Thursday, July 07, 2016

HEARTS TIGHTLY KNIT - Jodie Wolfe - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Jodie’s book is about twins. I love reading books about any multiples, so I read this as soon as I received it. I loved the storyline, the cowboy, and the twins’ interactions, as well as the romance. I think you will, too.

Bio: Jodie Wolfe writes a bi-monthly column with Home School Enrichment magazine. Some of her articles are available on crosswalk.com. She’s had a devotion published online with Christian Devotions. Linda S. Glaz is her agent.

In 2013, she semi-finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis contest. In 2015, she finaled in a Novel Beginnings contest through St. Davids Writer’s Conference. She’s a graduate of Jerry B Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Apprentice and Craftsman courses. She also is co-founder and contributor to the Stitches Thru Time, a group blog of writers. She’s a contributor to Putting on the New blog as well as Quid Pro Quills. She’s a member of ACFW and 19th Century Writers.

Welcome, Jodie. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
There is a little bit of me in each character I write. It might be a simple as a thought I had, an expression of mine, or one of my characteristics, although I’ll never tell what they are. J

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
LOL. It took me a while to come up with something, which should tell you a little bit about me. J Quirkiest thing - I like to drink dill pickle juice.

So does my husband, but he doesn’t do it very often, because of all the sodium. When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I was in early grade school when I started writing little stories, stapling them together, and illustrating them. By the time I was thirteen, I started writing my first full-length novel.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Since I write historical romance, it’s typically what I read, however I will pick up a suspense or contemporary romance from time to time. I recently have enjoyed Vannetta Chapman’s new dystopian book, Deep Shadows.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I spend the first hour of my day reading my Bible, doing devotions, walking, and praying. It gives me a fresh outlook for my day. I try and do these six days a week. Then on Sundays, my hubby and I work at practicing a day of rest where we relax and recharge our batteries for a new week.

Taking that Sabbath day of rest is important. I’ve learned that the hard way. How do you choose your characters’ names?
Most times the names just come to me, although I've been having a little difficulty coming up with the name of my hero and his daughter for book two in the Twins and Needles series. I enlisted help on my FB page, and I think I know their names now.

Don’t forget to schedule that book on my blog, too. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Raising my two sons and homeschooling them all the way through kindergarten to high school graduation.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
I guess it would either be a dog or a guinea pig since those are my two favorite pets.

What is your favorite food?
A good steak.

I don’t know where you live, but I’m in Texas, so a good steak is also one of my favorite foods. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Usually writing comes really easy for me. This is the first project I wrote that was a struggle. I think it might have been because I was under a tight writing deadline. Praise God, it still came together on time. J

Tell us about the featured book.
Here’s the back cover blurb:

Orphaned at age ten, Ellie Stafford and her twin sister Mae made a vow—to stick together and never marry. Now in their mid twenties, they are bucking convention in Calder Springs, Texas, as women with respectable occupations who can take care of themselves. Ellie works at the Good Fixin’s Diner and spends her evenings knitting garments for The Children’s Aid Society. When a handsome local rancher shows up searching for a cook, she’s hardly tempted, despite his good looks.

Luke Rogers owns a spread just outside of Calder Springs. It was running as smooth as cattle going through a chute until his cook up and marries and high-tails it back east. With no cook and a bunkhouse full of ranch hands ready to revolt, he persuades Ellie to temporarily fill in until he can hire someone else. He should have known better than to get tangled up with another woman.

Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.
Calder Springs, Texas 1875
“EllieMae, some fella’s here to court you.” Mrs. Wright’s words meandered up the steps, along with the scent of fried chicken, to the small bedroom.

Ellie Stafford flicked the lace curtain aside and caught sight of a dusty cowboy tying his horse to the hitching post out front. “Do you think our landlady will ever be able to tell us apart?” She turned toward her sister. “We've been living in her boarding house for seven years, and she still can’t.” She shook her head. “What's this make now? The tenth man who has come calling?”

“Twelfth, I think. At least, here in Texas.” Mae, her identical twin, stood and eased the kinks from her back.
“That’s not counting all the proposals on the Orphan Train from New York.” Ellie sank into the straight-back chair in front of a worn dressing table. She took one last look at her reflection and tucked a brown wisp behind her ear.
“Heavens no. There were too many to keep a tally of them while we traveled. Besides, that was seven years ago.” Mae smoothed the wrinkles from her pink chiffon gown. “I may have lost count after the banker knelt on one knee in the middle of the street and almost got ran over by a runaway wagon.”

Ellie snorted. “I almost forgot about that one. He didn’t care which of us said yes as long as one of us—”

“Accepted.” Mae nodded. “Men. They should know by now we aren’t interested.”

