SOVEREIGN GROUND - Hilarey Johnson - One Free Ebook

Readers, here’s another author who is new to this blog. 

Welcome, Hilarey. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Of course I try to tap into my own fears and dreams when I write. But it is more like acting than pouring myself into a character. I focus on how I would feel and react if I had the character’s belief system and experiences—attempting empathy over self expression.  

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I grew up in the mountains of northern California. My car keyhole occasionally froze. A couple of times I took a glass of warm tap water to defrost it, but once decided I could spit into it to save time. As soon as I pressed my lips to the frozen door, they stuck. I heard my dad coming up the drive so I tried to add more moisture and my tongue stuck too. In order to “save face” I had to sacrifice my mouth and rip free.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wasn’t born with a pen in my hand like most writers. But I always did love the feeling of sharing a story, recreating an event in detail, or telling a joke. Of course I wrote a little of the typical teenage-angst-poetry in high school. It wasn’t until I was a new mom that I had lots of time to read and daydream when a story idea started to form in my head.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Fantasy, Young Adult, and women’s fiction. I find that I enjoy other genres as well, but I typically return to those most consistently.  

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I wake up before the rest of the house and spend about 30-60 minutes drinking my coffee and reading a devotion, the Bible, or praying. The silence is worth more than sleep. But if someone else gets up, I try not to feel inconvenienced because relationships are made of the unplanned moments as much as the scheduled ones.  

That is so true. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I keep lists of unique names and write them as I spot them or hear them. Sometimes I search online if I need one from a certain origin or time period.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I want to say my three children and marriage. But family isn’t really an accomplishment, more an ongoing effort. Also, I’m afraid to take pride in them because I know it’s only by God’s grace that I have been married 20 years or my kids will even talk to me. So I will say my ability to use a map.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A giant squid. They are just as dangerous as giant octopi but don’t look like the evil mad scientists of the sea. Giant squids are sweet and look like they wear a gnome hat. I would like to be cute—but a formidable fighter.   

What is your favorite food?

Can I say Asian so it encompasses everything from lumpia and miso soup to green coconut curry? Generally, I love anything fresh and spicy with lots of color and veggies. I prefer the tropical versions the most, like Thai.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Writing something I initially didn’t want to explore. I tried to set everything aside: my fears, preconceptions, even what I thought I wanted as a goal for the book, and I kept saying “just write a story.”

Tell us about the featured book.

Sovereign Ground follows a 17-year-old, Native American girl through her experience as an exotic dancer. Like many of the girls in our culture, she accepts that she can achieve power in her life through her sexuality. Her aunt has told her that she is cursed and a spirit follows her. One night someone is stabbed in her club. She’s rescued by a Christian police officer who tells her the murder victim was an undercover cop.

So on one hand, it is a romantic suspense with a supernatural elements. On another level, it is a picture of the false power sexuality offers and true freedom available through the kind of love that lays down one’s life for another.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Last night I dreamed about dancing. The images become more vivid with each slicing step. I twirled on a Heidi mountain, breathing in sunshine. That was last night—currently I freeze and watch drivers to see if anyone makes eye contact. They don’t.

A blister grates my heel as though a shard of glass is wedged in my sneakers. It makes the weight of my book bag pull at my shoulder—the Hans Christian Anderson collection is a heftier volume than my normal library loan. I no longer count to make sure two steps fit in each sidewalk square. Just like the fabled Little Mermaid, I suffer with each step. It would figure that the prince loved to watch her, ignorant of her torment. Doesn’t it also figure she would dance for him in pain?

I don’t think I’ll finish the story.

An image of a real-life Barbie, stretched across a billboard, advertises a casino downtown. The billboard must work. Cars speed past, drivers desperate to leave this corner of Reno lined by single-story motels, pawnshops, and the promise of quick loans…

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website/Blog -- http://hilarey.com/

Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hilarey-Johnson/214879415388747

Goodreads -- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8182303.Hilarey_Johnson

Twitter -- https://twitter.com/HilareyJohnson

Amazon -- http://www.amazon.com/Hilarey-Johnson/e/B00K0LJOQK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

YouTube -- http://youtu.be/B8XWSF9mIlo

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

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Sovereign Ground (Breaking Bonds Book 1)

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

YANKEE IN ATLANTA - Jocelyn Green

Welcome back, Jocelyn. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Oh my, has He ever! Right now I’m finishing up the manuscript for the tenth book in five years, and I’m nearly gasping for breath. This is the first time in several years that I don’t have another deadline looming. I’m looking forward to a bit of a break from writing to spend time with my family and to re-evaluate where I should invest my writing energies in the future. I’ve done six nonfiction and four novels (the fourth is coming March 2015), and I can honestly say I love both genres, but for very different reasons. I’m not ready to give up either one of them.

I want to schedule that book on my blog, too. Tell us a little about your family.
I’m married to the most supportive husband a writer mama could ever ask for. J Rob is the Web developer for the University of Northern Iowa library (starting August 11!) and is also in grad school for a master’s in Instructional Technology. Our 8-year-old daughter loves to read, ride her bike, write stories, and play violin. Our 5-year-old son loves anything with wheels on it and is more athletic than my husband and I combined. I home school the kids, and we are looking forward to a great school year ahead!

