Sunday, December 30, 2012

CHOICES OF THE HEART - Laurie Alice Eakes - One Free Book


Welcome, Laurie Alice. Tell us about your salvation experience.
My salvation experience is nothing dramatic. I was eleven-years-old and wearing a red twill cotton dress to church that Sunday morning. It was my favorite dress. We had a special guest speaker. I don’t remember what he said, and, though I’d been hearing the gospel in my church for a couple of years, something clicked in my head, and I answered the call to go to the altar and make a commitment to Christ. Sadly, about ten years later, I fell away for many years, and I never forgot that commitment, and the Lord drew me back to Him.

I think that most of us, who accepted the Lord as our Savior as a young child, had a falling away time. I did, too. But praise the Lord, He never falls away from us and He never lets us go. Now you’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
This is difficult to answer, since I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings out of all my writing buddies, and, in no particular order, I’ll have to say:
Gina Welborn because she’s good at nailing the heart of a story, and in all her chatter, gets one’s own brain power working.
Patty Smith Hall because she understands romance plots like nobody else I know.
Marylu Tyndall because she has this way of keeping me spiritually grounded.
Louise Gouge because… Well, she was the first published author to actually believe I had enough going in the writing thing that she thought I, of all people, could help her, of all people. Ha! And she’s just been my friend for going on a lot of years now.
My true retreat would have the rest of my writing prayer partners at it, too. They know who they are.

That question often opens my readers to even more authors that they haven’t read. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
Yes, I do have a speaking ministry. Although I do speak to writers organizations and to library groups about writing, my true ministry is discussing the true meaning of faith and other inspirational subjects to everywhere from women’s groups, to homeschool groups.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
You know, I hate being embarrassed to a nearly pathological point, so work hard to avoid such situations. This possibly dates back to when I was in college and said something about the poor quality of a fellow students’ reading. I didn’t know she was standing right behind me.

What else could I do but apologize and tell her I am a twit and rude and remind myself to be careful what I say of others.

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?
Most people say they’d write a book if they had the time. I explain that writing is a commitment, and if they really want to write that book, they will make the time—give up a couple of favorite TV shows or their lunch hour, or get up earlier in the morning… The only way to get a book written is to sit in that chair and write it. I also tell them that if they are serious, they might want to join a writers organization to learn a few things about the craft and the business. Nowadays, with popping a book onto Amazon so relatively easy, people don’t realize that they still need to know the writing business to go anywhere.

Tell us about the featured book.
Choices of the Heart is the third book in The Midwives series, which began with Lady in the Mist, and then went on to Heart’s Safe Passage.

Esther Cherrett is the daughter of Tabitha and Dominick from Lady in the Mist. The year is 1842, and Esther, who has the feminine version of her fathers stunning looks, and her mother’s gift for helping the sick and distressed, has a tragic experience that sends her running for the hills—literally. She is determined to leave her family behind so the scandal will die down, and she can maybe forget one day. But she finds herself in the middle of a family feud in western Virginia, courted by two young men on either side of the conflict, and her past has caught up with her.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Seabourne, Virginia, April 1842

Esther Cherrett removed the sketchbook from her satchel and lifted it to the highest shelf in the armoire. She didn't need pictures of men whose form existed simply in her imagination's portrayals, in colored chalks—not where she was going. And drawings of her family would only make her sad. Make her feel guilty.

She didn't need the satchel either. Its packets of herbs, rolls of bandages, and canvas apron for protecting her dresses during a lying-in would be of as little use in her new position as were the drawings. She started to hoist it up to the shelf too, but her arms shook as though the black leather bag weighed a hundred pounds instead of ten, and she let it drop.

It landed on the blue floral rug with a thud. The latch sprang open and poked up like an accusing finger. You shouldn't be doing this, it seemed to say in the voice of Letty O'Tool, the eldest congregant in the church. You aren't answering to your calling.

Esther snapped the latch back into place, then popped it open again, retrieved the sketchbook from its shelf, and shoved it amongst the instruments of the profession she had determined to leave behind in Seabourne. Leave behind with the scorn and ridicule she’d faced over the past four months.

Sounds intriguing. How can readers find you on the Internet?
http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/blog where I am running an awesome contest right now.
http://www.facebook.com/laurie.eakes?ref=tn_tnmn

Thank you, Laurie Alice. I'm always anxious to read the final book in a series.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Choices of the Heart: A Novel (The Midwives) - paperback
Choices of the Heart (The Midwives Book #3): 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

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOULD LOVE TO WIN. ANGEL FROM KY

Unknown said...

