Friday, August 30, 2013

Special post: GRACE UNPLUGGED - A Movie and a Book - Two-Book Giveaway

From time to time, I'll be offering special new books or movies on Saturdays. This the first one. The giveaway winner will be announced in two weeks.

Grace Unplugged, the movie will release on October 4. For more information, check these links.
Grace Unplugged, the novel will release tomorrow. Grace Hill Media sent me a copy to read and review, along with the companion book Own It.

Melody Carlson was the author chosen to write the book based on the movie. She is an excellent choice. I've long enjoyed reading her books, both for the Young Adult (YA) audience and adults. In this book, she really takes the reader deep inside the heart and mind of Grace Trey.

An eighteen-year-old singer, Grace is passionate about her Christian faith and her God-given gift of music. She grew up, playing and singing with her father's praise band. Now he is the Worship Pastor of a church, and she's feeling confined and controlled, when she wants the freedom to praise her own way, on a different level of music.

When her chance to move beyond what she's doing comes along, she knows her parents don't think she's mature enough. But she's eighteen, and that's consider an adult in many circles. So she takes her chance without their permission. After all, she really doesn't need it, does she?

I found this book very true to the feelings of many eighteen year olds in today's world, even in Christian circles. And through both her right and wrong choices, I felt the author was spot on. The depth of Grace's feelings as well as those of her parents' pulled me straight into the story.

The book (and the movie) takes all the major characters through a lot of growth, spiritually and through physical experiences. An enlightening and interesting peek into so many areas of life. I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait until the movie comes out.

Own It is the title of a book used by Quentin, the intern at the entertainment company where Grace found her chance. He shared it with Grace. The book deals with young people who live on "borrowed faith," the faith of their parents.

Back in my day, we were told that God doesn't have grandchildren in the faith. Each person has to have his or her own relationship with Him. This is the message of Own It.

The movie Fireproof used a book The Love Dare to help the characters grow, and so many people asked for a copy of the book that they had someone write a book to fit the movie. The producers of Grace Unplugged knew that just as many people would want to read the book Own It that they had them both written before the movie releases.

Own It is an easy read with very deep concepts. It would be a good book for any person to read, and it will make a wonderful gift for young people making their way in the world.

Here are links to where you can order the books online:
Grace Unplugged - Christianbook.com
Own It - Christianbook.com
Grace Unplugged: A Novel - Amazon.com
Own It: Discover Your Faith in God Amazon.com




In my cooperation with Grace Hill Media, one person who leaves a comment on the blog will win a free copy of both books.

As always,  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.

EVERY WAKING MOMENT - Chris Fabry - One Free Book

Welcome back, Chris. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I want readers to have changed lives because of my stories. Sometimes that happens in small ways, just a slight shift in their perspective. I’m getting feedback from those who enjoy the characters and plots that come to me, but even better are the emails of people who say, “You helped me see my life and my relationship with God in a real way. That’s the best thing on the horizon.

Tell us a little about your family.
My wife and I have been married for more than 30 years. We have nine children, one dog, one bird, and a high electric bill. We went through a toxic exposure in Colorado that made us lose just about everything we owned and now we’re living in Arizona and recovering.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I read more technical books on writing now and enjoy the 808 section of the library. I also read to understand how an author I enjoy reading does something well—a flashback or writing from different points of view. But writing has not changed my love of reading, getting into a story, getting lost in it, and exploring new areas of the heart. That’s the most fun about reading. It can take you anywhere in the galaxy, but it can also take you deep into your own heart.

What are you working on right now?
I completed Every Waking Moment, a story about a girl named Treha who has a special gift to bring people with dementia and Alzheimer’s “back.” It’s out now. But I realized after writing it that the story isn’t complete, so I’m working on the “rest of the story” of Treha’s life.

