OUT WITH THE IN CROWD - Stephanie Morrill - Free Book

Welcome to my blog, Stephanie. What has drawn you to writing for the YA market?


When I first started writing YA, I was 16 and didn’t realize that’s what I was doing. I kept thinking I’d “grow out of” writing stories about high school, but even after I graduated, started a career, got married, and had a baby, the majority of my story ideas were still about teenagers. I think there’s a lot of potential in those four years of high school—both for good and bad.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

The quirkiest? I’m sure it’s not the quirkiest thing I’ve ever done, but what comes to mind is last week when I reorganized the empty hangers in my daughter’s closet by color. When she was 6 months old, she had tons of dresses and needed lots of hangers. She outgrew them all long ago, so now there’s about twenty empty white, green, and pink hangers in her closet. She was busy playing, and I happened to look in there and saw them all scattered across the rod. Suddenly the disorganization of it drove me crazy and I just had to fix them. Even as I grouped them by color and pushed them neatly to one end of the rod, I knew it was a little nuts. My husband thinks it’s quirky that everything in our kitchen is labeled, but I say that’s just good sense! :-)

Sounds sensible to me. I like to hang garments on the same color hanger--blue on blue, green on green, etc. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

First grade. I grew up in a really poor district in the valley of California. They didn’t have money for much, but one thing they did do was “publish” books we wrote. In first grade, we’d spend time every day writing, and when we’d finish a book, we got to take it down to this special little room where we could pick out a cover and spiral binding. They’d print our book, laminate the cover, and then give it back to us to illustrate. When we were completely done, our teacher had us read our story out loud to the class. I loved every single second of that process and knew from then on I wanted to be a writer.

After my first book came out, I went to family night open house at school for my grandson, who was in teh first grade. He had made a book. He knew about me being an author. He brought me his book and told me, "I am the author and the illustrator for this book." I loved it. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I’ve never been the type who only read romances, or only read sci-fi. If the writing is good, I’ll enjoy it. I love reading YA, as you’d guess. I think historical are great fun because I enjoy learning about different time periods. And does anything beat a really great mystery?

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

There are three books in my series, The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt. All three books are told from Skylar’s point of view and they span her senior year. The first one, Me, Just Different, released in July. The second one, Out with the In Crowd, releases January 1st. The third one comes out in July and is called So Over It.

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

Um, I don’t. Just kidding. I have a tendency to run, run, run along with it, but I can only do that for so long before I have a complete breakdown. I got into real trouble around the time I had my baby girl because that’s also when I signed the deal for Skylar’s series. I knew God called me to be a wife, mother, and writer, so the things I didn’t feel him specifically calling me to had to go. It was hard because they were things I loved—especially leading a book club at my church. What’s helped me is reminding myself that this is a season of my life. I won’t always have little kids to raise, so I need to focus on enjoying that. There will be plenty of time in the coming years to lead book clubs and have weekly lunches with friends.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?

This probably sounds way obvious—that my first book is the accomplishment I’m most proud of—but God working in my life has never seemed more obvious. I didn’t research the market until after I’d finished writing and polishing my manuscript. Then I discovered publishers viewed Christian YA as a big risk. But still I felt I needed to keep trying to find an agent, to find a publisher. I went to a conference where a very nice, very reputable Christian agent actually laughed when I told him what genre I wrote for. The market had kinda picked up by the time I found my agent, Kelly Mortimer, but even she had some serious doubts that we’d ever sell this book. She told me at least a thousand times that she loved it to pieces, but that I had no platform, no experience, and basically nothing at all to recommend myself to publishers. Barely two months later, the book ended up going to committee at two houses, and Revell not only wanted one book, they wanted three. When I see Me, Just Different, I always get a little thrill because I know God did it.

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

A beaver. They seem very organized.

What is your favorite food?

Sheridan’s ice cream. Caramel pretzel crunch, but made with chocolate custard instead. It’s just not the same in vanilla.

Sounds good, but I don't think we have Sheridan's here in Texas. Is it hard to break into the YA market?

I think it’s hard to break into any market. YA has its own unique challenges because you’re writing for teenagers, but first you have to sell your manuscript to an adult editor.

What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?

I think first and foremost is to be authentic in your writing. Teenagers appreciate stuff that’s “real.” Read lots of general market and Christian young adult books. Watch movies and shows teenagers like. Talk to teenagers when you can. A big mistake I see writers making is writing like they think teenagers talk. Really, teenagers mostly talk like adults. You don’t have to use a lot of language like, “Yo, man, that’s shizzle,” to write a book teenagers can relate to.

Once you’ve crafted a genuine, authentic book, it’s important to find an agent who’s onboard with your unique vision. I personally think conferences are the way to go, although I first met Kelly through the American Christian Fiction Writers e-loop. But when I made the connection with her that “counted” it was at the ACFW conference.

There’s no fast-track for breaking in, unfortunately. I know I’m young, but I actively pursued publication for eight years before I landed an agent.

I write adult Christian fiction, and my first sale took me eight years. What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

Out with the In Crowd is book two in the Skylar series. Skylar Hoyt may have vowed to change her partying ways, but it’s not so easy to change her friends. She’s trying hard to live a new life, but her old one is constantly staring her in the face. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can’t win. After all, how do you choose favorites among the people you love most?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.stephaniemorrillbooks.com/ . Come on by and drop me a note!

Thank you, Stephanie for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of the book. By using this link when you order, you're 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.

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/

RAISING RAIN - Debbie Fuller Thomas - Free Book

Debbie, this book looks intriguing. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Some characters have more than others. As writers, we all draw from our experiences, but I honestly think it’s more interesting to make up new experiences for my characters rather than to rely on my own.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Wow, this is a tough one. I guess it would be playing a corpse clawing my way out of a grave at a Young Life haunted house when I was in college. It began to rain and my ghoul makeup ran, and I don’t think even my own mother could have identified me by the end of the night.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I got my first inkling when a high school English teacher liked my short story and wanted me to submit it to the school paper. I didn’t really try to write until many years later when a neighbor asked if I’d ever thought about writing, and I wrote and sold a personal experience story.

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

Right now I’m reading upmarket fiction, which is a blend of literary and genre fiction, but some of my favorite books are science fiction/fantasy and the classics.

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

My first published book was Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, which came out in June 2008 with Moody and is a 2009 Christy Award finalist. It is the story of a mother who discovers that the child she lost to a terminal illness was actually switched at birth. The first book that I wrote was a Gold Rush romance written during nap times at my home day care. It was sweet escape with characters I loved, and it taught me I could complete a 55k-word novel. My second published book, Raising Rain, is the featured book.

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

I like to get up early before the craziness begins and sit on my deck with my Bible and watch the hummingbirds and finches. Birdsong is so soothing! It means that the world is still turning like it always has and sort of puts things in perspective.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I try to use names that suggest something about the character. In Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, I used the surname ‘Winslow’ for the mother who was trying to win over her switched-at-birth daughter and ‘Lockhart’ for her daughter who was slow to open up. Sometimes the sound of a name can communicate things about the character. In Raising Rain, I used the short, clipped ‘Jude’ with harsher consonants for the hard mother and ‘Rain’ for the daughter who had a more melancholy quality.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My children are my greatest accomplishment. They are both fine, upstanding young adults and we have a great relationship with them both. We had to wait ten years and endure three miscarriages before we had them, so we feel very grateful.

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

I would be a cat, by all means. What a life! They look at me with pity each time I leave for work. All their needs are met, and they never have to worry about finding clothes that fit. I would sleep the day away in a mossy garden in a heartbeat.

