WINNERS

Katie G (NC) is the winner of Mountain Homecoming by Sandra Robbins.  
Cheryl-Ann (CA) is the winner of Parrish the Thought by Catherine Leggitt. 
Mary Preston (Aus) is the winner of Something Beautiful by K Dawn Byrd. 
Juanita Noblea (MO) is the winner of Love's Second Chance by Mike Lynch.  
Library Lady (FL) is the winner of Redeeming Grace by Ward Tanneberg.  

If you won a book and you 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 to.
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.

THE HOUSE THAT LOVE BUILT - Beth Wiseman - One Free Book

I first met Beth just after she had signed her first book contract, and we quickly became friends. Award-winning author Beth Wiseman has hit the best-sellers lists with each and every one of her books, and her latest, The House that Love Built, is sure to follow. In the interview below, she shares more about the story behind her newest release.

Welcome back, Beth. Is there one particular message or “moral of the story” you hope readers walk away with?

I hope that Brooke, Owen and the rest of the gang will stay on readers’ hearts for a long time, that readers will reflect on the very different ways that the characters handled the events in their lives. And in turn, hopefully the story will inspire people to turn to God in both the good times and the bad.

Forgiveness of self and others is one of the themes that runs through The House That Love Built. Why do you think it is so hard for us to forgive ourselves and let go at times?

People often say we are only hurting ourselves when we can’t forgive someone. That holds true when we can’t forgive ourselves, too. God forgives us . . . and so easily. Yet, we beat ourselves (and others) into the ground over the burdens of our past. I personally have trouble forgiving myself, so that ends up in my books a lot.

Both of your lead characters have baggage that keeps them from wanting to pursue a new relationship. Do you think sometimes we let our past get in the way of what God has planned for our futures?

Carrying our burdens of the past is self-destructive, and my goal for this story was to have several of my characters shedding their burdens as they grow in their faith and put their trust in God.

Even though she questioned God’s will, Brooke clung to God after her husband died. However, Owen did the opposite when his wife left. Do you think there’s any reason in particular some people have one reaction versus the other when something bad happens in their life?

I have no idea why people react so differently during a crisis, and I intentionally wanted to incorporate both sides, so to speak, into the story. The spiritual arc in this book is clearly Owen’s, so I wanted to show his struggles and how he eventually reaches out to God. But I also wanted to show that there are people who do not turn from God during a crisis—like Brooke—no matter how unfair things might seem.

Has there been a time in your own life where you could really sense God was putting you in a situation for a reason?

That has happened to me many times, but I couldn’t foresee the reasoning — especially during the bad times. It has taken years to understand that much of what I have experienced was to give me a better understanding of certain situations so I could write about it and hopefully help others. I’m not sure I could have captured the hospital scene in my second novel if my own son hadn’t spent a month in the hospital. My character was fifteen, just as my son was when he was sick, so my emotions ran deep. I’ve witnessed a miracle, so I wrote about one. I’ve made mistakes I’m not proud of, and those seem to find a way into my stories, as well, painful as some of them might be. I’m adopted, so I’ve written about that. Each book I write ministers to my own soul, and I pray the stories will bring peace to my readers.

The House that Love Built is set in Smithville, Texas, where several Hollywood movies have been set. You live nearby. What’s so special about Smithville?

I love writing stories set in small Texas towns, and Smithville is really quaint with friendly people who live there. The movie Hope Floats was filmed there, and the town is very welcoming to authors, film crews, and the public in general. There are a lot of older homes like the one Owen purchases in my story. The mystery surrounding the house was inspired by a house in another small Texas town: Schulenburg. 

You are best known for your Amish fiction, and The House That Love Built is just your second venture outside that genre. What persuaded you to try something new?

I think it’s natural to want to spread your wings a bit when you’ve written so many novels and novellas in the same genre. For me, writing about Texas comes naturally since I live here, and I love to write about a community, as opposed to just “boy meets girl.” I like a good love story, but my secondary characters usually end up with large roles because I like to show how God puts certain people in our paths for a reason, however unlikely it might seem to us at the time.

Beth, please share the first page of the novel with us.

Brooke Holloway woke with a start, then felt her stomach lurch when she recalled her dream. She rolled over and threw her arm across Travis’s side of the bed, wishing she could will him to be there. She lay there a few more minutes before forcing herself to get up and dressed before she went downstairs.

She pressed the button on the coffeemaker before facing off with the calendar that hung on the wall to the left of the refrigerator. She reached for the black marker dangling on a string nearby and drew a big X across today’s date, as she did every morning, then scribbled “45” in the upper-right-hand corner of the square. The kids liked to keep up with the count-down to July 10.

Two cups of coffee later she still yawned as she headed back upstairs and down the hall to Meghan’s room.