What outside interests do you have?
I love sports, film, and reading. My writing and my work on the radio (“Chris Fabry Live” is on the air two hours, each weekday on Moody Radio) take up most of the rest of my day, plus, marriage is work as well.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Setting is so important—the characters pretty much determine that for me. I write about wherever they live and try to do it authentically. The book I just finished is set in Tucson, near where we live now. The next book will take readers to Tennessee.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Obviously, Jesus. No question. But if you pinned me against the wall and made me choose one other person, I would pick Mary. I think it would be fascinating to hear more of what life was like in those silent years of Jesus’ life.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
The meaning of success. Most define it with sales, readership, popularity, expanding platform, pick your poison. Most writers will never succeed in terms of wild popularity and readership, and then the numbers, money, contracts that follow. For me, success is being faithful to the story that’s chosen me rather than the story I choose. In other words, the pain, struggle, problems, roadblocks in my life right now are part of the story I’m telling. I don’t tell it well by going to a deserted island and by pushing everything hard away, I tell it through the swamp that is my life. Life is not the absence of struggle, but the presence of it. Success cannot be measured by externals.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
The new lesson is an old lesson, and it comes through Every Waking Moment. The question, “If this is as good as your life gets, are you okay with that?” is ever-present. Am I going to fight and scrape for something just beyond my grasp, or will I cultivate contentment with what I’ve been given. That’s a hard, but good, place to be.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Thinking about writing, talking about writing, is not writing. Only writing is writing. Sit down (or stand) and write. Don’t wait for someone to validate you and tell you that you are a writer, believe it and act on the belief. Listen to the editors in your life for they want your book to succeed as much, if not more, than you do.

Tell us about the featured book.
Every Waking Moment is about a girl who has fallen through the cracks in life. And everyone she comes in contact with is asking that same question, “If this is as good as life gets…” Her name is Treha, and through the book you discover her gift, her wound, and her destiny. These three things are at the heart of each of our lives. As her past and present unfold, you’ll have hope for your own life.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Treha imagined it like this: A summer afternoon. Her mother’s satin dress billowing. Fully leaved, green trees swaying. Crossing a busy street.

“Keep up with me, Treha,” her mother said.

Looking into the sunlight, she saw the silhouette of her mother’s face with beads of sweat on her lip and the wide-brimmed hat casting shade. Her mother not quite smiling but showing dazzling teeth. Deep-red lipstick. Like a movie star with a hint of concern on her face.

Momentum carried them to the sidewalk and the corner shop with the tinkling bell as they passed the red bricks and moved into the cool, sweet air smells and bright colors under a sign that said Ice Cream.

Her mother led her to the glass case that held the containers. Treha stood on tiptoes but wasn’t tall enough to see over the edge, so her mother picked her up and held her, letting her hover above the colors. She pointed out the ones with dark specks and those with pecans and pralines or cookies or M&M’s.

“Which one would you like? The orange? Yellow? Don’t take all day now.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?
www.Chrisfabry.com

Thank you, Chris, for sharing this new book with us. It sounds really interesting. I just received it yesterday and hope to start reading it this weekend.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Every Waking Moment - Christianbook.com
Every Waking Moment - Amazon.com
Every Waking Moment - 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

Thursday, August 29, 2013

FOR RAN$OM - Sarah McClain - One Free Book

Readers, we're meeting another debut author. 

Welcome, Sarah. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Well, I write with all my soul. I find that I don’t mean to put myself into the characters, but after one of my friends reads it they’ll point out something. So I’ll re-read, and see a little piece of my self here and there.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Just one? I am just an old ball. Well if I have to answer, then it’s not something I’ve done, but something I feel. I feel sad for birds ’cause they have no hands. I always have. My friends are always like, “but they can fly!” My reply is usually, “But when you see them at the Target parking lot they can’t scoop up a pile of popcorn, they have to eat it one by one.” (At this time my hands would be in front of me as if I was holding two handfuls of popcorn) My only thought is that they hop around all day looking for sticks and popcorn. It must be so tiring. Now, I know (as my grandmother says) I may be insane, but I am who I am.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I’ve been writing all sorts of stories since I was about 8 years old. I recently moved and found a folder of stories that I wrote when I was about 10. I think I’m going to read them and see if any have a good storyline and revive them.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love all kinds; from Dr. Suess’ Green Eggs and Ham to anything by Ted Dekker. I’m into Angie Smith and Tosca Lee. Dee Henderson. And this is all when I can find time to read.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I find Peace comes in the quiet moment.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
You know, sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes I change a character name when the book is 98% done. I usually think about the story and a name pops in my head. I’ll toy around with a few but oft times come back to that name. I actually recently had a contest for my “groupies” as I call them to name the next characters in my book. Winners got a free copy of For Ransom.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I’m proud of being the first in my family to go to college and graduate. The rest chose military, which was perfect for them, but I wanted to be an artist. So now I am a graphic designer and an author, and I’m so blessed.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
Probably a cat. They get to be lazy and cuddly and basically own humans.