What is your favorite food?

Maryland crab cakes. I use my mother’s recipe, but I can’t get blue crabs out in California. I substitute whatever crab I can find, as long as it’s real.

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

My greatest challenge is finding time to write and tapping into my creativity when I do find it. My day job is managing children’s programs in our community and it’s incredibly demanding and stressful at certain times of the year. It is hard to ‘carry’ a book in my head when it’s crammed full of problems to solve, and it’s difficult to shut off those problems when I get home at night. I find that the best time to write is in the morning before those problems stir, and also to get away to a different setting for extended writing time. I found a convent/retreat center in my town where I can rent a room cheaply for a few nights with no TVs and minimal interruptions. It helps me to get a jumpstart on a new writing project.

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

I would suggest to go to as many writing conferences and to read as many ‘how-to’ writing books as possible. Also, meet regularly with other writers for encouragement, and not necessarily for critique. That can come later.

Tell us about the featured book?

The back copy says it best:

Raised to be a "new woman" by her mother and three college roommates in the 70s amid anti-war protests, feminist rallies, and finals, Rain Rasmussen discovers that putting her career first has left her overdrawn at the egg-bank, and her baby fever has now driven off her significant other. When her terminally ill mother demands a Celebration of Life before she dies, they all confront ghosts from the past on a stormy weekend in Monterey. Bebe, the roommate closest to Rain's heart, revisits choices that have impacted Rain the most, raising doubts about God's - and her own - willingness to forgive and to be forgiven.

Please give us the first page of the book.

When Bebe heard that Jude Rasmussen didn’t have long to live, she felt a curious mixture of sadness, guilt and relief. Not exactly normal feelings for a friend of 38 years, though you couldn’t exactly describe their relationship as ‘normal’—more like a thinly veiled hostage situation.

“Her cancer is back,” Rain said, gently swirling her coffee. “She didn’t want sympathy, so she kept it to herself. I haven’t connected with mom in awhile, so it wasn’t hard to keep it a secret. William finally made her tell me.”

Bebe put her hand on Rain’s arm. “I’m sorry, honey. I guess the hysterectomy didn’t help much. What can we do?”

Rain glanced up at the line of people snaking around their small table and leaned in toward Bebe. “Well, actually, she had her reasons for giving in to William and agreeing to tell me. I’m here on a mission.” She winced.

Bebe leaned in as well. “Go ahead. Out with it.”

A very nice hook to the end of that page. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.debbiefullerthomas.com/ . I also blog with five fabulous authors at http://www.novelmatters.blogspot.com/ . We would love to hear from writers and readers.

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link when you order, you're 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.

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/

I'M SO SURE - Jenny B. Jones - Free Book

My 14-year-old granddaughter just loves to read Jenny B. Jones books. Welcome, Jenny. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think there’s a little bit of me in all my main characters. They are usually very independent, light-hearted, a tad bit snarky, and don’t believe in wallowing in pitiful moments. I think my goal right now is to write some characters who are definitely not like me.

That's what stretches us, putting ourselves into someone else's skin. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Become a teacher and show up to work every day.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I started writing in the first grade. Took it very seriously. I’m still trying to shop that manuscript if anyone is interested. I didn’t actually get proactive about publication though until 2005 when I learned about ACFW and went to my first writer’s conference. Changed my life. Six months later I had my first contract for my Katie Parker series, and it’s been nonstop ever since.

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

Great question. Honestly I don’t have a wide range. Due to time, I am limited on my reading, so I read a lot of YA, out of interest, out of a desire to stay connected to what my students are reading, and finally due to a need to stay up on the YA market. And I read lots of romance. I love chick lit. Anything light, fluffy, and funny. A few times a year I push myself and go beyond those two categories. This year I read The Help and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I can’t praise those two books enough. You have to read them. Amazing. I see a movie in the future for both novels. And I also always have a nonfiction book going—usually something of a spiritual nature. I bought myself a Mac for Dummies book to read a few months ago, but that computer lingo stressed me out and made forget everything I had learned in my spiritual books, so I had to put that one down. What about you?

I have eclectic tastes in reading. I like for most books I read to have a romantic element, too. I love historical and contemporary. Romance, suspense, even sci-fi and fantasy. I've read Christian vampire, too. However, I don't like horror. And for me to like a war story, it has to be about the characters, not as much about the fighting. I'm reading a book that will release in March by one of the people I mentored--Ronie Kendig. Dead Reckoning. I love it. I also sometimes read YA. And for nonfiction, I like the books by Sarah Young. I've used Jesus Calling this year. For 2010, I'm going to use Dear Jesus. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

When I was in the fourth grade I wrote the stunning mystery I’m Gonna Kill You Dead. My talent for titles came at such a young age.

I’ve written two YA series: A Katie Parker Production and A Charmed Life, my current series with Thomas Nelson, which includes the book I’m So Sure. My first romantic comedy for the big girls came out this past winter, Just Between You and Me.

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

Lots of sugar. Lots of tea. Lots of friends and family. And I’m learning the gift of just saying no.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Names are so important to me. I try to pick names that are current and match the character’s personality. Then I just live with the names a bit. I’ve gotten to the end of books and gone back and changed names of main characters. They have to be just right.

One of the characters in the book I just finished this month had me change his name at the very end. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Some time ago my brother and I had the privilege of taking care of our ailing grandmother for a few years. I think it’s the most important thing I’ve ever done. Beyond that, it might be finally mastering the nose kazoo. (it’s harder than it looks…)

James and I took care of his father with senility near the end of his life. Nothing is more important than honoring your elders with care. I salute you. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Probably a dog of some sort. I go to a nearby running trail a few times a week, and next to it is a Bark Park. I could watch those dogs for hours. Is there any animal that is more in the moment? When they go chasing a ball they are all about that moment and activity. They love and play with everything they’ve got. I just love to see that.

What is your favorite food?

Probably anything Ben and Jerry’s makes. And cereal. Oh my gosh, do I love cereal. And Mexican food. I live for queso and fajitas.

You'd like the DFW Ready Writers local chapter of ACFW. We meet in a really good Mexican restaurant. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I really struggle with writer’s block for every single book. I think the best thing I can do is just step away from it and purposely not think about writing. The plot of Just Between You and Me FINALLY came to me as I was watching a movie. Some critical plot pieces for the book I’m working on right now came to me when I was in a dark theater watching the Michael Jackson documentary. It’s like we can try so hard our brains shut down. Sometimes the brain just needs a little rest to do what it needs to do.

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

Pray. A lot. And go to writer’s conferences. If you’re really interested in publication, you have to get proactive. Read the recommended books, find a critique group, and get your work out there (when it’s ready) via conferences. And write the book that’s on your heart and you feel led to write. Let God open those locked doors when the time is right.

Yes. That last bit is so important. God will know when it's the time He planned for you. Tell us about the featured book?

Things were going fine for Bella in Truman, Oklahoma. Sure, she misses Manhattan, designer clothing, and her dad. But she was finally making new friends at Truman High and getting some good stories on the school newspaper. Then her stepdad, a semi-pro wrestler, signs the entire family up for a reality TV show. And now Bella’s quiet life is splashed across weekly tabloids and entertainment TV.

As if having a camera crew following her around isn’t bad enough, Bella soon discovers a conspiracy against the Truman High prom queen candidates. And the closer she gets to the answer, the more danger she finds herself in.

As her relationship with cute and frustrating editor Luke teeters between friendship and something much more, Bella’s ex-boyfriend reappears and vies for Bella’s attention. Is he truly reformed? Suddenly nothing is quite what it seems. Could denying allegations of love triangle, working to solve the prom queen mystery, and trying to keep her cool while working a shift at the maxi-pad plant get our Bella Kirkwood down? I’m so sure!

