BLACK HILLS BLESSING - Mary Connealy - Free Book

Here's another fun one from Mary Connealy. Welcome, Mary. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Black Hills Blessing has three books in one. The first one, Buffalo Gal was inspired by a buffalo ranch in western Nebraska owned by Ted Turner and some of the controversy surrounding it. I saw this article in the newspaper years ago and thought, great setting for a romance novel. Plus I've always loved buffalo. I'm not sure why. They just fascinate me.

Clueless Cowboy I just love. I wrote for years before I got a book published and this one, the second book I wrote, went a long way down the path toward getting published. It was a finalist in a contest. I got a request from Silhouette Romance for a full manuscript and I waited for a looooooong time to be rejected. This is sort of my story. I'm a farm/ranch girl through and through. I grew up in the country on a small working farm, lots of different animals, the way farms used to be. Milk cows, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. It was a very traditional farm life, and it's a life I know right to the bone. Now I'm married to a rancher and though we just have beef cattle, I still really understand the rhythms of country life. How much the weather matters. How we work from sun up to sun down, the planting and harvesting seasons. Calving time. Battling winter weather to keep the animals healthy. So I feel like I could bring a lot of authenticity to the heroine of Clueless Cowboy.

The Bossy Bridegroom, well, I've know a few people in emotionally abusive relationships. And in … pretty much every case … I'm trying to think of an exception … those marriages ended and the woman ended up marrying another abuser and the man ended up finding a new woman to push around. So I've wondered what would it really take to make a marriage like that healthy. Because both sides of those marriages have a role in the abuse. So it's not enough for Michael to come back to Jeanie and say, "I'm a Christian now. I promise I'll be nice." Those old habits are hard to break. He wanted her to hold him accountable when he'd step over the line. She was usually so busy blaming herself for any problem that she could hardly consider he might be at fault.

So, of the three, I think The Bossy Bridegroom is the biggest fantasy. Sure a wealthy city slicker might move into a derelict house and fall in love with a single lady rancher like in Clueless Cowboy (hey, that happens everyday).

Sure a guy who owns a buffalo ranch could change his mind about this hobby and sell it cheap and a rancher who hates buffalo might cheer up and decide he likes having them next door…noooooo problem.

But a tyrant like Michael and a doormat like Jeanie growing up and getting emotionally healthy….wow, find an example of that for me anywhere. The Bossy Bridegroom is a pretty serious subject and, although there's humor in it, like when Jeanie starts acting out her hurt feelings with an inflatable baseball bat, the book has a much more serious tone than most of my books. So be warned.

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

Lena, I'm not sure what you want here. A party, huh? In the fantasy can I have whatever party I want, and you're paying right? So me and six friends can go on a cruise? Or spend a week or Cancun, all on your dime, right? Great. More fantasy.

Ummm…I've been interviewed by you before so I'm trying to think of even MORE people I'd like to hang with. I'm trying my hand at a little more contemporary writing. I'm not sure where I'm going with it but I'd like to spend some time talking to Colleen Coble and Brandilynn Collins about how they do their thrillers. I'd love to meet Dee Henderson and Terri Blackstock. And how about Debby Giusti? She's doing great work with suspense, plus I love her and I think I could get her to talk to me while the others talked among themselves. Lena, tell them they need to be nice to me since it's my party. And I get one more. Let's invite Angela Hunt. She's such an amazing talent though. I fear I will forever feel bad about myself, but I still think she should come.

I'd like to throw several parties if it's okay.

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

Okay, here we go. I didn't read through the questions first. Okay this is just me aiming really high so here we go. Janette Oke, Francine Rivers, Bev Lewis. Lori Copeland. Stephanie Grace Whitson. You know this is kind of my field. I can think of lots of authors for this one. Which means you're pretty cruel to make me choose, but then I think you already know that. Let's invite Janet Dean. We can be star struck together.

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?

Not one single problem in the world. I've got it made. (okay, I just had to type those words. Just to see if my fingers would tremble on the keyboard). Writing proposals. I'm getting better at it, but mostly in my past, I've had the book all finished before I had to write a synopsis. I'm not so great of a plotter. And knowing readers have expectations. Romantic comedy with cowboys. What if I have an idea that's NOT a cowboy? Huh? What then? Barbour has given me a chance to try a few different things and God bless them for it. This book, Black Hills Blessing is an example.

Tell us about the featured book?

Ride the range with Buffy Lange, a woman bent on seeing majestic buffalo reclaim their territory, no matter how hostile local cattleman Wyatt Shaw becomes. Meet rancher Emily Johannson who would leave her derelict neighbor Jake Hanson alone if she didn't feel duty bound to keep saving his hide. Take a stand with Jeanie Davidson, a single-again woman who's finally gotten her life together, only to have her ex-husband Michael walk right back in, determined to make amends. Can love redeem these hearts and lives?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Buffy Lange had been at her new job for fifteen minutes. It was going to take a miracle to last out the hour.

“Don’t let him through that gate!” She raced toward the fence.

The buffalo hit the metal panel with a clang of horns on steel. A dozen wranglers started shouting and rushing to support the slipping gate. The young bull stubbornly refused to pass through the alleyway of metal into his new home in the Nebraska Sandhills ranch. He swung his massive head again.

Buffy, who’d stationed herself inside the pen, grabbed the top of the fence, vaulted it, snatched the slipping, tubular steel, and shoved it into the gap.

Two thousand pounds of cranky bison rammed the panel. Buffy fell backward into the mud with the gate on top of her.

The buffalo ran across, its legs tangling in the open spaces of the slatted panel. The clatter of hooves on metal rang in Buffy’s ears. One sharp hoof scraped between Buffy’s arm and her stomach. It ripped her shirt and scraped off some of her hide.

The ground under her was sloppy mud. Instead of being crushed when the buffalo’s full weight landed on the gate, she sank. With the wind knocked out of her, she looked eye to eye with the frantic animal who snorted hot breath in her face and hooked his horns at her.

Adrenaline roared like an electric current as the bull swung his horns. The gate protected her from being gored. The beast plunged forward and was gone. She heard screaming.

As much as she loved the bad-tempered animals, Buffy would have screamed, too, if she could breathe. She prayed for a miracle. Needing direct intervention from God to keep her hired men alive and herself employed, looked bad on a resume.

The panel wrenched off and hands ran down her arms and legs. She opened her eyes and Wolf Running Shield, her foreman, crouched over her. His black braids, shot through with gray, slid over both his shoulders and dangled over her head. “Are you okay?” His bottomless black eyes flashed with worry. “Did he land a hoof on you?”

Her abused lungs started working. “I’m fine.”

“Mommy!” The blood curdling scream came from Sally, her three-year-old niece, supposedly confined to the house until the buffalo was safely penned. Everyone around Buffy vanished, running to the rescue. Buffy jerked her arms out of the mud and scrambled to her feet.

