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Tuesday, June 05, 2012

END OF THE TRAIL - Vickie McDonough - One Free Book


I'm thrilled to feature this last book in the Texas Trail series. I read the manuscript for endorsement and loved it. I know you will, too. Welcome, Vickie. Why did you become an author?
When my four sons were young, I prayed for years for God to help me find a job where I could work from home. It took a while, but God answered my prayer by surprising me with a career in writing. I’d never once considered becoming a writer, but then stories started coming to me, and I had to write them down to get them out of my head just so I could sleep. I studied the craft, joined writers’ groups, and attended conferences. What I love about writing is that I can write at home in my pajamas, I’m free to care for my elderly mom, I get to do something that’s fun, and I have made a lot of good friends in the writing world. But the thing that I like most is that I can write an entertaining story with a faith message and touch people’s hearts and encourage them in their faith journey.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?
When I was growing up, I dreamed of marrying a rancher and living on his ranch, but now I’d have to say that it would be cool to be a graphic artist or an animator.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?
I like living in this day and age. We have so many cool technological inventions and new things are being created each year, but if I could go back in time, I’d like to go to the late 1800s and experience life then. I’m so used to modern comforts though, that I think I’d have a hard time of it—and I shudder to think of having to wear a corset.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?
There are several: Alaska, Hawaii, the Northwest, and the Northeast. If things work out, my husband and I will be going on a cruise to Alaska next year.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Scotland are the countries I’d like to visit the most.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?
I’ve fallen down several times in the past few years, which resulted in my having a full knee replacement this spring. I fell down again the last week of May and asked God why that keeps happening. I’m not normally a klutz. I think He’s telling me that I need to slow down and pay closer attention to things around me and to Him.

Tell us about the featured book.
End of the Trail is the 6th book in the Texas Trails series. It’s the story of Brooks Morgan, who is the son of Annie and Riley Morgan from Long Trail Home. Brooks has a falling out with his father and leaves home when he is just sixteen. For years he drifts around, but then he meets a dying man who hires him to be his caretaker. In a card game one night, Brooks wins a ranch. But when he goes to claim his new home, he finds a pretty woman packing a rifle who claims the ranch is her inheritance. Raven Creek Ranch is Brooks’ one chance to make something of himself and prove to his father that he’s become a responsible man. He’s not leaving, but neither will the woman. When the ranch is threatened by a vile man, they must some how find a way to unite together to save Raven Creek.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Prologue
Waco, Texas
1886

  “You’re a good son, Brooks, but your father is right.”

  Brooks stared at his mother, halfway stunned that she’d sided with his pa against him. “You don’t feel I do my share of the work around here either?”

  Annie Morgan winced and gazed out the parlor window, not looking at him. She might not admit in words that she agreed, but that tiny grimace told Brooks she did. He ducked his head, hating the feeling of disappointing his mother. He’d always been her favorite—her first son. He craved her warm smile, but that was hard to be found just now. Still, he pushed aside disturbing feelings and retrieved his charming smile—the one his ma said could make a die-hard Texas cattle rancher invest all his money in a herd of sheep—and squeezed between his ma and the window.

She flicked a glance up at him then it swerved away. “Don’t try to charm me. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have coddled you so much.”

His grin faltered. Now she sounded like his father. “You didn’t coddle me.”

“Yes, she did. She still does.” Melissa’s voice sounded from upstairs, followed by quick footsteps on the stairs.

He spun around, glaring at his bossy older sister. “Nobody asked you.”

“I’m getting married soon. That means you’ll be the oldest of us kids at home.” She reached the bottom of the stairs and shifted the basket of dirty clothes to her other hip, cocking her mouth up on one side. “It’s time you start acting like you’re sixteen instead of six.”

Brooks clenched his fist. As much as he might like knocking that know-it-all look off Melissa’s face, he would never hit a female.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is www.vickiemcdonough.com .
I’m also on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/VickieMcDonough and
           
Moody Publishing, the publisher of the Texas Trails series, has created a fabulous website with some cool info about the series I’ve written along with two other authors: www.texastrailsfiction.com

Thank you, Vickie, for sharing your book with us.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
End of the Trail (The Texas Trail Series) - paperback
End of the Trail (The Texas Trail 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

30 comments:

  1. I can so relate about having to write the stories down just so you can get to sleep! I've heard so many great things about this series and would love to read this book!