Please give us the first page of the book.

Readers can read the first chapter HERE. http://www.jennybjones.com/books

How can readers find you on the Internet?

We have a lot of fun over at my blog at http://www.jennybjones.com/ . I’m also on Facebook and Twitter on a minute-by-minute basis.

Thanks for letting me stop by, Lena!

And I loved having you, Jenny. I'd love to feature you anytime.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link when you order, you're 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.

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/

SEASIDE LETTERS - Denise Hunter - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Denise Hunter back to my blog. So, Denise, why do you write the kind of books you do?


I write romantic fiction, and I guess that means I'm a romantic at heart. I always tell new writers to write in the genre they prefer to read and for me, that's a good love story.

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

That would have to be a three-way tie between the births of my sons. There's nothing like holding that new life in your hands and knowing it's a blessing straight from God.

I know. I wondered how He knew He could trust me with their lives. How has being published changed your life?

Before I discovered writing, I lacked direction and passion in my life. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, never mind that I was twenty-something. Being published ten years ago (Barbour Publishing) was validation for me that I was headed the right direction. As the contracts for new books kept trickling in, I began to realize God was totally in charge of this writing thing, and he wanted me to make a career of it. Along the way, I've learned to depend on Him for my stories, for my daily writing, and for the next contract. I've learned to balance home, and kids, and writing--well, I should say I'm learning this one. I feel so blessed to do the thing I love, with a wonderful team (Thomas Nelson), for special people--my readers.

What are you reading right now?

The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne and Believing God by Beth Moore.

What is your current work in progress?

I'm working on love story set on a Montana ranch which will likely be the first of a 3-book series.

Sounds wonderful. What would be your dream vacation?

I love to travel! The past several years we've taken family trips all over the United States. I think I'd like to do a European cruise. I've always wanted to see New Zealand and Australia too, so it's a toss-up.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I always try and determine where my readers might like to spend a few hours, because that's essentially what they're doing when they read a novel. Once I have the setting down, I begin to think about what kind of characters might live there and what kinds of problems they might have. I always go to the place where the novel is set. I went to Nantucket to research my Nantucket series and fell in love with the island. I've been there in my imagination for three years. Ahhhhh . . . .

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

It always surprises people, but I play the drums for my church's worship team. I taught myself to play 6 years ago and have been happily banging away ever since. I also enjoy baking sweets, mainly because I like to eat the finished product.

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

Fear is my biggest obstacle. Creative jobs are so much different than non-creative jobs. You have to do it, yet it's brand new each day, and you have to pull every bit of it from some mysterious place in your brain. The fear is: what if it doesn't happen today (or tomorrow and every day after that???) You'd think that fear would go away after a dozen or so books, but no, there it is again.

I recognize that feeling. I've shared it, too. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

1. Read a lot of books on writing. You can learn a lot from other writers. My favorites are Stein on Writing by Sol Stein and The Breakout Novel by Donald Maas.
2. Write the book you want to read.
3. Finish your story, submit it, then start your next one. You learn the craft of writing by doing it.

Tell us about the featured book?

Seaside Letters is the 3rd book in my Nantucket series--though it's a stand-alone in that there are no overlapping characters. Here's a blurb:

Sabrina Kincaid didn't intend to fall for Nantucket native Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning-a man tied to a past she deeply regrets. But she has. And she's fallen hard.

But she's kept this a secret from her handsome customer. And now Tucker wants to hire Sabrina to help locate his friend "Sweetpea"-the mysterious woman he's falling in love with online. Sabrina is not inclined to help, but if Tucker hires someone else, it could spell disaster. Because if someone else sifted through the emails and figured out the truth-then Tucker would discover that the person he's trying to find is . . . her.

Sounds intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

Sabrina Kincaid heard the jingle of the café’s glass door open and glanced at the clock above the workstation. Seven-twelve on the dot.

She grabbed the fresh pot, turned toward the tables crowding the Cobblestone Café, then headed straight to his table—might as well get it over with—table seven, a two-topper near the front.

He would be seated against the bead board wall, facing the kitchen, unfortunately. He would be wearing his blue “Cap’n Tucker’s Water Taxi” cap, a light-colored T-shirt, and a crooked grin. She would offer him coffee, he would accept, then he would spread open the Inquirer and Mirror and take thirty minutes on all twelve articles while she waited on other customers, her bony knees knocking together like bamboo wind chimes.

“Evan,” Gordon called from the kitchen. “Table twelve needs to be bussed.”

Evan’s blond ponytail flipped over his shoulder as he turned and wiped his hands on his stained brown apron. “Right, dude.”

Sabrina stopped a foot from the scarred maple table, avoiding eye contact, looking only at the fat rim of the ivory mug as he slid it toward her.

How many words had they exchanged in the year he’d been coming to the café? One hundred? Two hundred? Couldn’t be much more than that.

As always her expression was free of emotion, though a powerful hurricane brewed inside. It was a skill she’d learned early, perfected well, and if that had earned her the title of Ice Princess, so be it.

“Morning, Sabrina.” Tucker’s deep voice was raspy. And, as usual, he cleared his throat after the greeting.

Was she the first person he spoke to each morning? The thought made her hand tremble. A stream of hot coffee flowed over the cup’s rim and onto Tucker’s thumb. He jerked his hand back.

Idiot! Her first spill in months and it had to be Tucker. And with hot coffee.

I can hardly wait for my book to come, so I can read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is: http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/
I also have a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=124248046980
And a Twitter account: http://twitter.com/deniseahunter

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link when you order, 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.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

This Blog Has Received an Award

Wow, thank you so much to Casey at Writing For Christ for passing on this award. It is the first for this blog and I appreciate it! The Circle of Friends award. I have to write five things I love and then pass this award on to five other people. (If I presented you with this award, simply right click, save it as a photo and then put it on your site with the five things you love- then pass it on to five other bloggers)


Five things I love to do: (in no particular order)

1: Read!
2: Knit
3: Write
4: Travel
5: Spend time with family and friends

The five people I am going to pass this on to is:

1: Lisa Harris at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/
2: Lisa Buffalo at http://lisabuffaloe.blogspot.com/
3: Janice Thompson at http://www.janiceathompson.com/
4: Linda Kozar at http://booktrailerpark.blogspot.com/
5: The ladies at http://prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com/

Last 2009 Winners!!!

Patty Wysong is the winner of The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis.

Rosalie Patience is the winner of Powers by John Olson.

Casey is the winner of Swinging on a Star by Janice Thompson. You can read my review of this book on my Shoutlife page. I blogged it. http://www.shoutlife.com/profile_view.cfm?uid=12205

Sharon Kirk Clifton is the author of A Soldier's Devotion by Cheryl Wyatt.

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 individual interview. By using that link, you will help support this blog.

We already have an exciting lineup in 2010, including my next book Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico in May.

DOUBLE CROSS - James David Jordan - Free Book

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

If I'm going to write, I want to write about the big questions, the questions of faith. The best way to reach a wide audience is to write fun, page-turning stories. So, I try to write exciting stories with a Christian theme.

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

The day I married Sue. Nothing compares.

How has being published changed your life?

Getting a book published (now, three and counting), was the greatest accomplishment of my professional career. I've been blessed with a successful business law practice, but there is no kick like seeing my books on the shelves of Barnes & Noble.

I know that feeling. What are you reading right now?

Angel Time, by Anne Rice, and Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow.