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Yes. I read a wider variety of genres and authors now, looking for new and different ways to tell stories. It also broadens my vocabulary! I underline and scribble in the margins of whatever I’m reading, normally in appreciation for a shining passage. If I’m reading on Kindle, I’ll highlight whatever strikes me. I also read more with a view to get a better grasp on human psychology and character motivations. I’m very blessed that reading good books is professional development for my career as a writer.

I love that part of writing as well. What are you working on right now?
Right now I’m writing the final chapter of Spy of Richmond! It’s the fourth and final book in my Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series, and will release in March.

What outside interests do you have?
I enjoy gardening, baking, knitting, and scrapbooking, although I haven’t had much time to do those things these last few years. Maybe after Spy is turned in! But as a home schooling mom, I’m also very invested in my kids’ education. I’m excited to teach a history class to girls this fall through our home school co-op, and I’m also on the board of a new troop of American Heritage Girls we’re starting in our area.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
With my Civil War series, I chose the roles women played during the war first, and the settings fell into place. Wedded to War was about the first band of trained professional nurses, so that took place in New York City and Washington. I wanted to also show how civilian women were affected by battles close to home, so Gettysburg was a great setting for book 2. Yankee in Atlanta combines two different roles—that of the female soldier, and the secret Unionist in Atlanta. I chose Richmond for the setting of Spy of Richmond because the most famous spy for the Union lived there on Church Hill. My heroine, Sophie Kent, works in that spy network.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Abigail Adams. She was such a strong woman, and influenced her husband and thereby the country during an extremely tumultuous time, while mothering her children.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
That it would require far, far more time and energy than any nonfiction book I’ve ever worked on!

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
Yesterday I told someone that I really hate conflict, and I feel awful when I have to do something really mean to my characters. Sometimes I even feel physically ill, and once I cried. “But,” I explained, “the characters would have no need to rely on God if their lives were easy. Or they need the trials to refine their character and strengthen their faith.” After that conversation, I realized how much this sounds like God. He never throws disaster at us just for fun, and I believe He weeps when we weep. But He doesn’t waste the valleys. The pain is for a purpose. He knows the end of our story, and He is faithful to take us through the steps to get us there.

That is so true. I spoke on that at the North Texas Indie Christian Authors meeting this weekend. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Read, read, read. Work on your craft even when you’re not in the mood. Find creative ways to market—and one way to do this is by joining associations that foster cooperative efforts.

Tell us about the featured book.

In Yankee in Atlanta, Caitlin McKae hides from her past to find a future—and lands on enemy soil. When Caitlin wakes up in Atlanta after being wounded in battle, the Georgian doctor who treats her believes Caitlin’s only secret is that she had been fighting for the South disguised as a man. In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta as a governess for the daughter of Noah Becker—on the brink of his enlistment with the Rebel army. Though starvation rules, and Sherman rages, she will not run again. In a land shattered by strife and suffering, a Union veteran and a Rebel soldier test the limits of loyalty and discover the courage to survive.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Saturday, May 31, 1862

The Virginia Peninsula

Not now. Please, not now. Rebel bullets ripped through the sulfurous fog hovering above Caitlin McKae’s head. Her middle cramping violently, she prayed her anguished bowels would not betray her. Not now.

“Don’t let them take my leg, please! I’d rather die on the field!”

“We’re getting you out of here, Marty!” Caitlin fairly shouted as she and the other three stretcher bearers carried the wounded soldier a quarter mile to the rear. Sweat poured from beneath her kepi and itched across her tightly bound torso. River water from the rain-swollen Chickahominy soaked through her brogans, and she faltered more than once in the red clay quagmire.

Head pounding like a fusillade, Cailtin slogged back through the mud to pluck more wounded comrades from the spongy earth. She scrambled after the other stretcher bearers and wondered how long this desperate battle for Richmond had lasted so far. Had an hour passed? Two hours? Three? Suddenly spent, Caitlin doubled over, gripping her knees. Her stomach heaved, though it had no contents to vacate.

But her body wasn’t through. Her insides churning, Caitlin was left with no choice but to break away to the furthest pine tree she could make it to and find relief in relative privacy behind its trunk.

Before she could reach it, a lead ball tore through her arm. The twisting pain in her middle paled as fire blazed through her right bicep. The bullet had ripped completely through.

As she dropped to her knees, Caitlin’s thundering pulse dimmed the sounds of battle. With fumbling fingers, she unbuttoned her jacket with her left hand, wriggled free of it, and wrapped it around her bloody shirtsleeve. I could go back. I can still hold the stretcher with my left hand. But she couldn’t. Strength sapped from her body, her limbs felt as though they’d been filled with lead.