A man, rigged out like a cowboy straight from the old west, raced his horse between the buffalo and Sally. It was nip and tuck who would get there first.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Seekerville
Petticoats & Pistols
My Blog
My Website

Thanks for having me on, Lena. It's always fun.

And I always love having you, Mary.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By ordering a book using this link, you'll be helping support this blog.
Black Hills Blessing (Romancing America)

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


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

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Winners!!! Winners!!! Winners - Plus One Extra Winner!!!

Casey is the winner of Transformation by Terri Kraus.

Cathikin is the winner of A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz.


Nancye is the winner of Walking on Broken Glass by Christa Allen.


DeborahM is the winner of Forsaken by Vanessa Miller.
 
Ronie Kendig was impressed by the number of people who left comments, so we'll have two winners of Dead Reckoning:
Mark
Pammer
 
Congratulations, everyone.
 
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. You can view the book trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EequBWNkHRE

PLAIN JAYNE - Hillary Manton Lodge - Free Book

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

How much of myself winds up in a character depends on my character – I’ll pull more from my experiences and personality quirks for the female characters. The guys tend to be similar to the ones I grew up around.

I gave Jayne my fear of ovens and a certain amount of my sense of humor. But in many ways she’s very, very different. For instance, she could pack everything she needs for a trip in a small bag. In contrast, I could pack everything I need in a small steamer trunk.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Very difficult to say. In first grade, I changed my name often. Some of these names were completely made up, but I took them very seriously. My teacher (bless her heart!) never said a thing about it, only noted when she was grading papers that the name not on her roster was always me.

There have been other moments of quirk, but I’m going to stick with this one for now.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

The moment of affirmation came in my teens. I’d always written, always told stories. When I was fifteen, I think, I went to my first Oregon Christian Writers conference and connect with Bonnie Leon. She read the manuscript I had at the time and told me it was publishable. That moment changed everything, I think. It made writing for publication seem like an attainable dream.

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

It’s quite the range. I love books about food – Sarah Addison Allen’s books, Nicole Mones’ The Last Chinese Chef, Siri Mitchell’s Chateau of Echoes. Most anything by Juliet Marillier. C.S. Lewis, naturally. I enjoy YA, because I can read it without expending too much mental energy. I love books based on fairy tales. I’ve read a lot of fiction by Indian authors.

I love novels based on fairy tales, too. And movies about them. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

In 2007, I finished my first novel, Divine Discontent. It focused on musicians and artists and hippies in my hometown, I loved it. I hope it’ll be released some day when contemporary fiction starts selling better.

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

I try to shut out the world as much as possible. It helps to not fall behind schedule, in writing. That’s when things really start getting crazy.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I’m a little obsessed with names. I’ll have a very firm idea of who the character is and what they’re like; the name has to fit that. I keep lists of names that I like, but it’s tricky sometimes. When I wrote Divine Discontent, I named the main female character Livy because it sounded different and simple at the same time. I named the main male character Mark Firth; a name I was completely proud of, because he was a drummer; Pro Mark and Vic Firth are the names of two different drumstick companies. Then I got the idea that Livy’s character was quite bitter, and I thought her name should reflect that. I thought about naming her Mara or Mari, which both mean bitter. That meant I had to change Mark’s name – but I couldn’t! He was Mark. Nothing else worked, nothing else fit. So in the end, he was Mark and she was Livy, and I was okay with the fact that her name meant “of the olive tree.”

In Plain Jayne, I came up with the title, and fit a character around the name.

However, for my next book, Simply Sara, the publishing committee had a say in that character’s name, because whatever her name was would be in the title as well. We went through a few incarnations before they settled on Sara.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Finishing Divine Discontent was a very big deal – after trying for years and years to find a project I could bring to completion, getting to the final page of DD meant a lot to me.

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

I had to ask my husband to help me with this. He says llama. They’re loyal, protective of those close to them, have soft, knittable fur, and let’s face it, get a little unpredictable when provoked.

What is your favorite food?

I really love beef stew over egg noodles.

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

I don’t tend to plan ahead much, and synopses are a headache. I finally learned to storyboard, being a little looser with the concept, and then writing micro-synopses at the top of each chapter, sort of like Winnie the Pooh. It’ll read something along the lines of “Chapter 12, in which Sara bakes something, argues with Will, and starts a minor kitchen fire,” or something like that. It’s really helped me to maintain focus on where each chapter is going.

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

Don’t pressure yourself to write like anyone else, to use certain words, or write about the themes you think you have to write about. Write about what’s close to your heart, using the voice God has given you. Push yourself to write the best book you can; don’t try to publish it until it’s the very best work you can put forward.

Tell us about the featured book.

With Plain Jayne I wanted to write a different kind of Amish novel. Jayne Tate likes to think of herself as a fearless modern woman, but the truth is that she’s hiding from her past and limiting herself as to who she thinks she has to be. Experiencing Amish life shakes up her perceptions of life, of family, of herself.

In the midst of this is Levi Burkholder, who I think is special because he sees Jayne for who she is, not how she tries to present herself. But he’s complicated, and he has secrets, and his approach to family is the opposite of Jayne’s.

Please give us the first page of the book.

I actually don’t have it. But you can read the whole first chapter here –
http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/texts/excerpts/9780736926980_exc.pdf

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m all over the place. My web address is hillarymantonlodge.com. I also maintain a separate blog on AmishReader.com. Readers can follow me on Twitter and Facebook as well.

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

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/

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

THE HEART'S JOURNEY HOME - Jen Stephens - Free Book

I love introducing debut authors. Today, it's Jen Stephens. Welcome, Jen. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Most of my characters are like my children—part of me but also their own unique person. Some of my characters have some of my mannerisms, or physical traits, or some of them have traits I really wish I had. For example: my heroine, a teacher, is an excellent planner and extremely organized. Though I am a teacher, I can only fantasize about being organized! With the exception of just a couple characters that were specifically written for someone else, my characters are all different parts of me. When my readers get to know all of my characters, hopefully they’ll feel like they’ve gotten to know me, too.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

This was the hardest question and now I’m a little concerned that either, a) I’m super boring and never do anything quirky, or b) I’m super quirky to the point of it seeming normal. Hmmm. I’m sure my sisters could fill a page for you with all of the crazy stuff we did as kids . . . and then my husband would certainly be happy to add his $.02 with my more recent quirks. One thing that comes to mind is the time that I dressed up as Princess Jasmin, long black wig and all, and went Trick or Treating. Not too quirky? I was 20-years-old, single, and childless. Yeah. Moving on.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was in grade school. My first story was about a boy who befriends an Indian chief and together they capture a burglar who breaks into the boy’s house. I was (and still am) a slow reader with a very active imagination, so I didn’t do a lot of reading as a child, but I was always making up stories. I wrote my first novel when I was in junior high and another one in tenth grade. I took a break from it while I was in college and gradually returned to it after I got married eleven years ago. I’ve been writing—and working on honing my craft—ever since. I discovered that I was a writer at a young age, but didn’t know I could do anything with it until just a few years ago.

