LOVE FINDS YOU IN DAISY, OKLAHOMA - Janice Hanna - One Free Book

Welcome back, Jamice. So good to have you again. I know you speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up in 2012?

Strangely, I haven’t scheduled many speaking engagements in 2012. I will be serving as a mentor at the ACFW conference, but my speaking calendar is fairly empty! These days I’m spending much of my time with online e-book sales. I’m also very focused on my deadlines, so I stay plenty busy. As much as I love speaking and teaching, it’s kind of nice to pull back once in a while.

If you were planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it?

Oh, that’s easy! I’d call it “Lighten Up!” and we would spend the entire conference talking about ways to live a light-hearted life. I recently spoke at a women’s retreat on a similar subject and it went over well with the ladies.

Who would you want as speakers and why?

In my dream world, I would ask folks like Liz Curtis Higgs and (local Houston KSBJ deejay) Susan O’Donnell. Both are a hoot, but both also know how to pack at punch.

Where would you hold the retreat and why?

Galveston, girl! I recently stayed at a fabulous resort there called the Diamond Beach resort. Perfect spot for a retreat. The condos are awesome and the meeting rooms are nice, too. Most of the rooms have Oceanside views, and they’re lovely because they also look out on the pools. (I will attach a photo.)

Sign me up for that. I love Galveston. Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?

These days most of my reading is on the Kindle. I find it easier to hold and it’s easy on my eyes, as well. I love the ease of reading on an e-device, so I think we can safely say I’ve been pulled over to the dark side!

I love my Kindle for when I’m away from home. I’ve read a lot more books since I have one, but at home, I like holding a real book. That’s an interesting title. How did you come up with it?

Love Finds You in Daisy Oklahoma is part of the “Love Finds You” series from Summerside/Guideposts. I was assigned the town of Daisy. My mom and I drove up to Daisy a year and a half ago and had a wonderful time taking photos of the area.

So what is the book about?

Here’s the official synopsis:

Love blooms in unlikely places. In 1912, two years after a tornado left many children homeless, the town of Daisy, Oklahoma, needs help with its orphanage. Enter Rena Jewel, 38 years old and still single, who longs to do something important with her life. A lover of flowers, Rena believes the letter from Daisy to be a sign from the Lord, and she promises to help. Sheriff Gene Wyatt is a widowed father struggling to control 23 unruly orphans—and to keep his own two boys from burning down the town. So when he receives word that help is on the way, Gene rejoices. Until he meets Rena, that is—a genteel and far too pretty woman whom he assumes is not up to the challenge. And after meeting the children, Rena begins to agree with him! At her wits’ end, she helps the children plant a garden and slowly earns their respect and obedience. The new orphanage director arrives just as the garden begins to bloom, and Rena must decide whether she can leave the town, the children—and the man—she’s come to love.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Daisy, Oklahoma, 1912

The Atoka County jail housed no prisoners that Monday morning, unless one counted the local Sheriff. After the verbal thrashing he’d just received from Molly Harris, Gene felt like hiding out in one of the cells for the rest of the day.

He pulled off his Stetson and hurled it at the hat rack. “Crazy busybody. Who does she think she is, anyway?”

For a moment, he wondered what it would feel like to toss the town’s crankiest senior citizen into an empty cell and throw away the key. Wouldn’t that make a great article for the Atoka County Register? He could almost picture the headline now: Local Woman Rethinks Her Meddling Ways from Behind Bars. Surely the other residents of Daisy would back him up.

On the other hand, they might turn on him. Stranger things had happened of late. Folks who had once claimed to be his friends had turned a cold shoulder to him after hearing Molly’s repeated tirades about his boys. Many seemed to share her concerns.

Releasing a slow breath, Gene tried to calm down. Unfortunately, Molly’s words weren’t easy to shake off. They’d stung, worse than he cared to admit, but what could he do? His hands were already too full, what with raising the boys alone.

He made his way back to his dreary office, eased his way down into the chair behind his messy desk, and began to thumb through the mail, which he’d just fetched from the postmaster. Minutes later, he still found himself mulling over the elderly woman’s criticism of his two sons. Sure, William and Jacob were a handful—no denying that—but did she really have to call them hooligans? They were only ten and eight, after all. Far too young to be accused of such nonsense. And that comment about how they might one day end up serving time was way out of line.

He paused to think it through. The way things were headed they might very well end up going down the wrong road. If only they still had a mother to guide them, then maybe. . .

