 2 of the new series. I’m at the research stage, so I’m spending a lot of time reading old newspapers, looking things up, and trying to picture the city as it was in 1910. It’s one of my favorite stages of the book. When I find something useful, it’s like discovering a treasure or another piece of big jigsaw puzzle.

What outside interests do you have?
Like most women, my life is always busy. Besides being a wife and mom, I’m a Bible school teacher, 4-H leader, fair communication superintendent, and school volunteer. I do some wedding planning and coordination as the need arises. I also do some wedding flowers and have had as many as 400 fresh roses in my house at one time.

I was a 4-H Program Assistant before my girls were old enough for 4-H. Then I became a leader when they were in the organization. How do you choose your settings for each book?
The first series, The Lake Manawa Summers Series, was set just outside my hometown. I’d grown up hearing about it and decided to do more research.

I love finding places that are special in their own way. However, I’m a strong believer that every place has a story to tell. People at the turn of the century worked hard and played hard. Since I just finished the first book in my new series, I can tell you I loved digging up the places where people gathered to play hard and enjoy themselves. I try to bring those places back to life.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
This is an impossible question for a history buff! I’m guessing this question means besides Jesus because he’d be my first choice. I guess I’d have to say the apostle Paul. For about 15 years now, I’ve taught the book of Acts to 5th and 6th graders at our congregation. I’d love to hear about Paul’s experiences from his own lips and hear about some of the stories he didn’t include in his writings.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
I think I would have liked to realize that there would be a moment when something I loved and wanted to do would become a job and something I had to do. Don’t get me wrong. I still love writing, but it was a strange feeling one day when I realized that I had to write even when I didn’t feel like it. It was my job and had obligations to meet.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
My word for the year is “wonder.” I am humbled and amazed by God’s work both in my life and in the world. The other day, I made a list of all the things God had to orchestrate to bring my husband into my life, to bring my children into the world, and me into the publishing world. I am utterly amazed at the way He has directed my paths and taken me down roads I never even imagined.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Keep a teachable spirit. There’s always more to learn. Soak it up and use what fits you and your work.
When the edits come, realize it’s not about you. The most important thing is the story and whether it’s told in the most effective way possible.
Rest in the knowledge that God’s in control. It’s easy to get swept away with where publishing is going, what’s the next trend, how your numbers are, or if you’re marketing enough. I try to remember how far God had brought me and that He will be faithful no matter where He takes me next.

Tell us about the featured book.
I’d be thrilled to! The Ride of Her Life is the third book in the Lake Manawa Summers series. (It’s a standalone story, but if readers want to read the books in order, the first book, Making Waves, is free on Kindle, Nook, etc. right now.) It’s the story of a practical, no-nonsense widow named Lily Hart who is doing her best to make a home for herself and her six-year-old son Levi. She wants to stay firmly planted on the ground, but the handsome roller coaster designer, Nick Perrin, wants to sweep her off her feet.

If you want a vacation without leaving your house this summer, or you’re looking for a fun beach read, then this is the book for you. I loved learning about roller coasters in 1906, and there’s nothing like falling in love when there are exciting twists, turns, and dips at every turn.

Please give us the first page of the book.

CHAPTER ONE
May 1906, Lake Manawa, Iowa

            “Look, Momma!”

            What had Levi dragged in now? Lilly rolled her eyes as she eased a large slice of peach pie onto one of the diner’s plates. She wiped her finger on her starched apron, before she turned toward her son.

Swinging his arm in a wide arc, he thrust a monstrous writhing snake towards her nose.

            With a shriek, she leapt backwards.

            “Isn’t he pretty?” Levi ran his finger over the snake’s scaly head. “You wanna pet him?

            Inching backwards until her shoulders lodged against the cold, metal pie safe, Lilly fought the fear seizing her voice. The counter between her and that monster dangling from her six-year-old’s chubby fist hardly seemed an adequate barrier. “N—no, I do not want to pet that thing.”

            “Shhh. You’ll hurt his feelings.” He lifted the snake’s head to his cheek. “He won’t hurt you, Momma. See? He’s just a gardener snake.”

             “Get it away from your face! And Levi, he’s a garter snake, not a gardener.”

“What’s the difference?”

She swallowed hard, vaguely aware of the rollercoaster workers seated in the corner chuckling. She lowered her voice.

