Wednesday, January 20, 2016

JUST KIN - Caryl McAdoo - One Free Book

Bio: Caryl McAdoo is all about loving God! She currently writes four series: the historical Christian - Texas Romance; a contemporary - Red River Romance; The Generations, her Biblical fiction, and the newest Days of Dread Trilogy for mid-grade readers. Known as the Singing Pray-er, she loves praising with new songs the Lord gives her and prays her story gives God glory! In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-plus years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Besides glorifying Him, she hopes each title will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons.

Welcome back, Caryl. Tell us about your salvation experience.
At nine years old, I got to go to summer camp with our church. Mt. Lebanon seemed so far away, but really just outside Dallas County to the south. They had a tabernacle service each night. One of those times, Holy Spirit tugged my heart with the conviction that I needed Jesus and His gift of salvation. I was sitting there in my chair crying. I hadn’t realized the service had ended. An unknown lady came up to me and led me through the sinner’s prayer and went with me to the front.
    
I knew that I knew I was saved! I felt so CLEAN inside, and I was SO excited. I got a dime and ran all the way to the snack bar area where there was a payphone and called Mama. I just had to share with her what God had done! He SAVED me! I was baptized the following week or two on Sunday. And stayed in that little Southern Baptist Church until we moved to Irving in 1962.
    
The devil has never been able to get me to doubt my salvation. I know Jesus saved me that hot summer night in 1959 and came to live in my heart.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
Any four I want to spend the retreat with? Oh wow. Would you come, Lena? I’d love to have you there because you know so much about writing and marketing and blogging and I love you!
    
Certainly, I’d invite Bodie Thoene, just to get to pick her brain about Israel. I love her books and would try to discover her techniques in stirring her readers to laugh aloud and cry to where you can’t even see the words to read.
    
I have so many writer friends these days. It’s hard to choose. I’d invite Cass Wessel. She has been such a blessing to me, and I’d love being able to help her get her debut novel ready. We could have some intense work time to get in on it during the retreat!
    
Who, who who for my fourth? I know! I’d invite my daughter-in-love Janis McAdoo because she has a book she needs to get together and she needs a retreat with time to do nothing but that! Helping her get her book organized and put together would help thousands of authors and be so valuable to so many!

Yes, I’d love to have a retreat with you and your other writers. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
Well, I guess my favorite speaking engagements are my visits to elementary schools. I love young readers so much. They’re so excited and attentive and fun. I incorporate the new songs God gives me that go with my stories, and they love those. They’re fun songs, plus I’m more comfortable singing than talking, except I do love talking about God and giving Him glory.
   
I often speak to writers’ groups, but usually with my husband. I like teaching with him because he is the one who paces me. And he’s so wise. He’s like that E.F. Hutton … when he talks, everyone wants to listen.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
 No doubt, I have had my share of them, but I’m not one of those folks who has a most-embarrassing-moment story. I suppose because I put them out of my mind the minute I possibly can.
    
However, in searching my recent history, I have come up with an incident. At a district school gym we’d traveled to, we made our way up the bleachers; O’Pa likes to sit high—I like sitting by him.  Ready to watch our twelve-year-old #12 grandson play basketball, I snuggled up to my dear husband.
    
A coach sat below on the floor, and it dawned on me I needed to give him a note so we could take Benjamen home from the game, instead of him riding the school bus all the way back to Clarksville and us having to pick him up there. So I headed back down. I don’t know how, but about halfway, I tripped and tumbled all the way down to the floor.
     
By the time I stopped bouncing, O’Pa stood over me. He and a lady coach helped up, and I sat on the bottom bench. Another coach appeared with a Ziplock bag full of ice. Both knees were scraped, but one hurt so bad I thought it might be broken. Benjamen came, hugged my neck, and reassured me, “You didn’t embarrass me, Grami.”
    
“Oh good.” said I. “Just myself then.” I’m sure everyone watched me roll down the stairs. This one thing I can tell you for certain. No more sitting on the top bench for this basketball grandmother!
    
Miraculously, the next morning I wasn’t even bruised! My body was sore all over, but nothing missing, nothing broken! Hallelujah. I’m so thankful God answers prayer!

