Saturday, May 12, 2012

ALMOST ARIZONA - Susan Page Davis - 5 Free Books


I have one of my favorite people on here today with a special post.

Welcome, Susan. Tell us about Arizona. 

Arizona became a state in February, 1912. This year, residents of both Arizona and New Mexico are celebrating their statehood centennials.

My new book, Almost Arizona, is set in 1912, and is a tribute to this achievement. Another author, Darlene Franklin, envisioned a series of books about the states that make up the Four Corners region. She has written a book about Colorado, Pride’s Fall, and Carla Olsen Gade contributed the first in the series, set in New Mexico and titled The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter. Each of these stories highlights a historical event centered at Four Corners—the surveys and locating of the spot where the four states (including Utah) meet. Almost Arizona ends with the placing of the modern monument there.

In my story, Julia Newman has been away from the small mining town where her family lives. She expects to come home to live a peaceful life there with her brother, but things have gone awry. Here’s the back cover copy:

Julia Newman heads home to her Arizona mountain town on one of the last surviving stagecoaches. Instead of a happy reunion with her brother, she is treated to a holdup. The man investigating the robbery is Deputy Sheriff Adam Scott—whose marriage proposal Julia turned down two years ago. Now Adam thinks her brother Oliver is mixed up in the robbery. Julia knows better, but when she arrives home, Oliver is nowhere to be found. She knows she must locate him before Adam—or the lynch mob—does. A cryptic message from Oliver sends Julia riding across the high desert to find him.

Researching this book was very interesting. I learned a lot about the Navajo tribe and about the petroglyphs found carved on stone in the Southwest. I also studied about Canyon Diablo, a town that came to life overnight in 1882, when the railroad was being built. The tracks had to cross a deep river canyon, but the wrong materials were sent for the trestle bridge. A very rowdy town sprang up while the railroad workers waited, but it lasted only a few years. As soon as the railroad bridge was complete, most of the people moved on. The town had 2,000 people at its peak, but today only ruins can be seen.

Among Canyon Diablo’s claims to fame was its short-lived first marshal. He was sworn in at 3 p.m., the story goes, and buried at 8 p.m. the same day. By 1903, the only building remaining in town was the Navajo trading post, which I’ve made use of in my story.

Almost Arizona is a current selection of the Heartsong Presents Book Club, and will soon be available in other venues.

Visit me at my website, where you can enter my drawing to win this book or one of my other titles each month: www.susanpagedavis.com



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 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

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi, Susan and Lena. Though i live in Canada for 7 months of the year, i love reading about U.S. history. Since i live in Arizona the other 5 months, this state is dear to my heart. Thank you for the post, and the opportunity to win this novel.

Marianne from norther Alberta
mitzi underscore wanham at yahoo dot com

Beth K. Vogt said...

What a fun idea to write a series based on the 4 corners. I live in Colorado and have visited or at least driven through the other 3.
beth at bethvogt dot com

Lorna Faith said...

Thanks Lena for having Susan as a guest. Love your books! This one sounds so interesting...love learning about the history of places...and Arizona's sounds intriguing:)
Please put my name in the hat for a chance to win:)

Lorna from Alberta

lornafaith at gmail dot com

Diana Gardner said...

Looks like a great book. Would love to win a copy! Portsmouth, VA

misskallie2000 said...

Hi Susan, Enjoyed your interview and already have Almost Arizona on my wish list. I love stories about the old west and romance of course.
Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway Lena.

Brenda from Georgia

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

regencygirl01 said...

I am from all over I like to say as I am a military BRAT. However, I am now back where I started from in the great state of Arkansas.
Love Susan's books

Jo said...

I love reading about the history of Arizona especially since that is the state that I live in. Thank you for the great giveaway.

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

Judy Cooper said...

I always enjoy Susan's books as I love the historical romances she writes about. Please enter my name. Judy C. in Louisiana. Thank you.

scottsgal said...

Big fan of Susan's books - have read several
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

Looks interesting!
Please enter me!
God Bless!
Sarah Richmond
Blanch,N.C.

Faith said...

I loved Ms. Davis' book Cowgirl tral and would love to read her latest!

Thank you :)

Faye from SD

apple blossom said...

thanks for chance to win love these books.

live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Merry said...

I love reading Susan's books, please include me for Almost Arizona. Thanks!
Merry in TX

Nancee said...

I've seen other reviews of this book, and I'd love an opportunity to win a copy. Thank you for offering this giveaway!
Nancee, Western Michigan
quiltcat26@sbcglobal.net

rubynreba said...

Almost Arizona is a book I'm anxious to read. Please enter me.
Beth from Iowa

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Liz R said...

Thanks for another great giveaway!

Liz R in AL