No, he wouldn’t think like that. The two years since Brenda’s death had been dreadful, but the pain of losing her lessened more with each passing day. No point in resurrecting it. The boys would be fine. He would see to it, if it was the last thing he did. In the meantime, he had work to do, and plenty of it.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to interact with readers in a variety of places, including:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JaniceHannaThompson

TWITTER: booksbyjanice

MY WEBSITE: www.janicehannathompson.com

MY BLOG: http://janiceathompson.com/blog/category/blog

So good to talk with you again, Janice. I can't wait until we're together again. We have so much fun together.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

LOVE FINDS YOU IN DAISY, OK - paperback
Love Finds You in Daisy, OK - 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

FRANTIC - Mike Dellosso - One Free Book

God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Hopefully more contracts J I’m currently in the middle of a four-book contract finishing up book three. When it is complete I’ll immediately begin work on the final book and then begin the process of seeking another contract. God has blessed me beyond belief so far with the opportunity to continue writing and do some projects that came about unexpectedly (like the 7 Hours project with six other authors). I don’t take for granted for one minute what He has done for me and allowed me to do.

Tell us a little about your family.

My wife and I will celebrate fifteen years of marriage in June and we have four daughters ranging from thirteen to one year old. The oldest three are homeschooled and my wife does a wonderful job with that. We live in a small town in Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. We love spending time as a family, picnicking, exploring, and just goofing off together.

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

Well, for one, I have less time to read. I usually read at night before going to bed but I have such a difficult time staying awake. But since my writing has taken a turn for the serious, I read more now to learn than for pleasure. I choose books that I know will advance my own craft and read with an eye toward how the author writes the story, the prose, the dialogue, the pacing, suspense, character development. All of it.

What are you working on right now?

I’m finishing up my next suspense novel, The Prodigy, which will release in February of 2013. I’ve been working furiously on this story to get it finished by deadline and am pleased with some of the turns it’s taken. I think my readership will very much enjoy it and be intrigued by the twists and turns the story takes.

What outside interests do you have?

Boy, not many because at this point in life I really just don’t have time for outside interests. I like being outside, taking walks, hiking, that sort of thing. I enjoy reading when I can stay awake. My wife and I are hooked on BBC shows like Lark Rise to Candleford and Cranford.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Well, up until my last novel they’ve all been set in the general area of where I live, southern Pennsylvania or northern Maryland. Then I set my last book, Frantic, in Maine. I love my local region because it’s a very rich area, not just in history but in geography. Lots of rolling hills, wooded land, farmland, small towns, back roads. But favorite place is Maine. We’ve vacationed there several times and my wife lived there as a child. I can’t get enough of it. The contrast at the coast between the huge boulders and jagged rocks and pine trees and the ocean. Small coastal lobstering communities, lighthouses, lots and lots of forest. Can’t beat it and such a neat place to set a suspense story.

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

Thomas Jefferson. He seems like he’d be such a genuine and thoughtful person, intelligent, courageous, dedicated. I could learn a lot from and glean a lot of inspiration.

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

How much time you spent doing it and how hard it was to establish yourself in the industry. There are so many authors out there it’s hard to get noticed by readers. It seems most people have the handful of favorite authors and are reluctant to try new writers. I know I may be stepping on some toes here but I’m not alone in my sentiments. Authors are like restaurants, people have their favorites and when they have money to spend they want to stick with what they know and love.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Trust. I have such a tendency to want to manipulate my writing and career, to try to over-manage it, force it this way or that way, instead of just doing my best to write a great story, doing my best to promote it and let people know about it, then getting out of the way and letting God doing His thing.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

1. Continue to improve your craft.

2. Know why you’re writing, your motivations, your inspiration, your purpose

3. Get to know your readers

Tell us about the featured book.

Frantic is the story of a trio of characters on a harried and dangerous journey to discover what it means to really trust. Marny Toogood has lived under a “curse” his entire life and has therefore avoided much contact with people. That is, until he receives a desperate plea for help from Esther Rose, the over-protective sister of William, a boy with cerebral palsy and a very special gift. All three find themselves on the run from Esther and William’s maniacal and possessive “uncle” and wind up somewhere much more dangerous.

Here’s the back cover copy:

Can a deranged serial killer be stopped before it’s too late?

For gas station attendant Marny Toogood it s just another day on the job when an urgent message from a young girl in the backseat of a car draws him into a daring rescue attempt. Now on the run with the girl and her brother, Marny begins to realize he must conquer his own past and surrender all to Christ.

As they face kidnapping, underground cults, and other evils, can Marny trust the simple faith of a child and stand his ground against a power so twisted?

Please give us the first page of the book.

The night Marny Toogood was born it rained axheads and hammer handles.

His grandfather made a prediction, said it was an omen of some sort, that it meant Marny's life would be stormy, full of rain clouds and lightning strikes. Wanting to prove her father wrong, Janie Toogood named her son Marnin, which means "one who brings joy," instead of the Mitchell she and her husband had agreed on.

But in spite of Janie's good intentions, and regardless of what his birth certificate said, Marny's grandfather was right.

