Last October Winners!!

AnnaW is the winner of The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey.

Renee is the winner of Three Times blessed by Lori Copeland.

Charity is the winner of Wayback by Sam Batterman.

Katherine is the winner of The Jewel of His Heart by Maggie Brendan.

Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:

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EMMY'S EQUAL - Marcia Gruver - Free Book

Welcome back, Marcia. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Lena, the horizon is a bit distant for me to focus on these days. I’m learning to keep God in the driver’s seat. If I look too far ahead, I tend to slip behind the wheel and wind up in a ditch. Landing upside down with your wheels spinning gets a bit old after awhile.

Tell us a little about your family.

I have the greatest husband in the world. You can ask anyone who really knows him and they’ll tell you I’m not just spouting words here. My hubby is one of a kind—godly, loving, trusting, supportive, funny, compassionate, loyal, faithful, generous to the core . . .and the list goes on. My children and grandchildren (my original cast of characters) are real people with wonderful attributes and just as many faults and failings. They’re still growing, with all the resultant growing pains. Of course, if they’d just listen to me, their lives would be perfect, right? But with all of their warts and wrinkles, I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Isn't that the truth. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I’ll pick up any genre of book and crack the cover. Story’s the key. However, I’ve become a bit fussy these days about a quality read. I know how hard writing is, so I’m thrilled and inspired by a well-written novel. Still, I have more patience with a great story in a clumsy package than a snooze wrapped in flashy prose.

What are you working on right now?

Barbour Publishing has trusted me with another three-book contract. The series title is Backwoods Buccaneers, and it’s been so much fun to research and write. It's the story of three generations of land pirates--a quirky band of crooks who make their living by raiding and stealing in the aftermath of the civil war. The story begins in Scuffletown, North Carolina, and makes its way down the Natchez Trace to Uncertain, Texas. In some ways it’s quite different from Texas Fortunes, but I love these new characters, and I hope my readers will as well.

I can hardly wait. You must let me feature them on my blog. What outside interests do you have?

I’ve become a bit health conscious lately, so I love to pore over whole food cookbooks and surf the Web for healthy recipes. I’ve filled my kitchen with free-range poultry, organic produce, almond milk, quinoa, and brown rice. It’s challenging and fun to turn unusual foods into something palatable, and I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I’m trying to shore up these old walls against Father Time’s relentless attack. That doesn’t mean I won’t still order the triple-chocolate turtle cheesecake for dessert. One must remain balanced! (wink)

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My ears perk up at the mention of a great historical story. We travel a lot, and I’ve found that every town, large or small, has exciting tales of heroes and outlaws of the past. These men and women are wonderful fodder for a fictional story. I love to marry fact with fiction and rewrite the story in my mind. It’s great fun to step back in time to an era where these legends lived and loved.

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

It would have to be Jesus, the greatest historical figure of all time. When I read the Gospel accounts of the Master’s daily interactions with His disciples, I close my eyes and imagine how it might have been to know Him in the flesh. I get a little jealous of the Apostle John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and think how awesome it would’ve been to lean close to him in loving fellowship. I often wonder why God chose me for this time and not theirs when I would’ve been so good at “reclining next to Him.”

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I once gazed fondly at the goal of becoming a published writer. . .then reality dawned. I’m joking here, because I love writing books. I just never realized how hard it could be. I caution those seeking this crazy life to be certain it’s what you want, and in the case of a Christian author, be sure it’s your call. You must be totally committed or you won’t be ready for the consumption of your time or the sacrifices you and your family will have to make.

What new lesson is the Lord teaching you right now?

This answer goes hand-in-hand with the previous one. God is teaching me to trust Him with this new writing life. I have to believe He’s in control because one of us has to be!

Yes, I had to learn tht lesson early in my writing career, too. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

1. Be sure you’re where you’re supposed to be (see above).

2. Learn your craft inside out then trust your own voice.

3. Surround yourself with the best writers you can find. They’ll inevitably pull you up to their level. It’s a natural law.

Tell us about the featured book?

Emmy’s Equal, book three of the Texas Fortunes series, jumps to 1907. When a high-spirited girl lands in country thick with cattle, cactus, and cowboys, the South Texas border may never be the same. Emmy’s finding obedience to God a bother, and sure won’t take orders from a hardheaded wrangler. But as hard as she pushes God and the cowboy away, they continue to pursue her with equal fervor.

Please give us the first page of the book.

August, 1906. Humble, Texas —

The stagnant well appeared bottomless, as dank and murky as a grave. Emmy rested her arms on the cold, jagged stones and leaned to peer into the abyss. Mama’s embroidered lace hankie, shimmering in the meager light, hung from an outcropping of rock about four feet down. Narrowing her eyes, she peered at the spot of white that stood out from the surrounding darkness and heaved a sigh, stirring the fetid air below and raising a noxious odor that took her breath.

She pushed up her sleeves and blasted a droopy blonde ringlet from her eyes with a frustrated puff of air. There was no help for it—at the risk of certain death, she had to retrieve that handkerchief.

A figure loomed, drawing alongside her with a grunt. She jumped, and her heart shot past her throat. Chest pounding, she wasted a glare on the dark profile, noticing for the first time a scatter of lines around his eyes and tiny gray curlicues in his sideburns.

“Nash! I nearly leapt over the side.” She swatted his sleeve. “I’ve asked you to stop sneaking up on me. I’ve a good mind to fit you with a cowbell.”

A chuckle rumbled from his chest, as deep as the chasm. “I didn’t go to scare you, Miss Emmy.” He bent his lanky body so far she feared he’d tumble headfirst into the never-ending shaft. “Say, what we looking for inside this hole?”

“We’re not looking for anything. I’ve already found it.” Emmy clutched his arm and pulled him away. “Go fetch me a lantern, and be quick about it.” She tucked her chin in the direction of the palomino pony languishing under a nearby oak, nibbling at the circle of high grass around the trunk. “Take Trouble. He’ll be quicker than walking.”

Nash frowned and rubbed the knuckles of one hand along his temple, as if an ache had sprung up there. “What you need a lantern for, with the sun up and shining the past five hours? There’s plenty of light to see.”

She braced herself and pointed. “Not down there.”

Nash’s sleepy eyes flew open. His startled gaze bounced along her finger to the circular wall of weathered stones. “Down there?” He took a cautious step back. “What’s in this sour old pit that might concern you?”

Emmy swallowed hard. She could trust Nash with anything, but dreaded his reaction all the same. “It’s. . .one of mama’s hankies.” She squeezed her eyes shut and ducked her head.