“A gardener works in a garden and a garter well...uh...holds up a ladies’—.”

“A ladies’ what?”

“Stockings.” She whispered but more chuckles ensued from the men in the corner. She pointed at the front door. “Why don’t you take your friend outside? I think he wants to go home.”

            “Silly, Momma. Snakes are like you and me. He ain’t got no home.”

            “He doesn’t have a home.”

            “That’s what I said.”

            The snake twisted beneath Levi’s grasp, and Lilly scooted even further away. “Please, put your friend back where you found him.”

            “Out front? Under the diner’s front stoop?”

            Lilly’s heart squeezed. Lord, haven’t I been dealing with enough snakes lately? You had to put one where I have to walk every day?
           
I love it already. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I love to hear from readers! I can be reached through my webpage www.lornaseilstad.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.


Thank you, Lorna. I've loved the books in this series.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Ride of Her Life, The: A Novel (Lake Manawa Summers) - paperback
The Ride of Her Life, A Novel (Lake Manawa Summers) - 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

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

LOVE FINDS YOU IN MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN - Melanie Dobson - One Free Book


Bio:
Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside’s Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

She enjoys the research process that comes along with being an author of historical fiction so much that she often has a difficult time stopping the research on the history and locale in order to start the writing. Because Melanie visits each location she writes about, she’s been able to spend time in the beautiful and fascinating towns across the country that bring her stories to life.

Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.

She met her husband, Jon, in Colorado Springs, but since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. Along with their two daughters, Karly and Kiki, they now enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific.
When Melanie isn't writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.


Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I love to research old towns and uncover stories about heroic people from the past. When I write historical fiction (what one friend calls “fact-tion”), I immerse myself in a different era and ask “what if….” The wondering “what if” is my favorite part of writing a novel.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I have three happiest days. The first day was May 9, 1998 when I married the love of my life in a rustic Colorado lodge. The second was the day Jon and I met our oldest daughter. I’ll never forget going to the hospital that July morning and lifting the most beautiful brown haired, brown-eyed baby girl into my arms. I didn’t want to put her back down. And the third was the day the State of South Carolina granted us custody of our second daughter, Kinzel Shae. We were waiting at the state line for the phone call that said we could take her out of the state to meet her sister and grandparents.

How has being published changed your life?
Deadlines have definitely changed my life. I used to have months and even years to linger over a story idea or dream about what might happen with my characters, but now I have to discipline myself to decide quickly about the direction of my characters and story. Part of me misses those days of researching for hours as I dreamed and wondered about the beginning and middle of a story, but as someone who starts a new project with great enthusiasm and then struggles to complete it, deadlines are really good for me. They help me stay on track to actually write the endings of my story ideas as well.

What are you reading right now?
I just finished reading Things Unseen: Living in the Light of Forever by Mark Buchanan. It’s a beautifully written book about what why we are never fully content in this life because what our hearts long for most is on the other side.

What is your current work in progress?
I’m in the midst of edits for Where the Trail Ends, one of the novels in Summerside’s new American Tapestries series. This historical romance is about a woman named Samantha Waldron and her young brother who struggle to survive after they are left behind on the Oregon Trail. And it’s about a proper British gentleman who wants the American emigrants to go home before they take over this new country that Hudson’s Bay Company has claimed for the Queen.

What would be your dream vacation?
Touring Europe for a month (or more) with my family. We lived in Berlin when our girls were younger, and I would like to take them back to explore the medieval German villages as well as visit the quaint towns and mountains in Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Each book is a little different. Sometimes I send my editor ideas of where I’d like to set one of the Love Finds You books, and sometimes she asks me to write a novel in a specific location. Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana, for example, was set in Liberty because this town was a major hub on the Underground Railroad, and the name Liberty was quite fitting for the townspeople’s work in helping runaway slaves. Love Finds You in Amana and Homestead were set in the Amana Colonies--a place I've been intrigued about since I was a child. And Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan was the perfect setting for a Victorian-era romance about a society family on the crux of losing their fortune and an eighty-year-old mystery discovered in an abandoned lighthouse.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
My dear friend, Tosha Williams. Tosha and I became friends at Liberty University, and her friendship has been a treasure to me for more than twenty years now. Our paths have intersected repeatedly over the years, but now that we live 1,400 miles apart, we try to get together for “tea” over the phone whenever we can. It would be such a treat for me to spend an entire evening with her, talking about writing, our families, and how God is working in our lives.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I love travelling and exploring abandoned houses, ghost towns, and old cemeteries. I also enjoy hiking in the mountains with my family during the summer and country western dancing in the winter. My husband tolerates this dancing hobby of mine fairly well and we often go two-stepping on date nights.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
My most difficult obstacle right now is scheduling blocks of time devoted to writing. I write during the evenings after my girls have gone to bed as well as on Saturdays while they are running errands and playing with Dad. With every book deadline, I schedule one or two weekends in a local hotel to focus on the story. The girls love to come swim at the hotel pool with their dad, and I’m able to have (mostly) uninterrupted writing time for forty-eight hours.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
I watched an interview a long time ago with a bestselling novelist, and I was shocked when the woman said she was a “horrible” writer. She quickly followed up her admission, saying that even though she was a horrible writer she was a fabulous re-writer.