“Up, sleepyhead.” Brook flipped on the light and walked toward her precious six-year-old, whose blond hair crumpled in a mass on the pillow. “Time to get up.” Brooke sat on the bed and kissed Meghan on the forehead, Travis still fresh on her mind. He used to wake up the kids each morning, said that seeing their faces first things always made for a better day.

What’s on the horizon for you? What will you be writing next?

I just finished book number six in the Daughters of the Promise series, releasing in October 2013. I’ll also be doing some Amish novellas for the next couple of years. But the next full-length book I will be working on jumps way outside of the box. It will take readers far away from Amish Country and Texas to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. I can’t say too much yet, just that it is inspired by a true story and something very close to my heart.

Learn more about Beth Wiseman at bethwiseman.com and follow her on Twitter (@bethwiseman). She also hangs out at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook and loves hearing from readers.

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

The House that Love Built - paperback
The House that Love Built - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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 IN THE BALANCE - Regina Jennings - One Free Book on This Blog Plus Much More

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

Three things that inspire me and tend to make it into my books:

Interesting historical tidbits.

Humorous situations and turns of phrase.

Themes of morality or spiritual truth that I’d like to explore further.

 

How has being published changed your life?

It’s given me an excuse for some of my more eccentric behavior. Before I couldn’t get away with daydreaming, keeping files of notes from history books, or confusing fiction plots with something I’d read on the prayer request list. Now when people hear I’m a novelist, they expect me to be half a bubble off.

What are you reading right now?

For me, I just started Mary Connealy’s Swept Away. She has such a way with words. With the kids, we are reading The Iliad aloud.

What is your current work in progress?

I am editing two works this month. Caught in the Middle is the sequel to Love in the Balance, and it stars Anne Tillerton who has left society behind to hunt buffalo in Indian Territory.

The other project is a novella collection called A Match Made in Texas. I’m so excited to work with Karen Witemeyer, Carol Cox, and Mary Connealy on this project. They are a hoot.

What would be your dream vacation?

A leisurely tour of the UK.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

For the first book of this series, Sixty Acres and a Bride, I chose central Texas after Reconstruction because it best fit with my retelling of the Book of Ruth. Caldwell County contained the starting point for the Chisholm Trail, so that helped narrow down the location.

My next series is going to be in the Missouri Ozarks, where all my family is from. Feuds, bushwhackers, and Bald Knobbers—everyone was fighting in those hills during the mid-19^th century.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sixty Acres and a Bride. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Princess Kate, or Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge if you’d prefer. I want to hear about the dynamics in the royal family from the in-law. What are they really like and what adjustments has she had to make to get used to her new life?

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Homeschooling takes most of my time that isn’t spent writing. Before I started writing, I spent more time playing the piano, cross-stitching, and going to the gym.

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

I struggle to balance my family duties with my writing. Either I worry that I’m not spending enough time with my work or that I’m shorting my family. I have to prayerfully remind myself that only God could’ve opened the doors to make this ministry possible. He knows what I have time for and what my kids need.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read all the time. Read aloud. Study genres and pay for a professional critique. (Which is what I did with Mrs. Dooley. J)

This year at conference, I’m only doing mentoring appointments, because they need more of them. But I will miss doing the critiques. I love to encourage unpublished authors. Tell us about the featured book.

Love in the Balance features Molly Lovelace, a court clerk who dreams of being a society leader in 1879 Lockhart, Texas, but being smitten with handsome wrangler Bailey Garner doesn’t seem the quickest route. If only he would settle down so he could support a family.

Bailey imagines doing great things for God, but his greatest obstacle is Molly. As long as he thought they’d be married, he excused their stolen kisses, but when she keeps refusing, he vows to earn her love. In town, he tries his hand at several different trades, but everywhere he turns, he runs into the mysterious stranger Edward Pierrepont. No surprise that Molly’s always making calf eyes at the wealthy adventurer.

As pressure from Molly’s parents grows, she is forced into a hasty decision. Had she weighed all her options, and will she find love in the balance?

Please give us the first page of the book.

The pew creaked as another sinner rose to unburden their troubled soul. Molly Lovelace twisted around on the slick wooden bench, bunching her tiered silk skirt against her mother’s, and watched as Louise Bradford stood. Bother. As if she had anything interesting to confess.

“After all God has done for me, I still can’t live in holiness. This week I harbored thoughts of impatience toward my husband.”

Molly cringed. Surely Mrs. Bradford’s worst thoughts would bleach Molly’s laundry clean.