His shoulders eased, and he ambled over to gaze inside. “Is that all?”

If only it were. Emmy risked a peek at him. “You don’t understand.”

He winced as if she’d spoken a bad omen. “Uh, uh. Not from her good batch? Them she’s always cackling about?”

Emmy cringed and nodded.

The delicate, lacy linens held an uncommon depth of meaning for Emmy’s mama. Hand embroidered in Germany by her grandmother then brought to the Americas and placed in Mama’s hope chest, they represented heart, hearth, and homeland to Magdalena Dane. In equal measure, they represented distress, discontent, and discord to her only daughter, because the bothersome bits of cloth seemed determined to cause Emmy grief.

Nash’s stunned expression hardened into an accusing glare. “Why, Miss Emmy? Why you done brought about such misery? You ain’t s’posed to touch ‘em, and you know it.” His graying brows fluttered up and down, like two moths bent on escape. “There’s scarce few left, and your mama blames you for them what’s missing.”

She moaned and flapped her hands. “I didn’t mean to take the silly thing. It was warm when I rode out this morning. I knew I’d likely sweat, so I snagged a hankie from the clothesline. I never looked at it until a few minutes ago. That’s how this terrible mishap came about. I held it up as I rode, staring in disbelief. Trouble was galloping across the yard when the wind caught it and. . .” She motioned behind her. “The willful rag drifted down the well before I could stop the horse and chase after it.”

Emmy lowered her eyes then peered up at him through her lashes. “None of this is my fault, Nash. Papa should’ve covered this smelly cistern months ago, and those wretched handkerchiefs have a mind of their own.”

The hint of a smile played around Nash’s lips. “If so, they harbor a mighty poor opinion of you.”

Marcia, I love your writing. You drew us straight into the story on the first page. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can contact me through my website, www.marciagruver.com or my blog at www.yieldedquill.blogspot.com. I’d love to hear from them. They can also find me on Facebook and Shoutlife. For an autographed copy of any of my books, they can go to www.signedbytheauthor.com and search for me by name or title.

Thank you for spending this time with us.

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

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

Void where prohibited. The odds of winning depends on the number of entrants.

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THE NIGHT WATCHMAN - Mark Mynheir - Free Book

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I don’t think it’s possible to write any character that doesn’t have traits from the author embedded in them—some more than others, of course. The challenge for the writer is to create characters that will speak, react, and observe the world around them in a way that is different from the author and yet remain consistent and believable. It helps to understand human nature and the differing personality types. Police work and being a detective has really helped me in this area.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

That’s a loaded question. I once swam across a huge alligator infested waterway in the middle of the night. I think that qualifies and more stupid than quirky. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was growing up, writing was the worst thing imaginable to me. I loathed putting words to paper. I’m Dyslexic and the very reason (I believe) that God invented spell check. But soon after I became a Christian, I felt the Lord leading me to write. It didn’t make much sense to me and seemed impossible. I shared what I thought God was telling me with my wife, and she encouraged me to go to school and learn the skills I needed to write.

So, it took about ten years of classes, writing, and more classes. I met my agent at a writer’s conference. He shopped my first novel, which got some good reviews but didn’t sell. I wrote the proposal for Rolling Thunder, my first published novel. He sent it out. I expected it to take six months or so before I heard anything. But about a week later, I got an e-mail from Multnomah, asking if I would be interested in writing a series. I had to wake my wife up to read the e-mail just to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind.

To say the least, I got kind of weepy when I held my first book. But don’t tell anyone.

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

I have a rather diverse reading list. I like biographies and history, but I also read biblical apologetics, like anything from Lee Strobel. I alternate my fiction reading to include some of the classics, secular fiction, and many of the awesome Christian writers today.

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

My first novel was Rolling Thunder. Then From the Belly of the Dragon, The Void, and now The Night Watchman.

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

My faith in Christ is first and foremost. When I get exhausted and beat down, He always lifts me back up. My faith helps me know that there’s a much larger context to everything that’s going on in the world and in my life. Without that knowledge, I think I would have gone loopy a long time ago.

My wife and kids give me joy daily. I couldn’t function without them as well. We do a lot together as a family.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I try to have names that match the personalities and yet are different enough so as not to confuse readers with names that sound the same. I don’t really have a scientific process. They just seem to come to me.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My kids. They’re lots of a fun, and they make me very proud every day.

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

A Praying Mantis. They’re really cool and fight in a Kung Fu-type style. They only problem is that the female at some point usually eats the male. So I would remain single . . . forever.

What is your favorite food?

Grilled Salmon. I could eat it every meal.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Insecurity and fear. I battle with them everyday. I’ll let you know if I ever totally vanquish them, but it hasn’t happened yet.

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

Stick with it! Many a great manuscript or talented writer will never be discovered because the author didn’t show the fortitude to stick it out through the tough times—and there will be tough times. If you’re called to be a writer, write. Learn your craft, read books about writing, go to conferences, and write, write, write. Don’t let negative voices around you derail the dream God has planted.

Tell us about the featured book?

In The Night Watchman, the protagonist, Ray Quinn, is an Orlando homicide detective who is severely wounded in an ambush and forced to medically retire from the force. Ray battles the haunting guilt for his partner’s death. Numbing the pain with alcohol and attitude, he takes a job as a night watchman at a swanky Orlando condo.

But when a pastor and an exotic dancer are found dead in one of the condos in an apparent murder-suicide, Ray can no longer linger in the shadows. The pastor’s sister is convinced her brother was framed and begs Ray to take on an impossible case–to challenge the evidence and clear her brother’s name.

Crawling from the wreckage of his former life, Ray struggles to find healing and purpose again. But when the case of a lifetime is thrust upon him, Ray must decide whether he’ll succumb to his depression and pain or use the God-given gifts he still has inside him to catch a madman.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Here is an excerpt:

The two men stalking me had emerged from the shadows and then trailed me though the parking lot.

They lagged behind me about fifty feet. I slowed my pace, not that I wasn’t as slow as a tree slug already, to see if they would overtake me or hang back.

They hung back. Not good.

Any human at a normal pace should have passed me by now. I could feel their eyes punching holes in me, waiting for the right time to move.

Since I wasn’t up for dealing with any problems, I stepped it out as best I could. With a new-and-improved plastic pelvis and hip, along with ten months of physical therapy, I should be able to hobble a little faster. No such luck. The cane and gimpy leg would only go so fast. Grandma Moses on a pogo stick could hop circles
around me.

Using the rearview mirrors on the cars parked along Lake Avenue, I kept tabs on my new friends without being too obvious, a little trick I picked up when I worked undercover. No need to give them more of an advantage than they already had.