At the time I watched her interview, I was talking about writing all the time and thinking about it even more. The problem was that I was not actually doing much writing because I was terrified I would fail. And if I failed, I would be devastated. Once I realized my first draft didn’t have to be even close to perfect, I let go of my fears and began scribbling down random thoughts and scenes onto paper. Then I polished and reworked and rewrote these thoughts and scenes until I had a clean manuscript that I could send to a publisher.

I would encourage a new writer who might be terrified of the process to sit down with a notepad or her laptop and begin pouring out what’s in her heart for the first draft. Don’t sweat the editing and publishing until later.

Tell us about the featured book.
I’ve always wanted to visit Mackinac Island so I was really excited to contract for a story set on this lovely island where time seems to stand still. There are no cars on Mackinac and most of the houses and hotels were built more than a hundred years ago. Here’s a short blurb about this novel:

As the Gilded Age comes to a close, Elena Bissette’s once-wealthy family has nearly lost its fortune. The Bissettes still own a home on fashionable Mackinac Island, where they will spend one last summer in the hope of introducing Elena to a wealthy suitor. But Elena is repulsed by the idea of marrying for money. Quickly tiring of the extravagant balls, she spends most evenings escaping back into Mackinac’s rugged forest. There she meets Chase, a handsome soldier who shares her love for the night sky. The two begin to meet in secret at an abandoned lighthouse, where they work together to solve a mystery hidden in the pages of a tattered diary.

As Elena falls in love with Chase, her mother relentlessly contrives to introduce her to the island’s most eligible bachelor. Marriage to the elusive millionaire would solve the Bissettes’ financial woes, and Elena is torn between duty and love.

Please give us the first page of the book.
June 1894

Wind gusted over the bow of the Manitou and whistled under the canopy of her deck. Below the deck, a pipe organ entertained those women who wouldn’t think of mussing their hair or wrinkling their beaded gowns as the steamer maneuvered through the Straits of Mackinac. The deck was crowded with men smoking cigars and talking about whether their fine country would recover from the utter failure of the economy.

Elena Bissette wasn’t talking with the men. She stood against the railing and clung to the organza band that encircled her new hat, trying to keep it from drowning in the choppy waters that marked the juncture of Lakes Michigan and Huron. Strands of light brown hair tangled around her face, and she tried unsuccessfully to secure them behind her ears with her gloved fingers. The breeze tugged at her hair like a child wanting to play, but she couldn’t join in. Not until she was alone.

Jillian had put up Elena’s hair an hour ago, pinning it neatly into an elegant French twist. Her hair would be a disaster by the time they reached Mackinac Island—and so would her mother, once she saw Elena’s hair. When Mama emerged onto the deck, Elena knew exactly what she would say.

Elena Ingrid Bissette. Her mother’s fists would ball up against her wide hips. You’re not supposed to be outside in the wind. You’re supposed to be in the stateroom until our arrival, waiting with your father and me.

The admonitions raged louder in Elena’s mind, drowning out the roar of the wind and waves.

What if he saw you like this, Elena? What would he do?

Mama would snap her fingers. He’d move on to the next girl. Just like that. And there will be plenty of young ladies on Mackinac this summer, plenty of pretty girls.

Tears would follow in perfect dramatic time, just a few of them to inspire the necessary dose of guilt. Then her mother would lean even closer.

Are you trying to ruin what’s left of our lives?

Elena laughed in spite of herself. As if tangled hair could ruin the Bissette family name.

