Tuesday, August 21, 2012

MISS AGGIE'S GONE MISSING, MISS AGGIE CRIES MURDER, and REST IN PEACE, MISS AGGIE - Frances Devine - 3 Free Ebooks

Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I write historical romance because I love history and love doing research. As for cozy mysteries. Well, writing a cozy makes me happy.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life
Hmm. I accepted Jesus at a young age, so that should be my happiest day, but I’d have to say, it was the day I repented and returned to Him after years of being backslidden.

How has being published changed your life?
There’s great satisfaction in having a lifelong dream fulfilled.  I’m a lot more disciplined now because if I wasn’t I wouldn’t get another contract.  And I have a little more money than I used to.

What are you reading right now?
I just downloaded the ebook version of Hummingbird, David Stearman’s debut novel. I’ll start reading it tonight.

What is your current work in progress?
The third book in my school about teachers at a blind school in Georgia. The title is The Strength of a Live Oak Tree.

What would be your dream vacation?
I’ve always wanted to visit England.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
The ideas just come to me. I usually have the setting before the characters.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I like to watch figure skating and I love Christmas so much, I’m a member of a year-round Christmas forum at www.christmastalk.com .

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Procrastination. I’m still working on that one.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Set a writing schedule and stick to it it, and find a good critique group.

Tell us about the featured books. 
The Misadventures of Miss Aggie is a three book cozy-mystery series originally released in Barbour’s Heartsong Presents Mysteries Book Club. The authors recently received the rights back to our books and with the help of MacGregor Literary Agency we’ve republished them in e-book form. The line is called Spyglass Lane Mysteries. The actual heroine of the Miss Aggie books is Victoria Storm who owns a boardinghouse for a lot of opinionated, but soft hearted seniors. In book one, Miss Aggie disappears. Victoria and Miss Aggie’s senior friends don’t like the way the sheriff is handling things so they set out to find Miss Aggie.

Please give us the first page of your book.
At 10:29 am on a cold day in January, The Chapel Bank was robbed. At 5:41 that afternoon, Miss Georgina burst into my office at Cedar Lodge Boardinghouse, screeching like Clyde Fosters parrot, Whatzit, and flung herself into the easy chair in the corner. Victoria!” she gasped. Something terrible has happened!”

Figuring she meant the bank robbery, I wasnt too concerned. Wed already discussed it several times that day. However, since Miss Georgina goes into a tizzy at least three times a day, maybe this was something else. Someone had probably moved her knitting or something. I knew from past experience if she didnt calm down soon the whole household would be in an uproar. By the time I put down the mystery Id been reading, slid my chair back, stood, and scurried over to Miss Georgina, she was sobbing hysterically.

“There, there, now, I crooned. What in the world is the matter?”

I reached over to smooth her hair in what I thought was a comforting movement and realized in a flash Id done the unpardonable. Somehow, Id managed to displace the pearl comb she wore in her silver curls. I closed my eyes and waited for her pained correction of my faux pas. To my surprise, she didnt even acknowledge the cockeyed comb. Instead, Miss Georgina sniffled and grabbed my hand. Anxiety twisted the elderly womans face. This was more than misplaced knitting.

Im so worried. Aggie hasnt come home yet. Shes been gone most of the day. With that, her fraught nerves gave way, and she burst into a fresh bout of sobs.

Okay. This I could handle.

Now, now, shes been late before. Im sure she just lost track of time and is still at the library. Ill look up the number, and well have her home safe and sound in no time.

As quick as the hysteria had started, Miss Georgina stopped cold and gave me an indignant scowl. All my elderly boarders felt like they could correct me at will. After all, theyd known me since I was a child and didnt care a bit that I had just turned thirty.

Aggie never stays out past four on Tuesdays. Thats the day we have our Bible study before dinner. Besides, the library closes at four thirty.

Hmmm. She did have a point. After almost a year as owner of Cedar Lodge, I should remember these little details. Well, maybe she stopped to visit with someone.

In this weather? Its been snowing for two hours.Once more, fear shadowed her wrinkled face.

Miss Georgina, Im sure Miss Aggies fine. Shell show up any minute now.

Maybe. . .but. . . She leaned toward me and lowered her voice almost to a whisper. Martin thinks the robbers took her.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thanks for having me on your blog, Lena.

It’s my pleasure, Frances.

Readers, here are links to the books. By using them when you order, you help support this blog.
Miss Aggie's Gone Missing (The Misadventures of Miss Aggie)
Miss Aggie Cries Murder (The Misadventures of Miss Aggie)
Rest in Peace, Miss Aggie (The Misadventures of Miss Aggie)


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of one of the books. 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

10 comments:

Sparks of Ember said...

I love the titles! It's gives the books such a great vibe. :)

From the black hills of SD!

Jo said...

I enjoy cozy mysteries adn another new to me author. Thanks for the giveaway.

Blessings,
Jo from Southern Arizona

Frances said...

Thanks for your comments. I do need to make a correction. The address to my blog is www.francesdevine.blogspot.com. Sorry about that. If anyone has questions about Spyglass Lane or anything else, I'll be happy to try to answer.

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Frances, I corrected your blog address in the post.

ASC Book Reviews said...

I agree with LadySaotome "I love the titles!"

Please enter me these books sound awesome!

Amada Chavez, NM

Frances said...

Thanks for fixing it for me, Lena. I thought you all might like to hear how the title of book one came to be. Originally I called it The Disappearance of Miss Aggie. But they'd already contracted a cozy with the word 'disappearance in the title. I'm not very good at choosing titles so my editor and a friend came up with a couple of suggestions. I still couldn't choose, so they took it to the office staff and put it to a vote. Miss Aggie's Gone Missing won. The next to came naturally. I'm glad they did. :) Frances

Melissa M. said...

This sounds interesting! I'd like to enter to win--thanks!

Melissa from TX

misshoneybee(at)gmail(dot)com

Merry said...

I love cozy mysteries and the Miss Aggie adventures sound wonderful.
Merry in TX

rubynreba said...

The Miss Aggie mysteries sound fun! Please enter me. Love to have some new books to read on my Kindle!
Beth from IA

Diana Gardner said...

Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks! Portsmouth, VA