LADY IN THE MIST - Laurie Alice Eakes - 2 Winners, Free Book and Either a Tote or Mug

I've been looking forward to this interview for quite a while. I was privileged to read this manuscript for an endorsement, and fell in love with the people and the story. Welcome, Laurie Alice. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

These are the kind of books I like to read—adventure, mystery/suspense, and, above all, romance. Although I enjoy other genres, the historical romance has been my preference since I discovered them about twenty years ago.

Since I also love writing historical romance books, I understand. I love reading them, too. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

This one is difficult. I’ve had a lot of happy days in my life—getting married, making my first sale, and my second and… :-) Winning awards. . . I don’t honestly think I can pin down one day.

How has being published changed your life?

How much space do I have? I think I could write a book just about that. Especially in the last two years, when I started making significant sales, I have had to think through what my behavior, my words, my whole demeanor conveys to the public. Although I think that as a Christian, too, it’s a bit different now. I have an audience, a special audience, that comes from all faiths and all walks of life. If I’m too opinionated on certain issues—and I am opinionated—I could alienate someone.

Yes, besides the writing full-time aspect, I believe I have become a more thoughtful and considerate person. Funny what things God uses to change our hearts.

What are you reading right now?

I’m actually between books and deciding what to read next. Mostly I’ve been reading critiques and contest entries—and my own edits.

What is your current work in progress?

I have two at the moment. I am editing my second midwife book, out next February, and working on another book for Avalon, which right now I call my lady lawyer book.

They both sound very interesting. I'll want to feature them on my blog. What would be your dream vacation?

I want to stay in a Scottish castle. Although I’ve been to continental Europe three times, I haven't yet made it to Great Britain, especially Scotland. Or maybe I just want to go to a warm sunny island and lie around on the sun-baked sand.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

That depends on the book. Sometimes, like with the midwife series, I came up with the story first, then thought of the best setting for it. But with my Heartsongs, I chose the setting, then read about the place until I came up with the story. Mostly though, I pick places I like or find interesting. Virginia is special to me. I have a tie to it, besides having lived there for a considerable percentage of my life, so I love books set there.

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

I think I’m supposed to pick someone famous, but, frankly, I think it would have to be my sister. I don’t think the two of us have spent an evening together just the two of us since we were children, and I have a lot of things I’d like to ask her, as her life has been so different from mine so far. Besides, she’s just an interesting woman in her own right.

You can choose whoever you want to for the answer, and your choice was a good one. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I don’t know if I have a “hobby.” I knit a little but am not very good at it. I like doing a lot of things like hiking and watching movies and listening to music, especially live music. If I could indulge this, which I can't where I currently live, I would probably make a hobby of finding new musicians to go listen to.

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

Self-doubt. Definitely self-doubt. Despite selling 15 books and a novella, winning a major award and finalling in another, I just can’t believe that I’m writing things people want to read.

That is something I believe all authors face from time to time. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Finish. It’s the best advice I ever received. You can’t submit an unfinished manuscript and sell it, with a few exceptions. At some point, you have to let the work go. Once you do, sit down and start another one; don’t sit around and wait to learn the fate of the first one.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here is the back cover copy, and it’s so much more, a subtle allegory of our old life and new life in Christ. How? That’s telling too much of the story. It’s a book that took me a long time to write, not the actually story. I wrote it in four months, but the actual idea and concept took a long time to germinate and come to fruition. I think this makes it more special.

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets.

Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, what he, a British aristocrat, is doing on American soil working as an indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and . . . love? But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

With stirring writing that draws you directly into the story, Lady in the Mist takes you on the thrilling ride of love’s discovery.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Seabourne, Virginia
May 1809

"I'm sorry." Tabitha Eckles dared not look Harlan Wilkins in the eye. If she witnessed even a flicker of grief, the floodgates of her own tears would spring open and drown her good sense in a moment when she needed all of it. "I did everything I could to save your wife."

"I'm sure you did." Wilkins's tone held no emotion. He stood next to the dining room sideboard with the rigidity of a porch pillar. Candlelight played across the lower half of his face, sparkling in the crystal glass he held to his lips without drinking, without speaking further.

"The baby came too soon ..." Tabitha needed to say something more to a husband who had just lost his young bride of only six months, as well as their son. "After the accident—"

"Did she regain consciousness?" Wilkins lashed out the words. The amber contents of his glass sloshed, sending the sharp scent of spirits wafting around him.

Tabitha jumped. "No. I mean, yes. That is—" She took a breath to steady her racing heart and give herself a moment to think of a safe answer. "She mumbled a lot of nonsense."

At least Tabitha hoped it was nonsense, the ravings of a woman in terrible pain.

Readers, this is only a tiny taste of the wonderful story.

Laurie Alice, how can readers find you on the Internet?

I have a web site that has my books, some stuff about me, reviews, and excerpts. I also have a blog, which I’ve just revived.
http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/
http://www.seizethechance.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Laurie Alice, for this fun visit today.
 
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. On this interview, the winner will have to be from the US. (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/

BLOOD COVENANT - Lisa Harris - Free Book

I'm always glad to welcome my friend, Lisa Harris, to the blog. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?

To be honest, one thing I am constantly reminded of in this publishing journey is that I can write stories, continue to learn the craft, and submit to publishers, but in the end I have little control over the future. In spite of that, God has blessed me lately with opportunities to be able to write books that combine issues that are on my heart with fiction, something I am very grateful for. I’d love to be able to continue writing fiction that not only gives the reader a fast-paced adventure, but stories that stretch people’s worldview as well.

I love that your books do that so well. Readers, Lisa and her family are missionaries in Africa. Her books take me there, and I know the settings are authentic. Now, Lisa, what conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?

Even though living overseas makes going to yearly conferences a challenge, I’ve still been blessed to attend several of the ACFW conferences over the past few years. We are now back in the States temporarily, and while I was unable to go to a conference, it worked out for me to visit my publisher, Zondervan, and meet in person with my editor and marketing director, as well as my publicist. Meeting face-to-face with all of them has been a real blessing. I’ve also been able to connect with a few of my writing buddies [including you, Lena :-) ] which has been a big encouragement for me.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?

It’s a bit of a unique perspective, but I would love to hear from readers themselves as to what books have changed and challenged them the most and why.

That would be interesting. Maybe we should work on that for another year. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

I think it’s very important to be as active as possible in a writing organization. They are a wonderful place to meet other writers, get advice, grow in your craft, and make connections with editors and publishers. I’m so thankful for the friends I have made through writing organizations.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?

My family is blessed to be able to work fulltime in ministry overseas. Besides my involvement with that, I also started a non-profit organization this past year. The ECHO Project was birthed out of a need to meet the physical needs of the people we work with in Africa.

