Monday, November 23, 2009

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.

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.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

39 comments:

Merry said...

Great interview. I would love a chance to be in the drawing for Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana. Thanks!

Michelle V said...

I would love this book! Please enter me.

Blessings
Michelle V

collettakay said...

Please enter my name in the drawing.

pepsi324[at]yahoo[dot]com

Veronica Leigh said...

Please enter me into the drawing too.
VeronicaLeigh86[at]gmail[dot]com.
Thank you and God Bless.

Cherie J said...

Wonderful interview! Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Great interview. Please enter me. I enjoy Tricia Goyer books.Thanks
tarenn98[at]yahoo[dot]com

Renee (BlacknGoldGirlsBookSpot) said...

Oh I love these books!

*Wink* I wouldn't have minded if you published another WWII book in the same year Tricia, I love The Swiss Courier!

That being said I'm really glad you ladies got this one published because mail order bride stories are my FAVORITE!!!!!!!

I'd love to win this!!!

xoxo~ Renee

Lori (sugarandgrits) said...

YAY! Another mail-order bride story! I love them...they're right up there with Christmas stories. LOL

So far, I've only read a couple of the LFY books, but they've been really good. I'm excited to read LFY in Lonesome Prairie, Montana!

Thank you for a great interview, ladies. It's always nice to find out more about the author(s). :)

sugarandgrits{at}hotmail{dot}com

Casey said...

I would love to read this book. I have read another "love finds you" and really enjoyed it. Please enter me!

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your wonderful draw. Thanks. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Michelle said...

I'd love to win this book! Thanks for entering me!

Blessings,
Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Hope said...

I'd really like to read this book, it sounds like a good one!
onepilgrim86(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Wow, this book sounds great! Please enter me. Thanks!
jackie.smith(at)dishmail(dot)net

Sheila Deeth said...

Wow! What a wonderful way to know you're meant to get published!

Giveaway Lady said...

Would love to win!! Please enter me. Thanks!!
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Katherine said...

This book looks very good. Please enter me.

kefarley89(@)gmail(.)com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would love to read this book!
Please enter me!!
dancealert at aol dot com

Ausjenny said...

dont enter me I just have to say I loved this book. thanks for hte interview

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

apple blossom said...

Nice interview. Thanks for the chance to win this book. I love these books.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

Nice interview. Thanks for the chance to win this book. I love these books.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Sherry Kuhn said...

Enjoyed the interviews. I am collecting the Love Finds You Series and would love to be entered in the drawing.

Thanks,
Sherry
love2stitch(at)hotmail(dot)com

Tina Dee Books said...

Sounds like a great book!

Please enter me

Tina[at]TinaDeeBooks[dot]com

Wendy said...

I love Tricia's books.

Linda said...

I enjoy 'The Love Finds You...' as they are historical. Please add me to your contest. Thank you.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

A wonderful interview...please enter me..thanks.

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

cheryl c said...

I have read several of the Love Finds You books, and all have been wonderful stories. This one sounds like an especially fun story because the heroine unwittingly becomes a mail-order bride. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

castings at mindspring dot com

Carole said...

I've read great things about the LFY series and would love to start with Lonesome Prairie, Montana. Thank you for an interesting interview and chance to win a copy.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Amber Holcomb said...

I would really appreciate a chance to win this book--it sounds good! Love the cover! Thanks so much!

Tricia Goyer said...

Thank you SO much everyone!!! If you don't win you can check out Walmart while you're doing your Christmas shopping... then you can wrap it up for YOU!! :)

Edna said...

Another great book for me to want to read, please enter me into the drawing.


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Would love to read this book.

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would love to read this book!!
dancealert at aol dot com

Unknown said...

Very pretty pictures lady and outstanding interview! I love the "Love Finds You" books and am trying to collect them all. There are so many! Please enter me in the contest, I would love to win a copy.

Val Pearson
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

Rose McCauley said...

Ocieanna (what a pretty name!) is a new author for me, but I love Tricia Goyer books so please enter me in the drawing. thanks!

Sylvia M. said...

Oh, I'd like to be entered into this contest! I love good mail-order bride stories.

Samitude[at]hotmail[dot]com

Megan said...

I love this series, and this sounds like a great book! Please sign me up, and thanks for the interview, Lena!

Meg

Nancye said...

I would love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Marla said...

As I live in Montana, I love reading books with the setting in Montana. Would love to win this. Thank you for the giveaway.

koinonia572001@yahoo.com