THE LADY AND THE MOUNTAIN DOCTOR - Misty M Beller - One Free Book

Dear Readers and Authors, thank goodness, I'm finally getting much better. I will start uploading missed interviews and try to catch up soon. On Sunday, I'll post winners that have been missed.

I am reading this book right now, Dear Readers. I know you’ll love it as much as I do.

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

I tend to be a bit of a sentimentalist, so Historical Romance is perfect for me! My favorite period is between 1860 - 1880, when the cowboy days were really ramping up. I love the simpler life, where there's no rat race. Just hard work, plenty of alone time (can you tell I'm an introvert?), and a strong family unit. God is the central element in my life, so I want my books to naturally reflect Him.

How has being published changed your life?

It's wonderful to know in my heart that I'm doing what God planned for me. He continues to use my writing to bless others, which becomes a huge blessing for me!

What are you reading right now?

The Still of Night by Kristen Heitzmann. Kristen is one of my favorite authors, and I had the amazing opportunity to meet her at a writer's workshop earlier this year. What an amazing person!

What is your current work in progress?

I'm finishing up The Lady and the Mountain Fire, third in the Mountain Dreams Series. I had planned for this to be the last in the series, but I'm having so much fun with the characters! I guess I'll see where God leads. J

What would be your dream vacation?

I love to travel! I've been throughout the US, but never to Europe. I'd love to visit the old castles and estates in England or Ireland. And all that amazing historic architecture in Italy!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Hmm… I usually have an idea of the type of setting I want (snowy mountains, Texas plains, etc). From there, I pick a state, then start my research and usually stumble upon something that makes me say "Ooooh, perfect!" For example, when I was beginning The Rancher Takes a Cook (scheduled to release June 26, 2015), I knew I wanted it to be a Texas ranch, somewhere in the middle part of the state (where it's not so much like a desert). I started doing some Google searches for "History of (insert name of Texas city). I stumbled across a letter that was written from someone in Seguin, Texas, in the year my story would begin. The description of Seguin in the letter sounded perfect! After researching the city a little more, I realized I'd found a goldmine (not literally).

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

This is a tough one. My first thought was my extended family members in California and Arizona. They're so dear, but I rarely have the opportunity to see them. My great-aunts and uncles are getting up in years, so I would love the opportunity to spend more time with them while I can. An evening would not be long enough though…

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Riding horses! I don't get to as often as I'd like, but it's such a stabilizing activity for me. I love sharing them with my daughters, too!

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

Making time for writing, and all the other activities that go along with it. I get up an hour early each morning to focus on writing, which helps a lot. I also try to spend a couple evenings a week after my daughters go to bed, and both afternoons on the weekend, if possible. It's hard, but important!

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Oh wow. There are so many things that spring to mind! Some I've learned from wise writers. Some from my heavenly Father. And some from doing it the hard way. J If I had to narrow down my experience into advice, these are the three things I would share:

Seek:  Read books on craft. Join a writer's organization. Make friends with other writers and develop connections. Seek to learn everything you can about this wonderful world of fiction!

Work:  Writing takes so many hours of typing and plotting and editing. You may feel it will never end. But enjoy the journey, even the hard times. I heard a quote today that really hit home for me. "Happiness is counting your blessings for the good things where you are right now." We all need goals, but the joy truly can be in the journey.

Pray: Seek God's face and His direction for your writing. If you're in His will, He will bless the work. His blessings may be a different outcome than you expected, but I promise it will be wonderful!

Tell us about the featured book.

Miriam Bryant has always dreamed of leaving the never-ending work of her family's remote mountain ranch to travel abroad as a genteel lady. She's thrilled when the opportunity finally arises, but a gruesome hunting accident crushes her plans, leaving her stranded for weeks in a mining town. The single bright spot in her disappointment comes in the form of this mountain town's newest doctor…

Fresh out of medical school, Alex Donaghue is excited to join his brother's practice and prove himself in the mining town of Butte, in Montana Territory. But the tough conditions in the mines and the brutal winter are worse than he expected. Now a mysterious lung disease is killing patients he fought so hard to cure. The single bright spot in this dreary place comes in the form of their newest patient…

But when Miriam's life is threatened by the effects of a medical tragedy, will Alex have what it takes to save the woman he's come to love? Will Miriam ever find the place God created her for, or is it too late?

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

October 28, 1876

Bryant Ranch - Near Butte City, Montana Territory

Miriam Bryant plunged her knife through the deer's thick winter fur, just the way her brother taught her. Crimson saturated the snow underneath, and she clenched her eyes tight against the sight. An acrid odor permeated the air. Miriam spun away, inhaling deep gulps of air.

They needed food. God sent the buck. She repeated the words in her head, as her stomach slowly unclenched. Finally, she turned back toward the animal, knife clutched tight in her hand. Once again, she wished she could have let the deer bound away in freedom. But their meat supply was low, and she had to pull her weight on the ranch.

The whisper of air was her only warning before a force slammed into her back, knocking her forward. A scream rent the air, and she writhed away from the creature pressing her against the deer carcass. Cougar. Pain pierced her body. Over and over. Everywhere the cat touched left new agony.

Miriam fought hard. She rolled onto her side and tried to crawl, but the animal was all around her, growling and screaming. A blast of pain shot through her leg, and her body jerked hard. She reached for the source of the pain, and slammed her fists into the furry head, again and again.

I’m sure that opening will draw my readers in. How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me on my website, blog, Goodreads, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Thank you, Misty, for sharing this book with me and my readers.

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

The Lady and the Mountain Doctor (Mountain Dreams Series Book 2)

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