What is your favorite food?
This is such a hard question, ’cause there are so many types of food that are calling my name as I sit here a lunch time, hungry! But I always come back to my love for spaghetti.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
The endings can be tough. I never want someone to read the book and put it down and be like, “Really? That’s it?”

Tell us about the featured book.
A ransom demanded.
A daughter's life.
A mother's love.
A father's choice.
A man's quest.
Will her mother and father come together to pay this ransom and bring her home? Will Eli be able to find her before it’s too late?
Will the kidnappers follow through or simply take the money without freeing Hailey?
Will Hailey lose her faith or even her life in the process?
Will a ransom save her life?
 "For the love of money is the root of all evil." -1 Timothy 6:10

Please give us the first page of the book.
ONE
The sound of heavy breathing filled the night as the moon’s blue light peered in from the bay window across the room. The hallways were usually peaceful, but this night brought an all too familiar sound that echoed through the darkness. Piercing screams carried down the hall, waking Anne from a deep sleep. Anyone else would be disoriented from being suddenly snatched from their sleep, but Anne knew this scream. It was an all too familiar sound that broke her heart. Anne looked across at the man laying beside her who was fast asleep, this man that she had married when she was so young, had now become a stranger to her.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
@SarahMMcClain  -- Twitter

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your first book with us.


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

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.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

A PIONEER CHRISTMAS - Shannon McNear and eight other authors - One Free Book

Readers, I've known Shannon for years, and I was thrilled when she received her first contract for this book. The book is a nine novella collection. The other authors are Lauraine Snelling, Margaret Brownley, Kathleen Fuller, Marcia Gruver, Cynthia Hickey, Vickie McDonough, Michelle Ule, and Anna Urquhart. This will be a wonderful Christmas read. For today, we're featuring debut novelist, Shannon McNear.

Welcome, Shannon. How did your story for the collection come about?
My good friend and writing partner Beth (Elizabeth) Goddard, who’s been a Barbour author for years, forwarded me a call for submissions on the Pioneer Christmas collection. I told her I’d think/pray about it. Within about five minutes, the story idea bloomed to life, and by the end of that week, I had my first chapter and synopsis.

What are you reading right now?
The book of Ezekiel in the Bible...before that, Iscariot by Tosca Lee, and before that, the ARC of Burning Sky by debut author Lori Benton.

What other books have you had published?
Defending Truth was my very first book contract, ever. :-)

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?
For me, it was wondering if mine would be “good enough,” if it would fit the guidelines. Making sure I had my history and research right.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?
Because there are nine of us, and each story is a standalone, there wasn’t any collaborating. I’m looking forward to reading the other stories, though!

How do you choose your characters’ names?
For historical, I spend some time going through genealogies of the period, muster rolls, cemetery records, anything that gives me a sense of what was common (or not) for the time and region. I try to pick something that sounds like what a real person would have. When I chose Truth Bledsoe, I went with a real, historical family name and a first name that could have been used for those fond of the old Puritan way of using character traits as names. It was only after the fact that I found the family I anchored her to had a male member by the name of Loving (permuted in some records to Lovin or Loven, which is what I wound up using for my story). So it seemed particularly fitting. For Micah, I chose a not-overused Biblical name combined with what could have been a last name of the period.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?
A renewed sense of God’s grace, and our ability to forgive because of it. Also, a fresh appreciation for the difficulty and complexity of the era.

Please give us a peek into your story.
Papa would tan her hide if he knew she was out here again. Too many Indians to worry about. Not to mention Tories. But Papa was still gone fighting the British, and the young 'uns needed fed.

Truth Bledsoe took a better grip of her grandfather's long rifle and peered through the cold fog of the western North Carolina morning. The narrow path up the mountain lay beneath a carpet of reds and golds, slick with rain. All but a few yards ahead faded into the mist. The forest was still except for the occasional drip of moisture or creak of branch. 

