A HEART DECEIVED - Michelle Griep - One Free Book

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

Because more often than not, life is messy. Times get hard. I write about characters facing tough situations and show how God uses those dark seasons of the soul for refinement.

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

Seriously? I only get to choose one other day? Yikes! I foresee a whole lot of angry friends and relatives for not choosing an event with them. Disclaimer aside, I pick the day I held my first newborn son in my arms.

How has being published changed your life?

Well, I bought myself a new laptop so I no longer write with G3 pens and notebooks. Emotionally, I feel validated. That this wasn’t just a freak hobby I’d hopefully give up one day in favor of stamp collecting.

What are you reading right now?

I am always in the middle of at least three books. Currently those three are: Captive by Jill Williamson, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, and Madeline’s Protector by Vanessa Riley.

What is your current work in progress?

A trilogy based on the exploits of a few fictional officers of the very real Bow Street Runners—which was a fledgling police force in London starting in the mid-eighteenth century.

What would be your dream vacation?

Staying in a for-real castle in England, not some sissified, remodeled wannabe. The staff would all be historical re-enactors, and I would be the princess. Naturally there’d have to be big beefy knights and a dashing prince. And since I’m dreaming, I’d be thirty years younger and twenty pounds lighter.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

There’s nothing magical about my process. Anywhere in England suits me just fine, so I usually just pick a place and then give it a made-up name.

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

Only one? Wowzer. Other than my family members, I’d like to hang out with Pastor Doug Wilson. I love his blog, Blog and Mablog. He’s a snarky, God loving, wise, and creative fella who would be a hoot to share a few hours with.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to rollerblade, play the hammered dulcimer (though I stink at it), and gardening is a huge favorite of mine.

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

Finding the time to write. Like many others, family duties consume a huge portion of my time. My solution is to set aside one night a week to run away and write.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

At the risk of raining on countless parades, I’d have to say expect to not become an overnight success. The writing journey is a long, hard climb and you’ll get a lot of scrapes and bruises. Just suck it up and stick with it, because if writing is in your blood, you won’t find satisfaction in other pursuits.

Tell us about the featured book.

Miri Brayden teeters on a razor's edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he'll be committed to an asylum—and she'll be sent to the poorhouse.

Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life—from family, from the law ... from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverend John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity—an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder.

When Ethan shows up on Miri's doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit—fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Deverell Downs Bedfordshire, England, 1795

Sunlight slanted a direct route from heaven through the sanctuary windows. Were the dust motes riding that beam sturdy enough to carry her weight, Miri Brayden would mount up and fly out of there in a heartbeat.

In the pulpit, her brother droned on—and on. And on. Probably something about brimstone or eternal wrath. Who knew? Her mind floated from speck to speck as she zigzagged her eyes up to the glass panes. Beyond, a few small clouds roamed free. What would it feel like to drift away on one of those? A lot softer than the wicked pew that numbed her backside, to be sure.

Half a rebellious smile twitched her lips, then disappeared. If God singled her out for her lack of attentiveness and incinerated her on the spot, she shouldn’t be a bit surprised. Not that she didn’t deserve it.

But that would be too easy an out.

She forced her gaze back to Roland, who aimed his finger like a weapon of God, firing musket balls of scripture into the congregation. Stifling a yawn, she blew out a long breath instead. Several other sighs chorused around her. From behind, a suspicious snort-snort might have been a snore, but she resisted the urge to turn and confirm it. If Roland didn’t end Sunday morning prayers soon, the whole of Deverell Downs Church would meet with a fireball of judgment for dozing off.

Or maybe Roland was their judgment.

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Websites: www.writerofftheleash.blogspot.com

                www.mmgriep.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellegriep

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mmgriep/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleGriep

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2754194.Michelle_Griep

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=47743174&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Tumblr: http://michellegriep.tumblr.com/

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your new book with us.

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

A Heart Deceived - Christianbook.com
A Heart Deceived - Amazon.com
A Heart Deceived: A Novel - Kindle

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