Tuesday, March 20, 2018

HIGH COTTON - Debby Mayne - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Debby is one of my long-time writer friends. She’s been on the blog several times, but it’s been a while. This book is the first in a new southern series. You’ll want to read the whole series.

Welcome back, Debby. Why did you become an author?
It gives me an opportunity to play different parts—almost like acting. I also get to solve problems that are playing out in my head.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?
There are so many things I’d love to try, like hairdressing, carpentry, interior decorating, wedding gown designer, Disney character, or activities director at a dude ranch.

I can see you in each of these endeavors. If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?
I wouldn’t want to go back to any other time. I like right now.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?
My grandparents traveled to every state, and they said Vermont was one of the prettiest places they visited. I’d love to go there and see it for myself.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?
I lived in Japan when I was in elementary school, but I haven’t been back since then. I’d love to go back and see it from an adult’s perspective.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?
No matter how pulled-together someone appears, there’s a mess in there somewhere. All humans are imperfect, but some folks are better at hiding it than others.

That is so true. Tell us about the featured book.
Shay Henke has mixed feelings about going to her family’s next reunion. On the one hand, she’ll get to see everyone in her mama's family—folks she loves unconditionally. On the other hand, she knows there’ll be more drama than you can shake a stick at. 



The days leading up to the event bring one surprise after another. First Shay must deal with her sister-in-law’s deep, dark secret. Then she has to contend with the childish ways of her business-mogul twin cousins. And when her high school crush wants to be her date to the reunion . . . well, it may have been a dream come true for Shay’s teen self, but the woman she’s become doesn’t know what to make of this. 



Shay’s contentment is challenged, and she’s determined to shake things up a bit. But will she find the excitement she’s looking for, or will Shay realize she prefers her quiet and predictable life? One thing is certain: Life in the Bucklin family is never boring. 

Please give us the first page of the book.
Shay Henke
When someone mentions family, I think of unconditional love, hearth, home, and all things safe and wonderful. That is, until the word “reunion” is added to it.

Family reunions serve one purpose as far as I can tell—to remind us that we’re only one step away from Crazy Town, no matter how hard we’ve worked to stay sane and make something of ourselves. And I’ve worked mighty hard to get where I am, regardless of what Aunt Faye says about my being an old maid.

So when I get the message on the family email loop that the next family reunion is coming up in two months, I stare at it and try to figure out a way to unsee it. Unfortunately, as soon as I open the email, the person who sent it knows, making me long for the days when technology wasn’t so smart.

I stare out the window and try to come up with a reason I shouldn’t go. It’s on a Saturday, and I hardly ever have to work on weekends. I’m not dating anyone, and I have very few friends outside my family, so I can’t claim to have other plans. I can’t think of a thing to keep me away, unless I lie, and I’ve never been very good at that, so I quit trying when I was a teenager. Mama used to tell me she got into so much trouble as a kid that she knows all the excuses. And she’s not kidding. I’ve never been able to pull anything over on her.

I turn back to the announcement on the computer screen. We used to get a couple weeks notice about these events, but that changed when people started overusing the excuse that they had plans. Now there are no excuses—not even when someone has moved away from Pinewood, the small town near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where my grandparents have lived all their lives. If the people who have to travel don’t want to stay with someone who still lives here, there’s always the Hilltop Family Inn, or they can stay in one of the chain hotels in Hattiesburg.

I’m about to get up to get a drink of water when my phone rings. It’s my brother, Digger, who feels the same way I do about these reunion things.

“I'm not sure we’ll be able to attend,” Digger says. “It’s Jeremy’s third birthday and Puddin’ wants to do it up big for him, seein’ as it’s our last child and all.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Twitter: @DebbyMayne

Thank you, Debby, for sharing your new book with me and my blog readers. I really miss being with you.

Readers, here are links to the book.
High Cotton - Christianbook.com
High Cotton (Bucklin Family Reunion) - Amazon aperback
High Cotton (Bucklin Family Reunion Book 1) - Kindle

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 or country if outside North America. (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:

22 comments:

Southern Home Express said...

Thanks for posting this, Lena! I hope readers enjoy it as much as I did writing it.

Emma S. said...

"HIGH COTTON by Debby Mayne sounds wonderful. Have a good week. Thank you for the opportunity to win.PA.

Melanie Backus said...

I am intrigued by High Cotton. It sounds like a must read! Thank you for the opportunity. Melanie Backus, TX

Southern Home Express said...

If you've ever been to a family reunion, had relatives who left you rolling your eyes, or simply enjoy reading southern fiction, you'll enjoy this. Anyone who has a crazy family can relate, and anyone who doesn't have a crazy family will learn something new.

Anonymous said...

Debby is a new author to me. This story sounds like one I would enjoy reading.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY

Unknown said...

A new to me author and her book sounds like a good one. I live in Abilene, Texas.

Natalya Lakhno said...

Debby, thank you for the interview! Shay’s story is intriguing :)
Natalya from CA

CatMom said...

Thank you for featuring Debby's interview, Lena.
I was already looking forward to this book, and now after reading the excerpt I can't wait! No need to enter me in the drawing, as I plan to purchase a copy.
Blessings from Georgia, Patti Jo

Anonymous said...

High Cotton sounds like a great book.Thanks for the chance to win. I'm from Florida. rose blackard (at) gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

The cover is beautiful. The story sounds like it will be fun to read. I'm glad my family is too small for reunions. I don't have to deal with the drama. But I do like to read about them.

Linda in CA

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Kay Garrett said...

Debby Mayne's grandparents were right - Vermont is a beautiful state. We took a bucketlist trip to the New England states two years ago and Vermont was gorgeous.

Her book "HIGH COTTON" sure hits it with southern family reunions or at least some of mine. :) I'd love the opportunity to read the book and start off this new series with her while I explore Shay's crazy family and ours in similarities. :)

By the way, I loved her reply to "What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?". So very, very true.
Kay Garrett from Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net

Lourdes said...

Looking forward to reading this book looks like it's going to be a great series.

Lourdes Long Island, NY

Southern Home Express said...

I wish I could take credit for the cover, but that was all the publisher's doing. I think they did a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of the story--and the South.

Southern Home Express said...

I had the best time with these characters who became very real to me. They pretty much took over and told me what they were going to do. Most of the time, I stepped out of the way, but there were a few instances when I had to tug a little at the rope to keep them from going over the edge. :)

Connie Lewis Leonard said...

I love the Southern voice in this book. It sounds like a fun read. I read something somewhere that said "All families are dysfunctional whether they know it or not." I know my family is dysfunctional, but they're still loving. I would love to read this book. It would be great to win it.
Connie in Texas

Jackie Tessnair said...

High Cotton sounds like a very interesting story. Thanks Lena for these great reviews and posts.I am looking forward to reading this book. Jackie T. In North Carolina

Vivian Furbay said...

Would enjoy reading this about all the dynamics in this family. Vivian Furbay of CO

Shelia64 said...

Love a book set in my home state! Shelia from Mississippi

Connie Porter Saunders said...

I am excited to read this book!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Caryl Kane said...

Hey Debby and Lena! I'm excited to read HIGH COTTON!

Caryl K in TEXAS

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

Faith Creech said...

Thank you for the interview. The book looks really good. Looking forward to reading it.
I live in Colorado.

Faithdcreech at gmail dot com