With a deep breath, she trudged on until out of the loomed a great boulder tucked into a fold of the mountainside. 

Her favorite hunting perch. She slid the rifle up over the edge then, with fingers and toes in various cracks, hoisted herself onto the top. There she settled herself herself to wait for whatever game might wander past. She'd taken her share of deer, turkey, and squirrel from this rock. Even glimpsed a few Indians. Today she was hoping for something to fill the new stew pot. 

Her ears strained for shreds of sound. Everything would be muffled in the fog, whether the whoosh of a deer's snort or the rustle of a squirrel in the leaves.

The snap of a twig, when it came, drew her almost straight up, gun to her shoulder.

"Don't shoot!" came a sharp cry.

Sounds like a really good read. I can't wait until my copy arrives. Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?
I sure am! I joined ACFW about nine years ago when I felt I needed more guidance and polish with my writing than I received from other critique groups. Now, of course, I wonder if I was just dense :-) but ACFW has been invaluable in terms of the relationships I’ve made, in addition to what I’ve learned as a writer.

My first contract came eight years after I first started writing novels, so though your nine years seemed long, other writers had similar experiences. What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?
It’s about the journey, not the “destination” of being published. Wow, I hated hearing that. :-)

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, and I write Sunday devotionals over at The Borrowed Book (http://theborrowedbook.blogspot.com ). My personal blog is at www.shannonmcnear.com .

Thank you, Shannon, for sharing about your debut book with us.

Readers, here are links to buy the book. When you use one of them, you help support this blog.
A Pioneer Christmas - Christianbook.com
A Pioneer Christmas Collection - Amazon.com
A Pioneer Christmas Collection: 9 Stories of Finding Shelter and Love in a Wintry Frontier - Kindle

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

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

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

THIS DANCE - Jerusha Agen - One Free Ebook

Welcome, Jerusha. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
The amount of myself that shows up in my characters varies a great deal from character to character, and such similarities are never intentional. I try to write all my characters to be true to themselves. Like an actor approaching a character to play in a script, I discover similarities between my characters’ personalities and my own as I get to know them. Identifying these commonalities enables me to better write their stories, just as finding areas of connection with a character in a script results in an actor’s strongest performances.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I once owned a Morgan horse named Quirky!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I first knew that I wanted to pursue writing as a career when I was a freshman in high school. It wasn’t until some years later, however, that I looked back and realized I had always been a writer, making up stories and putting together my own little books just for fun from the time I was too young to remember through the rest of my childhood.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I most enjoy reading the classics, particularly nineteenth-century literature. Jane Austen’s wit makes me laugh like nothing else and her romances are timeless, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or G.K Chesterton provide light mysteries, while Dickens’ sarcastic punch and characterizations are worth a little extra effort to explore. There is so much to be learned and enjoyed in works that have stood the test of time, and I enjoy meeting treasures like War and Peace or Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. One of my favorite novels, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is always astounding in its power and skill, no matter how many times I read it.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Like most people, staying sane in our hectic culture is a daily struggle! Some things that help me most are setting writing goals for each day and actually quitting for the day when I reach the goal. I’ve found that I have to limit when I’ll allow myself to check email or go online, so that I don’t end up letting my sleep or work time disappear into the Internet vacuum. As a writer, it’s also too easy to work whenever I’m home, even on Sundays, which translates into no day off from work and eventual burnout. I believe that rest, especially on our day set aside to worship, is crucial to staying in the rat race for the long haul, so I’ve recently started to make Sundays a no-writing, no-Internet day. I end up with a free, restful day away from social and work pressures that allows me to recharge for the work week ahead. Another essential is sleep!

How do you choose your characters’ names?
For my central characters, the choice of a name is extremely important. Before settling on a name for such a character, I research name meanings and origins to be sure that the name fits my character and the character’s parents who chose the name. Whenever possible, I like to find an unusual name for my main character that is also memorable and pleasant on the eyes and ears.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Graduating from college! I am not a college person, but knew that it was important for me to get my Bachelor’s degree. My college education was essential, and I learned so much as an English major that has made me into the writer that I am today. Still, you couldn’t pay me to go back to college!

