WINNERS!!!!!

Ladette (GA) is the winner of Death in Delonega by Deborah Malone. 
Kristie (OH) is the winner of The Next Target by Nikki Arana.
Merry (TX)  is the winner of Back to Resolution from Rose Dee. 
Maria (MI) is the winner of A Familiar Shore by Jennifer Fromke. 
Sharon (NC) is the winner of A Good Fight by Matthew R Horn.
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Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
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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.

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A BRIDE OPENS SHOP IN EL DORADO, CALIFORNIA - Keli Gwyn - One Free Book

Welcome, Keli. I'm thrilled to feature you with your debut novel, which I loved. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I like to think my characters are much better people than I am, but my heroines do seem to end up with a few traits they got from me. Elenora, the heroine of A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado California, is a lousy cook. I don’t like to cook, although I’m not quite as bad at it as Ellie.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I create voices for our cats. Sometimes our only child felt the need to talk to someone other than her dad or me when she was young, so her cat brother became her confidant. Now, I know I’m not the only one to voice a pet, but I took my feline vocalization to extremes when we were on a vacation in Europe. Our daughter, eight at the time, was feeling particularly homesick one day and missing our furry fellow something fierce. She wanted desperately wanted to talk to Snuggles, so I invented the tailular phone. Yes, a phone that uses a cat’s tail as an antenna. If our daughter wanted to communicate with Snuggs, she could. All he had to do was raise his tail, and voilà. The connection was made. What we mothers will do for our children. :-)

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I dreamed of being a writer since I was seven. My earliest efforts were letters to my grandparents. As I got older, I added friends to my list of correspondents. It wasn’t long before they started saying I should be a writer. I didn’t tell them my dream, but I did treasure their words of encouragement. Some of the very people who encouraged me are now sharing in my excitement, as my first book is about to hit the shelves.

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

I read some contemporary romance and a rare women’s fiction work, but inspirational historical romance has long been my favorite genre. There are many talented historical authors out there, such as you, Lena.

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

Great question. Getting out of the house each day for my Curves workout or a walk helps me clear my head and gives me a much-needed break and a relief from stress. I return home ready to get back to the tasks at hand.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Finding a photo, one of the small carte de visite with the image mounted on cardboard, is my first step. Once I have that, I study the person in the picture until a character begins to take shape in my mind. Often the name is one of the first aspects I choose. I check to make sure it’s period appropriate. If it is, I let the name sit for a few days and see if it matches the character I’ve envisioned. Most of the time the name sticks, but I have changed a few as I got into a story.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

After raising our daughter, getting a book published with a traditional publisher would be next on the list. I’m also proud of putting myself through college. It took me eleven years to get my bachelor’s degree, but I did it.

I also worked my way through college, but it took me only five years. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

My dad used to say I was like a banty hen because I’m small and I go after what I want no matter how big the obstacles in my path appear to be. This particular trait served me well as I pursued publication. :-)

What is your favorite food?

I’m a Taco Bell addict, but I enjoy Mexican food and Tex-Mex, too.

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

Poor plotting was my biggest problem. I overcame it by admitting that my pantser method wasn’t working for me. These days, I don’t start a story until I have an outline with the major turning points, black moment, conclusion, character arcs, and faith elements figured out. Knowing what’s going to happen when helps me keep the story moving in the right direction and avoid the dreaded sagging middle.

Tell us about the featured book.

Love Is Gold in El Dorado, California

Widow Elenora Watkins heads to California with her nine-year-old daughter, Tildy, eager to become a partner in a mercantile. When the mulish owner withdraws his offer because she’s a woman, she opens her own shop. She’s determined to prove herself capable of running a successful business without the help of anyone—including her controlling father, her seemingly distant heavenly Father, and one Miles Rutledge.


Widower Miles Rutledge is not about to get involved with another willful woman like his late wife, especially when she’s his competition. But the beautiful Elenora may be too hard to resist. When another man appears out to claim Elenora’s heart, Miles searches for a way to win her back. . .while putting her out of business.


Meanwhile, Maude Rutledge, Miles’s meddling mother, longs to see her son make a good match. And Tildy is just as bent on gaining a loving papa.


The battle of wills begins, but can anyone win when the competition is more than they bargained for?

Please give us the first page of the book.

April 1870

The Sierra Foothills of California

The stagecoach lurched to a stop, throwing Elenora and Matilda Watkins against a damask-covered sidewall.

Elenora clutched her nine-year-old daughter to her side. “Are you all right, Tildy?”

