Dear readers, I read
this delightful book as soon as it arrived. Even though it is a novella
collection, it read as seamlessly as one book, just changing the hero and
heroine from story to story. I loved that continuity almost as much as I loved
the characters. Understanding how the Civil War affected the lives of each
person, brought history to life. And I love history. As always with Mona’s
novels, her skillful writing drew me into the center of the story and kept me
there until the last page. I wasn’t ready for my time with these characters to
end.
Hi, Lena . What fun to join
you here. Hello, Everyone!
Welcome back, Mona. Tell
us about your salvation experience.
I was seven years old when I attended Vacation
Bible School
at Trinity Baptist
Church in Indio , California .
During the Bible story time one morning, Mrs. Bacon spoke about sin, our
separation from God, Jesus’ deity and sinless nature, Jesus’ death on the
cross, His resurrection, and our forgiveness through belief in Him. That sunny
June day in Southern California , I prayed,
asking Jesus to forgive me and be my Savior.
I grew up in a Christian home with parents who were active
in church and Child Evangelism Fellowship. At age 14, a freshman in high
school, I attended a large Wednesday night youth group at Grace
Baptist Church
in Riverside , California . On one of those Wednesday
nights, I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit to grow in a faith that was
more “my own;” to go deeper in relationship, rather than to let religion shape
my faith and walk.
You’re planning a
writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be
and why?
Only four? Okay. Lauraine Snelling, Carol Cox, Carrie
Turansky, Joanne Bischof because they all
write Historical Romance that I love reading. They all love the Lord. They each
enjoy a good laugh, and each one has tremendous heart.
Do you have a
speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I do have a speaking ministry, and I especially enjoy
speaking at Christian women's retreats.
I'm over-the-top excited about my newest book release, The Quilted Heart,
because the title first belonged to my most popular retreat talk series by the
same name. A quilted heart is a transformed heart—a heart transformed by God’s
grace, Jesus’ blood shed for us, and the Holy Spirit’s renewal. Just as
quilters repurpose scraps of cloth and create beautiful quilts, God pieces
together the remnants in our lives that we would readily reject as shameful mistakes
and tragic circumstances to make you and I a new creation. Beautiful. You can learn more about The Quilted
Heart Retreat at http://monahodgson.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-Quilted-Heart-Retreat-Series-Flyer.pdf
.
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?
Recognize and remember that writing for publication is a
process and a journey. Expect delays, and detours. Enjoy the adventure! Make
the most of writers’ conferences, critiques by published writers, and writers’
market guides and publishers’ Submission Guidelines.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Tattered relationships and broken hearts, like a quilt, can
be pieced together by God's love.
Once a week, Elsa Brantenberg hosts the Saint Charles Quilting Circle at her farmhouse
on the outskirts of the riverside town of St. Charles ,
Missouri . The
ladies who gather there have all lost men to the Civil War, and are facing
their painful circumstances together in friendship and prayer. Can the tattered
pieces of their hearts be stitched together by God's grace?
Women, especially, long for community and tend to engage
social, emotional, and spiritual families. The means for making that connection
may vary and change from place to place and time period to time period and
generation to generation ... shade trees, front porches, quilting circles,
Facebook groups, blogs, but we want to fit in and find a place of belonging.
From a young age, we search for our social home.
In The Quilted Heart omnibus, the quilting
circle provide that connection point for the female characters. In Dandelion on the Wind, the first of the
three novellas, Mrs. Brantenberg had this to say to a new member, “Here in this
quilting circle, none of us are alone. Not in our sorrows, nor in our
triumphs.”
I'd love for you to meet Elsa, Maren, Emilie, Caroline, and
the other inspiring women in The Quilted Heart novellas.
Dandelions on the Wind
When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’sSt. Charles , Missouri
farm, she never expected to call the
place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter,
Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a
beloved member of the Brantenberg household. But when Gabi’s father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm
unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren, and she feels compelled to find
another job. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan?
