Wednesday, June 15, 2011

BEYOND ALL MEASURE - Dorothy Love - Free Book

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I write my own life questions, my own struggles into the lives of a few of my characters.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I’ve been asked this question a lot lately and honestly I am not all that quirky. In seventh grade a friend and I went to see a movie starring the gorgeous red- haired Rhonda Fleming. We bought henna at the drugstore and dyed our hair red. That lasted until my dad got home from work and made me wash mine out.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
A third grade teacher praised my first efforts and encouraged me to write. In high school, the journalism bug bit. I edited my high school paper, and my university paper and tried fiction many years later.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love historical fiction. I read Southern writers of both literary and commercial fiction. As a writer of historical fiction, I read a lot of nonfiction for background research. I enjoy biographies and memoirs. I love almost anything except sci fi and horror.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Some days I am not sure my sanity is intact. My husband and I both love the beach and we live about 2 and a half hours from the coast. A few days at the beach is very restorative----spiritually, emotionally, physically, creatively. I love my beach time.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
I read through old journals and diaries to find names appropriate for the time, and I try to choose names whose meanings have some connection to the character’s role in the story. In Beyond All Measure, my protag, Ada, needs a friend to rely on. I came across the name Mariah, which is a diminutive of Amariah, meaning, sent from God.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I finished my PhD in 28 months while working full time after the head of my doctoral committee said it could not be done. Passed my qualifying exams in research and statistics on the first try. Ditto for my second language requirement exams. Graduated with a nearly perfect GPA. That was a happy day for sure.  

What is your favorite food?
I love fresh seafood and anything from my mother’s summer garden. Okra, squash, peas, tomatoes, corn, and a pan of her amazing buttermilk cornbread. Plus the requisite gallon of iced tea---- and I’m a happy girl.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I came from a journalism background where the rules are to state the facts in descending order of importance. No adjectives allowed. I had to learn how to write description into a narrative. My first fiction teacher, Peggy Moss Felding, used write in green ink on my manuscripts, Give us more, more, more.

Tell us about the featured book.
BEYOND ALL MEASURE is set in Hickory Ridge, a fictional small town in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in the year 1871. Ada Wentworth, a young Bostonian who has lost her family, her fiancĂ© and her fortune, arrives by train to take a job as a lady’s companion, but only until she can save enough money to open a millinery shop back east. But then she meets Texan Wyatt Caldwell, the handsome blue eyed owner of the local lumber mill. When their friendship turns to love, Ada must let go of her painful past in order to embrace God’s plans for her, and to trust Wyatt with her heart.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Holding tightly to her worn travel satchel, Ada Wentworth stepped through a cloud of billowing steam and scanned the rain-slicked railway platform, looking for the woman who had promised to meet her. Smartly-dressed travelers folded their black umbrellas and push through a knot of farm wives, mill workers, and station peddlers hawking candy and magazines. A line of buggies and wagons waited in the heat, the placid horses swishing their tails against a cloud of flies. A group of schoolboys jostled Ada roughly as they passed, their languid, high-pitched accents falling strangely on her ear. She pulled her handkerchief from her cuff and blotted her face, her gaze traveling from one person to the next. People a-plenty, but no red-haired woman carrying a white parasol. She skirted a mound of baggage and wound her way toward the agent’s office, trying to quell her growing apprehension. A steady stream of travelers flowed past her like water around a stone. A hard lump formed in her throat.

What on earth had she done?

How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is www.DorothyLoveBooks.com. Visit me there, or click on the icon to find me on Facebook. 


Thank you, Dorothy, for this interesting peek into your life and work.



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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

36 comments:

Deborah said...

Thomas Nelson has been releasing a bunch of historical romances lately and this is the only one that I have not read yet!

Deborah in VA

Patsy said...

Oh my goodness, I love all those fresh veggies too. I'm a southern gal so that comes natural I guess. Your book sounds really good. Would enjoy reading it.

From the Bible Belt

plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Wendy said...

Another good book to add to my list.

Jo said...

I love historical fiction books and so many good ones are coming available. Please enter me.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

scottsgal said...

Wow very impressive on how quickly you received your PhD - congrats

Sounds like a wonderful historical
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

Wow very impressive on how quickly you received your PhD - congrats

Sounds like a wonderful historical
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

Wow very impressive on how quickly you received your PhD - congrats

Sounds like a wonderful historical
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this great story :)

karenk..from PA
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Sylvia said...

