Friday, June 04, 2010

FINAL TOUCH - Brandilyn & Amberly Collins - Free Book

We've come to the last book in the Rayne Tour series. Welcome back, Brandilyn. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I grew up in a Christian home so was always taught the gospel. I had some rebellious years as a young adult, but then came back to the Lord when I married my husband, Mark, over 28 years ago.

How did you and your spouse meet?

Through business. We were working for the same company at the time. When we married, I had to let go of the job—but Mark was worth it.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

I can’t limit it to four. I do have a writers’ retreat every year in our Idaho home. There are eleven of us. We each get a plotting session. We tend to plot in the mornings and early afternoons and then play the rest of the day. The group is also connected throughout the year via an email loop. We pray for and encourage each other. Published authors in the group include me, Trisha Goyer, Sharon Dunn, Robin Lee Hatcher, Karen Ball, Francine Rivers, Sunni Jeffers, and Tamara Alexander.

Sounds like a real fun group. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I teach at writers’ conferences and do the emceeing at the ACFW conference each year. I’m open to speaking also, but the timing would have to be right. Unfortunately, I have to turn down far more invitations than I can take, due to my writing schedule.

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

You know, I have real trouble remembering a terribly embarrassing moment. Probably because I just don’t embarrass easily. I figure nobody’s perfect, so if someone sees me do something stupid—well, that’s just what happens sometimes.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I nod and say, “Good for you.” And ask them about their book ideas. Inside I’m thinking, “Don’t quit your day job.”

I've said that very thing to several authors. Tell us about the featured book?

Final Touch is the third and final in the Rayne Tour series--young adult suspense co-written with my daughter, Amberly. If you haven’t read books one and two, Always Watching, and Last Breath, do that first! Don’t even read the rest of this answer or the first page of Final Touch, because it will be a spoiler for the first two books.

(I agree with Brandilyn on this.)

In Final Touch Shaley, daughter of a rock star, faces the biggest danger she’s ever faced. On the very day she’s dreamed of all her life, tragedy hits. Moments away from the wedding ceremony of her mom and dad--who was absent for most of Shaley’s life--Shaley is kidnapped.
Please give us the first page of the book.
“I’ve been dreaming of this day my entire life!”

Happiness bubbled within me until I could hardly contain it. Today my mom and my long-lost father were marrying. For the first time we’d be a family—a real family, living under the same roof. I’d come home from high school to a mom and a dad. How I’d begged God for that. How I’d yearned for it, ever since I was little and wondered where my father was. Who he was. Now I wanted to shout and sing and dance. And I may have, except that I was dressed to the nines as a maid of honor in beautiful coral silk, and I didn’t dare get sweaty.

Instead I gently cupped my hands around Mom’s cheeks. We smiled at each other. Then my throat started to tighten. Uh-oh. My mouth wavered, and so did Mom’s. Tears filled our eyes.

“Oh, no!” I pulled back and waved my hands in the air. “No-no-no, I do not want to cry!”
We both were fully made up, as were the other bridesmaids in the room, Brittany and Kim. The wedding would start in forty-five minutes. This was not the time to mess up our mascara.

“Here, Shaley.” My best friend, Brittany, thrust a tissue into my hand, then gave one to my mom. That’s Brittany—always ready. “Blot. Carefully.”

Mom and I smiled lopsidedly at each other as we pressed the tissues to the corners of our eyes.

I’ve seen my mom glamoured up for countless concerts and interviews. But I’d never seen her so beautiful as on this day. Her wedding gown was designer gorgeous, fitted at Mom’s slim waist, beaded all over, and with a long satiny train. Rimming the train were coral-colored little pearls, matching the bridesmaid dresses. Mom’s blonde hair was up, with a flower-topped veil attached and hanging to the floor as a gossamer layer over the train. She looked stunning. And not just because her make-up and hair were perfect. Because she was so happy on the inside. Gary Donovon, the high school sweetheart who’d been wrenched from her life eighteen years ago, would become her husband today.
“Looks good.” Kim, keyboard player for Mom’s rock band—named Rayne after Mom—smiled as she took the tissue from my mother’s hand and threw it away. “No more tears now.”
Mom shook her head, her face lit with joy. “No more tears.”

I love it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Read about all my books, including first chapters, on my Web site: http://www.brandilyncollins.com/ . I blog at Forensics and Faith: http://www.forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/ . I’m also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/brandilyncollins. And Twitter: www.twitter.com/brandilyn .

Brandilyn, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview with us.

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24 comments:

Cindy W. said...

Thank you for the great post. I'm looking foward to reading the Final Touch. Love the cover by the way.

Many blessings,
Cindy W

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Trinity Rose said...

I love any books by Brandilyn Collins and can't wait to read this one. Please enter me in the giveaway. Love this kind of book. Look forward to seeing how Amberly has made Brandilyn's books better, if that is possible.
Thanks,
Trinity Rose

Anonymous said...

please count me in...thanks

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Brittanie said...

Enter me please. I have read the first two books in the series.
treewaterduchess at yahoo dot com

grannyvon said...

Great Interview. I would love to win "Final Touch" Want to read books that have two authors. This is unique to me. Thanks for the chance to win! ybutler@oppcatv.com

~ Brandilyn Collins said...

Thanks, Lena, for the interview!

Judylynn said...

Ms. Collins is one of my favorite authors.

Please enter me in this giveaway - Thanks!

seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

misskallie2000 said...

Great interview. I have added Brandilyn and Amberly to my new author list and the book to my wish list. I would love to read as it sounds like my kind of book.
Thanks for stopping by to chat.


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Lady Araujo said...

It sounds great. I'd love to read this book.
Please, enter me.
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com

Coolestmommy said...

So happy to see 'decent' suspense books for young adults. I loved suspense when I was young, but there wasn't much that was 'decent' for a younger person to read. Sounds like a great book and series.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

apple blossom said...

please include me name. Thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

rbooth43 said...

Great Review on Final Touch. I enjoy reading Brandilyn Collins novels. Winning one would be great!
Thanks!
God Bless!

rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sara said...

Sooo psyched to have this book giveaway. Brandilyn Collins while I would never assume to be your number one fan you are my favorite author . . . . hmm maybe tied with Colleen Coble :-D. Can't wait to read this 3rd installment and would love to win this novel !!!

artist4christ -@- cyberhaus -.- us

Anita Yancey said...

This sounds like a great book. I would enjoy reading it. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would really like to read the book. Nice interview.

dancealert at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

The Final Touch looks like a wonderful book. I would love to read this. thank you
trishbazin(at)yahoo.com

Naasom André said...

Great post and this book sounds very interesting. Enter me in this giveaway, please.

letrassantas[at]hotmail[dot]com

thecoolmom said...

This sounds like a wonderful book. i would love to read it.

Nancye said...

This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Marla said...

I love Brandilyn's books. Haven't read any by her and her daughter yet, but I'm sure I would love them. Would pass on to a teen girl I am caregiver of as I know she would love them. Thank you for the giveaway.

Abby said...

I've read the first book and part of the second and they are really good!! Please enter me in the drawing.

~Abby

a . w . squishy @ gmail . com

Cherie J said...

Enjoyed the interview. n Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you1