I love the ECHO Project that you and Lynne started. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?

Wow, do I have to limit it to five? I guess because I’m home with family for the first time in a long time, I’m reminded again of how blessed I am to have such a supportive family. From my husband who has always believed in me and who encourages me to reach for my dreams, to my mom who’s always been there for me, rooting me on. I’ve also been blessed with the example of my husband’s aunt and uncle, Allen and Janelle Avery, who lived in Africa over forty years. We were able to work with them until Allen passed away last summer, but his impact on me and others will last a very long time. I’ve also been greatly impacted by missionaries like Jim Elliot and others who once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” What incredible words of truth, that continue to keep me focused on what really matters.

When I wrote for Accelerated Christian Education, I wrote the videoscript for a feature on Jim Elliot. That saying of his has stayed with me for years. If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?

She lived with no regrets.

Tell us about the featured book.

Blood Covenant is book two in my Mission Hopes series from Zondervan and a story I’m so excited to share with you. Here is the description from Zondervan’s website. “From the explosive first pages, Lisa Harris weaves a tale of heart-stopping suspense and adventure with her second book in the Mission Hope Series.

When fighting erupts between government forces and renegade Ghost Soldiers deep within the Republic of Dhambizao, thousands are forced to leave their homes. Dr. Paige Ryan, who works with Volunteers of Hope International, is sent to lead a team to set up a refugee transit site—where the immediate needs for shelter, water, sanitation, and food are critical. Nick Gilbert, a bush pilot for Compassion Air, joins the team to help fly supplies in and out of the area.

With the refugee camp already experiencing overcrowding, raids, and uprisings, a group of American mountain climbers is attacked by the Ghost Soldiers. Paige’s medical team responds immediately, rescuing survivors and taking them into the camp. When it’s discovered that one of the trekkers is carrying an infectious disease, the harrowing conditions of the camp are forgotten.

In desperate need of vaccines and the Ghost Soldiers blocking the only road out until their demands for amnesty are met, it won’t be long before the disease is out of control … and there is nowhere to run.

I can't wait until I get my book. I loved the first one in the series and have been waiting impatiently for the second one. Please share the first page with us.

PROLOGUE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 3:48 P.M.
Republic of Dhambizao (RD), Anamadi Township

Jonas Moya moved from the narrow alleyway onto the dusty street, then disappeared into the late afternoon crowd. The country's elite, with their fancy government buildings, commercial strips, and plush houses, had all but forgotten the tangled web of muddy alleyways that laced the sprawling slums of the capital. Which made the high-density township the perfect place to hide.

He breathed in a lungful of acidic smoke from the piles of trash burning in the distance, then glanced again behind him. A group of women balanced buckets of water on their heads. Children played along the edge of the road. A drunk loitered in front of a shop. But there were no signs of anyone following him.

He shook off the uneasy sensation. Rarely did President Tau's soldiers set foot inside the rambling settlement, known for its high crime and corruption—even with the recent order to round up every member of the Ghost Soldiers in the country-wide manhunt stretching from the capital to the to the base of Mt. Maja. It was an order that had left him on the run.

Anger replaced his unease. None of the president's government officials had complained about the generous financial kickbacks they'd received from the dozens of slave-labor camps the Ghost Soldiers set up throughout the country's fertile mines. But their fat payments didn't change the fact that he and the others would take the fall for their crimes, while the current government remained innocent before the UN and the rest of the world.

The crowd thinned and an eerie silence settled across the humid afternoon air. It took a full five seconds for Jonas to grasp what was happening. By then he stood fully exposed to a dozen uniformed soldiers converging on the leaders' rendezvous point less than ten meters in front of him. Automatically he dropped for cover behind a battered pickup, but not before catching a glimpse of his brother, Seba, and four others lying face down in the dusty street. If he'd arrived five minutes earlier, he'd be lying there as well.

Clinging to the truck's rusty bumper, he searched for an escape route, weighing his options one by one. His best bet was to take the alley across the street and get lost in the endless maze of cinder-block houses. But running would do nothing for his brother and the others.

Squinting in the bright afternoon sunlight, he peered around the dented bumper. One of the soldiers kicked Seba in the ribs. "Where are the rest of your men?"

Seba rolled over, sprang to his feet, and slammed into the soldier. Instinctively, Jonas pulled out the weapon hidden beneath his thin jacket, but not before a shot ripped through the humid air. Seba dropped onto the street. Blood seeped through his pant leg and spilled across the brown dirt beneath him.

Jonas fought rising panic. There was still no sign of Ngozi. Together the two of them might stand a chance, but alone, any heroic rescue would prove foolish against President Tau's elite.

The soldiers began to spread out, searching for the missing rebel leaders—and making his hiding place vulnerable. Another group of soldiers approached from behind. Jonas dropped to all fours and cursed. He'd waited too long, and now his only escape was blocked. Another gunshot echoed in the air. The few remaining curious onlookers scattered toward the surrounding compounds. A soldier yelled. Jonas' jaw tensed as two of them headed toward his position.

For a split second he considered the odds, then made a run for the alley. Halfway across the street, he felt a bullet rip through his shoulder. He stumbled, pain searing his senses. Blood dripped down his arm, but he couldn't afford to slow his pace. He flew toward the narrow alley lined with someone's laundry, trying to ignore the thundering footsteps behind him. Yanking a shirt from the line, he pressed it against the wound. Behind him, the two soldiers closed in.

Anger and adrenalin drowned out the pain. For years, he and the other men had been nothing more than puppets in the hands of their own government. Hundreds of them had been recruited and trained as the president's secret guard. Today they were called insurgents and rebels. Used for the government's purposes, like the running of their slave-labor camps, they were then easily disposed of when the rest of the world caught on.

Jonas slipped into the afternoon shadows of the deserted alley, took a sharp left, then a right, managing to put distance between him and the soldiers. A plan began to form in the recesses of his mind. That same government believed they could get away with watching them rot in some dark prison in exchange for more foreign aid and UN support.

Not if he had his way.

Wow! Bring it on!! Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Stop by my website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/ or my blog for a slice of Africa at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/.

To learn more about our new non-profit, please visit http://www.theechoproject.org/.

Thanks, Lena! It’s always a pleasure to stop by!

And as always, Lisa, I loved having you.
 
Readers, be sure to check out her links. I love all the pictures from Africa on her blog. And the ECHO Project is a very worthy cause.
 
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/

Last January Winners!!!

KC Frantzen (TN) is the winner of The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher.
Merry (TX) is the winner of Harbor Hopes by Lynn Coleman.

Jackie S (GA) is the winner of Love on Assignment by Cara Lynn James.