We all have the same amount of time, it just depends on where our priorities are...some write, i read, and others do other things. i haven't read anything by Gina Welborn...i'll have to see what i can find. The whole series sounds awesome, and i would be honored to win. Thanks for a great interview and opportunity.

Marianne from northern Alberta

mitziUNDERSCOREwanhamATyahooDOTcom

Patty said...

I read the first book in this series. Look forward to more by Laurie!

Patty in SC

Patty said...

I read the first book in this series. Look forward to more by Laurie!

Patty in SC

Amy C said...

Looking forward to this. Love the post. Thanks.
Amy C
VA

Norma S said...

Hi Laurie, Thank you for the chance to win your book. Praise the Lord that you came back to Him. So this is the third book about the Midwives series, the first one is Lady in the Mist, second one is Heart's Safe Passage. God bless you, i think it is great you made it back to Him and now putting Him in your books
Norma Stanforth from Ohio

MaryLu Tyndall said...

I feel so privileged to be invited to your writers' retreat, Laurie Alice! Thank you!! I know we would have a Blast!! I'm about halfway through Choices of the Heart and it is excellent! Another winner for my keeper shelf. Thank you for writing such awesome books!! Don't enter me, I already own it... best to you, Laurie.. and waving at Lena!!

Jasmine A. said...

I really enjoyed reading Lady In The Mist and I'd love to read about her daughter.
Jasmine in Montana

Wendy Newcomb said...

This sounds like a good book, thank you for hosting this giveaway.

Wendy from FL

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

bonnie said...

Thanks for the opportunity to win the book!

Bonnie in Ky.

bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

chappydebbie said...

Just stopping by to read your interview, Laurie. I love getting to know all of you authors by way of these interviews. It is amazing how you remember what you were wearing the day you made your commitment to Christ. This was a great interview. You don't have to put me in the contest. I haven't been able to get the first two books yet, so I would be totally lost if I won this one; unless they are all stand-alone books.
Have a wonderful New Year and God bless.

Mary Preston said...

A wonderful interview thank you. Very pleased to be introduced to you.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Lyndie Blevins said...

Thanks for the opportunity to get this book.
Lyndie Blevins
Duncanville, Tx

Laurie Alice Eakes said...

Thank you all for stopping by. Chaplain Debbie, I think you can read these books independently and not be confused, though reading the others helps because the characters from them do make appearances.

Of course, my other ladies at the retreat would be the rest of my Scooby gang, but if I name them all, it'll end up being a whole writers conference worth of ladies.

Louise M. Gouge said...

Laurie Alice, thank you for inviting me to your writers' retreat. Of course I'll come! I have finished reading Choices of the Heart, and it is excellent. As with all of your books, as I fell in love with your well-drawn characters, I learned a lot about a part of our country and history I'm not familiar with. You are an awesome writer, my friend!

apple blossom said...

love to win Laurie's book thanks
live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Library Lady said...

We have Laurie Alice Eakes books in the Church Library but we do not have "Choices of the Heart".
Thanks for the opportunity to add another book to our collection.
Happy New Year!!
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

Jean said...

Thank you for the opportunity!

Jean Kropid
West Palm Beach, FL

rubynreba said...

Please enter me. Looks like a wonderful book!
Beth from IA

Katie said...

I've read the first one and loved it! I would love to win this one! :) I'm from NC.

Katie G.

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch,NC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com

Sarah said...

Sounds like a great book!
Sarah M
KS

Sarah said...

Sounds like a great book!
Sarah M
KS

BiancaG said...

Would love to have the next book in the series. I loved the other two. :) I'm from NC.

sharon m said...

I like Western fiction telling me more about that time in history. Love to win Choices of the Heart" Sharon, San Diego

Mary Preston said...

I enjoyed the first page for CHOICES OF THE HEART thank you.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Judy Cooper said...

I enjoyed the interview, especially could relate to accepting Christ at an early age, then falling away, but as you said Mrs. Dooley, He is always waiting for us to return Home. I am so grateful for that. Please enter my name. Thank you. Judy C. in Louisiana.

Liz R said...

Thanks for the chance to win this one!

Liz R in Al

Hannah said...

I would love to win!
Hannah P
CA

Unknown said...

Oh, Laurie, what a sweetheart you are! Absolutely I'd go to a writing conference with you. Or just the grocery store. And now that I think about it, we've done both!

I think Choices of the Heart is the first book of yours that while you were writing it, and after I had critted the first three chapters, I specifically said, "Don't tell me what happens!"

It's a fitting conclusion to the mid-wife series, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to critique those first three chapters.