I like the story already. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I love connecting with readers on Facebook or through my website—
www.melaniedobson.com.


Melanie Dobson's "Mackinac Island' Kindle Fire Giveaway! Celebrate with Melanie by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Find out what the reviewers are saying here!



One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A brand new Kindle Fire
  • Signed copies of Melanie’s Love Find You books: Love Finds you in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa, Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana.
But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4/12. The winner will be announced on 8/6/12 at Melanie's blog!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Melanie's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter


Thank you, Melanie, for sharing with us today.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan - paperback
Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan - Kindle

One reader of my blog will win a copy of the book, too. 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

TWANG - Julie L Cannon - One Free Book

Bio:
Julie L. Cannon is the author of the award-winning Homegrown series, published by Simon & Schuster and described as ‘Southern-fried soul food.’ Her novel I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Summerside Press, Sept. ‘10, made the CBA Bestseller List as well as Nielsen’s Top 50 Inspirational Titles. Abingdon Press will release Twang  in August 2012, and Scarlett Says in October 2013. When she isn’t busy tending her tomato patch, Julie can be found listening to country music or teaching memoir-writing workshops. She lives in Watkinsville, Georgia. Visit her website at www.julielcannon.com and connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/julieLcannon and on Twitter at JulieLCannon. 

Welcome, Julie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
When I was a junior in college, I had my first ‘encounter’ with the supernatural. It happened when the bicycle I was on collided with a car. After a lengthy and miraculous recovery, a diagnosis of brain injury, I started asking a lot of questions. It was a brand new, earth-shaking experience that blew the door wide open to my soul. I’ve often heard people say it was their suffering that drew them closer to God. That in the depths of despair they discovered God was all they needed. That is true for me, and now I’m out to share this through my books. My intention is to illustrate how God can redeem the seemingly unredeemable. My characters find grace, even beauty in the ugliest memories and events.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Hmmmm. How can I answer this? Every day I get out of bed, feeling well and content is happy. But, if you want specific days, I’ll say it’s the day I married, each of the days I gave birth to my three children, that afternoon when I won a short story contest that led to the unexpected sale of my first novel, and every time since that I hear I’ve got a new book deal and can continue to do this thing I love. 

How has being published changed your life?
It validates my passion, my obsession. Another good thing is that at first I was a very reluctant public speaker. Now I’m paid to give keynote speeches and teach writing workshops. Having to learn to hawk my books taught me to rely on God’s wisdom and strength to overcome fears.

What are you reading right now?
Just finished Mia Farrow’s memoir, What Falls Away, and I’m in the middle of Save Me From Myself a memoir by Brian ‘Head’ Welch, former lead guitarist of Korn. Farrow’s book tore my heart out, and Welch writes about the depths of his depravity, and then the amazing life he’s found in Christ.

What is your current work in progress?
I’m on the final scene of Scarlett Says, coming out October 2013 from Abingdon Press. It’s about how words - what we speak, hear and read - have a life of their own and affect us for good and bad.

What would be your dream vacation?
It’s a toss up between staying a month in either Hawaii or Paris.  

How do you choose your settings for each book?
I know the South, and my settings for all seven published novels have been Georgia and Tennessee. I’ve lived in both states. 

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
My agent, Sandra Bishop. We met over the internet, have had many conversations by phone, but I live in Georgia and she lives in Oregon and I’ve yet to sit down and drink a cup of coffee with her and talk eye-to-eye about books and life. 

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I love listening to country music, painting with acrylics and watercolors, and going to junk/thrift stores. 

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
It’s the public speaking thing. The marketing of my books. I rely on PRAyer and PRActice to see me through each new novel’s release. I ask God for help, and I do my part; I write out my book talks, the workshops I teach, and then I stand in front of the mirror and practice.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Write constantly, read constantly, study books and websites on the craft of writing, listen to critiques and heed advice, submit often, and never, ever give up.

Tell us about the featured book.
Twang shows how art (in this case song-writing) can be cathartic. It shows how to trust God with your ugly memories. It’s about finding grace, even beauty in the ugliest memories and events.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Those first days in Nashville were happy. Happier than any I could recall. It was no accident I had Mac’s cousin pull his sputtering Vega to the curb on the corner of Music Circle East and Division Street. The Best Western was in walking distance of Music Row.