Pegg Thomas (MI) is the winner of Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry.

Angela (KY) is the winner of Pieces of the Past by Susan Page Davis.
A good way to thank the author for the book is to write reviews and post them on Amazon and other online sites.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
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 when you order, you will help support this blog.

THE RHYTHM OF SECRETS - Patti Lacy - Free Book

So good to have you back, Patti. And thanks for having me on your blog this week. Readers, if you wan to read that interview, check it out. http://www.pattilacy.com/blog/ God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

At fifty-five, I’m struggling to keep with God but so grateful He has given me work. Just this month He planted the idea for a series, which will be my first. My agent fell in love with it at first sight (also a first).

Here’s the hook: Evelyn Secrest, a recently widowed homemaker, and Jamie Sue Symmes, a mentally challenged grocery store bagger, blend their vastly different skill sets, spice them with the love of Jesus, and push past civic and family opposition to open a soup kitchen.

I’m also writing my first book sold before completion, Reclaiming Lily (Bethany House, Fall 2011) (deadline of 11/15) and editing The Rhythm of Secrets, which will be released in January 2011 by Kregel.

Writing has been redefined as a full-time passion in the Lacy household.

We can see from that last answer that you worked on these questions a while ago. Tell us a little about your family.

My husband Alan shares my passion for ministry, not just through writing, but as Sunday school teachers to 3rd and 4th graders at Grace Church in Normal. When we married, we followed a tradition in both our families to teach. Day by day he lives that commitment in the halls of Illinois State University. My daughter Sarah and fabulous son-in-law Josh moved to Nashville to pursue postgraduate work with a passion to one day be involved a la Three Cups of Tea in South American villages. Son Thomas calls school locker rooms home and aspires to teach and coach after completing college. Our canine family member regulates the Lacy exercise patterns and sits in my office chair to supervise writing. We love our mongrel Laura!!

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Yes, ma’am! I hone the craft, pen in hand, with nearly every word I read. It’s SO fun to scribble “Wow!” and “Look at that POV use!” on the pages of my friends the books. There’s SO much to learn from experienced writers. Like you, Lena.

I don't thing we ever stop learning. What are you working on right now?

Three books: The Rhythm of Secrets, Reclaiming Lily, and Those Below Normal

I'm going to add Reclaiming Lily to the schedule now so we'll be sure to have a spot when it releases. What outside interests do you have?

What outside interests do I NOT have? In that way, I’m like Cynthia, Father Tim’s wife in At Home in Mitford. I love gardening, running, films, of course reading and writing, sharing the gospel of Christ, leading Bible studies, housework (really), cooking, ART, teaching, environmental issues, traveling. I’ll stop there!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Settings are so integral to my stories, they become characters. As I “meet” my heroine, I also “meet” the mystical cliffs o’ County Clare or the swamps of Louisiana, tawdry Thai brothels, the hallowed arch of Moody Bible Institute, far-from-plain ole Normal, Illinois!!!

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

Of course our Lord and Savior, for a taste of what lies ahead. Perhaps Moses. There’s so many things I’d like to ask him, like was he really slow of speech. Did he tremble when walking through those parted waters?

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Hmmm. You know, Lena, I’ve loved this crazy ride. God has been so good to keep my focus on Him MOST of the time. I guess it would be those moments when I got caught up in the whole publish rush, the $$ side of the business, the hurry up and do SOMETHING urge instead of writing solely for Him and letting everything else take care of itself.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

How to reach out in love to EVERYONE, even enemies. Even those I don’t like. To die to self so the Holy Spirit can REALLY work.

Learning to see everyone through the Lord's eyes will revolutionalize your life. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?


Take the readers God gives you, one by one, and make them feel like the most important people in the world.

Write SOLELY for the Audience of One and surround yourself with people who feel the same way you do. Cling to those soulmates and make them feel like the most important people in the world.

Wrestle with God to determine if He wants you to write. Then become a professional. Put in long hours. Support other writers by purchasing their books, trumpeting their talents, attending their functions. Read those craft books. Spend $$ to get professional edits. Don’t play around with God’s talent.

Tell us about the featured book.

A phone call threatens to destroy the security of Sheila Alexander, the wife of a prominent Midwest pastor, and expose secrets Sheila has managed to conceal for decades. Will Sheila save the one she loves most of all…or protect her husband and her church? The Rhythm of Secrets will transport you from bawdy Jazz era New Orleans to the turbulent Vietnam War era in Chicago. As with all her books, Patti weaves music into the manuscript, this time focusing on classical, jazz, and blues tunes.

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

Chapter 1

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Spring 1969, Chicago, Illinois

Stormy days call for Rachmaninoff. Rain thrummed the window and blended with cantata chords Sheila Franklin coaxed from her piano. Soon she’d be done with the choir piece and could continue her Rachmaninoff affair. Or maybe she’d play jazz, wild and free, though Edward had forbidden it. But Edward wasn’t here . . .

“Jesus is love.” She sang as she played, but her movements jerked rather than flowed; a second-year music student could do as well. Eager to be done with it, she glanced at the clock. Ten more minutes, that would do it. Ten more minutes, and she’d play the jazz she’d heard when Papa set a needle on a scratched record in their marvelous Esplanade parlor. Or Rachmaninoff. Yes, Rachmaninoff would be better. Safer. Sheila sat up straight, precisely positioned her hands on the keyboard, but her past refused to be disciplined. Her past . . .

Oh, New Orleans! Images of the noisy French Quarter and Maman’s heart-shaped face pulled her into a keyboard promenade, slow and sassy, toward the Mississippi. A tugboat sounded . . . or a wrong note. She glanced at her hands, again heard the musical hiccup. She hadn’t missed a key. It was that darned phone, threatening to shut down a riotous Mardi Gras parade. Irritation clapped through her. She continued to pound the keys, but the wretched thing buzzed insistently.

When icy resentment froze her hands, she stared at them. Her diamond solitaire dazzled her eye and reminded her of her commitment eighteen years ago. She’d agreed to interruptions like this when she’d married Edward Franklin . . . and his congregation. Life, death, or a dozen things in between waited at the other end of the line; the knowledge propelled her toward his phone. She and Edward had battened down their marriage with the surety, the safety, of Christ. And it was enough, Lord. Yes. It would have to be enough.

As she moved to his study, she kneaded her knuckles but could do nothing for the memories. Beautiful memories. Painful memories. The lonely Russian composer understood—she knew from his music—but Rachmaninoff would have to wait.

She picked up the phone from its perch on Edward’s roll-top desk. “Hello?”

Static answered, and a noise like the wings of a large bird taking flight. She leaned against the desk, reminding herself to be polite, even if it was Mr. O’Leary, ringing up Edward from the pay phone outside the neighborhood pub. Or someone who needed money. “Franklin residence. Can I help you?”

