THE LOST GENERATION - Erica Marie Hogan - One Free Book

Welcome, Erica. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I believe I put a lot of myself into my characters. They come directly from my heart onto the page, so while they’re different from me, they each have a piece of my personality and my faith.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’m not sure I’ve done it yet. ;) I suppose you could say the time I did an “I Love Lucy” skit for my church in which I ate pickles with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and gummy worms is pretty quirky …

Yuck, but probably very funny. When did you first discover you were a writer?

When I was ten-years-old. It took a couple of people telling me I had something special to realize that my urge to write and create characters others could love might actually go somewhere. I’ve been writing ever since.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Anything from Historical Fiction to Speculative to Contemporary! All with a romance intertwined, of course, but I could read anything. J

I hope you’ll try out some of my historicals. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

It’s not easy! Sometimes a day catches up to me with work and writing. Days don’t always seem long enough. But, at the end of the day, I remember God has given us the gift of time and as long as I don’t waste it, everything will work out fine.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Ooh! One of my favorite parts of writing! Sometimes, I just know my characters’ names. They pop into my head instantly. Other times, because of their personality, I have a harder time. Most times, I end up looking up the most popular names of the time period I’m writing in and look over the lists until one name sounds right.

I do that, but always take the age of the character into the mix, going back to the year of the person’s birth. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

That would be my debut novel, The Lost Generation! I wrote The Lost Generation a few years ago and then I let it sit. However, when I finished it, I knew in my heart it would be the first of my works to be published. I was so thrilled to be right.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

If I were an animal, I’d probably be a dog. I like to think of myself as being loyal and protective of the people I love. J

What is your favorite food?

Does chocolate count? ;) If not, definitely something Italian …

Of course, chocolate counts. It’s food for the body and emotional wellbeing. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

The “showing not telling” part of writing was the greatest problem for me. It took a long time to learn that and I still have some trouble with it today. But every day is a learning experience for me and I overcome the issues a little at a time.

That’s how we all do it. Tell us about the featured book.

The Lost Generation is a set during World War One. We follow three couples from three different countries who come together because of this Great War. As these six people, who were so unlikely to meet, come together, they witness the tragedy and despair of a generation of men and women who were lost from the years 1914-1918. They fight, falter, and find faith amidst the most trying of circumstances.

Please give us the first page of the book.

PROLOGUE

1918

I’m standing in a puddle of blood.

Sweat, smoke, gas, and screams. All overwhelm my senses as I clutch bandages in my fists and try to figure out where to go. But there is no place to go. Because they’re everywhere; all around me, begging for me to help as they die slowly before my eyes. A hand tugs on my sleeve and I turn. I’m numb, dissolving in a puddle of my own grief, but I force myself to move forward. I once thought that being a nurse would be fulfilling, that it would give me a purpose here. That I could help. But that dream of healing the sick is fading faster than I could have imagined.

“Bandages! Nurse, I need those bandages!” a doctor bellows from across the room.

I sprint toward him, even as my mind drifts back in time to the place that brought me here. It was a simple place, a place that broached no harm and where I never would have expected to find the devastation that is now wrapped around my heart. It was a small place; a warm place where my neighbors gathered to spend a few minutes of peace, joy and socializing.

The post office. Where thousands of letters exchange hands every day. Where packages arrive to bring joy to their recipients. Where my heart was shattered into a thousand pieces.

When I was a child, I used to think telegrams were good things. But my mother feared them, more than she feared anything in her life. I didn’t understand that. I didn't understand the terror of little white notes with my name typed harshly in black ink across the front. Now I do. I know the terror they hold; I understand why my mother hated them.

“Nurse!”

Against my will I am brought back to reality. I am forced to move forward, my shoes splashing in puddles of blood and muck as I come to the doctor’s side. He gives me the strangest look which I ignore. My mind is still elsewhere. On that small room back home where my world came crashing down on top of me.

The post office. I used to love it there.

Very interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have an author page on Facebook! I’m also on Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram. I’m still working on creating an author website. J

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericamariehoganauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricaHogan316

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14345233.Erica_Marie_Hogan

Thank you, Erica, for sharing this debut novel with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

The Lost Generation - Christianbook.com
The Lost Generation: A Novel of World War I - Amazon
The Lost Generation: A Novel of World War I - 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