Flat on her back now, Caitlin tried to steady her breathing. The sky is still blue, she told herself. Somewhere, far above me, where bullets cannot reach and cries cannot be heard, the sky is still blue. The haze of gunsmoke thinned, and she caught a glimpse of Professor Lowe’s balloon Intrepid hovering in the sky, with Lowe inside, reporting Confederate troop movements to General McClellan. Her eyelids drifted closed and she imagined herself there. But if I were, I would cut the lines tethering it to the ground and sail away, far away from war and disease and death. If only it weren’t for Jack. Her thoughts trailed away, into a blank expanse as welcoming as the sky.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.jocelyngreen.com

www.heroinesbehindthelines.com

www.facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor

www.pinterest.com/jocelyngreen77

Thank you, Jocelyn, for sharing this new book with us. I will start reading it today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Yankee in Atlanta - Christianbook.com
Yankee in Atlanta (Heroines Behind the Lines) - Amazon
Yankee in Atlanta (Heroines Behind the Lines) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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:
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SEAGRASS PIER - Colleen Coble - One Free Book

Bio: Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Welcome back, Colleen. How did this book come about?

I have a friend who had an organ transplant, and I noticed some small personality changes. I did some research and saw that the cell memory is a known phenomenon. It’s especially strong with heart transplants. It’s a fascinating topic, and I wanted to explore it.

Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique.

It’s very atmospheric with great light and shadow contrasts.

Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book.

The story is fiction of course, but I did a lot of research about cell memory so I knew what I was talking about.

How much research did you have to do for this book?

I read a lot of accounts written by organ recipients and was fascinated by the stories. One teenage girl received a heart by a boy who loved music. Her music tastes changed, and when she met his parents, she was able to finish the lyrics of a song he wrote even though she’d never heard it. Fascinating stuff!

What are some of the most interesting things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story?

I tried to use all the good stuff. J

What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book?

I’m always surprised when I’m writing a book because it takes twists and turns I never planned. I can’t say what those things were without giving away the story! J

What do you hope the reader takes away from the story?

Some things like what kind of music we like and what clothes we wear are not who we are. How we treat people, who we are in Jesus, and how we live our lives are the things that make us who we are.

That’s so true. What is the next project you’re working on?

I’m working on a new series set in Maine. The first book is The Inn at Ocean’s Edge.

What do you do when you have to get away from the story for a while?

I never have to get away from the story for a while. I’m always obsessed when I’m in the middle of a book. It’s hard to stop long enough to go to sleep. LOL

Please give us the first page of the book.

The constriction around her neck tightened, and she tried to get her fingers under it to snatch a breath. She was losing consciousness. A large wave came over the bow of the boat, and the sea spray struck her in the face, reviving her struggle. She had to fight or he would kill her. She could smell his cologne, something spicy and strong. His ring flashed in the moonlight, and she dug the fingers of her right hand into his red sweater. The pressure on her neck was unrelenting. She was going to die.

Elin Summerall bolted upright in the bed. Her heart pounded, and she touched her throat and found it smooth and unharmed. It was just that dream again. She was safe, right here in her own house on the outskirts of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her slick skin glistened in the moonlight streaming through the window.

The incision over her breastbone pulsed with pain, and she grabbed some pills from the bedside and swallowed them. In and out. Concentrating on breathing helped ease both her pain and her panic. She pulled in a breath, sweetly laden with the scent of roses blooming outside her window, then laid back against the pillow.

Her eyes drifted shut, then opened when she heard the tinkle of broken glass. Was it still the dream? Then the cool rush of air from the open window struck her face, and she heard a foot crunch on broken glass.

She leaped from the bed and threw open her door. Her heart pounded in her throat. Was an intruder in the house? In her bare feet, she sidled down the hall toward the sound she’d heard. She paused to peek in on her four-year-old daughter. One arm grasping a stuffed bear, Josie lay in a tangle of princess blankets.

Elin relaxed a bit. Maybe she hadn’t heard glass break. It might still have been part of the nightmare. She peered around the hall corner toward the kitchen. A faint light glimmered as if the refrigerator stood open. A cool breeze wafted from the kitchen, and she detected the scent of dew. She was sure she’d shut and locked the window. The hair stood on the back of her neck, and she backed away.

Don’t stop there, Colleen. I must know what happens. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is colleencoble.com, and I’m always on Facebook at colleencoblebooks.

Thank you for introducing us to your newest book. I can hardly wait to read it.

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

Seagrass Pier - Christianbook.com
Seagrass Pier (The Hope Beach Series) - Amazon
Seagrass Pier (The Hope Beach Series Book 3) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

MERCY'S FIGHT - T L Gray - One Free Ebook

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

As a pastor’s wife, I’ve seen more masks than I care to count and behind each one is a story. Usually a story of heartbreak, struggle, failure, and victory. In Christian circles, we tend to only show people our shiny parts, not the ugly, rusted sin that mars all of us.

My characters epitomize the word flawed which is probably why we can all relate to them. Nothing is more beautiful than when we see a person expose all their challenges and mistakes, and then watch what amazing things God can do with each one of them.

I consider myself a crossover writer, filling the huge gap between mainstream and Christian romance. I write coming of age books, exploring deep subjects and struggles in every book, yet keeping the content clean enough to pass on to your teenage daughter.