“Is this Sylvia Allen?”

She tried to breathe; nearly choked. Her elbows banged against solid oak. Nobody knew she’d once been Sylvia Allen except . . . What was this? Blackmail?

I can't wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.pattilacy.com/, www.pattilacy.com/blog. I also LOVE my Facebook fam and enjoy sharing Art Bites with them five days a week.

Thanks, Lena!

And thank you, Patti, for the fun interview again.
 
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/

BOOK OF DAYS - James L Rubart - Free Book

One of my favorite authors is back with his second novel. Welcome, Jim. I love the picture with your wife. Why do you write the kind of books you do?


I define an authors “voice” as personality on the page. I think if authors write authentically, their stories will be an expression of their voice or better said, their heart on the page. I had a friend of mine from high school read ROOMS and say, “It felt like the old days when we used to sit in front of a fire and talk all night.” That’s a long way of saying I try to write from the deep desires and longing of my heart. And I write with liberal doses of “What if?” What if you could walk into the rooms of your soul? (ROOMS). What if you could find God’s book with all your days, past, present and future written down? (Book of Days). What if a chair Jesus built lasted until today and had healing power? (The Chair).

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

I fell in love with my wife at second site. The first time I met Darci (fall ’83)I thought I was in love with her. The second time (spring of ’84) I knew. I married my dream girl in ’86 and almost twenty five years later she still is. So I’d have to say the day I realized we were meant for each other.

My husband and I have a love-at-first-sight romance story. How has being published changed your life?

Three things come to mind: First, it’s forced me to come forward. Having worked as a marketing professional for my whole career it’s always been about getting other people noticed. Now I have to promote myself. Second, like most people, I’ve always wondered if I was having any effect on the lives around me. Getting e-mails from readers saying I’ve changed their lives makes me realize, yep, I’m partnering with God on some very cool things. Third, I’ve had to focus. I have a ton of hobbies, and friends, but being an author takes a significant investment of time, so I’m not spending as much time with some of my hobbies or as much time with friends as I’d like. I’m still water skiing with my boys and dirt biking with them, but many of my other interests have been shoved to the back burner of my life.

What are you reading right now?

Just finished Immanuel’s Veins by Dekker, am reading Mike Dellosso’s soon to be published novel, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, The Secret Life of Bees, Stealing Fire from the Gods, Time Peace and probably ten others. I always have 10 – 12 books going at the same time. Too many books, not enough time.

I only have a couple of books going at one time. What is your current work in progress?

I just turned the first draft of my manuscript The Chair (Oct. 2011) to my editor. I’ll be getting back my macro edit soon and dive into that. In the meantime I’m starting work on my fourth novel (BACKSPACE) which will release July 2012. And I’m working on an ancillary product to ROOMS that I’m excited about and am about to sign the contract on.

That all sounds wonderful. You must come back with The Chair. What would be your dream vacation?

A month in Italy with Darci, then another month with Darci and the boys in Australia and New Zealand.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I put a map of the United States on the wall, pick up a dart, close my eyes and toss it toward the map. Nah, it’s a little more sophisticated than that. Once I understand who my characters are, I choose a place that will compliment them; their personalities, their fears, their challenges.

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

a. Is C.S. Lewis still alive? He’s not? Shoot. One person? Not a dinner party with thirty people? If it’s only one I’m going to sound like a hopeless romantic and say my wife. With the insane schedule I’ve had this past year we don’t get as much time as I’d like and although we do get time together, we don’t get our time alone together for a weekend as often as we’d like.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

As I mentioned above, waterskiing, dirt biking, as well as photography, golf, tubing, back packing, sleight of hand, and watching movies.

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

a. Not enough time. Having a full time job and writing makes life crazy busy. So I’ve learned to focus and when I write, I get in a zone where I can write fast. I wrote ROOMS in six years, Book of Days in a year and a half, and The Chair in five months.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Get a good pair of running shoes, turn around and sprint in the opposite direction as fast as you can. Joking aside, I’d tell them to count the cost. I have people come to me often and say they want to write. I give them counsel on how to start: Read Rachelle Gardner’s blog, join a local writing group, get books and study the craft like a brain surgeon would study surgery, get to a writing conference. Most nod but take none of those actions. They have a desire to write, but don’t want it bad enough to work at it. Beginner writers have to realize they can’t be writing for money (unless .25 cents an hour sounds profitable) or for the fame.

And they’re crushed when everyone rejects the manuscript they’ve worked two years on. They wouldn’t expect to a record label to pick them up after playing the piano for two years, but since they’ve written since childhood they figure they know how to write. Nope. It’s a craft and an art like any other, and those who find success without putting in the time necessary are almost non-existent.

Tell us about the featured book.

God’s Book of Days. A record of the past, present, and future of every soul. Some say it’s fable. Others are sure it’s real, hidden somewhere on Earth...

If Cameron Vaux can’t find it, he will lose everything.

“You will lose your mind. When it starts happening … you must find the Book of Days.”

When Cameron’s dying father delivers this message, he brushes it off. Lose his memory? He’s only twenty-five. Find a book that doesn’t even exist. Foolishness. Nothing more than the product of his father’s dementia.

But now, eight years after his father’s death, it’s happening. Chunks of Cameron’s life are just--gone. Even memories of his wife, killed two years ago, have slipped away. Could it be…? Is his father’s eerie prediction coming true?

Desperate, Cameron determines to fulfill his father’s last wish. He will find the Book of Days. But when a lead takes him to the small town of Three Peaks, Oregon, Cameron realizes dark secrets are at work. The townspeople, warm as apple pie at first, turn cold as liquid nitrogen when Cameron mentions the Book.

As his mind works against him, Cameron discovers that friends may be enemies. And the one person Cameron can’t stand? She might well be his strongest ally.

But there are others seeking the Book. Others who will stop at nothing to get it. And they’re closer than Cameron ever imagined…

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

Prologue
Summer 1853


A stone slammed into the side of Hassun’s head, sending him to his knees. Pain exploded like lightning and streaked down his back as he slumped forward onto his hands. Careless. His moccasins must have left a trail. Foolish. How could he have let that happen?

Have to move! His assailant’s next attack would most likely be to his ribs. Hassun spun to his left, sending up a thin curtain of dust from the ledge overlooking the cliff, and caught the man’s dark leather moccasin as it flashed toward his face.

Hassun twisted his attacker’s leg and the man sprawled on the ground, his head inches from striking a rock.

Not close enough.

The man leaped to his feet, stepped back five paces, and snatched a bow and a pine shaft with a brilliant black arrowhead off the ground. By the time Hassun staggered to his feet and shook his head, the man had nocked the arrow.

