She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.
Welcome back, Karen. What are some of the
spiritual themes you like to write about?
My spiritual themes usually center around issues that I
struggle with in my own faith journey. Pride, forgiveness, waiting on God's
timing, carrying one another's burdens, trust, not judging, realizing that living
right is more important than being right.
In Stealing the Preacher, the theme
centers around the idea that in order to truly fulfill God's calling on our
lives, we must be willing to surrender our assumptions and rationalizations
about what we think that calling entails to follow him in the direction he
actually leads, even if that guidance takes us in a different direction than we
expect. A secondary theme emphasizes the need to never grow weary of scattering
spiritual seed, for God will never give up his pursuit of any individual soul.
What other books of
yours are coming out soon?
My next project is actually a novella that features Neill
Archer, the final brother in the Archer clan. I just couldn't let him go
without giving him his own happily ever after. Away from the Archer ranch for
two years to earn the money needed to start up his own spread with his
childhood friend, Josiah, Neill takes a job repairing a little old widow’s
roof. Only the widow isn’t old nor is she little. She’s nine months pregnant
with her deceased husband’s child, and she meets Neill with a shotgun aimed at
his chest.
Neill’s story, A
Cowboy Unmatched, will be part of a collection entitled A Match Made in Texas. It releases
January 2014 and includes novellas by three other wonderful historical authors:
Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Carol Cox.
I must feature this
book on my blog. You four are some of my favorite historical authors. If you
could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of
yours), who would it be and why?
Being a music lover, I'm going to pick Josh Groban. I love
his voice, and if I could somehow convince him to let me sing a duet with him
(no audience, of course), I think I would float around in a delighted haze for
weeks.
A good choice. What
historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
Elizabeth Blackwell. I remember reading a book about the
first woman doctor when I was in 5th grade, and it made a huge impact on me.
Plus, I would love to ask her a ton of questions about medical treatment in the
1800s for research purposes.
How can you encourage
authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
Publishing with a traditional house can be a difficult
journey that requires perseverance and tough skin. Rejections are a big part of
it. I wrote for 6 years before signing a contract. And that contract came after
the same publisher rejected my first manuscript. Thankfully, they saw enough
potential in me that they asked me to submit again. Even after publication,
rejection is still part of the game. The last time I was up for a new contract,
my publisher rejected 2 out of 3 of the story ideas I proposed. I had to go
back to the drawing board and start again.
Do your best to learn and master the craft of writing, read
extensively in your genre, study the market, find critique partners or
freelance editors to help you uncover problem areas, enter contests and listen
to the feedback you receive, attend workshops and conferences to meet and
network with industry professionals, but most of all, just keep writing and
submitting.
Tell us about the
featured book.
On his way to interview for a position at a church in the
Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he’s forced off the
train by an outlaw and presented to the man’s daughter as the preacher she
requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape—which would be much
easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected
request.
For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to
breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A
man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it
seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against
his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she
can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?
I have read this book
and loved the characters and plot twists. Please give us a short excerpt from
the book for my readers.
The horse whinnied at the rough treatment and thrashed about
trying to gain his freedom. Crockett used the diversion to make a run for the
trees. A building of some kind lay to the north. A building meant people.
People meant help. He just prayed he'd been right about the bandits not wanting
to lodge a bullet in him.
A shot rang out. Angry shouts demanding he stop followed.
But no lead slammed into him, so Crockett kept running.
He ducked beneath post oak branches and zigzagged from one
tree to another, taking advantage of any cover the terrain afforded.
The building was getting closer. A barn, maybe? He just had
to keep his legs under him.
Hooves pounded into the earth behind him. Crockett's heart
rate tripled. They were running him down. And he was running out of trees.
Open grassland lay between him and a fenced pasture. Keeping
to the trees would only allow him to delay capture, not elude it. His only
chance was to scale that fence and hope that Silas and his gang wouldn't risk
discovery by pursuing him onto private property.
