THE PRAYERS OF AGNES SPARROW - Joyce Magnin - Free Book

We're introducing another of the Abingdon authors. Welcome, Joyce. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Um, interesting. Not much, I think. I'm sure people who read my novels will say they see a lot of me in certain characters but I don't see it. Unless you consider Agnes's love of M&Ms.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Okay, so the definition of quirky is peculiar or idiosyncratic so I suppose my quirkiest stuff is that I never eat everything on a plate. I always leave something. My mother says I've done that since I was a little kid. Oh and I will drive for miles out of way to avoid traffic jams, I holler at the TV while watching football, I hate mayonnaise and have been known to leave the table if someone is glopping particularly large dollops on the their sandwich, I've never seen an episode of Dancing With The Stars, and I will someday inherit an 85 year old onion plant from my extra-quirky mother and the thought scares me because I am not a plant person and it will probably die ten minutes after I take possession.

I guess I didn't know onion plants lived that long. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In the third grade. Everything else, math, geography became superfluous after that. You can read about it on my site.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Oh boy, well pretty much anything from Crime Noir to Literary. But I suppose I enjoy novels with some humor and quirkiness like Fannie Flagg, Joshilyn Jackson, Lisa Samson, Nancy Rue. Not a fan of vampire novels.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I wrote a coming-of-age novel I'd like to see published some day. And I have two or three middle grade fantasies floating around that I think would be great fun to publish. Maybe someday.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

That assumes I have sanity to maintain. But I cross stitch, play video games, watch movies, sit in my son's tree house by myself and pretend I'm a nut.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Now that's a good question. But the simple truth is that they come to me already named. I never spend time thinking or researching names. And once named it is nearly impossible for me to change them. Is that weird?

No, I've given a character a name, and within three chapters that character changed it. Thank goodness for Find and Replace. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My children. Oh, and I recently flew in an airplane for first time in many, many years and I suppose you could count seeing my debut novel published.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Um, I've never considered this. But I suppose a strange, twisted hybrid of a bird and dog. Kind of a birddog because birds have a unique perspective on the world and tend to fly into things like clean windows and a dog because I like dogs, they're loyal and can play fetch.

What is your favorite food?

Ice cream.

I just had some Chocolate Covered Cherries Blue Bell at the movie theater, and now I can't find it in a store. It was awesome. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Worrying about every single word and whether it would ever be successful and I still haven't overcome that.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Be very certain you are a writer. Try NOT to write and see what happens and then keep going. Don't give up.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do—besides eat. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin.


The rural residents of Bright’s Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, “Welcome to Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.” This is something Agnes doesn’t want and sends Griselda to fight city hall. Griselda’s petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle and Agnes's feet of clay are exposed.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

If you get off the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Jack Frost Ski Resort exit, turn left and travel twenty-two and one quarter miles, you’ll see a sign that says: Bright’s Pond, Home of the World’s Largest Blueberry Pie.

While it is true that in 1961 Mabel Sewicky and the Society of Angelic Philanthropy, which did secret charitable acts, baked the biggest blueberry pie ever in Pennsylvania, most folks will tell you that the sign should read: Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.

October 12, 1965. That was the day my sister, Agnes Sparrow, made an incredible decision that changed history in our otherwise sleepy little mountain town and made her sign-worthy.

“I just can’t do it anymore, Griselda. I just can’t.”

That’s what Agnes said to me right before she flopped down on our red, velvet sofa. “It ain’t worth it to go outside anymore. It’s just too much trouble for you—” She took a deep breath and sighed it out. “—and heartache for me.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

joycemagnin.blogspot.com
Abingdonpress.com
Facebook
Twitter

Thank you, Joyce, for spending this time with us.

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AN AMISH GATHERING - Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron, Beth Wiseman - Free Books

How did your story for the collection come about?

Beth: Our publisher, Thomas Nelson, gets credit for this great idea, which Kathy, Barbara, and I fell in love with. My story, A Change of Heart, is about a young Amish woman who loves to write stories (go figure!) and her struggle for acceptance within an Amish community that doesn’t necessarily encourage her dream.

Barbara: Natalie Hanemann, a senior editor at Thomas Nelson, asked Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and I to do two Amish novella collections. The first is An Amish Christmas, out now, and An Amish Gathering, out at the end of November. We discussed our ideas in a conference call, wrote up a synopsis to be approved, and then wrote our stories with inter-connecting characters just like we did with An Amish Christmas. It was great fun!

Here’s the summary for my story, When Winter Comes: Each year at wintertime, Rebecca Miller mourns the loss of her twin sister who was killed in a skating accident. Ben Weaver has been her friend, but this winter he’s vowed to melt her--heart froze--with grief and make her his wife.

Kathy: Barbara and Beth answered the question perfectly. Here’s a summary of my novella, A Place of His Own: When Josiah Bontrager returns to Paradise to fix up his childhood home, he’s forced to face his past and deal with his feelings for his friend and neighbor, Amanda Graber.

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Beth: We always have Thanksgiving at our house for my family and my husband’s family. There are usually about 20 in attendance, including at least one or two friends who find themselves with nowhere to go for Thanksgiving. All are welcome! It’s traditional all the way! Turkey, dressing, and the works!