The big one, a black kid maybe twenty years old, wore a white wife-beater muscle shirt and black jean shorts. Mini-dreads jetted from his head like a frayed ball of yarn. The other kid, probably the same age, was an anemic white with a tattoo sprawled on his neck and a shaved head that glistened under the streetlights.

With each glance I caught, they feigned like they were talking to each other, but I could sense they were planning to pounce. And why not? I was an easy mark—a crippled guy negotiating the Orlando streets alone at night. One more block to go until I was at work.

Eleven months ago I would have enjoyed this game of cat and mouse. But then I would have been the cat, a big hungry one ready to swallow those thugs like the rodents they were. I hoped they were just playing a game.

I stole a furtive glance behind me, and my tails were nowhere in sight. I stopped and shifted all the way around. Gone. Must have headed up an alley. Maybe I was just losing my mind. Hadn’t been out much lately.

I used to love the Orlando nightlife, the clubs and things to do; the pulse of the city at night energized me. It had changed so much in a short amount of time. Faster, meaner, a stranger to me. Like I was living on a different planet. I had grown up here, not long after Mickey scurried in, back when Orlando was more of a cowtown.

Now it’s a big city plagued with big-city problems.

As I approached the corner of Lake and East Jackson, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumber raced around the corner right in front of me, both out of breath. They must have sprinted down the alley behind the store to cut me off just before I reached the intersection.

This wouldn’t end pretty.

“Hey, old man. ”The ugly white kid checked up and down the street, like felons do when they’re preparing to do something monumentally stupid.

His buddy invaded my personal space on my left. “How about some spare change?” he said with an accent, maybe Haitian.

“Don’t have any change.” I eyed possible escape routes, though escape wasn’t likely in my condition. And I couldn’t count on anyone to help me, or even to notice, for that matter. On this corner, in a city of over two hundred thousand people, I was on my own…as usual.

“Then give up your wallet, or I bust your head like your leg is.”

The black kid pressed in on me.

“Okay.Okay.” I held up my right hand while leaning more on the cane with my left. “I’ll give you my wallet. Just don’t hurt me.”

“Hurry up!” The white kid spit as he spoke, clenching his fists at his sides. “I ain’t got all night.” He was the alpha dog of the two.

If they were going to attack, he would lead. He needed to be tamed.

I reached back with my right hand, brushed past my wallet in my back pocket, and slipped my hand up into my waistband. I let go of the cane. The brass handle clanked as it bounced off the concrete, echoing around us. Huey and Dewey beaded in on it, drawing their attention down for the second I needed.

I unsnapped my Glock 9mm from its holster, then drew it to eye level, setting my night sights on the white kid’s forehead. A stupefied look crossed his face, which must be a regular event for him. He wasn’t so alpha dog now.

“The leg’s busted, scumbag, but my finger works fine.” I gritted my teeth and leaned forward. “You wanna test it out?”

Sounds intriguing. I can't wait until I get my copy. How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can visit my website: http://www.copwriter.com/ and my Facebook account.

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

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

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 GREAT CHRISTMAS BOWL - Susan May Warren - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Suzy back to the blog with a heartwarming, hilarious Christmas story. Suzy, tell us about your salvation experience.

I grew up in the church, and was saved at a young age (let’s say seven) and then baptized at 12. However, in my teenage years I went through some questioning about my faith, and I’m sad to say I walked away from the Lord in my early college years. I realized how empty my life was without him pretty quickly, however, and I rededicated my life to Christ in July 1987. I also dedicated my life to missions, or full time ministry if He wanted at that time. Obviously, at that moment, Christ took the reins of my life and my heart and I’ve never been the same since. Yay!

How did you and your husband meet?

I worked as a program director at a wilderness camp; he worked as a trail guide at a local outfitter’s place. My place had no indoor plumbing or electricity – his place was a cake walk with HOT showers and a television! So, every weekend I went down and took a shower and ate hot pizza. We met during training week – or rather, he remembers meeting me during training week; I don’t’ remember meeting him until the end of the summer when our crew came to help their crew tear down a building. I was assigned to his tear down crew, and my first words to him were, “Can I borrow your hammer?” We “hit” it off, and were engaged 2 ½ months later!

James and I got married 3 months and 3 days after we met. Now, you’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Hmmm….well, I love the plotting and deep thinking of James Scott Bell; the spiritual depth of Rachel Hauck; the literary voice of Mary DeMuth, and the free-spirited fun of Karen Ball. (Can’t I have more? I have SO many more!!)

Do you have a singing and speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Not singing – unless you count Karaoke, and if you ever heard me sing, you’d know I have a voice fit only for heaven (as in, it needs to be transformed). But I do love speaking – I do a lot of women’s ministry speaking, at retreats, luncheons, teas, etc. I love getting to know women on a personal level, and sharing so many of the stories that God has used to teach me. (I’m a storyteller, not a Bible expositor).

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

I brought the wrong kid to summer camp! Sadly, our camp was six hours away (one way), and they had flipped the regular schedule, so I THOUGHT I was supposed to bring my son – but I should have brought my daughter. I was rescued by a great friend who picked her up and drove her ½ way. We were still able to get her to camp by the lights out bell! I always double check now…

Now tell us about the book.

Yes. I LOVE Christmas stories - and every year I read aloud to my kids (okay, my college kid MIGHT be too old), The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever. And recently Dave Barry's, The Shephard, the Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog. (SOOO funny). I wanted to write my OWN Christmas Classic.

So, I did. Well, at least I HOPE it is a Christmas classic.

Marrianne Wallace is focused on two things this holiday season: planning the greatest family Christmas ever and cheering on her youngest son’s football team in their bid for the state championship. Disaster strikes when the team loses their mascot—the Trout. Is it going too far to ask her to don the costume? So what if her husband has also volunteered her to organize the church Christmas tea. When football playoffs start ramping up, the Christmas tea starts falling apart. Then, one by one, her children tell her they can’t come home for Christmas. As life continues to unravel, will Marianne remember the true meaning of the holidays?

Dear Readers, I've read and reviewed this book, and I think you'll love it.

Thank you, Suzy for spending this time with us.

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

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

FIT TO BE TIED - Robin Lee Hatcher - Free Book

I've been looking forward to this interview. Welcome back, Robin Lee. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

For my historical romances, it’s because I’m a romantic at heart and history has always been a passion of mine, going all the way back to junior high school. Combining the two is fun for me and hopefully for the reader as well. For my contemporary women’s fiction, it’s because God has been so gracious to me in a life where I’ve stumbled a lot. I want to share that with readers, to maybe cast a little bit of light onto their paths.

