Monday, September 09, 2013

GUNPOWDER TEA - Margaret Brownley - One Free Book

“Suspicion ain’t proof unless you’re married”
-Gunpowder Tea (The Brides of Last Chance Ranch)

Welcome back, Margaret. Tell us about your salvation experience.
First let me say, thank you for letting me visit today, Lena. To answer your question; I can’t remember a time that God wasn’t in my life, but my greatest salvation was when He pulled me through (kicking and screaming I might add) the loss of our oldest son.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
I would invite Louisa May Alcott so I could thank her for the hours of enjoyment she gave me as a child. (I pretended I was Jo the writer). I would want to include Mark Twain because he traveled all over the west, and I could use his eye for details. I had the pleasure of having lunch with Louis L’amour years ago, and the stories he told still resonate. He and Mark would sure keep things lively. Finally, I would want to invite Jane Austen, because she really set the standard for women’s fiction.

You met Louis L’amour? How awesome! I read his books when I was younger. Loved them. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I do speak on occasion but deadlines keep me from doing it more. I talk about writing, but I also have a speaking grief ministry based on my non-fiction book Grieving God’s Way: the Path to Lasting Hope and Healing.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
At the time, flunking 8th grade English was the most embarrassing thing because I want to be a writer. My teacher told me not to even think about being a writer. The way I handled it was to give up my dream (big mistake!). It took years before I realize that God doesn’t put a dream into our hearts without also giving us the tools to pursue it. I just had to learn how to use those tools. I never did learn how to diagram a sentence, but I learned how to tell my stories.

I’m glad you didn’t let that teacher keep you from writing. I love your books. And I am a firm believer is God being the Dream Planter in our hearts. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
It can be frustrating at times because most people have no idea how much work goes into writing a book. Even my closest friends don’t know how hard I work. It looks deceptively easy because practically everyone has access to a keyboard or pad and pencil. What would I say? I’d probably just smile and say, “Good luck.” What would I be thinking? “Yeah, and one day I’d like to be a doctor.”

Tell us about the featured book.

The inspiration for the story came after reading about the first female Pinkerton detective. She helped avert an attempt on Abraham Lincoln’s life in 1862 and became one of Allan Pinkerton’s favorite operatives.

In my book Miranda Hunt is a Pinkerton detective working undercover at the ranch. She has no idea that Jeremy Taggert is a Wells Fargo agent also working undercover. Naturally, they’re suspicious of each other and this causes them to work at cross purposes. But the fun really begins when they learn each other’s true identity. It then becomes a race to see which of the two competitive detectives catches the bad guy first and nothing, not even love, can get in the way.

Sounds like a fun read. I can’t wait until my book arrives. Please give us the first page of the book.
Chapter 1
Pinkerton National Detective Agency: We never sleep.

New Orleans 1897
Miranda Hunt drew a linen handkerchief from the sleeve of her black mourning frock and dabbed the corner of her eye. Only the most discerning person would spot the foot tapping impatiently beneath the hem of her skirt. Or guess that her respectfully lowered head hid a watchful gaze.

As far as anyone knew, she was exactly who she purported to be: Mrs. James Kincaid the Third, friend of the deceased.

“Such a modest man,” one of the mourners, a middle-aged woman, lamented, looking straight at Miranda. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Kincaid?”

“Most definitely,” Miranda replied. From what she knew of Mr. Stanton, he had much to be modest about.

Everything in the stately mansion from the polished marble floors to the gold filigree ceilings was due to marrying the heiress of a fly paper empire. The rich knew how to live, and judging by the carved oak coffin edged in gold and lined in silk, they also knew how to die.

An elderly gray man approached her chair and put up his monocle. “Would you care to pay your last respects, Mrs. Kincaid?” He was stoop-shouldered and spoke with a lisp.

Miranda stood with a solemn nod and crossed the elegantly furnished parlor to an alcove near the grand piano. Tall palms stood like sentries guarding the open coffin. The deceased was perfectly laid out in a fine tailored suit, his white mustache and hair neatly trimmed. Had it not been for the silver coins concealing his eyes, one might think him merely asleep.

The last few petals of Miranda’s rose fluttered to the floor, but she dutifully laid the wilted stem by the dead man’s side. She allowed a ladylike sob to escape and drew a handkerchief to her cheek—all for the benefit of the monocle-eyed man.

Like all operatives of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, Miranda was an expert in disguises. Blending in was the key to nabbing an unsuspecting criminal and that took a certain amount of concentration, attention to detail, and of course, acting ability.

Today, it took considerably more. It took a steadfast stomach to eat the Russian fish eggs and liver paste that the rich called food.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Readers can reach me through my website: www.margaretbrownley.com

Gunpowder Tea is available in print and eBook and can be purchased at your favorite bookstore or on line: http://www.amazon.com/Gunpowder-Brides-Chance-Ranch-Series/dp/1595549722/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

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

Readers, here is another link to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Gunpowder Tea - Christianbook.com

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

42 comments:

Mary Preston said...

This does sound like a fun read beginning with the title.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Margaret Brownley said...

HI Mary, I love the title, too! Thank you for stopping by and have a terrific week.

Melanie Backus said...

GUNPOWDER TEA sounds like such a strong, interesting book. A woman upholding the law, don't you know she could tell some stories! Thank you Mary for a great read and thank you Lena.

Melanie Backus, TX

Heidi Reads... said...