Bending Toward the Sun
Dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, Emilie Heinrich is convinced she doesn't have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns toSt.
Charles , Missouri ,
after serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm captures Emilie’s eye and
her heart. Will she be forced to choose between honoring her father and a
future with a husband and family of her own?
Ripples Along the Shore
Change is brewing inSt. Charles .
A group of brave souls are preparing to head west on the Boone's Lick Wagon
Train, led by the mysterious and handsome Garrett Cowlishaw, who served as a Confederate
soldier in the war that killed Caroline’s husband. Despite her dislike for him,
Caroline is tempted to join the wagon train and start fresh somewhere new, but
when Mr. Cowlishaw forbids her a single woman to travel with them, will one man’s
prejudice destroy Caroline’s hope for a new future? Or will the ripples of
God’s love bring the answer she needs?
When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s
Bending Toward the Sun
Dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, Emilie Heinrich is convinced she doesn't have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns to
Ripples Along the Shore
Change is brewing in
I’ve read the book,
but please give us the first page for my blog readers.
Never mind that four months had passed since General Lee’s
surrender. Maren never walked the apple orchard or the wheat field without
careful watch for bushwhackers and jayhawkers. Four-year-old Gabi held tight to
Maren’s hand while they followed Gabi’s grandmother to the field. When Mrs.
Brantenberg’s walking stick sprung a branch in her path, the child’s gaze
darted up the lane toward the orchard then back to the farmhouse and across the
hillock to the five acres of wheat.
“Are they
coming again, Miss Maren.” Dread strained Gabi’s voice.
Maren drew
in a deep breath in the hopes it would remove any tension from her own voice.
“The war is over, little one.” We should be safe. “God is with us. Like Oma
said, ‘Fear is not of the Lord. We cannot live in fear. We must trust God.’”
Gabi gave a
quick nod, then began swinging Maren’s hand at her side.
Fear is not
of the Lord. We cannot live in fear. We must trust God.
Maren
willed her shoulders to relax into the child’s playful arm swinging. Still,
she’d heard too many stories about raiders from the women in the quilting
circle to let down her guard. To believe the fighting would ever end. The
memories of the Union jayhawkers traipsing through the orchard picking apples
and taking the steer from the pastures remained fresh in her mind too. She
glanced toward the cabin in the far corner of the property, past the orchard.
Now empty. She’d only heard about the Confederate bushwhackers who had raided
the farm last year, but little Gabi remembered.
Maren
fanned the side of her bonnet against her ear to cool the onslaught of hot
August air. Thankfully, she saw no sign of trespassers today. And if any
outlaws did show their faces, Mrs. Brantenberg had her stick ready with a stack
of sorrows backing it up.
Mrs.
Brantenberg stopped at the edge of the field. This close, Maren could see that
two women didn’t do as even a job of planting as she and her father had in the
old country.
Gabi
stepped up to the three-foot-high lawn, giggling. “They have whiskers like the
cats do.” Her hands brushed the tips of the wheat stalks.
Bent, the
widow plucked one head and rolled the grains between her fingers.
Maren did
the same on the thinner area, where the stalks didn’t reach as high. The grain
was soft and green inside. She didn’t need to taste it to know it’d be bitter.
“Still a ways to go here.”
When a
covey of bobwhites exploded from within the crop, Gabi cried out and fell to
the ground.
Maren bent
over the child. “Just thieving fly-by-nights. They learned their lesson, didn’t
they?”
Gabi
nodded. “They scared me.”
“Didn’t do
my heart any good either.” Mrs. Brantenberg patted her chest. Then, smiling,
she pressed the tip of her stick to the ground. “The wheat on the north end
turned golden first. It’s more likely to be ready in just a few more days.”
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
www.monahodgson.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Mona?ref=hl
http://www.pinterest.com/monahodgson/
https://twitter.com/MonaHodgson
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Mona?ref=hl
http://www.pinterest.com/monahodgson/
https://twitter.com/MonaHodgson
Click here to order your paperback or eBook copy of The
Quilted Heart. (http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=220625)
Thanks so much, Lena , for
this opportunity to connect with your followers. Blessings and Happy Reading to
you all!