I’m with you. I don’t sit on the top bleachers either. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
I tell them, “DO IT! It’s never been easier with the computer and its awesome Word program and the internet with the answer to any question at your fingertips. If you want to write for public consumption, then you should study the craft before you begin because if you don’t, you’ll end up rewriting the whole thing.

“Creative fiction is different from any other writing you’ve ever done. You’ll need to show, not tell, your story in an active voice, not a passive one. And if you want your readers to get right down into the story to go with your hero and heroine on their journey, you’ll need to understand point of view.

“And get yourself into a good critique group—not one where everyone slaps you on the back and always says, ‘Good read!’ You want criticism to sharpen your skills and improve your writing. But start today. I have a great little book called Story aqnd Style The Craft of Writing Creative Fiction that I really think would help you!”

Tell us about the featured book.
Whoo! I really love this story, probably because I love the hero so much. Just Kin is book six in my historical Texas Romance series which is a family saga. In book two, Hearts Stolen, I introduced a four-year-old youngster named Charley. Born in a Comanche camp, growing up as the son of Bold Eagle, he was one tough little cookie all my readers fell in love with ... and so did I.
    
That was in 1844. Now Charley Nightingale is grown and heading off to the Civil War to protect Texas. The theme of Just Kin is that Love covers a multitude of sin. We all fall short of God’s glory. We all make our bad decisions when faced with temptation. Often, one poor choice leads to another until we find ourselves mired in the muck of a pit.
    
In Just Kin, the characters aren’t goody-goody. They’re good folks, well-reared young people who make wrong judgments. Charley opens the doors to sin that will cause him trouble his entire life, never meaning to be the man he becomes. Parents aren’t always happy with their children’s ways.
     
A stolen kiss ignites a fire that burns all the way from Texas to New York City. Torn apart by war, rejection, and a letter with news she never wanted, Lacey Rose takes her shredded heart and runs. Charley figures something isn’t right, but is duty-bound to the Confederacy until a deathbed order sets into motion a series of events that test his love, honor, and commitment to the breaking point. 

Please give us the first page of the book.
May 18, 1861
“Just one more.”

A chorus of disappointed “AWWs” followed. The deeper throated ones outnumbered the rest, but did nothing to deter her.

“Oh, it doesn’t hurt! Now come on. Please. This time with the whole family.”

Lacey Rose slipped away to the porch and sat on a step. Aunt May hurried about putting everyone exactly where she wanted them. The photographer hovered, offering his advice, but no one else paid much attention.

“Lacey, come stand here by your mama.”

Nothing in her wanted to. She really wasn’t a part of the family, but it wouldn’t do to argue, not with the mistress of the house. The only one who could persuade that woman on anything was Uncle Henry.

But still, she didn’t look like the rest and had no blood relation. Her mother could pass for a family member, but Lacey favored her father, Bear Fang.

The few minutes seemed more like an hour. Then finally, it was over.

Except really, just beginning.

How could some tall buffoon from Illinois get himself elected president of the United States and start such a terrible war? She didn’t want them to leave. Things would never be the same once they did.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website           -  http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com    
All Books        -  http://tinyurl.com/CarylsAmazonPage                                  
Facebook        -  http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.author
Blog                -  http://www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.com
GoodReads     -  http://tinyurl.com/GoodReadsCary l
Google+          -  http://tinyurl.com/CarylsGooglePlus
Twitter            -  http://www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdoo
Pinterest          -  http://www.pinterest.com/CarylMcAdoo

Thank you, Caryl, for sharing this new book with us. It's always a pleasure to host you here.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Just Kin - Paperback
Just Kin (Texas Romance Book 6) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. 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

27 comments:

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Caryl, thanks for sharing your first page. I know that I will enjoy reading the rest of your book and I love that you choose to have characters who are good people who sometimes make bad choices. Haven't we all been there at one time? Lena, thank you for another great author interview and giveaway.
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Melanie Backus said...

I love Caryl's books and would certainly love to read Just Kin. Thank you for the opportunity.

Melanie Backus, TX

Beth Gillihan said...

Sounds like a great read! I love historical fiction. THanks for the chance to win!

Beth in Montana

Anonymous said...