At the exact time Marny was delivered into this world and his grandfather was portending a dark future, Marny's father was en route to the hospital from his job at Winden's Furniture Factory where he was stuck working the graveyard shift. He'd gotten the phone call that Janie was in labor, dropped his hammer, and run out of the plant. Fifteen minutes from the hospital his pickup hit standing water, hydroplaned, and tumbled down a steep embankment, landing in a stand of eastern white pines. The coroner said he experienced a quick death; he did not suffer.

One week after Marny's birth his grandfather died of a heart attack. He didn't suffer either.

Twenty-six years and a couple of lifetimes of hurt later, Marny found himself working at Condon's Gas ’n Go and living above the garage in a small studio apartment George Condon rented to him for two hundred bucks a month. It was nothing special, but it was a place to lay his head at night and dream about the dark cloud that stalked him.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at www.mikedellosso.wordpress.com or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mikedellosso) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/mikedellosso) 


Thank you, Mike, for sharing about this story.


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

SPRING HOPE - Martha Rogers - One Free Book

Welcome back, Martha. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

This book came about as the fourth in a series that I proposed to Debbie Marrie, acquisitions editor at Charisma Media. After I had the story written it went to another editor, Lori Vanden Bosch. She had some ideas for the story and together we worked on it to bring the story to its final form. Deborah Moss read it then and had a few questions that helped clarify a few points. Atalie Anderson sent me the cover and with a few minor changes, we had the beautiful cover that you will see today. Usually I have a critique partner or two read over the manuscript, but there was no time for that with this book. Getting a book from the story idea to final publication involves so many people, and so far my experiences have been very good.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I recently spoke at the Tulsa ACFW group and I will be teaching two workshops at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in Houston on August 4. After that I will be speaking to a women’s group at First Baptist Church of Houston in October.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

If you mean at birth, I wouldn’t really want to be another place. I loved Dallas, Texas, where I grew up and graduated from high school. If you mean starting over later in life, I would have enjoyed living in the country on a ranch somewhere in Texas.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

All aspiring writers must have patience and learn to wait. We wait on responses from editors and/or agents. We wait on return of critiques. Most importantly of all, we wait for God’s perfect timing. He is always on schedule, and most of the time it doesn’t fit ours.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

This is a toughie as I don’t know any of the celebrities from today because I just don’t pay that much attention to them, and we don’t go to movies. However, if I could plan a Christian cruise, I would invite Point of Grace and Steve Green to provide music, and Christian comedian Mark Lowry to entertain us with his wonderful stories.

I’d love to be on that cruise with you. Tell us about the featured book.

Spring Hope is a story of forgiveness that parallels my own with my brother. Learning to forgive someone of a lifestyle or crimes that go against everything one has ever believed and taught is one of the most difficult things to do for a Christian, especially when that person is someone close to us. Cody Muldoon must learn that lesson and my agony became his as he wrestled with God about what he had to do.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Porterfield, Texas

February, 1891

Chapter 1

The coldest night of winter thus far chilled Deputy Sheriff Cory Muldoon to the bone as he made his rounds in the alleyways of Porterfield. Cold wind howled around the corners of the buildings now closed up for the night. Most everyone in Porterfield had gone home to their families and warm homes. This was all the winter he cared to experience, and even this would be only a few days as the weather in Texas could change in a heartbeat, summer or winter.

Lights and music from the saloon rang out and mocked the dark silence of its neighboring buildings. Friday nights found cowboys and lumberjacks both squandering their hard-earned money on liquor and women. Tonight would be no different despite the cold, near freezing temperatures. Most likely at least one or two of them would end up in the jail for a spell.

Cory turned up the collar of his sheepskin-lined jacket and shoved his hat farther down on his head. When he rounded the corner of the livery, the gentle nickering and snorts of the horses boarded there broke the quietness of the night.

A cat skittered out from behind the general store, and a dog barked in the distance. Ever since the bank robbery last fall, he or the sheriff had roamed the alleys behind the main businesses every night to make sure everything remained locked tight and secure. So far, he’d seen only a typical Friday night with everything as routine as Aunt Mae’s boardinghouse meal schedule. Of course being Friday the thirteenth, anything could happen.

             

They already had two men put up for the night back at the jail. Sheriff Rutherford took the night duty to keep the jail cells warm so Cory could have Saturday off for his Aunt Mae’s wedding. Ole Cooter probably got drunk and disorderly just so he’d have a warm place to sleep tonight and not have to go out to his shack. Cory held no blame on the man for that. Durand, the saloon owner, caught the other man cheating at cards and had him arrested. Maybe the card shark would move his game on to some other town.

Where can we find you on the Internet?

www.marthawrogers.com

Thank you, Martha, for another interesting interview.


Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Spring Hope (Seasons of the Heart)


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

CHAMELEON - Jillian Kent - One Free Book

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

I love the time period. And because I’ve worked in the mental health field for 32 years I’m fascinated by the human mind and illness. Why we do the things we do is pretty much the same in the Regency as it is today.