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
If I could be any animal I wanted to be, I would like to be a dog. As long as dogs have non-abusive owners, most dogs tend to be positive, upbeat, and happy. Most importantly, they have a short memory that allows them to forgive, forget, and live in the moment—all traits that I am sadly lacking.

What is your favorite food?
Ice cream, chocolate, ice cream, chocolate, more ice cream, and more chocolate.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
The doubt that comes with writing for years with no contract in sight can be a killer to writing like nothing else. The only way to keep going is to look to God for motivation. If He has called you to write, given you the desire and opportunity to write, you have to trust Him that, in His timing, He will bring about the sale. I wouldn’t want to sell a book outside God’s will or in my timing instead of His—I know such a situation would only end in disaster. I had to remind myself of this truth constantly and surround myself with supportive friends and family who agree that His will is perfect, even when it isn’t what I think I want or when I think I want it!

Tell us about the featured book.
THIS DANCE (Book One in the Sisters Redeemed series):
A tragedy three years ago destroyed Nye's rise to the top of the dancing world as an upcoming tango star, and in the process destroyed her reason for living. She survived the pain and built a new life resembling nothing like the one she left behind, determined never to hurt again.

No love, no pain. No God, no games.

Nye's emotional walls hold up perfectly until she meets a handsome lawyer and an elderly landowner. They seem harmless, but one awakens feelings she doesn't want and the other makes her face the God she can't forgive. Will these two men help Nye dance again?

Please give us the first page of the book.
CHAPTER ONE
“…in Christianity God is not a static thing—not even a person—but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost, if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance…”
– C. S. Lewis

            Nye Sanders pressed her lips into a grim line and glanced in the rearview mirror. The white snow that bordered the freeway gleamed back at her. There had been a time when the beauty of the Pennsylvania winter would have filled her with wonder. But this morning, her mood was as frigid as the outdoor temperature, and she put on sunglasses to block the snow-covered scene.

            Annoyed with time lost on the icy residential streets, she pressed the accelerator harder. At least the six-lane freeway had been more thoroughly salted after last night’s freezing rain. Nye glared at the clock. She refused to be late to negotiations for—

            Nye gasped as her tires hit black ice on a curve and started to skid. She slammed on the brakes. The car slid from side to side. Spun out.

She lost control.

Time slowed as the car swung into a 180-degree turn. Gravitational force pulled her toward the door, then away. Her fingers squeezed the wheel, nails bit into her hand.
White. Everything was white.

The force that spun the car sucked the breath out of her lungs. She was a toy. Something awful was playing with her.

Is this what he had felt? She wished she could see him. She tried.

            “Dante!” She called his name, as the car slammed into the guardrail. She closed her eyes against the impact. A painful crunch.

Force yanked her body again, as the car ricocheted into another spin.

It stopped.

An exciting opening, for sure. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Please visit my website at www.SDGwords.com.
You can also find me on Facebook at Jerusha Agen – SDG Words, or Follow me on Twitter @SDGwords.
Read my film reviews at www.RedeemerReviews.com

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

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
This Dance (Sisters Redeemed Series) (Volume 1) - paperback
This Dance (Sisters Redeemed Series) - 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

Monday, August 26, 2013

BLEEDING HEART - Amber Stokes - One Free Ebook on This Blog, Plus More

Readers, we're talking to a debut author. Welcome, Amber. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I pour my heart into them! Several of the main characters in Bleeding Heart have been with me for a long time, as they made their first appearance in Forget Me Not (my first manuscript and the currently unpublished prequel to Bleeding Heart). They’re dear to me, and I feel like I’ve grown alongside them. Their stories have given me the chance to grapple with my own beliefs about love and faith, and I’ve given them some struggles that I’ve faced on a different scale. Yes, their stories on their own, and they’re fictional characters. But yes, you’ll find a lot of me – my fears, my dreams, my uncertainties, my hope – in them.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I’m not sure if it’s the quirkiest, but probably one of the most spontaneous things I’ve ever done is purchase a train ticket for a day trip to nowhere while I was in college. It was my first semester, and I was stressed about school work and the musical I was in, so I just decided I wanted to get away and find some perspective. I absolutely love trains, so I bought a train ticket for a round-trip ride from my school in Oregon up to a station in Washington and back – the night before the trip. Needless to say, my family was a bit concerned when I told them my plans, but they supported me and a friend drove me to the station the next morning and picked me up in the evening. Although I skipped a couple of classes and a play practice (which was not the most responsible thing to do!), I’ll never regret taking the trip. Sometimes you need time with just you and God – to think, to reflect, and to have a little adventure. J