All my belongings were stuffed into two huggable paper sacks, and when I marched down that strip of red carpeting into a marble-floored lobby with a chandelier, I knew it was a palace compared to that drafty cabin in Blue Ridge with peeling wallpaper and warped floorboards. Room 316 had pretty gold and maroon carpet; gold curtains at a window with an air conditioning unit beneath it; two queen beds; two glossy wood tables—one in the corner with a lamp, an ice bucket and a coffee maker, and the other between the beds with a phone, a clock, and a remote for the television. There was even a little bitty refrigerator, a microwave, an ironing board and an iron.

What else could a person need?

More curious about having my own indoor bathroom than a television, I tiptoed in there first. Nothing had prepared me for what met my eyes. Clean white tiles on the floor, a marbled sink, a blow-dryer, a stack of sweet

Way to leave us hanging, Julie. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website      www.juliecannon.info
Twitter        http://twitter.com/JulieLCannon

Thank you, Julie, for spending this time with us today.


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


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

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

TWIN HEARTS - JoAnn Durgin - One Free Book


God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I just want to keep writing and sharing my stories. To be able to see them in print is one of the sweetest blessings in my life. I’m open to the Lord’s leading and new opportunities, but I’m very content where I am right now.

Tell us a little about your family.
My family—husband, Jim, daughters Sarah and Chelsea (college students) and Matthew, 16—is the best! They make me a better person, a more intuitive (love that word) writer. Sure, they get that “glazed over” look in their eyes on occasion when I start “the talk” about my books or give my business card to anyone and everyone who asks about my writing. And yes, I’ve heard the resigned sighs and caught some serious eye-rolling. But any husband who promotes his wife’s books while sitting in a sauna at the YMCA is a very supportive guy. My kids understand when they shouldn’t interrupt (when Mom’s in “the zone”), and that keeps us all happy.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Except for when my children were little, I’ve always been a voracious fiction reader. Nothing’s better than relaxing with a good book at the end of the day, and I fall asleep most nights with a book (or Kindle) in my hands. Reading the work of others sharpens me as a writer and keeps me current with the newest, freshest authors. I used to read a variety of books, including mysteries and biographies, but now it’s pretty much Christian romance all the time, both historical and contemporary. There’s such a wealth of incredible talent in Christian fiction and some truly great books!

What are you working on right now?
I’m working on the final edits for my upcoming Christmas novella with White Rose Publishing, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, tentatively scheduled to release in October. It’s a heartwarming, fun story about a hunky but slightly wounded firefighter, Jake Marston, and what happens when he meets Julia Sinclair, his best buddy’s younger sister in tiny Starlight, Iowa. I could say Jake meets his match—corny, I know, but it works! I’m also deep in edits for Daydreams, the fourth installment of The Lewis Legacy Series, due in mid-November or early December.

What outside interests do you have?
I wish I could answer with something disgustingly healthy and physically challenging. But—being completely honest here—my primary outside interests these days revolve around church, family or school activities. Other than that, it’s all about the writing. One of my all-time favorite things to do is travel, so I’m excited to return to Dallas in September for the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference. My husband’s coming, too, since we met in “Big D” and it’s our 25th wedding anniversary earlier in the month (I married the man on his birthday; he doesn’t forget his anniversary), then we’re traveling to Austin, San Antonio and Houston.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Sometimes I write about locales in which I’ve lived (from coast-to-coast) or visited, or else I dream up a fictional town. In my current series, each book focuses on one member of a Christian missions organization called TeamWork. Their stories take the reader from Texas (the home base for my core characters, Sam and Lexa Lewis) to Massachusetts, Montana, Louisiana, New York, New Mexico, England, and even the International Space Station!

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
I’ve always adored Mark Twain. Humor is a key element in all my books, and I appreciate his sharp (although sometimes caustic) wit. He’s an intelligent and insightful writer. Mr. Twain was a master of irony and a keen observer of human behavior (and misbehavior). The Innocents Abroad is hysterical, albeit irreverent, but it’s still a personal favorite. I’m sure he’d be a fascinating dinner companion. I’d hang on every word and learn a lot about writing—and life, too, I’m sure.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
This is the toughest question to answer this time around on your blog, Lena. I could say things like: I wish I’d known how much time it really takes to edit a 100,000 word novel (when you work full-time). I wish I’d known how much a negative review can hurt (even in a sea of positives). I wish I’d known not to expect as much of others as I do of myself…oh, the list could go on. But you know what? Even if I had known any or all of these things, I wouldn’t change a thing about my writing journey. It’s made me stronger and the writer I am today. The Lord always knows, doesn’t He?