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

I would have to name two of them, the days my daughters were born. When I look at the beautiful women, wives, and mothers they have become, I always realize that no matter how many times I messed up as a mom, I must have done a few things right.

I know what you mean about that. How has being published changed your life?

I have been published for nearly 26 years, so it’s kind of hard to remember how it changed my life. {{grin}} Seriously, becoming a published authors opened doors for me to know and become friends with so many different people—writers, editors, agents. It caused me to begin traveling more (I need to visit seven more states to be able to say I’ve been to them all). It opened doors for speaking engagements; leading women’s retreats is absolutely a favorite thing for me to do.

I love the opportunity to really become friends with people in the industry, too. What are you reading right now?

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire, the sequel to Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West which I read about 14 years ago. I’m a big fan of The Wizard of Oz, and I loved Maguire’s inventive spin on Elphaba (the green-skinned girl who became the Wicked Witch). I’ve been meaning to read Son of a Witch ever since I heard of its release and finally got around to it. I’m enjoying it, although I wish I’d reread Wicked first.

I’m also reading/studying the textbook, Grasping God’s Word by Duvall and Hays. It’s a course meant to teach students to go deeper, deeper, and deeper in their study and reading of the Bible. Challenging!

I love a good spiritual challenge. What is your current work in progress?

I’m awaiting the revision letter for A Matter of Character (Daphne’s story), the third and final book of the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series. Next up is a stand-alone old-fashioned western romance, followed by a new historical romance series that is still in the fuzzy stage.

What would be your dream vacation?

A lengthy trip to visit England, Ireland, and Sweden, the countries of my ancestry. And then, just for good measure, a nice long stay in Tuscany.

I, too, have Irish and Swedish ancestry. How do you choose your settings for each book?

Most of my books are set in Idaho. I love living here and enjoy letting others get a glimpse of the beautiful country that makes up this state.

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

I ran lots of people through my mind when I came to this question. I could think of several people on the world stage, especially some politicians, who I would like to meet. But to tell you the truth, I’m pretty fed up with the whole lot of them and I think I would spend the evening giving any one of them a piece of my mind. It wouldn’t be a fun evening for either one of us.

Then I realized that I would most like to spend an evening with Beth Moore. I’d love to pick her brain on her favorite study tools and how she goes about writing her Bible studies.

She does have a special gift. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

A couple of years ago, I took up knitting again after a 25 year break from it. And last Christmas I invested in a really nice camera and have hopes of becoming a reasonably good amateur photographer.

At ACFW national conference, I was talking to Camy Tang and a couple of other people, and I started knitting Victorian lace when I got home. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Not letting life distract me from getting the behind in the chair and the words on the paper. The only way I know to overcome it is to say “No!”

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read, read, read and write, write, write. For a novelist, no reading goes to waste, be it history, fiction, biographies, even articles in magazines or the dictionary. A novelist needs knowledge about all kinds of things and must be a student of the human condition. As for the second part, I firmly believe that a writer learns far more from the act of writing than they will ever learn in a class or workshop or from reading a how-to book. You need to write a book, then write another book, then write another book.

Tell us about the featured book?

Fit To Be Tied is Cleo Arlington’s story. Cleo is one of those characters who I fell in love with the instant I met her. I knew readers would become attached to her as they read Gwen’s story (they’re fraternal twins) in A Vote of Confidence. The trick was discovering who would be the perfect hero for the novel. I found him in Sherwood Statham, an English lord.

Here’s the blurb:

Cleo Arlington dresses like a cowboy, is fearless and fun-loving, and can ride, rope, and wrangle a horse as well as any man. In 1916, however, those talents aren’t what most young women aspire to. But Cleo isn’t most women. Twenty-nine years old and single, Cleo loves life on her father’s Idaho ranch. Still, she hopes someday to marry and have children.

Enter Sherwood Statham, an English aristocrat whose father has sentenced him to a year of work in America to “straighten him out.” Sherwood, who expected a desk job at a posh spa, isn’t happy to be stuck on an Idaho ranch. And he has no idea how to handle Cleo, who’s been challenged with transforming this uptight playboy into a down-home cowboy.

Just about everything either of them says or does leaves the other, well, fit to be tied. And though Cleo believes God’s plan for her includes a husband, it couldn’t possibly be Sherwood Statham. Could it?

I love the premise. Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Dunacombe Manor, England
March 1916

“Your father is waiting in the library, my lord.”

“Thank you, Chadworth.” Head pounding from the previous night’s enjoyments, Sherwood Reginald Wakeley Statham, the youngest son of the Duke of Dunacombe, shrugged out of his coat and handed it to the butler, followed by his hat and gloves. “Is Mother with him?”

“No, sir. I believe her grace has taken to her bed.”

Sherwood flinched. That didn’t bode well for this meeting. His mother had acted as a buffer between him and his father’s anger since he was a boy. “Is she ill? Maybe I should go up to see her first.”

Chadworth lifted his eyebrows but said nothing. He didn’t have to. Sherwood knew he was expected in the library immediately, not fifteen or thirty minutes from now. The duke hated to be kept waiting, especially by Sherwood, the son who disappointed him at every turn.

“I’ll go straight in.” Might as well receive whatever dressing down his father wanted to mete out.
“Very good, my lord.”

Sherwood followed the long hallway to the library, accompanied by the sound of his uneven gait—a sharp click upon the tiled floor followed by a soft slide. He hated it. Hated even more how the walk down this hallway for a meeting with his father never failed to make him feel ten years old again. Not a good feeling for a man of thirty years.

He caught a glimpse of himself as he passed a large, ornate mirror and was immediately sorry. The ragged scar on his face blazed a bright red against his pale skin. Dark circles ringed his eyes, evidence of the many nights he’d gone without sleep, instead drinking and gambling till morning.

When he entered the library, he found the duke standing near the windows that overlooked the extensive gardens of Dunacombe Manor, hands clasped behind his back.

Oh, I love it. I can't wait until my copy comes. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My web site: http://www.robinleehatcher.com/
My blog: http://robinlee.typepad.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=robinleehatcher
Twitter: http://twitter.com/robinleehatcher

Thank you, Robin Lee, for spending this time with us.

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

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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Winners!!!! Winners!!!! Winners!!!!

~Tami is the winner of Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska, by Loree Lough.

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Please send me your mailing address in one of two ways:

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THE JEWEL OF HIS HEART - Maggie Brendan - Free Book

I've really been looking forward to featuring this book. I was given the opportunity to read the manuscript for endorsement. I loved it. I think you will, too. Maggie, welcome. What kind of books you do write?