What is your current work in progress?

A techno thriller, the third in my Taylor Pasbury series. Taylor finds herself in the dangerous gray area between science and faith as she protects a client who has a special gift that some foreign corporations would like to get their hands on.

What would be your dream vacation?

Anyplace with Sue and the kids, some trees, and some quiet time away from my law practice.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I like to write about Dallas, Chicago and St. Louis, because those are the places I know best. No sense re-inventing the wheel.

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

I assume family is excluded. I wish you had asked me this a couple of years ago, when Milton Friedman was alive. I would say Dick Cheney. Fascinating guy who's really been through the wringer.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love sports. I played baseball, basketball and football growing up. Now, I just exercise and watch sports. Baseball is my favorite. I think I qualify as a baseball nut.

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

Definitely, finding time to write is my biggest challenge. I'm a full time business litigator, and it doesn't leave much spare time. As for the writing process itself, I hate writing the first draft. After that, it's all fun. If I could ever find a ghost writer to write my first drafts, I'd have it made.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Get some instruction. Learn the craft. I thought I knew how to write, but I didn't know what I didn't know about writing until I got some help from a creative writing instructor at Southern Methodist University.

Tell us about the featured book?

Taylor Pasbury stumbles onto a suicide that doesn't add up. Just as she's beginning to investigate, her mother, who ran out on Taylor and her dad when Taylor was nine, shows up on her doorstep. The reunion is less than Taylor had always pictured. Things are further complicated when Taylor's mom becomes part of the suicide investigation. Lots of action, and an important mother-daughter story, as well as a budding love story involving Taylor, who has a less than stellar record in picking men.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.jamesdavidjordan.com/

Thank you for spending time with us again, Jim.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link when you order, you'll 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/

A MAN OF HIS WORD - Kathleen Fuller - Free Book

The last two books we featured by Kathleen were Amish collections. Now she's back with a single title. Welcome, Kathleen Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Romances are my favorite genre to read, so naturally I want to write them! I’ve always loved history, which is why most of my novels are historical. Now that I’m writing Amish fiction I can explore contemporary issues through characters that live a lifestyle reminiscent of years gone by.

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

Four way tie—my wedding day, and the birth days of my three children.

How has being published changed your life?

I have less time to read! Being published also puts me out of my comfort zone—I don’t like to put myself “out there”, yet I do through my books. However, I’ve had the opportunity to share my faith with others, so it’s definitely worth a little discomfort. :-)

What are you reading right now?

The Blue Enchantress by Mary Lu Tyndall

I love MaryLu's books. What is your current work in progress?

A Woman of Virtue, the third book in my Hearts of Middlefield series.

What would be your dream vacation?

A Mediterranean cruise. I’ve wanted to take one for years.

I've cruised the Carribbean more than once. Doing the Mediterranean sounds wonderful. How do you choose your settings for each book?

Choosing Middlefield was easy—I live near the settlement, and I knew there weren’t any Amish books set there. Middlefield is the fourth largest Amish settlement, and I thought it was important to highlight this wonderful area.

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

Anita Renfroe. She cracks me up!

James and I would like to join you. We own several of her DVDs, which we enjoy watching. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to do crafts, but I have so little time for them. I enjoy stamping and cross stitch. I also like playing the Wii with my kids and swimming.

After I became a fulltime novelist, most of my crafts went by the wayside, too. But I still knit and crochet while James and I watch TV or DVDs. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Procrastination! Having deadlines helps with that, but I’m still a work in progress. Some ways I do try to overcome procrastinating is to give myself an earlier deadline than what my publisher gives me and I put it on the calendar. That way I have some wiggle room in case of a disaster, like a lost document or a family crisis. Disasters seem to happen around deadline time, for some reason.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Persevere. If you truly want to be a writer, you have to persevere because this can be a frustrating business. Don’t let rejection keep you from pursuing your goal. If you get rejected, learn from it and move on. Just make sure you keep writing and keep submitting. The one sure fire way to never get published is to give up.

Tell us about the featured book?

A Man of His Word is about Moriah Byler, who marries her sweetheart at the beginning of the story. What she doesn’t know is that her husband’s identical twin, Gabriel, has always loved her. When her husband leaves her for the Yankee world, she doesn’t know who to trust. Then she discovers she’s pregnant. Another unexpected tragedy occurs, and although Gabriel is there for her, she’s afraid to unguard her heart.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Moriah Byler ran her fingers across the soft fabric of the dress hanging on her closet door. Its powder-blue hue, her favorite color, resembled a clear summer sky, bringing a smile to her face. Giddiness coursed through her. In three hours she would don this new dress, and before God and her church, she would become Mrs. Levi Miller.

Closing her eyes, she pictured her handsome husband-to-be, his sandy-brown hair falling across his forehead, his chestnut-colored eyes filled with mischief when he was up to something, which was often. Was he experiencing the same excitement she felt? Since he had proposed to her a few months ago, she had dreamed about this day, the day she would marry the man she loved, the man God had set apart especially for her. Memories of his proposal flashed through her mind. He had taken her by surprise that day in the barn, first by asking him to marry her, then by boldly kissing her.

Opening her eyes, she touched her cheeks, flushing at the memory. She had always thought she’d experience her first kiss after she married. Then again, Levi had always been unpredictable. Although he’d tried to kiss her again, she had stopped him. Kissing led to other things—things that should occur after marriage, as their faith taught. She had seen the disappointment in his eyes, but he had agreed to her wishes. Since then he had also been on his best behavior.

She took one last look at the dress she and her mother had finished a week ago, then frowned. Was that a hole in the sleeve? She removed the dress from the hanger. Sure enough, a part of the shoulder seam had separated. She retrieved a needle and thread and quickly stitched it up. After knotting the thread, she snipped it close to the stitches with a small pair of scissors. There. Now it’s perfect. The dress and her wedding day would be fehlerfrei.

Moriah hung up the dress and walked to her second-story window, peering into her family’s backyard. She gave thanks for their two-acre spread, which included a large clapboard barn and storage shed, both painted in the same shade of white as the house. She spied her father and two of her younger brothers, Lukas and Stephen, bringing inside a long wood table the family had borrowed several days ago. Behind them followed Gabriel, Levi’s identical twin brother, carrying a couple of wooden chairs.

As she watched Gabriel, she recalled the close friendship the three of them had shared as children. Some of her favorite memories revolved around watching Levi and Gabriel try to outdo each other in everything. Gabriel always had the better grades and was physically stronger, as he had proved in third grade when he and Levi had taken turns to see who could lift her up. Gabe had carried her across the yard as if she weighed no more than a kitten while Levi had carried her only a few feet. But Levi soon proved he could best Gabe in games of speed and agility, and she smiled as she remembered his determination to climb trees faster and higher than anyone in their school.

She and Levi had begun courting at age sixteen, just after Frau Miller had passed away. Gabriel quickly distanced himself, as if they had never been friends at all. At first, she thought Gabe was grieving the loss of his mother, but he continued to treat her coolly, more so with each passing year. She hoped that would change once she was a part of his family. She missed his friendship.

I can hardly wait until my copy comes. It sounds interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

On my website: http://www.kathleenfuller.com/ , and at http://www.amishhearts.com/ .

Kathleen, thank you for introducing us to this book. We enjoyed this time with you.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link when you order, you are 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.

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 SISTER PACT - Cami Checketts - Free Book

Welcome, Cami, to my blog. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

My husband reads me into every heroine I write. I firmly believe that my characters are their own people. I don’t want any responsibility for the awful things they do.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Dressed up to go out on the town with a nasty pink wig and played Laser Tag with a huge gaggle of Moms. We got a lot of comments (few of them positive).

