FALLING FOR YOU - Six Contemporary Christian Authors - One Free Ebook

Six brand-new, never released before contemporary Christian romance novellas by beloved inspirational romance authors!

Heather Gray – An Informal Date

What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

When I started out writing my first novel, I didn't realize that some themes were going to stick with me through all of my books. By the sixth or seventh novel, though, I caught on to the fact that a couple of subjects were obviously near and dear to my  heart. (What can I say? If I hadn't been so focused on writing, I might have figured it out by book 2!) Sometimes these topics pop up in a short passing conversation between secondary or tertiary characters, and sometimes they show themselves as major issues tackled by the main characters.

As Christians - especially when we've been in church a long time - we sometimes develop certain expectations. We get used to seeing God a certain way, and we forget to look for Him with fresh eyes, eyes of wonder. I know because I've been there. The light bulb went off one day, though, and I realized that I could no longer put God in a box. After all, without Him, there wouldn't even be a box.

The overarching theme that ties my body of work together is all about that box. I like to see people - whether real or fictional - driven to a deeper relationship with their Creator instead of hung up on the rules of Christian living that we've created for ourselves. (Don't get me wrong. God's commands to us are for our own good. Those aren't the rules I'm talking about here.) I want people to experience their relationship with Christ in a real way, a way that changes not just their eternity, but that also impacts every single day they spend here on earth, every relationship they have, and every life event - good or bad - that they experience. I want people to look for God everywhere and not just in that silly old box.

  

 

Elizabeth Maddrey – Operation Back-to-School

How do you choose the settings for each book?

Most of the time, I set my books in the Washington D.C. area. In part, this is because that's where I live, so I'm familiar with all the neat things that can be included in a story to make it come alive. And the traffic. You can't write a book set here without mentioning the traffic. But I've also set a book in Ireland, because I love Ireland and it was another situation where the setting simply needed to be in a story. And I'm slowly branching out. My next series is going to surround a woman renovating a gilded age mansion, and you just don't find those here in the suburbs, so I'm moving into the mountains of southern Virginia for that, and looking forward to the challenge.

 

 

  

Krista Phillips – A (Sorta) Southern Serenade

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write romance with a splash of humor. I'm a romantic at heart and always have been, so writing romance comes naturally! And there's just something beautiful about the process of two hearts finding a home together! And goodness, I think laughter is such a GOOD medicine, and I personally read for pleasure, so my hope and prayer is that readers enjoy a bit of a comical yet wholesome entertainment when they read by books! If I can make someone smile at the end of a hard day when they pick up my book, then I'm delighted!!

 

 

Ginger Solomon – Learning from Experience

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 an evening with Ted Dekker (and his family). After hearing him speak at the ACFW conference and again in Allen Arnold’s class, I find his relationship with God fascinating. To be truthful I did beforehand, too. He seems to have connected with the Father in a way that draws me to explore my Creator in a deeper way-to move outside of what I’ve been taught and learn what is TRUTH. Of course, if this were to ever happen, I’d be so tongue-tied, I probably wouldn’t be able to say a word.

 

Carole Towriss – The Other Brother

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

At the beginning of next year, I have my fourth biblical fiction coming out. It’s about Caleb’s daughter, Acsah. Her very short story—five verses—is told twice in Scripture, in Judges and Joshua. Her famous dad offered her as a prize to the man who could conquer a certain city. While that may be appalling to us, that was perfectly in keeping with the times. Caleb appeared in all three of my other books, as a minor character, and I felt I had to explain why he would do something that might seem so “heavy-handed.” So I set it up that he did this because she had already turned down five other men. He needs to see her married to a man of God, and soon. She, on the other hand, wants nothing less than to marry a warrior, soooo … therein lies the conflict. That’s all in the first few pages, so I haven’t spoiled anything! If you know the Bible story, you know she marries her cousin, Othniel, the first judge of Israel, and considered to be the standard for all other judges to follow.

    

Marion Ueckermann – A Hero for Heather

What is your current work in progress? What’s next?

I’m currently working on a fun Christmas story set in Dublin, Ireland, titled Ginger and Brad’s House. This story will release in the Frosting and Flurries box set during October. Here’s a snippet of the WIP blurb:

A gingerbread house competition at their local church to raise funds for the homeless has Ginger and Brad locking heads once again, both determined to win. When a dear old saint challenges them that the Good Book says the first shall be last, and the last first, Ginger has to decide whether to back down from competing with Brad and embrace the true meaning of Christmas—peace on earth, goodwill to all men. Even to the Irishman she’d love to hate.