“Nukpana? Why?”

“You are surprised?”

“You were my friend.”

“I am still your friend and ever will be.” Nukpana drew back slightly on the bowstring, the arrow pointed at Hassun’s chest, and laughed. “Do not worry, I am not going to kill you. I could have done that easily with a larger rock a moment ago.”

He released the pressure on the bowstring and stroked the arrow’s white feathers. “You never could hide your tracks. I only need to know where the Stories are and I will leave you.”

Hassun should have seen it. The rage two summers past when he was chosen guardian instead of Nukpana, then the false praise for having been given the honor. Being badgered almost daily ever since in a half-joking, half-serious manner about the location.

“And if I do not tell you where they are?”

“I will see how much pain you can endure before you die. But know before you join our ancestors, you will tell me.”

“The Stories are not for your eyes.”

“But they are for yours?”

“I am not the one who made that choice.”

“And who is?” Nukpana pierced the tip of his forefinger with the point of the arrowhead and a drop of blood seeped out.

I can hardly wait for my copy to arrive. How can readers find you on the Internet?

a. My Web site: http://www.jimrubart.com/
b. Facebook: James L. Rubart
c. Twitter: @jimrubar

Thanks, Lena, always great to be with you!

And I love having you on my blog.
 
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ADVENT PHOENIX - Carol Parsons - Free Book

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

There’s actually quite a bit of my personality in Kynan Craig’s character. He’s stubborn and loyal with a clear cut sense of right and wrong – which has a tendency to get him into all sorts of trouble. Morgain Treleyne, on the other hand, is the person I’d like to be.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Gone down a zip line in my mid-40s

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I began writing unbelievable horse stories in junior high – with horses intelligent enough to sling bolos I took my first tottering steps outside the realm of realistic fiction.

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

I’m more author-oriented than genre oriented, except for science fiction. Romance stories by Essie Summers or Dee Henderson are always at the top of my list. I’m a fan of Barbara Petersons’ archaeology mysteries, and Earl Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason mysteries. I enjoy good action/adventure stories like Helen MacInnes and Alastair MacLean and YA books, like the Rick Brant adventures.

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

I have to settle down with a good book. If I go longer than two weeks without reading something, my family notices. Failing the time to read a good book, I’ll settle for 30 minutes of my favorite Japanese animé. For quick pick-me-ups, I’ll go outside and look at the stars or look at the clouds.

How do you choose your characters' names?

Every once in a while, the names come to me with a full-blown character attached. Most of the time, however, I look through baby name books for names exemplifying a specific character trait.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising four fantastic children with my husband.

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

An otter because they make work fun. As the editor of a small West Texas newspaper, I tell everyone I get paid for playing because I consider my work fun. Where else can you meet new people, learn new things, go to places and events and get paid for doing it?

What is your favorite food?

Cornbeef and cabbage

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

The greatest roadblock is writing Christian science fiction and living in a rural area. The only way to overcome something like that is persistence and being willing to get outside my comfort zone.

Tell us about the featured book.

Advent Phoenix is a Christian science fiction novel which pits the main characters in a struggle from both outside circumstance and inward conflicts as they work to hold fast to what is right and good.

Morgain Treleyne leads a double life as a shadowy figure specializing in hard-to-obtain cargos while hunting those who would destroy the peace-loving Patriots.

When the past collides with the present, Treleyne is torn between friendship and duty.

Time is running out as the Imperium springs its most deadly attack against the Patriots. Walking a razor-thin edge between light and dark, Treleyne’s pursuit pits allies against each other, brings age-old loyalties into question and threatens the very survival of the Patriots.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The tiny ship darted among the rugged canyons, desperately seeking an escape. The heavier Imperium battleship bore down relentlessly, its artillery spitting purple death.

Morgain Treleyne frantically shifted levers jamming further transmissions from the enemy ship, trying to divert enough energy to hold rapidly failing shields. Treleyne glanced over the controls noting coldly the falling energy levels and praying for time to find an escape. If the Star Phoenix were captured, the mission would fail and the princess would certainly be in danger. Even if Treleyne managed to wipe the memory banks before the Imperium troops boarded, the ship's cargo pointed plainly to Luri Talise of Oupha.

If boarding was their intention, the young pilot thought grimly. The battleship could easily blast the Phoenix out of the purple-gold sky of Ziglat once the Phoenix's shields were gone. Once more slim fingers flew rapidly over controls. The cruiser was gaining steadily on the smaller ship. The energy beams increased in severity.

A shudder tore through the Phoenix as the Imperium guns found another mark. Perspiration trickled down Treleyne's back as the ship bucked against the deadly coruscation. A blinking red light signalled the ruin of the...

Sounds exciting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is found at www.freewebs.com/adventphoenix

Thank you, Carol, for spending this time with us.
 
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.)

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FOUND IN TRANSLATION - Roger Bruner - Free Book

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

As much as I can get away with. Of course, that makes it interesting because I’m the male author of a female first person point-of-view book. That’s why Barbour has listed my daughter—who went on the actual mission trip, although Found in Translation isn’t really that story, and wrote the Foreword—as a co-author. We didn’t want to scare teen girls off, even though I’d like to think I would have presented a grandfatherly storyteller image.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

As an adult, I dressed for Halloween wearing a sheet folded in a triangle like a giant diaper. I went to the party barefooted and dragged a raggedy blanket around behind me as I sucked on a baby bottle of, uh, purchased cow milk.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In elementary school. I wrote a poem my teacher wanted to get published somewhere. She didn’t succeed, but that made me aware of my talent. I wrote many kinds of things over the years, got a few poems published in Southern Baptist periodicals as a young adult, and spent forty years writing Christian songs. Only after a major downsizing from my chosen career as a computer programmer did I come up with the idea for my first novel.

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

Reading? That’s a great question. Although my first published books are YA (young adult), I rarely read that genre. Back in the olden days, James Michener was my favorite writer, and I’ve still got one of the best collections of his books around. I have to admit I no longer have the patience to read any of them. Suspense writer Al Gansky is one of my current favorite writers. I have more of his books than I do anyone else’s. Athol Dickson is one of those writers whose books I plan to keep on buying and reading.

I enjoy humor, however. I’d better, since I try to write it. Ray Blackston usually hits the spot there, but I also enjoyed The Leaper. I forget who it’s by. I really like coming-of-age. William Henry Is a Fine Name is wonderful. I recently complimented Deb Raney by telling her she’s one of the few writers of women’s lit who writes a book a man can enjoy, too. That’s true of Angela Hunt, too, of course. I can’t leave out Brandilyn Collins, who has the nerve to get me hooked on a series—as does Don Brown.

