A THOUSAND SHALL FALL - Andrea Boeshaar - One Free Book, Plus More

Dear Readers, Andrea has been a good friend for a number of years. We’ve written for some of the same publishers and encouraged each other in our writing lives. This is the first book in a new series for her.

Bio: Andrea Boeshaar is the cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers and runs "The Writer's ER," a coaching service for writers. She is the author of thirty published works, including Threads of Faith, a finalist in the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards. Andrea is also the author of a popular devotional and regularly blogs on a number of sites.

Connect with Andrea: website, Twitter, Facebook

Welcome back, Andrea. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

A Thousand Shall Fall is one of those stories that weighed heavily on my heart. I ached to write it. It began first as a Love Finds You story (Guideposts/Summerside Press) and a contract was sent to my agent at the time and me. Unfortunately the fiction line closed without all the details of my contract being ironed out. My present agent, Mary Sue Seymour, sent my proposal to Kregel Publications. Miraculously, the managing editor there shared my vision for this book and series and soon I was signing a contract with the company for a 3-book deal. The staff at Kregel—Steve, Dennis, Dawn, Leah, Noelle, and Katherine—have all been fabulous to work with. My substantive editor, Lori, has been great, too. In addition to the Kregel staff, I received valuable feedback from authors Kimberley Woodhouse, Cindy Hickey, Christina Miller, and Tracie Peterson. Without the efforts on the part of these folks, my “book baby” may not have been born.

If you teach or speak, what’s coming up on your calendar?

Yes, I teach workshops and speak at ladies’ retreats and other conferences. Presently, I have no speaking engagements lined up—which is fine. I’m immersed in setting up book signings and online media events for my novel A Thousand Shall Fall.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

I would be in the foothills of South Carolina. My husband and I love the area. We feel inspired by the mountains—plus, I have a lot of friends between Greenville and Atlanta, Georgia. Here in Wisconsin, I get tired of the winter by January 2nd.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

I would advise this: Take caution when choosing to independently publish your book or sign with a small publishing company. Unless you’re willing to pay a publicist, self-promotion is difficult. You don’t want to harass folks by telling them you’ve got a book release. They may sever their ties with you on social media because they are tired of seeing your two sentence gloats about your novel! Just because you Tweet it or post it every fifteen minutes does not guarantee you’ll sell a single copy. Asking your friends to write reviews helps, of course, but to a point. Publicity, I have learned, must be very strategic and far-reaching. In addition, building a platform for yourself (a large collection of readers and “followers” takes time. Start building as a writer immediately and work up to the title of “published author.” Your publisher should be willing to invest in you and help you succeed.

Tell us about the featured book.

I believe readers of historical fiction will enjoy my novel, particularly if you enjoy the Civil War era as I do.

A Thousand Shall Fall takes place in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. Known as the “Daughter of the Stars,” the Shenandoah Valley had been defended by such Confederate heroes as General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, General Turner Ashby, General Stephen “Dod” Ramseur, and General Tom Rosser. But they lost the Valley to Union General Phil Sheridan and his Army of the Shenandoah by November 1864. This first book in my Shenandoah Valley Saga covers only the Battle of Winchester III (September 19, 1864). Book two will address the Battle of Cedar Creek (October 19, 1864) and the brave women who nursed soldiers wearing both blue and gray. But that’s the historical part. There’s also a compelling fictional story woven into this factual account.

In the autumn of 1864, spirited Carrie Ann Bell is searching for her runaway sister in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Disguised as a Yankee soldier, she stumbles into a skirmish near Front Royal—and instead of her sister, she finds trouble.

Colonel Peyton Collier of the Union cavalry division arrests her for impersonating an 

Officer, but protects her from worse consequences. Soon the Southern girl finds herself drawn to the chivalrous Yankee horseman, discovering that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. 

But Carrie has promised to keep a dark secret, never suspecting that her silence might threaten the life of the gallant Colonel who holds her—and her heart—captive.

Please give us the first page of the book.

August 15, 1864

Ooh, that Sarah Jane!

Carrie Ann Bell stared at her youngest sister’s sloppily scratched note. How could that girl do such a scandalous thing? Running off with a lowlife peddler? Certainly, Sarah threatened to run away numerous times in the past, but who would have thought she’d actually do it? Mama would be heartbroken when she learned the news.

Heartbroken and angry. Carrie could practically hear Mama crying and blaming her for Sarah running off. Mama would say Carrie paid more attention to Papa’s newspaper than her sisters . . .

And maybe Mama was right. But her sister Margaret was eighteen and Sarah, fifteen. They weren’t that much younger than Carrie herself. And writing for the Bell Tower in Papa’s absence had been Carrie’s refuge, a place of normalcy in a world turned topsy-turvy.

Staring at Sarah’s note, Carrie debated whether to withhold this information from Mama. Maybe she’d go looking for her youngest sister and bring her home to the Wayfarers Inn—

What an oxymoron. The Wayfarers Inn was no more a home than a damp, dark cave was an elegant mansion. Still, it was a roof over her family’s head.

Carrie paced the small newspaper office, paused, and ran one, ink-stained fingertip over the smooth surface of Papa’s desk. Surely she could catch up with Arthur Sims, that no-account speculator with whom Sarah ran off. He couldn’t have traveled far in that large, rattling contraption of his. Painted in obnoxious shades of yellow and orange, it resembled a circus wagon.

Carrie’s hand shook as sudden fire flowed through her veins. She was tempted to notify the law and file kidnapping charges against the man, except the law had better things to do than go hunting for a fast-talking swindler who rode off with a starry-eyed girl.

Love it! Where can we find you on the Internet?

Readers can log on to my website at: www.AndreaBoeshaar.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Andrea.Boeshaar

Twitter: @AndreaBoeshaar

Thank you, Lena, for interviewing me on your blog!

It's my pleasure, Andrea. I always enjoy having you here.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1jbj37T

The search for her runaway sister goes awry when Carrie finds herself arrested during the Civil War for impersonating an officer in Andrea Boeshaar's A Thousand Shall Fall. Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel who arrested her. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?

Andrea is celebrating the release of A Thousand Shall Fall with a Kindle Fire giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Thousand Shall Fall
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 10th. The winner will be announced December 11th on Andrea's blog.

And one reader will win a copy of the book on this blog.

Thank you, Andrea, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are eager to read the story.

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.)

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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.

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