After Ginger and Brad’s story, I’ll be writing Books 2, 5 and 6 of my Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters, of which Book 3 is in the Falling for You box set. Next year I plan to write Book 7, the final story in this series, and then I plan to begin working on an exciting 10 book series set in coastal towns in South Africa.

 

 

Get your copy today to fall in love with these fall romances.

  

Thank you, ladies, for sharing this new collection with me and my readers.

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

Falling for You: Six Christian Romances to Warm Your Heart - 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 or country if outside North America. (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

AN UNLIKELY MATCH - Lisa Crane - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, Lisa Crane is a dear, dear friend of mine. She’s been a member of the critique group that meets in my home for several years. My hairdresser daughter introduced her to me and we really clicked. I love her style of writing. She writes romantic comedy. And this book is marvelous. I think you’ll love it, too.

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

So many reasons. I’m a romantic at heart. I had a wonderful example in my parents, who were married nearly 57 years before they passed away. Their love shone through every word, every action. I specifically write Christian romance because I feel our society has lost the meaning of romance. I like to say I’m taking romance back, one love story at a time. I also feel very strongly about Christians being portrayed as human—flawed beings who face temptations just like everyone else.

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

That would be a tie between the days my husband (fiancé at the time) and my two children were baptized into Christ. After that, the day I married the love of my life.

How has being published changed your life?

Well, for one thing, my teenage daughter likes telling people, “My mom’s a writer.” Seriously, though, my writing has brought so many people into my life that I’d never have connected with otherwise. I love making new friends, even if we only connect via social media.

What are you reading right now?

 I just started reading The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate. And by started, I mean I’ve had time to read the first few paragraphs.

You’ll love that book. What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a novella called Thank Heaven for Little Girls. The heroine, Charley Jane, is a tomboy through and through. Raised by her widowed father and older brother, she doesn’t really even know how to be a girl. After finally admitting she’s in love with her boss, Jake, she allows her friends to give her advice on landing the man of her dreams. It’s going to be a wild ride for poor Charley. And Jake? Well, he’s not going to know what hit him.

What would be your dream vacation?

This is actually a tough question for me, because I’m such a homebody. I love my crazy, noisy, cluttered home with the dogs, the cat, the kids, and my husband. And I’m a born and bred Texan, so I’m pretty partial to staying in the Lone Star State. If I had to choose, I’d say a log cabin high on a wooded mountain. A big stone fireplace, lots of big windows to see the stars and snow through, gallons of hot chocolate … sounds like a setting for a good romance, doesn’t it?

Yes, it does. How do you choose your settings for each book?

As I mentioned, I’ve lived in Texas my whole life. Specifically, I’ve lived in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. I’ve traveled in all directions—south Texas, west Texas, east, and north. I write about the kinds of people and places I know. Oh, I may create a fictional town, like Cupid’s Hollow in Love’s Aim, but that town was still in Texas. I draw from my own life for most of my settings and characters.

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

This is really hard to answer. After thinking about this for a couple of days, the answer I finally settled on surprised me. I decided I’d want to spend an evening with someone whose values seem to be directly opposite from my own. I’d like to understand why they believe some of the things they do, and if they truly do believe all of them. Specifically, the two people I thought of were Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. I’d like to know if our values and beliefs are really that far apart, or has the media so twisted what we all see until the truth is no longer clear.

Interesting. I’d like to be a fly on the wall in that meeting. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love just about any type of craft. The problem lies in the fact that I have great vision, but am sadly lacking in the skills department. I know what I want my finished project to look like, but apparently there’s a disconnect between my head and my hands. It’s kind of comical sometimes.

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

Truly? I’d have to say finding the time. With a husband, a son, a daughter in high school, and a full-time job, it can be difficult to find the time. Fortunately, my family understands when I put my ear buds in and sit down at my laptop.

What advice would you give to a beginning author? Listen to more experienced authors.

This has been the one thing that has improved my writing more than any other thing I’ve done. And understand they’re trying to make you a better writer, not just trying to change your voice.

Tell us about the featured book.