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

Counting my self-published first novel, I’ve written eight books and have proposals for two more. But that first one was so horrible—at least after I learned more about writing—I don’t really count it. The total rewrite of it is one of the other seven. Two or three of my manuscripts are about mid-life. Male mid-life crisis, actually. Incidentally, I never set out to write Young Adult. But my lead characters were eighteen—give or take—and that seems to be the only way to market them.

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

When I was much younger, I gained the nickname Flash at a summer job, and it wasn’t because I was fast moving. Nothing has changed. I told someone recently that “rush” isn’t in my vocabulary. I’ve never been receptive to pressure, and I don’t do well at pushing myself, either. I’m definitely a plugger. Fortunately, an organized one.

All that to say that when I retired from a short stint at Target in September of 2008, I did it to write full-time, and that’s given me plenty of time to do what needs to be done without having to run, run, run. Of course, no longer having a teenager living at home helps, too. I’m careful not to over-commit the use of my time. I’m in the church choir, I play weekly at an area nursing home, and I’m on the praise team for the early service at church. For now, that feels like enough.

One of my greatest “fears” is that I’ll get too many book contracts at the same time and feel pushed to meet multiple deadlines. Part of me thinks that might be a wonderful problem to have. I have a friend I’m trying not to be like in that regard.

I have just discovered that multiple contracts can work well. How do you choose your characters’ names?

It depends. I have Latino characters in several novels. I found listings of first names and surnames and looked for names that weren’t overly familiar, but not too weird, either. Ease of pronunciation was a factor, too.

Sometimes a name just pops into my head. If I don’t need a specialized name (e.g., Latino), that’s probably the norm. That was true of Kim Hartlinger and Betsy Jo Snelling. Sometimes I’ll use the first name of somebody I know, or maybe I’ll adapt a familiar surname. Like my eye surgeon, Dr. Everhart, ended up as a lawyer—or was she a doctor?—Ms. Everly.

And, yes, sometimes I just use an online baby book. *laughing*

One of my most fun times doing name selection was for a novel that’s a loose adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. First, I had to find first names that were recognizably similar—in this case, Ramón and Julianne. Then I wanted surnames that at least started with the same letters as Romeo and Juliet’s. So, Capulet became Carlson, and Montague became Montéz.

One thing I usually do after settling on a full name is to Google it and make sure I haven’t unwittingly used the name of someone who might object.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

A number of years ago I wrote a musical play that premiered at a Baptist conference center. The staff worked hard to get it ready, and they performed it several times after I went home. I learned that someone had become a Christian from seeing it. I can’t say I’d “proud” of that in the normal sense, but I consider that my finest accomplishment to date. And that’s how I hope my books will make me feel. I want to hear that they’ve touched readers in a special way.

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

Definitely a cat. Judging by our two cats’ low energy levels, that would fit my personality perfectly. And it would be a great way to get away with being as independent as I am.

What is your favorite food?

Pizza is truly nature’s most perfect food. But I never tire of a good burger, either. I could eat a Red Robin bacon cheeseburger one day and enjoy one of my wife’s just as much the next day. Oh, and chocolate, of course. You did ask for my three favorite foods, didn’t you?

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

Not counting the fact I grew up when fiction was totally different from now and I had to get the old ways out of my system?

Getting an agent to recognize the worth of my work. I was so blessed to have made friends with an editor at a publishing house that doesn’t publish my kind of writing. But she loved my writing and still claims to be my biggest fan. When I asked if she’d look at a few pages of Found in Translation, she soon asked for the whole thing. Several days later, she told me she’d sent it to Terry Burns and he’d agreed to become my agent. How often does something like that happen? It was a definite God-thing.

I know what you mean. My agent pursued me for a couple of years before I signed with her. I didn't think I really had anything for her, but she's stood by me through a lot of time to get to the multiple contracts. What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Having a finished manuscript isn’t the same as being publishable. Too many beginning authors want to pitch their books as soon as they finish them. I ought to know. I did that, too. Very few of those books are good enough at that stage. Also, go to writers conferences as often as you can, even if you have to hock your computer to do it. (Or maybe just give up your firstborn child.)

Tell us about the featured book.

Kim Hartlinger is a spoiled eighteen-year-old. She’s headed to Mexico on an evangelistic mission trip. But because she’s also immature and careless, she doesn’t find out until she gets to San Diego that the project has been changed. The group will be doing emergency construction in a remote village a tornado has all but destroyed. She immediately becomes an object of ridicule among the other 143 participants and doesn’t fare much better with the two adult leaders. When the leaders reveal they don’t have any translators, things seem like they can’t get much worse. But when Kim breaks her arm the first day on the project, the kids are almost glad. How will Kim ever win their acceptance? How can she be useful in spite of her temporary handicap? What part will a handicapped eight-year-old girl play in teaching Kim to depend more fully on God? What is the ultimate impossible project God asks Kim to perform, and will it make a difference or not?

Sounds intriguing. I've been on a number of mission trips to Mexico. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One
Day One

“What do you mean I missed my connecting flight?”

Never had I raised my voice to my parents—or to any other adult, for that matter—but I couldn’t have screamed much louder at that forty-something Skyfly Airline representative if I’d tried. She may have been joking, but I didn’t feel like laughing. I couldn’t have missed my flight.

“The plane was here and ready to leave at 1:19. Your baggage was aboard, but you weren’t.” Although her voice remained calm, she resembled a flashing danger signal and siren that screamed from head to toe, Kim Hartlinger, it’s not my fault you’re the most irresponsible eighteen-year-old I’ve ever met.

“So,” she said, “your flight left without you. We paged you a number of times first, but you never responded.”

“Is that what those announcements were?” Curiosity and defensiveness made me forget my initial irritation. I was too naive to know how concerned I should have been. “I heard somebody paging a Kimmy Somebody-or-Other, but nobody calls me Kimmy—and nobody ever will. If that guy said Hartlinger, I misunderstood him. His accent was thick, like a TWI—talking while intoxicated—or maybe like someone who isn’t a native English speaker. Don’t tell me announcements like that are made somewhere off-shore.”

Telephone support for our home computer was, and I hated calling there for that very reason.

Oblivious to everything I’d just said, Millie Q—I’d glanced at her name tag a moment before—had the nerve to smile, revealing an excess of leathery wrinkles that wood filler would have smoothed out better than her rainbow of cheap and ill-applied makeup.