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

The day I married my husband. We’re still married 32 years later.

How has being published changed your life?

The crazy aspect.

I used to think I was busy. J Now I know I am. Writing  a series is a challenge. Writing and editing and marketing and blogging and everything thing else that comes with publication has changed my life. Spending time with family and friends has become more challenging. I work full-time as a counselor 10 months a year.

The fun aspect.

I get to see how publishing works up close. Even though I’ve studied the craft for 22 years there’s so much I didn’t know. Publishing is like earning a whole new degree. I’ve worked with 2 different editors so far and learned a lot from both.

What are you reading right now?

What Remains of Heaven by C.S. Harris

What is your current work in progress?

Mystery of the Heart, The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Book Three

What would be your dream vacation?

Hawaii with hubby.

British Isles with hubby.

Australia and New Zealand with hubby.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Love England. I’ll probably keep writing novels set in England for awhile.

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

J.K. Rowling. Because she’s an incredible British novelist and she lives in Scotland. I would want to meet with her at her place. J

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Word find puzzles. 

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

Finding the hours in the day to do my very best writing. I never find them so I write in snatches of time. Lunch time, after dinner, late at night. Anytime I can find time.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Don’t work on one book forever. Finish it and write another one. You’ll want as much product and experience as you can get when you get published.

Tell us about the featured book.

How much can you really know about someone?

Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen observer of human behavior. After battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her homebound for years, she journeys to London determined to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Jaded by his wartime profession as a spy, Lord Witt understands, more than most, that everyone is not always who they pretend to be. He meets Victoria after the Regent requests an investigation into the activities of her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore.

Witt and Victoria become increasingly entangled in a plot targeting the lords of Parliament. Victoria is forced to question how well she knows those close to her while challenging Witt’s cynical nature and doubts about God. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character.

—Henry David Thoreau

London, 29 March 1818

St. James Park loomed in front of them, shrouded in a heavy mist that created difficulty for horse and driver as the coach and four maneuvered its way into the park.

Inside the vehicle, Victoria leaned toward the window, straining to see the outline of trees. “Such a disappointment,” she sighed. “This is not what I expected my very first morning in London. I’d so hoped to see more on the ride through the park, something exciting to tell Devlin when we get to his home.”

“Don’t despair, my lady.” Nora, her maid, pulled a heavy shawl tighter about her shoulders. “’Tis sure to be the same mist that abounds in Yorkshire. This nuisance will lift eventually. It always does.”

Victoria patted the sleek head of her dog. “Even Lazarus grows bored.” She marveled at her best friend, a behemoth of a mastiff, as he lowered his bulk to the floor of the coach with a loud groan and laid his head across her slipper-covered feet, creating a comfortable warmth. He’d been with her for years, and she couldn’t leave him behind. The poor dear would cry himself to sleep every night.

Victoria allowed the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves and Nora’s penchant for humming songs to lull her into a light sleep. Nora’s humming had comforted her all those years she’d been sick at Ravensmoore. While everyone else lived their busy lives out around her, she’d done little but survive, taking comfort in the small things that brought her joy.

A sudden crash caused the coach door to vibrate. Victoria screamed and bolted upright as Lazarus pressed his nose and giant paws against the carriage window. A low growl rumbled in his throat.

She grabbed Lazarus by the collar. Heart pounding, she turned to Nora. “What was that?”

By the bye, you can read the first chapter at http://jilliankent.com/books.html

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.jilliankent.com

https://www.facebook.com/JillianKent

@JillKentAuthor on Twitter

I write and coordinate The Well Writer column here: http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/brilliant_well.html

http://justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/ The Realms Authors Blog

Thank you, Jillian, for sharing your new book with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

Chameleon (The Ravensmoore Chronicles)


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

GROWING UP ZIGLAR - Julie Ziglar Norman - One Free Book

Welcome, Julie. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your book.

My book is non-fiction so I am as authentic as I possibly can be. I write honestly about my faults and failures as well as my strengths and blessings.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I used to dress up in a Police Dog bite suit so our local K-9 officers could train their dogs to search out and detain bad guys.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

My English teachers in high school and college encouraged me and winning the Guideposts Writers Workshop contest helped validate their assessment for me.

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

I like to read everything from my Bible and my favorite daily devotional My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers to scientific papers on health and Herpetology. I love fiction like the Mitford series by Jan Karon, biographies, business leadership books by Dave Anderson, anything by Andy Andrews, direct marketing and sales books, and publications about horses and trail riding.

