A SECRET LIFE - Lee Carver - One Free Book

Bio: Lee Carver and her husband have lived in several foreign countries, so some of her books, including the featured book, have foreign settings. Though officially retired, they are very active in church events. She currently serves as president of ACFW – DFW chapter.

Dear Readers, I was eager for the release of A Secret Life. Lee is in the critique group that meets in our home. I watched this story come to life. Although I don’t usually like reading war stories, this one intrigued me. It’s more about the strong characters than it is about the fighting. I wrote one of the endorsements for the novel. Lee takes the reader deep into the hearts of the characters. She keeps you enthralled to the very end of the book, and the story will stay with you. I highly recommend it.

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

I’m thrilled to have two books traditionally-published this year. Three shorter romances have been completed for a different publisher for 2015, and I’m writing a fun book based in Texas. Always inspirational, and always with at least a romantic thread.

A very wise woman once told me, “We’re like sailboats. God can’t direct us unless we’re moving.”

Others have said, “If your books aren’t selling, keep writing.”

Now that everything’s selling, the best advice seems to be, “Breathe slowly. In. Out.”

Tell us a little about your family.

My daughter, Kelly, was a novelist before me and has given tremendous advice on every portion of the effort from brainstorming to covers. She and her two teenage daughters are gifted writers and thrive on drama. My son is an athlete and supports his wife and three children as a software engineer. The two are totally different, yet they are bonded, loving siblings. My husband Darrel and I have been married forty-six years (unbelievable!). In my most romantic dreams as a young person, I never dreamed marriage could be so satisfying and fulfilling.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I read a great deal, trying to understand what works in a novel and what doesn’t. As a publisher’s line editor, though, I see mistakes. I try not to read too slowly. The plot has too be realistic and authentic, or I become frustrated. Passages of that couldn’t have happened or she would never have done that are real turn-offs. Modern readers have such a plethora of titles to choose from now, and at good prices. We can read widely, and we can put down a book we don’t like.

What are you working on right now?

I call it “the pig and a roof book” because of its opening line. It’s set in a fictional small, Texas town, and I’m working to fold in a lot of humor around some serious subjects. It centers on a woman with an unfaithful husband who goes to care for her grandmother through cancer treatment. The working title is Retreat to Shelter Creek.

Sounds interesting. What outside interests do you have?

Ha! How much space do you have for the answer? I’m a Stephens Minister (Christian lay-counselor), crochet for the Prayer Shawl Ministry, sing in the choir, play piano, thoroughly enjoy quilting and other sewing projects, vegetable and flower gardening … the list goes on.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The settings of my novels are essential to the story. For A Secret Life, the whole story plays against the background of World War II, and my main character is German. Voilá, the setting. In my next novel coming out in December, the setting is the Brazilian Amazon, where we lived for over six years. The setting is at least as important as a major character, and for each story, no choice existed. Okay, so Atlanta is significant in the first book. It’s a city I lived in and loved and know well enough to research with understanding. And Birmingham, Alabama, is important in the next novel. Being from Alabama, I know Birmingham well enough to see it was the perfect city and location for those scenes.

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

If Abraham Lincoln would sit down with me for a private conversation, and if he would answer questions with all transparency, that would be my choice.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Novels are not very long short stories. As many novels as I had read in the decades before trying to write one, I never perceived the three-act structure, the significance of pacing, and certainly not the need to portray developments from the point of view of a certain character. Omniscient narrative seemed to be the norm. There’s just a lot to learn to develop the craft of writing.

Omniscient narrative was the norm in most classis literature, but I like the way having the character’s point of view takes the reader straight into the middle of the story. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

God is teaching me to enjoy this day rather than to work feverishly toward what I hope for in the future. And He is teaching me to savor His presence and take time to worship Him.

That is so important. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Keep writing even when doubt looms. Associate with other writers, especially in American Christian Fiction Writers. Join a good critique group either in person or online. And fourth, read a lot.

Tell us about the featured book.

The German Army of World War II rips KARL VON STEUBEN from his family and privileged life, forcing him to conceal his American sympathies and Jewish heritage. Stripped of every tie to his home country, he determines to escape. As he crawls to the Siegfried Line, only he knows the hiding place of gold ingots melted from the jewelry of prisoners. Wounded after assuming the identity of a fallen American soldier, Karl briefly deceives even himself.

Discharged and shipped to America, he discovers God’s unmerited favor in a beautiful Atlanta nurse. But he must return to Germany or relinquish his family fortune and rear children under the name of another man.

Will Grace forgive his duplicity and accept him as a loyal American?

Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.

September, 1942

Munich, Germany

Karl knew better than to raise his voice to Father, but his anger boiled within like steam under pressure. “Why did you leave Mother in danger? And Marta, too?” He paced the width of Father’s study. “We’re the same bloodline—”

“That’s enough! How dare you question my care of the family?” Father stood from his desk, went to the dark velvet curtains, and yanked them closed. Little good that would do now.