“Oh Mama. You don’t have to be so skittery.” Tildy shrugged out of the protective embrace, scooted across the bench seat, and shoved the leather window shade aside. “I want to see what’s going on.” She peeked out, whirled around with wide eyes and an enormous grin, and let the dust shield fall with a thwap. “It’s an outlaw, and he’s pointing a gun at the driver.”

Where did her daughter get those wild notions of hers? Elenora shot Tildy a reassuring smile and leaned over the center jump seat to have a look. “Lord, help us.”

A shudder ripped through her. The horrid man atop the big black horse was, in fact, aiming a gun at the coachman, but he was aiming a look of sheer evil at her. One of his eyes bored into her while the other seemed to roam. His sneer made her skin crawl.

How could this be happening? They’d ridden all the way from Omaha on that snorting beast of a train and made the line changes in Ogden and Sacramento City without incident. Why did something have to go wrong on the final five miles between Shingle Springs and

El Dorado?

The outlaw’s deep voice boomed. “Hand it over.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I invite readers to visit me at my cyber home, www.keligwyn.com, with its parlor, library, study, carriage house, and more. My blog and social media links are there as well.

Thanks for having me as a guest on your great site, Lena. What fun to spend time with you and your visitors. I have a question for y’all. (My mom was raised in Texas, so I figure I can use that word even though I’m a California gal. :-)) Have any of your pets ever talked?

Thank you, Keli, for visiting my blog, but also for allowing me to read the book for endorsement. As you know, I loved it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California - paperback
A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California - 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

NATIVE SON - J M Hochstetler - One Free Book

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

The main thing for me is to finish the rest of my series on the American Revolution. That's my priority right now. There are still 3 volumes left to go, so it's going to consume probably the next 6 or 7 years.

I have a number of other projects I want to get to as soon as I can: an epic medieval tragedy, the fictionalized story of my Hochstetler ancestors, a spy-thriller, and a few other stories that are only plot summaries at the moment. So it looks like I'm going to be writing until my hands, eyes, and brain give out!

Tell us a little about your family.

I'm the daughter of Mennonite farmers, and my parents are both with the Lord now. I have one brother, who's a librarian, and I have 3 grown daughters. My husband, Jay, is a retired United Methodist pastor, and he also has 3 grown daughters. Between us we have 13 grandchildren and 2 step granchildren ranging from preschool to mid-twenties in age, so there's always something going on. We're pretty blessed and we're proud of every one of them!

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

It really has. Fiction is my main love, but because I'm writing a long historical series on the American Revolution, I read a lot of nonfiction on the period for my research. I also intentionally try steer away from fiction set during the Revolution because I want to keep my plots and characters fresh and not inadvertantly pick up ideas from another author.

I used to read a lot of contemporary fiction too. But the more I immerse myself in history, the more I find myself reaching for a historical novel rather than a contemporary.

What are you working on right now?

I'm finishing the edit on book 4 of my American Patriot Series, Crucible of War, which covers 1777. Then I'm going to dive right into book 5, Valley of the Shadow, which mostly takes place in 1778. As soon as possible, I also want to get back to a novel I've been working on for several years, a fictional treatment of the lives of my Hochstetler ancestors, who came to this country in 1738, settled in Pennsylvania, and were attacked by Indians in 1757 during the French and Indian War. There's a lot of documentation available, surprisingly enough, and I'm trying to do justice to their story.

What outside interests do you have?

I love to garden and do crafts, such as scrapbooking. I also love to decorate my home—add, subtract, move things around, repaint, and so on. What woman doesn't? I find playing around with design software and creating blogs, websites, and short video trailers  a blast too. I can tie up hours, if not days, doing those kinds of projects. Then I discovered Pinterest a couple of months ago, and it's kind of sucked me in. When my brain is tired, adding to my boards is a lovely way to relax!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The settings kind of choose me. Certain eras seem to call my name, and I find myself drawn into the lives of people of the time. That's been true for my American Patriot Series. Since I want to have my caracters right in the midst of the action, the setting becomes wherever the action is the most exciting.

My novel on the Hochstetler family is set in Pennsylvania where they lived, of course. But I've also set some of my other works in progress where specific details of time and place fit the storyline the best. Most of the time, the story and characters tell you where they want to be.

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

I'd love to spend time with Patrick Henry. I admire him immensely. He was not only a great patriot, extremely intelligent, personable, and very well versed in the law and politics of the day, but also a staunch Christian. And he was personally involved in the very beginnings of the Revolution. Spending an evening picking his brain would be my kind of heaven!

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

How hard it would be to market and promote myself and my work. You think you know what you're getting yourself into when you step into this business, but until you're face to face with the reality, you really don't have a clue!

