Thursday, March 24, 2016

SHATTERED GLASS - Rich Bullock - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I first met Rich on the ACFW email loop before we met in person at a national ACFW conference in Dallas. I was excited when his first book came out. I’ve read a couple of his books, and love his writing style, his characters, and his romantic suspense plots.

Welcome, Rich. Interesting picture. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?
My typical themes run toward redemption, forgiveness, second chances, and trust. My latest touches on faith. However, I will say these themes are organic, emerging as the characters grow and overcome. I don’t know what the themes are before the story is told. Because they are subtle in that way, I’ve had some Christian readers ask for more Christian content. However, my target audience is not just Christians.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?
My newest book is Shattered Glass, the first in the Glass and Stone series.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?
I’d love to spend time with Brad Pitt, because I understand he has face blindness (prosopagnosia) where he has trouble recognizing people and distinguishing one person from another. I have a mild case of this, which has resulted in some pretty embarrassing moments when I failed to recognize people I’ve recently met but don’t know well.

I think most of us have a touch of that. I know I experienced it for a while after each of my knee replacement surgeries. I’m sure the anesthesia and pain drugs were a contributing factor. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
Wouldn’t it be fun to shadow Ulysses S. Grant for a few days? An interesting man in such troubling times. I recently read this quote by him: In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins. - Sounds like writing, doesn’t it? It’s the person who doesn’t give up who conquers.

That is so true. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
I recently heard an interview with some Mystery Writers of America Edgar award winners. While writing, they felt like their books were garbage (they used more colorful language!). And when they finished writing, it was an even bigger pile of garbage. One was an author who has successfully published over twenty books! Their point was, it’s all about what we do after that, our process which allows us to make something beautiful from the mess. All that comes from that final effort. Don’t quit too soon.

Tell us about the featured book.
Shattered Glass:
Lilly Hawthorne’s adoption five years ago is a rags-to-riches dream come true, complete with movie star mother and mega-producer father. But shortly before her eighteenth birthday, Lilly’s fairytale is destroyed when brutal attacks nearly kill her and threaten everything and everyone she holds dear.

Regardless of promises, Lilly quickly learns no one can truly protect her or her new family. She seeks expert training from a mysterious and deadly Russian woman, and prepares for what she fears will be a battle of life and death.

FBI Special Agent Kaden Hunt saved Lilly once, and he can’t forget his instant attraction to the young woman. Now on the trail of a cross-country serial killer, Kade and his team are closing in. But the closer they get, the more he fears the sadistic killer is targeting the one person for whom Kade will risk everything.

This story deals with self-defense, but it also shows dependence on others who care for us, and the faith to go on in the face of overwhelming odds.

Please give us the first page of the book.
November 4th was the night Lilly Glass’s world exploded.

Her sketchbook was spread across her lap, her box of colored pencils sharpened. After glancing again at the open art book from the school library, she used the light brown pencil and drew the first swaying line left to right, then curved it around and down. She compared her outline to the horse in the book. The shape of the back and hindquarters was the same.

Lilly repeated the process several more times, filling the page with flanks, withers, muzzles, knees, and hoofs. But her mind was on the arguing coming from the mobile home’s kitchen.

She was wondering if the nightly fight would spill into her tiny room, when a tap-tap rattled the cardboard covering her bedroom window, startling her. There hadn’t been real glass in the frame since last summer when Mom’s current boyfriend, Jerry, the one arguing in the other room, hurled a beer bottle at the outside of the single-wide in one of his rages.

The cardboard surface was covered with crayon drawings of horses, a whole herd of red, black, yellow-gold, white, and brown beasts running and prancing. The brown ones were her favorite because they matched the color of her hair.

Lilly peeled back the crinkled duct tape closure and swung the cardboard open. Her friend Tony poked his head in and hitched his chin toward the door of her room.

“You okay?”

Lilly followed his gaze to the thin door. Jerry had come home fifteen minutes ago, reeking of beer and perfume. Mom was waiting, fortified by her own bottle, purchased at the Gas-N-Go. The thin walls did nothing to contain their angry confrontation.

“Wanna come out?”

Tony’s tanned face withdrew into the night as Lilly climbed onto the low bookcase and swung her legs through the opening. She snatched a gray hooded sweatshirt off the bed before dropping out onto a stack of plastic crates. Even though the days were in the 50s and sometimes 60s, the November nights were cold. This morning, thin ice had skimmed the dog bowls outside nearly every trailer.

Although the dogs probably got cold at night, Lilly thought them the lucky ones—they got to spend more time outside than the kids.

I am eager for my copy of the book to arrive. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Facebook: /perilousfiction

Thank you for sharing this book with us. I know my readers are as eager as I am to dive right into the book.

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

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

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

would love to win Angela in KY

Linda Kish said...

Sounds like it will be exciting. Linda in CA

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Rich Bullock said...

Hi, all. Rich Bullock checking in this morning. I'm excited for people to hear Lilly Hawthorne's story in Shattered Glass.

Got a comment from a reader a couple of days ago: "Shattered Glass is fast paced and a great read! I just ordered the first three books in your first series."

By the way, my first book, Perilous Cove, is free for all ereaders. Download your copy and spread the word! Thanks.

Unknown said...

After a long hiatus from recreational reading, I started reading again a couple of years ago, and discovered Rich Bullock's series of books - what a great find! I've read them all now, and am really looking forward to this new series.

Johnny J.

Beth Gillihan said...

Sounds like an exciting book! Thanks for the chance to win!

Beth in Montana

Bakersdozen said...

I would love to read this book. It sounds like a good read.

Michelle
CA

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

My kind of a mystery very suspenseful.

Canada

Cindy W. said...

Sounds like a great suspense novel. I would love to win a copy. Thank you for the opportunity.

Blessings,
Cindy W. from Indiana

Deanna Stevens said...

I agree Lena I'm eager to dive into this one too!
Deanna S ~ Nebraska

Diana Flowers said...

A new-to-me author! Thanks so much for the interview, Rich and Lena! This book sounds intriguing and I would love the opportunity to read it! Love a good suspense! Will check out Perilous Cove and spread the word on FB! Thank you!

Diana in SC

kam110476 said...

Hi Rich & Lena! Other than the first two words of Shattered Glass being my birthday, it's already extremely intense, and I've always been a sucker for a suspenseful mystery w/ a little romance. In other words: I'm hooked!
Kristen in OK
Kam110476 at gmail dot com

kim hansen said...

Sounds like a good read. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom. NOrth Platte Nebraska.

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Kristen in OK shares my birthday (Nov. 4) and those words on the first page immediately caught my attention. This sounds like a great read!
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

GrandaddyA said...

Rich Bullock is a new author to me. I would love to read this book and get acquainted with his work.
Edward A in VA

Caryl Kane said...

YAY another new author for me to enjoy! Thanks!

Caryl K in TEXAS

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.

Rich Bullock said...

kam110476 & Connie - Glad I captured your birthdays. Bad day for Lilly Hawthorne, though. :-) Hey, this could be a new marketing tool: Start every chapter with a date--gotta be somebody's birthday!
Or maybe do a contest and the winner gets his or her birthday in the first line. Hmmm.

Brenda Arrington said...

I love to be introduced to new authors and can't wait to read 'Shattered Glass'.
Brenda in VA