I could also see a mouthful of teeth that needed braces so badly I was tempted to refer her to my orthodontist. I doubted, however, that she could handle the commute from the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Georgia on a regular basis, even for something as important as making those fangs look friendlier.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Easily enough. My website is RogerBruner.com. As a former web programmer, I create and maintain my own site. I’m also on Facebook (Roger.Bruner) and Twitter, although I never post to Twitter. *laughing* Facebook is fun, though, but I have to be careful not to spend too much time there. I do have a blog (a button on my homepage), but I use it to communicate with my tribe of influencers rather than share my limited wisdom. Right now, I only have a handful of tribe members, but I hope that will change by the time Found in Translation releases this month.

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

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.

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MASQUERADE MARRIAGE - Anne Greene - Free Book

I'm thrilled to share this book with you. Anne Greene is a dear friend, who is a member of the critique group that meets in my home. This is her latest book.

Author Bio

Anne Greene writes historical and suspense novels. She’s of Scotch ancestry of Clan Gunn. When she’s not deployed with her military husband, she makes her home in McKinney, Texas. She has four children. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one, and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. In 1989 Anne graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Literary Studies from the University of Texas Dallas. Anne loves to travel and has visited twenty-five countries. See her web site for pictures. At present Anne is in Seoul, South Korea, serving her country with her hero husband, Larry, an active-duty Colonel in the Army Special Forces. Her highest hope is that her stories transport you to a different world and touch your heart.

Anne, tell us a little about the book.

A SECRET LIST
To protect his loved ones and escape the dark fate of his brothers, a noted warrior abandons his identity. Hiding from relentless soldiers who want him dead, Brody MacCaulay vows to protect the woman he loves more than life, more than freedom, more than Scotland. But his presence throws her into danger.

A VOW HONORED
To escape an arranged marriage to an abusive noble, a Lowland Lady weds a stranger to save his life. But vows spoken do not make a marriage, especially when Megan MacMurry holds a different love inside her heart.

A SACRIFICE MADE
Outlawed, and with a price on his head, Brody condemns himself to a life of heartbreak without Megan. Wanting her desperately, knowing he can't have her, he heads alone to certain death...

This sounds very interesting. Please share an excerpt with us.

Like a determined hero, the fugitive warrior strode through the door at the far end of the tiny stone kirk.

Megan’s eyes widened. Her clenched jaw relaxed. Some of her dread dissolved.

“Impressive.” Molly, Megan’s Irish maid, whispered from where they stood together in the vestibule.

He stopped in front of the hand-carved altar and half-turned toward her. Megan pulled in an uneven breath. This Highlander, wearing formal kilts, was no scrawny lad grown older, nor was he a big, hairy Scot with a bushy beard. The tall, strapping soldier stood with legs braced as if about to do battle.

Her heart skipped. Though she’d known Brody when she wore short skirts, this blond warrior was far more than she expected. Her pulse throbbed in her temples. Doubt niggled her brain. Brody was too tall, too obviously a Highlander. How could she hope to pass him off as a Lowland Laird? He appeared to have too big a chip on his shoulder to let her command him.

Brody’s thick sandy hair swept the collar of his linen shirt. Lace-trimmed cuffs matched the white jabot at his muscular throat. A silver broach clasped his crimson and black tartan to his wide right shoulder. His claymore, dirk, and thick sword belt startled her.

Megan suppressed a shudder. The English outlawed kilts. With his dress, Brody spat in the face of the English and further imperiled his life. Why?

His intense sapphire stare blazed a trail across the empty wooden pews toward her. His eyes made her feel dizzy as if she just danced a fast reel with a lively partner.

Molly grinned and handed Megan the bridal flowers.

What had she gotten herself into?

I knew I'd like it. Can you tell us why you wrote this book?

I was motivated to write this book after visiting Scotland. The final battle between the English and the Scottish Highlanders changed the Highlands forever. A way of life ended. I was always drawn to wounded heros and heroines. The drama in this story appealed to me, and so I wrote Masquerade Marriage. The book’s theme is finding and following God’s will in difficult circumstances. I love this time in history and so enjoyed living it as I wrote the book. I hopes readers find a new world to love as they read my book.

Where can readers find you on the Internet?

You can purchase my book at http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/
http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Anne-Greene-1?osCsid=5f94c286e681135e9b466b09645683e8

www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com

Anne, thank you for spending this time with us.
 
Readers, 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.

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WINNERS!!!

Charlie (Canada) is the winner of Sharpshooter in Petticoats by Mary Connealy.
Lourdes (NY) is the winner of Digitalis by Ronie Kendig.

D.A. (SC) is the winner of The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen.

MJ (KS) is the winner of Maverick Heart by Loree Lough.

Lisa Nelson (AR) is the winner of The Fire in Ember by DiAnn Mills.


A good way to thank the author for the book is to write reviews and post them on Amazon and other online sites.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:

Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
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 when you order, you will help support this blog.

PIECES OF THE PAST - Susan Page Davis - Free Book

Welcome back, Susan. You have a lot of books out now. What is your favorite setting to use in your books?

I love New England, as that’s my “home territory,” and I also have a growing number of books set in the West. My husband is from Oregon, and we used to live out there. Our oldest daughter lives in Idaho. I’ve always loved watching and reading westerns, and now I enjoy writing them as well.

What do you look for when you’re shopping for a book to buy for yourself?

I like enough of a plot to keep me thinking. A good mystery or suspense book holds my interest well, whether in a historical or contemporary setting.

Give us a little tour of the setting for this book.

Pieces of the Past is set in western Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Hills region. The fictional town of Maple Hill is located fairly close to Pittsfield and North Adams. Each book in the series is set in a different month chronologically. You’ll get the full autumn foliage tour in the first few books. My story comes in January, so we’re in the middle of a New England winter. The small town setting is perfect for these cozy mysteries.

What other books do you have coming out soon?

I’m very excited about my April book, Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island. Set in 1860 when the Prince of Wales (Queen Victoria’s son) visited the island, this is the first Love Finds You book set in Canada.

Also releasing this month (January) is my Alaska Weddings collection from Barbour. It contains all three of my contemporary Alaska romances—Always Ready (Coast Guard setting), Fire and Ice (sled dog trainer), and Polar Opposites (wildlife scientist). It’s a fun collection.

Please give us a glimpse inside your home.

Our family moved in May 2010 from Maine to western Kentucky. We love our new state and our new home. It is built on a hillside, and the main level is on top. My office is in a corner room that has window views toward the road and the driveway. Sometimes I see wildlife out my windows, and I love it. So far: turkeys, herons, cardinals and many other birds, deer, and squirrels. The two youngest of our six children still live at home. We have three pets right now: a dog, a cat we adopted from the shelter, and a horse.

Sounds lovely. Is this novel part of a series or a stand-alone book?