Barbara: I celebrate Thanksgiving with my son, daughter-in-law, and three of my grandchildren at their house at mid-day. Rachel, my daughter-in-law, loves to make the meal and it’s a nice break for me since I’ve done it for years. My elderly mother looks forward to being invited all year! We have all the traditional elements. Last year the grandkids watched Paula Deen on the Food Network and contributed a sweet potato dish that was great. Later, my daughter brings the youngest grandchild (he’s 3 ½ now) to my house for Thanksgiving. Oh, and she brings her own plastic ware to take leftovers home. Smart woman, huh!

Kathy: Since we live far from family, we often have a quiet Thanksgiving at home. I’ve made the meal for so long that it’s usually the easiest one of the year for me to prepare. We either have turkey or ham (this year it’s ham), my mother-in-law’s cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and of course crescent rolls, which are a tradition in my family. Afterward we watch football and nap on the couch. It’s a great day for us to relax and reflect on our blessings.

Which is your favorite holiday, Thanksgiving or Christmas?

Beth: Christmas. My boys, Eric and Cory, are 25 and 18 respectively, and I love watching them open presents as much as I did when they were young. And everyone is together! Christmas is my favorite time of year. I could listen to Christmas music all year long.

Barbara: Christmas, definitely. Maybe it’s because it’s such a joy to watch my four grandchildren open their gifts. And I love all the Christmas stories associated with the holiday as well.

Kathy: Christmas. I love the festive atmosphere and the emphasis on Jesus and family. And like Beth and Barbara, I love watching my kids open their presents.

How do you celebrate Christmas?

Beth: On Christmas day, we go to my mother’s house in Houston. We celebrate with my husband’s family usually the weekend before or after. The celebration is similar on both days – everyone brings food, gifts are exchanged, and this year we plan to incorporate some games into the day…like my Amish friends do in the afternoon after the main meal.

Barbara: We celebrate with a Christmas dinner at the son and daughter-in-law’s house and then open presents. The next day my daughter comes to my house and we usually have cheese fondue and then chocolate fondue for dessert.

Kathy: Again Christmas is usually just our family. First thing we do when we get up is open presents, then have breakfast. Then I start on the Christmas meal while the kids explore their gifts, and usually we play a game. Like Thanksgiving, we enjoy a low-key holiday.

Tell us about your family.

Beth: I’m married to a wonderful man, Patrick. My oldest son, Eric, graduated this past May with his masters degree in music performance, and he is a professor at a college in Houston. My younger son, Cory, still lives at home and plans to take college classes next year. I miss my dad terribly this time of year, since Christmas was his favorite holiday. December 1 will be five years since he left for Heaven. My mother still lives in Houston, and we’re very close. My second book, Plain Pursuit, is dedicated to her.

Barbara: I have two children, a grown son, Justin, and a grown daughter, Stephany. They’ve given me four wonderful grandchildren – two boys, two girls! No twins yet even though we have a family history of my mother and my dad being twins…

Kathy: James and I have been married for sixteen years and we have a son, Mathew, who is 15, and two daughters, Sydney (14) and Zoie (11). We also have three dogs and one cat. It’s pretty hectic around our house!

How has writing Amish novels changed you?

Beth: My Amish friends believe that everything that happens is God’s will, therefore they don’t worry as much, and their lives aren’t driven by fear, which ultimately leads to a more peaceful existence. I am a worrier, which I know is a sin, and I’m aware of it. Fear makes it hard to hear God, so I work on that daily in my effort to have the peacefulness my Amish friends are known for. I try not to just ‘talk the talk’, but to live the best life I can. Knowing my Amish friends has made me a better person. For sure.

Barbara: A cousin in Lancaster County took me to visit the Amish years ago and I immediately admired them for their dedication to family and community, their work ethic, and most of all, to live in a spiritual way. The more that I meet the Amish and do research the more I feel I’m doing the writing I should be doing. Even more, I find that I am simplifying my life and trying to treat others in a more spiritual way.

Kathy: My husband and I have long had an appreciation for the land—we used to subsistence farm and we try to be as self-sufficient as possible. As I learned more about the Amish, I could easily relate to that aspect of their culture. I’ve also had the opportunity to examine my faith and belief system and how I live my life. Writing these books has become more than just telling a story, but also a personal journey.

What is your current Work in Progress?

Beth: I’m working on a new project for Thomas Nelson that I can’t discuss quite yet, but I’m very excited about it. More to come on that soon!

Barbara: I am working on the second of a three book Amish series for Abingdon Press. The series is called Quilts of Lancaster County and the books are titled A Time for Love, A Time for Peace, and A Time for Healing (based on a section of Ecclesiastes which I love).

Kathy: Right now I’m finishing up edits on A Summer Secret, the first book in my Mysteries of Middlefield series, which is a children’s series targeted to girls ages 9-12. The children’s series features crossover characters from my Hearts of Middlefield books. As for that series, I’m also working on the third book, A Woman of Virtue, which tells the stories of Stephen and Ruth, the youngest siblings in the Byler clan.