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Hmmm … I’m not really sure about that one! It’s hard to pinpoint an exact time, as it was a combination of things – a growing love for reading, an interest in writing poetry, a desire to try my hand at novels (that first attempt from middle school should never see the light of day again), majoring in English in college, starting a blog, finishing two novels, and finally pursuing self-publishing. It’s been a journey I’ve been on for a long time, and I’ve loved it!

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Well, I majored in English in college, so I’ve read an interesting variety of books for literature classes. But the kind I really enjoy reading are Christian fiction and young adult novels. I love historical romance, but I also enjoy some futuristic stories, contemporary romance, fantasy, fairytale-twists, etc. I’ve grown a bit in my tastes lately, but I do still like to have some romance in pretty much every book I read. And reading non-fiction is a bit like pulling teeth for me, LOL. (Although once in a while I’ll enjoy it – like reading Falk’s Claim: The Life and Death of a Redwood Lumber Town by Jon Humboldt Gates while I was preparing to edit Bleeding Heart. I highly recommend the book if you’d like to learn more about one of the settings I chose!)

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Perspective is key. Trusting God for each step, knowing He’ll lead the way. Remembering that some things have more lasting value than others. Holding onto the hope that this life is only the beginning. I’m not saying I’ve mastered the art of maintaining a proper, eternal perspective – not at all. But God is always patient, and always there to bring me back. And, He also helps me keep my sanity by working through the encouragement of Twitter and Blogger friends, the fun times with family and friends, the resonant truth of His Word, etc. When I feel like I’m going crazy with projects and day-to-day life, there’s always something or someone that will help me push through as I try to take it all one step at a time. J

How do you choose your characters’ names?
Oh, names are such a hard thing for me. I actually had to change a character’s name in Bleeding Heart because I apparently have a fetish for male J-names, and it would potentially have been quite confusing for readers to keep all the J-names apart, haha!

Let’s see … I try to pick names that sound right for the time period, of course. Some names have just kind of popped into place – they’re generally simple ones. Some are ones that have some sort of connection to a song or movie that’s special to me. And then some are the result of searching baby names (etc.) online. I do like it when I can find one whose meaning fits the character’s story in some way.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
There are several goals I worked really hard to achieve, and I guess they’re the ones I’m most proud of. One would be getting my black belt in Jujitsu. It took me about 12 years, and I’m not the most physical person, so it was a struggle to stick with it. But my parents encouraged me to keep going (and they paid for my lessons), so passing that test and getting my black belt at the tournament was pretty awesome. J Getting my IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma and being class valedictorian in high school were things I was happy to finally accomplish. Also, getting my college degree, gaining each new client for my freelance editing business, and self-publishing my novel … There are so many heartaches and tears and frustrations and the support of family and friends behind each of those things, so each one feels special. I love this verse in the Psalms that hit me the other day, though: “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me” (Psalm 57:2). God is the one who heard my cry and helped me through each task, and I’m so grateful He really does perform all things for me!

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
Probably a cat. They’re independent homebodies that can sleep a lot, get cuddled when they feel like it, be quirky, and have such unique personalities. Love ’em!

What is your favorite food?
So tough to pick just one. I love my sweets – especially chocolate. Guess it depends what I’m in the mood for, you know? But yeah, I love chocolate …

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
One of the greatest roadblocks was simply finishing a book! It’s hard to sit down, focus, and get the words on the page. Participating in a writing challenge like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) or Seekerville’s Speedbo (I did the latter this year) can help with that, as well as having someone to share your work with – someone who will help celebrate your milestones and express an interest in your work. (Amanda Stanley, a dear blogging friend, was that person for me when I was writing my first book. Appreciate her so much!)