I write historical romance novels.

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

The happiest day in my life was when my daughter and son were born, separately, of course! They add incredible meaning to my life, and are even more fun as adults now that they have their own children that I am smitten with.

I spent time yesterday with my first great grandson. He's two years old. How has being published changed your life?

It has certainly become an adventure! I’ve had to rearrange my schedule within the home and I let a few things go that took up too much time. The bulk of my work day is writing, researching, etc. I’ve met new people and God has opened many doors along the way where I can be an influence of for him through my faith in speaking and book signing. I’m enjoying the ride!

I am, too. What are you reading right now?

Tammy Barley’s novel, Love’s Rescue, but I have an entire stack of books on my credenza.

What is your current work in progress?

I’ve just finished the 3rd book, A Love of Her Own, in The Heart of the West series so now I’m beginning a new series called The Blue Willow Brides. It’s about three sisters from Holland who become mail order brides in the 1880’s in the West.

What would be your dream vacation?

I’d love a cabin in the Rocky Mountains in either Colorado or Montana overlooking a lake.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I really love the West so it’s natural for me to pick one of the western states. But I usually base it on something that I read that happened there or loosely base it on an historical character.

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

I thought a long time about your question. I’d have to say LaVyrle Spencer. I believe she was the greatest romance novelist of all time. I’d love to get writing tips from her and hoped that one day someone would tell me that I write like her. Now that would be an honor.

I know what you mean. Readers have told me I write like Tracie Peterson and Lauraine Snelling. What a compliment. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to singing in my church’s choir, and when I have a chance I like to oil paint or scrapbook, but I’m finding little time for that now. I love being outdoors with nature and meeting new people.

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

Maybe the most difficult obstacle for me is my attention to detail and having enough time for everything that needs to be done. I like everything in the house in order and kept nice and tidy. Trying to keep meals cooked, laundry, errands and still have a bit of free time left over is hard to juggle, much less the daily writing time.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

My advice to a beginning author is to keep a schedule for your writing. For some, it’s in the morning for others, especially with young children, it’s during their nap time or after they go to bed. But be consistent and never give up. Decide what’s important to you. Get to know other writers and join a critique group. You’ll find enormous support with other writers. Attend writer’s conferences and read, read, read!

Tell us about the featured book?

The Jewel of His Heart is set in 1890’s Montana. It is here that Juliana calls home when she meets Josh McBride, a handsome, gentle sheepherder. When he discovers a rare kind of sapphire on his property and considers striking out on his own path in the world, he is forced to decide what’s most important to him: the world’s riches or the eternal value of love in a woman whose eyes rival the rarest gems.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The Jewel of His Heart
Utica, Montana 1896

I need a wife.

Josh McBride had ridden down the grassy slope to the sparkling creek, allowing his horse a drink while surveying with a keen eye the parcel of land that he’d purchased three years before.

It’s pretty here—the best spot on God’s good earth.

But that didn’t keep him from feeling lonely.

He was enjoying the beautiful Montana Mountains this morning, and the satisfaction of pursuing his own dream and place in the world instead of his father’s. On these solitary rides, he treasured the peace and privacy with his Creator in the morning, feeling his presence.

Earlier, he had taken his bandana from his neck and dipped it into the cold stream to wipe his face. The stream narrowed at this juncture to not much more than a trickle, or Josh might have missed the handful of small blue pebbles collected there. Reaching into the icy water, he scooped the pebbles up for a closer look. The sunlight reflected off the small translucent blue pebbles, their hue unlike anything Josh had ever seen. Instinctively, he knew these were not just blue pebbles or ordinary stones, but what he did not know, was how they would ultimately change his life forever.

Josh slipped the handful of blue stones in his leather vest pocket and mounted his horse. He headed back to the grassy rise, overlooking the valley, pausing to gaze out at his sizeable herd of sheep with pride. Suddenly, Josh’s white and amber colored dog, Shebe, ran up to gaze at him lovingly, her tongue lolling from the side of her mouth. “Hey, girl. Looking for me?”
Shebe’s short sharp was her answer and Josh laughed. “We’ve sure been through some lonely times, haven’t we, girl?”

“McBride!” A rider below waved his hat at Josh and pushed his horse up the grassy ridge.

Josh called back a greeting to his youngest sheepherder and nudged Pete’s flanks with the edge of his boot heel. He’d left his spurs behind when he rode off his father’s cattle ranch. Besides, he and Pete understood each other perfectly. Josh sometimes thought Pete and Shebe understood him better than anyone else, and his affection for his horse and sheepdog ran deep. But still he wanted a wife. A dog and horse could not take the place of a companion to fill this lonely space in his heart.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

southernbellewriter.blogspot.com

http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/ resident blogger

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

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

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

WAYBACK - Sam Batterman - Free Book

Today, I'm hosting a debut novelist with a thriller for all you mystery/suspense and sci-fi/fantasy fans. Welcome, Sam. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think I put a little bit of myself in all of my characters. I do make a concerted effort to explore the psyche and motivations of the characters even before I begin writing. In the case of Wayback, I actually built imaginary Facebook sites for each of them – where they went to school, their employment history, possible social situations they have been in, etc. In the case of the female characters in the book, I specifically made them strong (strong willed, courageous, ambitious, etc.).

My kind of woman. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Quirky is a funny word that’s open to lots of interpretation, so let’s use the interpretation of “strange” or “peculiar.”

My “other” hobby is high-powered rocketry. Not the little Estes rockets we all flew as kids, but 45-65 pound rockets that burn the same fuel as the Space Shuttle does. I guess I’m drawn to the planning and construction side of it and then the ten seconds of sheer terror in watching these things take off and returning safely (hopefully) to earth.

One thing’s for sure, my neighbors give me weird looks when I’m loading a seven foot rocket into my car to go to the flying field.

I'll bet they do, and I'm sure they're glad you're taking them somewhere else to fire them. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I entered a creative writing competition in a multi-school achievement event when I was a sophomore in high school. To my surprise, I won first place. I was not a writer—hated English and language classes, but I’ve always been a profoundly visual person. I think in pictures, analyze with pictures, even my “real” career has largely been about making pictures from information. The subject was “Thanksgiving” and we had something like one hour to write creatively about that subject. I still remember that mental trip I made as I wrote out the essay. What a cool morning on Thanksgiving feels like, the last few crinkled leaves on the skeletal trees—you get the idea.

The most important part of that experience was that my high school teacher, Mr. Robin Maples, after reading my (unlikely) winning entry, told me, “You might have a real gift there; you should do something with it.” That’s probably not an exact quote, but that’s what I remember. It simmered in the back of my mind for twenty years before I began writing Wayback.