For me, writing is the easy, fun part. But what's the point of it if nobody reads your stories? So that means getting the word out, which is a whole lot of work.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

I've been attending a church for a few months where the pastor's focus is Christian formation, being formed in the image of Christ, and I'm finding that I've been thirsty for this kind of teaching for a long time. He's been preaching through the Gospel of John for more than 2 years, and the cumulative effect of that intense focus is life changing.

The Lord is teaching me what it truly means to be a servant—not to serve others, which is self centered, but to truly BE a servant like Christ was, which is other centered. I fail at that so often, but that's the way I want to live my life.

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

Keep learning and growing as a writer. Write amazing stories. Keep your eyes on the Lord and make Him the focus and priority of your work.

Tell us about the featured book.

Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton has pledged his allegiance to the newly elected commander of the rebel force, General George Washington. But his heart belongs to fiery Elizabeth Howard, who charms British officers by day and by night delivers their secrets to the Sons of Liberty. Their plans to marry are put on hold, however, when Washington orders Carleton to undertake a perilous journey deep into Indian territory, while Elizabeth continues to spy on the British. Within weeks, she learns that far out in the wilderness Carleton has been captured by the Seneca. Despite all attempts to find him, his fate remains shrouded in mystery.

Forced to abandon Boston, British General William Howe prepares to unleash an overwhelming invasion force against Washington’s badly outmatched army at New York City. At the same time, reports begin to filter back from the western frontiers that a new Shawnee war chief named White Eagle is leading devastating raids against both British and American outposts in Ohio Territory.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

“No chance to get away to see Beth tonight either, I take it,” Major Charles Andrews ventured.

Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton threw his aide a brooding look as he urged his bay stallion forward, farther out of earshot of the riders trailing down the road behind them. It was nearing two o’clock, Sunday, July 2, 1775. Pulling off his wide-brimmed slouch hat, he wiped his brow with the back of his gloved hand before settling it back on his head with a jerk.

“We’ll undoubtedly be tied up with the generals until late.”

Andrews pulled his mount alongside Carleton’s. “I thought you’d break away yesterday when we stopped at Watertown to meet with the Provincial Congress.”

Carleton shook his head in frustration. “The General insisted I attend him. But I mean to see Beth tonight, even if it’s past midnight before we get there.”

“Washington has kept you on a short rein ever since we met him in New York.”

“All to your credit, Charles. If you hadn’t felt obliged to share every minute detail of my arrest and imminent hanging, we’d have been in Roxbury days ago.”

“It’s a good thing the General is being cautious,” Andrews countered. “If Isaiah hadn’t been on the alert on the road to New York, Gage’s agents would have us aboard ship to England by now, trussed up like a covey of Christmas geese.”

“And thank you for contributing a report on that little incident too,” Carleton returned sourly. “You managed to persuade Washington that the price Gage has put on my head—and on yours—will prove too tempting for someone whose need for cold coin is greater than his allegiance to the cause of liberty.”

Andrews returned a grin. “I’m a small fish. It’s you Gage wants. Considering the reward he’s offering, he obviously means to exact revenge for his humiliation at your hands. After all, you did pluck him clean of all the intelligence the Committee of Safety could have hoped for—while nestled sweetly in the general’s bosom.”

Carleton’s face clouded. “That’s what I despise about this. I should never have allowed myself to be persuaded to take on such a dishonorable role.”

“But spying in time of war is an ancient and necessary profession¾even a biblical one. Don’t forget the twelve Hebrews who spied out the land of Canaan for Moses.”

“Yes, and because they listened to the ten who had no faith instead of the two who trusted God, the children of Israel wandered in the desert for the next forty years,” Carleton responded with a short laugh. “May our country not be so unfortunate.”

With each step, the horses’ hooves plopped deep into the muddy road. The day was hot and humid following an early morning rain, and thunderclouds were again building overhead. At ground level, the rising wind stirred the trees that shouldered each other along the road’s edge and drove patches of shadow and sun across the low, wooded hills four miles from Boston Harbor.

“I hate to admit it, but in this beastly heat and humidity these buckskins are not as comfortable as our new uniforms would have been. And it occurs to me—too late, as usual—that we’d make a better impression on Ward and his staff in full regalia than in Indian dress.”

Andrews surveyed Carleton’s leather hunting shirt, leggings, and moccasins that matched his own. “I’m surprised to hear you say it,” he retorted with a smile. “I’ve not observed that you’re often overly concerned about making an impression, favorable or not.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have both a personal and a series website: www.jmhochstetler.com and www.theamericanpatriotseries.com And I have a blog devoted to the series: http://americanpatriotseries.blogspot.com .