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

I really love any book that tells a wonderful, compelling, enthralling story that captivates me from page 1. Some of the authors on my TBR stack are: Kaye Dacus, Tamara Leigh, Michelle Sutton, and Kristin Hannah. I tend to lean toward the type of fiction I write—Christian Women’s Fiction with a hint (or more) of romance. Of course, my very favorite book of all time is the Bible. Charlotte’s Web takes the second place ribbon.

Charlotte's Web is a long way from Christian Wiomen's Fiction. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

Does my little story about the boy and his Indian friend count? Ha! Ha! As I’ve already said, in middle school I wrote my very first a book, and now I can’t even remember the title, but I do remember what it was about. Then, in high school, I wrote a suspense novel titled The Dark Side of the Mountain. I wrote it long hand in spiral bound notebooks. My friends would read it and write their names in the margins where they left off. That’s a fun memory for me. After that though, I had a lot of starts and stops. I honestly didn’t know if I could finish another book. I originally wrote The Heart’s Journey Home for the mainstream market, but after I finished it I didn’t have that feeling of a great accomplishment that I thought for sure a writer should experience. After stewing over it for several weeks—and being prompted by the Lord many times—I decided to rewrite it for the Christian market, and now I’m very pleased. In addition, I’ve already begun plotting out the next book in the series, The Heart’s Lullaby.

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

Sanity? What’s that? Ha! Seriously, sometimes I don’t feel very sane. Sometimes I feel like I try to do too many things well—being a wife and mother, a teacher, a writer, a friend, and, most of all, a devoted Christian—and end up not doing any of it well. That’s disheartening. But when I get down, my family and friends always know just what to say and do to lift my spirits. They keep me sane . . . mostly by making me laugh. I laugh a lot with my family and friends. Laughter is a wonderful medicine for any ailment, including momentary insanity!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Most of my characters come with their names. Sometimes I know my character before I know their name but eventually it comes to me and is sort of like a “Oh, so that’s your name” moment. Occasionally, I’ll have a secondary character that I have to search for a name so I get the baby name book out or use the website, but that doesn’t happen very often. I’ve explained it this way: my characters are to me as an imaginary friend is to a child. You just know them—name and all.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my two little girls—Alison (8 years old), and Olivia (5 years old). My heart just bursts with pride as they reach every milestone. They’re both doing well in school, both LOVE reading (YES!), and they both already love the Lord (Double YES!!). In many areas of my life I feel, you know, just average, but when I look at my two girls, I know I’ve done something really, really special. I could win the Nobel Peace Prize and I would still be most proud of being their mother.

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

If I was an animal, I think I’d be a guide dog because they are gentle, loyal companions, and I get great satisfaction from helping people in need.

What is your favorite food?

This is the easiest question on the interview! My grandma’s spaghetti is my very favorite food. Grandma was married to an Italian so she had lots of practice making an authentic spaghetti dish. My husband’s bar-b-que is a close second. Great, now my mouth is watering!

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

Time! I’m the wife of a very supportive, wonderful man, the mama of my two beautiful girls, the teacher to a classroom of third graders, and an active church member. So, yeah, time is a big issue. I try to combat this potential roadblock, by creating and sticking to a routine that includes a block of time carved out of every day just for writing. Usually this is after my girls are in bed, and for right now it works well because my creative juices flow all day long and, most of the time, by 8pm I’m just itching to write.

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

Well, I’m a fairly new author myself so I can really only say what I’ve done that has helped me to grow and become a better writer. The very best thing I did was to get involved with my local writer’s group. A writer’s group and/or critique group are people who support you, who understand everything you go through as a writer—they’ve either been there, are there, or will be there—and they’ll give you the constructive criticism you need to grow as a writer. I had to grow a thick skin. It not easy getting critiqued on something you poured so much of yourself into, but the ideas and opinions of someone more experienced than you are really one of the most valuable tools you can have as a new writer so learn to embrace it. And, really, above all else, just have fun!

Tell us about the featured book?

The Heart’s Journey Home is a story about life, love, loss, and finding love again. It’s a story about how faith can lead you home . . . though it may not be on the path that you expect. Here is a brief synopsis:

Three years after Kate Sterling's heart was shattered by the unexpected death of her husband, she packs up what is left of her life and moves back to Harvest Bay, Ohio, with her young daughter. She soon discovers that her sleepy hometown has changed—and that she has been given a second chance at love. But, is God leading her to a love linked to the past . . . or to one who will walk with her into the future? Which road will Kate take on The Heart's Journey Home?

The Heart’s Journey Home is very special to me, and I hope and pray that whoever reads it will be as touched as I was writing it. I believe that many of the scenes were Spirit-led because of the way it flowed and the way I felt as I wrote them. This is NOT my biography, but I come from a blended family and my Daddy went home to be with the Lord nine years ago, so in many ways writing this book was an emotional release for me. I pray that my readers can sense even a fraction of that emotion.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Kate Sterling leaned against the door of her cobalt blue Explorer and sighed heavily. This morning had come quickly, too quickly. She had always loved the Fourth of July, but now Independence Day took on a whole new meaning.

Kate’s brother-in-law, Nathan, buckled her six-year-old daughter, Madeline, into her booster seat and came around the front of the vehicle to join Kate. “She fell back to sleep.”

“That’s good. I have a feeling this is going to be a long trip for us.” It was only an eight-hour drive from her home in Nashville, Tennessee, to Harvest Bay, her Ohio hometown situated on the bank of Lake Erie. Kate had made it a dozen times with Madeline as her only companion.

This time, though, they wouldn’t be coming back.

He leaned against the Explorer shoulder to shoulder with Kate and crossed his arms. “I’m really going to miss Maddie.”

A thick lump of sorrow lodged itself in her throat, but she forced her words past it. “She’ll miss you, too. We both will.”

“Don’t start doubting yourself. You’re doing the right thing.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is: http://www.jenstephens.net/

Jen, thank you for spending this time with us.

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

BEHOLD THE DAWN - K.M. Weiland - Free Book

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

Inevitably, I suppose, I’m in all of my characters. They come from me; they are me—and I am them. But I’ve never consciously created a character that was based off myself or anything I could identify as one of my prominent characteristics. I write because I want to experience other lives and other mindsets. I live my own life all the time, so I hardly need to write about it. But, of course, my characters are always influenced by own core beliefs and worldview.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Oh, I’m just generally a pretty quirky person. I’m very organized—to the point of obsessiveness, or so my friends like to tease me. I quizzed my family once about what they thought my quirkiest habit was, and every one of them mentioned my listening to my music albums in alphabetical order. Oh, and I talk to myself. But I’ve been told that’s okay—so long as I don’t say “huh?”