Lungs on fire, Crockett burst out of the woods and sprinted
for the fence. The hoof beats behind him escalated.
A soft whirring caught his ear a second before a lariat
dropped over his head and shoulders. Crockett made a desperate grab for the
rope, but before he could get his thumbs hooked, the noose tightened around his
chest and yanked him backward. In a flash he was flat on his back staring at
the sky.
He'd just been lassoed like a new calf at branding time.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
The easiest place to find information about my books is on
my website at:
I also love to interact with readers through Facebook and
the two group blogs I contribute to. My author page on Facebook is:
If you like my page, you can gain access to the first three
chapters of Stealing the Preacher for free.
I blog with a group of western romance authors on a site
called Petticoats & Pistols. This group features both Christian and general
market authors.
The second group I blog with is called Writes of Passage.
This group is made up of bestselling inspirational historical fiction authors.
Some names you might recognize are Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Julie
Klassen, and Lynn Austin. We have so much fun together and love to interact
with readers.
Karen Witemeyer is "kindling" the excitement for Stealing the Preacher (Bethany House) with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and connecting with readers at her June 18th Facebook Author Chat Party!
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
So grab your copy of Stealing the Preacher and join Karen on the evening of June 18th 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 18th!
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Christianbooks.com Stealing the Preacher - Amazon paperback
Stealing the Preacher - 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
28 comments:
I am reading this book and love it!
I am looking forward to read this book
I have all of her books on my bookshelf. Such fun and inspiring reads!
Amy C
VA
Read this book recently and it is such a fun book!
Brittany M.
TX
Thanks for the encouraging comments, ladies. I'm so glad you are enjoying Crockett's story! I hope you all have a blessed week!
I would love to win. Angela fromKY
I think this book will be so much fun to read. I am really looking forward to it! I just received a book of books in the mail today. It includes Tailor-Made Bride. I have heard so many good comments about it. I live in Tennessee.
Since I was a preacher's wife, forty years, this book caught my eye. Thank you. Judy C. in Louisiana.
I have been reading a lot of reviews and comments saying how wonderful this book is, thanks for the chance to win and read it for myself!
Jasmine A. in sunny Montana
STEALING THE PREACHER sounds very exciting and a lot of fun.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
I loved the family in the first book, and am looking forward to this one. I follow Wrtes of Passage as well. Thanks for the chance to win!
Marianne -Arizona
I have read several of Karen's books and always enjoy them. Please throw my name in the hat!
Kandra in OK
Karen's books are always great, looking forward to this one!
Patty in SC
Love Karen's books & always look forward to reading her new ones. Elaine from Iowa
Karen is one of my top favorite Christian authors! I just adore her characters and how easy it is to feel the emotions in her books. Thanks for a great interview! I'm super excited about the novella collection too!!!
Heidi from CA
Sounds great... love her books!
Anna W. from GA
I am so looking forward to reading Stealing The Preacher. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Katie J.
Florida
I have a weakness for preachers (since I married one), and for Karen Witemeyer books.
Please enter me.
Andrea
Missouri
Can't wait to read the continuing saga!
from Donna, TX...in Nicaragua for the summer!
I would love to read this.
Deborah D, FL
love this cover thanks for the chance to win
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Can't wait to read this book!!! Love everyone of Karen's books!!! God Bless! Thanks for this Awesome Giveaway! Please enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.
Enter me this book looks like a great read!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch,NC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com
This book looks wonderful! I loved Short Straw Bride. I'm in MN.
I applied for a job and didn't get it and I was crushed. I wanted to move closer to my family. But I stayed at my current job and met my husband here. I'm sure that was God's plan all along. We lived less than a mile apart when we met (online). It's crazy! God has the Master Plan. I'm glad I don't. I'd probably misplace it. Ha ha. Kristie from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
Oh yeah want to read this book.
Lourdes long Island NY
Love the cover and the title! I look forward to reading this.
Beth from Iowa
Can't wait to read this book!
Tonja In VA
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