Thanks, Lena! It's been great visiting with you!


It's always a pleasure to have you drop by my blog, Joan.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Native Son (The American Patriot Series, Book 2) - paperback
Native Son (The American Patriot Series) - 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

LOVE'S SACRED SONG - Mesu Andrews - One Free Book

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

Since many of my biblical characters are real people, and some have a great deal of integrity (or lack of) and personality prescribed by the scriptural text, I have to go with what’s given. However, it’s fun to play with some of the supporting cast. I don’t necessarily write myself into the stories—more so bits and pieces of my family show up occasionally. In Love’s Sacred Song, Solomon goes to an old vinedresser for romantic advice, and the verse the old man recites was taught to me by my dad when I was in junior high: “Love is such a funny thing—shakes like a lizard, runs around your heart, and grabs at your gizzard.” My dad is now bedfast and can’t see to read, but he laughed aloud when my mom read him that portion of the book. Those are the kinds of things I like to write into my characters—secret treasures shared with family and friends.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When I was in high school, I was good friends with two of my teachers. Not like Facebook friends. I mean friends. Like go out on Friday night. Spend the night at their houses. Hang out. Talk about our love lives. I look back now and wonder, Why in the world were they friends with a high school junior/senior? Quirky is a good word for that ongoing hmmmmmmm.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was in bed for six months and physically couldn’t do anything else! I’m a little slow on the up-take, so I think the Lord had to get my full attention. J I wrote my first script for (and performed in) a play in second grade. I have written love letters to boys since third grade. I received A’s in all my English classes and was valedictorian. But I was an extrovert. I couldn’t sit still long enough to write! My sole desire in life was to be a wife and mom. When the Lord stirred my hunger for His Word, I added one more vocation—Bible Student/Teacher. I began speaking because that’s what extroverts do. When my body rebelled, that God-given desire to study and teach was satisfied through that latent joy of writing I’d once dabbled in. I learned “dabbling” isn’t good enough to get published, and now I constantly read, learn, and study the craft to become the writer God intends me to be.

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

Biblical fiction—with some regency and historical. Honestly, I have so little time for recreational reading, I guard that time for the stories that grip my heart…and those stories are the ones about ancient Israel and God’s people. I’m a very task-oriented person. If an activity has no purpose, I find it difficult to carve out any of those precious, irretrievable 24 hours in my day. I read for edu-tainment. I want to be challenged, to learn, to be changed. If it’s just a nice story—uh-uh.

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

Well, it’s actually pretty simple for me. If I run, run, run, my body falls down, down, down. J Or it hurts, hurts, hurts. Chronic illness changes a person’s perspective. I no longer need to get out of the house to feel sane. I try to schedule all my appointments and errands on one or two days a week. I actually need to be in the house, quiet before the Lord, and give my body time to rest at least three or four days a week in order to function long-term. I’m blessed with an incredibly helpful husband, and I sometimes have to ask others for help. It’s humbling. It’s good to be humbled, and it’s good to be quiet.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I use a couple of websites to look up biblical names and Hebrew names to check their meaning. If I’m naming a nasty character, I pick a surly name that epitomizes what I want that individual’s personality to resemble. In Love Amid the Ashes, I used a website for Arabian names. Sayyid meant “master,” because he would lord over his servants and was the antagonist who would try to master the protagonists. In Love’s Sacred Song, Arielah meant “Lion of God,” and I used that image several times to indicate her strength.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I would love to say, “My kids,” because our daughters are fabulous human beings who have chosen incredible husbands and are in the process of providing me with adorable grandchildren. The problem is…if they were screwing up their lives, I wouldn’t take the blame, so I don’t think I should take the credit! So I think I’ll have to say my marriage. Roy and I were married in 1984, just eight months after an old boyfriend had ditched me (after a five-year relationship). Everyone said I was rebounding, that Roy and I would be divorced in a year. But everyone didn’t know that I’d fallen in love not only with Roy Andrews but also with his Savior. We’ve had some hard days, even some rocky years, but our foundation has always been Jesus. I believe He has been the glue in our relationship. So I guess I can’t take the credit for the marriage either! Ha!

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

I want to be a BEHEMOTH! (Check out Job 40:15-24 for more details, but in a nutshell…) This guy ranks first among the works of God. He’s powerful, strong, and awesome, yet he’s gentle enough for children to play nearby and he’s so peaceful. No matter whether God comes at him with a sword or the rivers rage around him…he’s peaceful. I love that!