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I don’t know that it was ever something I “discovered” per se. For as long as I can remember, I’ve made up stories. In fact, my earliest memory is of myself dreaming up some wild story about saving my family from some unknown catastrophe. I started writing my stories down when I was eleven or twelve, and throughout high school, I wrote, edited, and published a newsletter for horse-crazy girls. Moving on to novels was a natural progression. I guess you could say I’ve always been a storyteller; it’s just inborn; it’s who I am. But the writing—the learning of the craft, the studying to show myself approved—that was something I became.

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

I’m very eclectic. I love trying new things and broadening my horizon. So I don’t confine myself to reading (or not reading) any particular genres. That said, many of the books on my list of favorites fall into the categories of historical, literary, and speculative. I love Patrick O’Brian and Orson Scott Card. Can’t get enough of them. For the last several years, I’ve also been making a concentrated effort to consistently read the classics. I’m determined to read them all before I die! Joseph Conrad, Jane Austen, Willa Cather, Charles Dickens, and Pearl Buck have all become dear friends.

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

I’ve written seven novels—two of which are published, one which will be published in another year or two, and four which, God willing, will never be seen by anyone but me! I started out writing a story about the rodeo world, followed that up with two westerns and a story about football—before writing my first published book, the historical western A Man Called Outlaw (http://www.kmweiland.com/books.php#outlaw ) about the land wars in 19th-century Wyoming. I followed that with my new release Behold the Dawn (http://www.kmweiland.com/books.php#behold ), a medieval tale set during the Third Crusade.

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

I’m still trying to figure that one out! Truth be told, I thrive on the busyness. I love accomplishing things; I love waking up each morning with a sense of purpose; and I love scratching things off my to-do list in my dayplanner! However, I do get overwhelmed occasionally. This past year, in particular, has been beyond hectic. Now, that Behold is out, I’m looking forward to taking it just a little bit easier—for a month or two anyway.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Like so many authors, I agonize over names. If they’re not just right, if something feels less than fitting about a name, it acts as a brake on character development. I have three or four name manuals all marked up with highlighter pens and stuffed full of notes and lists. I drive people crazy with my demands to “help me think of name.” I’m sure they’re sick of spouting off a litany of names, while I sit there, shaking my head, and saying, “Nope, can’t use that one. No, that’s not quite right either.” I always know when I hit upon the right name. It’s almost as if the characters have always known what their names should be, and when I finally come across the right one, they just quietly claim it.

I had a minor character in the novel that comes out in May, who didn't like his name. I gave him another one, but that one didn't stick either. At the very end of the book, I finally pleased him. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Every book is a huge accomplishment—even if it never goes any farther than my own hands. Finishing a 100,000-word story is a marathon, no matter how many times you’ve done it before. But I have to say I am extremely proud of my most recent novel Behold the Dawn. It was a hugely special story to me—one of those lucky projects that just flow. I still look back at it and find myself wondering, Did I really write those words?

I've experienced that, too. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Oh, my black Lab, definitely. If there’s a critter on this earth that’s more expressively happy, I think that would probably be too much happiness to bear!

What is your favorite food?

I have this huge weakness for macaroni and cheese. I love the instant kind in the box, with the gooey cheese. It’s terribly unhealthy, of course, but soooo good. It’s my comfort food du jour.

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

I don’t know that I’ve had a problem so large I would consider it a roadblock. I did struggle for a while, a few years back, wondering if writing was really something the Lord wanted me to pursue. Much as I loved it, much as I thought I needed it, I worried that it wasn’t an effective and responsible use of my time. I surrendered it to Him, knowing it was a gift from Him to begin with. After much prayer and seeking, He gave it back to me, and now I’m just trying to use my gift as responsibly as possible for His glory.

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

Write! It’s so easy to get tangled up in all the so-called rules and the fuss over how to find an agent and get published. But none of that matters when you’re starting out. The biggest challenge you face is simply finishing that first draft. Sit down, put your fingers on the keyboard, and let your imagination fly. Embrace the joy of writing, and avoid the crippling effect of inhibitions. All that other stuff will come later, but it’s not what’s important right now.

Tell us about the featured book?

Behold the Dawn is a gritty medieval saga, with a love story at its core. It’s the tale of Marcus Annan, a renowned fighter in the tourneys (the huge mock battles, condemned by the church, that preceded the more familiar jousting tournaments). He’s been on the run for sixteen years, trying to bury his sins in the gore and glory of the battlefield. But when a mysterious monk surfaces from the dark haze of the past, he is compelled to travel to the Third Crusade in the Holy Land in an attempt to rescue an old friend. He arrives too late and is forced to take responsibility for delivering the man’s widow to safety in France. But long-hidden secrets are rising all around him, enemies are stalking him, and, if he hopes to survive, he’s going to have to face his past once and for all.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Marcus Anan had killed before. He had killed so many times he could no longer remember them all… so many times he had become inured to the ache of sorrow as he stared into the faces of the dead.

Some had deserved to die; some hadn’t. It mattered not. They were all dead, and he could not bring them back. Unlike himself, they would never have to wonder if the end would ever come, if life would go on and on forever, taunting in its gaiety, tormenting in its bleakness.

As he reined his horse back amidst the chaos of a southern tourney and watched his allies crash into the opposing line of horsemen, he wondered if perhaps he had traveled this dark path beyond his ability to return. He watched through the barred vision of his great helm, concentrating on the steady rhythm of his breathing, forcing down the fire of battle that coursed through his veins as he waited for his quarry to extricate himself from the clangor of battle.

Today, Marcus Annan—tourneyer, soldier, and wanderer—would bring the tally of deaths yet a little higher as he played one more round in this bloody, accursed game of mock battle that had become the only pursuit of his shattered life. The legend of his name would grow, and the burning flash of battle fire would once more blind the sorrows of his heart. He would end one more life, even as his own hurtled onward, unable to escape the demons that wailed as loud on this day as they had upon their birth almost a score of years past.

Wow! Such a wonderful hook. How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me on my website (kmweiland.com) or my blogs Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors (wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com) and AuthorCulture (authorculture.com).

Thank you, Katie, for this interesting glimpse into your life.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/ 
  
Readers, here's a link where you can order the book.

CREEDE OF OLD MONTANA - Stephen Bly - Free Book

Always good to have you with us, Stephen, and I love westerns. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.


I try to make them as different from me as possible. But that is impossible for any writer, including myself. Stuart Brannon’s my most well known. He’s become a legend…in my mind and in the minds of my readers. My wife, Janet, claims he’s just like me in so many ways. “After all, look at his initials—same as yours,” she points out.