I can imagine that. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I tried to take the summer off to enjoy my boys and instead drove us all insane.

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

I’m not as adventurous as I should be. I love suspense, romance, and the classics in fiction. In nonfiction I stick to theological books, books on writing, and fitness-related topics.

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

The Fourth of July and The Broken Path are my first two published books. I don’t think you want to hear the list of books I’ve written. My first two attempts worked great for starting campfires. I currently have three books finished that I need to polish and send off to my publisher. It’s hard to let these babies go.

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

I run. Literally. I’m an exercise scientist and if I don’t get an hour or more of running or weight-lifting in, nobody is happy at my house.

My other relief is Sunday. The Sabbath is truly a day of rest for my family. We go to church and then we enjoy each other. No cooking (okay, I bake, but that’s fun), no cleaning, no writing. This wonderful break makes the rest of my crazy life possible.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

First names are fun. My characters start having conversations in my brain shortly after I have a nightmare that starts the plot. They always tell me their names.

Last names are horrible. Phonebook?

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Being a mom. Have you seen how cute my boys are?

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

A bear. Whenever we read Franklin books I find myself relating with Bear. He loves to eat! I like food far too much and I’m extremely over-protective of my children. Nobody messes with the Momma bear!

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate. Has to be high-quality though. I found my seven-year old sneaking Ghirardelli chocolate from the freezer and whispering to his friend, “You can eat my mom’s chocolate, but you can’t chew it, you have to savor it.”

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

Confidence. Believing that I’m smart enough, imaginative enough, brave enough to make it in such a tough industry. I’ll let you know if I ever overcome it.

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

Find a fabulous critique group. My critique group cheers me on and gives me insights I would never find elsewhere.

Tell us about the featured book?

Savannah Compton is devastated when her sister and best friend, Allison, falls into a coma after a tragic accident. Or was it an accident? Even with a charming and handsome detective at her side, it seems Savannah may never discover the truth. But if she doesn’t her family could be in even more danger. And Savannah’s past holds its own secrets that could change everything.

Now she must prove her innocence to the one person who is beginning to matter most. Join Savannah as she struggles to summon faith and rely on hope, even in the darkest of circumstances, and learn how the bond between sisters can overcome anything.

Please give us the first page of the book.


Wesley Richins dimmed the lights, inching to a stop across the street from his target’s two-story house. The Hummer was loud. Too loud. He cut the motor and peered out his windshield. Light radiated from the interior of the house, spilling onto the porch and yard. He couldn’t see the woman. He waited.

Minutes later he received his reward, a glimpse of her at the kitchen window. She filled a glass with water and handed it to her baby.

Wes licked his lips. His eyes devoured her: Dark hair, olive skin, sparkling brown eyes. His heartbeat increased. Three weeks. His fingers tapped a staccato on the steering wheel. Three weeks of watching and waiting. He wrapped his palm around the wheel. Tonight was the payoff.

She walked from the kitchen and moments later passed the panes of glass adorning her front door. A glance at the clock confirmed his wait was almost over—nine p.m., bedtime for her son. He rubbed his hands together. He’d give her some time to relax and then make his appearance.

How would she react? He tilted the rearview mirror and grinned at his reflection. What a dumb question. How did every woman react to him?

She’d melt.

Don't stop there. Okay, everyone, I'm sure you feel like me. You have to get your hands on that book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.camichecketts.com/
http://camicheckettsbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Sister-Pact-Cami-Checketts/dp/1599552671
http://www.cedarfort.com/kahuga/gallery.jsp

Thank you so much, Lena.
Blessings to you all,
Cami

And thank you, Cami, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link when you order, you 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/

GUARDIAN OF THE FLAME - T. L. Higley - Free Book

Welcome back, Tracy. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I’m excited to be writing novels set in ancient times, but outside traditional biblical fiction. By focusing on pagan cultures and characters, I hope to give readers a window into the ancient world through their eyes. So many of us are very knowledgeable about biblical history, and specifically the history of the nation of Israel. But we don’t always have clear connection points, tying those Old Testament stories with the rest of “World History” we learned years ago. Were the pyramids built when Joseph was in Egypt? What did the Jewish people think about Julius Caesar? How did displaced Jews worship in Greece before the time of Christ? I love having the opportunity to open up the rest of the ancient world for readers, but from a biblical worldview. And my goal with every book I write is to transport readers to that world. While they are on this journey with me, I hope to teach a little bit of history, entertain with a great suspense plot, and also provoke thought about the deeper issues addressed in the book, including what the gospel means for every person, in every time.

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

That’s a tough question! There are so many points of joy along the journey, including marriage and the births of my children, and the moments of personal success like having books published.

How has being published changed your life?

Certainly it is validation that I have some skill with the written word, which is very nice. But more than anything, I would say it’s given me an even greater drive and desire to improve, to find creative and effective ways to share truth with people, to listen to what it is God wants to say through me. That desire grows with the readership.

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading various books on Rome and Pompeii as research, The Apostle by Sholem Asch, and Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m taking a break from the Seven Wonders Novels to write a few Lost Cities Novels. A novel set in the lost city of Petra will be out in September, and I’m currently writing one set in Pompeii, which was buried by a volcano in 79 AD. There is so much drama built into that setting, the research has been fun!

What would be your dream vacation?

My dream vacation would combine research/learning with leisure, and I’ve actually already taken several of these while researching my books. I’ve traveled to Greece, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Jordan and Italy in the past few years, digging up research and having a great time.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

It’s actually the settings that fascinate me most, and are the place where I begin. I’m working my way through the ancient world, exploring each culture in turn, and the settings are choosing me!

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

Maybe Zahi Hawass, the Secretary General for the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt. I am fascinated with ancient Egypt especially, and this man is so knowledgeable, colorful, and interesting that I think an evening with him would be very cool!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Besides writing, I also run an internet retail company, selling craft and hobby supplies online. I enjoy working on the marketing, promotion, and analysis of the company, finding ways to improve. This year I’ve also taken up cycling, though it’s gotten too cold here to keep riding, so that’s on hold until spring.

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

I think the toughest part most days is getting started. There are so many things, good things, to distract or suck up the time. And because writing is hard, I tend to stall, trying to avoid the effort that it takes. Some days I don’t overcome this obstacle! But mostly, it’s the deadlines that drive me to “just do it.”

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Learn, learn, learn! There are a multitude of opportunities out there, from books to conferences to other writers, that can help you learn about the craft of writing. You may have been born with talent, but you have to learn how to use it well. Work hard at learning, put the knowledge into practice by writing, and you will make progress.

Tell us about the featured book.

Guardian of the Flame is the third of the Seven Wonders Novels, although each of them is a standalone book and they can be read in any order. This book features the Lighthouse of Alexandria as the “wonder.” The story focuses on Sophia, the reclusive keeper of the lighthouse, and Bellus, the Roman soldier instructed to overtake it. Also making appearances are Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, whose infamous relationship in Alexandria, Egypt, forms a backdrop for the story.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please visit me at http://www.tlhigley.com/ ! I’ve filled this site chock-full with my travel journals to the locations of my books, plus videos and photos, lots of information on what’s fact and fiction in my books, and much more. My website also has links to my Facebook Page. I hope you’ll visit!

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. When you use this link when you order, 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/

More Winners!!!!

Deborah M is the winner of Christmas Peril by Margaret Daley.

Patti Lacy is the winner of Seeing Things by Patti Hill.

Michelle is the winner of The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh.