An Unlikely Match centers around Abilene Townsend, who runs a successful matchmaking business. She loves helping other people find their happily-ever-afters, and she’s good at it. Enter Grayson McMormick, a reporter who’s been given a great story about a scam artist who runs a dating service. The problem arises when Gray is given the wrong name of the business in question. He sets out to investigate and hopefully bring the scheming cheat to justice. The more time he spends with Abilene, however, the more difficult he finds it to believe she’s the woman who cheated someone out of thousands of dollars. The more time he spends with her, the harder he falls.

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

Abilene Townsend wanted to pull her hair out in fistfuls. She wanted to throw things and kick furniture. To lie on the floor and scream. Instead, she rose, smoothed her skirt, and walked out to the reception area of My Other Half, Inc., where three individuals waited.

She offered a polite, remorseful smile, wondering if she appeared as stressed as she felt. “Good morning.”

The trio turned their eyes to her.

“I’d like to apologize up front for any inconvenience. My assistant’s husband was unexpectedly reassigned, and I haven’t found a replacement yet. I’ve been working with temps from an agency, and things are a little rough around here.” She raised her hands in a penitent gesture. “As a result, all three of you were scheduled for the same time. You’re certainly free to wait, but my appointments can run as long as an hour sometimes, especially since each of you are here for the first meeting. If you don’t want to wait—and I understand if you don’t—I’ll be happy to reschedule you for another time. And again, I am so sorry.”

“Which of us was scheduled first?” The slender woman’s brittle voice echoed her perturbed expression.

“There’s really no way for me to know. I believe Mr. McCormick was on the books first, but I’m not entirely certain.”

“I’m Gregg McCormick.” One of the two men in the waiting area rose. A bit taller than Abilene, with a slim build, he wore an immaculate suit, shoes so shiny she could see her reflection in the toes, and a perfectly knotted power tie. Each dark strand of his expertly trimmed hair lay exactly in its spot. He smiled, revealing—unsurprisingly—a set of perfectly even, white teeth.

And so it begins. Where does it go from here? Lisa, how can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be reached by email at happyheart1993@yahoo.com. I’m on Facebook as Lisa Miller Crane, and on Instagram and Twitter as @happyheart1993. My books are on Amazon (Kindle) under Lisa Crane. I’m also on Goodreads as Lisa J. Crane. I love, love, love to hear from readers.

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing this new book with us.

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

An Unlikely Match

Comments Conversation Starter Questions: Do you like reading romantic comedy? Do you like books set in Texas?

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 or country if outside North America. (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

CASTLES IN THE CLOUDS - Myra Johnson - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve known Myra Johnson through ACFW for a long time. I’m thrilled to share her new release with you.

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

Wow, ask the hardest questions first! All I know is that I have to write the stories that tug at my heart. Historical or contemporary, romance or women’s fiction, if I’m not emotionally connected to the characters and their issues in some tangible way, I can’t make them believable for my readers. Since I’m (mostly) a seat-of-the-pants writer, I do a lot of listening to my characters. As they tell me who they are and what they want most in life, their stories take shape on the page. Honestly, how it all happens, this thing we call “writing a book,” is a mystery to me, and I relish every minute of the discovery process!

That is so true of us SOTP writers. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Another hard question, with too many possible answers! I’m just going to say the day I married my husband. We’ll soon celebrate 45 years of marriage, and though it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, our commitment to each other is solid. He’s my confidant, my #1 cheerleader, and my very best friend.

How has being published changed your life?

The simple answer is that I’m no longer writing only for my own pleasure or when I feel inspired. Now I have an obligation to meet deadlines while attempting to keep both editors and readers happy. I have to be much more disciplined about keeping to a daily writing schedule. And it’s no longer just about writing. I have to allot time for doing research, crafting proposals, completing edits and revisions, etc. Then there are all the related marketing and promotion activities, including guest blog interviews like this one, blogging with my Seekerville clan, and staying active on social media.

What are you reading right now?

Not sure what I’m going to pick up next, but I just finished reading Charles Martin’s latest, Long Way Gone. I like to read in a variety of genres, something a little different each time. I always lean toward stories with intriguing characters and emotional depth.

What is your current work in progress?

I recently sent my editor the next book in the Flowers of Eden series, which will be Rose’s story. I’m now working on a contemporary women’s fiction manuscript about estranged sisters healing from difficult family issues.