I love civil war fiction! Count me in!
J.C. -Indiana-

Anonymous said...

angela in ky would like to win.

Caryl McAdoo said...

Hi Y'all! I had writers' Workshop today and didn't realize it fell on the blog day, so here I am at almost 11p.m.!

Connie - You're so right about us all having been there. It'd be so nice if we could say we always made the right decision based on God's Word. Praise God, I think the older we get, the more we do...but it's partially due to all those lessons we learned when we were young and didn't, right ? :) Thanks for coming by! Blessings!

Melanie! It's been so long since I've seen you! Glad you stopped by today! Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoy my stories! :) Hugs and blessings!

Hello Beth! I love the historicals, too when morals were higher and modesty took the day. It's so strange to think those days weren't THAT long ago! Seems like everything regarding integrity of life was so much better then. Thanks for you comment! Be blessed! :)

Hey, J.C. in Indiana! This series began in 1832 and I was excited to get to 1861 and the terrible days of the Civil War. Lends a lot of drama to an author! :) I have a battle --or skirmish-- of actual fighting, but not too much. More about how it affected those left behind at home and the men's new norm away at war. Blessings! And thanks for stopping by!

Angela in Kentucky! Glad you came by. I'd love for you to get to read JUST KIN! Blessings!

Unknown said...

Looking forward to reading “Just Kin”. I have enjoyed "Hearts Stolen", so I know that Just Kin will be a fabulous read.

Thank you Caryl for sharing the first page. Sounds very exciting as always.

Thank you, Caryl for your wonderful and God inspiring novels.



Lucy in Ontario, Canada.

Caryl McAdoo said...

Hi Lucy! Is it cold in Canada today? It's cold in Texas...well...in the low fifties! Thanks for stopping by and commenting here! Since you met little Charley, I think you would enjoy getting to know him all grown up :) Hugs and blessings!

Mary Preston said...

This does sound like a marvellous read.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

It is very HOT here today. I think we may be in for a summer storm this afternoon.

Janis said...

I love you, Grami! Someday I'll write that book but I'll definitely need your help. A retreat. Isn't that what's coming up? :)

Anonymous said...

Lena, this is such an interesting and fun interview with Caryl.

Caryl, I admire your energy so much! Your love of God is so alive in everything you say and do. You (and God alone) truly know how much you mean to me. I am looking forward to reading "Just Kin!"

Your salvation story is a bit like mine, I was 12. Your fall on the bleacher steps could have been me too - I am a creative klutz and always seem to have to do my pratfalls in front of a crowd. Joyce * Heartwings

BJM said...

I would love to read this. I enjoy historical fiction.

BJM in SC

sm said...

I'm a mom with 2 wayward sons who were taught about Jesus and Biblical values but have chosen to compromise and even reject it all. Thanks for this book and I'd love to win it. I enjoy your books. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com CA

Karen Sue Hadley said...

Caryl's books are wonderful and this one looks like it will be too.
karenskrayons(at)gmail(dot)com

kim hansen said...

Watching the show MERCY STREET on PBS so yes I do enjoy reading about the civil war too. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom. North Platte Nebraska

Beth Erin said...

I've read most of the series and I'm looking forward to Charley's story! Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway!
betherin02(at)gmail(dot)com
West Salem, IL

Anonymous said...

love a good war book! Shelia from Mississippi

Brenda Arrington said...

Book sounds very interesting. Thanks for the chance to win. I enjoyed the interview.
Brenda in VA

Patty said...

I've read The first book in this series , and have several of the others. Would love to continue my collection!

Patty in SC

Abigail Mitchell said...

Haven't read any of your books yet. This one looks awesome though!
Please enter me.
Blanch, NC

Unknown said...

Hi Caryl, Yes it has been cold this week and we will be getting snow sometime soon. Winter finally appeared on our front door with a vengeance. I am looking forward to getting reacquainted with Charley and Lacey Rose. Excited..

Thank you for the adventure and to our Heavenly Father.

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your great contest!!
Conway, SC.

Kathy A said...

Oh,my Caryl! What a tumble you had! That is precisely the reason I don't climb up in bleachers any more - a fear of falling. I really liked reading your interview. What a salvation experience! I agree, Satan can never get you to doubt your salvation when you know that you have been redeemed and bought with the blood of Christ. Praise God!