Molly’s transgressions, on the other hand…

Leaning forward to see around her father, Molly caught Bailey watching her intently. Her pulse quickened. With all the people trying to make decisions for her, she couldn’t afford a misstep, but she hadn’t expected to lose her heart so completely. What did Bailey Garner have to offer? Nothing by her father’s reckoning. If only his pockets were filled out as nicely as his homespun shirt.

Molly’s sigh earned her a stern glare from her mother. She bowed her head, hoping to appear sorrowed over Mrs. Bradford’s tedious list of near sins, but how long would the woman ramble on? Bailey was waiting.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please visit my website at www.reginajennings.com or look me up at www.facebook.com/ReginaLJennings and twitter.com/#!/ReginaJennings.

I’d love to hear from you.

Regina Jennings is celebrating the release of Love in the Balance with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on 4/4!

One "lovely" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire 
• A copy of Regina's Sixty Acres and a Bride and Love in the Balance

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Love in the Balance" Author Chat Party on April 4th. Connect with Regina, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love in the Balance and join Regina on the evening of April 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

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

Love in the Balance - paperback
Love in the Balance (Ladies of Caldwell County Book #2) - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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

8 IS ENOUGH - Shannon Alford - One Free Book

Today, we have my friend Shannon Alford, who blesses me so much as she serves on the Praise Team at my church. Welcome, Shannon. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

Shannon Alford serves regularly on the Gateway Worship team as a vocal director and vocalist. She and her husband have written songs for the worship CDs released nationally. She finished her first book September 2012 called 8 Is Enough which is available in the Passages bookstore at Gateway Church, www.24/7WorshipMinistries.org, Amazon or Barnes&Noble in Paperback or on Kindle.

Shannon and her husband, Sion, are originally from Florida and have released six albums prior to moving to Texas. One album called Fresh Fire was released nationally over fifteen years ago. Shannon and Sion have traveled to many churches over the US and Internationally teaching on Praise & Worship.

She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clothing, Textiles, and Merchandising. She also has a Bachelor of Theology degree from Christian Life School of Theology in Macon, Georgia.

Shannon and her husband, Sion, an executive worship pastor at Gateway Church, have been married for twenty years and are blessed to have eight children from 8-19.

Have you written other nonfiction books?

No

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

No, but I will start writing 8 Is Enough-4 Years Later when I have four in college and four at home.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I love leading worship, writing, reading, playing tenni,s and any water sports.

Why did you write the featured book?

My hope is to bring understanding that worship is not what you go and do but it is something you live. Also, to build faith in individuals to believe God despite the circumstances and bring healing and restoration to families.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

God is amazing and His love never fails.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

Website: www.247worshipministries.org     

Facebook: 8 is Enough

Twitter: @shannonalford     

Telephone: 877.646.5640

Readers, I want to share with you this devotion that Shannon wrote for our church's beginning of the year devotional book for 2012.( Gateway always gives the first month of the year to the Lord by the whole church studying the book together as we dedicate our individual and corporate year to what God has for us in that year.)

Living Worship

Shannon Alford

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1–2 (NASB)

It was a typical Thursday morning in May. My two boys, Si and Austin, stumbled out of bed, quickly dressed for school and ran downstairs to fight over who would eat the last of the toasted waffles. Just as I yelled up the staircase for my daughter, Brooke, to come down and eat, our phone rang. It was only a few minutes after seven. Who could be calling this early in the morning?

I answered the phone and heard the anguished sound of my mom crying on the other end. I couldn’t understand a word she was saying. I stepped out of the kitchen and went into my bedroom where I could calm her without alarming the children.

“Mom, take a deep breath and start over,” I whispered.

“Oh, Shannon,” she sobbed, “Stacey had a heart attack in the middle of the night and passed away.”

I immediately fell to the floor and began to weep. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Now all I could think about was the commitment my husband and I had made to my brother three years earlier, just before he died of cancer. We promised him that if anything ever happened to his wife, Stacey, we would take in and raise all five of their children as our own.

How could this be happening? We already had three children of our own … adding five more would bring us to eight! What were we going to do?

We often wonder why life is so full of situations and circumstances that cause us to constantly stop and ask for clear direction. The truth is God never intended for us to be separated from Him. And only when we’re placed in a difficult situation and our backs are against the wall do we tend to realize we need power and wisdom greater than ours to make the right decision. That’s when we all want a God who is larger, stronger and wiser than we are.

For 15 years, my husband and I had been worship leaders and songwriters and had taught others how to be worshippers. But now, God’s will was leading our worship to be a living sacrifice. Overnight, we went from being an aunt and uncle to being a mom and dad. Our kids went from being cousins to siblings. And instead of five people living in a house together, there were now ten.

I used to think worship was just the goose bumps I felt during slow songs, but God showed me true worship isn’t something I go out and do; it’s something I live. True worship begins when I place my life on the altar—seven days a week, 24 hours a day, offering myself as a living sacrifice to God.