Nancye is the winner of A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley.

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 individual interview. It will help support this blog.

A SOLDIER'S DEVOTION - Cheryl Wyatt - Free Book

So excited about your newest release, Cheryl. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Reader letters actually. I had hoped to get to write a story for each man on the fictional Refuge Pararescue team. Many readers requested Vince's story, and it was so fun to write. I got the idea from hearing about how many car wrecks are caused by texting or otherwise driving under the influence of distraction. I knew Vince's background from previous books and that his brother had died in a prison riot after being wrongly convicted. So naturally Vince has an aversion to anyone involved in the legal or justice system. We also know he has had a resistance to Christians. Ironically he becomes one in the book-my only conversion story so far.

I thought it would make for interesting conflict to make the heroine be both a Christian and a prosecuting attorney. LOL!


If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Can't pick 6! 7's my favorite number. LOL. Camy Tang, Danica Favorite-McDonald, Robin Miller aka Robin Carrol, Tosca Lee, Cynthia Hawkins, Karen Ball, Margaret Daley.

I'd also try to smuggle in as many Seekervillains as possible http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/

Because the laughter would be a never-ending riot, and we could pick Karen's brain for story ideas. She's phenomenally funny and talented.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

OOOOH! I can't pick six. How about 7? Robin Miller/Carrol (JUST KIDDING, ROBIN! LOL), Pam Hillman, Mary Connealy, Janet Dean, Julie Lessman, Cara Putman, Cathy Hake who could smuggle Kim Vogel Sawyer into her suitcase (is that cheating?), Lena!

Because I LOVE them and their books.

Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Wow. Trying to make each book better than the last. Trying to come up with conflict that I haven't used before. Thinking of reasons the hero and heroine would be resistant to the relationship and not repeating themes from previous books.

Tell us about the featured book?

A Soldier's Devotion was an absolute joy to write. I loved wreaking havoc on the hero who has wreaked havoc on all his teammates up until now. Here's the back cover blurb:

U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Vince Reardon was headed to a lifesaving mission-until pretty lawyer Valentina Russo crashed into him, sidelining him for two weeks. Ever since his brother was wrongly convicted, Vince has little respect for lawyers, but Valentina soon earns his respect.and his heart.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

By visiting my Web site http://www.cherylwyatt.com/
Or my blog http://www.scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/

Other blogs I participate in:

http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://www.loveinspiredauthors.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/
I'm also on Twitter, Facebook and all other social network site.

Thanks Lena! Hugs

Cheryl

I really enjoyed this time together, Cheryl. We must do it again.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. When you use this link, you 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/

SWINGING ON A STAR - Janice Thompson - Free Book

I featured Janice with the first book in this series Fools Rush In, and I just finished reading it. There'll be a review in my January newsletter: http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com . Welcome, Janice. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Swinging on a Star is the second installment in the Weddings by Bella series. I knew (based on the first book) that Bella would need to coordinate many different types of themed weddings. And, as one who’s coordinated themed weddings, I knew they would have to be unique. Several years ago, my good friends Phil and Leslie got married in a medieval ceremony. My daughters were bridesmaids. I’ve never forgotten that special day. I devoted the book to Phil and Leslie in honor of their themed event, since it triggered my story for Bella. Besides, Leslie is a member of my “tribe” (twelve special readers who help me spread the word about my books) and reads every novel I write as soon as it’s released!

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Only six, huh? Well, instead of going with my usual answer, I think I’ll look for six people I’ve never met before (or only met briefly). First, I’d invite Linda Nichols. Her book, At the Scent of Water simply took my breath away. I want to know how she kept such a beautiful secret until the very end of the book. Then I’d want to tell her how much I cried once that secret was revealed. Next, I’d invite Frank Peretti. His first few books really inspired me to write my suspense/thriller, Duty to Die. Third, I’d invite Robert Elmer. Some of his earlier books really touched me. I love his writing style. Fourth, I’d invite Robin Jones Gunn. (We’ve met briefly at conferences.) I’d love to sit with her and tell her how much those first few “Sister Chicks” books meant to me back in 2005 when our family was going through personal tragedy. Fifth, I’d ask Sandra Bricker. Her books are a hoot. Everyone needs to read her Love Finds You romantic comedies. Finally, I’d invite Jan Karon. (Nothing like aiming high!) Her books were among the first contemporaries I read that truly captivated me.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

First, I’d invite Calvin Miller. His Singer Trilogy is still one of my favorites. I’d chat with him about his poetic prose, then gush all over him like a groupie. Next, I’d invite Jeanette Oke. (Why not dream big, right?) I’d explain to her that her books were among the first Christian novels I read, and that they inspired me to want to write, as well. Third, I’d invite Nancy Jo Jenkins. Okay, I know. . .Nancy and I are friends. But she’s the same caliber of writer as the ones listed above, and rightfully belongs in the group. If you haven’t read her book Coldwater Revival, you simply don’t know what you’re missing. Fourth, I would invite my best friend and critique partner, Kathleen Y’Barbo, whose book The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper has been garnering rave reviews. She has earned my respect for a thousand reasons, but primarily because she’s been able to write through extreme adversity. Fifth, I’d invite Tricia Goyer. Tricia’s already a friend, but no one (repeat, no one) can write about WWII the way she can. Her stories are vivid, realistic and genuine page turners. Finally, I would invite my critique partner, Martha Rogers. She’s waited for years and years and years to be published and just signed a four-book deal with Strang. All four books are historical and they’re wonderful! Look for Becoming Lucy soon.

Actually, I was at a Christians In Theater Arts regional conference in Dallas several years ago, and I met Calvin Miller. We chatted for a while. He's very down to earth. And you've included some of my very good friends in your party. I just might have to crash it. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

The blessings far outweigh the challenges, but writing full-time can be tough, at times. For one thing, I’m constantly under deadline. My friends are family members are probably weary with hearing the line, “I’ve got to go home and write a book.” (My kids insist they’re going to put that on my tombstone: “She had to go home and write a book.”) Also, writing is solitary work. When you’re under deadline for multiple books, you spend a lot of time alone. Of course, my characters are always with me, but they rarely offer to do the dishes or let the dogs out.

And you're like me. We love being with other people. I face the same challenge. Tell us about the featured book?

BACK COVER COPY:

There's a fine line between ambitious and crazy. Bella's just not sure where it is. Bella Rossi's life is nearing perfection. Not only does she have the perfect guy, but she's also running a successful wedding-planning business and is about to plan its most ambitious wedding yet--a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There's only one hitch. The best man just happens to be Hollywood's hottest and most eligible bachelor, and he's showing an interest in Bella. Oh, and did we mention he's staying at her house to avoid the paparazzi?

With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella's not sure she's going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister and her feuding aunt and uncle, and you've got a recipe for disaster--and a lot of laughs.

"If you enjoy weddings, Italian cuisine, and stories filled with humor and romance, you're going to love Swinging on a Star."--Anita Higman, award-winning author, Love Finds You in Humble, Texas

"Swinging on a Star has more layers of love than Aunt Rosa's lasagna. A sweet romance that sizzles and simmers on every page."--Allison Pittman, author, Stealing Home

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and native Texan. An experienced wedding coordinator herself, Thompson brings alive in her books the everyday drama and humor of getting married. She is the author of Fools Rush In.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One
High Hopes

If Aunt Rosa hadn’t landed that gig on The Food Network, I probably wouldn’t have ended up on the national news. And if their pesky camera crew hadn’t shown up at our house on one of the most important days of my life, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have been hauled off to the Galveston County jail. Unlike my brother Armando, I’d never aspired to get arrested or have my face plastered across the television screen on the evening news. But, thanks to Aunt Rosa’s homemade garlic bread, I found myself facing both of these things. . .and in exactly that order.