What is your favorite food?

Lobster, with pizza as a close second. (Those little Lindt Lindor white chocolate truffles are an addiction—does that count?)

Oh, yes. Chocolate is one of the food groups, isn’t it? What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I thought I was supposed to write Bible studies, devotionals, and non-fiction stuff. I tried for seven years to get published in those genres. Nothing. Not even a nibble. My best friend told me to write the Song of Solomon Bible study as a novel. But remember my task-oriented personality? (Here’s the roadblock…) I thought fiction was frivolous, just fancy stories to entertain. Then my friend asked me if I thought myself a better teacher than Jesus—since He used parables to educate the crowds.

Ugh. That’s what best friends do to help with our writing careers. They show us our faults gently until we refuse to see them, and then they club us over the head with a 2 x 4—in a Christian sort of way.

So I began learning the art  of writing fiction—and I’m still learning. Good fiction is never frivolous. Good fiction is always edu-tainment. And that’s what I strive and pray to write—good biblical fiction.

Tell us about the featured book.

It’s the story of Solomon’s Song of Songs:

Standing in the overpowering shadow of his famous father, young king Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, longing for a love that is true and pure—a love that can be his cornerstone. A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah has known since she first laid eyes on Solomon that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father secures a promise from King Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams will come true. But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon’s harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?

Please give us the first page of the book.

~1 Chronicles 12:23, 32~

These are the numbers of the men armed for battle . . . men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

Arielah tiptoed around the sleeping forms of her surly brothers. Empty wineskins served as silent witnesses to their drunken slumber. Kemmuel and Igal would be snoring till dawn. They’d been a disgrace to Abba Jehoshaphat and to the tribe of Issachar since they were old enough to tend sheep.

Kemmuel rolled on his side and smacked his lips, and Arielah stood like a stone. A moment later, she reached for the iron handle and tugged open the rough-hewn cedar door. The bottom corner scraped the dirt and creaked on leather hinges. She held her breath. Glancing slowly over her shoulder, she sighed her relief at the steady rise and fall of her brothers’ chests.

A shadow of melancholy swept over her. They looked so peaceful lying there, but their rage was a living thing boiling just beneath the surface. If only they would let her love them. But her big brothers rebuffed even the love Abba and Ima tried to offer. Arielah had learned at an early age to keep her distance or reap her brothers’ wrath, and now she spent most of her time avoiding them. Tears blurred her vision.

Focusing beyond them, she saw Ima Jehosheba seated by the cooking stones, waving her out the door. Ima’s wink and loving smile nudged Arielah into the shadowy courtyard. Abba Jehoshaphat had already gone to Shunem’s well for the elders’ meeting. Both parents had known Arielah planned to observe the meeting from a distance, since a woman was never welcome there. And though Abba was a righteous man of faith and prayer, tonight he condoned Arielah’s deception.

Keeping to the shadows, Arielah left their courtyard and slipped behind a few stacked water jars, feeling more like a bandit than the daughter of Shunem’s most revered judge. Silently she moved among the merchants’ stalls toward the well at the center of Shunem. There every town meeting was held and every bit of gossip found its voice. Crouching behind crates and tables, she remained under the shadow of goatskin canopies covering the empty booths. No merchants lingered this late to hawk their wares. Only dogs and vermin loitered to clean up the scraps.

She smiled, remembering a time when her childish spying had taken her into the busy streets of Jerusalem. She was only seven when King David had summoned Abba as a northern advisor to consult on a civil matter. The whole family accompanied Jehoshaphat to the capital city. That was the first time I saw Solomon. Arielah’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of the young king. Tonight’s meeting would be very different from the one in Jerusalem so many years ago.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find links to all my social networks and a sign-up link to my free weekly devotionals on my website: http://www.mesuandrews.com/. Or if you’d like to take a look at the book trailer for Love’s Sacred Song, check out: http://youtu.be/LYCpTmNVCQo. I’ve also got an author profile on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3513697.Mesu_Andrews

Thanks so much for letting me chat a bit with your readers, Lena! I love to keep in touch with folks, and I welcome emails and comments from readers! Blessings!

Thank you, Mesu, for the interesting interview.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Love's Sacred Song: A Novel - paperback
Love's Sacred Song: 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

MISTAKEN IDENTITY - K Dawn Byrd - One Free E-Book

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

Actually, I write a little bit of everything. I'm published in many genres and lucky enough to have a publisher who allows me to write what I want. Generally, I write whatever I'm in the mood to write. I've noticed that after writing something dark, like suspense, I find it refreshing to start something light like a young adult novel.