Father’s face flushed, creating headlights of his blue eyes. “Your mother and I’ve always been careful to maintain her dual citizenship and an active church membership. They have no reason to come after us.”

With a huff, Karl dropped into the burgundy leather armchair and rubbed the back of his neck. He had said enough to get Father furious, yet he pressed further. “They could still book passage to the United States. Or somewhere in the opposite direction. Brazil. Lots of people go to Brazil.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Father slapped a dark green folder on his desk, probably the Swiss account. “Portugal, maybe.” He muttered, slipping a hand over his retreating blond hair. “I’ve heard talk about Lisbon....”

So he had considered escape.

“But I can’t leave the business here in Munich.” Father’s chest strained the worsted three-piece suit. “If I abandoned my responsibilities, the economy of the Fatherland and all our clients—some of them life-long friends—would suffer an unthinkable blow.”

Only his father’s hands touched their firm’s securities and investments of the Reichland. No one else—no one—knew how much or where they were. Certainly not himself, as a junior officer of the firm. Father would be arrested and shot as a traitor if he tried to leave Germany now.

Karl shuddered. Since university graduation, he had little excuse for not serving in the Army. Worse, his native country had the power and the will to drag him into a labor camp. “But what about Mother and Marta? They don’t have to stay. I could continue in the firm with you. Keep hoping they honor my deferment. With the British bombing farther south all the time, it just makes sense for them to leave.”

His father paced the study, pausing before the medieval tapestry. He might be seeing its idyllic forest and mountain nymphs, or simply be using the weaving to ignore Karl’s plea. “Your mother says she doesn’t want to leave me. Our home.” His voice became a rumble. “She’s comfortable here. If the Allies lost the war, she would continue to be safe.”

“And if they won?”

“She’s an American citizen. Yourself and Marta too. She’d be the salvation of us all.”

“But when both nations are at war, we have to choose. Especially me.”

A rap from the hall cut them off. “Dinner’s ready.”

Karl opened the study’s door to his mother’s troubled face. Not wanting her to realize their closed-door conference concerned family safety, he forced a smile. “Come, Father. That account will wait until we’ve taken care of this beef roast.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.LeeCarverWriter.com

http://LeeCarverWriter.blogspot.com

Thank you, Lee, 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.
A Secret Life - paperback
A Secret Life - 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

FIRST IMPRESSIONS - Sarah Price - One Free Book

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

I suppose there are bits and pieces of me in a lot of my characters. In my upcoming book,

The Matchmaker (an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma), I know that I related to the main character, Emma. She has the best of intentions but sometimes does things that are not so thought out. In An Amish Buggy Ride, Kate Zook was based loosely on some of my own experiences dealing with negative people who enjoy putting others down in order to build up their own self-worth.

But she was more accepting of others flaws in that regard.

I do enjoy writing books where I get to focus on morphing others into the main characters. I’m working on a Young Adult book now, Diehard Fangirl, that is based on my daughter and her antics with the different “celebrities” on social media. Teenage girls and their parents will see themselves in the characters.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Let’s see…in 2012, I bought a baby zebra. I was told that, because we have a horse farm, we didn’t need a permit. That, apparently, was incorrect information. It took MONTHS to buy all of the extra fencing, structures, and other requirements needed to get a permit. My husband was ready to send me to the moon. Unfortunately, Zebby passed away this past May after another pony kicked him. I’m still contemplating whether or not I should look for rescues since we do have the permit now.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve always known that I was a writer. I wrote as a small child, first in journals and then, when I was around twelve, my parents purchased a Selectric typewriter for me. Other children wanted toys or games for Christmas; I wanted reams of paper.

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

I have a passion for religious history and philosophy. My library has shelves and shelves of books about the Old Testament and philosophy, including Socrates, Homer, Aristotle, Josephus. I also read a lot of devotionals and motivation books. As far as fiction books are concerned, I’m expanding my current reading list to include more classics since I love the writing style of Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, and all of those great classic authors. I haven’t been very satisfied with mainstream fiction books within my own genre recently. Too many people are rapidly publishing books, calling them “Amish Christian” and the contents demonstrates very little knowledge of the Amish culture and religion. So outside of my favorite authors in that genre, people I have come to admire and consider friends, I steer clear of my own genre.

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

If you were to ask my family that question, they’d probably tell you that I don’t. (ha ha).