There will also always be an inspirational message in my books because I believe God is at the center of any true healing.

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

Oh wow. There’ve been so many. Two of my three kids have been baptized. Those two events are equally the happiest.

How has being published changed your life?

I can’t say being published has changed my life much. I self-published my first three books and truly enjoyed the process. My forth book is being traditionally published, and I’ve enjoyed the process as well. They both have their pro and cons. Mostly, I love writing and thanks to the Internet and eBooks, I get to make my passion a career.

What are you reading right now?

I’ve had several author friends recently publish books, so I have been reading theirs. Of the Persecuted by Angie Brashear in the next one on my list to read.

What is your current work in progress?

I am working on Book 2 in the Set Apart series. Like my other series, all books are stand-alone, full-length novels, but carry the same theme throughout.

Book 2 is about Cody James. He is one of the young men that Matt Holloway (Mercy’s Fight) trains, and he experienced severe bullying when he was a sophomore in high school. Book 2 starts at Cody’s senior year and addresses the horrific effects of physical and cyber bullying that is so relevant for our youth today. It also shows the challenges of peer pressure and how to use one’s influence to make a difference in people’s lives.

I’m about halfway finished with this manuscript, and I love the story. Even though my characters are younger than usual, 17 and 18, their lives and choices mirror so many of our own.

What would be your dream vacation?

I have always wanted to go to Greece. That is number one on my dream list.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My books are primarily driven by the characters and the message, so the setting is usually based around those two things. In Mercy’s Fight, the main setting is a Children’s Center in a rough neighborhood. Because Matt works with troubled youth and mentors them, I thought it was a perfect way to bring him and Grace together.

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

Francine Rivers. I think she is an amazing writer who has had an incredible journey in the publishing industry. I admire her willingness to tackle hard subjects in such a powerful way.

One of the highlights of my writing career was sitting at the same table with her at a Meet and Greet. She’s a delight to visit with. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I like to run (for pleasure, not exercise). I also like to play games with my kids or watch movies with the family. I’m pretty simple.

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

I think every writer wants to improve craft. My background is not literature or writing, so I’ve had to learn a great deal about book and sentence structure in a very short period of time. Mostly, I try to keep learning and growing as a writer, and with every book, I find more and more power in my voice.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

First, I would tell them to take a Margie Lawson class. Then I would tell them to join a writer’s critique group with people who will be constructive in their comments. I wrote my first two books in a vacuum, and while I had friends and family give comments and advice, my writing did not grow. During my third book, I started networking with other authors, and have grown exponentially since.

Tell us about the featured book.

My new series is called Set Apart and its purpose is to show how even though our pasts may shape us, it does not define us. Right away I knew Book 1 (Mercy’s Fight) would be about one of my favorite characters from my previous series, Matt Holloway.

Matt is a tatted-up, former bad boy, who is as Alpha male as they come. He’s strong, confident, and has a heart of gold. He came from an abusive home, got in trouble as a teen, and spent two years in juvie. Yet, he turned his life around and was devoted to helping others heal. His only fear is love. He is terrified that his past will destroy anyone who dares to love him.

Grace is just the opposite. She comes from a life of luxury, where she was adored by both of her parents. Raised in a Christian home, she had never really experienced heartbreak until her fiancé of four years cheats on her. Determined to find her way, Grace moves to North Carolina, but she is naïve and completely out of her element.

Matt and Grace come together through their mutual love for troubled children, and show that not only do opposites attract, but they can also bring the best out of each other. Matt shows Grace how to be a fighter and that’s good because she’s about to have the biggest fight of her life.

Please give us the first page of the book.

MATT

Disoriented, I blinked repeatedly, trying to get Bruce’s face to come into focus. His lips were moving, but no sound penetrated the haze. Attempting to push off the floor, I stopped as pain coursed through my elbow.

“Matt!” Muffled but audible, his voice drifted through the fog. Then my ears cleared with a pop.

“Can you hear me?” Bruce asked, his voice now sharp and clear even though his face still blurred in front of mine.

“Why am I on the floor?”

Bruce let out a relieved sigh and then helped me up and into one of the club chairs he used for counseling. The motions revealed that my elbow wasn’t the only part of my body suffering. My back ached and my hip throbbed.

Finally my vision normalized and I recalled some of what had taken place. I’d come in to bring Bruce the file on his new patient, a recovering drug addict recently out of rehab who was coming by stipulation of his parents. We had talked a little about the case and then ... nothing.

Bruce handed me a bottle of water and sat across from me, still watching me with concern. “If this is your subtle way of letting me know you need some time off, I’d recommend just asking for it next time.”

Still a little dazed, I scanned the room, trying to get my bearings. “How long was I out?”

“Minutes, maybe, but you went down hard. I want you to go see a doctor. A healthy twenty-five-year-old man should not be passing out. Are you eating okay?”

Bruce’s fatherly tone made me chuckle. I guess he had kind of taken on that role. Although I now ran his counseling practice and side business, a wrestling gym, he still took a personal interest in my life. Of course, he’d also been my counselor for years and the one to lead me to Christ.