How can my readers find you on the Internet?

Beth: I blog at http://blog.bethwiseman.net/  and http://www.amishhearts.com/ . My website is http://www.bethwiseman.com/ , and I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.

Barbara: I blog at AmishHearts.com with my collaborators on An Amish Gathering.

Kathy: You can find me on my website at http://www.kathleenfuller.com/ . I also blog on Amish Hearts (http://www.amishhearts.com/ ) and I’m on facebook and twitter.

Thank you, ladies, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:



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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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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LOVE FINDS YOU IN LONESOME PRAIRIE, MONTANA - Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss - Free Book

I'm thrilled to feature this book. I was privileged to read the manuscript for an endorsement. You'll love this story. Welcome Tricia and Ocieanna. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Ocieanna: This book wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Carlton Garborg. As much as I loved writing, I'd been pursuing publication for so long that I was getting discouraged from all the rejections.

Discouragement is a very real part of writing and creeps up in many different ways. So, I prayed a lot about it and even considered stopping writing. What I finally decided was that I wouldn't stop writing (how could I?), but I would stop pursuing publication. I would just write for God's glory and my own joy and let go of all the other stuff.

This decision created a huge amount of relief and revitalized my love for writing. I was very content ...

A few months later, out of the blue, I received a Facebook message from my friend Carlton asking if I wanted to write for his publishing company. I've known Carlton for years and knew he had recently started a new publishing company, but I thought it was only for non-fiction and I didn't know the name. Well, since I wasn't pursuing publication, I didn't respond! I was very impolite and didn't even return his message (shame on me!).

In the meantime, my critique friend told me about this new company called Summerside. She was all excited and said it had received lots of good reviews and was the newest "thing."

About three weeks later, Carlton sent me another message on Facebook asking if I wanted to write a book for his new company. This time, I thought I should at least respond, and I sort of flippantly told him about all my ideas. He sent me his catalogue and to my complete amazement, it was Summerside!

At this point, a friend told me God was opening a door and I'd better walk through. I was very happy to do so (although a bit scared, too.) So, I wrote up some synopses and they liked the idea that Tricia Goyer and I had come up with a few years before.

So you can see how vital Carlton was in this whole process!

Tricia: Yes, it was one of those “Surprise we love your idea” moments! Ocieanna and I had come up with an idea with Rosie the Riveters years ago. Summerside loved this idea, but after working through a release date challenge (I couldn't release two WWII books within the same season) Ocieanna and I came up with the idea for Lonesome Prairie, and we started with that one first.

There are other people who helped us too. One of them was Hank at the Fort Benton Historical society, who helped us with research. Hank also connected us with Keith Edwards who is 91-years-old and whose parents were some of the first settlers in Lonesome Prairie. Many of Keith's true stories made it in to the novel!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

Tricia: I have some fun things coming up next year. First, I'll be speaking at two Hearts at Home Conferences. I'll also be teaching the Teen Track at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference—two of my favorite audiences, moms and teens!

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

O: Super easy! Hawaii—Maui to be specific. I love it there. Sometimes the cloudy northwest gets a little depressing.

T: The Czech Republic! I've been there twice for mission trips and I love it there. We're going back in 2010, which excites me!

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

O: Rather than chasing after getting published, pursue excellence and hide in Christ, leaving the results to God.

T: Think about the “one story” you would want to tell before you die and tell that story. Don't worry if you think that story is “in” right now. If you write the story that God has placed on your heart there will be a place for it.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

O: I like people who have lots of intellectual thoughts and ideas. So, I’d invite Newt Gingrich for his grasp of history, RC Sproul so we could talk theology, and U2 just because they’re cool.

T: Tom Hanks or Clint Eastwood, because they both have a passion for WWII like I do. Third Day, Hillsong United, Sara Groves, and Fernando Ortega … my favorite musicians!

Tell us about the featured book?

New Yorker Julia Cavanaugh never meant to be a mail-order bride. When Julia finds herself stranded in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, unwittingly promised to an uncouth miner, she turns to a respected circuit preacher to protect her from the marriage.

Tricia: It's a fun, sweet, and heart-warming read.

Where can we find you on the Internet?

http://www.ocieanna.blogspot.com/
http://www.triciagoyer.com/

Tricia and Ocieanna, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you plan to order it, please use this link. It helps support this blog.


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

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THE PALLIUM PROJECT - E. R. Webb - Free Book

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of fiction that I enjoy reading: mystery, action, thriller, drama; but mainly I want to get the Gospel of Christ before people that otherwise may not hear it. Feedback from readers encourages me that that has been accomplished to some degree.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

It may seem cliché-ish, but there is no question that it was the day that Vicki said “Yes” when I asked her to marry me.

How has being published changed your life?

My life has been changed through the joy that I have received from the feedback that my writing has changed other people’s lives.

What are you reading right now?

I am reading Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny; and Grisham’s The Appeal.

What is your current work in progress?

The Beginning of Sorrows is at the publisher. I am currently writing Denial of Power.

What would be your dream vacation?