“EllieMae!” Mrs. Wright’s voice raised another octave.

Ellie sighed and clasped her sister’s hand. “Well, I guess we better get to it then.” They padded down the steps.

“Don't forget our promise,” Mae whispered before they entered the sitting room.
As if she’d ever forget.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
PURCHASE LINK:

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Blogs I contribute to: Stitches Thru Time, Putting on the New and of course, Quid Pro Quills

Thank you, Jodie, for sharing this  book with my blog readers and me.

Comment question: Do you have any multiples in your family?

Readers, 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:

30 comments:

Jodie Wolfe said...

Thanks for having me here today, Lena. What a pleasure.

Twins fascinate me. :)

Angela K Couch said...

I didn't know you Homeschooled! Awesome! :) Great interview... and great story!

Jodie Wolfe said...

Hi Angela. After 16+ years of homeschooling, I'm getting ready to get rid of a lot of it. :)

Jodie Wolfe said...

Materials, that is. :)

Emma said...

I am looking forward to reading "HEARTS TIGHTLY KNIT by Jodie Wolfe. Have a wonderful week.

Jodie Wolfe said...

I hope you will enjoy it, Emma. :) I had fun writing it.

Connie Porter Saunders said...

I don't have multiples in my family but, at one time, our church had 4 sets of twins coming to church. We now have 2 sets of identical twins and they are brothers and sisters!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Jodie Wolfe said...

Wow! That's a lot of twins, Connie. Were they hard to identify?

Elly said...

My name is Elly (spelled differently, I know) and my grandpa always calls me Elly May because of the show "The Beverly Hillbillies" lol!
This storyline sounds exactly like something I'd love to read! Can't wait to read this!
J.C. -Indiana-

Jodie Wolfe said...

LOL. Thanks for sharing, Elly. How funny that your grandpa calls you Elly May. :)

I hope you my version of Ellie and Mae. :)

Melanie Backus said...

You've got me with this one, Lena! I would love to read it. I have two children and they are both married to a twin. What are the odds?!

Melanie Backus, TX

Jodie Wolfe said...

Wow! How cool. Are each of the wives identical twins, Melanie?

Beth Gillihan said...

Sounds like a good book. Thanks for the chance to win!

Beth in Monana

Karen Sue Hadley said...

You are a new author to me. YAY!
I'm from Oklahoma.

Janet Grunst said...

Your story sounds intriguing, Jodie.I look forward to reading it.

Jodie Wolfe said...

I hope it's one you'll enjoy, Beth.

Jodie Wolfe said...

Hi Karen! :) I always like finding new authors too.

My husband has relatives that participated in the Cherokee Strip Land Run in Oklahoma.

Jodie Wolfe said...

Nice to see you here, Janet. I hope you find my story to be a fun read. I love quirky female characters with spunk.

Melanie Backus said...

Jodie, my daughter's husband is a twin to his sister and my son's wife is an identical twin to her sister.

Trixi said...

My younger cousin has twin boys, the only multiples I know of in our family :-) Jodie your book sounds great, thanks for the fun author interview and giveaway chance!

Trixi in OR

Jodie Wolfe said...

Hi Melanie. Wow! Sounds like several children married to twins. What fun!

Jodie Wolfe said...

I don't know of any twins in my line. Always wanted twins, but it never happened. :)

I'm so glad you stopped by, Trixi. I hope you enjoy Hearts Tightly Knit and the sequel coming out in November, Love in the Seams.

rubynreba said...

My husband is a twin but his twin sister passed away when they were 2 years old so he doesn't remember her. He cherishes the pictures they had taken together. Thanks for the chance to win Hearts Tightly Knit.
Beth from IA

Jodie Wolfe said...

Hi Ruby. How sad that your husband lost his twin at such an early age. I'm sure the photo is a real treasure.

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me!!
Conway SC.

Jodie Wolfe said...

Thanks for stopping by, Sharon. :)

Dianna said...

I can't imagine drinking pickle juice. Yowza!
Dianna in TN
dedezoomsalot AT yahoo DOT com

Jodie Wolfe said...

:) LOL, Dianna. It takes some getting used to. Definitely salty.

Anonymous said...

I have cousins, and a aunt and uncle twins. I would love to read this book of twins. The aunt had 2 sets of twins, and a brother in law and wife had two sets. The single sister of these twins also had twin boys. I love to see twins tho. Maxie (Tx) > mac262(at)me(dot)com<

Jodie Wolfe said...

Hi Maxie. Wow! That's a LOT of twins. :) Sounds like lots of fun.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you like my book. I had a set of twins read it to make sure it was accurate. :)