When the call came last Tuesday from the powers that be at The Food Network, the entire Rossi family went into a tailspin. Aunt Rosa’s recipe had been chosen from among thousands to be featured in an upcoming episode titled Italian Chefs From Coast to Coast. This was a great honor, of course, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. After all, I was right in the middle of coordinating my first-ever medieval-themed wedding at Club Wed, our family’s wedding facility. I was up to my earlobes in castles and moats. Who had the time—or patience—for television crews?

My book came yesterday. When I finish reading a manuscript for an endorsement, I'm diving right in. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be found at:
http://www.janiceathompson.com/
http://weddingsbybella.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/jhannathompson?ref=name

Janice, thank you for this fun time together. I know the readers will enjoy it, too.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By ordering with this link, you 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/

POWERS - John B. Olson - Free Book

I'm really glad to have John back on the blog. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I honestly don't know. It doesn't make much sense, does it? I've been really struggling to live on my writing income for the last four years. You'd think I'd write something a little more commercial and mainstream—maybe a nice contemporary romantic thriller with normal, uncomplicated, smiley-face characters and a simple, easy-to-understand plot. I can do normal. Would it be so wrong to target my books to the largest segment of the reading population? I'd love to see my books on the best-sellers list.

So why do I keep writing dark, surreal, complex, contemporary, creepy, genre-twisting supernatural-romantic-mysterious-fantasy-thrillers? I don't know. Maybe I'm just a slow learner. Or maybe I'm writing for the readers of tomorrow instead of the readers who are out there buying books today. It's a complete mystery to me.

Actually, John, there are plenty of readers who like what you write. That’s why I’m promoting you, hoping to introduce you to more of them. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Tomorrow.

I tend by nature to be a tortured soul. My inner critic is very generous with the rest of the world, but it's extremely hard on me. I'm still working on the happiness thing. I'm getting better at it, but it's taking time.

This isn't to say that I haven't experienced more than my fair share of happy circumstances. The first night I met Amy Wylie (now Amy Olson) was an extremely happy circumstance. I wish you could have seen her. We met at a Campus Crusade meeting in Charleston, SC. She was radiant with happiness and laughter and the joy of life. Her roommate asked me out on a date for that night, and I immediately went to work turning the date into a double-date with Amy and my brother. Poor guy… We hadn't walked more than fifty feet before I was with Amy, and he was with her roommate. I was terrible, but I couldn't help it. I was blind to every sight but her face, deaf to every sound but her soft timid voice and bright laughter.

I'm normally self-conscious and inhibited on a first date, but that night I lost myself completely. I know we went to Old Towne on historic King Street for dinner and that we walked through the old Unitarian cemetery and the Battery and even a playground. Somehow we ended up on the roof of the Francis Marion hotel, and I even remember walking on the moonlit beach by the Sullivan's Island lighthouse, but the whole night is a blur. All I could feel was the pounding of my heart in my throat, the ache to reach out and touch her hand. I, with all my over-analysis and bitter self-criticism, had ceased to exist. It was like stepping out of my body and walking into a world of wonder and magic and joy. A dream filled with faerie tale happiness too intense for our mortal bodies to endure.

I love Amy a million times more now than I did on that first night we met, but time and familiarity have softened the impact her presence has to my system. I'm not blown out of my body and into faerie land as often now, which means I have to put up with myself and all my happiness-squelching neuroses while enjoying her company. It's not complete happiness yet, but it's getting closer and closer every day. I don't suppose I'll truly master it until I'm dead—which is a comforting thought when you stop and think about it.

I’m glad to hear that about you. After over 45 years with the love of my life, my heart still leaps when he walks into the room. How has being published changed your life?

Being published has allowed me to quit an extremely demanding day job as a director and principal scientist at a scientific software company. As a result I get to spend more time at home with Amy and our 16-year-old son, Peter, and 14-year-old daughter, Ari. I LOVE hanging out with my family and friends—and we do a lot of hanging out. Writing is a lonely business, and I'm an obligate people person. I need to be around people or I get depressed and kind of pathetic. On Sunday nights our friends come over to play a fantasy role-playing game we've been playing since the kids were little grasshoppers. The game has grown over the years until it now includes fourteen teenagers and ten adults. Monday nights we have our "small" group (around twenty-five people) over for dinner, Bible study and prayer, and on Friday nights I have two different writing groups over: SCUM is for around fifteen adults and Mojack Platicorn McJako is for six teenagers at the local high schools.

One of the hardest things for me is the isolation thing, too. As you know, I’m very much a people person. What are you reading right now?

I just started reading Robert Liparulo's Comes a Horseman, and I just finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins which is the sequel to The Hunger Games. I've been a huge Collins fan since her Greggor the Overlander YA series. Before Catching Fire, I read Looking for Alaska by John Green and Stargazer by Claudia Gray, and finished rereading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.

What is your current work in progress?

I'm currently working on Exiles, the third and final book in the Shade collection. I left a lot of questions unanswered in Shade and Powers. Exiles should answer them—if the readers are clever and pay very close attention.

I want to feature you with Exiles, too. What would be your dream vacation?

Living on a houseboat with my family on the River Thames in Oxford, England, with our extended family and thirty or forty of our closest friends docked close by.

Wow! You dream big. I’d like to be one of those friends when you do it. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I don't really choose a setting. It's a natural part of the story. San Francisco with its swirling mists and rolling hills and quirky homeless population is completely integral to the plot and literary style of Shade. It was part of the inspiration for the story. Likewise, the city of New Orleans and the swamps of Louisiana were so integral to Powers that I had to delay writing it when the hurricane struck. I was actually scheduled to fly into New Orleans for story research the day after the levees broke. I canceled the trip, and in my mind I canceled the book, but God had other plans. A year or so later when I finally revisited the manuscript to see if it was still salvageable, I was shocked to see what I had written several months before the hurricane struck. Here's an excerpt from what was then the first chapter:

Jazz took a deep breath, letting the smoke-laced air slide across the mic in a long rasping sigh. E minor. He switched keys, blending the Steinway’s plaintive tones to the sound of his breathing. A high-pitched buzz rang in his ears. The room was starting to spin again. He shut his eyes, pressed his chin against the microphone, a solid anchor against the rocking swaying room. The murmur of distant voices lulled him. Gulf waves crashing against a distant shore. Soft, soothing. A balmy breeze on a warm winter afternoon.


A woman’s tittering laugh shocked him back to the present. Had he quit playing? He glanced up at the manager of the club. Joey was leaning over the bar, talking to a brunette in a neon pink top. The whole building could burn down around him and Joey wouldn’t notice. But the customers…

Jazz blinked the grit out of his eyes and upped the tempo, hammering at the old ivories, left hand battling the right in a discordant duel between majors and minors. One by one the murmuring voices died away, leaving the bar frozen in expectant silence. Jazz could feel their confusion, the building sense of anticipation. He took another breath, filling his lungs with burning pain. His right hand hammered harder, faster, building to a last frenzied gasp before collapsing under the weight of the throbbing bass. C washed away by E minor. Hope swallowed up by despair.


“Washed, washed away with the waters…” Jazz’s rasping voice slurred in and out through the tumbling notes. “Many lost… many more, many maybe… many more waiting to be found.” The lyrics scraped past raw vocal chords. Two hours tops. It was all he had left. “Washed, washed away with the waters…” He flung the words into the room, letting them splash like a pounding tide against startled concrete faces.

