LOVE FINDS YOU IN BRIDAL VEIL, OREGON - Miralee Ferrell - Free Book

I'm just loving these Love Finds You books. And Miralee has an interesting town, doesn't she? Welcome, Miralee. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

The major themes are restoration, acceptance and renewal. In The Other Daughter, we saw a marriage renewed where trust had been damaged, and the life of an innocent girl restored to her natural father. In Love Finds You in Last Chance, California., we meet Alexia, and watch her struggle with the issue of being accepted for who she is. She needed to learn that true unconditional love and acceptance only comes from God, and that’s what we should seek first. In my newest release, Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, we see a young woman trying to reconcile hurt from the past with a loving heavenly Father. She has to come to a place of laying down her own desires, and allowing God to restore her peace and faith in the people who’ve hurt her. I try to weave a strong spiritual thread through each book without being preachy or in your face. It’s part of the story, rather than a story of its own.

That's what I try to do, too. What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I have two releasing early in 2010. Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, with Summerside Press, released Feb 1st. Bridal Veil is another historical that’s set in 1902 in the Columbia River Gorge, east of Portland, Oregon. It has a bit of a mystery woven throughout, as well as romance, and several very strong secondary characters. I did a lot of research on the area and town, and weave in a number of things that actually happened during that time period.

Finding Jeena, the sequel to The Other Daughter, Kregel Publications, is women’s contemporary fiction and releases April 30. It follows Jeena, a strong secondary character from the first book and deals with economic and social issues facing a lot of families today. We’ll find out what drives Jeena, who is very materialistic and career oriented, and live through her eyes as she encounters setbacks that will make her examine what’s really important in life.

I was privileged to be an endorser of Finding Jeena. You readers will love it, too. Miralee, if you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

This is a tough one, as I have spiritual heroes, ones in the entertainment industry, authors, and people I’ve known over the years and lost touch with. I was going to choose Jan Karon, as I so enjoy her writing and doubt I’ll ever have the chance to meet her, but someone else comes to mind as I’m writing this. Years ago we took a girl named Ande (short for Andrea) into our home and she lived with us for almost 3 yrs. She married & they moved a lot, as her husband was in the Army. We lost track of her and I’ve been unable to locate her. I’d love to find her again and be able to spend a day catching up and giving her a hug.

How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Only about four years. When I started writing, it was non-fiction and I didn’t believe I had the creativity to write fiction. A friend nudged and encouraged me, telling me I could do it if I tried. Now that I’m writing fiction, I can’t imagine not doing so. I still enjoy doing a little nonfiction on the side, but fiction has become my true passion.

What can you tell authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Rejections are incredibly painful, especially when you’ve poured your heart into what you’re presenting to an editor and they turn it down. It feels personal somehow, like they’ve rejected you. I’d urge those contending with constant rejections to see it in a different light. Most of you are probably writing because you feel called—it’s a passion that pulls you and you MUST write. If that’s the case, then write for the joy it brings, rather than for the end result of publication. As you hone your craft and develop as a writer, your work will shine and eventually be recognized. But don’t write for the sole purpose of being published—write to bring glory to God, to fulfill your passion, and for the enjoyment it brings. Don’t lose sight of that joy by letting rejection crush your spirit. God’s timing is perfect for all things, including publication—give it to Him and He’ll bring it to pass in His time.

Tell us about the featured book?

I’m not going to give you the back cover summary, since you can find that online. Instead, I’d like to tell you a couple of things not directly related to the story line. First, there are two children in the book—Samantha, a 13 year-old girl and Joel, her 14 year-old brother. Joel is “special”, and has a hard time learning and reasoning, but he’s a sweetheart. I fell in love with these two kids as they grew and changed, and grew to love my main characters even more as I watched them interact with Sammie and Joel. They play a part in the mystery woven through the plot, as do several other secondary characters.

Margaret is my heroine and she’s trapped in a dilemma. She fell in love with a man when she was barely seventeen, and lost that love when he unexpectedly left town. Now, four years later, Nathaniel returns to Bridal Veil, but Margaret is already being courted by Andrew, a local man who works at the sawmill in town. Life is going to get very complex for them all with the arrival of the children, a murder, and a tragedy that strikes the town.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Bridal Veil, Oregon
July, 1898

Yes.

The simple word staring up at Jacob Garvey from the piece of white paper hit him so hard it nearly knocked him to his knees. He’d been afraid of something like this for weeks. The note tucked in the wooden box lying under the tree confirmed his fears.

Maybe this wasn’t what it seemed. Jacob turned the piece of paper over, hoping to find an explanation. His hand trembled as his gaze slid over the words printed in the bold handwriting.

Margaret. I’m leaving town this evening and not coming back. I want to marry you. I’ll come for your answer after work. If I find the word Yes, then I’ll meet you here after dark. Only bring what you need. I love you and can’t wait to make you my wife.—Nathaniel

P. S. If I don’t find your reply, I’ll know you can’t go through with it.

A soft groan passed Jacob’s lips, and he rocked on his heels. His eyes returned to the answer written in his daughter’s clear script—willing it to change, willing it to disappear. Yes. Margaret was everything to him, and had filled the awful void after his dear wife died. His sweet girl deserved so much better. There had to be a way to protect her from her own immaturity.

Why did Margaret persist in seeing Nathaniel Cooper? To his way of thinking, the man had no prospects and even less ambition. The Garvey family might not have much in the way of money, but they had history—their roots extended back to some of the hardy pioneers who helped settle this land.

What did that young man have? Hopeless dreams and no family—at least, none that Jacob knew of. A drifter with no prospects whom Margaret had only met a scant six months ago. From what he’d heard, Cooper jumped from one job to the next, with no thought for the future. He’d only lasted less than a year here and was already moving on. Margaret could end up destitute if that ne’er-do-well wasn’t careful. Besides, she was only sixteen.

Jacob placed the paper back in the box and stood. He’d hide the box with the note inside until he was sure Margaret’s future was safe. When Nathaniel came back, he’d think she didn’t want to marry him and leave town. He snapped the lid shut and hurried back down the trail, anxious to get home.

You're really leaving us hanging. I can't wait for my book to arrive. How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me several places. My website is http://www.miraleeferrell.com/

My blog is http://www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com/ , I have a Twitter and a Facebook account, just use my first and last name to find me, and I have a Reader’s Group on Facebook as well, just do a search for Miralee Ferrell’s Readers Group. I’m also active on Shelfari, Goodreads, Shoutlife and a few other sites; just do a search and I’ll be happy to add you!

Thank you for spending this time with us, Miralee. I just love your cover and your author photo as well.
 
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