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

I remember that my life is none of my business and I do all that I can to be available to do what God would have me do next. My prayer time and my faith keep me grounded. I don’t worry because I know God is fully aware of all that is going on in my life and I trust Him. My favorite way to relax is to go trail riding on my Quarter Horse Kup.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Most of the people in my life are characters of one sort or another…lively and exciting people…but they come with names already in place since I don’t write fiction. I have been asked on occasion not to use someone’s real name so I let my reader know if I have substituted a fictitious name.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my blended family. When my husband Jim and I married my little girl Amey was almost 7, his boy/girl twins, Jim and Jenni had just turned 12 and his oldest daughter DeDe was 19. We were blessed that the children all lived with us and with lots of patience, lots of long talks, through both tough times and good times, we were able to build a family unit so strong our children fully accept one another as siblings and the word “step” never enters anyone’s mind or vocabulary. We have strong family traditions and the love we all have for one another is as deep and binding as any traditional family I’ve ever seen. I am immensely proud of our four children and our twelve grandchildren.

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

If I were an animal I wouldn’t be typing out this answer but I would love to be the white horse on which my Lord Jesus Christ returns in Revelation 19:11. To assist my King, to see the upturned faces of those who have waited with faith and hope for His return…I can’t imagine an animal more blessed than that!

What is your favorite food?

I consider any good soup that has a chicken or vegetable based broth and if full of great veggies a favorite.

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

The only time I get writers block is when I have a deadline. The way I overcome it is to have my husband write the first few lines. I was the editor on 27 of my father Zig Ziglar’s 30 books so when something is down in print I immediately know what I want to say or how I’d say it differently. It makes for a great jump start. Of course it helps that my husband knows what I want to write about on any project that I do. He has been a ghost writer for many years now.

Tell us about the featured book.

I wrote my book, Growing Up Ziglar: A Daughter’s Broken Journey from Heartache to Hope, to encourage women who have deemed themselves unusable by God; for women who have not been able to forgive themselves for their past even though they intellectually know that God has forgiven them and for women who want to get beyond self and serve God fully. It is my hope that women who read my book will see how knowing God’s Word personally and intimately will give them an instruction manual for living a life of peace, contentment and victory. I want women to know and understand that their lives are none of their business and that learning how to be available, willing and obedient to do what God puts before them to do will make them incredibly free. I want Christian women who hide the wrong they once did to know that they are in bondage still! When we know and accept that we are forgiven there is no more shame, only gratitude and relief and the desire to help others know the truth of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. I believe the purpose God has given me is wrapped up in those verses: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” NKJV It is my prayer that women will be comforted when they read my book and that they will come to KNOW, really KNOW, their Lord and Savior and the plans He has for them.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

Available, Willing, and Obedient

The Command I Couldn’t Ignore

That Sunday morning in the waning days of the summer of 2005 started out like so many others. Six years earlier, my husband Jim and I had moved from the bustling suburbs of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex to the sleepy little town of Alvord, Texas. It had taken some time and lots of visiting, but we’d found a church we loved, and we treasured all thirty of the regular attendees. We enjoyed knowing, really knowing, everyone in the fellowship so it didn’t seem unusual when my friend Missy pulled me aside as soon as we walked into the church foyer.

It was unusual when Missy began telling me about a dream she’d had the night before. Our church would be considered conservative by most, and what I was about to hear was not an ordinary discussion - even among our most colorful attendees

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be found at www.ziglarwomen.com  or www.julieziglarnorman.com .

I also have a blog at www.growingupziglar.com

Thank you, Julie, for sharing your life and book with us.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Growing Up Ziglar: A Daughter's Broken Journey from Heartache to Hope (Voices of Faith Series) Growing Up Ziglar (Voices of Faith) - Kindle format


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

Seven Winners Today!!!!!!!

Linda Kish (CA) is the winner of Stardust by Carla Stewart.
Janet Kerr (Canada) is the winner of After All by Deborah Raney.
Angela Holland (FL)  is the winner of Hearts That Survive, from Yvonne Lehman. 
Ali (NY) is the winner of Mary's Blessing by Lena Nelson Dooley.
Trella (WA) is the winner of Where Lilacs Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick.
Cheryl (IL) is the winner of Wish You Were Here by Beth K Vogt.


In honor of Maggie's Journey, the first book in my McKenna's Daughters series, winning the Selah Award at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference this week, I'm choosing another winner for Mary's Blessing. It's flghtlss (NC)

If you won a book and you really like it, consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 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 ANNIVERSARY WALTZ - Darrel Nelson - One Free Book

I’m thrilled to have Darrel Nelson on my blog today. I was privileged to read the manuscript for endorsement, and I loved it. I think you will, too. Welcome, Darrel. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I suspect most authors put a bit of themselves into each of their characters, good or bad. Imagination allows us to magnify the good and bad traits in ourselves and project them into our characters. But, naturally, our good characters take after our personal good traits as the author, while the bad characters are solely based on our imagined bad traits . . . right?