Most of us long to know what God created us to do and have a desire for Him to reveal His will for our lives. In Romans 12:1–2, the Apostle Paul gives us three steps to knowing His good, acceptable and perfect will for our lives. First, give your life to Him daily as a sacrifice. In other words, develop a consistent prayer life, so you daily give God your life and ask Him for help to live like His (Matthew 16:25). Second, give up your natural, carnal nature that is like the world. The only way you can do that is through God’s grace—the supernatural power that enables you to do what truth demands (1Corinthians 2:12–16). Finally, give in to allowing the Lord to change you by daily washing yourself with the Word of God, because the truth you know sets you free (John 8:32).

No matter who you are or what you’re doing, your life is worship. And as I learned, worship isn’t something you go and do; it’s something you live. When we live in God’s will, we learn to be thankful for Him and His promises. We know it’s not us that does anything; it’s Christ who lives within us. So I urge you, go out today and be “living worship” as you allow His will to be done through you.

God makes no promise life will be fair

But He does promise He’ll take you through every storm because He cares

If you’re struggling with past hurts and pain

Lay down your life and you will gain

Far greater than your eyes can fathom

The glorious hope His love has ransomed

Don’t let yourself be deceived

You serve a master every day in word and in deed

So willfully give your life up for His

And receive the reward of being living worship for Him

Shannon Alford

Thank you, Shannon, for sharing your book and life with us today.

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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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 

GOD AND BOOBS - Angie Schuller Wyatt - One Free Book

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Angie. She was the pastor over the Altar Ministry at my church when I first starting doing altar ministry at Gateway. I grew to love her and respect her a great deal. Her deep walk with the Lord encouraged me even deeper into my own journey with Jesus.

Welcome, Angie. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

My grandfather is Dr. Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral’s Hour of Power broadcast. He is one of the most prominent religious figures of the last century. He named his son Robert, who named his son Robert. And so I grew up in a patriarchal dynasty where men were in the spotlight, but I was left in the shadows. I had to move out of state to find myself and begin to understand my identity apart from my family. It was difficult, but I found my way and eventually become a pastor, therapist, and spiritual director. I want women to know that I built my career without nepotism. People often assume that I’ve been dealt a silver spoon. But that’s simply not the case. In fact, I often had to work harder than others to overcome the stereotypes associated with famous families.

Tell us about your family.

Today, my family is small - me and my husband. We’ve been married almost five years. My husband was a guest on the “Hour of Power” promoting GodTube.com, his company at that time. My dad suggested that we meet for a blind date, and we were engaged within three months.

My extended family is huge. I’m the oldest of six children, but my parents are divorced so there are never more than four siblings under a single roof. I think having three younger sisters contributes to my passion for writing God and Boobs. Unlike our moms, my sisters and I were marrying later in life, providing for ourselves, and dating as adults. I learned by trial and error, and then tried to leave tips for my sisters who were 8-12 years my junior. 

Have you written other nonfiction books?

I wrote a book about Hearing God. It was so horrible that I decided not to publish it. For me, writing was a learned skill.

I totally understand that and agree. My first book sold to a major publisher. I have the rights back now, but I won't turn it into an ebook as I have with other books when the rights reverted. My writing has developed so much in the intervening time that I don't want readers using it as a standard of my writing. Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes! I’m working on a companion study guide to God and Boobs. I’m also in the very beginning stages of a follow up to God and Boobs that focuses on our relationships with men.

After being married for over 48 years, I believe a book like that could have over a dozen volumes. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I love to walk. One of my alter egos lives a village life where it doesn’t make any sense except to walk or ride a bike to the food stand, café, and library. I could walk all day long. I also take every opportunity to travel and explore new things. And of course…books! My favorite books are Jane Eyre and The History of Love.

Why did you write the featured book?

As a pastor and counselor, my days were spent in intimate conversations with women. Some stories were tragic, like the multiple women who told me their youth ministers molested them, but the senior pastors didn’t believe them. Other women faced insecurities about dating and sexuality. Women told me that were raised to believe that religious women should be meek, and as twenty-something adults they didn’t know how to be outspoken in a boardroom or how to ask for a raise. The stories were different, but the underlying fears were the same. They were afraid of religious bullies who were telling them how to live their lives. They wanted to be free of this pressure, but didn’t know how to find freedom without abandoning their faith. I helped so many women find freedom from religious constrains that I wanted to write a book, and so help even more women.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

First, I want women to know that God created them female - boobs and all. Which means that there is nothing shameful about their bodies, their sexuality, or any of the other things that come with being a woman - intellect, creativity, emotions, and passion. Second, I want them to start practicing how to hear God. I think that hearing God is the cure for religious bullying. When women start to hear God for themselves, then they no longer idolize their religious leader. They take their power back and begin to have an autonomous relationship with God. And then, God helps them make daily decisions about dating, work, family, romance, etc.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

My website is www.godandboobs.com  and my Twitter handle is @GodandBoobs

I’m accepting speaking engagements for God and Boobs. The easiest way to reach me about speaking, Q&A, or leading a small group discussion is through my website.