I must know what comes next. Can’t wait until I receive the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love engaging with readers and have several ways to do so!

My website: http://tlgray.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlgraybooks?ref_type=bookmark

Twitter: @tlgraybooks

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tlgraybooks/

Thank you, T L, for sharing this new book with us.

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

Mercy's Fight (Set Apart) - 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

Winners!!!!!

Sherry (VA) is the winner of At His Appointed Time by Pat Reynolds. 
Sm (CA) is the winner of The Lady and the Officer by Mary Ellis.
Phyllis (IL) is the winner of a PDF copy of From Darkness to Dawn by Alicia willis.
Rw1010 (NC is the winner of In a Texas Ranger's Arms by Cynthia Hickey.
Rebeccaa (OR) is the winner of True North by Susan Diane Johnson.

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 an 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.

NINE DAYS - Christine Pisera Naman - One Free Book

Welcome, Christine. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I always start off trying to not write any of myself into my characters. I want them to be unique and original and usually nothing like myself. But so many times at the end of a novel, when I’m rereading I sometimes see a bit of myself peeking through.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When I was a young mom, I color coded my kids. My oldest son was blue, my daughter pink, and my younger son green. Everything they wore and had needed to match. Thank goodness as they grew so did I. lol.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve always had an interest in writing. I began writing in the third grade. My first stories were about a chipmunk that lived under our back porch. I remember I loved to give him thoughts and feelings. But serious writing came much later as an adult with short stories about my every day experiences.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love to read anything. I am currently reading The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. I am always in awe of other writers.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

You know, that’s great question because keeping sanity in our run, run world is difficult. I think what keeps me most sane is prayer. No matter how busy I am, I make sure to take a few moments to stop into church each day and say a prayer or two. Quiet, empty churches are special to me.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Choosing character’s names can be difficult. First names are easier to choose than last names but after a little bit of juggling I can usually find first and last name that works.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Being the mother to three wonderful people. Although I don’t really believe I had much to do with it, I hope I had a small hand in helping my kids become the great people they are.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

The family dog. I’m loyal and loving.

What is your favorite food?

I love steak.

I do, too, but I don’t eat it as often as I used to. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My greatest roadblock with writing is that I struggle to write when things in my own life aren’t calm. Sometimes I expect for all of my ducks to be in a row before I can sit and create. But, I push through and write anyway because let’s face it who’s ducks are all in a row? Certainly not mine.

Tell us about the featured book.

Without giving too much away, Nine Days is a short novel about one woman’s search for God’s Grace in her life. It’s a struggle that I think we all feel at some point in time. But it’s a book full of hope and faith.

Please give us the first page of the book.

People’s lives are like tiny boats floating along in great big seas. Some people’s lives float along smoothly, like it seems that lives should. These lives, for the most part, rock gently back and forth against gentle currents. Every once in a while, these lives encounter an obstacle that causes a ripple. This ripple stalls them or pushes them slightly off course, but never pushes them too far from their original path. They recover from the intrusion and proceed much like they were before. But other lives contain a defining moment, a moment that is big, a moment that doesn’t cause a ripple but a wave. This wave is not a gentle rolling wave, but rather a harsh, crashing, wave. It is a wave that knocks them down and rushes over them and strips them bare. When they are finally able to stagger to their feet, they look around to find that not only are they not the same, but the course before them is different from the one they faced before. It is also clear that this new course is their only choice.

The people with the first kind of lives, the lives that float, say things like “Life works out somehow” and “What will be, will be.” People’s lives that contain a wave—a moment that socks them in the stomach, say things like, “You never know where life will lead you” or “It can all change in a moment.” Until Mary Grace Mastrianni was thirteen years old, she had a floating kind of life and she believed that life worked out somehow. Three days after she turned thirteen, she found out differently and began saying, “It can all change in a moment.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website christinepiseranaman.com will be up and running soon.

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

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

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

ABANDONED MEMORIES - MaryLu Tyndall - One Free Book

Readers, I read this book last week, and I loved it. As with many series, the last book is the best, but it’s always best if you read the other two in order. You learn the depth of the other two sets of main characters that way. Book one is Forsaken Dreams, the second Elusive Hope.

I’ve loved every MaryLu Tyndall book. She writes exciting stories with lots of twists and turns, then plays them out across an tapestry of vivid setting that is authentic to the time period and place. Her characters are multi-dimensional and always grab my heart.

Welcome back, MaryLu. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Actually, this is the third and final book in my Escape to Paradise Series, so the storyline flows along from the first two books. The entire series I pitched as LOST meets Gone with the Wind. It’s the story of a group of Southerners who flee after they lost the Civil War and sail for Brazil in the hopes of starting a new Southern Utopia. The overall arching theme is that God predestined each one of them to come to Brazil for a specific task. Each of the six main character’s lives are intertwined in ways they could never have predicted but ways which led them to Brazil at a certain time and place for a certain purpose.

