Thursday, June 09, 2016

NO OTHER WILL DO - Karen Witemeyer - One Free Book

Hey, Readers, we have another Karen Witemeyer book today. I know you’ve been enjoying her books as much as I have. She lives in Texas, and so do I, so her books are set in Texas, and they are authentic to Texas and the time period.

Welcome back, Karen. I love your new author photo. The colors are so pretty, and so are you. Why did you become an author?
I've always been enamored with story. I was a serious bookworm as a kid, preferring to hide away in my room with my nose buried in a book to nearly everything else. I never expected to be an author, though. Authors were amazing, creative people who transport a person into another place and time. I was just me. A math and band nerd whose only artistic expression was following someone else’s patterns, whether in music or in my one artistic hobby—cross-stitch. I was great at following directions, but creating from scratch? Not a chance.

Apparently, God had different ideas. He’d laid the foundation in my passion for reading, then sprinkled seeds along the way through English teachers and college professors who complimented my writing ability. Then finally, he took away my safety net when my husband lost his job in 2003 and as a young mother with three babies at home, I knew I had to do something to contribute to the family income. I ended up finding a day job, but God used that shock to jumpstart a dream of writing inside me. The bug had bitten, and I wasn't going to let it go. I started writing short pieces, then longer one. I attended national conferences and learned all I could about the industry. Then, six years later, in 2009, I signed my first 3 book contract with Bethany House. Only God could have brought to fruition a dream I didn’t even realize I possessed.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?
Well, actually, I still work a day job in addition to writing. I’m not sure it is my dream job. I work for a university in the registrar’s office revising the catalog, attending academic council meetings, and managing the course-related information in our school data system. It’s a good job with great co-workers, and I’m very thankful for the position. But dream job? That would probably entail a mountain cabin with a path leading through a forest to a waterfall where people paid me an unrealistic sum to host secluded book clubs/cross-stitch camps on the weekends, leaving me the freedom to write during the week.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?
I write historical stories, and I love romanticizing the 19th century. Things were so much simpler back then. Families stayed closer together. God was a more vibrant part of the community. But in reality, there was no air conditioning, no washing machines, and no memory foam mattresses. Body odor was the norm and lice infested more heads than not. Would I like to jump in a time machine and visit the 1880's and 1890's that I write about? Absolutely! Would I want to live there? No thank you.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?
I’ve never been to Montana. I’d love to visit a dude ranch up there and experience 19th century life in 21st century comfort.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?
Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege to visit both The Netherlands and Germany on book tours. What a fabulous experience! Europe has such rich history and architecture. The history nerd in me eats it up. One place that I’ve never visited that I would love to try is New Zealand. I’m a sucker for waterfalls and places with lush vegetation, and New Zealand seems to fit the bill. Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to see them firsthand.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?
He always seems to have something new to show me. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot on his command to be fruitful. We are instructed to abide in the vine of Christ and to bear fruit. The fruit is designed to nourish others and to point them to Jesus. It struck me the other day as we were discussing this idea at ladies’ Bible class, that we are also encouraged to scatter seed for the kingdom. We often think of scattering seed as teaching the good news. But it occurred to me that by being fruitful and sharing that fruit generously with those around us, we are also scattering seed. For fruit, by definition, is a food that contains seeds. When people are touched by our love and kindness and nourished by the fruit of our good deeds, the seeds hidden inside are planted in them, perhaps without them even being aware. Others may water those seeds, and when the time is right, God will give the increase and bring about a harvest for his kingdom.

That is so true. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Tell us about the featured book.
Men are optional. That was the credo Emma Chandler’s suffragette aunts taught her and why she started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas. But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive the women out, Emma is forced to admit they might need a man after all. One who can fight. And there is only one she trusts enough to ask.

Malachi Shaw has finally earned the respect he’s always craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma’s telegram arrives, he leaves his job behind and rushes to Harper’s Station to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she’s not a girl any longer. She’s a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn’t deserve.

As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow into something more, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Prologue
Winter 1882 – Cooke County, TX
Malachi Shaw made the arduous climb back into consciousness with great effort. But then, everything Mal had accomplished so far in his thirteen years of life had required great effort. Not that he had achieved anything worth bragging about. Orphaned. Starving. And . . . cold.
That’s what his senses picked up first. The cold. And not just the huddling-under-the-saloon-stairs-in-a-too-thin-coat-during-a-blue-norther kind of cold. No. This was a cold so harsh it burned. Which made exactly zero sense.

With a groan, Mal lifted his head and tried to draw his arms beneath him to push himself up. That’s when the rest of the pain hit. His shoulder throbbed, his ribs ached, and his head felt like it had collided with a train. Oh, that’s right. It had.

Memories swirled through his mind as he slowly crawled out of the snowdrift that must have broken his fall. He’d hopped the train, just as he’d done a half dozen times over the last month since his drunk of a father finally got himself killed, run over by a wagon while trying to cross the street. The old man hadn’t been good for much, leaving Mal to scrounge for food in garbage bins while he spent whatever coins he managed to earn at the card tables on whiskey. But at least he’d kept a roof over their heads—a rundown, leaky roof supported by slanted, rickety walls that couldn’t even hold the wind out—but a roof nonetheless. The morning after they laid his father in the ground, the lady who owned the shack kicked Mal out on his ear. Barely gave him time to gather his one pathetic sac of belongings. A sac, Mal discovered as he frantically searched the area around him, that was nowhere to be found.