I have taken it many times over. My wife is a travel agent, and we travel as much as we can. We have had a fabulous trip to Israel, two great weeks in Europe (Italy, Greece, Turkey), the Bahamas, Jamaica, and many trips to many cities in Mexico.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Besides traveling with my wife, my work has taken me to England, Japan, China and Taiwan. I observe, take notes and lots of photos. The main venue, however, which occurs in my books is my hometown Spring, Texas; a suburb of Houston, because I know it best. I have sat many times in the spot that I am describing. It seems to add dimension, like painting on location rather than from your head.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I would choose President George W. Bush. I would like to interview him. I think he got a bad rap.

I so agree with you on that. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I paint with oils and acrylics, and I have enjoyed photography for many years. I find there is a correlation between painting and writing. You start with a blank page/canvas and you don’t know what the final result is going to be, just a glimmer of an idea. You learn to recognize serendipity when it comes knocking.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

It is still the obstacle of having the discipline to make time to write. I am still overcoming it.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read as much as you can. Write, write, write – and then re-write. Never settle. Don’t quit. Let others read your work and be open to their feedback.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Pallium Project is a fast-paced thriller that involves mystery, spies and counter-spies, espionage and intrigue at the highest levels of world governments. The same primary protagonists, family attorney David Baxter, and Homicide Detective John Parella are in the book. Added are three super-cerebral, Christian teen agers, Dorothy Masters, Chad Beeman, and Phillip Weston, dubbed “The Texas Trio”, who work for NASA Johnson Space Center on a top secret program that can propel the US into a position of undisputed world leader or towards the beginning of the End of the Age.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The first page is the Prologue.

Prologue

The Visitors first appeared on a bright Saturday morning in early May of 2002. Benjamin Marcus Tiny, a black man of forty-two, could not remember the exact date but knew that he could find it if necessary, because it was definitely on a Saturday. He always watered his vegetable garden early Saturday mornings. Benjamin delighted in his okra, cucumber, turnips, collards and tomato crop; delighted as well in watering them, losing himself in the process; and further delighted in giving his produce away in brown paper bagsful to friends and neighbors. Benjamin had no known relatives nearby. He had only a cousin Lois Jewel Carver in South Carolina, much too far from Houston, Texas, to grant a portion of his produce.

Tiny, who lived alone, having never married, was surprised by the sudden appearance of the Visitors in his backyard. He had not heard them approach, attributing his lack of awareness to the fact that he was engrossed in watering and to the reality that it was not reasonable or probable for someone to simply appear in his backyard. It had never happened before.

The Visitors looked remarkably similar in every way. They were fair-haired men, fair-skinned, of medium build, with sparkling blue eyes and charitable smiles. They each were dressed in khaki trousers, white pullover shirts, and oxblood loafers. They stood somewhat stiffly with arms to sides, looking at Benjamin intently.

Although the intruders had startled Benjamin, he was not afraid. The Visitors were not threatening in any way. He released the trigger on his nozzle, shutting the stream of water off.

“Ah, can I help you gentlemen?”

“Mr. Tiny,” the one on the left said, motioning toward the small freshly painted frame house. “Let us go inside where we can speak in private, please.”

“Of course,” Benjamin Tiny said, laying the watering hose on the ground. “My pleasure.”

Had Benjamin Marcus Tiny known the enormity of this visit, he would have most certainly felt some trepidation, if not downright terror. As it was, there were no warning signals, no red flags, nothing in his gut to indicate that anything was amiss. Benjamin had no way of knowing that this meeting had the potential of altering the framework of history, the entire course of mankind, and would ultimately lead to his own, early demise.

“Would you gentlemen like some iced tea?” Mr. Tiny asked as he escorted the Visitors to the small oak dining table.

Thank you, E. R., for spending this time with us. Your book sounds really intriguing.

Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of the book. If you plan to order it, please use this link. It will help support this blog.


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

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6 Winners This Week!!!

Julane is the winner of White Mountain Brides by Susan Page Davis.

Katherine is the winner of Truth or Dare by Nicole O'Dell.

Jamie is the winner of All That Glitters by Nicole O'Dell.

April is the winner of Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell.

Rose McCauley is the winner of Gone to Green by Judy Christie.

Hope is the winner of Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida, by Sandra D. Bricker.

Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:

Click on View My Complete Profile, then use the Email link.
Go to http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/  then click on Contact Me.

You have 6 weeks to claim your book.

If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the interview. It will help support this blog.

THE CALL OF ZULINA - Kay Marshall Strom - Free Book

Today, we're featuring another of Abingdon Press fall releases.

Freedom...more than the absence of chains.
Grace...more than a name.
The Call of Zulina...more than historical fiction...
a modern message regarding
slave trade and trafficking in the modern world.

About the Author:

Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve their own writing potential. Kay has written thirty-six published books, numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim. Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers’ conferences, and special events throughout the country and around the world. She is in wide demand as an instructor and keynote speaker at major writing conferences. She also enjoys speaking aboard cruise ships in exchange for exotic cruise destinations.

How did you come up with the storyline of The Call of Zulina?