What would be your dream vacation?

Anything tropical, but with all the amenities. Sandy beaches lapped by crystal-blue waves, a plush hotel room with a great view, no crowds, plenty of time to relax and enjoy.

Sounds wonderful. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I prefer to write about settings I have some familiarity with, which is one reason my Flowers of Eden historical romance series, as well as the previous series, Till We Meet Again, are both set in Arkansas. We’ve vacationed in the Hot Springs area for many years, and the more we visited, the more my interest in the local history grew.

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

It wouldn’t be just one person, but my two wonderful daughters. They’re both busy moms now, and it’s very rare that we have some quality time for adult conversation. I miss those moments!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I’m not really a “hobby” person, as the business of writing takes up a huge chunk of each day. I do enjoy singing in our church choir, and I love spending time with my grandkids. I love animals, especially our two very pampered rescue dogs. For a break from writing, sometimes I open up PhotoShop and get creative with photo images.

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

I’m such a private person that the hardest thing for me is promotion. In fact, I’m sure there are a number of people in the wider circle of my acquaintances who haven’t yet discovered I’m a writer. In many ways, social media has made it easier for introverts like me to be more open and engaging. I can coax out my “inner extrovert” much more comfortably online than in face-to-face conversations.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write something every day. Study the craft, especially books like Stanley Williams’s The Moral Premise and Dwight Swain’s Techniques of the Selling Writer, along with any of James Scott Bell’s books on the writing craft. And don’t neglect grammar and spelling, because first impressions count and writers should have a level of mastery over the most basic tools of our trade. I’d also extend a standing invitation to visit Seekerville, where we cover a writing-related topic at least five days a week, and the archives are filled with posts on the basics of writing.

Tell us about the featured book.

Castles in the Clouds. Larkspur Linwood, the second of the Linwood sisters introduced in The Sweetest Rain, is a young woman who yearns to become a teacher. Young and impressionable, Lark mistakes a college professor’s interest for romantic love. When he offers her the chance to join his efforts serving at a mission a school in Kenya, she pictures herself bringing the light of knowledge to hundreds of African children eager to learn. But the menial tasks she’s assigned at the school aren’t so different from life on the Arkansas tenant farm where she grew up. Worse, her fragile heart is broken when she realizes her feelings for the charismatic professor are not returned. Miserable and deflated, she gives up and returns home.

Professor Anson Schafer is partially blinded from an eye infection he contracted while serving at the Kenyan mission school and must leave Africa. He visits Lark’s college to recruit teachers for the founding of schools here in the U.S. for those struggling through the Depression. Still stinging from her experience in Kenya, Lark is reluctant to risk more disappointment, but she is drawn to Anson’s cause and soon joins him in his efforts. As they work side by side, Lark begins to realize that the deepest satisfaction comes not so much from what you do, or where you do it, but from the attitude of your heart. She also slowly realizes that the gentle, determined Anson is the true love of her life.

Please give us the first page of the book.

May 1932
Henderson State Teachers College

Arkadelphia, Arkansas

A bad case of jitters had Larkspur Linwood by the scruff of the neck. She’d passed all her exams, hadn’t she? With flying colors, every one. Then why this curt summons to Professor Keene’s office?

She halted outside his closed door, a stack of library books due back today clutched firmly against her chest. Professor Keene hadn’t specified a time, only that she must see him this afternoon at her earliest convenience.

Perhaps she should deliver the books first and come back later. Much later, when he’d likely be anxious to get home to his supper and wouldn’t lecture her overly long about...whatever this was about!

The bald truth was the man both enchanted and terrified her. His smile could change in an instant from warm invitation to a sanctimonious smirk. In her two years at Henderson State Teachers College, Lark had been the unwitting victim of both.

Eyes squeezed shut, mouth in a twist, she prepared for a hasty escape.

The door swung open.

“Miss Linwood. Please come in.”

He would look so fine today, dark hair slicked back and shiny, broad shoulders tugging against the fabric of his starched white shirt. With a gentlemanly sweep of his arm, Professor Keene motioned Lark into the office. He relieved her of the library books and plopped them on a low bookshelf by the door, then held a chair while she sat.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website:  www.myrajohnson.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyraJohnsonAuthor

Twitter: @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen

Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/MyraJohnsonAuthor

Instagram:  mjwrites

Pinterest:  mjwrites

Seekerville: www.seekerville.blogspot.com

Thank you, Myra, for sharing this story with me and my readers. (Just a side note, I attended a few classes at Henderston State Teachers College when I was a student at Ouachita Baptist College across the highway.)