Thank you, Angie, for sharing your life and book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
God and Boobs: Balancing Faith and Sexuality - paperback
God and Boobs: Balancing Faith and Sexuality - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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

TERRI - Sharon Srock - One Free Book

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

The easy answer is that women’s fiction seems to be what God has given me to write. I’m more than a little surprised at that since women’s fiction is not my first choice when I’m choosing something the read.

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

Oh, there are too many…The birth of my daughters, signing that first contract…The day my husband accepted Christ into his heart.

How has being published changed your life?

So far the only change is that it has made me busier. Now I have three jobs and I need an extra three hours in every day.

What are you reading right now?

Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on the fourth Valley View story. The Women of Valley View: Samantha

What would be your dream vacation?

Every year is my dream. This year a four day Bahamas cruise, followed by two days at Disney.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Default mostly. Since all I’ve written has been a part of the Valley View series, all the settings are in Garfield, OK, and Valley View church.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I like to bake, cookies mostly. Problem is, if I make them, I eat them…

You can send some my way any time you want to. My husband loves cookies, but I don’t bake them very often. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

So far, staring at the blank page of a new story. All that white paper is so intimidating. Once I get a few words down, the story takes over and it’s okay.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Join a writer’s group, find a critique partner, and WRITE.

Tell us about the featured book.

Despite a bustling day care center and a new foster child, Terri Hayes hungers for a family of her own. Then a plumbing mishap leaves her homeless and questioning God’s plan. Steve Evans’s gracious offer of his basement apartment as a temporary solution is an answered prayer.

Steve is a successful writer and a good father, but Terri is horrified when Steve’s book research leads him to a harsh confrontation with the parents of her foster child. She needs to distance herself from Steve, but her efforts fall short as his two scheming daughters plot to make Terri their new stepmother.

Will harsh words and sneaky plans drive Kelsey’s family further apart and put a wedge between Terri and Steve? Or does God have another plan in store?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Terri Hayes chewed her bottom lip and prayed. Outside her windows on this sunny Friday afternoon, the Oklahoma summer persisted in spite of the September date circled on her calendar. Her hands sweated, and she clasped them behind her back. She would have raked them through her hair, but she wanted to telegraph calm and collected, not the nervous anticipation churning like ocean waves in her stomach. The weeks of preparation, the evenings spent in class, the hours of prayer, all came down to this.

The curly black head of her visitor disappeared under the kitchen sink. Terri heard grunts and clanks as the woman shifted and examined the contents of the cabinet. Her visitor stood and yanked the top of her crisply tailored suit back into place, her stern face thoughtful as she scribbled notes on a clipboard.

Despite Terri’s desire for calm, her lip chewing graduated to nail biting. Had she missed something? “Ms. Wilson, I…”

Cindy Wilson held up a hand. “Please, Ms. Hayes, I prefer to conduct my investigation uninterrupted. We’ll discuss my findings when I’m done.”

 Terri swallowed her comments with a nod and trailed behind the imposing African-American woman whose job it was to poke and prod into every corner of Terri’s home. She ran through her own mental checklist as they proceeded from room to room. Outlets covered, medicines locked away, cleaning supplies stored out of reach, covers on all of her trash cans. A second perusal of Ms. Wilson’s expression produced no further insight. Pass or fail? Terri shook her head. I wonder if this woman plays poker.

Terri opened the door to the larger of her two spare bedrooms. The odor of fresh paint drifted out to greet them. This was the pride of her summer. She motioned her guest inside, aching to point out the highlights of what she’d worked so hard to accomplish, but she held her peace in the face of Ms. Wilson’s strident and silent inspection. More notes on the clipboard, murmurs, and hums. Approval or disapproval? How can I tell?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Blog: www.Sharonsrock.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock#!/SharonSrock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SharonSrock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448789.Sharon_Srock

Thank you, Sharon, for sharing Terri's story with us today.


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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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

Megan P (MO) is the winner of The Unspeakable by Tessa Stockston.  
Marissa (CO) is the winner of Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews. 
Vera (NC) is the winner of The Survivor by DiAnn Mills. 
Michelle (KY) is the winner of Grave Consequences by Lisa  Bergren.  
Melissa (TX) is the winner of Darkness Before Dawn by Ace Collins.  