When things get very stressful, I am prone to hit “autopilot.” There is no sense whining and complaining about it; just get it done. However, that doesn’t mean I’m the most pleasant person to be around. I have a DO NOT DISTURB sign that I put on my door. Everyone (except the dogs) have learned that I mean business when it’s hanging on the doorknob. Of course, there are those “moments” when you simply need a good vent. I have my inner circle of people that I call or text when I need to be talked off the ledge. Without them, there are days when I’d be chit-chatting to pigeons from a very high vantage point on a skyscraper in New York City.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Believe it or not, this is one of the hardest parts about writing a book! I like to choose names that I feel will fit the character. For the Amish genre, this is hard because, depending on which community you are writing about, there are different sets of names. For example, in Lancaster County, Katie, Lydia, Barbara, and Lizzie are very popular names. The only problem is that almost every family has two or three of them (and that’s not counting extended families). And the last names are regional, too. In Lancaster, you’ll meet a lot of people with the last name of Stoltzfus, Yoder, and Zook while in Holmes County, Hershberger, Petersheim, and Schrock seem popular. There are not a lot to choose from so, at times, heavy research is needed to come up with something unique and authentic.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I suppose my happiest accomplishment was getting signed by two traditional publishers. A lot of authors are moving the other way, from traditionally published to self-publishing. As usual, I’m bucking the trend and headed in the other direction. I am very happy with my publishers and feel safe. That isn’t always the case when you are just self-publishing. There are bad people out there, posing as Christians but really looking to take advantage or hurt unsuspecting people with dreams. I’ve learned far too much about the dark side of self-publishing and much prefer the security and professionalism of the traditional publishers.

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

I happen to be partial to chipmunks and squirrels. They are fun to watch when they play in the trees. And they have a lot of energy. When the cooler weather comes along, they are very focused on their work: gathering food for the winter. They don’t mess around with their deadlines. So they know when to play, and they know when to work. I like that. Of course, if I were a chipmunk or a squirrel, I would want a no-cat zone in a ten-mile radius for obvious reasons.

What is your favorite food?

Hands down: mashed potatoes. As a child, I grew up on them. At all of our family gatherings, my grandmother would make two batches of mashed potatoes: one for me and one for everyone else. I think if I was stuck on an island with mashed potatoes and different gravies, I’d be just fine. Oh, and plenty of bottled water and coffee. :D

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

It’s amazing what a little praise can do for a person. My husband, Marc, is my greatest champion, supporting my decision to dust off an old 3.5” floppy disk that contained manuscripts that I wrote when I was 19 and 20. A few years earlier, someone else had thrown out my collection of manuscripts, apparently considering them garbage. All that remained of my passion for writing over the years was this little diskette. Marc read it, believed in me and told me to publish the manuscript. He also helped me with editing, proofing, and updating the story so that it was more current. So twenty years after I initially wrote Fields of Corn, I published it. His support was what started the ball rolling. It was great to be writing again, with the backing of a person who truly understood the seriousness of artistic passion.

Tell us about the featured book.

I love the literary style of the classics. Yet I know that many readers shy away from attempting to read them because it can be an intimidating task. Just looking at the size of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables is scary! I liked the idea of introducing my readers to the classics through the adaptation of the storyline into an Amish setting. Additionally, I am aware that many non-Amish fiction readers feel that it is not a genre to be taken seriously from a literary perspective. I’m hoping that my Amish Classics Series bridges that gap for both groups of readers. First Impressions is the first in the series. It is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. While challenging to re-tell such an amazing story from an Amish setting, I enjoyed writing it very much. I believe that it appeals to many different readers: those who love reading about the Amish, those who love Jane Austen, and those who simply love a good, clean romance!

Please give us the first page of the book.

The reddish-gold rays of the setting sun lit up the sky behind the roofline of the large white barn. The double doors to the hayloft were open and two robins sat on them, singing a song of good night to the rest of the farm. The black and white Holstein cows lazily meandered through the back pasture near the stream, a few pausing to dip their heads and drink from the refreshingly cool water in the fading heat of the late spring day. One of them, a fat one with a white chain around her neck, looked up, her soulful brown eyes scanning the barnyard before giving a deep, investigating “moo.”

A young woman, wearing a rich blue dress and no shoes upon her feet, walked down the lane. Her head was adorned with a white, heart-shaped prayer kapp. A few strands of brown hair had fallen free from the neat bun that was hidden beneath the organdy fabric and clung to the back of her tanned neck. Two white ribbons hung from the kapp, casually resting on her back as she walked. Two brown chickens ran in front of her, a rooster close behind.

When the rooster saw the woman, he stopped and puffed his feathers at her, his neck bulging out as if ready to attack. “Scoot!” she admonished, kicking her foot at the brightly colored rooster to shoo it away.

As she approached the end of the lane, she paused, glancing around for a moment to ensure that no one was on the road before she stepped off the driveway, shaking the cool dust from her bare feet before stepping onto the warm black asphalt of the road that led to town. It was the mailbox that beckoned her, a dented gray mailbox with a single nameplate resting atop: Blank.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m all over the Internet. It’s my major distraction! I’m like a teenager at the table with my iPhone! Favorite social media:

Website/Blog: http://www.sarahpriceauthor.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fansofsarahprice

Twitter: @SarahPriceAuthr

Instagram: @SarahPriceAuthr

Pinterest: @SarahPriceAuthr

YouTube.com: sarahpriceauthor

Thank you, Sarah, 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.