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Castles in the Clouds - Christianbook,com
Castles in the Clouds (Flowers of Eden) - Amazon.com paperback
Castles in the Clouds (Flowers of Eden Book 2) - Kindle
Castles in the Clouds: Flowers of Eden, Book 2 - Audio

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 or country if outside North America. (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

THE LOVE BUG - Jamie Bryant - One Free Book

Welcome back, Jamie. What is your inspiration for writing?

This particular book, The Love Bug, was inspired by the word of God in Galatians 5:22, 23. As I read that passage one day my mind imagined characters and how they could live out the nine fruits of the Spirit. I wrote down the nine titles that day, nearly eighteen years ago.

Since you primarily write children’s books, do you ever have children read and offer suggestions in the editing process?

Absolutely! I have nine grandchildren and all of them have had input in the books I’ve had published this year. My favorite conversation to date is when two of my granddaughters told me what they loved about my book. Next they had me sit down while they gently shared their suggestions for correction. It was adorable and great feedback.

What legacy do you hope to leave in your writing for your children and grandchildren?

Eventually I would love to leave a few dollars from sales of the books, but mostly just the laughter, the fun, and getting to read “Grandma’s heart.”

Does your writing make you laugh out loud?

Most certainly at times. I smile a lot too especially when I see the illustrations complete.

Aren’t there enough children’s books already out there?

Absolutely Not!

Name a children’s book that makes you smile.

Without question, Clifford, The Big Red Dog.

If a children’s book was written about you, what would the title be and why?

She Saw It All. I tend to see everything, especially people. I always notice the person who just walked in a room that no one is talking to. I notice a family in the distance who are having a disagreement. I notice children sitting, reading, and playing. I notice when someone is not themselves. I just see things, and I’m sure it’s a gift from the Lord to notice especially when people are hurting and try to help.

5 Quick Answers:

Salt or Pepper?                                  

My answer:  Pepper

Coffee or Tea?                                   

My answer:  Coffee

Blue or Red?                          

My answer:  Blue

Breakfast or Dinner?                         

My answer: Breakfast for Dinner :-)

Fishing or Sitting on a Beach? 

My answer: Fishing Every time!

When did you know you would be a writer?

Always I believe. I’ve always had something to say. (just ask my family and friends) I journal. I save every card and letter. I have all my high school scrapbooks, and even a calendar of what took place day by day when I was 17 years old dating my future husband.

What’s in your heart that hasn’t made it to paper yet? 

A novel about my grandparents.

I’d love to see you writing that. What would you like to tell us about the featured book? 

The Love Bug is a story about a very special lady bug, that has black hearts instead of black dots on her little body. She gets made fun of by a sassy Bumblebee, and her mother has the opportunity to teach her about the fruit of the Spirit “love” from the Bible.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: jamiebryantbooks.com

E-mail: authorjamiebryant@gmail.com

Facebook@jamiebryantbooks

Twitter@readjamiebryant

Instagram@jamiebryantsbooks

Thank you for sharing this new book with us. My great grandson's loved the first one. I'm sure they'll love this one, too.

Readers, here is a link to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

The Love Bug (The Fruit of the Spirit Collection Book 1) - Kindle

The print book is available here:
Anchordistributors.com

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 or country if outside North America. (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

DOWN SQUASH BLOSSOM ROAD - Janet Chester Bly - One Free Book

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

One of the toughest challenges we face on this earth is doing relationships. Whether fiction or nonfiction, my books deal with the tough stuff of figuring out how to get along with others. Also, Bly Books fiction evolves around the historical and contemporary lifestyles of western culture.

We’ve always lived in and traveled the many highways and dirt road trails of the western states. This was my late husband Stephen Bly’s passion and I caught it from him. He knew the history of the Old West and could recall most every detail he ever studied or learned. In keeping with the western theme brand, but staying in a more familiar and doable zone for me, my mystery fiction stories happen in a contemporary western setting. The most recent solo series, The Trails of Reba Cahill, takes place the summer of 1991.

Most all my nonfiction books go back to the theme of tackling relationships, whether devotionals or family topics or themes such as The Heart of a Runaway.

