REMEMBER THE LILIES - Liz Tolsma - One Free Book

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

I’ve always been intrigued with WWII, especially since I’ve had family members have to endure the horrors of the war. It’s important to tell these stories before those who lived them die out. Me, my children, and future generations need to understand the preciousness and cost of our freedom.

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

There are 4 of them – when I married my high school sweetheart and when we adopted each of our three children. There is no feeling like it in the world!

How has being published changed your life?

It has changed it in ways I never imagined. I’m so much busier with marketing and with juggling having to write another book at the same time. One unexpected avenue is that of speaking. In the past year or so, I’ve been speaking up to 3 times a month and have even begun to do some traveling with it. I enjoy it much more than I would have ever thought. It’s also crazy when someone recognizes me and gets excited to meet little old me!

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Blitz Diary as research for my next series. No fun reading for me until I get this next book written!

What is your current work in progress?

It’s another WWII series that follows three American women journalists in Europe. The first book is set in London during the Blitz. The heroine is a feisty reporter doing everything she can to get noticed.

What would be your dream vacation?

I’m blessed to have taken my dream vacation – a Caribbean cruise. I was pampered, enjoyed warm weather, ate good food. What’s not to love about that? We’re hoping we can perhaps take another cruise, this time to Alaska.

James and I have done two Caribbean cruises and hope to do an Alaska one, but it hasn’t happened yet. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I like to find WWII stories that aren’t very well known, so the setting comes along with the story. I love exploring different countries along the way.

I have an aunt who was an army nurse in Germany at the time Hitler fell. She has shared stories and pictures with me. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

My husband! I’ve been traveling and he’s been busy at work, so it’s been a while since we’ve had a date. We really need one!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to garden and can’t wait until it’s warm enough for me to get my hands back in the dirt. We also enjoy camping and kayaking. We’re disappointed that we didn’t get to snowshoe at all this winter. We had the cold, but not the snow.

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

Just finding the time and motivation to write can be difficult. I turn off the internet and make myself do it, giving myself little rewards for meeting goals along the way, like a cup of tea or coffee when I reach 1000 words.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write as much as you can, learn as much as you can, and read as much as you can.

Tell us about the featured book.

Interred by the Japanese, missionary Irene Reynolds comes across a mysterious note while working at the censor’s office. She memorizes the parts she must black out and delivers it to wealthy nightclub owner Rand Sterling. Before she knows what’s happening, she’s drawn into a web of secrets and danger.

Rand Sterling wants nothing more than to reopen his nightclubs once the war ends. But slimy Frank Covey wants his hand in the till—and has news that could threaten Rand’s reputation if it became public. More importantly, beautiful and intriguing Irene Reynolds cannot discover this information if he expects to persuade her to become his wife.

When Irene is attacked by a sinister Japanese guard and their secrets are exposed, they must learn the true meaning of forgiveness—if they can stave off starvation until the American troops bring freedom.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Manila, Philippines

December 8, 1941

The cool breeze off Manila Bay swept around Rand Sterling as he maneuvered his red Mercedes Sports Roadster convertible down Dewey Boulevard, past large Italianate homes and Spanish-style mansions much like his own. They were all on his right. On his left, coconut trees waved their fronds in the wind, and they were accented by the blue of the bay. Salt scented the air, and he took a deep breath, unable to keep a wide smile from spreading across his face. The beautiful woman in the seat beside him, Peggy Brambly, laughed as a gust tugged at the brightly colored scarf on her head.

“Can you go any faster?”

Faster, yes, faster. Rand pressed down a bit on the accelerator, the needle on the speedometer inching up. “Better?”

She sat back against the black leather seat, her cream-colored face lifted to the sun. “I’ve looked forward to this picnic all week. Then you had to break our date . . .”

“Nightclubs don’t run themselves, you know. Something came up at the Azure.”

“Or someone.”

“Comes with being the boss.” He grinned at her.

“No matter.” She waved a manicured hand. “We’re going now.”

That’s the only reason he took Peggy places from time to time. She understood that he wasn’t a one-woman man. Not since Catherine. Peggy made no demands on him, and he appreciated that.

He steered around a slow-moving carromatas, a two-wheeled carriage towed by a single horse, and through the heavy traffic, Studebakers, Packards, and Nashes clogging the roads even at this early hour. Turning onto the side streets, they passed Filipina women in striped skirts and white blouses with full sleeves selling mangoes, camotes or sweet potatoes, and other produce along with such Filipino treats as cassava cake and a steamed rice cake known as puto.

“I was afraid you’d cancel again after I heard about Pearl Harbor. Nasty business, that. At least it’s far away from us.”

A bit of Rand’s own lightness evaporated with Peggy’s words. The Japanese had launched a surprise attack on Hawaii just hours ago. Yes, for now it was far away. But for how long? What was in store for them? MacArthur had promised to protect them. Rand had to trust in that.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

website  www.liztolsma.com/

twitter  http://www.twitter.com/liztolsma/

facebook www.facebook.com/liz.tolsma/

pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/liztolsma/

blog same as website

Thank you, Liz, for sharing some of your life and this new book with me and my readers.

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Remember the Lilies - Christianbook.com
Remember the Lilies - Amazon paperback
Remember the Lilies - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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