“I remember, I remember, when I was young I remember most of the time…” Jazz pressed his face to the microphone, filling his senses with the cold taste of metal and stale beer. “The sun so shining bright on your face… in the memory of moments we stole from this place, I can see that the ages will never erase… most of the time.”


A natural blonde was on her feet. Stepping toward him now. Flushed cheeks, deer-shined eyes. The cut of her dress screamed money.


Digging deep, he channeled even more intensity into his voice. Longing, yearning, unendurable pain, he sent it reverberating through the room, surrounding her, lifting her up, pounding into her swaying slender form.

“Washed, washed away with the waters…”


Her lips parted. She was gripping her purse in both hands. White-knuckled, trembling arms.


Almost… Just a little bit more. This could be his big score, but everything had to be just right.


He pulled suddenly back on the piano, letting his voice hang on the thin desolate air.


Her eyes locked onto his. He could feel the rise and fall of her swelling chest. He had her. It was going to be a huge score. Fifty dollars at least. Maybe even a hundred. He’d gotten bigger tips from women much less well-off than this one.

Needless to say, I didn't have to do much rewriting.

Katrina happened after one of my books with part of the setting being New Orleans had already gone past final edits. So I know how you felt. We did add one line to the book, but I still got a letter from a reader who was hurt by my almost ignoring the event. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

C.S. Lewis. I know he's been a bit reclusive as of late, but he continues to have a profound influence on my life and work.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love going on long walks to discuss ideas and hopes and dreams.

I also like inventing and playing new games, programming in Java or PHP, designing new businesses, playing ultimate frisbee, coming up with plots and story ideas, watching movies and television (mainly So You Think You Can Dance), and travelling with my family (which is funny because I dislike travelling alone).

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

I have a crippling form of perfectionism that makes me feel like everything I'm working on and and everything I've ever written is a putrid pile of steaming piggy poop. I've only found two things that help: 1) painful deadlines and 2) writing with a coauthor. I love being with people, so not only does writing with a coauthor give me more objectivity, but it makes the whole process a lot more fun. When I don't have the luxury to work with a coauthor (such as right now), I have friends hold me accountable to daily deadlines. (E.g. I owe them $100.00 for every day I don't write 1200 words.) It's amazing how motivating $100.00 can be. Not only am I motivated to write, but Amy is motivated for me to write as well. It's win-win-win-oops (but I’m still a winner because I’m so much more productive)-win.

I love it. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Other authors will be able to help you a lot more than agents and editors. Make friend with us. Feed us cookies. :-)

Or feed us chocolates. Tell us about Powers.

You're asking me about one of my books? Well… Powers is basically, in layman's terms, what I like to call a putrid pile of steaming piggy poop.

Honestly, I'm really not a good person to ask. I'll ask someone more objective like some of my friends or my mom and get back to you.

Okay, I asked them. Here's what Ronie Kendig had to say:

Okay...Powers: A breathtaking plunge into the world of darkness . . . and back. A gripping tale that challenges one to consider the Powers we deem fantastical and unreal as horrifying realities. By far this is John's best work to date.

And here's what writing guru, Randy Ingermanson said:

Powers is a terrific example of what John calls "Writing in the Shadows" -- a technique for which I have no natural talent. But John has a lot of talent in writing this way. The book shows that John practices what he preaches. And oh yeah, it's a fun read.

And here's what my mom had to say:

Powers is good, but I liked Shade better. Tell them they have to read Shade.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The above snippet used to be the first page, but that was before I made Mari the main POV character. Here's the new first page:

Smooth moonlight, soft and timid as a sleeping babe’s breath, seeped through the forest canopy, painting Old Man Oak’s mossy beard with twisting ribbons of silver and shadow. The swamp folks were full awake now. All stoked up with joy, singing hallelujah for the tolerable coolness of another summer night. Bachelor bullfrogs barked out their steady bass against a piercing cicada threnody. Crickets and peepers and creepers hollering their praises full on top of the other, singing out to the Lord for the blessings He hath made.

It was a glorious song, filled with deep magic and considerations of awesome wonder. It made a body thankful to be alive. Squish-squashing through soft cool mud. Hop-scotching dead wood and fresh fallen branches. Pausing to look out across dark star-dusted waters where the proud Cypress sisters, skirts hitched high above dark boney knees, waded through reflections of ringing light. Swaying and sighing to the night music. The sounds of blessed freedom and sweet never-ending joy.

* * *
Mariutza let loose with a wistful sigh and felt her way through the dark forest. Purodad would be getting home soon. He was going to be mad as a dirt dauber when he discovered she’d run off again.

But she couldn’t just sit there in the wagon and let him lock her up. She was a proper lady now, a full-grown woman—Miss Caralee said so herself. Proper ladies didn’t hold to being locked up in diddlecars. Proper ladies had work to do. Washing and cooking. Tending to the nets.

Gradually, step by step, the forest opened out into a moonlit clearing. Mari tiptoed around a sun-burned vegetable patch and ran for the cover of a gnarled old oak tree. Miss Caralee would take her side. Purodad was getting superstitious in his old age. She’d said it herself. She wouldn’t stand for any more of his nonsense. That’s what she called it: utter nonsense.

“Yoo-hoo! Miss Caralee?” she called out from behind the old oak. “Don’t shoot. It’s me, Mariutza.”

She peeked out at a ramshackle hut pieced together with drift-boards from the storm. “I’m coming out now. Just me alone.” Stepping out from behind the tree, she hesitated. The cook fire wasn’t burning and there weren’t any candlelights shining through the windows. Caralee couldn’t be off visiting. It was long time past dark. Had she already gone off to bed?

“Here I am. Walking to the door!”

A scrape sounded inside the shack. The clank of metal against metal.

“Don’t shoot. It’s me!” Mari put some wind behind her words. Miss Caralee’s eyes were sharp as stickers, but her ears were starting to wear thin.

A strong voice, dry and weathered as sun-bleached driftwood, called out through the screen. “Lands, Chile. What you doin’ out the door? Night’s most black as soot. Don’t just stand there gawping like a catfish. Come on up!”

Mari ran up to the shack and sat down on the smooth old stump just outside the narrow door.

The screen flared bright as a match struck against the jamb post. Hollow cheeks and soft dark eyes. The flame flickered and steadied as it took hold of a tallow candle. Miss Caralee pressed it against the screen and peeped outside, squinting into the darkness like it was light.

“Your grandfather know you out this late?”

“He said he was going to lock me up. Keep me in the diddlecar till I learned some sense.”

“Mmm-hmm…” The ancient woman sighed. “That man! What have you gone and did now?”

“I was just looking. Didn’t nobody seen me. There haven’t been any hunters since spring.”

“Lord have mercy. Spying on the road again. Don’t you have work to tend?”

“No ma’am. I done finished it. But if Purodad locks me up, I won’t be getting nothing done. He thinks he can do it all himself, but you know he can’t. He’s got town folk to visit. Healings to tend.”

“Hush up, Chile. Ain’t nobody locking nobody up, but you listen to me. You a grown woman now. Time is for you to be telling him what to do. If you want to go running your skirts through the pluff mud, that’s nobody’s business but your own—so long’s all your work is done—but laws… spying on the road? I told you that myself. If Mr. Jonah say it ain’t safe, it ain’t safe.”

“But if they don’t see me—”

Okay, I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.litany.com/ – CAUTION: I programmed it myself, and it still isn't finished so watch where you step.

Thank you, John, for this interesting time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Powers. If you utilize 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.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/