'TIL DICE DO US PART - Julie B Cosgrove - One Free Book

Welcome back, Julie. Why did you become an author? 

Being shy, I always found it easier to express myself on paper. Perhaps being from an “attorney-laden” family trained me because we were always encouraged to build our case before presenting our arguments in family “discussions.” In high school, I was picked to take an advanced class in creative writing and several of my works won awards. But then college, marriage, and life hit. Even so, I would spend months developing plots and characters as I waited in traffic or did laundry. When God opened the door for me to make money at freelance writing, the story bug began to nibble at my mind again. Eleven years ago, a friend told me of a Christian writing group. At the time, I had no idea there were Christian fiction authors out there. The first meeting pierced my heart with a renewed desire to become one, and twelve books later—with three more under contract—God has been faithful to fulfill it.

I love to hear stories of how God has moved in an author’s life. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

Well, I have that job, too. I am a digital missionary with CRU’s The Life Project. My freelance writing and editing skills landed me on staff, and aside from editing for a few Christian authors on the side, it is my occupation.

Our websites’ articles and devotionals touched over 600,000 souls last year, which opened the door for one of our websites to become available in India, South America, and the Middle East! I am the content editor over 24 devotional writers as well and I love to see how God writes through them, and me, to meet people’s needs. We live in such an exciting time. Through the internet, we can truly fulfill Christ’s command to “go into all nations.” Our motto is, “The World is on the Internet. We help them know Jesus.” It is humbling, awe-inspiring work to be a part of bringing someone, whom I’ll probably never meet face to face on the other side of the city, state, country, or world, into the Kingdom.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

My more modern, women’s lib sister always would roll her eyes and say I was too Victorian. In other words, old-fashioned, highly moral, and traditional in gender attributes. At least, in the society of that time, there were set rules of conduct. Men honored and cherished women. I personally don’t mind a door being opened for me. Or men protecting my virtue. I don’t think a woman should ever lose that, no matter her age or how many children she has had. It’s our power, privilege, and blessing.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

I have never been to the northwest, like Oregon and Washington State. I would like to see that section of the country. But then again, leaf peeping throughout Vermont in the autumn would be awesome as well.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I was blessed to go on a mission trip to England and was embedded with a family in a village for two weeks. I would love to return. Actually, my dream is to spend six months there in a holiday so I can travel, meet people, and write. As a widow with a grown son who is still single, I have few obligations, and my digital ministry allows me to write from anywhere, so I could possibly do it if my health and finances allowed. But I’d miss my cats.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

I am not in control. Health issues, which has left me mostly unable to drive or leave the house much for the past eighteen months, has forced me to rely on people to help me. It has been very humbling. But it has been a huge growth period for me spiritually.

Tell us about the featured book.

Oh, I am happy to do that! ’Til Dice Do Us Part is the fourth book in the Bunco Biddies cozy mystery series.  The Bunco Biddies’ ring leader is Janie, the widow of a renowned big city detective who often bounced his cases off her brain for a fresh angle. Now her son-in-law is chief detective in the small town near her 55-plus community, Sunset Acres. As crime begins to seep in, Janie and her Bunco-playing friends start to snoop. After all, they know just about everyone.

In this book, one of them, Ethel, has a tumble while decorating for a friend’s wedding shower and ends up in the ER. She believes she overhears a crime being discussed. When people begin to go missing, including the groom-to-be from the waiting room, Janie decides something dicey is definitely going on at Mercy Memorial.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“Look out!” Janie Manson waved her arms over her head. “The ladder is wobbling.”

Ethel spun toward the direction of her friend’s shrill voice, streamer in one hand, and dispenser of cellophane tape looped over her finger. As her heel swiveled, it caught on the seventh rung.

The next two seconds dragged in slo-mo for Janie as she screamed―half a room away.

Mildred turned as she swooshed a plastic pink cover, etched with doves and bells, over the rectangular gift table. Her hands froze in mid-air.

Babs let loose a tray of white and black disposable salt and pepper shakers, which rolled across the floor like tiny nuns tumbling down a hill.  

Annie Schmidt, sporting her new Florida tan, squealed with her palms slapped to her cheeks.

Janie dashed to the ladder, arms extended…a second too late.

Ethel’s leg flipped into the air and, in a half-twist somersault which would’ve scored a 9.5 in an Olympic diving competition, landed shoulder first on the tiled surface. She plopped onto her back and became very, very still. Only the silver-gray curls on her forehead moved in the breeze generated from the ceiling fan’s soft whirs.

Everyone halted, as if afraid to breathe.

“Is she…?” Betsy Ann whimpered, fist to mouth, as the idea of wearing black in the morning and white in the afternoon in four days’ time sunk in. The Bunco Biddies had gathered to decorate the recreation hall at Sunset Acres Retirement Community for her wedding shower.

“I‘m not sure.” Janie knelt by Ethel and pressed two fingers on the carotid artery in her neck.

About that time Ethel groaned. “Ow. I see stars.” She clasped her hand to her shoulder. “Is it out of joint?”

Janie rocked back on her knees. “I’m not sure. It is kinda angled funny.”

Ethel jerked to a half-sitting position, propped with her good arm. “Don’t you dare pull on it, Janie Manson.” Her face paled as her eyes rolled into her forehead. A long moan escaped from her lips. She melted to the floor like a marshmallow off a stick over a campfire.

I shouldn’t laugh at such a serious event, but your writing is so hilarious. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.juliebcosgrove.com.  There you can preview all of my novels, including my suspense and romance ones, and my non-fiction works. You can also find out more about my digital ministry and link to my blog, Where Did You Find God Today with readership in 52 countries.

I am on Facebook as juliebcosgrove.tx, and you can also review my Amazon author page.

Thank you, Julie, for sharing this new book with me and my blog readers. I’m sure they’ll be eager as I am to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book.

'Til Dice Do Us Part (Bunco Biddies)  -  Paperback
'Til Dice Do Us Part (Bunco Biddies Mystery Book 4) - 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