I thoroughly enjoyed spending this time with you, Mona.
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.
31 comments:
Thrilled to see Mona here. She is a fantastic lady with a fantastic book.
Melanie Backus, TX
I always like to check out sites that have comments with Mona, she is a good writer and has a caring heart. I love to read her stories. have not read the quilted Heart yet and it sounds like a wonderful story. thanks for sharing your comments today with Lena.
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
a reader and fan in Ga
I have been looking for this book, Lena. Great interview! Thanks for the chance to win
Marianne
Arizona
Lena, I was blessed seeing Mona featured on today's post.
Her books always inspire me when I read them. I love her characters and story lines. I always wish I had friends in my life like the ones featured in the excerpts from A Quilted Heart or that I could be like that for someone else.
The Civil war time period is one of my favorites to read.
I have not read this book yet but it is high on my reading list
Thank you from Ohio
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
I love a good novella anthology! Looking forward to reading this one! Thanks for sharing your interview!
Heidi, CA
Sounds like a great read!
Jean K
West Palm Beach, FL
I think I'll really like this book with the Civil War Widows getting together to quilt and 'fellowship' and encourage one another. Love to win your book.
sharon, CA
wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi, Melanie! Good to see you here. Thanks so much for the kind words. So glad you're enjoying my books. Hugs, Mona
Hi, Paula. Thanks for joining us here, and for your kind words. Happy Reading! Mona
Hi, Marianne. I so appreciate your interest in The Quilted Heart. Blessings, and Happy Reading! Mona
Jackie, how sweet you are! Good to see you here. I appreciate your interest in my books. Blessings to you! Mona
Hi Sharon! Thanks for joining us here. I really appreciate your interest in The Quilted Heart. Happy Reading! Mona
Hello, Heidi! I appreciate your interest in my books. Blessings to you, and Happy Reading! Mona
Hello, Jean. Thanks for joining us here. I'm glad you enjoyed the post, and I appreciate your interest in my book. Mona
I'm looking forward to a fabulous read.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
This looks like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Susan
Texas
Hi Mary! Good to see you here. Thanks so much for your interest in The Quilted Heart. Blessings! Mona
Susan, thanks for joining us here. I appreciate your interest in my Historical Fiction. Happy Reading! Mona
Thank you for the wonderful interview! I would love to read this, as I very much appreciate historical fiction. Favorite periods are Civil War and rest of 19th century. Blessings & peace to both of you! I live in Phoenix -
the quilted Heart sounds wonderful.Please enter me in contest. Thank you for the opportunity to win.Have a wonderful weekend.PA.
The Quilted Heart sounds like a wonderful book! I just love the cover too!
I loved Mona's salvation experience. I always enjoy how author's came to Christ.
Blessings!
Judy B from Indiana
I go to a quilting group each Wednesday and expect I would really enjoy this book.
Doreen
priviesandprims[at]yahoo[dot]com
I enjoy hearing the salvation testimonies of authors! I like when that question is added in your interviews!
I'd love to attend the same retreat with Lauraine and Joanne! Enjoy both of their books very much!
The Quilted Heart sounds great! I read and enjoyed Too Rich for a Bride and have the others on my WL)!
Stephanie
Binghamton, NY
mybabyblessings AT gmail DOT com
Love reading Mona Hodgson..thanks
Tattered hearts and broken dreams for The Quilted Heart! Love to cozy up and find out how it was done. Want to win. sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Another chance to win one of Mona's books. So exciting!
Sounds like a great book!
Sydney Harries GA
I've love to win this book thanks for the chance.
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Sounds like a book that needs to be read - by ME!
Susan in NC
susanlulu@yahoo.com
I love reading historical fiction and would love to read Mona's book. She is a new author to me.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY
Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond Bryant
Conway,SC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com
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