“No!” He slammed his fist into the frozen earth near his hip then slumped forward.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
http://karenwitemeyer.com - The best place to connect with me online is at my website. I offer monthly drawings for free books, bonus material like deleted epilogues and behind-the-scenes peeks into my books, as well as free excerpts for all of my stories.
Blogs - http://petticoatsandpistols.com/ and http://inspiredbylifeandfiction.com/

Thank you, Karen, 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.
No Other Will Do - Chritianbook.com
No Other Will Do - Amazon, Paperback
No Other Will Do (Ladies of Harper's Station Book 1) - Kindle
No Other Will Do: Ladies of Harper's Station, Book 1 - Audio

Comments: What is the favorite Karen Witemeyer book that you've read?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

angela in ky would love to win

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Lena, thank you for sharing Karen's interview and first page. Karen. I especially appreciated your thoughts on sharing God's Word and being fruitful.
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Oh I'd love to win this book. My answer is: A Worthy Pursuit.

Thanks, Amanda J. from FL

Melanie Backus said...

Oh Lena, Karen is one of my favorites! Thank you for a great interview and giveaway.

Melanie Backus, TX

Trixi said...

I have "A Worthy Pursuit" (yet-to-be-read) on my shelf & I'm not sure I've read anything by Karen yet. But I have heard great things about her writing!! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book :-)

Trixi in OR

Trixi said...

I take that back, I've read her Archer Brother's series and loved each one!! For some reason, I was thinking those were by some other authors...sorry!

Mary Preston said...

A great first page thank you.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Terrill R. said...

I'm always excited for the next Karen Witemeyer book. This one seemed like a long time coming.

Terrill - WA

Cindy W. said...

I would really love to win this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

I keep getting emails back from your mailbox after I submit a comment stating my email couldn't be delivered. It baffles me. However, I keep hoping and praying my comment will make me a winner down the road anyway. Maybe today. :)

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
from Indiana

R Merr said...

My favorite is Full Steam Ahead. I thoroughly enjoyed that read!

Looking forward to this one. Rachael from Downeast Maine

Beth Gillihan said...

I love Karen's books! She is one of my favorite authors. Can't wait to read this one. THanks for the chance to win!

Beth in Montana

Susan P said...

I adore all of Karen's books! I cannot pick one favorite. :)
Susan from MI

A Cooking Bookworm said...

Love Karen's books! So glad she started writing!

Stephanie
Binghamton, NY

mybabyblessings AT gmail DOT com

justcommonly said...

So happy to see Karen! O, I LOVE her books!!! Stalker alert here! I love all of them, but I do have a special place in my heart for A Tailor Made Bride & A Head in the Clouds. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Annie (MD)

kim hansen said...

Love her books. north platte nebraska

Anonymous said...

Karen is a new author to me so I haven't read any of her books yet. This book looks like a great book for summer reading. Thanks for the chance to win.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY

Karen Witemeyer said...

So fun to see all the comments! I'm so blessed to have the best readers around. Even the stalkers (Annie). Ha! :-)

Patty said...

Thanks for the interview ladies ! I would love to read this new book of Karen's.

Patty in SC

Loraine Nunley said...

I have only read one of Karen's books - Head in the Clouds. In fact, I just finished it and I have to say that I loved it and her writing. I am looking forward to reading her others and this latest one which has me intrigued. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!

Loraine in TX

EJ said...

I love Karen's books & it's hard to pick a favorite, so I'll just say "A Worthy Pursuit" since that's the last one I read. Elaine in Wisc.

Deanna Stevens said...

Dee from NE has read A Worthy Pursuit.. loved it! and have
With This Ring in my TBR Stack :)

Winnie said...

I have heard so many great things about Karen and her books, but I don't believe I've read any of them yet. I'd love to win a copy of her book.
Winnie T in Utah

Bakersdozen said...

I appreciate the interview. I would love to read this book. By the way, I also love waterfalls!

Michelle
CA

Caryl Kane said...

Lena, thank you for the interview with Karen. She is a new author to me. Her stories sound fun!

Caryl K in TEXAS

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

rubynreba said...

I enjoyed Head in the Clouds. Looks like another good one here!
Beth from IA

KayM said...

Oh my goodness1 What a good start to the book! I really must read this one.
Tennessee

Abigail Mitchell said...

I would love to win! Can't wait to read this! Karen is my favorite author! Please enter me.
Blanch NC

Alisha said...

I read "A Worthy Pursuit" by Karen last year and really enjoyed it! That's the only book I've read by her so far. I would love to read this one! It sounds great!

Great interview! Thanks for having the giveaway!

~Alisha L. in Florida

Unknown said...

Karen is such a fun author to read. I love the sense of humor that comes through in her books.

Deanne in PA

Lourdes said...

Karen's books are great would love to win.

Lourdes Long Island, NY

Rebecca said...

Karen's books are always a great read and I love that I can share them with my teen age daughter!

Rebecca D.
Oregon

Rebecca said...

Karen's books are always a great read and I love that I can share them with my teen age daughter!

Rebecca D.
Oregon