While in West Africa working on another project, I toured an old slave fortress and was struck dumb by a set of baby manacles bolted to the wall. The characters of Lingongo and Joseph Winslow, Grace's parents, are modeled after real people who ran a slave business in Africa in the 1700s. I "met" them when I was researching Once Blind: The Life of John Newton, a biography of the slaver turned preacher and abolitionists, author of Amazing Grace. The more I thought about them, the more I wondered, "If they'd had a daughter, who would she be? Where would her loyalties lie?"

What inspired you to write a book so entrenched with uncomfortable issues?

I used to think that non-fiction was the meat and potatoes of writing and fiction was the chocolate mousse dessert... fun, but not of much value. But I've come to understand that truths can be revealed through fiction just as powerfully as through non-fiction. Sometimes, more so! The fact is, for so long we have tried to look away and pretend that this horrible chapter in history never happened. But it did, and we still feel the effects today. Moreover, the roots of slavery--hunger for power and money, fear and diminishment of people unlike ourselves, and humanity's endless ability to rationalize evil actions--abound today. The time seemed right.

How have your travels around the world equipped you for writing such a historical novel?

People ask me where my passion for issues such as modern day slavery come from. To a large degree it is from the things I have seen and heard on my numerous trips to India, African countries, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia, and other places around the world.

Tell us a personal story regarding modern day slavery.

A most pervasive type of slavery is what is known as bonded servitude, where entire poor families are bound into virtual slavery--sometimes for generations--because of a small debt. This is especially common in India. I visited a village in central India where the women had been freed from bondage and set up with a micro loan that allowed them to raise a small herd of dairy cows. They worked so hard and saved every rupee. When they had enough saved, they persuaded a young teacher to come and start a school for their children. Then they used further profits to make low interest loans to others in the area so they could start their own businesses, too--a little bank. I sat in a circle with the five women who made up the "board of directors." Only one could read and write. I asked, "How will the next generation be different because of what you have done?" They said, "No more will be like us. When people look us, they see nothing. But when they look at our children, they see real human beings with value."

From invisible slaves to human beings... all in one generation!

Grace, the lead character in The Call of Zulina, forsakes all to escape the slavery of her parents and an arranged marriage.How common is this scenerio today in other countries?

Horrifyingly common. Slavery today takes many forms. According to UNICEF's more conservative count, there are about 12 million people living as slaves today--three times as many as in the days of the African slave trade. As for child arranged marriages, I have talked to girls "enslaved" to husbands in many countries. Examples include a girl in Nepal married at 9 to a middle-aged man, one in India married at 11, a 13-year-old in Egypt married to a man older than her father. I've seen it in Africa, Eastern Europe... so many places!

What about in America, are there slavery and trafficking issues here?

Unfortunately, there are. The U.S. State Department estimates between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the Untied States each year, although it concedes that the real number is actually far higher. And it's not just states like New York and California that are affected, either. According to the U.S. Justice Department's head of the new human trafficking unit, there is now at least one case of trafficking in every state.

You've had 36 books published, and more written and contracted for future release. How has this one impacted your own life?

Some books report, some tell stories. This book has torn my heart.

Briefly tell us about the next two books in this Grace in Africa trilogy.

In Book 2, Grace watches her reconstructed life smashed by slavers and revenge, and she is forcibly taken to London. There she faces a new kind of tyranny and another fight for freedom... and for her husband, who is enslaved in America.

Book 3 is set in the new United States of America, in the heart of the slavery. It is a story of slavery at it's worst and redemption at its best.

What Can Concerned Citizens Do to Raise Awareness?

Find out all you can about Modern Day Slavery: then watch for chances to pass on what you have learned.

Write to your elected officials: Petition them to place a high priority on enforcing anti-slavery laws and to put pressure on countries that tolerate forced labor or human trafficking.

Buy Fair Trade products: Fair trade provides a sustainable model of international trade based on economic justice. To find out more, see http://www.fairtrade.net/ .

Support organizations that are in a position to make a difference. When you find an one that is doing a good job on the front lines, contribute to their cause so they can continue on.

Be willing to step into the gap. If you suspect someone is being held against his or her will, call the Department of Justice hotline: 1-888-428-7581. Or you can call 911.

About the Book:

An arranged marriage, a runaway bride, and an ugly family heritage of brutal and inhumane slavery operations leave no room for a fairytale story. Grace Winslow, daughter of an English sea captain and African princess, finds herself in a horrific position of betrothal. Doomed to marry an obnoxious white man, whom she does not love, Grace runs away to escape the slavery she’s been surrounded by all her life. Instead, her journey from home brings her face-to-face with issues of extreme slavery, abuse and human trafficking. In the end she discovers slavery is more than just chains and finds grace that exceeds a name given to her by her parents.

The Call of Zulina links historical slavery issues with the modern-day crisis tainting many countries. On the heels of important legislature regarding human trafficking, Strom tackles the subject boldly as she sheds light on the practices and techniques used by angry slave traders. Seen as an advocate for those who have no voice, Strom finds words to communicate the message of history to today’s readers. While this book shines the light on an uncomfortable subject, the message of hope, freedom, and justice prevail and eternal truths discovered.