This book is number 6 in the Patchwork Mystery series from Guideposts. Each of the books up to this point is written by a different author. Some of the other writers for the series are Kristin Eckhardt, Cara Putman, and Camy Tang. Readers can order the series (link below) from the beginning if they wish. A new book will continue to release each month for quite some time—I am now working on Book 16, to release in November 2011. It’s called Nothing to Hide and features the same ongoing characters readers have come to love. But any one of these books could be read as a standalone cozy mystery. Each one has some sort of tie-in to Sarah Hart’s (the main character’s) interest in quilting and restoring old quilts.

Lena, here’s the Guideposts link to this series:

https://www.shopguideposts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=15401&catalogId=16903&productId=853423

Tell us about the story.

In Pieces of the Past, Sarah makes a quilt for her father out of his old flannel shirts and takes it to him at the nursing home. Vern, another resident of the home, admires it and asks Sarah for help in tracking down Alice, a woman he loved before the war. Sarah thinks it’s so romantic she agrees, but she soon discovers that some things about Vern’s story don’t add up. She searches for Alice, only to discover that the woman vanished decades ago. Where is Alice now—or better yet, WHO is she? And why does Vern really want to find her?

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

Here’s a short excerpt from Chapter One:

As Sarah stepped to his side, Vern shifted and a small square photograph fell from his shirt pocket, landing face up on the carpet. Sarah picked it up.

She glanced at it as she held it out to him. A young woman smiled softly at whoever had taken the picture, the life in her eyes shining clearly from the black-and-white wallet size picture.

“Oh. Thanks.” Vern took it and stuck it into his pocket.

Sarah released the brake on his wheelchair. “She’s striking. It that a picture of your wife?”

He hesitated, not meeting her gaze. “No. She. . .her name was Alice.”

“She’s very pretty. That picture looks as though you’ve been hanging on to it for a while.”

“Oh, yes.” He smiled then. “Been carrying that for a long time. It went to Guadalcanal with me.”

“She must be special.”

“Well. . .yes.”

Sarah remained silent and waited. Something about the yellowed picture made Vern uncomfortable.

He gave a halfhearted shrug. “I haven’t spoken with her in years.”

“You lost touch?” Sarah asked.

“Something like that. After the war, I tried to find her, but. . .Well, some things just don’t work out.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Come see me at: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/

Thanks, Lena! Glad to be here this week!

And I'm thrilled to have you here again.
 
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.

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ALMOST HEAVEN - Chris Fabry - Free Book

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

I was moved by fiction, changed by fiction, and I want to pass that on to others if I can. Changed lives is what it’s about, I think, and stories have power.

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

The birth of our children. I have 9 happiest days of my life. Everything else pretty much pales in comparison.

How has being published changed your life?

I’m not really any different than I was when I was writing until I fell asleep at night, trying to “become” a writer. But getting over the publishing hurdle was huge. Now it’s figuring out how to be the best writer I can be with what I’ve been given.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom at the DMV today. I’ll start a Michael Connelly novel tonight and continue in Philippians tomorrow. As you can see, I read widely.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a story called Not In The Heart. It’s about a man whose son needs a heart transplant who is asked to write the story of a convicted murderer who is willing to donate his heart to the man’s son. If he discovers the man is innocent, his son might die. If he spikes the information, an innocent man may die.

A real moral dilemma. What would be your dream vacation?

A beach, a book, my wife and kids.

 How do you choose your settings for each book?

The settings choose themselves because of the characters. In Dogwood, June Bug, and Almost Heaven, it’s all in West Virginia, where I grew up. Setting is very important to me—almost another character in the novel if it’s to be believed.

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

Pat Conroy. I have a bunch of questions and he’s a great storyteller. Plus, he would order some kind of fish and maybe even cook it. That would be perfect. Then we could play basketball.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I play basketball/football with the kids. We walk, too.

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

Getting started is hard. Not looking at e-mail. I overcome it by putting on the headphones and starting the music track to whatever I’m working on.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write and read. Not necessarily in that order. Study other writers. Buy writing books and read them. Write journals. Write stories. Write whatever comes to you and find a mentor who is farther/further down the road. (I can never remember which one to use.) …find a mentor who has been published. There. That fixed it.

Tell us about the featured book.

Almost Heaven is a story close to my heart. Billy Allman is an odd guy. He’s a hillbilly genius who has a heart for people but not many people skills. He loves God but doesn’t know how to show it. He’s like a lot of us. He has a small dream and works at realizing it, but keeps getting slapped around by life. The story is told from Billy’s perspective as well as an angel’s viewpoint who is sent to the holler to watch him. The angel has no idea why. Why would God waste his time on this person whose life is…really nothing at all? I’m hoping readers will be encouraged that no matter how small you feel in the world, God can use you and wants to change the world through you.

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

Chapter 1

I suppose you can sum up a man’s life with a few words. That’s what the newspaper tries to do with an obituary. And it’s what the reporter who was here today will try to do in her article. “Billy Allman . . . resident of Dogwood . . . lifelong dream to build a radio station . . .” She’ll do a fine job, I’m sure. She seemed kind-hearted and the type that will get her facts straight, but I know there will be a lot of my life that will fall through the cracks.

I believe every life has hidden songs that hang by twin threads of music and memory. I believe in the songs that have never been played for another soul. I believe they run between the rocks and underneath the creekbeds of our lives. These are songs that cannot be heard by anything but the soul. They sometimes run dry or spill over the banks until we find ourselves wading through them.

My life has been filled with my share of dirges and plainsongs. I would sing jaunty melodies of cotton candy and ice cream if I could, a top-40 three minute and twenty second tune, but the songs that have been given to me are played in A minor and are plagued with pauses and riffs that have no clear resolution. I ache for some major chord, a tonal shift that brings musical contentment. I do not know if I will find that.

Throughout my life I have dedicated myself to God. I told him early on that I would go anywhere and do anything he wanted. No holding back. But as time slipped and the conversation has become more one-sided, that plan has appeared haphazard at best. God has seemed massively indifferent to my devotion, if he has even heard my cries.

I suppose I need to put this story down in an ordered fashion to make sense of the silence and to fill in the missing places of my own. Or perhaps I will be able to convince the people who know me as a hermit that there was some reason for the pain. Our lives are judged by a few snapshots taken at vulnerable moments, and I have decided to set my hand to recording the flashes I can recall, the ones revealing my motivations. The look on that reporter’s face as I showed her the disparate parts of my life made me want to put this down in my own words. But this is not really for those outside looking in. This is for me.

***

One of the neighbors described the morning of February 26, 1972, as a cold stillness. I woke up at the first sign of the overcast light. It was my tenth birthday, and as children will do I did not want sleep to steal any of the good apportioned to me that day. I had invited three boys from my class to the first and last party my parents would ever offer.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m at Chrisfabry.com.

Thank you, Chris, for the time you've spent with us.

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/