    Blessings!
    carlagade [at] gmail [dot] com

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  2. Anonymous3:31 AM

    WOULD LOVE TO WIN!♥
    ANGELA FROM KY

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  3. I love historical fiction. This book sounds like it would be a good read! Thanks Amy Campbell Southwest VA

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  4. I love the cover of this book!! Would love to win.

    Ladette from Ga.

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  5. Thank you Lena and Vickie for the chance to win this great sounding novel. Vickie, too bad your visit to Alaska is by cruise. If you were going by land, i'd either meet you for coffee or have you over! (not that i've ever been to Alaska)

    Marianne from Northern Alberta

    mitzi underscore wanham at yahoo dot com

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  6. So many great books out there to read! Sounds like another good one to add to my list...

    Patty in SC

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  7. I had the pleasure of endorsing Vickie's earlier A CAPTIVE TRAIL in this series. Well done!

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  8. Anonymous8:44 AM

    Hi, I'm from Florida now, but I grew up in Ohio. I guess I like to read western historical fiction because of the influence of two older brothers who were always reading Zane Grey books. And I just love to read anyway. I always prefer to support Christian writers, and I like to enter contests. Please include me in your drawing.
    Kaye Whitney
    kayewhitney@bellsouth.net

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  9. Carla, I'm glad someone knows what I'm talking about. It probably sounds odd to a non-writer to have to write things down just so you can sleep. :)

    Good luck, Angela!

    Amy, I love historical fiction too. 98% of what I read is historical.

    Thanks, Ladette. I love the cover too. The man really has the teasing look of Brooks Morgan.

    Marianne, It would be cool to meet you. I'm pretty sure my only chance to visit Alaska will be via a cruise. I'm saving my money in hopes that we can do several shore excursions.

    Patty, You're so right.

    Hey, Lyn. I love your books!

    Kaye, Thanks for your support of Christian writers. We appreciate it!

    Goodluck, everybody!

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  10. I would LOVE to read this book! Thanks for the chance to win it!

    Liz R in AL

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  11. I can't wait to read this book. I have read all of the others in series

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  12. western romances are one of my fave genres - sounds great
    cheryl in il
    msboatgal at aol.com

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  13. Liz, Thanks for stopping by. Good luck!

    Regency Girl, Thanks soooo much for reading all the Texas Trails box to date. That's awesome!

    Cheryl, Western romances are my favorite too. What's not to love about a cowboy?

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  14. I would love a paperback copy of this last book in the Texas Trail series!
    Kathleen ~*~ Missouri
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  15. A lovely interview thank you.

    END OF THE TRAIL looks like a great read & I must read the rest of the series too.

    Mary P

    QLD AUSTRALIA

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  16. I love the Texas Trails series! Thanks for the chance to win this one!
    Beth from Iowa

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  17. Sharon Richmond12:21 PM

    Enter me this book sounds and looks absolutely wonderful!!
    Sharon Richmond
    Blanch, NC.

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  18. oh, please enter me thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    live in ND

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  19. Would love to win thanks.

    Lourdes from Huntington, NY

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  20. sounds and looks very interesting. would love to win
    Thanks
    Joanna Richmond
    Blanch NC

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  21. I would love to win this book :) Please enter me. I'm from NC. Thanks!

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  22. I've loved every book I've read in the Texas Trails series and I'm sure this one will be no exception.

    Ginger in AL

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  23. Angela C.5:38 PM

    Looking forward to reading this book.

    Angela C./Ohio

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  24. This sounds great and would love to win a copy.

    Blessings,
    Jo from Southern Arizona

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  25. I have read the first three in this series. Since I am a native Texan this series really has me hooked.
    I would love to win this book.

    Have a Blessed Weekend!

    mamaw1050[at]att[dot]net

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  26. Diana Gardner6:18 AM

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

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  27. Enter me! I love stories that take place in the 1880s.
    Abigail
    Blanch, N.C.

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  28. End of the Trail sounds like a great coming of age story in the West. I'd love a chance to win it. Thanks!
    Merry in TX

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  29. Having not read Vickie's writings before - I'd like to read this story. It sounds fun and quite sensitive. Thanks for this giveaway and the chance to win this gift.

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  30. i would love to win this book! Vickies writings for Barbour have been outstanding! I have not yet started reading this series - am one of those strange readers who likes to have almost all of the books in a series before i start reading them! Many thanks to both of you,Vickie and Lena, for showing God's love in your writings - and also to your partners in writing, also incredible writers - can't wait to start reading the set! Mama Cat in Phoenix AZ

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