First Impressions - Christianbook.com
First Impressions: An Amish Tale of Pride and Prejudice (The Amish Classics) - Amazon
First Impressions: An Amish Tale of Pride and Prejudice (The Amish Classics) - 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

WINNERS!!!!

Kam110476 (OK) is the winner of In the Image of Man by Robert Roush.
Kelly Y (VA) is the winner of the ebook Seek and Hide by Amanda G Stevens.
Cindy W (IN) is the winner of Where Eagles Soar by Bonnie Leon.
Janny (IN) is the winner of Like There's No Tomorrow by Camille Eide.

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.

New Movie - THE SONG, including my review

This movie released Friday, and James and I were at the first showing at Rave Theater in Northeast Mall in Hurst, Texas. It's based on the writings of King Solomon, including some passages from the Song of Solomon.

We enjoyed the movie, because the teachings of Solomon played out in the life of fictional character, Jed King, son of David King, both singers and song writers. All throughout the movie, snippets from the Bible were the thoughts of Jed as he made wise and foolish decisions in his life. And the foolish decisions weren't white-washed as some Christian films have been, instead showing reality in this 21st Century. It's a story with glorious high points, dark low points, and redemption.

Be sure to have some tissues with you.

Here's the trailer to the movie:

AWAKENING - Tracy Higley - One Free Book

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

I’ve been having a great time branching out a little bit, writing a contemporary suspense after so many historical novels. In the upcoming year, I’m hoping to do some of both. I’ve got a historical novel I’m working on right now, plus an idea for a time-travel series.

Tell us a little about your family.

I have one great husband and four great kids! My children range from 11 to 21 years old, so we’re parenting at all different levels—middle school, high school, college, and beyond (my 21 year old is already finished with college and out on her own!). Here at home these days, it’s just me, hubby, and two boys, now that the older two girls are out of the house. It’s a whole new world being the only female in the house!

My husband was always the only male in a house with three females. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Hmmm, I think I’d say my writing has made me a bit more critical when I read. If I see what I know are glaring flaws that are distracting in a novel (not typos, but things like characterization and plot structure), I’m likely to set it aside. Life’s too short to read books that are less than wonderful. I also don’t read as much fiction as I used to, perhaps because I’m writing it.

What are you working on right now?

Currently in focus is a historical novel set around the magi who came to visit Jesus at his birth. These aren’t your grandmother’s magi, however. Lots of spiritual darkness set in an epic quest across the desert.

What outside interests do you have?

I never like this question, since I don’t have any good answers! Does chocolate count? Besides writing and the business-side of it, and reading, I love movies and good TV drama, and I love to travel.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Settings just speak to me; they really do. The setting for my books is typically the first thing to draw me to an idea, before characters or plot. There are so many amazing and fascinating places and times to write about. I’ve written about ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Pompeii, Jordan, Israel, and Ephesus. I just keep returning to these wonderful places that draw me!

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

I’m a huge history buff, so this is an impossible question—impossible to choose only one! But I’ll give you one of my choices—Caesar Augustus. Weird, I know. But he was an amazing emperor, ruling at an unbelievably critical time in Rome’s history. I’d love to hear about the ancient world from his perspective.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I wish I’d known that the best way to go about it doing it well is to write the books you want to read, the books you love, and love to write, and to ignore anyone telling you otherwise.

Very good advice. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

I think God is expanding my worldview the past few years. I’ve been working on a Master’s Degree in Ancient History, which is giving me a broader scope of human history and God’s work in the world, and I’ve done more contemplating of ideas outside those that have been part of the “standard” world of my upbringing. I’m realizing that God and His plan are much bigger than I previously understood.

It’s wonderful when we finally realize that. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Chase your adventure—there is a unique calling on your life that only you can fulfill. Figure it out and go for it.

Discipline and focus—in your writing and your personal life—will get you farther than raw talent.

Love your work—always and foremost love the writing you’re doing, or don’t do it.

Tell us about the featured book.

Awakening is a contemporary suspense, set in exotic locations around the globe, including Greece, Egypt, and Venice.

Kallie Andreas is a mystery, even to herself.

Seven years ago Kallie woke up in a New York City museum, injured and traumatized. Alone and unclaimed. When a mysterious billionaire invites her to scour the black market with him for a lost treasure, Kallie can't resist. Dimitri is wealthy, charming, and good-looking, but she's not interested—not in someone who's clearly hiding secrets of his own.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The world outside Kallie’s apartment was unreal—a hazy fairy tale sucking her into itself as she dashed from her building into the gray morning chill and descended rain-slicked concrete steps to the city street.

Not a happily-ever-after fairy tale.

Kallie hesitated on the sidewalk, turned, and eyed the massive door to her apartment building, then ran a hand through the dark waves of her hair, flattening quickly in the damp. Should she bolt back upstairs for an umbrella?

Overhung with scudding clouds and wrapped in an evil mist, the murky streets had all the feel of the Brothers Grimm about them—tales of stepsisters who cut off parts of their feet to fit the glass slipper and wicked queens forced to dance in fiery iron shoes until they dropped dead.

But she was late already for her Yearly Ritual. And the portal to the underground labyrinth of subway tunnels yawned only three blocks east. If she hustled, she could descend into their protection before the clouds fractured and soaked her through. Better to push forward and attempt repairs to her hair when she reached the museum.

She flipped the collar of her white trench coat upward and soldiered on. She clutched her soft-sided laptop case to her body, kept her head down, and wove through sluggish pedestrians, dodging wayward umbrellas and stepping over puddles. The wind was strangely warm for March, with a hint of salt impossible this far from the sea. The kind of peculiar wind that dampened the soul and whispered of longings unfulfilled, of desires just out of reach.

The three blocks stretched, and the metallic-rimmed eyes of a hundred windows seemed to watch her rush to the subway. The streets smelled of rotting leaves and garbage in corners and sausages cooked by street vendors braving the elements—a combination of ordinary odors trapped by weighted air and the city fermenting, composting around her.

Such black thoughts.

But it was always this way—on this day.

March twenty-first. Vernal equinox. Her birthday, as Judith called it. And if so, only her seventh birthday, with the rest lost in mist thicker than the New York air.

Wow. I can’t wait to read this one. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’d love to have readers join me on my website, www.TracyHigley.com, or on Facebook/tracyhigley or on Twitter @TLHigley.

Thank you, Tracy, 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.
Awakening - Amazon.com
Awakening - 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 KILLER - James Pence - One Free Book

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

Where fiction is concerned, I enjoy reading thrillers, so that’s what I like to write. To me, a good suspense/thriller is the literary equivalent of a roller coaster ride. I enjoy the challenge of writing a story that will keep readers turning the pages.

As for nonfiction, I enjoy writing the stories of people who have faced difficult or tragic circumstances but have overcome them through God’s power and help. I like to write stories where God wins.

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

June 14, 1980, the day I married my best friend and the love of my life, Laurel.

How has being published changed your life?

It’s like a dream come true. For years, I longed for the day when I could make a living as a writer. That’s a reality for me now, and I love it. Whenever I’m tempted to complain about deadlines, workload, or some of the other frustrations that authors face, I remind myself how blessed I am to be doing what I do. God has given me the desire of my heart.

What are you reading right now?

How much time do you have? I’m usually reading five or more books at the same time. Here are a few that are in my current reading list: The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns, Undiluted by Benjamin Corey, Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler, The City by Dean Koontz, Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King, The 10-Second Rule by Clare DeGraff, The Gathering Storm by Winston Churchill.

What is your current work in progress?

I have six nonfiction collaborations in various stages of development. Two are similar to my book Terror by Night in that they focus on people who have lived through horrific circumstances, but have grown in their faith through them.

My current fiction project is an edit/rewrite of my very first novel, Friendly Revenge for publication in 2015.

What would be your dream vacation?

A trip to Alaska to (hopefully) see the Northern Lights.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I use a mixture of real and fictionalized settings. For example, Mercy Killer is set in Dallas, Texas. However, Sentinel Health Systems (the hospital where the action takes place) is something I created. It’s loosely based on the Gaylord Texan resort.

Beyond that, because I don’t enjoy research, I try to stay with locations I’m familiar with. One exception is a novella that I ghostwrote a few years ago (The Encounter). The author wanted it to be set in Fairbanks, Alaska. I’ve never been to Alaska, so I had to do quite a bit of research to get the setting accurate. One Amazon reviewer said, “The setting is in Alaska, and I liked that it was written in such a way that you know the author has really spent time there,” so I guess I did a good job of research.

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

I can only choose one? That’s tough. As a writer, I’d probably choose Stephen King (and/or) Dean Koontz. (I know. I cheated.) Much of what I’ve learned about writing and storytelling has come from them. I’d love to have an evening to sit down and chat.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I enjoy painting, drawing, playing keyboards and singing, mowing my six-acres of pasture with a push mower (great aerobic exercise), and spending time with my awesome wife.

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

Inertia. The hardest part of writing for me is getting started. If I’m stuck in neutral, I put myself on the clock. I set up a timer for 25-minute intervals and push myself to write at least 350 words in that amount of time. That usually does it. Oh, I also use a program called Freedom to turn off Internet access while I write.

The Internet is both a blessing and a curse to me as a writer. It’s a blessing because it makes research easier than ever. It’s a curse because it is one of the greatest time wasters ever invented.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

First, learn your craft before you try to get published. And please master the basics. Don’t expect an editor to correct your sloppy spelling, punctuation, formatting, etc. You’d think this would be obvious. Sadly, it’s not.

Second, don’t rush to self publish your book just because you’ve gotten some rejections from conventional publishers. Yes, it’s tough breaking in, but nowadays many writers aren’t even trying.

Third, if you do self publish, do it right. Many self-published novels and nonfiction books are poorly written, poorly edited, have cheesy looking covers, and amateurish layout. If you are planning to self publish, show respect to the people who are going to shell out their hard-earned money to buy your book. Don’t give them an inferior product. Hire an editor to go over your book. Get a good cover designer, and have someone who knows what she’s doing handle the layout. Pay someone to proofread your book before it’s released. Turn out the best product you can possibly produce.

Okay, I’m off my soapbox.

Tell us about the featured book.

Mercy Killer is a thriller/mystery that is set against the backdrop of the right-to-die and euthanasia issue. Lori Westlake is a physician working at Sentinel Health Systems in Dallas, Texas. She is invited to join a clandestine euthanasia society operating in the hospital and secretly helping patients who wish to take their own lives. Because she is an advocate of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, she considers becoming a part of this group. What she doesn’t know is that a serial mercy killer is also working within the organization. 

When a patient is murdered, Charles Hamisch, a retired police detective is recruited to help solve the case. Detective Hamisch has recently been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and is struggling with suicidal thoughts of his own. As he faces his own impending death, Lori and Charles ultimately join forces in a desperate attempt to capture the “Angel of Mercy.”

Please give us the first page of the book.
Prologue
Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
The woman hovered between life and death.

One day after her thirty-third birthday MariBeth Wilson, mother of three young children, had suffered a massive stroke. Quick work by an EMS team had kept her alive, but severe brain damage had left her in an irreversible coma.

Her husband, Rick, sat beside the bed staring at a small photograph in his hands, virtually in a coma of his own. The third-year resident assigned to the case stood at the door and watched. After a few seconds, he felt a presence at his side. The nursing shift supervisor nudged his arm.

“He hardly ever moves,” she said, shaking her head. “He won’t eat, won’t talk. I told him if he didn’t eat, he’d turn into as much a vegetable as she is.”

The resident’s anger flashed white and hot. “Don’t use that word around me,” he said, “and certainly not around him.” He nodded in Rick’s direction.

“I’m sorry, Doctor,” the nurse replied with just the barest hint of condescension in her voice, as if she wanted to remind him that she’d been working as an RN back when he was still in diapers.

She didn’t say it though. Not to his face. She knew better.

“Bring me a cup of coffee,” he said, stepping into the room.

The nurse drew herself up. “Doctor, you can get your own—”

“Bring me a cup of coffee.”

The nurse turned on her heel and strode angrily down the hallway.

The young physician entered the room and circled around to the far side of the bed. He held out his hand. “Good morning, Mr. Wilson.”

Rick kept gazing at the photo. His black hair was matted and unkempt, and judging by the stubble on his face, he hadn’t shaved for a few days.

The resident pulled up a chair and sat down. “They tell me you’re not eating.”

No response.

“Is that your family?” the resident asked, gesturing toward the picture.

Rick nodded weakly, his eyes fixed on the photograph.

“May I see it?”

He appeared to think about it and then offered the picture to the resident.

“Nice family,” the resident said. “Three children?”

The grieving husband looked at the resident through red-rimmed eyes. He swallowed and nodded. A tear leaked from the corner of one eye and traced its way down his cheek and into the stubble of his beard.

“Those kids are going to need you, Mr. Wilson.” The resident’s voice was gentle.

Rick put his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. “I can’t do it.”

“Doctor?” a voice called from the doorway.

The resident looked up. The nursing supervisor stood in the doorway frowning, a paper cup of coffee in her hand. He motioned her to bring the coffee to him.

“What can’t you do?” the resident asked as he took the steaming cup from the nurse’s hand. He motioned toward the door with the back of his hand, dismissing her.

She sighed disapprovingly and left the room.

“I can’t handle this,” Rick said, glancing briefly at MariBeth’s still form on the bed. “They said she could go on like this for ...” he choked up, unable to finish the sentence.

“For a long time,” the resident finished for him. He handed Rick the coffee. “Here, you look like you could use this.”

“Thanks,” he said, taking a sip from the cup. For the first time since he’d entered the room, the resident thought he saw the hint of a smile on the man’s face.

The resident noticed a tiny ceramic angel about the size of a person’s thumb on the table next to MariBeth’s bed. Trying to draw Rick into a conversation, he pointed toward the angel. “What’s that?” he asked.

Rick picked up the angel and handed it to the resident. “Her mother gave it to her when she was little. Told her the angels would always be watching over her.” He shrugged. “She always kept it at her bedside at home. I don’t know why I brought it here. I think the angels forgot about her.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website:  www.jamespence.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/JamesPenceBooks

Twitter:  @jameshpence

Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/jameshpence

Thank you, James, for sharing your new book with us. I love medical thrillers.

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

HEARTS STOLEN - Caryl McAdoo - One Free Book

Dear Readers, even though she lives not too far from me, in Northeast Texas, I first met Caryl in Indianapolis, Indiana, at last year’s American Christian Fiction Writers conference. Soon after that, she invited me to speak at the Northeast Texas Writer’s Conference. She’s become a good friend. I loved her first book that we featured on this blog. I haven’t received my copy of this new one yet, and I can hardly wait to read it.

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

I must admit, the reason I started writing historical Christian romance is because my agent, Mary Sue Seymour, said if I would write one set in the 1800s, she’d sell it. It actually proved to be a God-plan from the first. Did you know Mary Sue grew up a McAdoo? It was her maiden name! As though the Lord whacked us on the head with a velvet hammer and said, “PAY ATTENTION, DAUGHTERS, I HAVE A PLAN.” It is without a doubt my favorite genre now. J

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

I was just talking about that on Facebook because my firstborn son turned forty-five, and I was telling him that the day he was born was my favorite most happy day. I do have four children and they are all in the top five, the day I married being the fifth. All your nannies are so special and you love each one differently, but I don’t think a woman can know or imagine how holding that firstborn in your arms affects your heart. And I am glad you said besides the day Christ came to live in my heart; the happiest nine-year-old you ever saw!

How has being published changed your life?

More blessings! I love people and getting to know them, so being published has given me a bigger platform—a way to meet more precious children of God and to share His love when someone doesn’t know Him. I’m blessed to work at home or anywhere. I’m blessed to set my own hours. I’m blessed to create wonderful characters who become my friends. I’m blessed to have such a creative outlet and thank God everyday!

I know what you mean. All those things are blessings to me as well. What are you reading right now?

Right now, I am reading  a Civil War romance, RETURN TO SHIRLEY PLANTATION by Carrie Fancett Pagels. It’s Volume One of Murray Pura’s American Civil War Series Cry of Freedom. Since I started writing historical, at the quite grown-up age of 64, I find that I am fascinated with history. My husband has always been a history buff, but I’m a new one J

What is your current work in progress?

THE BEDWARMER’S SON, set in two historical time periods. In the 1850s I’m writing the romance of the Bedwarmer, a young slave girl named Jasmine, and in the 1920s, what’s going on with her son on trial for murder. His attorney, a young white woman from up North who might fall in love with the bedwarmer’s son’s grandson. I’m enjoying that period, and also that they are in Dalton, Georgia, since I almost always write Texas settings. 

What would be your dream vacation?

Don’t even have to think about this one, going to Israel; walking the streets of Jerusalem, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, speaking to some of the people who’ve lived there their whole lives. I’d enjoy wading in the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I love Texas, and love writing about the Lone Star State. I’ve been to every corner of it, and know it well. But my favorite part is the Northeast where God led my husband and me in 2008, specifically Red River County, but all the surrounding counties, too J As I was saying, I set THE BEDWARMER’S SON in Dalton, Georgia, because I needed a plantation with slaves, but a Texan will come into the story before it’s over.

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

A harder question I had to think about. I thought of politicians, then authors, then music, yes, I’d enjoy an evening with music, so I’d like to spend an evening with Sandi Patty singing and visiting and giving God glory. I love her music and we have a similar range J

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Music, I love to sing—mostly praise and worship, but God gives me new songs that go along with my children’s books I take into schools and He gave me Susannah’s Ballad for VOW UNBROKEN. He gives me scripture songs to help me with whatever I’m going through. I also like to paint and garden—not so much the getting down and in the dirt anymore (pretty hard to get up) but decorating the garden, adding touches. I love Pinterest for remembering great ideas.

I use Pinterest for storing setting ideas and clothing for my books when I’m writing them. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Not getting distracted! If I discipline myself to stay off Facebook until a certain time—and email and Pinterest and PicMonkey (http://www.picmonkey.com/)—I find I can focus on my writing and get just as lost in those wonderful friends I create on the page.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Hands down, to get into a good critique group! I would never have gotten published at all ever without the mentoring and hard-nosed critique I got at the DFW Writers Workshop. Writing groups who listen to each other read and only hear how good it is are only good for folks not serious about improving their craft and want mostly to visit. A good critique group can turn a gifted story teller into a writer! If you’re a story teller (that gift comes only from God), you can learn the craft.

Tell us about the featured book.

Hearts Stolen is a story that will reinforce no matter what the circumstance, no matter how grievous it seems, if you will repent, pray, and put your trust in God, there is nothing—no thing—He can’t get you out of. And the scripture comes to mind that He does things so much more than we can even imagine, blessings pressed down and overflowing.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Just thinking about him made Sassy want to stick her tongue out like she used to do to her father when he ordered her around. But Charles had married her, and she promised to love, honor, and obey him.

She loved the man alright, leastwise she guessed she did. If he’d only treat her like a wife, not a child.... Of everyone, he should understand most that she was grown; coming on sixteen, as mature as she would ever get.

Rosaleen he’d called her. She hated her given name. Pshaw, she could do both, visit her mamma and have his ol’ supper ready. As the sun peeked over the treetops, Sassy leaned forward and tickled the mare’s ribs with her heels.

“Haw, pretty girl; we don’t have all day. He said he’ll be back by dark.”

Stretching her gait, the mare flew over the rolling terrain. The wind whipped Sassy’s hair behind her. Oh, how she loved riding, always had. In barely any time, she slowed the mare into a lope and topped the last hill before Kickapoo Creek.

That’s where she always let Bliss get a sweet drink, but not too much, from the easy flowing stream. With only another eight miles to her folks’ place, she might make it in time for some breakfast leftovers. She clicked her tongue.

Her mare cleared the far bank, then her snort and shiver shifted Sassy’s attention to follow Bliss’ gaze. Two bare-chested Indians sat on painted ponies. The bigger one pointed a long-handled club at her and whooped.

Sassy hammered her heels into the mare’s ribs. The gray shot forward, hitting a full gallop in fewer than ten strides.

Calm, stay calm, but her heart beat like the nines. She’d never lost a race in her life, not on Bliss. She definitely couldn’t lose this one. With a good lead, she’d outrun the little ponies.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.CarylMcAdoo.com

www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.author

www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdoo

www.amazon.com/CarylMcAdoo

Thank you, Caryl, 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.
Hearts Stolen (A Texas Romance) (Volume 2) - paperback
Hearts Stolen (A Texas Romance Book 2) - 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

HIDDEN IN THE STARS - Robin Caroll - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve loved all the Quilts of Love novels that I’ve read, but I think this one may be my favorite. Robin has been a friend of mine for a number of years. She writes wonderful romantic suspense novels. This story had a unique new twist to the suspense. It kept me guessing for a long time. And the characters grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go. This is definitely a must-read novel.

Bio: Robin Caroll is the author of 22 published novels. When she isn't writing, Robin spends time with her husband of 25 years, her three beautiful daughters, and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home in Little Rock, Arkansas. She gives back to the writing community by serving as conference director for American Christian Fiction Writers. Her books have been named finalists in such contests as the Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer's Choice Award, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year.

About the book: A quilt holds the secret to a killer still at large—and who his next victim will be.

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother's offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn't help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia's mother's "special" quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia's unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

Welcome back, Robin. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I love boxing. I love Hallmark movies. I love fishing. I love scrapbooking. Nope, I've never fit into the boxes people have wanted to put me in.

When I’m not writing, I devote my focus to ACFW as Executive Director. ACFW has done so much for me, I wanted to give something back.

I enjoy spending quality time with my husband of twenty-five years, three beautiful daughters, two handsome grandsons, and our character-filled pets at home.

How did you become interested in writing?

I’ve always loved to tell stories and to write. I’ve always kept a journal and storytelling is just part of who I am.                                                                        

                                                                                               

What compelled you to write a book on this subject?

As a young girl, my family lived in the country. We didn’t have many friends close enough during the winter where we could just hop on our bikes and ride down to a neighbor’s house. During those lonelier times, my mother taught me how to quilt. I will always associate quilts with the strength of the mother-daughter bond. When I heard about the Quilts of Love series, I wanted to be a part of it. 

                                                                                                          What is the main theme or point that you want readers to understand from reading your book? Are there any other themes present in the book? 

The strength of the familial bond is the strongest thread in the story, but another theme would be the sacrifices we make for the people we love.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book? 

I hope they will feel they were entertained, but also they will be reminded that no matter what their circumstances, what the Enemy means for evil, God will turn to good.

                                                                                                                                   

How does the book intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him?

One day, fully frustrated with writing and on the verge of tears, I prayed the scary prayer: that if writing wasn’t what He called me to do, then I’d walk away from it, but He’d have to remove the desire from my heart because I wasn’t strong enough to do it myself. I was lucky enough to get my first contract not too long after that, but I truly was willing to walk away if that’s what He told me to do. It was really scary because, for me at least, writing was, in my mind, tied to my identity. I learned that writing, while important to me and I love it, is still what I do, not who I am. I love being an author, but I’m also so much more: wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, etc.

Some of the reader mail I’ve received has put me in tears of praise for being allowed to share stories with readers. For instance, one reader wrote me after reading one of my books and thanked me for showing that it was possible to reconcile with God after being angry with Him. It truly blesses me for God to use me in such a way.

Do you have a favorite Scripture verse?

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

                                               

When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?

I’m an avid scrapbooker and card maker, and I enjoy making mini scrapbook albums. Of course, I love reading as well. And watching movies with my family. I also love cooking.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.robincaroll.com

www.facebook.com/author.robincaroll

www.twitter.com/robincaroll

Thank you, Robin, for sharing this new book with us and giving us a peek into your busy life.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Hidden in the Stars - Christianbook.com
Hidden in the Stars: Quilts of Love Series - Amazon
Hidden in the Stars: Quilts of Love Series - 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