Tuesday, January 21, 2014

SHADOWED BY GRACE - Cara C Putman - One Free Book, Plus Much More

Readers, I'm reading Shadowed by Grace right now. Actually, I don't usually like reading war stories, but Cara grabbed me on the very first page, and I'm having a hard time putting this book down. I'm very interested in this part of history--the Monuments Men, who help save much of the art objects that the German army hadn't destroyed. And I fell in love with the characters from page one--their history and the things they were striving for. And there are plenty of plot twists and turns to keep you turning pages. You won't want to miss this read.

Bio: Cara C. Putman graduated from high school at 16, college at 20, and completed her law degree at 27. The best-selling author of more than a dozen books, Cara is active in women’s ministry at her church, teaches graduate courses at Purdue University, practices law, and is a homeschooling mom. She lives with her husband and 4 children in Indiana.

Welcome back, Cara. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?
The first contributor would be someone who doesn’t realize it: Robert Edsel wrote a nonfiction book Monuments Men. When I discovered that book and this part of WWII history, Shadowed by Grace’s characters began to play in my mind. My agent Karen Solem was supportive of the idea, and Julie Gwinn was my acquiring editor. She has been 100% supportive from the beginning and continues to shoot me ideas since. Tricia Goyer, Colleen Coble, and Jenny Jones helped me brainstorm different aspects. And now Jeane Wynn, David Schroeder, and Amy Lathrop have been a huge help with the marketing.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?
Most of my teaching right now is in graduate business law classes.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?
I might return to Washington, D.C. My husband and I lived there for the early years of our marriage. It’s an exciting city, laced with history and politics. If the traffic weren’t so bad and housing so expensive, I’d love to go back…

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?
Study the craft. You can do that through reading well-written novels, how to write books, and attending conference’s like ACFW’s national conference.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])
I would invite Beth Moore to lead Bible studies. I’m always refreshed and challenged by her. If she’s not available, I’d invite Jennifer Rothschild, Liz Curtis Higgs, or Robin Jones Gunn to introduce to new aspects of our faith. And then for worship, I’d invite Francesca Battistelli and Natalie Grant. It would be a fun girls’ escape with them included.

I’d book a place on that cruise right away. Tell us about the featured book.
Rachel Justice is desperate to save her dying mother. She doesn’t want to leave her, but she accepts her newspaper’s assignment to travel to Italy and photograph war images. No one knows her photography is a cover and that Rachel is really seeking to find the father she never knew, hopeful to get some help with her failing mother. Dedicated to her mission, Rachel is focused on completing it. Soon, though, she finds her priorities and plans changing when she is assigned to Lt. Scott Lindstrom, on mission as a Monument Man. Their meeting will have far-reaching consequences. Will this derail her plans? Will she ever find her father? Is her faith enough to carry her through?

Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 1944

“YOU HAVE ONE CHANCE to make this fly.” Bobby Hamilton leaned across his broad desk and stared her down. “I had to pull more strings than I knew I had to get the brass to bite on sending a woman to Italy. Who sends a woman to a war-torn country? Getting credentials? What a mess.” The man waved his beefy hands down in a dismissive gesture. “Then getting you on the Queen Mary?” He chomped hard on his cigar.

Rachel perched on the chair in his crowded office as the Andrews Sisters belted out “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” on the small Kadette radio sitting atop a stack of papers on Bobby’s overloaded credenza. She kept her back so straight her men’s-style
tailored blazer pulled her shoulders back.

She didn’t blink, couldn’t give a single sign of weakness. Her editor may have taken all those steps, but she’d had to convince him first, all while watching her mother waste away day by day.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Justice.”

“I do.” She put as much force behind the word as she could without shouting.

Where can we find you on the Internet?
You can connect with Cara online at:
Her website: www.caraputman.com


Cara Putman is celebrating her latest historical suspense novel, Shadowed by Grace with a fun "Past & Present" giveaway! 

shadowed-400

One winner will receive:
  • A Polaroid Instant Camera
  • A beautiful antique AFGRA camera (learn more here)
  • Movie passes to see The Monuments Men movie (with George Clooney and Matt Damon)
  • Shadowed By Grace by Cara Putman
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. Winner will be announced February 10th on Cara's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Cara's blog on the 10th to see if you won.

Thank you, Cara, for sharing this new book, and this part of history, with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Shadowed by Grace - Christianbook.com
Shadowed by Grace: A Story of Monuments Men - Amazon
Shadowed by Grace: A Story of Monuments Men - 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

22 comments:

Britney Adams said...

Lena, I love knowing that you are having a hard time putting this book down! It sounds like such a fantastic story and I would love to win a copy! I enjoyed Cara's interview and thank you so much for the opportunity to win a copy of SHADOWED BY GRACE.

Britney Adams, TX

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond Bryant
Conway,SC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com

Amy C said...

I really really want to read this one! Thanks for the great post with Cara!
Amy C
VA

Charlotte Kay said...

A book you can't put down?
That's my kind of book!!!!!

Charlotte Kay, Ohio

Cara Putman said...

Lena, Thanks so much for hosting me today. So glad to hear you're enjoying the book. It's pretty special to me!

kam110476 said...

I just finished reading Shadowed by Grace right before New Year's Eve and loved it! My mom is reading it now and I'm wicked excited to go see Monuments Men when it comes out in 3 weeks!

Kristen, Oklahoma
kam110476 (at) gmail (dot) com

Melanie Backus said...

Lena, thank you so much for the opportunity to win this book. I would love it! Great authors write great books!

Melanie Backus, TX

Anonymous said...

would love to win. Angela in KY

Mary Preston said...

SHADOWED BY GRACE sounds like just my kind of read. Wonderful!!

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Unknown said...

Lena, Nice post about Cara. She is a very talented writer, Enjoy her books.
Thank you
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
ohio

Patty said...

I'm really looking forward to reading this book! I have another of Cara's in my TBR stack...

Patty in SC

Anonymous said...

This book sounds really interesting. I've never read anything about Monuments Men before.
J.C. -Indiana-

Pam K. said...

I'm interested in learning more about the work of the Monuments Men. Reading Christian fiction is one of my favorite ways to learn history, especially well researched books by authors like Cara. I would love to win a copy of Shadowed by Grace.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Kansas

sm said...

Such an interesting book about a lady looking for her father and posing as a photographer. Love to read and win this book.
wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
California

Susan P said...

I would love to go on that cruise if you were in charge of all that! :) I love the story behind the Monuments Men. Thanks for sharing.
lattebooks at hotmail dot com
MI

Jean said...

Thanks for this wonderful opportunity!

Jean K
West Palm Bch., FL

Jasmine A. said...

This is one book that I have been really wanting to read. I have heard nothing but praise for it. I love historical fiction but haven't really read much for WWII era stories and I think this book would be a good one to remedy that with.

Blessings!
Jasmine A. in Montana

Cyndi said...

Great interview! I, too, would love to go on that cruise! I've been hearing great things about this book... it's high on the TBR list!

Cyndi in AL

Lourdes said...

Great interview I for one am really looking forward to reading this book.

Lourdes Long Island NY

Merry said...

Shadowed By Grace sounds so interesting, I love the emphasis on the monument men. Thanks for a chance to win it!
Merry in MN

rubynreba said...

Cara Putman is one of my favorite authors. Great interview!
Beth from Iowa

Unknown said...

Than you for the interview with Cara. I want to read this book.
Tonja in VA