Author's Bio: I have lived in twenty-seven places in eight states (so far) and have visited nearly all. When I'm not writing? I judge a number of top writing contests and love my work as a manuscript editor and biographer. I am also Mom to two sons, one daughter, a rescued American Eskimo dog, thirteen parakeets, and an aquarium full of fish. The children I homeschool; the dog I taught to sit. She also barks at parked cars.
In my spare time, you're likely to find me baking, gardening, behind a camera, or hugging a horse.
Welcome, Tammy. I love your new picture. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
Wow—He certainly has! It’s difficult to see past next year—and God has a way of tilting Earth under me and sending me in unexpected directions—but I see three to four new books in the next year . . . and perhaps even something coming of the few whispers I’ve heard about The Sierra Chronicles being considered for film production. Truly, only God knows.
What are you working on right now?
Recently, I returned from an unforgettable trip out West, where I dove into research for my next trilogy, set in the gorgeous Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. Some amazing history there, and some almost-unbelievable true stories. I’m so excited to see how the new series is unfolding.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
The setting has to be the American West, and the setting has to include mountains, which I dearly love—the vistas, forests, wildlife, and waterfalls. Each trilogy will be set in its own mountain range or valley at the mountains’ foot. The setting and its history must be conducive to a little mystery, even more suspense, and great romance.
Tell us about the featured book?
The Sierra Chronicles, book three—Faith’s Reward
The year 1865 starts out as a nightmare come true for Jessica Bennett. The cattle she and her husband, Jake, fought to save from drought the summer before now face the threat of freezing to death. Her fears worsen when Jake contracts pneumonia.
Springtime brings trials of a different kind—the snowmelt causes the ranch to thrive so much that Jake must sell off the last of their cattle to make room for their horses and the young foals to be born. In the meantime, Jess endeavors to recover her rightful inheritance, which mysteriously disappeared from the bank. When she discovers a link between the banker and a group of murderous Unionists, who continue to target Southerners even though the war is over, Jake launches an undercover investigation.
The conspiracy runs deeper and wider than either of them could have imagined. Jess must put her life—and the life of her unborn child—at risk to stop the ringleader and save the lives of many others. Yet, Jess refuses to give up hope in the God she serves—a God of love who often provides above and beyond our greatest dreams.
Sounds interesting. Please give us the first page of the book.
Honey Lake Valley, northern California
January 1865
“Jake?”
Jessica Bennett jolted upright in bed, her hand trembling as it searched the cold sheets in the darkness beside her. Her fingers brushed Jake’s equally cold pillow, then the soft fur of the cat that huddled on it, the only trace of warmth in the place where her husband had gone to sleep beside her. “Jake?”
Wind rattled the windowpane with nearly enough force to crack it. The terrible cold seeped through the glass and turned the bedroom to ice. Jess hugged her flannel nightgown firmly to her and sat still and alert, straining to hear over the storm for any indication of movement in the house, either upstairs or downstairs. She heard no thud of boot heels on the plank floor, no jingle of spurs to suggest any presence inside the house but hers.
Judging by the thick darkness, dawn was still hours away. Though she and Jake had worked until they were exhausted—sometime after midnight—he must have rested in bed until she fell asleep, but no longer than that. Once he was certain she and the baby within her were at rest, he’d gone back to work and joined the next shift of cattlemen who fought to keep their horses and cattle alive, digging them out of the snow and providing hay to stimulate their bodies’ heat.
The misty darkness abruptly grew darker, closing in around her.
Then, blackness.
An image flashed through her mind—She stood in boot-deep snow under a gray sky, a Henry rifle gripped in her hands. At her sides stood two of the cattlemen. More than a dozen Paiute Indian men stepped forward to stand alongside them. She recognized one Paiute who worked at the ranch. The others were strangers. Their faces revealed fear, and resolve. In front of her, perhaps five paces away, stood thirty or more renegade white men who, as one, reached their hands to their holsters, drew their guns, then took aim at Jess and the Indians. Jess cocked the Henry rifle, pressed the butt to her shoulder, and sighted down the barrel at the cold, glittering blue eyes of the man who aimed the bore of his revolver at her. Though fear burned like liquid fire beneath her skin, she firmed her grip, shifted her index finger from the rifle’s trigger guard to the curve of the metal trigger. And pulled….
Wow! That pulls us right into the action. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Here’s my Web site:
http://www.tammybarley.com/index.html
And one more nifty thing . . .
The Sierra Chronicles book two, Hope’s Promise (now available!), comes with a contest: Hope's Promise Vacation-for-a-Day Contest—Read Hope’s Promise for a chance to win a horseback riding adventure for your whole family!
ALSO, The Sierra Chronicles book three, Faith’s Reward, comes with a contest of its own: Faith’s Reward Day-of-Your-Dreams Contest! If you were given the chance to dream up your perfect day, what would it be? A day at the spa? A fabulous massage? A mani-pedi? Hours of free shopping at the stores of your choice? All of the above? How about anything you want, plus the ability to take your best buddy with you? You got it! =) Read Faith’s Reward for a chance to win the day of your dreams!