I'm from NC and think this book cover is great. It makes me want to go on a train trip and see what's around the corner. Also, the plot sounds interesting. I've heard of ladies' companions before, but have never read a book where one was the main character.

How wonderful that you have your Ph.D.! I have alot of respect for all that hard work you had to do to earn it.

nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

Rebecca said...

Thank you so much for a chance to win this book. It looks amazing. I would love to read this book. Thanks again.

Rebecca H
I am from Oklahoma.

Sarah said...

Would love to win!

Sarah
Oklahoma

Coolestmommy said...

I love it when a tall, dark Texan enters the scene. :-) Can't wait to read this one.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

apple blossom said...

please include me in this giveaway thanks. live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Judy Cooper said...

Looking forward to reading this book also. As a reader previously posted, there are a lot of new historical romances out now and i find myself wanting to read them all, not knowing which one to choose first. Thanks for the opportunity to enter. Judy C. in Louisiana

Anne Payne said...

I grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains, and still live near the edge of them. It's beautiful country and what a lovely place to set a story. Your book sounds fasciniating. I would love to read it.

Anne, rural NC

Diana Flowers said...

Please enter me...I was entranced when I first saw the cover!:-)

dianalflowers@aol.com
SC

Leah said...

This book looks great!!
015browneyes(at)gmail(dot)com
WI

Courtney said...

Sounds like such a great book!!! Thanks for the chance to win it!

Courtney from WA

Abigail Mitchell said...

Please enter me in the contest.
Abigail Richmond
Blanch, N.C.

Mona(southern gal) said...

Hi, would love to win this book, it sounds wonderful...

Also a Southern Gal/oh :)

Krista said...

I want to read this book soooooooo badly. Thanks for the giveaway!


Krista from Gresham, OR

Anonymous said...

I would love to win a copy of this book.
angela
from ky

Unknown said...

Oh this book sounds so good! I love historicals! Thanks for the chance to win!
Kari in Oregon

Ann Lee Miller said...

Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Ann Lee Miller
Gilbert AZ

misskallie2000 said...

Hi Dorothy, Anyone who can obtain their PhD as fast as you did has to have the grit and determination to do so. That is an awesome accomplishment.
Love th cover and love the story. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

I am a Georgia Peach with a few wrinkles

rbooth43 said...

I love reading about a fictional small town in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and BEYOND ALL MEASURE sound like a great read!
Thanks!
Rebecca
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mrs. Angela/Faith's mom said...

Love the cover on this book and would love to win it...
Faith's mom/Ohio

Dorothy Love said...

Patsy, isn't fried okra and tomatoes just the best meal ever?

Sylvia, I love North Carolina. What a beautiful state. Anne the Smokies are so breathtaking, aren't they, especially in fall.
Diane, I love my cover, too. I think my publisher did a fabulous job on it.
Robyn, I'm with ya! Who can resist a tall handsome Texan? :)

Thanks to all of you for commenting. Good luck!!

Diana Flowers said...

I sure hope I win this. I love historical fiction with a passion! Most of the reviews I do are hf; sometimes I throw in other genres for variety, but historical is my first love!

dianalflowers@aol.com

South Carolina

Anonymous said...

I's love to win this! Thanks for the chance.

Blessings,
Molly from NC

Ms. Thompson said...

Would love to win this book.
Ms. Thompson/Illinois

Lady DragonKeeper said...

Great interview! I like learning about how Mrs. Love found her characters' names.

Thanks for the chance to win --the summary of this book sounds great!

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

(P.S. - From Hawaii)

Bakersdozen said...

I love historical romance. I live in S. CA.

peachykath said...

I loved the interview. I tried the hair dye thing too, but used Kool-aid, needless to say my parents were not happy with me. I'd love to be entered in this drawing. Thank you.

peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com

Katherine from Northern California

Kristie said...

I guess that the transition fron journalism to fiction must have been rough. So diametically opposed. Yikes. I'm fron Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Merry said...

I agree with Dorothy and her husband, time spent at the beach is so refreshing.... it's been so long, I'd love to go now! Please include me for Beyond All Measure. Thanks!
Merry in TX