Another of my greatest roadblocks was editing – not necessarily the actual act of doing it, but facing it. I wasn’t ready when I finished my first book. I didn’t want to hear the criticism (no matter how kindly given or how necessary), and I couldn’t see how much better the story could be when I incorporated the edits. However, when I finished Bleeding Heart and determined that I really wanted to publish it, I was at a much different place. I got the edits back from my editor, the talented and wonderful Elizabeth Ludwig, and I saw how the story could be improved, and I was eager to polish it so it would shine. I’ve certainly got plenty of growing left to do, but I think these sorts of attitudes only come from time, distance, and preparedness. Writing is a long journey, and it’s sometimes difficult to realize that when you’re first starting out.

Tell us about the featured book.
Bleeding Heart is a shorter inspirational historical romance novel (about 53,000 words). It’s a rather dark story about heartbreak, grief, revenge, and tragedy – but it is also one that explores healing, love, and hope. Here’s the description of the book:

Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.

Summer 1886

Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.

But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others – and hers isn’t the only heart that’s broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?

A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.

All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.

Sounds like a book I’d love to read. Please give us the first page of the book.
Virginia City, Nevada ~ Summer 1886
There was no way on God’s brown desert dirt that Sally Clay was going to marry Rufus O’Daniel.

As she hurried through town to the train station, Sally thought about how she was now in the same predicament she had been in three years ago, back when her whole world had broken into pieces as numerous as the sagebrush bushes on the hillsides. It didn’t matter that Rufus was one of the wealthiest men in the whole state of Nevada – a silver baron who knew when to stop mining, while others squandered their wealth away trying to make the earth give up more riches than it contained. She was through with men’s tricks. This time, she was going to be the one to leave.

As much as she hated Jacob Lawson for selling his business and leaving her jobless, she recognized a glimpse of freedom when she saw it – and perhaps a foretaste of sweet, sweet revenge. The details were still undetermined, but the man had it coming to him, and soon.

Over two weeks had passed since she had been booted from her room on D Street, in “Sporting Row.” She had spent most of her money, as well as some feminine persuasion toward the right man, staying at the hotel for that time. The quiet and the independence were far more of a luxury than the fancy furnishings and the modern conveniences. But Rufus wasn’t taking “no” the way she intended him to, and the desire to bolt had been building up inside of her for a long time. Now she was finally going to give in to the urge.

Spotting a familiar face in the line at the ticket counter once she arrived at the station, she rushed to his side. “Joe?” She touched his arm and put on her best desperate look. It wasn’t too much of a challenge at this moment.

Recognition was quickly followed by disgust in his dirt-brown eyes as he looked down on her. “Whaddya want, Sally?”

She countered his question with one of her own, leaning in ever so slightly as she had been taught. “Where ya headed?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of yer business.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?
I’m all over the place online! J Always love to make new friends!
Bleeding Heart website: www.bleedingheartnovel.blogspot.com

Thank you for this opportunity to share my story with your readers!


“Journey to the West” Giveaway! One U.S. resident (randomly drawn) will receive a signed copy of Bleeding Heart and a collection of items from the story’s settings, handpicked by the author. Click on this link to take you to the giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you, Amber, for sharing your new book and giveaway with my readers.

Readers, here is the link to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Bleeding Heart

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

Sunday, August 25, 2013

WINNERS

I have added a different buy widget on the blog, some in posts, and some in the right sidebar with my books. It's for Deeper Shopping, a Christian online store. Usually, their prices are lower than Amazon. Just giving you another option when you buy.

And some of you who left comments weren't included in the drawing, because you didn't follow the instructions correctly by telling us where you live, at least the state or area.

Bonton (KY) is the winner of The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher.
Elyssa (NY) is the winner of Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma.
Britney (TX) is the winner of Entrusted by Sherry Rommler.
Jean (FL) is the winner of The Path to Piney Meadows by Gail Sattler.
Valerie Comer (ND) is the winner of Raspberries and Vinegar by Valerie Comer.

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.

Friday, August 23, 2013

ON DISTANT SHORES - Sarah Sundin - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio:
Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter and the Wings of Glory series. In 2011, A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards, and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic), in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.