I sure would like to be like him. He’s my hero. In fact, every novel of mine has some sort of reference to or cameo appearance by Stuart Brannon. Some have told me they think that all my fiction, whether historical or contemporary, is one huge revolving series...because of the inter-relation of the characters.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Well, don’t know if this is the quirkiest, but it rates as one of them…I don’t like writing about a place I’ve never been. That means loading my truck to cruise up and down most every road in the eleven western states. I’ve spent much more time on unpaved roads than highways. In fact, asphalt and blacktop bore me. Interstates drone like a prison line because I see nothing but the rig in front of me. One time I flew to downtown New York City to interview an editor recommended to me, surrounded by millions…the next day I was bumping along one of my unpaved roads to the edge of the Grand Canyon, no soul in sight as far as I could see. A sign warned: Don’t travel alone. Carry water. This road not patrolled. All of this helped my research for the Austin-Stoner Files about a NY editor who teams with a rodeo cowboy out west.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I started receiving checks in the mail from magazine editors for my articles and short stories. That was back in 1976, quite some time ago, but I was already married and a father of two young sons. In fact, my wife Janet was responsible for getting those early submissions sent out.

Hooray for Janet! Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I like reading all kinds of history book, from any era, any civilization. I’ve always been fascinated with history. When I started writing westerns, I focused my reading on the Old West between 1870 to 1910.

What are you reading right now?

I'm working on three different volumes...Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough (about Teddy Roosevelt), Prescott’s The Conquest of Mexico and The Conquest of Peru, and Tough Towns by Robert Barr Smith

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

Creede of Old Montana is book #101 for me. That’s both fiction and nonfiction for adults, kids & teens. Some of the most recent titles are The Land Tamers (a re-issue of my first western novel with Tyndale), One Step Over The Border by Center Street/Hachette), 3 contemporary novels in The Horse Dreams Series (B&H), Paperback Writer (which received a positive review in Publisher’s Weekly), and 6 books in the Fortunes of the Black Hills Series (western, B&H).

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

Some pro golfers are grinders…they play one shot at a time. Not all are nice and easy, but they give the next shot every ounce of skill they possess. Head down and focused on the next swing, they look up onlyat the end of the round. My life’s like that. I’m a grinder. Whatever the Lord sets in front of me next to do, I tackle it full steam. I keep my head down and focused on the present. And you know what? I’ve had a pretty good life. Nothing spectacular, but it’s been good.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My marriage and partnership with Janet for 46 years, plus the wonderful family the Lord’s given us…three sons, three daughters-in-law, three grandkids.

What is your favorite food?

Steak…the thicker and redder the better. However, my wife has me on a mostly fish and chicken diet right now with lots of fruits and veggies. It’s for my own good, but I sure do hanker for some beef at times.

I'm with you. I eat really healthy, but once in a while, I have to have some steak, medium rare. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My main challenge in the beginning was trying to find a publisher who would risk doing westerns. Before my first western was released, the publisher told me upfront that they would not do anymore. So, I shelved the other manuscript I had completed and waited for some sort of opening. Several years later, when Frank Peretti’s first novel became a bestseller, I found out who his publisher was and took my first Stuart Brannon novel out of the drawer. I approached them and they were very open to trying my westerns. I did a lot of fiction for Crossway after that.

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

Read good writing. Keep writing something every day—in a journal, a story, roughing out an article or book, composing a poem. Attend a writers’ conference where you can take classes and interact with editors, publishers and other writers.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Discipline. Discipline. Discipline. There’s no boss to make you accountable for daily output. You’ve got to devise and stick with your own schedule.

Oh, yes, the "D" word. I have a love/hate relationship with it. Tell us about the featured book?

Avery John Creede rides to Fort Benton, Montana, in 1860 for a reunion with old army pals. He discovers a running gunfight with a notorious outlaw and two women determined to distract him, each for her own reasons.

The dark haired beauty, Carla Logonaire, is an old flame and the gal of Avery's dreams. Her daddy made his mega-fortune with imported glass and partnered with Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. Avery buys a diamond and sapphire ring for her, just in case.

Meanwhile, he's accosted by Sunny, the caustic mystery blonde in the yellow dress, who threatens him because he jailed her bank robbery friends. She wants him dead. Meanwhile, Avery desires nothing but a little peace and quiet.

But just as things get real hectic, Avery's 15-year-old tenderfoot nephew, Ace, shows up with disturbing news…and Uncle Avery’s got a new responsibility on his hands.

Sounds like a book I'd like to read for sure. Please give us the first page of the book.

No one knew how Avery John Creede got the scar on his face.

No one except Avery and the one who did it. He never talked about it. Most who knew him figured the other person dead. Not the type of scar that makes you wince and turn your head, and never covered by a beard, it hung high on his cheekbone like a badge of honor. But a person had to stand up to Creede and look him in the eye to see the scar. For the past six weeks on the trail north from Shiprock, no one had been that close.

July hot and August dry, the September heat that reflected off the brick wall left Avery with a stale feel, like a sweat drenched cotton shirt, long dried. He studied the wide river from the tiny, two-step balcony of his second-story room at the Grand Hotel. Although he could not see it now, he knew he was positioned under the arched 1881 stone façade high at the building’s peak. Like a pontiff overlooking an empty plaza, he surveyed the near deserted street below.

A lady with a famine-thin waist and a bleached yellow dress spun a parasol over her shoulder as she sauntered past the cottonwoods toward the riverbank. Like bait skimming across a still mountain lake, Avery figured she trolled for some man to set the hook.

A very good hook. How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can order our books through any online bookstore or via our website: http://www.blybooks.com/

Creede of Old Montana
by Stephen Bly
Center Point Publishing/Thorndike
300 pages, hardback, $29.95

Thank you, Stephen, for this peek into your life.

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



Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.


The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.


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Winners! Winners!! Winners!!!

Karin is the winner of A Valentine Wish by Betsy St Amant.


Wyn is the winner of Songbird Under a German Moon by Tricia Goyer.

Diane Marie Shaw is the winner of Third Time's a Charm by Virginia Smith.


Judy Glidden is the winner of A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland.


Sheila Deeth is the winner of Double Trouble by Susan May Warren.
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We already have an exciting lineup in 2010, including my next book Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico in May. More info on that will come later.

DEAD RECKONING - Ronie Kendig - Free Book

I've really been looking forward to this day when I could feature Ronie on my blog. I rejoice with her about her first book sale. And I read the ARC and wrote a review of Dead Reckoning. You can read it here: http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html

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


I’m a real person with real, every-day people problems. That’s what I write into my characters. I long for hope and justice, and for a large part, that’s what my characters want and strive to achieve.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I am not a quirky person. Um, maybe writing a 103,000 word space opera in 28 days. LOL Is that quirky? I have no idea.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I never really had this moment of discovery that set me on the path toward publication, but I’ve been telling stories one way or another since I was a small child. But it really wasn’t until shortly after my husband and I married that I felt the ache to get into writing. That launched me into the Institute for Children’s Literature, but I had a baby and didn’t complete the last assignment (the teacher asked for a rewrite, and I couldn’t get it done. LOL). In 2003, I joined a writer’s group in south Arlington. In 2004, I went to my first writer’s conference in Dallas—where I met my future agent, whom I would sign with three years and three rejections later.