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

The word “quirky” covers a wide range of possibilities. But I would have to say that eating peanuts, shell and all, might qualify. Someone introduced me to this practice years ago, and I tried it and liked it. So when I go to Texas Roadhouse or some other restaurant that serves bulk peanuts in the shell as an appetizer, I pop the whole peanut in my mouth, shell and all, and chew to my heart’s content. Talk about fiber! (Disclaimer: No one else I’ve talked into trying it likes it. Just sayin’.)

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I began writing stories when I was about ten years old. It seemed a natural thing to pick up a paper and pencil and write adventure stories. I read all the Tarzan books I could get my hands on, and so my early stories were jungle adventures. Later, I got into science fiction and so I left the steaming jungles of Africa for the outer realms of the galaxy. I created a character named Zip Carter, and, boy, did he have some exciting, far-out adventures. I have no idea where those early stories ever got to, but would it ever be a laugh to read them now.

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

I still haven’t figured out how I went from reading jungle adventures and outer space adventures to reading romantic fiction, but somewhere along the line I discovered that I liked reading stories about relationships, particularly love stories. I love the books of Nicholas Sparks and Charles Martin, both of whom write in the style I enjoy myself. Also, I love John Grisham’s courtroom drama novels. I’ve read them all, too.

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

I wish I could answer that, but l have already lost my sanity. I mean, I’m trying to break into the writing business, right? Okay, seriously, there are several things that have helped me. First of all, I have a wonderful and supportive wife and family (including ten adorable grandchildren) who mean the world to me. They help keep me grounded. Secondly, we are active in our church and believe that with the Lord’s help we can endure and rise above the trials of life. Third, I have been a schoolteacher for thirty-seven years, and being around the innocence and vitality of children all those years has helped maintain my faith in humanity.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

At first I pull the names out of a hat (not literally) and begin fleshing out their characters. As the story progresses, I might change my mind on a character’s name. For example, in The Anniversary Waltz, “Adam” was originally named “Shem.” But as the book progressed, the name Adam seemed to suit the character better. I know it sounds like I have a thing for Bible names—I mean, the main female character is named Elizabeth—but not really. I settled on names that seemed to “ring true” to the character. But here’s the funny thing. In real life, I have a nephew named Adam and a niece named Elizabeth.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Convincing my wife to marry me. And that is an accomplishment considering what a shy guy I was. Still am.

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

In both of my novels I include a scene where a bird (hawk and eagle respectively) is soaring gracefully through the air. So I suppose I would choose to be a hawk or an eagle. There is something about its freedom of flight, the majesty of its outstretched wings, the solitude of being (as described in my second novel) “a beauty mark on the face of heaven” that is appealing to me. Plus, as a boy I read every Superman comic book on the face of the earth and dreamed about being able to FLY.

What is your favorite food?

I love Canadian Chinese food. Wait . . . Canadian Chinese food, you say? Yep. Chinese food that’s served right here in good old Canada. It’s a little different than American Chinese food—I don’t know, they must use a different recipe or something. I only know that my family loves it, and my children who live in the States always request, when they back to Canada to visit, that we all go out for genuine, authentic Canadian Chinese food.

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

My main problem can be summarized in three little letters: POV. That’s Point of View. I’ve driven my editor crazy with how I get into the head of each of my characters and share their thoughts and feelings freely, often in the same scene. I write in a stream of consciousness mode, and this poses a problem for the reader. It tends to give a “shotgun blast” of information instead of a pinpoint that allows the information to be unfolded incrementally.

I have tried to overcome this roadblock by keeping a piece of paper beside of my computer that lists the chapter number and the POV from which it’s told. As I write, I remind myself to focus on who’s telling the story and to be aware of not climbing inside another character’s head. I read each completed chapter about a hundred times to check it over, and then move on. When I go back and reread the book later, I still find places where I have been inconsistent. So the bottom line is—I’m improving in this area, but I still have a long way to go. It’s a tricky technique to master, I’ll tell you that. But that’s just my POV.

Please give us the first page of the book.

PROLOGUE

October 2006

“Would you do me the honor, Miss?”

Adam Carlson stood beside his wife, Elizabeth, who was still seated at the dining room table. He presented her with a single white rose, which he brought out from behind his back. She held the flower close in order to savor its sweet fragrance. Adam extended a wrinkled hand and looked at her expectantly, the question lingering in his smile. 

Elizabeth laughed lightly and put the rose on the table beside her plate, pausing to smooth down her white hair and adjust the two-strand pearl necklace around her slender neck. She placed her hand in his, and together they walked slowly into the living room, followed by family members, who gathered around the perimeter of the area rug.

