Thursday, September 12, 2013

A PLACE OF REFUGE - Janet Lee Barton - One Free Book

Readers, Janet Lee Barton has been a dear friend for many years. We both started out with the same publisher and quickly forged that friendship.

Welcome, Janet. I love your new headshot. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I hope to write more stories in the Boarding House Betrothal series for LIH. I love the setting of New York City in the late 1800's, love Heaton House and the characters. I hope my readers do too.

Tell us a little about your family.
Between us, Dan and I have three daughters and six grandchildren. We're blessed to have one daughter and her family living near by. Family is very important to us, and we love living in Oklahoma where all our loved ones are within a days drive us.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Oh yes. I don't get to read for pleasure as much as I used to. And for a long time, I couldn't read without seeing it through a writer's eyes. But I have been making pleasure reading a priority in the last few years, and I'm enjoying it like old times.

What are you working on right now?
I'm working on book 3 in the Boarding House Betrothal series. This is Elizabeth and John's story.

What outside interests do you have?
I love to cook, to garden, and to do needlework when I can. We like getting together with family and friends. Our church family is great and we enjoy getting together with our Sunday school class—Fish Frys are a great favorite.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
I've always written about areas I've lived in or close to until this series. But after 9/11, I became so interested in the people of New York City, and I became very interested in the history of the city. I began coming up with ideas but didn't quite know how to link them all together, and I really wanted to do that. I'm happy to say that in that time of day/night where you're half awake and half asleep, the Lord gave the idea of the boarding house to me. From then on it all came together. I love it when that happens.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
That's a hard question because there are many. I think I would have to name two here, though—President and Mrs. George W. Bush. I still admire them so much and I'd love to hear how life is for them now. How they feel about their first grandchild and what they think of the world events that are going on.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
That we have to hold on to the joy of writing, and that's not always easy to do when we have deadlines, edits and marketing to do. But if we can hold on to it—and we must find a way to do so—it will show in our stories and make them even better.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
I think the Lord is teaching me to lean on Him for guidance in all areas of my life. To step out in faith that He is in control. Always.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
To sit in that chair and finish a story. And then another one.

To keep the joy of writing fresh. If you have to change directions, do so. If you have to try something new, do so.

To give thanks to the Lord each and every day for calling you to write for Him and giving you that joy in doing so.

Tell us about the featured book.
This is from the back copy of A Place of Refuge.

A Hero from Her Past

If Kathleen O'Bryan were capable of trusting any man, it might be someone like Luke Patterson. She never expected to be reunited with the man that rescued her last summer. But when she arrives at Mrs. Heaton's boardinghouse, seeking refuge, it's the handsome writer who greets her at the door.

Something about the lovely Irish immigrant stirs Luke's protective instincts. Life in New York's harsh tenements hasn't dimmed Kathleen's tender spirit. Day by day, Luke feels the walls around his heart crumble. But it will take faith on Kathleen's side, too, and the heart's power to recognize a real home at last….

Please give us the first page of the book.
New York City
February 1896


A knock on the door this time of evening was never a good sign. Luke Patterson paused at the staircase and frowned, looking around for Mrs. Heaton, the owner of his boardinghouse. Neither she nor Gretchen, the maid, were anywhere to be seen, and everyone else had scattered after dinner. The knock sounded once more and he took it on himself to answer the door.

"Sir, I've a young woman in my hack and was told to bring her to this address." The man at the door handed Luke a familiar-looking card. It was one of Mrs. Heaton's, embellished simply with only Heaton House, then the address and telephone number underneath. She often gave the cards to young women she thought might be in need of a safe place to come.

"What is it, Luke?" Mrs. Heaton asked as she hurried out of her study.

"This man has a young woman in his hack. He says he was told to bring her here." He handed Mrs. Heaton her card.

"Well, tell her to come right in," Mrs. Heaton said.

"She's in bad shape, ma'am. She passed out on the way over. In fact I think she's more in need of the hospital right now than anythin'. My wife's a friend of her sister's, and they told me to bring her here, and that's what I've done. They told me you'd given her the card."