Tell us the range of books you enjoy reading.

I tend to lean toward History and Biographies – especially anything in the technology, science, or military fields – books about Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, The Development of the Atomic Bomb, and stories about secret agencies and companies that have made a huge difference in the world – like Lockheed’s Skunk Works, the CIA, and the NSA.

I do enjoy virtually any novel that was written by Tom Clancy or Michael Crichton. These two men are the masters of the tech-thriller genre and in many ways were the models for my own style. There’s a delicate balance between being too verbose and informative about technology and giving just enough to make something believable.

In high school I was totally into fantasy and would place Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Steven R. Donaldson, and Terry Brooks very high on my influence list. The Bible is also on that list and keeps me grounded in what’s really important in life and what my priorities should be.

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

Well, Wayback is my only published work, but I have three books under construction at the same time right now. My first book was abandoned when an incident in real life became a little too close to the story I was writing and both my wife and I thought it was wise to put it on the back burner. I’m working on the sequels to Wayback and also on another completely unrelated book that uses America in 2040 as the backdrop (hint: America isn’t called America anymore). I don’t struggle with ideas (yet), just the plotting to get them into an enjoyable story structure.

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

As for day-to-day sanity, I’ve found a daily two mile walk helps to alleviate stress and allows myself to evaluate priorities a little more objectively. I also teach computer programming at a Christian school for the seniors in an elective capacity. Nothing beats teaching. I love seeing the light bulb come on when a student gets a particularly important concept. I love being part of that process. Passing my knowledge on to others and giving of myself keeps things in perspective for me.

How do you chose your characters names?

Well, I think they come from lots of places, but I don’t think it’s a super-sophisticated process. I’ve only been specifically conscious of picking a few of them. When I’m at a conference I do pay attention to name badges that wander past me. The names that I think go well together seem to stick with me- that’s where I got Alicia King’s name in Wayback, but most of the time, it’s just putting a few names together in combination and seeing how they sound and if they reflect the character I’ve cast in the book.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

God has blessed my life in tremendous ways-from high school to college to first jobs to getting a dream job that I currently work in. However, Wayback is perhaps the most important to me right now (outside of my children). It was completely out of my comfort zone with a process that was very alien to me―from writing the beginning few sentences and wondering whether there was enough material to make an entire story to the process of getting it published. I love the opportunities that a published novel brings to me – the story it lets me tell to people I’ll never meet.

What is your favorite food?

Wow. Well I enjoy all kinds of food, but I guess Italian would have to get the nod. I especially enjoy getting together with great friends in a “family style” arrangement and laughing the night away.

That aspect is food is my favorite, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock and how did you overcome it?

When I experience a roadblock of a scene or an emotion, I stop and do everything I can to transport myself to that part of the book. I jot down notes, listen to dramatic music, draw and sketch up scenes. I end up immersing myself so deeply that it’s literally spilling out of my brain. That’s how I get through those pesky writing blocks.

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

One of the most important things I’ve learned about writing (and getting published) is that you have to get aggressive—asking advice and getting opinions is important…to a point, but at some level you have to stop asking for a moment and get the manuscript written―that’s the hard work and no one can do that for you. Write your manuscript, pursue criticism and critique, learn, get better, revise, put the work out there, see if it gets a bite, but don’t sit and stew—work on something else while it’s out there. There are numerous books out there to help you get started, or to improve your existing skills. The Writer, Writer’s Digest, books by James Scott Bell (especially his Plot & Structure) and www.wherethemapends.com are fantastic resources.

Tell us about the featured book?

A mysterious Nazi super weapon, hidden for more than 60 years, has been discovered by members of a reclusive, private think tank and perfected using modern technology. This fully realized and reliable device is so powerful, so provocative, that the basic beliefs of science, history, and religion could be overturned in an instant. After a cataclysmic system failure kills an expedition attempting to return to the year 100,000 BC, a team of skeptical scientists and adventurers is dispatched to the Antediluvian world, a world that no one anticipated full of wonder, danger, and advanced civilizations that will rock the accepted theories of science and history to their core. However, the team is unaware of another plan that is unfolding; there are people who will kill to use this remarkable machine to further their own plans for our past and future.

Please give us the first page of the book

Prologue: The Bell
February 1945

The amber glow from the cigarette lighter lit up Hans Voss’s sharp, Aryan facial features. He snapped the silver lid shut and exhaled a plume of silvery-blue smoke into the still night air. The spruce trees climbed high into the starry sky, concealing the concrete blockhouses and heavy equipment parked around the secret complex. In the distance, the faint but constant pounding of Allied bombs falling on Voss’s homeland could be heard, like the heartbeat of a giant coming ever closer. Intermittent flashes of light danced on the horizon, marking the end of a manufacturing plant, a church, a neighborhood―the coming end of the Third Reich.

The gravel pebbles crunched under his leather boots, and the slight clinking sound of the medals awarded him by the Luftwaffe elite announced his approach to a concrete reinforced guardhouse. A drop gate with a red and white alternating pattern barred his entrance to the complex, and a young German soldier stood guard in front of the barrier.

Young—too young, thought Voss.

The young guard’s blond and black-streaked German shepherd strained on its thick leather leash, snarling at the approaching airman. The guard, struggling with a fur-covered razor blade, clicked on his flashlight and shone it on Voss, blinding him for an instant. The glint of light across Voss’s Iron Cross medal snapped the young soldier to attention. He clicked the heels of his boots together, and his right arm shot out in a familiar salute. “Heil Hitler,” he said with fervor.

Voss returned the salute robotically. His fervor had died a long time ago.

As the soldier examined Voss’s credentials, the Luftwaffe ace took a last long drag on his cigarette and dropped it onto the concrete ramp leading to a deeply fortified complex, hidden in the bowels of the mountains of Bad Ischl, a small village fifteen miles from Ebensee, Austria. The young soldier returned Voss’s credentials and saluted the airman again before raising the gate. Voss extinguished the burning cigarette with the heel of his leather boot and walked up the ramp to the massive hangar opening.

As he crossed the bunker-like threshold, his mind filled with the images of two other Luftwaffe pilots—close friends—both of whom had crossed this same threshold in the last month and disappeared. Their families were told that they were killed in combat and there were no bodies for a funeral. The truth, Voss knew, was much more complicated. He hoped, and secretly prayed, that this test would be successful.

A very interesting start. I'm sure we've hooked a lot of readers. How can they find you on the internet?