Thank you, Kay, for spending this time with us and alerting us to this horrendous problem.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link, you will be helping support this blog.



Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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GEMINI'S CROSS - E. R. Webb - Free Book

Once more we're welcoming an author who hasn't been on the blog before. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Probably more than I can quantify. Everything that I see, hear and touch is filtered through my perception; so when I feed it back through writing or other means it will naturally have some of me in it.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My wife Vicki and I were vacationing on a Florida Island. She wanted to look for a carved wooden pelican for our patio at home, so, hopping into the car we headed back across the long bridge to the mainland. We did not find a pelican on that trip, but I did discover that I had left my wallet back at our bungalow on the beach. We did not have a nickel between us, and the bridge was a toll bridge. So – I did the only reasonable thing. I parked the car in a super-market parking lot and begged passers-by for a dollar. I finally found a kind manager inside who provided the necessary cash. Vicki and I crossed the bridge, returned to our cabin and enjoyed the remainder of our vacation at the expense of a little humiliation.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I started keeping a journal when I was eight, I think. I really knew that I wanted to write, though, when I read adventures like Treasure Island, Call of the Wild, Moby Dick . . . at about the same age.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Over my lifetime – a wide range. Fiction – classics and modern. Non-fiction – theological, spiritual, self-help, political, biographies.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

The Pallium Project is my second published novel. My third book, The Beginning of Sorrows is at the publisher, and I am writing my fourth, Denial of Power. My Sci-fi novel, The Landau Journals, was rejected many times. I thought it was quite good. About 30 years ago I wrote and illustrated a manual titled What’s All This Fuss About Feelings? We copied and used it in church for counseling. Revell was interested in publishing it, but I foolishly said I did not have the time for the process at the moment. I don’t know what I was thinking.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Jesus Christ and my wife Vicki – always in that order. I do not see how a lost people can lay their heads on their pillows without Christ, The Hope of Glory. Vicki often reminds me that Christ is my hope. She helps me stay grounded.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

That is one of the fun parts of writing – naming these guys, then watching them come to life. If they are foreign characters I rely a lot on the Internet. There are a number of Israeli and Russian characters in my novels. English names are sometimes composites of friends. Character’s names say a lot about the character, and can evoke an image of the person.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

High on the list is getting published.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I would be a dog. Dogs have great qualities, they are generous and faithful; and they love unconditionally.

What is your favorite food?

It would have to be chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, pinto beans and corn bread – topped off with a slice of pecan pie.

That sounds like just the meal my husband would say was his favorite, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I find that making the time to write is a huge roadblock – there are so many time stealers. It takes a lot of discipline. I am still working my way through this roadblock.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

a) Write what you like to read. Ask yourself if you are enjoying the process. If it’s drudgery to write, it will probably not engage the reader.

b) Write it, write it again, and write it again. I think a common misconception for some writers is to write a paragraph or page and move on. Go back and write it again. Write and re-write a paragraph until it’s right, then a page, and then a chapter. Then go back and re-write it. Then don’t get upset when an editor asks you to re-write it once more.

c) Let family and friends read your work before you submit it. Listen to their comments and critiques. Find as many readers as you can.

d) Write.

e) Read. Why did you like what you read? Why did you not like it?

Tell us about the featured book?

Gemini’s Cross’ main protagonist, David Baxter, is arrested and jailed for the horrendous murder of a teenaged girl in Spring, Texas. All of the evidence points to him. Family attorney and pillar of his church Baxter, although supported by family and his church, feels that God has abandoned him. Discovering the existence of consummate evil in his own flesh and blood, Baxter must clear his name, proving himself innocent while defending his wife and daughter from the threat of death. Ultimately the book reveals the limitlessness of God’s grace.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The first page is the prologue.

Prologue

The Present

His cooling off period between recipients was becoming shorter, and still he had not accomplished his mission—to bring the Light into the world. Perhaps—he was not sure—his last object for introduction to the Light had received a glimpse of it, but nothing more than a tiny glimpse. That was just two months ago, and he was ready to minister again. He was not quite ready for his supreme ministry, however. There still remained the necessity for another interim challenge. He was almost there, just not quite. Needing some fine-tuning, he knew just the right subject to provide it. She was so close to the ultimate object that it was exhilarating just to think about her.

There had been a time when he had wondered if he was crazy. It was only a brief span of uncertainty; then he had put it aside. His mission was too crisp, his strategy too clear, his means too perfect for him to be crazy. Also, it had occurred to him that genius was often mocked, considered peculiar and even crazy. Certainly he was not crazy, but it would be an honor to be considered so by others.

Would a crazy person be given the privilege, the tribute, of seeing the Light?

Certainly not.

He had seen the Light—twice. That first time, of course, was when he was six and had died. The other time was in 1980—he was just thirteen. The second seemed more special than the first for a number of reasons. First, it had occurred, not as a result of any physical trauma, but simply, apparently, as a tribute to him, as an accolade of admiration directed toward him. Secondly, it had been accompanied with a message, a message that had given him a purpose and a destiny, which, as a result had provided healing to his psyche. This healing was his third reason for remembering the second sighting. After that he no longer cared how people looked at him, nor what was whispered about him behind their shameful hands, nor who were openly repulsed by him. He was, now, who he was.