The living room was decorated especially for the occasion. A banner that read HAPPY ANNIVERSARY stretched above the doorway, and crepe streamers hung from the center of the ceiling, radiating to the corners of the room like the spokes of a wheel. Balloons were taped to the walls in clusters, and below each cluster was a hand-drawn picture that showed two stick figures holding hands, with the words GREAT-GRANDMA LOVES GREAT-GRANDPA printed across the bottom in irregular block letters. A brass floor lamp stood in the far corner, casting a warm glow throughout the room. A floral arrangement in a ceramic vase sat on the fireplace mantel, and a small pennant that was attached to a thin wooden stick protruded from the leaves and bore the message HAPPY 60th, written in glitter paint. A photograph in an old picture frame of Adam and Elizabeth on their wedding day sat on the coffee table, and an album containing photographs of past anniversaries lay open beside it.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me a www.darrelnelson.com. I invite you to check out my website and my blog.

Thank you, Darrel, 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.

The Anniversary Waltz: A novel


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

THE WIDOW OF SAUNDERS CREEK - Tracey Bateman - One Free Book

I'm thrilled to have my friend, Tracey Bateman, back with us. Welcome, Tracey. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I was five when I decided I better ask Jesus into my heart. But it was mainly because my best friend was getting baptized and got all the attention. When I was eight, I had an experience with God where I realized I was a sinner and that Jesus had died for me. I spent hours on my mother’s bedroom floor crying and repenting for my sins. That was the day I truly believe I was saved.

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

Susan May Warren—Because she knows more about the craft of writing than anyone I know.

Rachel Hauck—because not only does she know writing, she knows God and I love the way He oozes from her when she speaks about anything, but writing in particular. Plus, she has the coolest way of phrasing things of anyone I know. I could listen to her read the phone book and be inspired.

James Scott Bell—Because he’s funny and smart and knows exactly what he wants to say and communicates it effectively.

Colleen Coble—Because she is the biggest encourager I know, and I think more than “technique” new writers, in particular, just need encouragement to keep on.

I’d want to sneak into that retreat. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Not really. I do speak on occasion, sometimes about writing, sometimes about life and God. They are few and far between, but lately, the doors seem to be opening more. Not sure what God has planned, but “YES” to whatever He asks me to do. Lord, send me…

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

Usually, I get more information. What sort of book? And that opens a dialogue. You can center people pretty quickly and if they’re just thinking one day they might write a book about a life experience, I encourage them to journal and flex their writing muscles that way. If they have an idea for a fiction book and just need the courage or a little nudge in the right direction, I usually point them to ACFW or My Book Therapy, plus I encourage them to sit down and just write.

Tell us about the featured book.

Corrie Saunders’ journey begins with deep, heart-wrecking grief. She’ll do anything for one more moment with the man she loved and lost. As the story evolves she must come to understand that God’s ways are always higher and the enemy of her soul has one focus in mind where she is concerned: to separate her from the love of God and take her down a path of destruction. But for God…

It’s a love story with a supernatural tilt to it. My response to the lies blasted onto the airways with Ghosthunters and other shows that promote what God forbids: speaking to the “dead.”

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

An easy spring wind blew through my open Jeep, lifting my hair and ruffling the cloth seat covers as I turned off the interstate and traveled east toward Saunders Creek. It was the last leg of my nine-hour drive from Dallas to the tiny, unassuming Ozarks town that bore my husband’s family name.

Towering oaks, full maples, and evergreens hugged the narrow, winding road in a way that even a few months ago might have felt intrusive. But today the trees seemed to embrace me, welcoming me.

Déjà vu came over me, as though the scene before me came out of my own childhood memories instead of recollections of stories my husband told about growing up here.

I wanted him beside me, flashing his Top Gun Maverick grin. Jarrod had died the way he lived—reckless, but heroic. Saving at least fifty lives in a little Iraqi settlement on the east bank of the Tigris River. Leaving me to pine after him, sick with love for a man who would never hold me again. I couldn’t breathe. God, just take me too. But every day my eyes opened, air filled my lungs, and I forced myself to go on.

Six months ago, I buried him according to his wishes, in the Saunders family graveyard. After the funeral, my mother demanded that I return home to Dallas to grieve—as though I could just put the last seven years behind me and move on. Forget the consuming, crazy, once-in-a-lifetime love who had rescued me from her in the first place. Every night since then I had dreamed of my husband’s childhood home. A force compelled me to come here, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Jarrod was gone, but as I drove my Jeep up the path that led to the two-story farmhouse, I finally understood why I had been so drawn to this place.

I had come here to find the man I loved.

I’m intrigued. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Twitter and Facebook of course and my website

www.traceybateman.com

Thank you, Tracey, for another interesting interview.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

The Widow of Saunders Creek: A Novel - paperback
The Widow of Saunders Creek: A Novel - 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

LILY - Diane T Ashley and Aaron McCarver - Free Book

Readers, I was privileged to read this manuscript for endorsement. I loved the book, and I believe you will, too.

Welcome, Diane and Aaron. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Diane – Writing historical novels is interesting because of all the history I learn from the research. I enjoyed reading Regency romances as a teenager, so writing historicals now is not too much of a stretch.

