Friday, January 27, 2012

A WEDDING INVITATION - Alice J Wisler - Free Book


Why do you write the kind of books you do?
The kind of books I write (contemporary fiction) are the genre I like to read.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I’ve had many happy days----the birth of my four children, the day I married Carl, and the day I signed my first contract for two novels with Bethany House.

How has being published changed your life?
I’ve always written, even as a kid I was creating stories.  Being published makes me feel validated in my writing.  So, it has bridged me from a “wanna-be” author to a “real author”.

What are you reading right now?
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold.

What is your current work in progress?
I’m revising Fragrance of Marigolds, a novel I completed a year ago about a bereaved mother who sells her home and buys a RV. 

What would be your dream vacation?
I’ve been on so many vacations that have been dreams come true.  I’d like to go on a cruise through the Mediterranean with my husband.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
My five novels (the most recent, Still Life in Shadows, will be published by River North/Moody is August) are all set in North Carolina.  I placed my first novel, Rain Song, in Mount Olive, and since then decided to set all my novels in North Carolina.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I’d like to talk with John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted.”  His son died and we have a lot in common since my son died in 1997 from cancer treatments. I’d like to ask him about his son Adam as well as about all he’s done to help others in the aftermath of Adam’s abduction and murder.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Cooking Asian food, walking three miles each day, and spending time on our runabout boat, Rain Song, are some of the things I like to do.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Facebook!  Facebook can snatch all your writing time if you aren’t careful.  Once I set out to write, I’m pretty good at sticking with it but those little visits over from my manuscript file to Facebook do cause some delays.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Don’t give up.  Revise, revise, edit and edit.  You can always improve. Write often----that is how you get better at it.

Tell us about the featured book.
A Wedding Invitation is about two teachers helping a young refugee woman find her birth mom. It is loosely based on my time of working as a teacher in a refugee camp in the Philippines in the mid 1980s.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Chapter One
February 1993
When a pet goes missing, it’s hard to concentrate on anything but where he might be. Missing a cat can cause his owner to lose focus, forget, and do silly things---even hang clothing in wrong places. Today this is happening to my mother.
 
As though she’s walking through a fog, Mom stares into the distance and hangs the newest order of black dresses all together in a clump.  The metal hangers clink against each other, and I wince, realizing what she’s done. The size twos are next to the size fourteens, yet the entire point of  Mom’s store are that the small and large sizes are displayed conveniently on different racks, not all meshed together, tangled in a confused web.

Following behind her, I sort the designer dresses in their proper sections, wondering if I should remind Mom that she can’t compromise her organizational skills—they are her strength in running her boutique, Have a Fit.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
http://www.alicewisler.com is my website.  Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.  My author page on Facebook is:
I love hearing from readers!


Thank you, Alice, for dropping by today.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Wedding Invitation, A - paperback
Wedding Invitation, A - Kindle


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 4 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

29 comments:

Jo said...

Enjoyed the interview, Alice. Sorry to hear about the loss of your son. This book sounds very interesting. Please enter me!

Blessings,
Jo from Southern Arizona
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Rebecca said...

This looks like a great book. I would love to read this. Thanks for the chance to win.

I am from Oklahoma.

Unknown said...

Love the setting Alice. i always love reading about people in situations different from mine. Sorry about your son. My Dad died from a fried liver, which happened from the radiation for his cancer.

Marianne from Arizona

mitzi[underscore]wanham[at]yahoo[dot[com

Michelle said...

Sounds like a great book. I've love to read it.

Kentucky

Anonymous said...

Thank You for the chance to win.
angela from KY

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the wonderful interview Alice. I'm so sorry to hear about your son.
And wow... I can't wait to read this book... I just loved all your other books.

Krista from Gresham, OR

Patty said...

Sounds interesting! Please enter me.

Patty in SC

Glenda Parker Fiction Writer said...

I really enjoyed the interview. Sorry about your son. My daughter went to live with Jesus last May. It is a hard thing to bury a child. Your book sounds very interesting. I would love to win a copy.I'm from Broken Bow Nebraska.

Glenda Parker
http://glendparkerfictionwriter.blogspot.com

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Thanks, everyone, for your kind comments. Thanks, Lena, for having me as your guest here!

Pam K. said...

I read one of Alice's books and enjoyed it very much. I'd be happy to win a copy of "A Wedding Invitation."
Thanks for the interview and the giveaway.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Kansas

Angie Adair said...

Angie in Illinois..sounds like a great book.. angadair@nwcable.net

Mary Preston said...

A WEDDING INVITATION sounds beautiful. I look forward to reading more.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

rubynreba said...

I would enjoy this book very much. Enjoyed the interview. My son died in 1996 from cancer treatments also.
Beth from Iowa

Joanna Richmond said...

this like a great book. I would love to read this. Thanks for the chance to win Joanna Richmond
Blanch NC

Coolestmommy said...

I love the idea of trying to find her birth mom. Looks like a good book to read. And prayers for you at the loss of your son--I can only imagine the pain of that loss.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

scottsgal said...

like the premise of this book. Thanks for the interview'
msboatgal at aol.com

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me I would love to win a copy of this book it sounds like a great story! Thanks and God bless.
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Thank you, each of you, for wanting to win my novel! I hope you'll sign up for my newsletter at my website, too. http://www.alicewisler.com

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

Please enter me in the drawing!!
God Bless,
Sarah
Blanch,N.C.

Bakersdozen said...

I enjoyed the interview and would love to read this book. I live in S. CA. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Abigail Mitchell said...

Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.

apple blossom said...

please enter me thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

live in ND

Katie said...

Sounds amazing :) Please enter me! I'm from NC.

Katie G.

P.S. I'm also having a giveaway on my blog if anyone is interested! :) www.kurlykatiesruminations.blogspot.com

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story

karenk...from PA
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

A.Jones said...

Please enter me to win this book! Thank you for the chance to win!

I live in New York

Kaila's Nana said...

Sound like a great book....Kaila's Nana/Oh

Merry said...

What a great seed for a story, I'd love to win it.
Merry in TX

Angie Adair said...

Nice article. sounds like a very good book! Angie in Illinois angadair@nwcable.net

Nancye said...

This book sounds really good! I'd love to win a copy. Thanks for the chance.

Nancye in Kentucky

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net