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

The happiest day of my life was when I married my husband. We've been married 17 years and he's my best friend.

How has being published changed your life?

Being published hasn't really changed my life that much other than the fact that I'm a lot busier with marketing.

What are you reading right now?

I'm taking a break from reading right now in order to finish up my December release.

What is your current work in progress?

My current WIP is the third book in the Identity Series, as my publisher calls it. We didn't plan on it being a series, but several fans of Mistaken Identity asked for more. The third installment, which will be out in December, is called Double Identity and is about identical twins who don't know the other exists until a parent's illness brings them together. One teen is a Christian, the other a wild party girl. Sparks fly when the wild party girl falls for the Christian's boyfriend.

What would be your dream vacation?

I'm not much of a traveler. I usually vacation at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, two times a year and love it so much that I'd like to retire there.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I normally start with characters and then the setting falls into place as I write.

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

Lisa Jackson because I'd love to get some tips on writing suspense.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I used to ride a Harley, but gave it up to have more time to write. I recently bought a sewing machine and am learning to sew. It's great fun.

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

My most difficult writing obstacle is finding time to write. I overcome this by sticking to a schedule.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write something every day.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here's the cover blurb:

Eden Morgan makes a list of six goals to accomplish in order to have the best summer ever. Getting a boyfriend, which is perhaps the most important goal, becomes complicated when she and her best friend, Lexi, fall for the same guy. Since Lexi is popular, gorgeous, and always gets her guy, Eden thinks she doesn't have a chance.

Channing Johnson is everything Eden's ever dreamed of and she can't believe he just moved in next door. When he starts showing interest in her, she's overjoyed...until she sees him out on a date with Lexi. He says Lexi talked him into it to repay her for tutoring him. Lexi says they're in love.

Eden doesn't know who to believe and is forced to choose between her best friend and the guy of her dreams. Nothing is as it seems and no matter who she chooses, someone will get hurt.

Please give us the first page of the book.

I didn't want to fail. I couldn't. This was just too important. The success of my entire sophomore year depended on that little scrap of paper. I pinned it to the bulletin board in my bedroom and took a step back. The black letters stood out prominently against a pink background: Goals for the Summer. If I completed all six of them, it would be the best summer. Ever.

1. Donate hair to Locks of Love.

2. Get rid of braces and glasses.

3. Get driver's license.

4. Talk Mom and Dad into buying me a car.

5. Get a boyfriend (maybe the most important).

6. Follow God more closely.

Maybe I should start with the easiest. Donate hair to Locks of Love. I pulled my mousey-brown hair back into a ponytail and inspected it. Scissors hadn't touched it since third grade. Mom still liked to tell the story about the fit I'd thrown at the beauty shop. Something about having to hold me down in the chair. Sheesh. Why would parents put a third grader through such trauma? Might very well have scarred me for life.

I glanced at the magazine on my dresser. It said layers were best for a heart-shaped face. It would be a big change, but I could swing it, especially if it accomplished goal number five, Get a boyfriend.

Yes, it was time for a change. If I made all six goals before the end of summer, I'd feel better, look better, and have landed the boyfriend of my dreams. At least that's what I hoped. And prayed.

A horn blared outside, and I ran to my bedroom window, peering out through the blinds. Lexi's red BMW waited in the driveway below, stereo blaring and top down. The horn sounded again, and I jumped. Stephie would be begging to go with us if Lexi woke her from her nap.

Raising the window, I yelled, "Be right down."

I snatched my beach bag off the bed and shoved my cell phone in my pocket. Rushing down a hallway custom decorated with my mom's artwork, I fought the urge to slide down the banister to the floor below like a kid. That was much too juvenile for an almost-sixteen-year-old.

Taking the steps two at a time, I landed downstairs in the foyer where Stephie waited with a sour expression on her face. "Where are you and Lexi going?"

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

facebook: kdawnbyrd

Twitter: kdawnbyrd

My website is currently under construction.

Thank you for another interesting interview.

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

Mistaken Identity


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 ELITE OF THE WEAK - Precarious Yates - One Free Book

What has drawn you to writing for the YA market?