I can’t wait until my copy of the book gets here. How can readers find you on the Internet?
My webpage is: www.janetleebarton.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetLeeBarton

Thank you, Janet, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Place of Refuge - Christianbook.com
A Place of Refuge (Love Inspired Historical) - Amazon.com
A Place of Refuge (Boardinghouse Betrothals) - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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:

Melanie Backus said...

Lena, thank you for a wonderful interview.I really enjoyed hearing about Janet. And Janet, A PLACE OF REFUGE sounds like a wonderful book. I can't wait to get to know more about Luke and where his heart takes him concerning a certain woman.

Melanie Backus, TX

Unknown said...

Janet, I'm hooked after reading the first page! This series is definitely going on my to be read list!
Tonja VA

Heidi Reads... said...

Sweet interview! I enjoy reading the Love Inspired books for a quick pick me up :) Thanks!

Heidi, CA

Britney Adams said...

I know A PLACE OF REFUGE will be a wonderful book and I look forward to reading more about Kathleen and Luke! Thank you for sharing this interview with Janet and for the opportunity to win a copy of her book!

Britney Adams, TX

Jean said...

Thank you for this opportunity!

Jean K
West Palm Beach, FL

sam said...

Looks like a great love story and I would love to win this book. sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

Janet Lee Barton said...

Hi Melanie, Tonja, Heidi, Britney, Jean and Sam! Thank so much for stopping by and leaving comments. I hope you'll enjoy A Place of Refuge as much as I love writing it! :)

Linda Goodnight said...

A Place of Refuge is a wonderful book. And I can attest to Janet's cooking skill. She makes amazing sourdough bread. Yum!

Janet Lee Barton said...

Thanks for stopping by Linda! And the compliment on my book and sourdough bread! :)

Merry said...

I'm excited to see another book in the Betrothal Boarding House series!
Merry in MN

Janet Lee Barton said...

Thanks for stopping by, Merry! I love writing these stories. :)

Mary Preston said...

A PLACE OF REFUGE sounds like such a great read. An intriguing first page thank you.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Jean said...

Thank you for this opportunity!

Jean K
West Palm Beach, FL

Unknown said...

Thank you for the lovely interview! I truly enjoyed reading about you, Janet and your book sounds amazing!! I am definitely going to look for it now. Thank you for the giveaway!!!
Blessings,
Julianna Rowe, PA
emeraldelena@hotmail.com

Brittany said...

I am so interested in reading this story and this entire series! Please enter me for this book. Thanks!
Brittany McEuen (TX)

Unknown said...

Great interview. I love this book by reading the first page. Looking forward to reading it. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the giveaway and please enter my name in the giveaway.

Barbara Thompson in Louisiana

barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

Janet Lee Barton said...

Hi Mary, Jean, Julianna, Brittany and Barbara! Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm so glad you like this story! I do love this series and hope you all enjoy it.

Terri said...

Janet, this is such a fantastic series. I'm excited to see A Place of Refuge release and to hear you are working on book three.

Terri
Westieplace@cox.net

A Cooking Bookworm said...

I love immigrant stories! Sounds like something my MIL would also enjoy!

Stephanie
Binghamton, NY

mybabyblessings AT gmail DOT com

Janet Lee Barton said...

Thanks so much for stopping by Terri and Stephanie! Book 3 is due the first of October and will be out next year. I think around this time of year, but don't have the actual release date yet.

Anonymous said...

would be happy happy happy to win. abgela from ky

Abigail Mitchell said...

Looks Awesome!!! Please enter me! Thanks, and God Bless!

Blanch, N.C.

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me this book looks great!!
Sharon Richmond Bryant
Conway,SC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com

CentralEast2 said...

looks like an interesting book
Carol from AL

Shopgirl said...

Love the plot and love to win! I'm in MN.

bonton said...

Hi, Janet!

Enjoyed learning more about you & your writing. I haven't read any of your books, & would love to read this one. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

I can identify with you desire to meet President & Mrs. Bush - he has taken a lot of criticism, but I have always admired him for not being afraid to take a stand for his faith, & not backing down in the face of adversity.

bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kentucky

Anonymous said...

would love to win. Angela from KY

rubynreba said...

The first page made me want to read more. Love the cover.
Beth from Iowa

Kristie said...

New York City in 1896 is not my usual era of books I like to read but this one sounds good. I like a good romance. Plus these two have a past history which is intriguing. Kristie from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.