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
A wise, multi-published author told me something I’ve taken to heart: “Don’t compare your writing to anyone else’s.” Just as the Lord has given each one of us a unique writer’s voice, there are different readers for all of us. It’s not a competition. Especially as a Christian author, I’m writing first and foremost to give hope to readers—the kind of hope only found in a personal relationship with Christ. If I concentrate on writing the best possible story, He will bless and bring the readers.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Pray each time you sit down to write, committing your words to the Lord’s guidance and also praying for your readers.

Be an encourager and build a good network of writer friends and readers.

Keep writing, editing and reading and do at least one thing each day to further your writing career.

Tell us about the featured book.
Twin Hearts is the third installment of The Lewis Legacy Series and features the respective love stories of Louisiana twins, Joshua and Rebekah Grant. Josh was the “black sheep” in my first book of the series, and I wanted to bring him back so he could find his redemption. He does, but in a sweet and surprising way. Rebekah is torn between two men: one a British aristocrat offering her the world and the other a shy, faithful fellow member of the TeamWork Missions volunteer crew. Twin Hearts is a journey through tragedy and triumph as each twin discovers the value and meaning of family, faith and a love to last a lifetime.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Apologizing for past behavior wasn’t a problem for Josh Grant, but asking forgiveness from his former mentor humbled him like nothing else. This apology was way overdue. He passed through the revolving door of the downtown Houston high-rise and did a quick scan of the building directory. TeamWork Missions, U.S. Headquarters. Suite 412. Shoving his hands deep in the pockets of his suit pants to quell his nerves, Josh exchanged a nod and a “Good morning” with the security guard and headed toward the bank of elevators. He crossed his arms and stared at the elevator doors with tunnel vision, ignoring the blonde in a business suit eyeing him with undisguised interest. It might have been a good idea to bring his briefcase. Call it a crutch, but at least he’d have something to hold and give him some sense of normalcy. What he faced on the fourth floor wasn’t one of his routine merger or acquisition deals—this was far more intimidating. He was here for one purpose alone: to see Sam Lewis.

Impatience took over as he rocked on the heels of his Italian leather shoes and waited to see which of the eight elevators would win the race to the ground floor. Stretching his neck, he loosened his collar and new silk tie, which felt like a noose intent on suffocating him. Sam wouldn’t care if he wore tattered clothes, hadn’t bathed in a week and not a dime to his name. Heart attitude made the man, not the outward representations of worldly prosperity. Although his dad grilled it into him, and his mind possessed that knowledge, his heart hadn’t yet crawled out from beneath the heavy burden of guilt and remorse—its own unique brand of shame.

Instead of waiting, he pushed the door to the stairwell and bounded up the steps two at a time. His workouts must be paying off since he was barely out of breath when he reached the fourth floor landing. Opening the door to the hallway, he spied a sign for TeamWork pointing to the left. Each step on the tile floor sounded like a clanging cymbal announcing his arrival in the otherwise empty hallway. Like a prisoner going to his doom. Shake it off. Sam was a godly man, and he’d welcome him back with open arms.

Josh stared at the gold-plated sign for TeamWork mounted on the heavy oak door of Suite 412. His eyes focused. Samuel J. Lewis, Jr., Domestic Missions Director. He readjusted his collar and straightened the tie in the reflection of the sign, basking him in a surreal, golden glow. Ironic since they’d nicknamed him “Golden Boy” at his Baton Rouge law firm. Little did they know that gold was more tarnished than silver.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is www.joanndurgin.com and readers can send me a message there, or they can find me on Facebook. One of the biggest thrills for me is hearing from readers, and I love to get to know them!

Awakening (Book #1 in The Lewis Legacy Series and currently featured on your blog sidebar), is currently $2.99 on Kindle for a very limited time.

Thank you for having me here today, Lena. It’s my great honor, as always. Matthew 5:16

And thank you, JoAnn, for the interesting peek into your life and story.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Twin Hearts: A Christian Romance Novel (The Lewis Legacy Series, Book Three) - paperback
Twin Hearts: A Christian Romance Novel (The Lewis Legacy Series, Book Three) - 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