First of all, I love to read YA! Then, I began to run out of books I felt 'safe' reading. I'm a sensitive soul. Even though I love to read, images in books will stay with me for months or even years after I put the book down. I wanted to write something I felt safe reading, and enjoyed reading, so I write for the YA market. I love how there is a huge suspension of disbelief in this genre. I love to immerse myself into worlds far different from my own little sphere of reality.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I'm the queen of quirky. Or at least the princess. I took my daughter to a book signing and ended up reading Frog and Toad to her instead of engaging any potential readers. Fun, but quirky. And not recommended!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was six, I wrote my first story, “Timmy the Flying Turtle.” I had so much joy writing it, I knew this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

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

I love the classics. LOVE THEM!!! Every time I go to a used book store, I try to find a copy of a classic I don't have yet. Russian novels are my favorite, as well as French novels. My favorites of the classics are The Brothers Karamazov, The Count of Monte Cristo, or Les Miserables. Then again, I never laughed so hard reading a book as I did reading Don Quixote.

When it comes to YA, I love G.P. Taylor's books, from Shadowmancer to Mariah Mundy. Eoin Coffer's series about Artemis Fowl is absolutely brilliant! I like most of the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. The Gallagher Girls books by Ally Carter are just plain fun.

I've read almost everything C.S. Lewis wrote. Some of his books I've read so many times I can quote them from memory. My very favorite novel ever is one of his: Till We Have Faces.

All the rest of the books I read are for scholarly research—history, physics, biblical commentary, etc.

And then, of course, there's Frog and Toad!

What other books have you written?

Well, that's top secret! ;)

Okay, I'll let you know, but don't tell anyone else. Got it? ;)

After “Timmy the Flying Turtle,” I wrote about sixteen half-novels. When I was 15, I discovered plays. I wrote a five act play, as well as numerous shorter plays.

Since I returned to novels at the age of 22, I've written seven books, including a fantasy trilogy and a coming of age Contemporary Fiction. The first two books of the fantasy trilogy will be available this summer.

Once I finished writing my first novel, finishing became so exciting it spurred me to finish more. If you haven't finished writing a novel yet, I challenge you to do finish—it feel so good!

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

My five year old daughter is run, run, run, but in all the best ways. If I make sure to stop running for me and play tag with her, my sanity returns quickly.

Since I'm a night owl, I settle into bed reading the word of God. His word, when I pray it back to Him, always turns me back peace and sanity. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Is. 26:3)

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?

Finishing and self-publishing several novels.

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

I have a personal fondness for dolphins and orcas. I mean—to have sharks fear you! Also, I’d be able to swim, dive, eat tuna all day and have “play” as one of my main activities. Wait, I’m a mom, so I get to do that anyway J!

What is your favorite food?

Either pasta with garlic bread, or sushi. But since I can't eat too much wheat, sushi takes preeminence.

Is it hard to break into the YA market?

To break into any market takes both hard work and favor. I don't have that favor yet, but I'm working hard. Like with any market, it takes getting the book into the right hands, and if that person loves it, well, then you’re set.

What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?

My advice? Write the very best you can, and then GIVE to others. Give to other writers. Give to readers who can't afford the book. Give to authors who write in the same genre. You will reap what you sow!

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

One of the reasons I wrote this book is to challenge myself to think about others even in the midst of difficulties.

Also, the issue of human trafficking is an awful plight in our day and age. I knew nothing about it for so long, but when I heard about it I needed to do something. I've given myself to two things: 1. write, 2. Pray—and pray fervently that the Lord would bring justice.

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." ~Bishop Desmond Tutu~

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.precariousyates.com

http://precariousyates.wordpress.com

http://www.facebook.com/precariousyates

Twitter: @precariousyates

Pinterest: Precarious Yates


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


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Elite of the Weak: Revelation Special Ops, book 1 - paperback
The Elite of the Weak (Revelation Special Ops) - 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

Winners!!!!!

Nancee (MI) is the winner of Daughter of Liberty by JM Hochstetler. 
Kristie (OH) is the winner of Shakespeare's Lady by Alexa Schnee.
Mama Cat (AZ)  is the winner of Proof from Jordyn Redwood. 
JoyAnne (TN) is the winner of Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer. 
Liz R (AL) is the winner of Nurtured in Purple (ebook) by Jude Urbanski.

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. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
If you won the ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent.
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.

MRS. TUESDAY'S DEPARTURE - Suzanne Anderson - One Free Book

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

 I believe it would be impossible to write a story without having a bit of myself included. Otherwise the characters would simply be cardboard cut-outs. In the case of Mrs. Tuesday, I most identified with the main character, Natalie, and her desire to hold her family together during a very difficult time.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I once went to a teddy bear making class and made a blue bear that became the inspiration for my next book, God Love You, - Chester Blue.

Or if you want really quirky…before I step onto a downward moving escalator, I stop and count to three, so I can gauge when to step onto the next step.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I “wrote” my first book at the age of five. As a child, reading was my favorite pastime. I’ve always thought the best career in the world would be to create that pleasure for others.