Each book follows the romance of two of the characters, and in Abandoned Memories we watch how the Doctor who is terrified of blood falls for the woman with a sordid past. We also find out why God drew the colonists to Brazil and what does it have to do with gold and an evil temple and visions which haunt them. Exciting stuff!

Yes, it is. A book that is hard to put down. If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Irene Hannon because I recently discovered her great suspense books

Ronie Kendig. Love love love her military suspense!

Francine Rivers because I haven’t met a Francine Rivers book I didn’t like

Joel Rosenberg because I’d like to hear his perspective on End Times and Israel

Ted Dekker because he’d definitely add an entertaining element to the party

Camy Tang because she’s just plain cool

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Laurie Alice Eakes because she’s one of the best writers I know

Michelle Gripe because she promised me a sword fight

You because you’re such a sweet encourager!

Julie Lessman because we are twin sisters separated at birth

Laura Frantz because I love her heart for the Lord

Lori Benton because she’s one of my new favorite authors

Thank you for including me in that list with authors I also admire. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Many people may not know this but Abandoned Memories is my last contracted book with a traditional publisher. I’ve started self-publishing my books and already have one out, The Ransom, and another in the works. This is a very exciting time for authors because we have so many more choices now than we used to have and a lot more freedom. My most difficult problem I struggle with now is learning the ropes of managing my own career. But, honestly, I’m having fun doing it!

My readers are familiar with The Ransom, because we’ve featured it on the blog already. I loved it as well. Tell us about the featured book.

As I said above, Abandoned Memories is book 3 in my Escape to Paradise series. It isn’t necessary that you read the first two, but I recommend it because all the main characters flow through the three stories. However, I don’t think it would be too hard to catch up with what’s happening. Here’s the back cover blurb.

It is 1866 and the fledgling Confederate colony of New Hope is Angeline Moore’s last chance at a normal life. Running from the law, she longs to make a fresh start in this new Southern Utopia. But a series of strange disasters threaten to destroy everything the colonists have worked for, and strange visions threaten to reveal a past Angeline is desperate to hide.

James Callaway failed at both doctoring and preaching, but he hopes that his move to Brazil will give him another chance to become the spiritual leader he so desires. He longs to create a world free from the immorality that plagued every street corner back home and ruined his life. And he believes Angeline is just the sort of refined woman he needs to keep him on the right track.

But something is amiss in New Hope: haunting visions, the discovery of crypts beneath an ancient temple, and an archaic Hebrew book, set the colonists’ fears on edge. When one of their own is murdered, a series of disasters leads them to believe God has brought them to Brazil to defeat an evil that, if unleashed, could wreak havoc on the entire world.

I especially loved the spiritual warfare aspect of this series. Please give us the first page of the book.

October 18th, 1866 The jungles of Brazil

The ground shook like a ship in a sea squall. Dirt and rocks pelted Angeline ... striking ... stinging. Her heart seized. Covering her head, she spun and staggered back the way she’d come—up toward the tunnel entrance and into the temple, where at least she wouldn’t be buried alive. Unless the roof of the ancient shrine caved in. A violent jolt struck, launching her against the rock wall as if she were made of paper. Pain radiated up her arm. Her legs quivered like the ground beneath them, and she fell onto the shifting dirt.

The hand that engulfed hers was rough like old rope, powerful, yet warm. An equally powerful arm swung around her waist as tremors wracked the tunnels. “Hang on. You’re safe,” James spoke in her ear, covering her head with his own. Pebbles rained down on them. Coughing, Angeline flung a hand to her mouth when the quaking finally stopped.

She drew a deep breath, her lungs filling with dust scented with spice and man and James. And standing there, ensconced in his embrace, fears that had risen so quickly when the ground had begun to shake suddenly vanished. She hated herself for it. She pushed from him. The stench of sulfur and mold instantly swept away his masculine aroma and resurrected her terror.

James stared at her oddly while he said to the men, “I told you we should not have brought the women.”

Brushing dirt from her skirts, Eliza, who stood in front of them with her husband, Blake, turned to face him. “You had no say in it, Doctor. We insisted. Did we not?” She smiled at Angeline. “There’s nothing to fear from a little shaking.”

Angeline wasn’t so sure. But then again, she didn’t possess Eliza’s courage and strength. Few women did. Those qualities, along with a multitude of others, were the reason Angeline admired her friend so much—the reason she’d cast aside her fears and agreed to venture into the eerie temple they’d found in the middle of the Brazilian jungle.

And then down into the tunnels beneath.

Yet at the moment, Eliza looked as if someone had dumped a bucket of chalk powder on her head. If Angeline weren’t so frightened, she’d giggle at the sight. But her alarm at being so far below ground during an earthquake stifled any laughter. She never should have come along. The men had insisted on investigating a loud explosion they’d heard last night that had shaken the ground all the way to their settlement of New Hope. When they feared it came from the temple, Eliza’s concern for Mr. Graves mounted, but now that Angeline had seen the ancient ruin and experienced the stink and heat of the narrow tunnels that spanned beneath it, she wondered why anyone would want to return. Or live here, as Mr. Graves had done since they’d arrived in Brazil.