Unique.

Special.

Chosen, even.

He remembered lying in his bed, his body damp with sweat. Something had awakened him, a noise, and a movement. The green numbers on his bedside clock face said 3:00.

Then, suddenly, there came the soft refrains of music. But, not really music—more like an orchestra tuning up, except softer and more melodic. Then came the gentle breeze, cool and quiet.

At once there had appeared a dim, steady light at the foot of his bed. He sat bolt upright, fully awake now, his skin prickling. Growing brighter, the light emitted a greenish glow. Beginning slowly, it drifted upwards until it was about even with his feet, where it remained, about the size of softball, slightly bobbing up and down.

The voice was in a low whisper.

I am truth and light.

Straining to hear, his trembling wouldn’t stop.

I have chosen you; you have not chosen me. You are special to me, and you shall be my special envoy. Do not be afraid to do what I say. I will be with you. You will bring my light into the world to whomever I will.

The light brightened as the music rose to a screeching crescendo. He did not care that everyone in the house might be awakened. The light became so brilliant, the breeze warm then hot, and the shrieking dissonance so loud that he had to cover his ears and close his eyes. Strangely, no one came into his bedroom to rescue him or investigate the ruckus.

Then it stopped. The room was cast in darkness and became utterly quiet. The only sound was his rapid breathing. He fell backwards onto his pillow, heart pounding, perspiring profusely.

It was true.

It was confirmed.

He was chosen

Then, improbably, he fell asleep.

Intriguing. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be found at http://www.erwebb.com/

Thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, you will be supporting this blog.


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

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WHAT I SAW IN THE THORNS ~N~ THISTLES - Shirley Kiger Connolly - Free Book

Today, we're featuring a nonfiction book by an author who hasn't been on the blog before. Welcome, Shirley. You are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?


I write both, so for me it is like wearing two hats. I love sharing my thoughts and reflections in my nonfiction writing, but I take great delight in using my creativity and spending time in research for the historical work I do. Both reflect who I am.

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

Let’s see. Many might have read already about much about my personal life, so I think for you, Lena, I will share something different. Although my husband and I, at the time of this writing, live on the Southern tip of Oregon, here at the coast, we both are avid travelers and vagabonds, of a sort. Since we married (over 100 years ago, it sometimes seems) we have lived and traveled in some of the most amazing places. I have been blessed to have lived in North Queensland, Australia, and we have also spent some time over in Grenada, over in the West Indies. I’ve lived from here in Oregon, down to California, over to Indiana, and all the way across the US to New York, and had the pleasure of visiting many states in between. Right now we are praying about where the Lord would have us go once this house sells. We are open to anything. (I guess you would say we are somewhat gypsies more or less!)

Tell us about your family.

My husband and I have three children, all grown, and four grandchildren, three grandsons and one step step-granddaughter. One of my sons is an officer in the US Military, while the other lives with his wife here in Oregon. My daughter is praying for a husband.

I have a grandson who who is active military right now. Have you written other nonfiction books?

The book we are talking about today, I See God in the Thorns n Thistles, is the second of a three-book series. The first was I See God in the Simple Things and I have another coming out next spring, I See God on That Narrow Road.

What other books have you written, and where can the readers of the blog find them?

Flame from Within and It Happened Near the Cliff Rock and I have one is in the oven! Readers can find all my books at http://www.amazon.com/  or http://www.bn.com/ , http://www.booksamillion.com/ , http://www.vrpublishing.com/ and Target Stores. They can also be ordered at any bookstore if they don’t happen to be in stock. (But I guarantee, most can get the best deal probably at Amazon.)

Actually, I went to Amazon just now and didn't find the featured book there. Your others were though. Do you have any other books in the works right now?

I told you the third devotional, but there is something else in the works that I’m not yet supposed to discuss.

Sounds intriguing. Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

Please tell the readers to come visit me at http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/  or at http://shirleykoinonia.tripod.com/  or they can drop me an email at shirleylovestowrite@gmail.com  I am good at responding.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I love walking. I also love to play my piano and sing, but I don’t have time much on my piano lately. And when it’s raining and dreary outside and I’m sitting by my fire in the evening, I love needlework, or reading, or watching old classic movies on TBN or just plain vegging out.

Why did you write the featured book?

This devotional (as well as the others I am writing) came by way of simple reflections on my heart that I used to share only with my Koinonia Community (a very large group of readers, writers, and women who love the Lord). Each month I would send out a Koinonia Update, and in it I would pass along a reflection of my heart—something God showed me that day about life in general ,and how He could minister to us in any circumstance…whether it was in a simple situation we were in, or some thorny issue we were involved with, or even perhaps something poignant having to do with the seriousness of our personal walks with Him. The responses I continued to receive from my readers drove me to compiling these together into devotionals that could be available for anyone, saved or unsaved, who just needed a pick-me-up at that perfect moment. I hope all that makes sense, Lena.