What a fun premise! Sounds like there's a lot of adventure in this one :)

Heidi, CA

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi Melanie!
My heroine is modeled after Kate Warne who was a Pinkerton detective from 1856 to her death in 1868. I would love to have heard her stories. Unfortunately, her files were lost during the Great Chicago Fire and so we know very little about her.

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi Heidi,
I see you're a California gal. That's my home state, too; the Southern part.

You're right; the book has lots of adventure. It also has mystery and romance!

Abbi Hart said...

I have enjoyed all of this author's books that I've read so far (Rocky Creek Romance series, the two first books in this series, and the novella in A Bride for All Seasons) and I'm really looking forward to Gunpowder Tea! Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Abbi (PA)

Margaret Btrownley said...

Hi Abbi, you're a busy reader!
Good luck and thank you so much for your kind interest and support!

Amy C said...

How exciting to have another book by Margaret to look forward to!
Great interview.
Amy C
VA

Margaret Brownley said...

Amy, thank you!

Anonymous said...

WOULD BE HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY TO WIN!!!
ANGELA IN KY

Wendy Newcomb said...

I would love to win this book! Thank you for the chance.

Wendy from FL

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

Bonnie Traher said...

Bonnie T from Pa. momtr3@yahoo.com

Melody said...

Doesn't this sound like a great story? Love her books!

Donna, TX

Angie Adair said...

Love this genre. Gunpowder Tea sounds like a great book! Angie, IL

Britney Adams said...

I am intrigued and can't wait to read more about Miranda and her adventures as a Pinkerton Agent! Thank you for sharing this interview and for the opportunity to win a copy of GUNPOWDER TEA!

Britney Adams, TX

Bookishqueen said...

I have been wanting to read this one for a while!
Rebekah Gyger

Vera Godley said...

Ah, Margaret Brownley writes again! I'd love to win. :)

Vera in middle North Carolina where I serve tea but just don't put gunpowder in it.

EJ said...

Love Margaret's books - and the title Gunpowder Tea def. caught my attention! Elaine from Iowa

Margaret Brownley said...

Anonymous, would be HAPPY, HAPPY to have you win!

Margaret Brownley said...

Thank you Wendy, Bonnie, Melody and Angie. I wish I could send you all a book! Will virtual chocolate do?

Margaret Brownley said...

Thank you Britney, Bookishqueen (love this!) and Vera. Thank you for stopping by.

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi Vera from North Carolina. Your comment made me laugh. I've been giving out packets of gunpowder tea and some people actually think I'm giving out real gunpowder. BTW: gunpowder tea is named because of the little popping sound the tightly wound tea leaves make when you add hot water.

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

Enter me!
Sarah
N.C.

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

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

Abigail Mitchell said...

This book looks Awesome!!! Please enter me!
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
Blanch, N.C.

A J Hawke said...

GUNPOWDER TEA is a great title, Margaret. It caught my attention. I have enjoyed several of your books, but especially the series of A Rocky Creek Romance,

AJHawkeauthor at aol dot com

Pam K. said...

I've read several of Margaret's books, including the first in this series. I'm thankful for the chance to win a copy of "Gunpowder Tea." I used to read some of my brothers' Louis L'Amour books; that was probably the start of my penchant for books set in the Old West.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Jean said...

Thank You for this opportunity!

Jean K
West Palm Beach, FL

bonton said...

Interesting interview, Margaret! I don't have any of your books, & would love to read this one. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

I'm not a writer, but agree with you when you say that most people don't understand how much work goes into writing a book. I have read a lot of author comments on writing, & the work involved astounds me. I would never have the patience for all the research, re-writes, edits, promotion, etc..

I would just like to thank you, & all the Christian fiction writers, for using your talent to bless us, the readers!

bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kentucky

Unknown said...

Love the books s our Pinkerton agents!
Tonja VA

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi Sarah, Sharon and Abigail, your names have been entered! Good luck.

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi A.J.
Thank you for stopping by. Glad the title works. I struggle with titles, but this one came easy.

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi Pam, I think many of us got our start reading westerns with Louis L'Amour. I feel fortunate to have met the man.

Margaret Brownley said...

Bonnie, thank you for your kind thoughts! Good luck.

A Cooking Bookworm said...

Love stories with the Pinkertons!! Love the book cover! :-)

Stephanie
Binghamton, NY

mybabyblessings AT gmail DOT com

Judy Cooper said...

The title of the book immediately catches your interest, Historical writing at its best. Thank you, Judy C. in Louisiana.

Jasmine A. said...

If the title wasn't enough to make me want to read this book, and it was, than the chapter sample did it!

You got to meet Louis L'Amour?! WOW! I love his books! If it weren't for The Hardy Boys, Louis L'Amour, and a sister that read both and introduced him, my brother would likely not be much of a reader today. He is though.

I loved your choice of authors! Can I please be a mouse in the corner listening at your writers retreat?

Jasmine in Montana (land of Hanging Woman Creek)

Lourdes said...

Great interview I was told by someone in my youth that I should not continue to try and sing because I was tone deaf. For year's I believed this until the Lord opened a door for me and I realized I could sing and since then, I have loved being on the worship team.

Lourdes in Long Island NY

scottsgal said...

love historical western romances - I'd love to read this
Cheryl in IL

rubynreba said...

Such an interesting title! Reading about the Pinkertons looks like fun.
Beth from Iowa

Kristie said...

I don't usually read that era of historical fiction but this one looks great! I have Abe Lincoln on the brain lately. Ha ha! Kristie from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.