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

Lately I’ve been enjoying Christian inspirational books, such as One Thousand Gifts. Then, since I turned 50 in March, I’ve been listening to books on healthy living while driving around town. On the fiction front, I enjoy most women’s literature, with a weakness for historical romance. And an occasional James Patterson.

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

When I am feeling completely overwhelmed I have two strategies that help me to feel grounded: 1) pour my heart out in my journal in the form of a letter to God and then end with a list of five things I am most grateful for. 2) I take my dogs to the off-leash dog trail, which is a one mile loop through beautiful woods.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Generally, the name appears with the character in my mind. And then their personality becomes more developed as I write their story. However, in one story, I specifically chose the name of the character to serve a purpose.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

When I originally published Mrs. Tuesday’s Departure, I left out the spiritual elements and references to God. When I decided to go back to the original version, which was in first person POV and really centered the novel around Hebrews 11:1, it was scary to fully embrace my identity as a Christian writer. Of course, as soon as I did, I felt at peace; and more confident of my identity as a writer than ever in my life. God is good.

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

In the past year, I’ve adopted two Newfoundland dogs, each weighing 150 lbs. They are completely spoiled, but I love them dearly. So, if I were an animal, I’d love to be a Newfoundland….in my house!

What is your favorite food?

I recently made a chocolate cheesecake for the first time and it was so incredibly delicious that it’s my new favorite thing. It was as decadent as a chocolate mousse, only denser. This may be why I haven’t had much luck losing the same ten pounds I’ve been working on for the past year!

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

Plotting. I’m always wrestling with the desire to write an outline before I start writing the first draft, so that I have a roadmap to follow as I write. However, I also enjoy the “what will happen next” of writing without one.

I haven’t figured out how to overcome this. The best solution is probably to try outlining with my next novel and see how it feels.

Tell us about the featured book.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

This Bible verse was the original inspiration for this novel about the mystery of faith and the search for God during difficult times.

Synopsis:

Hungary's fragile alliance with Germany kept Natalie, a renowned children’s book author, and her family out of harm's way for most of the war. Now as the Führer's desperation grows during the waning years of the conflict, so does its threat. Natalie's younger sister, Ilona, married a Jewish man, putting both her and her young daughter, Mila, in peril; Natalie's twin sister, Anna, is losing her already tenuous hold on reality. As the streets of Budapest thrum with the pounding boots of Nazi soldiers, danger creeps to the doorstep where Natalie shields them all.

Ilona and her husband take the last two tickets to safety for themselves, abandoning Natalie to protect Anna and Mila from the encroaching danger. Anna's paranoid explosion at a university where was once a professor, sparked by delusions over an imagined love triangle, threatens their only other chance for escape. Ultimately, Natalie is presented with a choice no one should ever have to make; which of her family will she save?

An inspirational story of faith and family, strength and weakness, and the ultimate triumph of love over hate. Mrs. Tuesday’s Departure demonstrates the power of faith to light even the most harrowing darkness.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“I CAN’T SLEEP, NANA.”

Mila’s skin was clear and pale; like the antique German porcelain dolls I’d bought for her when she was a child. Long dark lashes shaded her almond shaped blue eyes.

I released the doorknob that I’d been ready to close, entered her room and settled into an overstuffed chair with a sigh and a smile that belied my worry. Candlelight silhouetted Mila’s face in a halo of pale yellow. The book she held created a shadow that fell across her chest making the pink roses on her nightgown glow and float in the shadows of her long dark hair. In the five years that Mila had lived here, there were few nights when I did not find her with a book.

When Mila first arrived, I placed this chair next to her bed to read aloud one of the children’s books that provided me with my living and my reputation. Over the years, the chair remained, I wrote more books, and read each one to Mila until she outgrew them and began to read the novels she found in my study. The ritual of our time together before bed, our discussion of books, remained. Even during these years of war.

She propped the book against her chest and watched me expectantly. “You’re coming with us aren’t you?”

“Of course.” I turned from her gaze and smoothed the edge of the comforter wishing our conversation could skim the surface as lightly as my fingers.

“And Aunt Anna?” Mila’s eyes searched my face for signs of deception.

“Yes, she seems to understand.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to meet readers! Here are a few places you can find me:

My blog: http://www.suzanneanderson.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Anderson-Author-Page

Twitter: https://twitter.com/seakiev

Thank you, Suzanne, for the interesting visit.

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

Mrs. Tuesday's Departure - paperback
Mrs. Tuesday's Departure - 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