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

My shameful confession is that I’m a very slow reader, so it takes me a while to get through a book. Maybe I should reword that: reading is not a priority (other than craft books and books for review), so I am leisure in getting to them. However, my favorite books are (believe it or not) historical (Lisa Bergren, TL Higley, ), speculative (Kathy Tyers, Karen Hancock, John Olson, Jim Rubart, James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series) . . . I guess the only genre I’m not thrilled about reading is Women’s Fiction (but I do read some!).

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

Dead Reckoning is my debut title will release March 2010. A few months later, July 2010 will be the launch of the first book in my Discarded Heroes series, Nightshade. I do have several speculative pieces that I hover over late at night while nobody’s watching, including a time travel that I absolutely love. :-)

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

I’m sorry . . . sanity? Am I supposed to be familiar with that word?

How do you choose your characters’ names?

When I begin a story, I usually have a “feel” for my characters—I know whether or not they have a certain ethnic background, or if they’re raise in austere environments. Generally, the name comes to me first after the general impression. If the name is a bit resistant, then I dig through websites and find the one that clicks.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Wow, that’s a tough question. I guess I’d say the thing I’m most proud of is being who I’m supposed to be. I hated myself for so long, that I finally learned to embrace who I am, accept my (many) failures, and change what God granted me the courage and strength to change. Through that, I have a very happy life—my relationship with God, my hunky husband, my beautiful children, awesome friends, got my degree a few years ago, and living my dream to be an author.

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

Oh geez. I have no clue. I love elephants, and while they aren’t the most glamorous of creatures, they do have an amazing memory and an incredible herd instinct they use to protect and nurture one another. Since I see myself as a protector and nurturer, maybe that’s a good fit. LOL

What is your favorite food?

Pastries!!! Or anything (except exotic stuff like octopus) enjoyed with a good friend!

We've shared a meal or two together, and I'm sure we both enjoy the fellowship as much as the food. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

God’s timing. LOL And I didn’t overcome it. He made the way. :-)

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

Besides not giving up, recognize God gave you a gift. And that’s what it’s all about—writing because HE gave YOU a gift. He’s sitting in his cozy chair by the fire, listening to you peck away at the keyboard and smiling while he thinks “Hear that beautiful sound? That’s my precious child using the gift *I* gave!” Remove the burdens and weights, and learn to enjoy the gift He gave you!!

Tell us about the featured book?

Trapped by a terrorist plot in Mumbai!

When Shiloh Blake’s first large-scale underwater archeological dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she is forced to flee for her life into the streets of Mumbai, India. Is the man trailing her an enemy, or is he sent by her CIA father to protect her? Whoever he is, the only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with former Navy SEAL Reece Jaxon.

I love your cover. Now please give us the first page of the book.

Mumbai Harbor, India

Shafts of yellow light pierced the blue-green waters, silhouetting the dive rig that hovered on the surface of the Arabian Sea. Shiloh Blake stopped and watched a wrasse scuttle past, its tiny fins working hard to ferry the brightly striped fish to safety.

Clad in her wetsuit, Shiloh squinted through her goggles and tucked the underwater camera into her leg pocket. She gripped the small stone artifact and propelled herself toward the surface. Ten meters and she would reveal her historic discovery to long-time rival Mikhail Drovosky.

Shiloh smiled. The guy would go ballistic. Score one for the girls. Between her and her new dive partner Edie Valliant, they had surged ahead in finds. Not that this was a competition. Not technically. But everyone with the University of California-San Diego dig team knew it was make or break time.

Shiloh broke the surface. Warm sun bathed her face as she slid off her mask and tugged out her air regulator before hauling herself onto the iron dive flat. She squeezed the saltwater from her hair, the auburn glints catching in the sunlight.

“What did you find?” Khalid Khan knelt next to her.

With a smirk, she peeked at her best friend. Her own excitement was mirrored in his dark eyes.

If that doesn't whet readers' appetites for mor, I don't know what will. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Just about anywhere:

• Website: http://www.roniekendig.com/
• Blog: http://supernaturalcraving.blogspot.com/
• ShoutLife: www.shoutlife.com/roniekendig
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/roniekendig
• First Monday Monthly Column: http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/

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

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

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

FORSAKEN - Vanessa Miller - Free Book

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

Not much these days. Right now I’m writing my 10th novel, and I haven’t written my personality or bits of my story into a character since my 1st book, Former Rain.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t developing some type of story. Of course, as a child I didn’t know that I would become a novelist. I just knew that I love to create stories.

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

I read tons of Christian fiction but I also enjoy mysteries and thrillers.

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

Several, my goal is to write at least a hundred books, so I’m off to a slow start but my list is as follows: Former Rain, Abundant Rain, Latter Rain, Rain Storm, Through the Storm, Forsaken, Forgiven, Yesterday’s Promise, Long Time Coming and A Love For Tomorrow.

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

Sometimes I wonder if I haven’t already lost it and I’m just too insane to know the difference. :-) But seriously, prayer works for me. There are times when I have to get in a quiet place and just pray.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I use names of some of my family members and friends, I take them out of the paper or I just make one up.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Spiritually: having the good sense to fall in love with Jesus

Professionally: finishing my first book. It took years to get that first book done, but once I was able to get the first book done, I haven’t been able to stop until I type "the end" on each of my books.

Personally: My family

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

Butterfly. My name means butterfly, and I believe that my life has been one transforming moment after the next.

I love that. What is your favorite food?

Mexican food or Mac and Cheese

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

My greatest roadblock would have to be the building of my readership. Although many thousands of people read my books, I have not reached the readership goals that I have set for myself. The way I handle what seems like a roadblock to me is to just keep plowing forward. With each new book, I try to reach more people than I did before. With prayer and hard work, I believe I will meet my goals.

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

Write the best book that you can and then work with a professional editor before submitting the book to publishers. Writers have the passion for the story, but editors understand the skill and elements of a story.

Tell us about the featured book?

Forsaken is the story of a fallen pastor: Pastor Jerome Tyler "JT" Thomas is charismatic behind the pulpit, charming to all he comes in contact with, and lethal to those who linger too long. Since the age of twenty-two, when he prayed for God to keep him out of prison, JT knew he would preach the gospel. Bishop Turner makes it possible; but there are strings attached, and now JT isn't sure he can stay tied down.

Cutting loose causes more problems than JT anticipated. When an old friend from his days on the streets resurfaces and his "extracurricular activity" comes knocking on his front door, JT's life and the lives of those close to him spiral out of control. Now he will need divine intervention to make things right. But how much help can a man hope to receive when he feels he's been forsaken by God?

Intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.