If you won a book and you 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 to.
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.

REDEEMING GRACE - Ward Tanneberg - One Free Book

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

The San Francisco Bay Area pastor, John Cain, along with members of his family and congregation, plays a role, although not always the main role, in each of my novels, including my most recent, Redeeming Grace. Having my been a pastor in the Bay Area for twenty-three years, I suppose there is some of me in John McCain. He is mostly a composite of real life and imagination.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Mmm. Does sitting at a freeway crossroads with suitcases packed and flipping a coin to see which direction we would go (north or south) for our vacation qualify?

Or maybe kneeling by the side of a busy highway, watching an ant attempt to cross without getting run over? We were on a family bicycle ride from San Francisco to Mexico at the time. The ant finally made it. So did we.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

While a young man in my first church, I wrote an article for a minister's magazine. To my amazement, it was accepted and published and I got a check in the mail! I think I received six dollars. I was sure then that I was a writer! However, when it came to book manuscripts, there were more rejections than checks. Once the writer's taste of rejection set in, I began having my doubts. I was attempting nonfiction, but without success. It was years later, at a writers conference, that I submitted a few pages for review and asked if they thought I could write a story. I was encouraged me to go home and write "the great novel." The next year I returned with a story synopsis and sample chapters. Two editors expressed interest and one offered a contract. And so began my writing career as a novelist.

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

I'm often asked about my habits and what I read. One word best fits my reading habits. Eclectic. First thing every morning, I deliver coffee to our bedroom and we begin our day reading the Bible and offering first prayers. Then we read portions from our "out loud books." Most recently, Richard Rohr's The Naked Now and Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila.

Since today I continue writing fiction as well as nonfiction, I read fiction popular and otherwise, usually just before retiring in the late evening. I find it relaxing and is one of the ways that I am able to study the writing styles and story telling techniques of others.I also read religious classics, leadership, aging and generational genres. You can find a recent reading list On my blog site.

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

It's not easy. I travel more than I wish at times with speaking engagements. When at home with Dixie, it is by the fireplace in the winter or on the deck in the summertime. Reading helps. The Internet, not so much. Long walks help. Long airplane rides, not so much. Early morning quiet time by myself.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Actually, I pray about them. I think about them over time, hoping to get them right, hoping to choose a name that helps define the character, whether good or bad. One of my main continuing characters is pastor John Cain. He was named John because it is a strong name, and because the Apostle John is my favorite Bible character. Cain was chosen to subliminally remind the reader that pastors have their earthy human nature with which to deal like everyone else. I go to the Scriptures for names. I search ethnic name lists on the Internet. Sometimes I choose the name of a family member. The 12-year-old heroine, Jessica, in my novel, Vanished, is the also the name of one of our granddaughters.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

It's more my wife's accomplishment than mine, but still being happily married to the love of my life. That is the greatest.

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

I had no idea how to answer this so I asked a friend. He said, "a panther." I asked, why a panther? "Because you move quietly, but strike quickly." Still thinking about that.

What is your favorite food?

Mexican or Asian.

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

A lack of confidence in my own ability. I overcame by continuing to write. I know that may be much too simple an answer, but this is not rocket science. Unless you are one of the chosen few who are naturally gifted, keeping on keeping on is the way you become a writer. Church bulletins. News features. Writers groups (although I've never been a part of one). This is the way most of us learn how to write well.

When I was on a church staff, I wrote and designed the bulletins and newsletters. Tell us about the featured book?

I began writing Redeeming Grace under a different title fifteen years ago. It was rejected. Several times. I put it away. About a year ago, I brought it forward again. The story pieces were scattered all over my computer files. I still believed in it, however, so I decided to bring all the pieces together to complete the story, even if God and I were the only ones to ever read it. It's the first novel I've ever written end to end without a contract. Upon completion, I mentioned the project to a small group of business leaders who meet regularly in my home. They asked if they could pray about it. Two weeks later, my agent contacted me to say a publisher's acquisition team had approved it for publication. Beginning of story. And, no, you can't have the names and addresses of the guys in my group. Get your own.

I have put together a prayer team for my writing. It’s made everything easier. Please give us the first page of the book.

Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

She dropped to her knees, oblivious to the shards of glass scattered about in the dark shadows. Each second passed like the chimes of a clock on the hour.

Unhurried. Sonorous. Deliberate. Adagio.

She stared down at her best friend, crumpled grotesquely on the flagstone terrace. Reaching out, she pressed trembling fingers against BJ’s throat.

No response. Nothing.

BJ’s deep, round eyes, always dancing with fun and laughter—everything in life, a party—stared back at her now.

Interrupted. Empty. Lost. Caesura.

Gone.

Beyond her touch.

Death sliced through the sultry night, like an arrow tipped with ice, plunging deep into her soul. Taking her breath away.

She could feel it.

She just couldn’t stop it!

Her mind refused to accept whatever was next. There was no next.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

For more information or to follow my “A Further Journey” blog, visit www.wardtanneberg.com. Also Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.For speaking engagements or information about The CASA Network, write to:

ward@wardtanneberg.com  or ward@gocasa.org.

Thank you, Ward, for sharing your life and story with us today.

Readers, here is a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Redeeming Grace


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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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 SECOND CHANCE - Mike Lynch - One Free Book

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

I suppose that depends on the characters. Some of them I've infused characteristics about myself. Others aren't like me at all. I actually find it easier to take mannerisms, interests and experiences from people I know, and work them into different characters in my stories. I'll give you an example. In my latest novel, Love's Second Chance, there is a receptionist at a church, Janice, who loves plants. And when I say she loves plants, she has them all over her desk, is always pruning and misting them, and tells anyone who'll listen how they're doing. My wife is also a plant lover, though not to the same extent as Janice. She often visits local nurseries to see what might interest her, or go into our backyard to prune, plant, or pick the fruit of something there. That is the kind of thing that resonates with people, and so I borrowed her interest and incorporated it into Janice's personality. The more real things characters do in my opinion, the more they become real in the reader's mind.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I'm not sure how to define quirky, since we're all quirky in our own way, but one of the funnest things I've ever done was back in 1983. It was the year Return of the Jedi came out, and like so many other Star Wars fans, wanted all the answers the second movie left us hanging with. Rather than risk being told before seeing the movie myself, a friend and I went to the theater the day before and stood in line all night. Mind you, this was years before the Phantom Menace came out, where people waited in line for weeks before that film came out. I guess we were ahead of our time in that regard. Anyway, we had a great time talking with people around us, and even sang happy birthday to someone we didn't know. When the movie finally started, the theater erupted in fierce applause. Suffice it to say, it was a great time had by all.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I think writers are born as writers. Either they are or they aren't in my opinion. Writers have to write. They can't help it. I know that's true in my case since I had little interest in books or reading growing up. My interest was more in the area of movies and television. Since I'm a visual learner, that would make a lot of sense. As someone who enjoys stories, I found myself writing short stories from my earliest memories for my own enjoyment--that was the writer in me coming out despite myself. I never had any intention of getting them published, but I believe we are all born with God-given gifts, infused into our personalities for the benefit of others. Shortly after high school, I suddenly had the idea I could write a novel. That was truly a surprise for me, given my background, but thought I would give it a shot. It was a science fiction story based upon the premise 1000 alien ships were presently headed toward Earth for the sole purpose of destroying it, and we had little chance of stopping them. With that simple idea, I spent the next several months fleshing it out. As you can imagine, it was pretty bad, and I worked on it off and on for the next 28 years, honing down the story until it was in publishable shape. My perseverance paid off, and I eventually found a publisher for When the Sky Fell in 2009. 

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

Oddly enough, I prefer to read non-fiction books over fiction. I have a love of history, and often find myself drawn toward important figures from the past. I am currently reading a book about Ireland's history, and the famous sayings of Abraham Lincoln.

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

One of the temptations for writers is finding their identity in their stories. If people like what they've written, they feel validated as a writer. If people have a negative opinion of their stories, they feel rejected. It's only natural. I find it's good to have interests other than writing. As I previously mentioned, I enjoy all things historical. I am also married with two children, so that takes up a lot of my time. The best way to keep my sanity is knowing my self-worth is not tied up in my achievements, whatever they might be, but in my relationship with God. The things we do here will have an ending, whereas the things we do for Him will last eternity. The stories I write are meant to glorify and honor Him, and if I can touch another life for Him through my novels, then that's all the accolade I need.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

It's kind of a mix for me. There are times when they just pop into my head, such as Dana Rogers in my next release. It doesn't any particular meaning for me. It just sounded like the right name the main character should have. On the other hand, I have included names that manifest a character trait in some way, something the reader I hope would pick up on. For example, in my previous novel, After the Cross, you have four main characters (two protagonists and two antagonists) who are searching for the cross of Jesus, whom they believe may still exist. The central character in the story is Colton Foster, whose name "Foster" was used to show that relationships are important to him, and tries to mend broken relationships. The linguist he works with is Mallory Windom. Like the name "Wind" suggests, she is a free spirit, who plays by her own rules. Then you have the two villains in the story, the first being Demetrius Malotetnev. The beginning part of his last name, "Mal" literally means bad in English and other European language. The other villain is Vladimir Zarco, and any character with the last name beginning with the letter "Z" is automatically assumed to be evil, which he is.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Like so many others at the time, my family, the Devanys, emigrated from Ireland in the 1850s. They eventually found their way to San Francisco, and then to a small farming community east of Oakland called Dublin. A lot of Irish immigrants ended up there, hence the town's name. They were one of the pioneer families of that community, but over time they either died or moved to other parts of the Bay Area. Over the years their historical importance and contributions were forgotten, until I had the chance to write about the town's history. This gave me the opportunity to tell everyone about the Devanys, along with many other pioneer families who had similarly been forgotten like mine. A few years ago, the city of Dublin wanted to build a park that would commemorate one the pioneer families that hadn't been recognized like some of the others. It happened to be near where my Great-great-grandfather Michael Devany had his farm, and so they named the park, Devany Square. My family was honored by the mayor in the opening ceremony, and I couldn't have been more proud of my heritage than on that day. Now the name Devany will be a permanent part of Dublin's history.

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

I'm a dog guy. They're loyal, protective, and can be trained to do all sorts of things. That's me in a nutshell.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Costco has a seven layer version that is the best I've ever had. My wife's apple pie, however, comes in at a close second.

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

That's hard to say. There are so many obstacles every author faces. In my case, I would say it is different than for most writers. I enjoy the process of co-authoring, since I find it is extremely helpful collaborating with someone just as invested in the quality of the story as I am. But that also presents a whole other set of issues that need to be addressed. The creative process is very personal, and some writers have a hard time receiving negative feedback from another writer. But that is exactly what happened when Brandon Barr and I collaborated on our novels, as you would expect. We often had differences of opinion about the story structure or the way a sentence should be written, or the kinds of personality traits we wanted for a particular character.  In the end, the overall vision for the story is what matters, and to make it as engaging as possible. That always trumps the other’s feelings about what to leave in or cut out, or the hundreds of other decisions that must be addressed along the way.  Usually, when one of us shared our reasons for why we wrote a scene a particular way for example, especially when he felt pretty strongly about it, the other would usually defer to him, and then we'd move on. In the end, the story ended up being that much stronger because we both embrace the collaborative process.

Tell us about the featured book?

As I mentioned in an earlier question, the title of it is Love's Second Chance. As the name implies, it is a story about second chances, second chances for those who have experienced loss, and for those things we hold most dear. The story's central character, Dana Rogers, learns this powerful truth as she serves as the pastor's assistant at New Covenant Christian Church, the center of community life in the town of Fair Haven for the past two hundred years. There she has caught the eye of Evan Johnson, a highly successful real estate agent, but the tragic death of her fiancé has wounded her so deeply she vows never to open her heart again to any man, including Evan. Despite her resistance he helps her work through the pain of her loss, and for the first time in years, considers the possibility she can love again. In a stunning turn of events, New Covenant Church suffers a devastating setback, one that threatens to undue everything Dana has worked to save, including her budding relationship with Evan.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Men, we make out stand here, I read, and then paused for effect.

"Oooh," a child in the front row said aloud, followed by, "that's cool."

"That's right," a boy of eight next to him echoed, "you give it to those redcoats."

A mixture of snickers and muted laughter filtered through the classroom.

"Now, now children," Miss Honeywell said in a firm voice while she rapped the desk with her knuckles, "we promised Miss Rogers we'd be on our best behavior. It's not polite to talk when someone else is reading."

The room fell silent in an instant.

I offered the class a soft smile and tilted my head. Many of the students picked up on my subtle show of empathy, and smiled in returned. It always warmed my heart whenever we connected like this, and never minded it when they unconsciously acted out or verbally participated in the story. Seldom do people have an opportunity to capture a child’s imagination, and I counted myself fortunate Miss Honeywell gave me that chance every other week.

I leaned forward. Men, we make out stand here, I read with the same enthusiasm as before, and then turned the page.

All thirty pair of eyes hung on every word.

Captain Gretham pulled out his saber from its scabbard and waived it in the air above his blue tri-fold hat. Behind him, a band of motley-looking soldiers, their coats torn and pants mud-splattered, formed into ranks two deep. Their steely eyes, witnesses of a dozen battles fought before this day, fixed on the swelling British lines across the grassy field two hundred yards away.

"I pray we see victory this glorious morn, for I call upon the Lord that Ye be with us on the side of righteousness against our most determined enemy." Gretham spun around and faced the men under his command, his breath visible in the cold morning air. "What say you?"

"Victory!" a voice cried out, followed by another, until everyone within earshot joined in with such fervor, one might mistake it for a church revival.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

The best way to find me is on my website:  www.mikelynchbooks.com

I would also like to thank you for this opportunity to share a little about myself and my     latest novel with those who follow you on your website. Keep up the good work.

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

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

Love's Second Chance


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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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