Monday, February 26, 2018

KETURAH - Lisa T Bergren - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Lisa T Bergren has been one of my favorite authors for a long time. I’ve read both her novels for adults and her young adult series. The characters always grab me and take me along on their adventures. It’s as if I’m right there in that setting with them instead of someone who is outside looking in. I know you’ll love her writing, too.

Welcome back, Lisa. 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?
Keturah is a wounded woman. My daughter went through some trauma during her first year of college and I was really thinking about her healing journey as I wrote this novel. My parents and friends housed me during week-long writing stints. My family supported me through it all!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?
I don’t teach or speak! Too busy with just writing, running my husband’s business, planning a summer wedding for my daughter and building a house!

You do have your hands full. Blessings on you. If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?
Montana. Because it’s where my heart just sighs, “home,” every time I go. It was where I was born and spent every summer of my life ... up until about four years ago.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?
Read obsessively in the genre you want to write; break down your favorite novel in that genre, chapter by chapter, outlining both what the author did with character growth/setbacks and plot arc.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])
I’d probably invite all my author friends because we could talk shop and relate immediately, because we’re on the same path. And a great worship leader like Nicole Nordeman to lead us….or a team from Hillsong or Bethel.

I’d love to be included on that cruise. I love everything about it. Tell us about the featured book.
Keturah is the first in The Sugar Baron’s Daughters trilogy, and centers on the eldest, who has sworn off men and is going where no woman has gone before ... to save her father’s dying plantation. She is a headstrong, wounded woman, and finds she must find healing with her God and those who love her, before she can make much progress.

Please give us the first page of the book.
In the hopes that at least one would get through, their father had sent three copies of his last letter from the West Indies; as it happened, his daughters received all three. The first arrived nine weeks after it was posted. A servant delivered the second on a silver tray, a week after they received word their father had perished. By the time the final, rather ghoulish draft came, the girls were weeks into their grief, and it was buried in a stack of condolence letters.

“I’m only glad that Mother isn’t here to endure this,” Verity said, handing her older sister the letter in her father’s careful script. Her eyes were bloodshot, making them an eerie gold-green rather than their normal mossy-stream color. Ket knew she hadn’t been sleeping; she’d heard the floorboards creaking as Ver tiptoed downstairs each night. Their youngest sister, Selah, never left her rooms after retiring, but judging from her wan complexion and the dark circles ringing her own eyes, Ket wagered she’d spent much of her night tossing and turning.

“Here is another you ought to see,” Verity said, handing her a second letter as she shifted through the stack of words sent from well-meaning kin and acquaintances. Keturah met Ver’s concerned gaze before accepting it and glancing down. From the scrawl, she knew it was from her father’s attorney, Clement Abercrombie, the temporary manager of the entire Banning estate—both that of Hartwick Manor, here in Rivenshire, and Tabletop Plantation on Nevis.

Keturah sighed and closed her eyes. She didn’t know if she could bear to read the same words from her father a third time, describing his failing health … imploring his daughters to ever remember his fervent love for them. And yet had she not scoured the first and second, searching for variances, any scant detail that would somehow help her connect to their father? No, better to remain in realm of the head rather than the heart. To read of business, to know of the outcome of this latest sugar harvest. Certainly it had to be better than the last. They desperately needed some glad tidings…

She slid a finger under the wax seal and popped open the heavy linen paper, unfolding it. She settled back into the worn but beautifully upholstered damask chair, what had once been her mother’s favorite. But as she read, her heart sank lower and lower. No, no, no…

“Ket, what is it?” Verity asked, setting aside the rest of the letters and leaning forward. “You look positively aghast.”

Where can we find you on the Internet?
@LisaTBergren on Twitter and Instagram

I’m really looking forward to reading this new book. It’s at the top of my to-be-read pile, and I’ll start it when I send in the book I finished writing last week after I finish a final edit this week. Thank you for sharing Keturah with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. 
Keturah - Christianbook.com
Keturah (The Sugar Baron's Daughters) - Amazon paperback
Keturah (The Sugar Baron's Daughters Book 1) - Kindle
Keturah: The Sugar Baron's Daughters, Book 1 - Audio book

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.

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19 comments:

Melanie Backus said...

I am intrigued by this book and the cover is absolutely captivating. Thank you for a great interview.
Melanie Backus, TX

ASC Book Reviews said...

YES PLEASE!!! My mom and I are both LONGING TO READ THIS ONE! ;) And I'm longing to review it to! :D

Many Blessings, Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a) in NM
amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

Dianna said...

Have heard so many good things about this book!
Dianna (TN)

Vivian Furbay said...

I like the Biblical names for the daughters. Would enjoy reading this book. Vivian Furbay of CO

Abigail Mitchell said...

Would love to read this!
Abigail in VA

Holly Ison said...

I don't typically read reviews before reading a book (don't like spoilers), but this one intrigued me when I first saw the cover a few weeks ago. I have since read several reviews and cannot wait to read it for myself! Thank you for the opportunity to win! --Holly in KY

Library Lady said...

We have Lisa's books in the church library.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win her book.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

R Merr said...

I’ve heard a lot about this book. Rey much looking forward to reading this one.
Rachael from Maine

Trixi said...

I've just started seeing this around, it sounds SO good! Thank you for the fun post and giveaway chance.

Trixi in OR

Danielle H. said...

I love the cover! This book sounds so emotional and exciting to read. Danielle from Michigan

VanG said...

It has been awhile since I read anything by Lisa, and I would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the chance. 😍
VanG in NC

MJSH said...

Ah....I’ve been wanting to read this book for some time now. Thanks for the chance.

Mindy from NJ

Paula Shreckhise said...

This is a great time period and interesting topic! Thanks. Paula from Missouri. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

Elly said...

Eeee! Been eagerly awaiting this book! I can't wait to read it!!
Elly -Indiana-

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Thanks for a great review and a chance to win it.
Blessings to you!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

rubynreba said...

I love the cover of this book and really enjoyed the review. Looking forward to reading Keturah!
Beth from Iowa

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

Natalya Lakhno said...

Lisa, take me on that cruise :)
The cover of Keturah is beautiful! I'm eager to read it.
Blessings!
Natalya Lakhno from CA

Pam said...

Love reading books that teach me something about history. Would love to read Keturah.

Pam in OH