My author site has information and reviews about Wayback and forthcoming books, as well a link to my blog and Facebook Fan Sites. You can find it at http://www.sambatterman.com/

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

THREE TIMES BLESSED - Lori Copeland - Free Book

Welcome to my blog, Lori. I've really enjoyed reading many of your books. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Probably more than I care to. I have a quirky sense of humor, and it inevitably comes out in my work, even though I sometimes start a project thinking I’ll do a serious story. My readers like my western historical. In this formats, I can feature women who aren’t as savvy as today’s women. They’re bright, intelligent, but they’ve retained a naiveté not easily found today. I enjoy writing these stories more than I do heavier subjects. Life has enough problems :-)

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Many years ago I wrote a book for Harlequin and featured a couple of dogs P.O.V. Today so much emphasis is put on writing in the proper P.O.V., first person, third person, multiple—the ways to write a book are numerous. At the time, I had no idea you couldn’t write in an animal’s P.O.V. but my readers seemed to enjoy the change.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Somewhere around my 40th birthday. I had never thought of writing, had written little more than a grocery list, but I loved to read. One day a friend asked why I didn’t write a book, and so, for my personal entertainment, I sat down and wrote one. It was a small Dell Candlelight, it sold within 6 weeks, and I’ve been under contract since them. Mine is a fairy tale story. Today, the market is very tight and sometimes it takes years to find a publisher, if ever. So I was blessed—and discovered a gift that I didn’t know I had.

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

I’ve always loved biographies and medical suspense. I devoured Robin Cook’s books when I read a lot. These days it’s hard to find time to read anything that isn’t research material. I like anything by Travis Thrasher, a new author with great potential.

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

I’m approaching my hundredth published book. With great humility, I can say that I’ve published every book I’ve written. I’ve had proposals rejected, but I haven’t written a book that wasn’t already contracted for. I honestly don’t think that I could now. Writing comes hard to me. I’m not a natural writer, I’m a storyteller. I need help with the mechanics of writing, and God has always placed me with an editor or house that was willing to give that help.

I'm a storyteller, too, but I've learned a lot of the mechanics. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Can’t. Lost sanity years ago :-) Thank goodness you don’t have to be sane to write, you just need a good imagination and much perseverance. The greatest sacrifice in writing is giving up so much of your personal life. Friends, family, church activities all take time and effort, and a writer doesn’t have those luxuries. Many of my friends assume that I sit down, strike a “Best Seller” key on my computer and voile! I’m free to go lunch, shopping, the spa or planning meetings. How I wish!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

This is an area I need to work on. I grab them out of the air, and often I repeat the same ones in new books! I have various sources on hand, baby name books, I keep all high school and college graduation programs, but since I write so much in the old west the newer names aren’t helpful. So I draw back to my Grandma and Grandpa’s days, and people they knew with quirky names. For instance, my dear aunt was Myrtle Independence Smart. She was born on the fourth of July. You don’t hear many Herschel, May, Edgar, Lulu (my grandparents neighbor was Lulu) Josephine, Pearl or Othel these days.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

In the writing world? It’s hard to pick just one. I suppose the greatest elation occurred a couple of years ago when my book Monday Morning Faith was a finalist for the Christy Award. Now you have to understand, I don’t write ‘award winning books” just fun entertainment with a Christian message. Nominated for a Christy was a goal I thought would never happen, so the blessing was great. I didn’t win, but I had my chance and that meant a lot to me.

In 2000, I was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame. My pictures in the library next to Mark Twain! I take my grandchildren there and point me out, knowing that someday, God willing, they’ll be able to take their children there and say “that’s your great grandmother”.

In the personal realm, it would be the knowledge that my children, and all my grandchildren who are at the age of accountability, know and have accepted the Lord.

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

Ummm. Is a bird an animal? I’d be a hummingbird. Quick, pretty, harmless, and I have a fierce sweet tooth. Second choice, I’d be a house cat. They’ve got it made.

What is your favorite food?

Sweet and Sour chicken, all white meat with a crab rangoon on the side. I could eat it every day.

That's some of my favorite Chinese food, too. There's a little place near where I live that has the best Sweet and Sour Chicken I've ever eaten. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

English skills. When I wrote my first book I’d forgotten everything that I knew. I hadn’t used it in years so I’ve had to try and learn it again. English is a tough language because words can have so many different forms and usage. Most people think that the publisher does all the editing, and that’s true to a point, but you don’t send in work with a multitude of glaring errors. Some editors are lovely about helping you along, but in my earlier years of writing I have worked with those who have shamed me. Once I used the word who’s for whose. The young editor had me in tears. I went to hiring someone to go over the manuscript, but then the prices became more than I made, so I had to stop that practice. I’ve learned a lot in twenty-years, but I still depend on editorial assistance. Thank goodness I have terrific editors now.

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

Patience. Learn your craft. If possible, hire a good agent, one who truly believes in your work. And teach yourself this one thing, repeat it over and over. Not everyone who writes will be published. It’s not a given. It’s not a promise. It’s not God-given right. It isn’t always the best books that get published. Unfair but true. If you keep this in mind, and write from your heart, you have given yourself great joy whether the manuscript sells or not.

Tell us about the featured book?

Outlaw’s Bride is one of my earlier books published in the secular market. Harvest House has given me the opportunity to rewrite this book (The Bride of Johnny McAllister) and two others for the Christian market. I love the assignment. This past year I’ve had two surgeries that left me flat on my back for awhile. I had ample time to think, to consider what I loved to write because the joy had left me. I was tired. I felt as though I was on a gerbil wheel. When the opportunity came along to rewrite some of my older titles, I found new joy in my work. Outlaw’s Bride is the format that I wrote in the beginning, whacky, lighthearted stories meant to bring a smile, and a moral message. Every author has a “voice.” Be true to your voice, and don’t try to write what others are writing. Readers tastes comes in cycles, and eventually the tastes always cycle back to your passion. In the busyness of writing, I’d forgotten that rule.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue
Barren Flats—formerly Paradise, California
July, 1876

Ragan Ramsey watched the trail of dust disappear, and then let the curtain drop into place. “Thank goodness that one’s gone.”

Judge Procter McMann—known to most as “Procky” chuckled and drew deeply on his pipe, the scent of cherry tobacco filling the parlor. “I have to admit that was a test of endurance.”

With a sigh, Ragan started for the kitchen where breakfast dishes awaited her. She’d been the judge’s housekeeper for three years, and she loved Procky like her father, but why she’d ever let him talk her into writing a book on Rehabilitation for the Unlovable failed her. The past two years they’d taken in one after another criminal—both old and young, men who had shown the propensity for change in hopes of gaining the inner workings of the troubled mind. Sixteen year old Max Rutherford returned to jail this morning after a brief but angst-filled stay. Good riddance. None of their subjects has lasted more than a few months and she didn’t know why the judge insisted that they complete the book.

