Friday, November 23, 2018

THE DISAPPEARING SHIP (The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection) - Lena Nelson Dooley - One Free Book


This is the last of the novellas in this collection. I really loved writing it.

Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I first started writing Christian Romance, so my daughters would have books to read. I loved reading romance stories, but they were having more and more things in the that I didn’t like reading and didn’t want junior high aged daughters to read them.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I hoped I haven’t lived it yet. But there have been many super happy days. Like when my husband and I were married, when each daughter was born, and when each of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren was born. There have been many super happy days in my writing life. When I signed my first contract. When I first won major award. When I first hit a major bestseller list.

How has being published changed your life?
It helped me discover my God-given destiny. I could never read a book the same after that. I’ve gone places I’d never have gone before. I’ve met hundreds of wonderful authors, editors, and publishers. It totally broadened my horizons.

What are you reading right now?
North by Starlight by Diane and David Munson.

What is your current work in progress?
I’m researching a book set in the panhandle of Texas in 1913. I don’t have a title yet. And after that, I’ll be researching a book about a Widow Gold Digger.

What would be your dream vacation?
James and I would really love to go to Hawaii. And I’ve dreamed for years about going to Australia.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Often the story idea comes with the setting attached. Sometimes, a publisher requests a particular setting.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Mine is two people—George and Laura Bush. I believe God chose them specifically to be our first family when 9-11 happened. I’d love to visit the ranch near Crawford, Texas, while discuss his work with wounded warriors.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Over the years, I’ve had a lot of hobbies, but not so much now. I spend time with family and with friends a lot.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Write. Connect with other authors. Write. Read a lot. Write.

Tell us about the featured book.
The Disappearing Ship a novella in The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection is a mystery that draws two people together in an unusual way.

Please give us the first page of the book.
1902, Upper Michigan
Early Summer
Defeated.
The word drummed through Norma Kimbell’s head as she gazed out at the pine forest rushing by the window in a blur. Riding the train always felt as if life were passing her by without noticing her. Despondency clung to her weighing her down like the heavy woolen robe, packed in her trunk in the baggage car, did in the long winter months. Sometimes they went for days without seeing even a peek of the sun.

That’s what she needed right now, to know the sun was shining on her. But how could she believe it? She had failed at the only thing she ever wanted to do with her life. Papa had encouraged her to follow her heart.

After Papa died, she’d spent several years living at the Whitefish Point lighthouse with her uncle and aunt. Because of her inheritance, she’d been able to pursue her dreams. Dreams of being a doctor. She knew it would be hard, but some medical schools accepted a woman or two, and she’d enrolled.

When she graduated at the top of her class, Uncle Charles contacted a friend, who was a doctor in a needy area of Chicago. He’d agreed she could be a part of his practice. After all, he’d needed all the help he could get. But now she was returning to Whitefish Point a complete failure.

Tears filled her eyes, blurring the landscape even more, like one of those impressionist paintings she’d seen in the museum she often visited on her one day off per week. Before she could control them, they leaked down her cheeks. She grabbed a hanky from her lady’s carpetbag and dabbed at her eyes, trying to stem the flow.

“Are you all right, Miss?” The conductor’s gentle bass voice interrupted her thoughts.

She glanced up and gave him a quick nod. “I’m fine.” At least her words hadn’t trembled or revealed just how much she wasn’t “all right.”

After lingering a moment, the man headed farther down the railroad car, checking on other passengers. Norma was so glad the train wasn’t crowded. She wanted to sit as far away from other people as possible. She wouldn’t have been able to carry on a conversation without sobbing. Being by herself was better.

As the train began to slow when they reached the outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Norma grabbed another hanky and mopped up the rest of the mess from her face. She took a deep breath. Soon they would pull into the railway station. She faced many more miles before she’d reach the Whitefish Point lighthouse and feel her aunt’s arms around her. She needed that hug so much.

But she dreaded seeing Uncle Charles and the disappointment in his eyes. She’d done her best. Her failure wasn’t her fault. But none of the patients wanted a woman doctor treating them. She could understand men feeling that way. But the women? Why didn’t they want her? Much medical treatment dealt with intimate exploration of the patient’s body. She would much rather have a woman examine her, but not a single one of the women who came to the clinic wanted to be seen by her. She was just a glorified nurse for the physician. It wasn’t his fault or hers. Women doctors all over the country were facing the same situation. She’d heard of a few physicians out in the far west, where male doctors were scarce, who experienced success. If someone needed a medical help, and the only one close enough to reach was a woman, they used her. Maybe she should have gone west, instead of staying in Chicago.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Blogtalk Radio, The Lena Nelson Dooley Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/along-came-a-writer/

Readers, I hope you’ll enjoy reading my story, and the others in the collection, as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Here are links to the 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.

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:

14 comments:

Kay Garrett said...

Love your books and would be thrilled to be able to read "The Disappearing Ship" in the wonderful book "The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides" collection. Love that it's a mystery.

Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this book! So many great author's and amazing stories.
2clowns at arkansas dot net

Lori Smanski said...

Illinois
oh this story sounds good. it sounds emotional that has help somewhere along the line. i would love to read this story. i too would love to have time to sit down with George and Laura Bush. I loved Hawaii, when you go you will also. and Australia would be so cool to visit. thanks for the post today quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

Wendy Newcomb said...

Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this collections book, they are my favorite kind of book. I enjoy the variety of stories and finding new authors while enjoying some of my favorites.

Wendy in South Sioux City, NE

wfnren at aol dot com

Emma said...

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection sounds wonderful. Thank you for the opportunity to win.PA.

Elly said...

How exciting to be one of the authors of this collection!
Elly -Indiana-

Sandy Quandt said...

Lena, "The Disappearing Ship" is an intriguing title. Can't wait to see how the mystery unfolds.

Sandy Q
TX

Shelia64 said...

sounds great!Shelia from Mississippi

Melanie Backus said...

Sounds like a great one! Melanie Backus, TX

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

Pam said...

I've been to Whitefish Point's lighthouse. It is a BEAUTIFUL place, and one of my favorite stops in the UP. I would love to read your story about it, Lena!

Pam in OH

Patty said...

Having grown up in NO (I don't live there anymore) I would love to read this collection!

Patty in SC

Patty said...

That was supposed to be grown up in MI!

L Palmer said...

The story sounds very interesting. After reading the section you shared, I like to read the whole story. I live in Kansas.

Caryl Kane said...

I enjoy these Barbour Romance Collections!

Caryl K in TEXAS