Tell us about your salvation experience.
Mine isn’t terribly dramatic. I was raised by a loving, church-attending family. When I was ten, we attended a concert by a church high school choir. Those kids glowed with the love of Jesus, and I wanted what they had. Suddenly all the Bible stories and verses made complete sense, and I prayed to accept Christ.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
Oh dear. I’m afraid I can’t pick. I’ve made so many dear friends in the writing community and I’m horrible at playing favorites.

Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I do. I speak to various church and community groups and for writers. Since I started by teaching women’s Bible studies, I love to help women overcome fear, shame, pride—whatever holds them back from loving and serving God completely. For community groups, I present on historical topics, such as “Lessons from the 1940s Woman.” There’s a list of speaking topics on my blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com/p/speaking.html

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
So, so many to choose from. This contributes to my insomnia. One of my “favorites” occurred when I was a pharmacy resident. Since the hospital I was serving at closed during my residency (earthquake standards), the six of us residents were farmed out to hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, but we met once a week and shared what we were learning. One pharmacy I worked at had an incredibly antiquated system, and I railed about it at one of these meetings. I was on a roll, getting lots of laughs, but the pharmacy director and his assistant were just giving me these odd smiles. When I finally ran out of steam, the assistant director asked me, “Sarah, who do you think started that program?” It was my boss. He’d started that program about fifteen years earlier. All the systems I’d mocked—he’d designed. Oy. I actually stood up and walked to the corner of the room. He was so gracious though! He used that as a teaching point—the same systems that were revolutionary fifteen years earlier had become antiquated because the current management refused to change. I was off the hook, but I learned several valuable lessons.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
I always tell them the same thing: “Write it.” My grandmother was an amazingly eloquent woman and a gifted writer. She always said she should write a book. She never did. I didn’t want to get to the end of my life and say, “I should have written a book.” Write it. Good or bad, write it. Then you’ll have no regrets.

Tell us about the featured book.
On Distant Shores is the second book in the Wings of the Nightingale series, which follows three World War II flight nurses in the Mediterranean area, but the book stands alone. Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie’s cozy life gets more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson. Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they’ve made?

Please give us the first page of the book.
Chapter 1
Over French Morocco
July 7, 1943

If only the plane would keep flying over the Atlantic and straight back to Virginia where Georgie belonged.

Flight nurse Lt. Georgiana Taylor spun her gaze from the khaki landscape below to the interior of the C-47 cargo plane. More khaki. And olive drab. And aluminum.

Six canvas litters suspended on aluminum racks. Twelve canvas seats. Eighteen patients in khaki and olive drab. This plane needed a little magenta or tangerine or violet.

Georgie strolled to the front of the plane. She might be the only color in the lives of these poor wounded soldiers, so she’d shine as brightly as possible.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I hope you’re enjoying your flight.” She looked into each patient’s face long enough to make him feel cared for, but not long enough to give him the wrong idea about her. “We’ll land in Casablanca in an hour. Sergeant Jacoby and I will make one last round. If y’all need anything, please let us know.”

A corporal raised his hand and a mischievous smile. “I need Ingrid Bergman to meet me at the airport in Casablanca and kiss me hello like she kissed Bogart good-bye.”

The men hooted and hollered.

Georgie cocked her head. “Sorry, honey. She’s off fighting Nazis with her husband, remember?”

The corporal flapped a hand at her. “Ah, you’re spoiling my fun.”

“All in a day’s work.”

I like the humorous tone of this page. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I love to connect with readers! You can find me at…
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin

Sarah Sundin is celebrating the release of her latest novel, On Distant Shores, with a Romantic Weekend Getaway giveaway!


On-Distant-Shores-rafflecopter

  One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A $200 Visa Cash Card (good for a perfect couple's getaway)
  • With Every Letter and On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 2nd. Winner will be announced September 3rd at the "On Distant Shores" Author Chat Party on Facebook. During the party Sarah will be hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills, announcing the winner of the Weekend Getaway, and giving away a ton of books, gift certificates, and more. Oh, and she'll also be giving party goers an exclusive look at the next book in the Wings of the Nightingale series.

So grab your copy of On Distant Shores and join Sarah on the evening of September 3rd 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. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 3rd!

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this new book and giveaway with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
On Distant Shores - Christianbook.com
On Distant Shores: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) - Amazon.com
On Distant Shores (Wings of the Nightingale Book #2): 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