Judge patted his knee and the cat bound into his lap. “Things should settle down for awhile.”

“For a good long while, I’d hope.” Ragan was still complaining when she entered the kitchen. “You promised, Procky. No more 'subjects' for a while.” Her patience was stretched thin by hoodlums, miscreants, and the just plain mean. “You have to make it clear to Judge Roberts that we can’t handle one more hoodlum for the time being.”

Sounds interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.loricopeland.com, Facebook, Twitter.

Lori, thank you for spending this time with us.

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

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

THE SWISS COURIER - Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey - Free book

I've really been interested in this book since I first heard about it. How did The Swiss Courier come about?
Mike: Five or six years ago, Tricia and I met online through the Writer’s View, a place where Christian writers, editors, and agents can gather online to bat around ideas and what’s happening out there. I had just finished writing my first novel, By the Sword, which is a Mideast thriller set in modern times about how Islamic elements in Iran want to take Islam back to its roots, which is conversion by the sword.

I was getting rejection after rejection for By the Sword, and Tricia helped point out why. I wrote and rewrote, and I eventually got By the Sword sold and published with Broadman and Holman in 2006. After that experience, Tricia and I started kicking around some ideas about a World War II novel, which was up my alley since I’ve always thought of myself as a Second World War buff.

Tricia: I think our conversation really took off when I met Mike and his lovely wife, Nicole, at a large book convention. Once we started talking about World War II, it was clear we both loved this time in history. I was also excited because Nicole is Swiss. (Her accent is lovely!) I can't think of many novels that have been written about WWII from a Swiss character. The ideas flowed from there!

Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique.

Tricia: Our publisher actually shot this cover for us with a real model. It took our breath away because the model looked exactly like we picture Gabi. I also loved that they really followed our direction about the tone we wanted to see and even the style of clothes she would have worn.

Mike: I think it’s an arresting image, and it inspired us to do a “book trailer” for The Swiss Courier that is like a Hollywood movie trailer. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cNPrAArNaQ

Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book.

Mike: Much about The Swiss Courier is true, which begins with a faithful recounting of the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler’s life on July 20, 1944. At that time, Werner Heisenberg, a German winner of the Nobel Prize, was leading the efforts to build the world’s first atomic bomb. American and British pilots were landing their damaged planes in Dübendorf, Switzerland, rather than ditching in Germany, where they stood a good chance of being shot on sight. More than 300 Allied pilots were interned “for the duration” of the war in the Swiss Alpine villages of Davos and Adelboden. Allen Dulles established the OSS—the forerunner of the CIA—in the capital of Switzerland, Bern, in 1943, to start running a spy network. Switzerland did close its borders to Jews and other refugees because “the boat is full.” Switzerland did allow German trains to pass through Switzerland while going back and forth from Germany to Italy.

During research, I read the definitive biography of Werner Heisenberg—Heisenberg’s War: The Secret History of the German Atomic Bomb by Thomas Powers. A couple of books about American and British pilots interned in Switzerland during the war (Shot from the Sky and Refuge from the Reich) were especially helpful. World War II novels dealing with the Switzerland and the OSS were beneficial, such as The Swiss Account by popular novelist Paul Erdman. Once you have this information in your head, you create these characters and let things play out as you envision everything happening. By the end of the novel, I really believed that Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler lived!

Tricia: To balance that, I usually read a lot of “true” stories. I've written about spies in my Chronicle of the Spanish Civil War series, and I devoured as many “autobiographical” accounts as I could. I'm thankful Mike focused on the technical details so I could play with motivations, fears, and inward battles that these people faced. The people, of course, our fictional, but what they faced—externally and internally—is true!

Mike: Joseph Engel, like Gabi Mueller, Eric Hofstadler, and the others, were figments of our imaginations. But they could have existed, and that is where the fun comes in.

Tricia: We think they're real . . . in our minds they are!

How much research did you have to do for this book?
Mike: My “research” started years before I ever knew I'd need it. My interest in Switzerland stems from being married to a Swiss native, Nicole, for 30 years, and our more than two dozen trips to her home country. Back in the early 1980s, before our two children arrived, we lived one year in Geneva and six months in Zurich so that I could experience Swiss culture. I did a variety of things, from working in a sporting goods shop to teaching tennis at a large indoor club. During that time, I read several books about Switzerland’s role during World War II.

Tricia: I was thrilled when I discovered when Mike already knew so much about the time period we were writing. I filled in bits and pieces here and there, but I can say that between the both of us, hundreds of hours were spent “getting it right.”

What are some of the most interesting things you found about this time period that you weren’t able to use in the story?

Tricia: I would have loved to dig more into the Confessing Church and some of their important leaders who were sent to concentration camps. Some survived, all did not.

A select few of the Confessing Church risked their lives to help Jews hiding illegally in Berlin during the war. A hat would be passed around at the end of secret meetings into which the congregation would donate identity cards and passbooks. Maybe I'll write about this some day!

What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book?
Tricia: Through research, we learned that the Germans, under Werner Heisenberg, were working on nuclear fission and developing the world’s first atomic weapon. I was surprised the Nazi's were so close! It made me thankful that that didn't happen. I was always inspired by all the brave men and women—many of which may never be acknowledged for their work.

What do you hope the reader takes away from the story?

Tricia: I hope they are swept away in a story with characters they fall along with—and in that story get a glimpse of God at work in lives.

Mike: An appreciation for what those who stood up against the Nazi regime. Living in a police state where all it took was for a jealous neighbor to denounce you to the Gestapo, and you were in for a heap of hurt—and probably a painful death.

What is the next project you’re working on?
Tricia: I’m currently working more historical novels: Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana (which I’m co-writing with Ocieanna Fleiss) and Songbird Under a German Sky (another WWII novel). Also Remembering You (a contemporary/WWII novel).

Mike: I’m laying fallow for the moment, but Tricia and I have been kicking around a sequel to The Swiss Courier. It has to do with the Mona Lisa painting during the liberation of Paris in August 1944.

Tricia, sometime I'll tell you about my aunt who was an army nurse in Germany when all this was going on. She has some interesting stories and pictures. What do you do when you have to get away from the story for a while?
Tricia: I take a bath or a nap!

Mike: And I go play three sets of doubles with my tennis buddies.

Thank you, Tricia and Mike, for spending this time with us. 

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