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

Maybe it was the day Stephen received nine book contracts from Crossway Books on the very same day … six of them for the Nathan T. Riggins Series (8-12 yrs old) and three for the first of the Stuart Brannon Series (which eventually became a total of seven). We made a habit of eating a steak dinner at our favorite restaurant whenever we got a contract. We weren’t quite sure how to properly celebrate such an incredible multiple bonanza. So we included all the members of our family in the outing—three sons and their wives and the grandkids. A sweet memory! Also, that day plunged us into fulltime writing.

How has being published changed your life?

Being published confirmed my God-given task in how I could communicate God’s truth—through the written page. I knew where to invest my time, strength, and gifts to learning how to improve the messages He created me to share. Also, I’ve gained so many friendships that otherwise would not have been possible—readers, other writers, as well as various folks in the publishing field.

If I had never been published, I would presume writing wasn’t for me. I’d have pursued other avenues of ministry. Now that I’m in my senior years, I still plug away with stories and projects and keep chasing the sparks of ideas that might work in print.

What are you reading right now?

A variety of books that make an intriguing combination. 1) The Revelation Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Prophetic Book of the End of Times, by Dr. Henry M. Morris, founder of the Institute of Creation Research. 2) I’m re-reading Heaven by Randy Alcorn. 3) The last three novels I just finished were very different, but kept my interest and impressed me with the likeable characters, settings, and writing style: From Russia With Love, The Heirs of Anton, Book 1, by Susan May Warren; A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley; and Silenced, Alaskan Courage Series, Book 4, by Dani Pettrey—loved the uniqueness of the rock climbing skills of the main character in this one.

What is your current work in progress?

Now that Down Squash Blossom Road, Book 2 of the Trails of Reba Cahill Series has been launched, I hope to re-release about nine more of our out-of-print children’s books, including The Crystal Blake Adventure Series (9-12 yrs old). Then sometime next Spring, I’ll be adapting several former devotional books into a revision entitled Grace Spilling Over/True Stories of God’s Tender Mercies.

As soon as I’ve completed these projects, I’ll begin Book 3 of The Trails of Reba Cahill with the working title: Beneath a Camperdown Elm. Most of the research has been done for this conclusion of Reba Cahill’s story and a number of scenes have already been rumbling around in my mind. In one way, it’s hard to wait to get started with the next book in the series. In another, I truly need the break from the tyranny of that consuming pace and pursue some semblance of a social life. With the other writing projects, I can have a more relaxed schedule.

What would be your dream vacation?

My late husband and I traveled so many places. We visited every state in the U.S., including Hawaii, traveled across Canada, and all over Europe. We enjoyed all those sights and adventures so much. However, our favorite trips happened in his pickup when we had a general direction in mind, but no appointments or definite destination. We pulled off every side road and into any town that got our attention. So much of our creative writing ideas were generated during those long hours of sightseeing. Just thinking about it makes me miss again my travel buddy. Hard to imagine a dream vacation without him.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

First of all, it has to be in one of the western states. That narrows it down a bit.

Second, it has to be somewhere I’ve spent some time or will be headed to. The beginning scenes in Wind in the Wires, Book 1, Trails of Reba Cahill, happen in a fictional town in north-central Idaho, high on the mountain top Camas Prairie, just like the one I live in. So, the setting’s one I experience every day. No one can tell me I didn’t get it right.

But then one of the characters, an elderly man named Seth Stroud, insists on taking a long journey in a Model T to Goldfield, Nevada. My heroine Reba Cahill is nudged to go with him. That required more work. I had to take the same trek myself. Much of that research I could also use in another road trip, for Down Squash Blossom Road, Book 2 in the series.

The two cozy mystery fiction series co-authored with Stephen were placed in towns we visited and enjoyed. Fox Island, Washington; Jerome, Arizona; and Columbia Falls, Montana, were all part of the Hidden West Series, contemporary mysteries. We set the historical Carson City Chronicles in a Nevada town near Lake Tahoe, a wonderful place to vacation while doing research.

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

Whoever is reading this blog right now. Would love to sit with you, listen to your stories, and empathize with your troubles. I’d like to find out who you are, what you’ve done, and what you still want to do. I love meeting new people and finding out interesting things about them. There are always pleasant surprises. And who knows? You might be the inspiration for a character in a novel sometime.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I used to have all sorts of hobbies, such as making wreaths, pottery, and embroidery. But all of those fell to the wayside when I started writing. Besides, I overdid it on all those activities. I made so many items for friends and family and myself, yet wasn’t interested in traveling to fairs and bazaars to sell them. There was no point in continuing.