Mr. Graves was one of the reasons Angeline had joined them today—to witness for herself the madman “digging his way to hell,” according to some of the colonists’ reports. Exaggerated reports, she was sure, but after Eliza had regaled her with further tales of gruesome obelisks, prison alcoves hewn in rock, strange Latin and Hebrew inscriptions, and Graves’s obsession with releasing powerful, invisible creatures, Angeline’s curiosity had gotten the best of her—regardless of James’s insistence that she remain in town. Or maybe because of it. Angeline grew tired of men dictating her. Telling her how to live and what to do and how to behave.

And using her like a dried-up commodity.

So, she’d come. And now, despite the heat and the terror and the pain, the look of approval in Eliza’s eyes made it all worth it. Almost.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website/Blog: http://marylutyndall.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221955524678618/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLuTyndall

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mltyndall/

Thank you, MaryLu, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Abandoned Memories - Christianbook.com
Abandoned Memories: (Escape to Paradise) - Amazon
Abandoned Memories (Escape to Paradise) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING CHRISTIAN FICTION - C E Maychild - One Free Book

What would you like for readers to know about you personally?

C.E. Maychild is my pen name. Currently I'm residing in Nigeria, West Africa, where I make home and run a Christian Writing and Publishing Programme to help raise and nurture Christian fiction writers who will fill that part of the world with the light of hope through the stories they tell.

Besides mentoring writers, missions is my other passion. I looking forward to spend the next few years traveling all over English-speaking West Africa sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, eating unfamiliar foods and, hopefully, picking up authentic story ideas.

Have you written other non-fiction books?

Yes, I have written a small volume titled Raising Godly Teens and edited a work of poetry, A Writer's Apology, which is a book of Christian poetry in free verse originally presented the author's note in John Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress.

It was while I was working on issuing the abridged version of the book to be used as Christian Literature in schools and colleges in West Africa that I fell in love with the resplendent poetry tucked away in its preface and I wanted so much to share it. It is often left out of newer editions of the book, but in it the writer sets forth his struggle with his reason for putting pen to paper. It is his attempt to justify his motives. Oh, I cried and laughed quite a bit on this project. I could absolutely relate with all those voices in one's head, and external ones too, telling you it is all meaningless writing stories when the world was dying and beset with all these other serious issues. I know that a lot of other writers can too!

Do you have any other books in the works?

I have gone back to my project on The Pilgrim's Progress which I hope to complete in the late Fall. It's coming along slowly as I also have to facilitate our annual online Christian Creative Writing Workshop at this time and keep a part-time job. Hopefully I can make the November deadline. 

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I am not a very outdoorsy person but I enjoy an occasional game of squash rackets. I love to bake and cook. Whenever I taste something new which I like I want to know how to prepare it. I experiment a lot with food.

Why did you write the featured book?

I had the idea to put together the lesson notes for the online workshop I mentioned facilitating earlier because I wanted more space to share more than just a few salient points on creative writing with my students. I also wanted to provide more of the writing and reading activities which are such a hit on the workshop, and also provide more illustrations than there was room enough for on a workshop forum.

The other thing was that in the course of facilitating this workshop, I was confronted with the reality that some of the people who applied to the workshop came with the fancy idea of becoming famous and world-acclaimed writers. I really wanted to address that issue and speak to their hearts about the real import of writing Christian fiction. Again, there didn't seem to be room enough for this on the workshop itself so I had written a separate treatise on what it means to be a Christian fiction writer and the notion that God does indeed call people to write “mere” stories, and basically letting those interested in writing Christian fiction know that the call to write fiction is a call to affect lives and point people to the Lord rather than to self. So, that became Part One of the book, Guidelines for Writing Christian Fiction: A Comprehensive Help for Aspiring Authors, which I give away as a 5-chapter Free Sample E-book on the workshop (the last of the free sample chapters is a creative writing one). Part Two (about twenty-one chapters) is purely creative writing topics. Well, so, before I knew it, I had a 460-paged book on my hands!

What do you want your readers to take away from the book?

I hope that readers will be better off in their writing for reading Guidelines for Writing Christian Fiction, but I want also to see their hearts in the right place as they sit at their desks toiling over their stories. I want so that all will not be in vain when our works are tried by fire, and our oeuvres will show themselves of a commendable sort, able to withstand the fire of judgment wherein the things we do for the Lord will be tried in the last day (I Co. 3: 13).

Is there anything you'd like to tell my readers about you or your book?

I also co-own a newly established small publishing house, Cedar and Cypress Publishing Co., where we offer all the boutique author services usually provided by a publishing house. We will also be outsourcing those services to indie authors.

Guidelines for Writing Christian Fiction: A Comprehensive Help for Aspiring Authors is published in-house.

Where on the internet can the readers find you?

I can be reached by e-mail on: authormaychild@gmail.com

Or contact me through the W and P Programme website at www.christianmonthlylibrary.org

The book can be found online here:

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Guidelines-Writing-Christian-Fiction-Comprehensive/dp/9789366531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401647854&sr=8-1&keywords=Guidelines+for+Writing+Christian+Fiction

 Amazon Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JYCV69E

Thank you for sharing your new book with us.