Yes, it does. What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

How God can be with us no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, no matter how we feel. It is so easy to take Him for granted. He shows us through the simplicity of these devotionals, that this is not His hope for us. He wants to be real to us 24/7. It’s up to us to allow Him that privilege and blessing.

Thank you, Shirley, for spending this time with us. I'm partial to your name. My younger sister was named Shirley, and she's gone on to be with the Lord.
 
Readers, Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

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THE CASE OF THE MYSTIFIED M. D. - A. K. Arenz - Free Book

Welcome back to the blog. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I have always enjoyed reading mystery/suspense/thriller type books, so it seemed to be a natural extension. But I’ve found that I can’t write anything if God doesn’t move me to do it. That might sound trite, but it’s true. If I try to go it alone, or go in a direction that I think is right, and He’s not there to guide me, nothing works, and it will have to be redone.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I’d have to say the day(s) my daughters and grandchildren were born.

How has being published changed your life?

I feel a responsibility now to those who will read my books—and to my publisher. I’ve also had to learn to be more proactive and outgoing. This is really hard for me. I’m an introverted introvert.

What are you reading right now?

I’m nearly finished with Double Cross by James Patterson. When I’m finished with that, I’m going to read more in Joel C. Rosenberg’s The Last Jihad series.

What is your current work in progress?

The next in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery series.

What would be your dream vacation?

Um . . . I have always wanted to visit the British Isles, especially Ireland & Scotland. I’m not a fan of flying, though, and going over the water like that . . . it scares me. Still, I’d love to go there.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I don’t choose. It actually chooses me.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Maybe this sounds strange, but I wouldn’t choose a celebrity of any kind. And politicians, well, are politicians. Aside from quality time with my family, I don’t really have an answer for this one.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I used to love to sew and do crossword puzzles, but problems with my hands and fingers pretty much keep me from those. Playing games with my family—a rousing game of UNO attack (I think it’s called) is always fun, as is Boggle (when my hands are doing ok). I enjoy music, both Christian and older rock and roll, good movies, and select TV programs (NCIS, BONES, HOUSE, THE MENTALIST).

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Coming up with the right words to describe things and getting stuck and not being able to move forward. I know a lot of this happens when I’m trying to force the writing instead of just letting it come. But when you have a deadline . . . I haven’t figured out yet how to overcome the problem.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Be really, really sure this is not just what you want to do, but that it’s also what God wants you to do with your life. Once you’re sure, read everything you can get your hands on, study the craft, take classes, go to conferences, and most of all, PRAY. Don’t expect it to be easy—because I guarantee it won’t be.

Tell us about the featured book?

First a foot, now a hand—what body part is next?

The Case of the Mystified M.D. is the second in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery series. When Glory’s puppy finds a severed hand on a walking trail, she’s positive she recognizes the signet ring as belonging to a missing college professor who’s been causing a lot of trouble around town. Her insatiable desire to solve the mystery of his murder finds her in over her head with a community filled with secrets, blackmail, and arson.

With her sister Jane overwhelmed by the arson fire in her home and trouble with her fiancé, Glory latches onto an unlikely partner, and soon feels as though she’s stepped into a whacked out version of the Twilight Zone—where nothing is as it appears, and danger lurks around every corner . . .

Including from her boyfriend, Detective Rick Spencer.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

I inhaled and almost choked from the heat as it seared my throat and lungs. The air was more than humid, it actually fit the meteorologist’s most recent terminology of juicy. The deep blue of the late afternoon sky was so hazy it seemed a bit out of focus. Or maybe that was just the sweat pouring down my forehead.

As I turned toward the sound of a tractor in the nearby field, an enormous horsefly dive-bombed, landing smack between my eyes. Batting at it only seemed to make it angrier. The more I tried to dodge its attempt to take out one of my eyes, the more determined it was to harass me. All the activity increased the excitement of the puppy at my side. Misty took my strange gyrations to discourage the ardent bug as a new form of play and began barking. But it was her jumping around and tugging on the leash that nearly landed me on the asphalt walkway.

“Janie!” I called out to my sister who was a good fifteen feet in front of me. “You want to come get Misty before she yanks both of my shoulders out of joint?”

Jane didn’t break her stride—which was more of a jog than a walk—just turned and headed back to me. When the puppy realized Jane was returning, she became even more anxious, wagging her tail and wiggling so her entire body shook. It was further evidence that this beautiful five-month-old Golden Retriever should belong to my sister instead of me.

“What’s wrong Misty-girl?” Jane knelt in front of the ecstatic puppy and allowed the thick pink tongue to lick her hands and face in greeting. “Is Glory still too slow for you?”

“If you didn’t insist on running in this heat—”

“I’m not running, Glory,” she said as Misty slathered her face with more doggy kisses. “If you walk any slower you won’t be moving at all.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at http://www.akawriter.com/  and http://www.bouncinggrandmamysteries.blogspot.com/ .

Thank you so much for having me here today, Lena. It was a pleasure to visit with you.


And I've loved having you.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this particular link, it will help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/