PROLOGUE

“Your husband is cheating on both of us.” Those happy home stealing words ricocheted through Cassandra’s mind as she drove to Faith Outreach Church to confront her husband, Pastor JT Thomas. She willed herself not to cry. Not to think about the five wonderful years of marriage she’d experienced with JT.

She pulled into the first lady’s parking spot, turned off the engine, and put her hand on her swollen stomach. No, she couldn’t even think about the child growing inside her. If her life with the magnificent pastor of Faith Outreach Church had been nothing but a lie, and if the woman that had the audacity to telephone her was telling the truth, then JT was going to admit it to her face.

Pressing her hand into the small of her back, she ambled her way through the fellowship hall. The lower the baby dropped, the harder walking became. But Cassandra loved every minute of being pregnant. This was her second pregnancy. Their first child was a girl, and she had died after only a few precious moments on earth. It was hard to deal with, but she and JT made it through; now they had other problems.

JT’s office was toward the back of the building, right across from the sanctuary. Another ten steps and she would see what the good pastor had to say for himself.

“First Lady, can I get you something?”

Cassandra smiled as she weebled around to greet Deacon Joe Benson, the almost seven foot, solid built man who didn’t talk down to anybody, but still managed to treat her gently. “No. I’m okay.”

“Well, just let me know if you need anything,” he told her.

I need a faithful husband, Cassandra thought, and wanted to beg Deacon Benson to go get that for her. But it wasn’t Deacon Benson’s fault that JT was one way behind the pulpit and quite another at home. So she patted him on the shoulder and said, “I will, Deacon Benson, thank you.”

That should make readers want to get a copy of the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My websites: http://www.vanessamiller.com/  http://www.anointedauthorsontour.com/

www.facebook.com/vanessamiller01  www.myspace.com/vmiller1

Thank you, Vanessa, for this delightful look into your writing career and life.

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/

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

WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS - Christa Allan - Free Book

I love introducing debut authors to you, readers. Welcome, Christa. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Since developing characters is so exhausting, I’m thinking I must be investing all of myself into them! Now, if we’re talking autobiographical, well, if I disclose that, there’d be no surprises in my novels, right? My characters, honestly, are much more interesting than I am.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Just one thing? Hold on, while I go ask my family. . . I have a pen addiction, fine or extra fine points, gels. A while ago, though, I discovered, thanks to one of my students, a disposable fountain pen that’s available in colors. Makes me shiver just to think about it! I’ve been known to run around the house, unable to write because I’m frantically searching for THE pen I need.

I'd like to know where you find disposable fountain pens. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In high school, I was always the chick everyone wanted on the other team in P.E. I couldn’t dance, sing, draw, play music or flirt. I had short hair when long hair was in, curly hair when Cher-hair was popular, and a “fluffy” body when Twiggy appeared. I had enough teen angst to market it in bottles as a new perfume. One day, after watching my friend across the street get picked up by my ex-boyfriend for a date, I put pen to paper and felt healed. That’s when I started writing. Thinking of myself as a writer is something I’ve only recently come to recognize.

The first piece I ever had published was in the college literary magazine, and I wrote it after my freshman boyfriend broke up with me, because we were getting too serious. We had too much school ahead of us to get that serious, he said. I poured out my angst in a short piece. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Fiction from Lisa Samson, Kristen Billerbeck, Mary DeMuth, Charles Martin, Joyce Magnin. Jenny B. Jones’ young adult novels, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s magical realism, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, Philippia Gregory’s historicals, nonfiction from Anne Lamott and Bill Bryson.

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

I don’t keep my sanity; I prefer to donate it. As a high school teacher of 140+ kids, a mother of five, grandmother of two, and wife of one, I lost my sanity quite some time ago and just never bothered to look for it.

I love it. I might just borrow that thought. How do you choose your characters’ names?

All those people who tortured me in life have rabid animals named after them. I use baby name books, phone books, the Social Security register of popular names…steal names from friends and family. It’s almost impossible for me to develop a character without a name.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Holding life together the two years following Hurricane Katrina. We didn’t evacuate [a long story], and managed-by God’s grace-to make it through the storm without extensive damage to our home. But my husband lost his job, so we moved to a city three hours away. We lived in a tiny rent home for over a year, without any of our own stuff except our clothes because everything else was in storage, and we had to move our furniture four times [another long story]. I taught in a new school, my husband worked in a new clinic, we remodeled a home, and lived in it less than a year. The clinic my husband had originally worked for re-opened, so we moved back home. In fact, right back into our home because it hadn’t sold during the years we’d been gone!

That is something to be proud of, making it through so many trying times. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Does Paris Hilton still have that dog? I’m thinking that has to be the way to go if you’re going to be an animal.

What is your favorite food?

I don’t eat liver or mustard greens; everything else is fair play. My absolute favorites are boiled shrimp, cheesecake, and almost any flavor of Blue Bell ice cream.

Blue Bell. I understand that. I have a son-in-law who used to work for Blue Bell, and my freezer always had some. Now my hips do, but the freezer doesn't. Tell us a little about your journey to publication.

So many times those seemingly random events in our lives are all part of God's plan. And following God's plan, at least for me, is like listening to that chick who guides me through my navigation system. Only, with God, it's just His voice, and no map for double checking. I have to trust I'm being led in the right place.

One of the first mile-markers was my husband buying me a laptop. Ever so romantically, he says, "Here, now go write something." And, being the ever- obedient wife, I did. Months later.

I started reading Kristen Billerbeck and Lisa Samson because, (are you ready for this?), I liked their book covers. A voracious reader, I'd never picked up Christian fiction; I expected it to be, well, boring and preachy and unrealistic. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Then, because I didn't know any better, I actually had the chutzpah to email Kristen with these incredibly B-A-D one page notions (think giving someone three raw eggs and telling them it's an omelet) of a book. And Kristen, God bless her unselfish soul, responded. Instead of recommending I repeatedly pound myself on the head with my laptop, she offered gentle suggestions. A writer who had absolutely no idea who I was had emailed me. Amazing.

The internet became my information highway to writers both published and unpublished; I searched and researched, zooming by agent and publisher websites and blogs. Making pit stops as often as possible to learn about and enter writing contests, to refuel with the success of those traveling with me.

Three years, a hurricane, and an ACFW conference later, my tenth graders stroll into my classroom and find me, their teacher, staring at my computer monitor. In tears. Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary wanted to talk. To me.

Ten months, several passes by publishers, and another ACFW conference later, my tenth graders stroll into my classroom, and find me, their teacher, snapping my cell phone closed. In tears. Rachelle called to tell me Abingdon Press had just bought my book.

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

My greatest roadblock was, and sometimes is still, me. Self-doubt, lack of butt-glue, and feeling that gnawing fear that I’ll be a “one book wonder,” can paralyze me. I have to get out of my own way. When I really have the muggley-wumps, I call my friends, my agent, or whoever answers the phone to walk me off the ledge.