I really liked hearing about your visits to the elementary schools. That would be so much fun to do. I would love to hear one of your singing presentations. How do we find out more about your writer workshops?

I really like the excerpt from your first chapter. Now my curiosity is piqued?
Please include me in your giveaway contest.

Thank you so much Caryl for offering your book for the giveaway and Thenk you Lena for hosting Caryl on your blog.

Kathy from Neosho, MO

Caryl McAdoo said...

Hello friends! Just got home today from my beloved's day surgery. It was a long day in Paris because of his pacemaker/defibrillator. They had to put a magnet on it in ER so it wouldn't shock him while they were cutting. Then we had to wait for a man to come all the way from Dallas to turn it back on :) Sorry to be answering so late in the day :) Thank you all so much for coming by and your comments! HUGS and BLESSINGS!

Mary! You're in Australia! I had a dear pen pal there for years and we so enjoyed writing back and forth. She sent me hankies with Kiwi birds and I sent her Texas souvenirs, and she read all my books! Maybe we could be pen pals, too!

Janis, I love you, too, my beautiful Snow White! A retreat! Yes! That's what we'll have! And soon! :)

Joyce, dear Joyce. What a blessing you are. Your encouragement and support overwhelm me! I am so thankful God has bound our hearts in love!

BJM :) I've never been to South Carolina, but have heard how beautiful a state it is! I do hope you get to read my Texas Romances and enjoy them :)

sm, Hold fast to your faith and God's promise that if we train our children up in the way they should go, when they are old, they WILL NOT depart from it! Now I cannot tell you how many years of life comprises 'old' in this case. But I'm 65 and I do not feel old. I still have one prodigal son and other children who are making/have made some seriously flawed decisions...but we can never let go of our Hope in Him. Nothing is too difficult for Him either! :) HUGS! {{{{{{{sm}}}}}}}

Karen, thank you, thank you for your kind words!

Kim! I'm so glad you mentioned it. I turned it on immediately to see if I could catch any and they're playing it through again! I have it recorded! :) I don't have a WHOLE lot of the war in Just Kin, but enough to flavor it and there is a battle.

Beth! I love to hear you testify! :) tee hee hee! I'm so glad that you've enjoyed my stories! Blessings!

Sheila :) As I was telling Kim, there's a touch of war. I think you definitely get the flavor of it and how it affected those left at home.

Brenda, you are so welcome! I love giving books away...were I independently wealthy... I'd have so much fun blessing everyone with free stories!

Hi Patty :) I have so enjoyed writing this series so much. I love the characters and so enjoy spending time with them :)

Abigail! A new reader for my stories! And a new author for you! It's like a marriage made in heaven. HUGS!

Lucy! I hope you'll love him as much as a young man :)

Sharon, consider yourself entered! I hope you get to read Just Kin :)

Kathy...though I thought I'd never go to the top again...last week there I was on the top row...but I was SO CAREFUL every step. I launched a book about writing "Story & Style, The Craft of Writing Creative Fiction" this past June. And WordWyse Expos debut next month with Navigating the Indie Marketplace...but I have writing expos planned as well. You may find more information at http://www.WordWyse.com In each book, I include the first chapter of the next as an enticement. But I've found readers fall in love with Henry Buckmeyer (fashioned after my wonderful husband) and all his family :)

Love and hugs and blessings to you all! If you don't win this book...there's a blog tour that started yesterday and I'm giving more away :) Check on my FB page :)

Anonymous said...


Hi Lena. Thanks for having Caryl as your guest author. I don't know how she writes so many books so fast. I have some of her books. Hi C Don't know how you write books so fast, but it is neat you can. Good to see you here. I am behind on this series so would love to win this one. GOD bless both you ladies and Caryl i am so thankful you din't break anything by falling at the game. Maxie (TX.) > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

rubynreba said...

I loved the basketball story. I can just see me doing that at my granddaughter's game!
Beth from IA

Terrill R. said...

I'm a little behind in this series, but desperate to catch up, because Just Kin sounds so good. Great cover. Caryl, thank you for your transparent faith and it's beautiful inclusion in all of your writing.

Terrill - WA