Any extra time these days is given to library board (as president) and church board (as clerk) and ministering with the church worship team and choir (as director).  

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

Readers have told me that I tend to have too many people and names in my stories and sometimes they get lost. I have tried to correct that by cutting the number of characters, such as totally deleting lesser important ones or combining some of them. I also added a Character Names List to the newest novel just released, Down Squash Blossom Road. I am hoping that will help!

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Today is so different. Anyone can publish a book about anything, anytime. That’s the benefit and also the bane. If you want to become a good writer and find a sizeable reader base, steady yourself to be able to take critique. Develop a team that will provide helpful, honest feedback and who understands your genre and writing style. That may take some time and testing. Determine to improve your skills with each project and welcome evaluation.

If you’re not under contract with a mainline publisher who has their own editor, I recommend you hire at least one pro. Trading editing favors with other writers can also be very helpful.

Stephen and I had a rule that either of us could edit the other with any amount of red marks we felt were warranted. However, the creator of the project had the last say on what stayed and what got deleted. We learned from each other that way over the years. We each had a different approach and gifts that complemented the team effort.

Tell us about the featured book.

Cowgirl Reba Cahill’s schedule is full. Save the family ranch. Free her mom from a mental institute. Solve a murder and kidnapping. Evade a stalker. Can she also squeeze in romance? 

Reba tried to focus on ranch duties, to help out her widowed grandmother. But a crippled Champ Runcie returns to Road’s End, Idaho in a wheelchair and seeks revenge for the accident that put him there. He blames Reba’s horse. Meanwhile, a letter from her estranged mom forces her and Grandma Pearl back on the road: I can leave now. Come get me. Love, Mom 

When they arrive in Reno, her mother issues a demand and refuses to return to Idaho. They head west instead. In California, Reba’s friend Ginny’s marriage is on the rocks. The family business is threatened. And squabbles turn deadly.

Reba digs deep for stamina to forge a relationship with her mom and escape a crazed man’s obsession. She also faces an uncertain future as a trainer offers her another horse … and maybe more.

Please give us the first page of the book.

July 4, 1991, Road’s End, Idaho

The dark speck in the sky seemed to float toward them, then swooshed at a fast clip. Or so it seemed to the Welcome Home party of several hundred Road’s End residents scattered along the field behind the Grange Hall.

“Here he comes!” Six-year-old Kaitlyn Runcie clutched handpicked bunches of Syringa and Indian Paintbrush for her great-grandpa flying in the sky. Three-year-old brother William crowded beside her on a child-sized tractor.

As the helicopter droned closer, Reba Cahill followed the gradual, graceful descent with a mix of trepidation and curiosity. Her head throbbed and her stomach cramped. Soon they would greet Champ Runcie for the first time since his tragic fall over a cliff in the Nevada desert, while riding Reba’s favorite black horse Johnny Poe, and despite a protest and warning. This grand appearance of the city’s leading citizen incited excitement and angst for them all amidst the July 4th city-wide celebrations.

He was supposed to arrive in time to be Grand Marshal in the Main Street parade, same as the past nine years. But when word arrived of a delay, Grandson Tim Runcie and wife Sue Anne took the honors on his behalf, riding and waving with their children in Champ’s 1957 white Cadillac. The Mathwig triplets who owned the Road’s End Hotel rode horseback behind them on their proudest possessions, sidesaddles with plush red seats. Afterward, parade participants mulled around to wait for the mayor’s homecoming, including rodeo royalty and high school band members.

The woman who raised Reba clutched the arm of old friend and temporary fill-in Cahill Ranch foreman, Vincent Quaid. “Can you imagine? Paralyzed from the waist down.” Grandma Pearl whispered the diagnosis everyone now knew.

Download Now! 5 Free Chapters of Down Squash Blossom Road, Book 2!

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Thank you, Janet, for sharing this new book with us.

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Down Squash Blossom Road (Trails of Reba Cahill) (Volume 2) - Paperback
Down Squash Blossom Road (Trails of Reba Cahill Book 2) - Kindle

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