Thursday, September 06, 2018

HEART AND HOME - P Creeden - One Free Book


Welcome, P Creeden. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Usually the quirks or little bits of reality that are written into the story come from my own life experiences. For example, the little seven-year-old, Jackie, has a hard time with remembering the direction of lower case b and d when writing his letters. My son, who was homeschooled, had the same difficulty. So I added that bit in to make the story more real for me and, I hope, the reader.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I’m a fan of Korean Dramas and Pop music. Because of that, I’m currently studying the Korean language so that I don’t need subtitles.

Sounds interesting. When did you first discover that you were a writer?
When I was about nine, my father bought a typewriter for Christmas, because that was what I wanted. In elementary school, I remember taking an aptitude test and arranging my answers so that it would turn out that I should become a writer. Ever since I could read, I also wanted to write.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read pretty much anything… from mystery and suspense to fantasy and science fiction. I write my favorite genres under two different pen names.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I don’t know if I’m doing a good job of that… as I tend to give up on sleep more than anything else.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
I choose a name that I like and one that tends to fit the character’s background as I create it.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I’m a perpetual starter and have a hard time finishing things. I’m proud of every story I’ve ever finished.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
I love dogs, but if I were one, I’d need a job—so I’d want to be a service animal or trained agility.

I have an author friend here in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex who has a dog trained to be around sick people. They visit hospitals. What is your favorite food?
Kimchee. It’s the Korean equivalent of coleslaw. It’s spicy, and I pretty much use it as a garnish for everything…

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Finishing the story. Like I said before, I’m a perpetual starter. The only thing that motivates me to finish the story is to have a hard deadline set…then I tend to procrastinate until the last minute, but still manage to get the story finished—usually on time.

Tell us about the featured book.
Heart and Home is the story of a widowed school teacher who is spending her first Thanksgiving without her husband or any family to speak of. When a handyman is sent to repair the roof of the schoolhouse, her troubles begin…

Please give us the first page of the book.
Caroline took a deep breath and brushed her hand across her head to make sure her bun was still in place before headed toward the door of her small home. She glanced down, as she had done every day since the terrible accident. William’s boots sat right where she left them, and her heart grew heavier in her chest. Something about the weather changing and growing cooler put her in a nostalgic mood. Caroline couldn’t help but think about her husband and his loss that much more.

The wind picked up and threatened to pull the door from her hand, making her grip the knob harder. After pulling the door shut tightly, she started off toward the schoolhouse where the town’s children awaited. That was how she was able to overcome her trepidation about moving out west as William wanted. She had been perfectly content to stay in Harrisburg but the call for riches was too great for William. Once she heard that there were children in the west who were desperate for teachers, she needed no more convincing.

The morning air smelled of fallen leaves and fresh earth.

His mercies are new every morning… she thought as she hurried down the wooded trail. She didn’t have much to worry about here, but when she got to the main street of town, it was a different story. When her feet hit the wooden sidewalk, she quickened her pace. An older drunk came stumbling out as she passed the saloon, and she darted past him. Caroline had never been scared to live in Helena when William was alive, but with him gone, it was a different story. At only twenty-three, she was already a widow and living alone in this wild western town plagued with gold seekers and miners. She swallowed. It was virtually unheard of.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thank you for sharing your new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Heart and Home (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection One Book 4)

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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17 comments:

Emma said...

"HEART AND HOME by P Creeden sounds wonderful.PA. Thank you for the opportunity to win.

Trixi said...

I'm so loving all these books and enjoying the author interviews! They all sound like stories I'd read. Thank you for the chance to win a copy!

Trixi in OR

Vivian Furbay said...

Very interesting synopsis! Would enjoy reading this book. Vivian Furbay of CO

Robin in NC said...

Definitely enjoyed this excerpt & interview! Thank you for sharing.

Robin in NC

Melanie Backus said...

Heat and Home sounds like a great book. I would love to read it. Thank you for the opportunity. Melanie Backus, Texas

Wendy Newcomb said...

Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book, it sounds like a good one.

Wendy in Nebraska

wfnren at aol dot com

Elly said...

Heart and Home sounds amazing!
Elly -Indiana-

Kay Garrett said...

Thank you for the insightful interview with P Creeden and information about the book "HEART AND HOME". Enjoyed the first page and wanted to keep reading.

Appreciate the chance to win a copy. As always, so very generous of you.
Kay Garrett from Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net

SARAH TAYLOR said...

Thank you so much for this great chance to win love reading the paper back books!

Brenda said...

I live in Northeast MS. Thanks for the giveaway

Abigail Mitchell said...

Looks great!
Abigail in VA

Library Lady said...

Our Church Library readers enjoy our historical fiction books.
Thanks for giving me a chance to win this book.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

Dianna said...

Thanks for the chance to win!
Dianna (TN)

rubynreba said...

I enjoyed the interview and review. Heart and Home is just the kind of book I like. Thanks for the chance to win it!
Beth from Iowa

Pam said...

This sounds like an engaging story with great characters. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
Pam in OH

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

Lourdes said...

Please enter me would love to win

Lourdes in Long Island, NY