I understand the "one book wonder" thing. I experienced it for ten years. But God had another plan. What advice would you give to others who are trying to get their first book published?

Pray. Trust that God has a plan, and know that it’s probably not the same one you have for Him! Follow those who have walked through the land mine before you, and listen to those who have achieved the success that you want to achieve. Pray. Be teachable. Attend writing conferences. Read agent and editor blogs. Pray. Read books that delight and engage you. Learn from them. Pray. Encourage others in their journey. Pray.

Tell us about the featured book?

Leah Thorton’s life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice in the supermarket shatters the façade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears. When her best friend gets in Leah’s face about her reliance on alcohol to avoid dealing with her life, Leah must make an agonizing choice. Seek help against her husband’s wishes? Or—put herself first for once? Joy and sadness converge and unwelcome insights intrude, testing Leah’s commitment to sobriety, her marriage, her motherhood, and her faith.

Narrated by Leah, this novel starts with a funny yet tragic epiphany, setting the stage for a story dealing with difficult circumstances with dry humor. While the topics are serious, they’re approached with Leah’s sometimes sassy, often sarcastic, usually self-deprecating humor.

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

PROLOGUE

If I had known children break on the inside and the cracks don’t surface until years later, I would have been more careful with my words.

If I had known some parents don’t live to watch grandchildren grow, I would have taken more pictures and been more careful with my words.

If I had known couples can be fragile and want what they are unprepared to give or unwilling to take, I would have been more careful with my words.

If I had known teaching lasts a lifetime, and students don’t speak of their tragic lives, I would have been more careful with my words.

If I had known my muscles and organs and bones and skin are not lifetime guarantees that when broken, snagged, unstitched or unseemly, can not be replaced, I would have been kinder to the shell that prevents my soul from leaking out.

If I had known I would live over half my life and have to look at photographs to remember my mother adjusting my birthday party hat so that my father could take the picture that sliced the moment out of time—if I had known, if I had known—I would have been more careful with my life.

Wow! I can hardly wait to read the book now. How can the readers find you on the Internet?

My website: http://www.christaallan.com/
www.facebook.com/christa.allen
http://twitter.com/ChristaAllen

Christa, what a fun time we had with you. Thank you.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

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

A STAR CURIOUSLY SINGING - Kerry Nietz - Free Book

The featured book was chosen as the featured book by the ACFW Book Club and will be discussed later in the year during their Sci-Fi month. If you want to join that book club, go to http://www.acfw.com/ to find the link. Welcome, Kerry. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I spent a good chunk of my life as a programmer in the software industry, first at a company called Fox Software and then for Microsoft. The main character in A Star Curiously Singing is this technologically-enhanced man (named Sandfly) whose entire life is spent fixing machines. So, clearly there is a part of me in Sandfly. The pressures he faces—trying to solve difficult problems, deadlines, having the boss breathing down your neck—are all very familiar to me.

There are many differences between us too, though. Sandfly is bald, for instance.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I was in a Whirlyball league for like two seasons. Maybe not too quirky, but there can’t be that many people who play sports involving bumper cars, trackball scoops, whiffle balls and electrified floors.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

About the same time I discovered I was a reader. My mother still finds scraps of things I wrote when I was a kid—the beginnings of stories. I didn’t get serious about it until much, much later, though.

In my early thirties, I happened to sit beside an elderly gentleman on a plane who was a published writer. When I mentioned that I hoped to write a book someday, he said “Well, start early! You might get published before you die.” I took that as a sign. I’ve been hacking away at something ever since.

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

Though science fiction is a preference, I read a broad range of books. In fact, I tend to alternate between non-fiction books and novels. In non-fiction, I read everything from biographies, to current events, to politics and works to encourage my faith. Some of my favorite fictional authors are: Michael Crichton, Jack Mcdevitt, Frank Peretti, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov.

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

I have another published work, a non-fiction book entitled FoxTales. It is a memoir of my first years in the software industry. Twas a crazy, crazy time. I also have about a half-dozen books in my personal slush stack. Some are pretty good, others are just stepping stones—learning experiences—that brought me to where I am today.

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

I work out regularly. Normally three times a week. It is a habit I started almost twenty years ago. I’m also in the habit of having a daily quiet time, no matter how hectic life seems to be. Lastly, I think my family keeps me sane. Anything that makes me laugh that much has to be good for me.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Similar to how many people figure out which Bible verse to read for the day. I let the dictionary fall open, stick my finger on a word, and voila, character name!

Just kidding...

Actually I find two words, slap them together, and call that my character name. That method only works for A Star Curiously Singing, though, because the characters live in a future where the rules for naming have changed. I have pretty unusual character names: Sandfly, HardCandy, TallSpot…

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m proud of my kids. Maybe because they’re not teenagers yet. Aside from that, I think having my name on a cover is pretty cool.

Of course, it is. Just holding that book in your hands for the first time is a special thrill. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

This isn’t one of those psychological profile questions is it? Because that’s way too much information to be giving out on the Internet.

Alright, just to confuse the judges, I’d like to be something mythical. Perhaps a were-rabbit.

My readers really like the fun questions. What is your favorite food?

Hey, my workout partners could be reading this! Do I want them to know that I can’t resist ice cream in any form, especially if it has candy in it? Heck no!

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

Getting someone to pay attention to all the insight I was trying to bestow on the world. Actually, that might still be a problem…especially after this interview.

If you’re asking technically, I’m sure my publisher would say I skimp on description. That’s a fairly common problem, though. The solution is to have someone read over your work with a discerning eye. Someone brave enough to say: “Turn the lights on in this scene. I can’t see anything!”

I love a person why says that. Actually, I teach workshops on how to include description in books without overwhelming or boring the reader. What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Start early. You might get published before you die.

Tell us about the featured book.

A Star Curiously Singing is a speculative Christian novel with a decidedly cyberpunk feel. It takes place in a future hundreds of years from now, where much of the world is living under something akin to sharia law.

It is dualistic society, where average people live on the streets in near-squalor and the powerful ride above them in cable-car-like conveyances. This latter group is shrouded in high tech, to the point of needing specialized debuggers to handle their machines.

That’s where my protagonist comes in. Sandfly is a debugger who’s summoned to solve the mystery of why a bot malfunctioned. The unusual circumstance? The bot has been to space. Deep space. Something about the trip made it malfunction…

Please give us the first page of the book.

I’ll do better than that; I can give you the first couple chapters!

Just go to: www.marcherlordpress.com/A_Star_Curiously_Singing.htm

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Either http://www.kerrynietz.com/  or http://www.nietz.com/  will work. (That’s right; I own the whole Nietz domain. I’m holding the entire family hostage!)

Thank you, Kerry, for spending this time with us. I look forward to the ACFW Book Club discussion of your book.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/  
Here's a link where you can order the book: