EVERY HILL AND MOUNTAIN - Deborah Heal - One Free Book

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

I feel so blessed to be able to do something I only dreamed of as a girl. I think my skills (and certainly my confidence) have improved with each book I’ve written. And the ideas for stories are flowing—ideas for lots and lots of stories. I see myself writing for many years to come.

Tell us a little about your family.

I married my high school sweetheart Bob Heal, and we’ll be celebrating our 40th anniversary in July. Our daughter lives with her family in North Carolina. One son and his family lives in Dallas, and another lives in St. Louis, just across the Mississippi from where we live. We have three sweeeeet granddaughters and a grandson on the way. And then there are our furry boys Digger and Scout.

Let me know when you come to the Dallas area. Maybe we can get together. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Writing has forever changed my reading experience because now I notice the structure and conventions of a novel. This makes reading a good book even more enjoyable and reading a mediocre or poor book less tolerable. The biggest change, however, is now I have a lot less time to read because I’m so busy writing my own stories. 

What are you working on right now?

I’m in the research and brainstorming stage for a retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz from the Old Testament. I’ve always thought it was such a great romantic story. The challenge will be making it work in a modern setting with modern characters.

What outside interests do you have?

I love to garden and have extensive perennial and vegetable beds and landscaping to maintain. It’s good I love it so much or I’d never pry myself away from my computer to get fresh air and exercise.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The southern Illinois settings for my trilogy are ones I’ve long been intrigued by. I grew up down the road from Miles Station, the lost town featured in Time and Again. Unclaimed Legacy is set where my heroes Lewis and Clark camped for the winter of 1803 before taking off on their great exploration. I was born in Eldorado, the neighboring town to Equality, the setting of Every Hill and Mountain. I wrote about my personal connection to the setting.

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

Like many people, I’d probably choose Abraham Lincoln. He’s always been a hero because of his connection to my town. At the risk of being disillusioned, I’d like to know what his true beliefs were, including his complex faith.

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

I wish I’d known that I actually could write. My 8th grade English teacher’s encouragement kept my dream of being a writer flickering in a secret place in my heart. But it was years before I overcame my low self-confidence and dared to try.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

The Lord keeps teaching me of his love and acceptance in spite of my sinfulness and brokenness. Hallelujah for Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”

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

I’ve got four things. To be a writer, first be a reader. I think what skill I have comes from soaking up the syntax, style, and conventions of a million books I’ve read.

Second, do begin to write. Get the story on the page. It won’t be perfect, but you can’t make it better if you don’t write it.

Third, keep writing. I’ve noticed that with each book the process becomes easier, faster, more natural.

Fourth (but really first), pray.

Tell us about the featured book.

Those who have read the first two books in my trilogy know that Abby and her friends have a computer program that enables them to travel virtually back in time. The program works in conjunction with old houses that have “soul.” And I thought there could be no better house to feature in the third book than the Old Slave House, located (ironically) in Equality, Illinois. Since my family was from there, I had grown up hearing stories about it. I wanted to explore what it would be like to be a descendent of the people associated with the house. Which would be worse, I wondered, to be a child of John Crenshaw the slave master, or a child of the breeding slave he kept there? Readers can find out about the historical characters the novel is based upon on my website.

The major theme in Every Hill and Mountain is racism, and writing it was cathartic. I like to think of the novel as an assignment I turned in for the lifelong sanctification class I’m in. Read my article “One White Woman’s Education.”

Please give us the first page of the book.

Every Hill and Mountain begins only an hour or so after the end of Unclaimed Legacy. The opening pages connect readers to the previous two books and set the scene for the new story:

“Did Doug say how long this is going to take?” Abby said, blowing her bangs out of her eyes.

“And remind me. Why exactly are we using this antique instead of an electric one?”

“He said using an electric ice cream maker meant it didn’t count as homemade,” John said, wiping his forehead with first his left T-shirt sleeve and then his right.

“Really?”

 

“Really. And I’m supposed to crank until I can’t turn it anymore.”

The day was typical for southern Illinois in late August: hot and humid. At least she was sitting on an icy, albeit uncomfortable, seat in the shady pavilion. Doug Buchanan had to be sweltering out in the sun where he manned the deep-fat fryer along with three of his cousins. Wearing a Cardinals cap to keep the sun off his balding head and an apron that said, “Kiss the Cook,” Doug looked so friendly and benign that Abby wondered again how she had ever thought of him as The Hulk.

One of Doug’s cousins gestured their way and said something that she couldn’t make out. Whatever it was made the other men laugh.

A short distance away, under the shade of a maple tree, Jason and Jackson, Doug’s twin teenage sons were practicing their washer-throwing skills in preparation for the tournament to be held tomorrow. The washers clinked and clacked, depending upon how, or whether, they hit the sand-filled wooden boxes. Those sounds along with the rhythm of the turning crank and the hot afternoon made Abby drowsy, and she surveyed the activities going on around her through a sleepy haze.

Next to them, Doug’s wife Dora and a dozen other Buchanan women began unpacking coolers and setting out dish after dish onto the groaning picnic tables under Alton City Park Pavilion #1. Abby turned and smiled at the look on John’s face as cakes, pies, bowls of watermelon chunks, and dozens of other goodies made their appearance.

 “Hey, Dora, is that potato salad?” he asked.

“Yep,” she said with a wide smile. “And I brought macaroni salad and deviled eggs.”

John sighed blissfully.

“This is nothing. Wait’ll tomorrow,” Doug called to them. “That’s when the ladies go all out. I heard Aunt Hil’s making her chocolate chip cake.”

Under the second pavilion reserved for the event, Eulah and Beulah played dominoes with several of the other elderly relatives. Fanning themselves with paper plates, they chattered happily while they waited their turns.

Abby smiled and a wave of contentment washed over her, knowing that she had been instrumental in getting the Old Dears in touch with their Buchanan relatives. And now the 85-year-old twins were at their first-ever family reunion.

Eleven-year-old Merri came over, panting and red-faced, but smiling. On each arm clung—as they had from the first half hour there—an adoring little girl. One little blonde looked about four, the other about six.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I hope readers will check out my website for more information about the history behind my books. http://www.deborahheal.com If they sign up for what I call V.I.P. Perks they will be alerted when my next books will be released and when they will be free or reduced. I also connect with readers through my Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/DeborahHeal and Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeborahHeal

Thank you, Deborah, for sharing this book with us.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Every Hill and Mountain (Time and Again) (Volume 3) - paperback
Every Hill and Mountain (Time and Again) - 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

SEASIDE HARMONY - Evangeline Kelley - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus Much More

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

Two words. A lot! There is a ton of me in Caroline Marris, the oldest sister in Seaside Harmony. She’s a dreamer, and I’m definitely that. I know life isn’t always perfect, but I like to think I can turn not-so-great things into something wonderful. I can be a bit scattered at times and far too often a bit of a procrastinator, but I always have the best of intentions, just like Caroline. And then there’s the fact that I like to place my characters in settings that I love. For Caroline, I gave her a beautiful old cottage in the Cotswolds village of Chipping Campden, with a view of the 12th century Norman tower of St. James Church. Oh how I’d love to live in a place like that.

Many of my other characters love the same music as me: Sam Cooke, Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney. And then there are the classic cars that fascinate me: ’57 Chevys have appeared in quite a number of my stories; I yearn to own a 1932 Duesenberg SJ, just like the yellow and green one Gary Cooper owned, so there’s one in my book If I Can’t Have You, not to mention the  red 1941 Packard station wagon that’s one of the “characters” in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn trilogy. To me, it seems impossible to create a story with a cast of characters and not include bits and pieces of yourself. Those are some of the personal touches that bring your book to life.

What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Quirky? Me? That’s a tough question. Ask most anyone and they’ll tell you I’m pretty straight-laced. A bunch of friends back in the 60s called me “Miss Goody Two-Shoes,” not that I think that title totally applied! I’d have to say that anything quirky I’ve done was probably done by accident, like the time I went to Niagara Falls and drove the wrong way over the bridge that goes into Canada. I was only 25 and took an around-the-country trip (all by myself!), leaving from my home in southern California. Niagara Falls was stunningly beautiful. Whether I was mesmerized by the falls, or something else, I haven’t a clue. All I know is that I turned left out of the parking lot and suddenly realized there were a whole lot of cars coming toward me. It was impossible to turn around. I was on a bridge, after all! But…

I spotted a building that separated the two directions of traffic, and there was a wide sidewalk around the building. Thinking fast, I zagged to the right, bumped my car up onto the sidewalk, circled the building, and luckily ended up on the right bridge going with traffic, rather than against. When I reached the border crossing, the guards looked at me, shaking their heads in disbelief.

One of them looked through my window and laughed. “How on earth did you make it all the way here from California? Driving like that, you should have been…”

I don’t remember everything he said. I was totally embarrassed, but I’d survived. I can’t help but wonder if my quirky driving is one of the reasons my husband prefers to drive when we’re together, and shakes on those few occasions when he’s in the passenger seat and I’m behind the wheel!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

That’s an easy one. At one point in time during elementary school, I wrote a story for my little brother, who was sick. I don’t remember anything about that story, but I was rather quiet and wouldn’t dream of telling him a story out loud. So I wrote the story.

Then in fifth grade, I cemented my love of the written word by writing a play about Eeyore losing his tail and his friends--Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, and Owl--consoling him as they searched for Eeyore’s missing part. Then, feeling brave, some of my girlfriends and I performed my play, as a puppet show, in the children’s ward at our local hospital.

What a great memory. A few years later I was writing love stories about me and my idol, Paul McCartney. After that, I never stopped writing.

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

I’ll read most everything, since I have such a wide variety of interests. Most of my reading time is spent on mysteries, especially cozies, ones that usually contain quirky characters. (I may not be all that quirky, but those are the characters that are the most fun to read and write about!) I love reading biographies and autobiographies about movie stars from the 30s and 40s, historical tomes about tragedy and triumph, thrillers, and a lot of travel books, allowing me to dream about the places I’d love to visit. I love recommendations. If someone tells me about a great book, I automatically write it down, then put that book on my To-Be-Read list. Thankfully we’re blessed with a whole lot of good books!

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

I wish I could say yoga or jogging or going for a quiet walk, but I’m more of a plop-down-in-front-of-the-TV type. I also enjoy traveling with my husband, lunching with girlfriends, and visiting my daughter’s family and playing with my four grandchildren.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I don’t have one specific way of doing it, but sometimes a character screams to be called by the name of a friend or family member. A book I wrote 14 years ago had a character who was a very nosy neighbor. Not that my cousin Fay could have ever been called nosy, but I’ve always dearly loved her and her husband John, and I could easily picture them playing the part of the western rancher and his wife. Another character in another book was a man who made beautiful fishing lures and rods. Another cousin’s husband fit that role to a T--so the character could only be named Wes. I try to go with names that I’d name my children (if I were to have more kid, which isn’t going to happen!). I also like to give secondary and quirky characters quirky names, or names that you don’ t see every day. I want names that will set them apart from the rest. These people might play a small role in a book, but their names and personality make them shine.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Having my first book published in 1994 was thrilling. Making the USA Today bestseller list in 1999 was quite the accomplishment, and hitting that list over and over again for quite a number of years was a writing dream. But my greatest accomplishments are more personal and closer to home: having a loving husband and a marriage that has been near-perfect for 36 years; giving birth to a beautiful and much-loved daughter who has given me four fabulous grandchildren, who are the light of my life.

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

Don’t laugh. A moose. I’m completely fascinated by them. These gentle creatures have long legs and a distinguished head; they’re regal and totally magnificent. They’re equally comfortable on land and water and can usually be found in tranquil surroundings. I have searched for them in Canada and Yellowstone. They’re terribly elusive and not always easy to find in the wild—at least in the places where I’ve traveled. Maybe that’s a part of their fascination—that they’re peaceful, solitary creatures, perfectly happy alone in the wilderness. Visit my home and you’ll see just how much I love them; I have an endless number of stuffed moose scattered around my home. Just looking at them makes me happy.

What is your favorite food?

Oh gosh, choosing is difficult. I love food. Most anything will do, but I’m a sucker for my son-in-law’s mashed potatoes. He mixes in ranch dressing, lots of butter, garlic, and whatever suits his fancy. Yum!  I’ve been a mashed potato lover since childhood, and my mom always made the best gravy. That combination is absolute heaven!

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

 I’d have to say my biggest stumbling block early in my career was fear of people reading what I wrote. That fear kept me from getting serious about my writing until I was in my early 40s. I’d loved to write since elementary school, and I truly believed I was pretty good at stringing words together and creating a good story, but I wasn’t sure anyone else would agree with me. Then one day in the early 90s I joined Romance Writers of America, joined a critique group, and actually let people read my attempts at fiction—and they liked it. Six months later I got brave, sent my manuscript off to Bantam Books and the editor who read it liked it, too. Although she didn’t buy that story, she recommended it to an editor at another publisher, and she bought the book. I was amazed! After that, I was offered one contract after another, which meant I had to write. I had no choice! Receiving fan letters and nice reviews definitely helped to wipe out my fear.

Tell us about the featured book.

SEASIDE HARMONY is the first book in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn trilogy, three stories about three sisters who buy a rundown whaler’s mansion on Nantucket, hoping to make one of their late mother’s dreams come true. SEASIDE HARMONY is a warm, lighthearted, and inspirational story about Caroline Marris, who talks her two younger sisters into buying a beautiful yet dilapidated inn, even though Gracie and Sam wonder if big sis can stay focused long enough to make opening the inn a reality. When century-old postcards draw the sisters into the mystery of Hannah Montague, the young widow of the inn’s original owner, the sisters band together to discover the fate of the woman who disappeared in the 1880s. As the charming story unfolds, the sisters bond in ways they never expected, and Caroline finds her life—and those of her sisters—transforming in ways she never dreamed.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Caroline Marris remembered the view. She’s dreamed about it for years. But still, seeing it now, it took her breath away.

            She stood at the top of the dune. From here, blue-gray ocean stretched as far as she could see. At her feet, the golden sand was laced with delicate but sturdy ocean grasses, and it sloped down to a pale strip of beach. Waves splashed onto the shore, leaving behind a trace of frothy white foam.

            Caroline drew in a deep breath, basking in the scent of salty air and the calming sound of the gentle surf. She’d spent so many years away, but it was just like she remembered. Her memories were as fresh and alive as the warm breeze and the midday sun that kissed her face.

            She hadn’t been sure she wanted to come back to Nantucket, but standing here now—her sisters Gracie and Sam toiling up the dune and her cocker spaniel Max playfully chasing butterflies and bees—she was glad they’d talked her into coming. They needed these two weeks together.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Webpage:  www.pattiberg.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/patti.berg.author


Guideposts Books is celebrating the release of their new Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series with a fun giveaway and a Facebook party on May 9th.

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Nook HD
• Seaside Harmony and Sunflower Summer by Evangeline Kelley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 8th. Winner will be announced at the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/9. Connect with Patti Berg, Pam Andrews, Barbara Hanson, and Camy Tang (who collaborated together under the pen name, Evangeline Kelley) for an evening of book chat, trivia, and fun! There will also be great giveaways (gift certificates, books, and more) as well as a sneak peek at the next book in the series!

So grab your copies of Seaside Harmony and Sunflower Summer and join readers just like you on the evening of May 9th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 9th!

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

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

Seaside Harmony (Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series) - paperback
Seaside Harmony: 1 (Postcards from misty harbor inn) - 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

WINNERS!!!

Becky (KS) is the winner of The Heiress of Winterwood by Sara E Ladd.  
Sm (CA) is the winner of Courageous to Change by Elizabeth Maddrey. 
Elaine (IA) is the winner of Alone, the Woman at the Well by Golden Keyes Parsons. 
Katie G (NC) is the winner of Destiny Defied by J A Marx.
Kandra (TN) is the winner of Rescuing Hope by Susan Norris.  

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 RUNNER - A Wayne Gill - One Free Book

Today, we're featuring debut novelist A Wayne Gill. Welcome, Wayne. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I suppose every author leaves a little of himself or herself on the page. I spend a lot of time thinking about my characters before I start writing and so I don’t think I consciously write myself into the characters. I’m sure some that occurs at the subconscious level. It’s hard to leave yourself completely out of the mix. I’ve been told by many of my readers, who know me personally, that they see elements of my personality in my characters. 

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My wife and I flew to Amsterdam for a long weekend on very short notice. I bought my luggage the same day! Lol!

Sounds like fun. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I won a city-wide poetry contest when I was in the second or third grade. I realized that I loved words and putting them together. 

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

My reading and my musical tastes are extremely diverse. I love reading page-turning thrillers like James Patterson or legal dramas like Grisham. I also enjoy biographies and historical books. I also read a lot of non-fiction and business-related books like Good to Great by Jim Collins and The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin. I’m a lover of books. Leave me in a library all day, and I’ll be right at home!

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

I have a strategy called “letting the air out of the balloon” that I’ve practiced for many years now. When the 24-7 world starts to make me feel like a balloon that’s about to pop, I take a step back and let some of the air out. This typically means reordering my priorities, taking some time away from the noise or just extended quiet time alone. We think that we have no time to do this, but that’s a myth. The truth is that if we take a day off or if we put aside some time for reflection, the noise will be right there when we get back. I also take the time to enjoy life—whether it’s walking my dogs, a nice dinner with my wife, or reading a good book, I try not to be on all of the time. One thing I do is maintain a healthy sense of humor. I strive not to take life or myself too seriously. No matter how stressed I may feel, a good laugh cures a multitude of woes.

That is so true. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I plan my characters in advance and their names typically reveal something of their inner world.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Being a husband and father.

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

I’d be a dog because they are loyal, dependable, beautiful and courageous. I have two dogs and so I think they also have a sense a humor. I see so much human characteristics reflected in my dogs.

What is your favorite food?

I love a juicy steak and I have to confess that I have a major sweet-tooth. I can be easily bought with a box of good chocolates!

A large number of authors love chocolate, myself included. Maybe it feeds our creativity. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I once went to a writing seminar where the instructor shared that the difference between the unpublished participants of his seminar and published writers is that the published ones actually did something. I think that is the greatest roadblock to writing: getting started.

I overcame that problem by setting a writing schedule for myself and taking time off from work (and the world) to get the schedule internalized. I also developed a support system, consisting of my family members, who were authorized to apply the right amount of encouragement and accountability to keep me on task.

One big help to me was keeping a writing journal of the amount of time and the number of pages I wrote each day in any calendar month. Over time, this taught me a lot about optimal times to write, pacing, strategizing, and learning how to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Runner is my first novel and Book One in the Michael Knight series. The book is about many things, but it is principally focused on one young man’s journey to integrity. It explores family relationships, love relationships, and the spiritual dimensions of the characters’ lives. It is written in the style of a John Grisham or James Patterson thriller with several interwoven love stories.  

Please give us the first page of the book.

The first time Michael Knight heard God’s call he was in the end zone of Ozark College in Ozark Falls, Missouri. His team was down by three points and there was less than thirty seconds left in the game. Todd McBride, the Ozark College Rams’ starting quarterback and Michael’s best friend, hurled the ball deep toward the end zone. It was either score or go home.

   

Already downfield, Michael could see the moment Todd cocked his arm backward to throw. He spun past his defender and locked his eye on the spiraling ball. The entire season now hung on his ability to make the grab. His abdominal muscles tightened into a knot. He sucked wind, long and hard. The entire crowd stood to its feet with anticipation. The visiting team counted out loud with the game clock, “Five, four, three . . .”

Michael dove. In an instant, his six foot two inch frame had crossed the goal line. Todd’s perfect spiral was in his hands. Victory! Michael had made the winning catch. The local fans exploded with shouts and cheers. The Rams were now in the Division Three Finals for the very first time. Michael’s closest family members embraced each other, jumped, whooped, and kissed. Some of them almost fell out of the stands. It was the Rams’ finest moment and their boy, Michael, was right at the heart of it.

Still holding the ball, he rolled over onto his knees. His defeated defender, now five feet or so to his left, was bent over clutching his knees. Michael could hear his slow, labored breathing. In the distance, the Rams’ bench had emptied and all of his teammates were running toward him. Michael bowed his head to thank God for the win before the impending pile-on when he clearly heard the words:

“Before I made you in the womb I knew you and I have called you to preach to thousands and to thousands times ten-thousands.”

A powerful opening. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be found at:

www.waynegill.com

www.ironpillarmedia.com

http://www.amazon.com/Runner-Michael-Knight-Series-Book/dp/0979785618

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1123148.A_Wayne_Gill

Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my story and my novel! Blessings, Wayne

It's my pleasure to meet you and hear about your story.


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

SWEET SANCTUARY - Kim Vogel Sawyer - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus Much More

Welcome back, Kim. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take? 

Since I love writing historical novels, I will probably continue writing stand-alone historicals. However, I’m hoping to travel away from prairie settings exclusively and perhaps explore inter-related novels--stories that can stand alone but have connections between characters or setting. 

What conferences will you be attending this year?

Will you be a speaker at any of them? I plan to attend the ACFW conference in Indianapolis. My writing schedule doesn’t allow for a lot of conference attendance, but I always look forward to connecting with fellow writers and friends in the publishing world at the ACFW gathering.      

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?

I’d love to explore what makes a book resonate with a reader, and I would put authors in the audience and avid readers on the panel.

I’d love to attend that discussion. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

Very important. Writing is a solitary activity, so connections with other writers can keep one grounded and sane. I have been so blessed by writers who helped me along in my writing journey, and I want to offer the same hand of assistance to those starting out. The best place to find aspiring writers in within writing organization.       

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?       

I am very active in my home church. I participate in the music ministry—choir, bell choir, solos, etc., I help lead women’s fellowship, and I am a substitute teacher for adults. When I have time to spare, I love to participate in community theatre.

I was in the bell ringer choir for a couple of years. It’s interesting. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?

My mom and dad--they are such incredible representatives of Jesus and have both overcome so much. They inspire me.

My step-grandma who has gone on to her reward but lives forever in my heart as one who loved me unconditionally and believed in me wholeheartedly.

My 9th grade English teacher who convinced a shy, scared-of-her-shadow girl she had something of value to share.

My soul sister, Kathy who helped me heal from a mighty emotional wound and see myself as a person with ability again.  

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?

I would love for it to read: She lived exuberantly. She loved without reserve. She made a positive difference.        

Wonderful. Tell us about the featured book. 

A Story of Hope and Love Set Against the Backdrop of World War II

Lydia Eldredge longs to provide sanctuary for her young son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.

Dr. Micah Hatcher faithfully serves the immigrant population of Queens, New York. But under cover of darkness, he has a secret mission that challenges everything he thought he wanted out of life.

When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Together, they seek a refuge of safety--for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God puts into their lives. Amid turmoil and discord, can hope and love prevail?          

Please share the first page with us. 

QUEENS, NEW YORK JULY 1944

Micah Hatcher scanned the letter a second time, his pulse beating at twice its normal rhythm. A joke . . . This has to be a joke. Yet there was nothing funny about it.

Someone bumped him from behind, and he apologized, moving away from the rows of mail cubbies to lean against the opposite wall, where he wouldn’t block the foot traffic. Half the population of Queens seemed to be retrieving mail right now. He scratched his head, trying to understand why this letter had come to him.

He checked the signature. N. Allan Eldredge. Scowling, he pressed his memory. Eldredge . . . Eldredge . . . The name seemed familiar. Then he slapped his forehead, remembrance hitting like a wave.

Lydia Eldredge. The nurse from Schofield Station Hospital. The one who had left Oahu early because of a mysterious emergency. An emergency that was no longer a mystery, thanks to the letter.

Micah’s gaze dropped to the letter again. Yes, now he understood. Small wonder Lydia had been in such a hurry to get back to the States—halfway through her tour of duty, as he recalled. He released a huff of disgust. He knew Lydia had been rather . . . well, flighty . . . and somewhat self-centered. But despite Lydia’s faults, he would never have taken her for a liar. How could she make up such drivel about him? He didn’t have time for this kind of nonsense now—not with Jeremiah depending on his help.

Tucking his other mail into his jacket pocket, Micah left the crowded lobby and plunked down on a wrought-iron bench outside the post office. With the noonday sun heating his head, he flattened the letter against his pant leg and read it once more. Slowly. Concentrating on every word and searching for hidden meaning between the lines.

Dr. Hatcher, I am sure by now you feel certain that your responsibility has been fully avoided, and this letter has come as a surprise. It has taken me some time to locate you. But this is a matter of extreme importance. A child’s life has been impacted. As the child’s grandfather, I cannot allow him to grow up wondering why his father has chosen to abandon him.

Therefore I request that you honor your responsibility toward your child. He and his mother are living with me in Boston. I will allow you two weeks to contact me. If by the end of that time, you have not chosen to honor your duty to your son, I shall be forced to take legal action. I assure you I have the wealth and influence to see that you do not continue to neglect your responsibility. I encourage—no, I insist—that you come with all due haste to Boston to settle this matter in an honorable fashion.

N. Allan Eldredge

“My son?” Micah muttered, his frustration growing. He had no son—it was impossible! Why on earth would Lydia tell her parents he had fathered her child? He folded the letter and shoved it roughly back into its envelope.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.KimVogelSawyer.com 

www.writespassage.blogspot.com  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-Vogel-Sawyer-AuthorSpeaker/

To celebrate the release of  Sweet Sanctuary Kim Vogel Sawyer is giving away a Cupcake Club membership (monthly cupcake delivery!) from the amazing Magnolia Bakery in New York and hosting a Facebook Author Chat party {4/30}!

One "sweet" winner will receive:

• Cupcakes from NYC’s Magnolia Bakery delivered to your door every month. (Eat them all yourself or share!)
• Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer for you and four of your friends. (Start a book group — cupcakes and a "sweet" read!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 29th. Winner will be announced at the "Sweet Sanctuary" Author Chat Party on 4/30. Connect with Kim, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be fun giveaways - gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Sweet Sanctuary and join Kim on the evening of April 30th 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 30th!

Thank you, Kim, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Sweet Sanctuary: A Novel by - paperback
Sweet Sanctuary: A Novel by - 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

ALWAYS THE BAKER FINALLY THE BRIDE - Sandra D Bricker - One Free Book

I've been anxiously awaiting this book by my friend Sandra D Bricker.

Welcome, Sandie. Why did you become an author?

Aside from a brief period with my sights set on being a ballet dancer (eek!), I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write. It’s just always been part of who I am. I write because I can’t NOT write.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

In my pre-writing career, I was an entertainment publicist. I might go back to that, or pursue graphic design. As long as it’s a creative outlet, I’m in.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

I think I’d like to live in the 1950s. I was a bit of a flower child of the late 60s and early 70s, but sock hops and poodle skirts, rockin’ around the clock at the malt shop? Oh yeah, I could rock me a poodle skirt, Lena!

I was a teenager in that time period, and I always wanted a poodle skirt. My mother made me a felt, circle skirt with her new sewing machine that made all kinds of fancy stitches. She stitched designs all over it, but I didn’t get the poodle. What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

The Grand Canyon. With all the traveling my family did when I was a kid, and that I did as an adult, I’ve never made it there. I really want to see it!

I do, too. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I’ve wanted to visit France since I was a kid. In fact, I’ve had a Paris trip planned twice, and both times something happened where I had to cancel. The second time I canceled, I was booked on TWA flight 800 – the one that crashed. My guardian angels were at the top of their game that day!

And we’re so glad they were! I had French in college as my second teaching field, and I’ve wanted to go to France as well. What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

I’ve been the co-moderator for a 6-week study at my church based on Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. In the first week, we dug into the idea that God created us for the sole purpose of loving us. It’s not like I didn’t know He loved me, but it still dropped on me like a ton of bricks. There I was, comparing His desire to love us to the yearning of a couple who really want to have a family. They do fertility treatments, she harvests her eggs, they talk to surrogates…they’ll do anything to make that dream of a family come true. Multiply that by a gazillion, and that’s how much our Creator wanted a family to love! That picture-type compounds my gratitude in a big way.

It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it? I’m sure it changed you as much as that concept changed me. Tell us about the featured book.
Always the Baker Finally the Bride is the fourth and final book in the Another Emma Rae Creation series for Abingdon Press. It revolves around The Tanglewood Inn, a boutique wedding destination hotel in Roswell, Georgia. The series introduces quirky characters, yummy cakes and confections, and a lot of laugh-out-loud humor. This book ties up the series and creates – hopefully! – a really satisfying end for my readers.

I love your books, so I’m sure it does. Can’t wait to get my copy. Please give us the first page of the book.
“A champagne flute of vanilla bean gelato topped tableside with a shot of espresso.”

            “Seriously?”

            “Chocolate chip bread pudding drizzled with warm caramel.”

            “Oh. My.”

            “Tiramisu lady fingers in coffee liqueur and cocoa.”

            Emma balled up the lapel of her jacket in her fist and whimpered. “Jackson. My heart.”

            Jackson leaned toward the waiter and clicked his tongue. “I’m thinking we should just move on to the sugar-free menu. She’s diabetic.”

            “Oh. All right.”

            The gentleman pointed at the other side of the dessert cart as Jackson interrupted. “But I’ll have that bread pudding,” he whispered.

            “Yes, sir. And for the lady, our sugar-free menu includes a warm berry tart with frozen vanilla yogurt.”

            “Oooh!”

            “A red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing sweetened with agave.”

            “You can stop right there,” Jackson told him. “You had her at red velvet.”

            “Not so fast,” she countered, and Jackson’s heart began to thump. “Go on. What else?”

            “Pumpkin spice cake with creamy buttermilk icing.”

            “Oh, that sounds lovely.”

            Perspiration puddled over his top lip, and Jackson wiped it away with his napkin. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “Red velvet is your favorite.”

            “Yes, but I can make my own sugar-free red velvet. The pumpkin sounds—”

            Jackson’s attention darted to the waiter and they shared a lingering exchange before the waiter offered, “The red velvet is our specialty. It comes highly recommended.”

            “Really?” she reconsidered. And by the time she nodded, Jackson’s heart had begun to pound at double-time. “Okay. I’ll try the cupcake.”

            “Very good.”

            “Coffee for me, and a pot of tea for my date, please,” Jackson said, leaning back against the leather booth with a sigh.

            “Are you all right?”

            “Hmm? What do you mean?”

            “I don’t know,” Emma replied. “You seem a little tense tonight.”

            “Oh. No. I don’t know. I guess—”

            Fortunately, the waiter reappeared so that he didn’t have to concoct some lame excuse. He stopped breathing as the waiter set the beautiful red velvet cupcake down in front of Emma. A shiny pink cupcake tin held the confection, and a ring of intricate white chocolate made to look like a crocheted doily surrounded it. The carefully-chosen diamond ring shimmered on top of it, catching the light from the chandelier overhead and reflecting the glint of recognition in Emma’s brown eyes.

I love it! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Either on my website (www.SandraDBricker.com ) or they can LIKE my reader page on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SandraDBricker ).

Thank you, Sandie, for sharing this new book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Always the Baker, Finally the Bride: Another Emma Rae Creation / Book 4 (Emma Rae Creations) - paperback
Always the Baker, Finally the Bride: Another Emma Rae Creation / Book 4 (Emma Rae Creations) - 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

THE DANCE - Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley - One Free Book

Readers, I was very excited for my friend Dan Walsh when he was invited by Gary Smalley to co-write a series of novels with him. Today, we're talking to Dan, who is one of my favorite male Christian fiction writers.

Welcome back, Dan. I know that this is a collaboration. How did this story come about?

The inspiration for The Dance came as I read a major best-selling book Gary had written in 2007 with his sons, Greg and Michael. It’s called The DNA of Relationships. We decided to draw the theme for the first book in our Restoration series from this DNA book. I hadn’t read it before but, to me, it is one of the best books on relationships I’ve ever read. While reading it, the whole story for The Dance came into view. They use the idea of couples dancing as a wonderful metaphor to illustrate some of the key relational truths in the book.

Did you find it easy to work together on it?

At first, the idea of working with Gary Smalley was intimidating. He’s kind of a living legend, with over six million books in print and eight million DVDs on marriage and relationships in circulation, not to mention he’s been interviewed by every national TV and radio talk show in the country. Then there’s the fact that Gary’s first book, If Only He Knew, literally saved my marriage thirty years ago. But right off the bat, Gary set me at ease. We spent several days together at his home in Branson, Missouri, discussing the project. We laughed constantly, and I can honestly say working with him has been a joy ever since.

How did collaborating with Gary impact you?

I’ve learned a lot from Gary. You’d have to be very dull not to; he’s a very wise man. Plus he’s also extremely gracious, humble, and generous with his encouragement. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover he really practices what he preaches behind the scenes. He has a great relationship with his wife, adult children and their spouses, and his grandchildren. He works hard at this, and it shows. Being around him provokes me to want to do better in my own relationships.

What is the hardest thing about writing as a team?

Probably just not having him down the hall as I write. Gary insisted I write the book. He said he loves my books and didn’t want to change a thing. So I sent him two chapters at a time by email attachment, and he’d send me back his thoughts and ideas written in red. He always got back to me the same day. Then I’d make changes and keep writing. We’ve got quite a rhythm now, having already finished the second book, The Promise. I’ve just begun to write Book 3 and I’m really looking forward to it.

I hope you’ll let me feature the next books on the blog, too. What are you reading right now?

I’m doing quite a bit of research for Book 3 of the Restoration series. I’m also reading Sarah Sundin’s upcoming novel, On Distant Shores, which I will easily endorse. For fun I’m reading Michael Reynold’s first novel, an historical about the Irish immigrating to America, called Flight of the Earls. Really enjoying it.

How did you choose your characters’ names?

I don’t have a process that people could easily replicate. More of a trial and error approach. I often begin with one set of names and change them several times in the first fifty pages, as I get to know the characters more. 

Would you want to work on another book together?

Definitely. We have to finish Books 3 and 4, and there is an option to continue the series after that. We’ve enjoyed working together so much, we’ve begun to discuss collaborating on a new nonfiction series.

That sounds like an awesome opportunity, Dan. What a blessing! What do you want to tell us about the book?

The excellent review we got from Publishers Weekly summarizes the book quite well: “Marilyn Anderson, after 27 years of marriage, leaves her husband. ‘I’ve dropped hint after hint, clue after clue,’ she says in her note. Jim, a successful businessman, is clueless, but, once over his anger, he begins soul-searching with help from his children and retired dance instructor Audrey Windsor. Marilyn, meanwhile, finds a job and a roommate and begins dance lessons. Throw in a well-meaning uncle, their daughter Michele’s wedding, their sons’ questions, a demanding church deacon, a dashing dance instructor, and a hurricane, and readers will definitely come away satisfied and shedding tears at the end. Mixing fiction’s emotion and nonfiction’s teaching works splendidly here.”

Please give us the first page of the book.

Marilyn Anderson drove her car into the charming downtown section of River Oaks, Florida, holding her cell phone three inches out from her face. She hated talking on the phone with Jim when he was upset. She’d been dreading this day for months. And this call. Things like this should be said in person; she knew that. But she also knew that would never happen. She’d never muster up the nerve.

Sitting there at a stoplight, she looked at the phone. Jim was inside it. Him and his angry little voice.

“Please, Marilyn,” Jim said. “I’m just getting back from a horrible lunch. Another tenant is canceling their lease. You have no idea the pressure I’m under right now. Can’t this wait till later?”

Marilyn sighed. She wanted to yell back her reply but didn’t dare. “No, it can’t wait,” she said.

“Well, it’s going to have to. We’ll talk about this when I get home. Love you, bye.” He hung up.

Love you, bye? Did he really just say that?

The light turned green. Marilyn gently applied pressure to the gas pedal. I have to do this. There’s no other way. Tears flowed down her face, but she refused to turn the car around. To silence the guilt that had been hammering her all day, she blurted out, “God, I know you understand me. Even if no one else does, I know you do.”

I’m glad this book is on my table right now. I will start reading it later today. Where can our readers find you on the Internet?

My website is the easiest place. My blog is there, as well as buttons for connecting with me on places like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest. It’s http://danwalshbooks.com

Gary’s website is done with his son, Greg, who’s also an amazing author and marriage counselor. It’s simply: smalley.cc

Thank you, Dan, for sharing this book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Dance, The: A Novel (The Restoration Series) - paperback
Dance, The (The Restoration Series Book #1): 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 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