For details and to enter, visit http://www.tammybarley.com/Bookshelf.html .
Thank you so much, Lena! It’s such a joy to visit your blog.
And I'm always glad to host you, Tammy.
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
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/
32 comments:
What a gripping opening page. Can't wait to read the rest.
coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
I live in the midwest
Hi Robyn!
Greetings, fellow Midwesterner! I'm delighted you like the opening page. You'll have to hang on to your seat for the rest of it. =)
Blessings!
Tammy
Would love to be entered in this giveaway. Thanks so much!
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com
Nauvoo, IL
Wow, this book is a gotta read. Thanks for the interview and that awesome opening that had me holding my breath.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this book. Anytime there are indians in a book on "our" side it's so rare you better read it. ybutler@oppcatv.com
Would love to win.
Lourdes11743[at]gmail[dot]com
Huntington,NY
I would love to learn more about Jess and Jake in Faith's reward. Hope's promise was a suspenseful can't put down book.
Thanks,
Rebecca
Oxford NC
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com
This book sounds great and I would love to read it.
I live in GA.
edwina(dot)cowgill(at)yahoo(dot)com
Faith's Reward looks very good! And what a nice interview...I imagine there must be some sort of story to the 13 parakeets? Saying an early Happy New Year from snowy MN!
Thanks!
Hi, Charity, Miss Kallie, Grannyvon, Lourdes, Rebecca, Edwina, and HoldenJ! You lovely ladies are entered!
Yep, there's a story to the parakeets. I love animals and came across several 'keets that needed a good home. Then they paired up, and we've had three clutches of babies in the last year. We currently have 13 adults and 3 babies (whom we are hand-feeding around the clock). They're SO cute! Sooner or later, I'm sure baby birds will make an appearance in one of my books. =)
Hugs!
Tammy
Please consider me for this giveaway!
Many blessings and smiles:)
Charlotte, Ohio
chakasa58 at gmail dot com
Great page! Would love to read the rest!
dancealert at aol dot com
Sounds like another good book.
Wendy
Buffalo, MN
I would love to be entered!
Please enter me in this giveaway - Thanks! (I am in Tennessee)
seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like another great book. Miriam from Ohio. You are always posting about some interesting books. Thanks for you time and effort in reviewing and sharing these books with us.
Happy Tuesday, Charlotte Kay, Brenda, Wendy, Judylynn, Miriam,and Herd mom! You are entered to win the copy of Faith's Reward!
Yep, Lena does wonderful interviews. What a blessing that she and other bloggers like her enable writers and readers to connect. (I've even won a book via a blog--it's SO fun!)
God's great blessings for a beautiful day!
Tammy
Before I forget--February 14th will be the day I draw a name to win a Vacation-for-a-Day. ALSO, my next drawing for a vacation contest--win The Day of Your Dreams--begins soon! Visit http://www.tammybarley.com/Bookshelf.html for details and to enter! =)
I love the cover of Faith's Reward and would love to win a copy.
I live in the northeastern corner of Indiana.
Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com
I live in North Dakota
Thanks for a chance to win this book
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Hi, Cindy and Apple Blossom! It's great to see you both again.
Northeastern Indiana and North Dakota? Sounds like you ladies enjoyed a snowy Christmas just as we did here in northern Illinois.
Thank you for visiting Lena's blog and entering the drawing! =)
Tammy
Sounds like a great book! Please count me in!
Nancye from Kentucky
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Nancye from Kentucky--my favorite place on planet Earth!--you are entered, m'dear! =)
Blessings!
Tammy
Hi. I'm Beth from Iowa. Please enter me for this book.
Happy almost New Year, Beth! You are entered! Thank you so much for visiting. =)
Blessings!
Tammy
Tammy, what an amazing author you are. I read HOPE'S PROMISE. Can't wait to read FAITH'S REWARD. I agree God has really been moving in your writing life. I would love to watch a movie about The Sierra Chronicles, keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Thank you so much, Lena for this interview with Tammy.
I live in the piedmont area of North Carolina.
Rebecca
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh wow...want to continue reading. Please include me!
Thank you so much for your kind comments, Rebecca! You made my day. (Actually, you made my day yesterday too, but while I was online trying to respond, the wind blew out my power before I could publish my comment. Chicago weather--Oy!) =) If it becomes a movie, I think Hugh Jackman would be a great Jake. =)
Happy New Year, Maureen! Thank you for visiting! The opening, as the saying goes, is only the beginning. =)
Blessings!
Tammy
What a great giveaway. I would love to read this. I live in Little Rock, Arkansas but I am originally from Connecticut :)
Thanks for the great giveaway!
mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com
Happy Wednesday, Miss Reneer! Thank you for visiting and for your kind comment! You've done some traveling too. I love exploring and seeing what's over the next hill--or in the next state. Addictive, isn't it? =)
Thanks so much for the interview and excerpt. I live in S. California.
Hi, Bakersdozen! My pleasure! Hope you folks in S. California are recovering from the heavy rains. I've been praying for you!
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