PITCHIN' A FIT - Brandilyn Collins - One Free Book

Welcome back Brandilyn. Why did you become an author?

I’ve always been driven to write. I wrote my first story when I was seven, in second grade. First line of that story: “Once there was a stallion named Betsy.” Grabs you right away, huh. :]

In the 1990s, already enjoying a successful career in writing nonfiction and marketing, I began learning the craft of fiction. I was planning to write novels for the secular market, but in June 1998 God clearly told me He had other plans. He wanted my writing to be about Him. As a result I’ve been in the Christian market since the sale of my first novel.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

Movie actress. I’d love the work, but I’d hate being recognized on the street.

Methinks I shall remain an author.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

2100. Just to see all the cool gadgets and medical marvels we’d have by then. Plus, wouldn’t it be interesting to see your descendants?

Yes, it would. When you start having great grandchildren, you gain a strong sense of what a legacy descendents are. What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

I’ve been to every state but two—Alaska and Maine. Hitting both of them is on my bucket list.

You’re way ahead of me. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

Australia, matey!

I’ve had a very longtime desire to visit Australia. What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

Simply to relax and trust Him. Easy to say. Hard to do sometimes.

Tell us about the featured book.

Pitchin’ A Fit is book 2 in my Southern contemporary Dearing Family series. The first book in the series is That Dog Won’t Hunt. The Dearing family members are boisterous, loving, and quirky, down to the family Yorkie (who, naturally, won’t hunt). This series mixes poignancy and humor as it deals with issues such as past abuse and forgiveness. You can find purchase links for Pitchin’ A Fit on this page of my website. (Ebook: $2.99 on all devices. Paper: $12.59, prime on Amazon.)

Here is the back cover copy:

The wedding for Ben Dearing and Christina Day is planned to be picture perfect, and the boisterous family has gathered for the big event. What could possibly go wrong?

Christina’s estranged mother, that’s what. The alcoholic, abusive mother who wasn’t invited. Two days before the ceremony Edna Day crashes the bridal shower and insists she’s staying in town for the ceremony. What’s Christina to do? After her abusive childhood, standing up to her parent calls for strength she’s not sure she possesses. Besides, if she tells her mother to leave, the woman could get madder than she already is—not to mention drunk—and shame the Dearing family in front of the whole town.

Edna wastes no time making enemies. Highly opinionated Jess Dearing is set on running her out of Justus. Ben wants her gone, too. Even Lady Penelope, the Dearings’ uppity Yorkie, will have nothing to do with her. Meanwhile Mama Ruth is trying to keep the peace. And feed everybody.

Blending pathos and humor, Pitchin’ a Fit portrays the constantly shifting emotions between an abusive parent and grown child. How does a Christian forgive someone who doesn’t seem repentant? What is the balance between forgiveness and maintaining healthy emotional boundaries? God is there to guide everyone through this mess of a weekend. But certain people may have plans of their own.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Getting married wasn’t supposed to be this complicated.

Twenty-three-year-old Christina Day pushed blonde hair out of her eyes and beamed a smile at the circle of women perched in the Dearings’ living room. They were all older than she. And Christina didn’t know anyone who’d come to her bridal shower except for her future mother-in-law, Ruth Dearing, and her three future sisters-in-law, Sarah, Maddy, and Jess, all in their thirties. Most of the other women attended New Life Church in Justus, Mississippi, where the Dearing family had worshipped for years. Christina had gone there only once. And that had been five months ago in July at the Dearing reunion, on the day the crazy family ended up posing for their annual picture on a row of old toilets—and Christina decided she could marry Ben after all.

Not that the first event directly led to the second.

Christina wanted to marry Ben more than anything. From the first day she met him at work in Dallas she’d been attracted to him. Ben was far from the stereotypical computer programmer nerd. His blue eyes could light up a room, and his friendly, boyish face and laidback attitude charmed everyone. Their wedding would be wonderful and simple, just the way Christina wanted it. The next two days would produce memories for a lifetime.

She just had to get through them first.

“You okay?” Ruth Dearing mouthed to Christina from across the room.

Oh, no. Christina gave her a big nod and smiled. Had some expression given her away? Mama Ruth was so compassionate. She’d gone to a lot of trouble to throw this bridal shower in her own home. Today was December fifth, yet she’d held off putting up a Christmas tree to make room for all the women. Still, she seemed so aware it may not be the easiest thing for Christina. Ruth Dearing deserved to see only happiness on the face of her almost daughter-in-law. Both Mama Ruth and her husband, Syton, had been nothing but kind to Christina. And she hadn’t always deserved it.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to interact with my readers on Facebook. On my website you can sign up for my newsletter and read the opening chapters of all my books. On Twitter I’m @brandilyn.

Thank you, Brandilyn for sharing this new book with us. You know I've loved everyone of your books. I can't wait until my copy comes. It will go to the top of my to-be-read list.

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