Aaron – I fell in love with Christian historical fiction after reading The Honorable Imposter by Gilbert Morris. I was thrilled to see this type of novel with the added bonus of glorifying the Lord. I am blessed that God allows me to use the talents He has given to continue to write these types of books.

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

Diane – My wedding day. I am so lucky to have met and married Gene. He is a special gift from God.

Aaron – I have been blessed with many, so I’ll just choose the day I received my first book contract. What a special feeling!

How has being published changed your life?

Diane – It has helped me understand the industry better. Having the extra income is also allowing me to retire from my day job this summer so I can spend more time writing.

Aaron – I have met so many wonderful people who have added so many things to my life and blessed me in so many ways.

What are you reading right now?

Diane - Book of Days by James L. Rubart.

Aaron – I am reading The River Queen by Gilbert Morris.

What is your current work in progress?

We are currently working on book three, Jasmine, in our “Song of the River” series.

What would be your dream vacation?

Diane – A warm beach, my computer and an Internet connection, and my husband.

Aaron – Visiting a historical site like an old home or attending some writers’ or Christian publishing event. I love being with like-minded people who love to talk “book” shop.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Diane – The settings for our current series seemed to flow naturally from the story ideas.

Aaron – They usually come with the idea for a story as Diane said. I tend to choose that from eras and events in history that capture my interest and which, I believe, will capture the interests of our readers.

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

Diane - Frank Peretti. His books changed my view of reality and the spiritual realm. I would love to talk to him about his ideas, beliefs, and his newest book.

Aaron – Wow, what an interesting question. I would like to spend some time with George W. Bush. I admire him for his positions on issues like gay marriage and abortion when many were opposed to his conservative morality.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Diane – Surf-fishing, looking at real estate, traveling.

Aaron – You mean there are other things to do besides those?! Just kidding. I enjoy spending evenings with friends and watching classic movies.

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

Diane – By the time I’m at the end of a project, I feel it is absolutely the worst story ever written. I send it to Aaron for edits, knowing in my heart he is going to call and confirm my fears. Prayer and trust in God’s provision are the only solutions.

Aaron – Finding the time to juggle my jobs of teaching and editing along with the writing is a problem at times. Scheduling my projects and an understanding and supportive co-author help through the especially busy times.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Diane – Be patient. My brother often teases me about my “overnight” success, as he knows I wrote for about ten years before getting that contract. God has given you this dream of writing for a purpose…His purpose. He will help you fulfill that purpose if you trust Him.

Aaron – Amen to that. I will add a couple of things. Attend writers’ conferences and read, read, read in your chosen genre.

Tell us about the featured book.

From the back of the book:

In 1859 Natchez, Mississippi, Lily Anderson is determined to thwart a marriage of convenience. She embarks on a riverboat venture to keep her and her two sisters afloat financially. But gambler Blake Matthews has won part ownership of Lily’s riverboat. How will their business profit if he and the feisty Mississippi miss disagree about almost everything? The affluent Jean Luc Champney will do anything to get back what he lost in a card game, including wooing and endangering the pretty new owner. Will the siren song of the river evolve into a serenade or a somber lament?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Lily Anderson watched the passing scenery from the comfort of her uncle’s carriage. Stately mansions with manicured grounds gave way to the smaller, sturdy homes of local merchants as they traveled toward the Mississippi River. They passed a busy mercantile and several shops before the carriage took a sharp leftward downturn toward the raucous, bustling dock that lay far beneath the genteel residences of Natchez’s wealthy plantation owners and merchants.

Natchez Under-the-Hill. She sniffed the air appreciatively as she disembarked, picking up the scents of fresh coffee, burning wood, and fish. How she loved the river. She barely noticed the disreputable, rickety inns and saloons that sprouted like weeds on either side of the winding road called Silver Street.

Roustabouts slumbered in the scant shade of the ramshackle buildings while a pair of glassy-eyed Indians staggered down the street, each clutching a brown bottle close to his chest. Lily’s eyes widened at their blatant drunkenness, but their presence did not deter her eagerness to absorb every detail of her surroundings as she followed Aunt Dahlia.

Voices shouted in an exciting mix of languages. She wondered how many countries were represented in this one place. . .English, French, German, and even lilting Norwegian dialects. The latter brought disturbing memories, but Lily pushed them away, determined to enjoy her outing on the Mississippi River.

As she and her aunt picked their way past bales of cotton and barrels of tobacco, her gaze absorbed the myriad boats lining the banks. Rugged keelboats and waterlogged rafts butted up against lofty steamboats, each awaiting cargo or passengers to be floated down the river to the port of New Orleans.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Diane - It needs updating, but I have a website at www.dianeashleybooks.com . Our publisher’s website is www.barbourbooks.com, and we are also both listed on ACFW’s wonderful resource: www.fictionfinder.com.


Thank you so much for sharing your lives and your wonderful book with us.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Lily (Song of the River) - paperback
Lily - 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