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

UNSEEN - James Pence - One Free Ebook

Welcome, James. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

A lot. When I write, I become every one of my characters. For me, developing characters is akin to what a method actor does. I put myself into a character’s shoes when I write, so there’s a lot of overlap between my personality and that of my character. Those who know me well can spot a lot of those things.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hmmmm. Probably taking up karate. I’m not particularly athletic, and I don’t really like sports. So studying karate (and earning a black belt) was definitely out of character for me.

When did you first discover you were a writer?

When I was in college and could start a research paper the day before it was due and still get an A on it. That wasn’t when I decided I wanted to be a writer, but it’s definitely when I knew I had some aptitude.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

As far as fiction goes, I enjoy reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Grisham, Ray Bradbury. I also enjoy reading popular science authors (e.g. Michio Kaku) and love reading about astronomy, relativity, and quantum theory. I love history, too. I’m listening to Shelby Foote’s The Civil War on audio right now.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Living in the country helps. It’s quiet around our home, and the only sound tends to be the mooing of the neighbor’s cows or the nighttime howl of coyotes. I’m busy when I need to be, but I don’t like the hustle and bustle of city life.

Sounds wonderful to me. How do you choose your characters’ names?

When I’m just starting a novel, I tend to give characters throwaway names—something to call the character until I’m ready to name her. Sometimes I don’t even do that much. I may just give a character a descriptive name. “Tall Dentist” or something like that. Occasionally, I’ll name a character after a friend or acquaintance. Several of the character names in Unseen are like that. I also have some character naming software. It throws out first and last names in various combinations, and sometimes I find one I like. When all else fails, I’ll pull out an old phone book and flip through it. That’s a particularly good resource for surnames.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I celebrated my 34th wedding anniversary to the most wonderful woman in the world on June 14th of this year. That, and together we raised two awesome children who are now grown and out on their own. We also have an awesome granddaughter, but I can’t take credit for that. J

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d probably be a golden retriever. Eat, play, sleep—do it all over again the next day. Yep. Works for me.

What is your favorite food?

Pizza. Definitely pizza.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

A serious lack of self-confidence. I found it difficult to believe that people actually liked my writing. To be honest, I haven’t overcome it—at least not completely. I’m still amazed that people like to read my writing, and when I’m in the process, I often think my work is junk. But one way I keep going is by having trusted friends—people who will be honest with me—read my material as I write. They’ve promised to tell me if I’m turning out junk, so if I don’t hear from them, I assume I’m okay.

Tell us about the featured book.

Unseen is the story of how a man who lost his wife and children in an auto accident, and who is angry with God, comes to grips with God’s goodness and sovereignty in his loss. When two children who are being pursued by a religious cult are dumped into his lap, he must rescue them and return them to their mother, who is in hiding. In doing so, he finds a reason to live.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Friday, December 6
Sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight.

Peter Bishop didn’t know whether or not that particular adage was true, but for his children’s sake, he hoped it was.

Their lives depended on it.

Standing in line at the EconoAir ticket counter, Peter muttered in frustration. Flight check-ins were always tedious. Yet every second that Micah and Michelle stood exposed, their danger increased.

Peter flicked his eyes back and forth, scanning the steady flow of pedestrian traffic. Four women in dark blue uniforms paraded along, pulling small suitcases behind them. A gray-bearded man trotted in the opposite direction. A suntanned young couple stood in front of him, gazing into each other’s eyes. The woman carried a bright yellow bag with “Cancun” printed on it.

Honeymooners.

Maybe.

Peter looked them over and wondered if they were also killers.

Something bumped his heels. Peter inhaled sharply, balled his hands into fists, and swung around to face a middle-aged brunette pushing a baby stroller.

She drew back, a flash of fear reflected in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you?”

Peter mumbled a reply and an apology. He let out a quiet sigh and turned around, rubbing his eyes.

Got to relax.

But Peter knew he’d never relax until Micah and Michelle were safely on board EconoAir Flight 298, bound for Dallas. He glanced toward the flight information display screens.

Still on time.

Departure time. 5:55 p.m.

He glanced at his watch: 5:16 p.m.

Peter felt his right eyelid twitch. He raised a trembling hand and tried to rub away the annoying tic. He had been careful to the point of obsession in planning the children’s escape. He had even ordered the children’s tickets from a public-access computer. But Peter knew that Sawyer Wynne’s people would catch even the tiniest slip. And if that happened, they would dispatch a conversion team.

The hit would be efficient, untraceable—and merciless.

Conversion. Nothing but a sanitary term for murder.

Peter would not let that happen. Thus, he had to proceed on the assumption that someone had uncovered his plan and that somewhere in JFK Airport a killer waited for them. Peter looked down at the two children standing beside him.

 I know that has hooked my readers. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://jamespence.com  | facebook.com/jameshpence | Twitter: @jameshpence

Thank you, James, for sharing this new book with us.

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

Unseen

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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