Sunday, March 31, 2019

WINNERS!!!

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Melissa (TN) is the winner of Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews. 

Beth (IA) is the winner of The Shattering by Marsha Barth.

Robin (NC) is the winner of Stars in the Grass by Ann Marie Stewart.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations
, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.


If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.
Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

THE ALAMO BRIDE - Kathleen Y'Barbo - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Kathleen has been a close writing friend for decades. I love her books, and I’m thrilled to feature her with her newest one today.

Welcome, Kathleen. Where do you write?
When I am at home, I have a home office. Thanks to my laptop, however, any place where inspiration strikes is fair game!

When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?
Oh my goodness. That was so long ago! I had been attending Romance Writers of America meetings for a couple of years when DiAnn Mills came to speak to us. After meeting DiAnn and hearing her speak, I knew I was meant to write for the Christian market. In 1999, she invited me to join a novella collection she was putting together. Two weeks after submission, the book was purchased and I was published. Twenty years later, I am still writing for the Christian market and still write for Barbour Publishing, including The Pirate Bride and my newest book, The Alamo Bride.

What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?
My husband and I both have convertibles, so we love to put the top down and take long drives. I also love reading.

What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?
Just do it. Seriously. There are so many ways to trip yourself up at the beginning of a writing career, but NOT writing is the biggest mistake of all. Get some words on a page, even if you’re sure they’re awful. Then get into a writers’ group—I love American Christian Fiction Writers—where you can get to know lots of other writers. But first…WRITE.

What is your favorite book? Favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
Oh that’s not fair! I have so many favorites. Of course, the Bible is #1. I have eclectic tastes in books, but I love it when a sentence can make me pause and smile at the cleverness behind its construction or a brilliant plot twist can catch me unaware. Books by Susanna Kearsley, Rhys Bowen, and Kate Morton come to mind. I also love well-written characters like Captain Lacey from the Ashley Gardner mystery series and just about every character Sarah Addison Allen has ever put on the page. Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, and I also love Kathryn Casey’s true crime books, partly because they are set in locales near me and partly because she’s just such a fabulous writer. Finally, I have to go on record as saying that I love every single book that Jamie Langston Turner and Linda Nichols have ever published. Go read them. Not kidding. I am a huge fan.

Where did you get the idea for The Alamo Bride?
I got the germ of an idea for The Pirate Bride, this book’s prequel, more than 25 years ago sitting on porch of our beach house at Crystal Beach, Texas, and then filled in the details at the Rosenberg Library in Galveston Texas. When my editor asked me to write a book that centered on Texas history and the Alamo, I was thrilled. I’m a 10th generation Texan whose great-aunts are genealogy buffs. Mining that rich history, I was able to place the granddaughter of my pirate heroine from The Pirate Bride into history that was actually lived by my own ancestors. How cool is that?!

From idea to final revision, how long did it take to write?
I’m a fast writer so from idea to turning in the manuscript to my publisher was just a matter of weeks, maybe four or five. Revisions were pretty quick—a day or two—because my amazing copy editor Linda Hang catches so much and makes me look like I know what I’m doing. All that’s left is for me to scan what’s there and then tell the senior editor how brilliant Linda is. Lest you think I’m kidding, The Alamo Bride is dedicated not only to my two great aunts who inspired the story behind the story but also to the amazing Linda Hang.

Are you working on anything now?
I am putting the finishing touches on a Guideposts contemporary cozy mystery and then I will be switching gears and writing a novella set in 1880s Texas.

Please tell us about the story.
The Alamo Bride opens in New Orleans then shifts to coastal Texas in 1835 through real-life Texas history until after the battle of the Alamo in 1836. My characters are a Texian woman (red-haired granddaughter to the fiery Maribel from The Pirate Bride—and yes that is Texian not Texan) and the handsome New Orleans soldier who arrives full of bullet holes via canoe down the Brazos River. Did I mention he cannot remember how he got there or what sort of business brought him that far away from where he should have been? Then there’s the fact that during his fevers, while she’s trying to keep him from dying, he talks about President Andrew Jackson and General Sam Houston as if they are friends of his? Then there’s the hidden pirate treasure map in his boot.

Sounds wonderful. Please give us a peek at the first page of the book.
New Orleans, Louisiana 
October12, 1835 
 He was the grandson of a pirate who sailed with the infamous Jean Lafitte and the nephew of a governor and statesman, but tonight Claiborne William Andre Gentry was merely one of the many anonymous souls who walked along Magazine Street in the Vieux Carre.  

Back in Tennessee, his sisters had teased him about the dark hair that was so different than their blonde braids and yet so similar to the pirate whose name was forbidden in their home. Here in New Orleans, Clay’s resemblance to the grandfather his family never spoke of had caused him to fit in rather than look out of place. And when a man was carrying a secret on behalf of the President of the United States, looking out of place was not the goal.

The night was warm, unseasonably so for October, and the air was thick. Like as not, there would be storms before daybreak.  

Clay moved swiftly down Magazine Street, keeping to the shadows and avoiding the glare of the gas lamps. Though the full moon overhead turned everything it touched a dull silver, murky darkness was never far away in this city. 

He knew from experience the darkness did not merely extend to the streets and alleys of this city. It also lay deep in the heart of men who dwelled here. 

In the last few months since he’d discovered the names of some of those men. His mission tonight was, in part, to discover if what he learned was true. The remainder of his task for the evening--the duty he held and the favor the completion of that duty would incur--weighed heavy on his mind. 

He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust…  

A verse first memorized at his mother’s knee because it made him laugh to think of the Lord covered in feathers, now these words gave him strength. With this in mind, Clay picked up his pace.

Just yesterday news of the battle in Gonzales had reached the city. A squabble over ownership of two cannons very likely had launched what would become a full-blown war. 

The general who would lead his troops in that war needed funding if he was to be successful. Funding that the Mexican government would very much wish to intercept. 

For that reason, he’d spoken to no one since his arrival in New Orleans. In times of war, not all friends were truly friends. And, sadly, not all family escaped the title of enemy. 

Though he kept the evidence of who he was--the papers that named him as a citizen of Louisiana by virtue of his uncle’s position—tucked into his boot, he would not make that evidence public. Better to remain a stranger than to be targeted because of an alliance that came from an accident of birth. 

Wonderful. I want more. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
I’m on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Just do a search for Kathleen Y’Barbo and you’ll find me. I’ve also got a website at www.kathleenybarbo.com that will point you to lots of great information about new books, my newsletter, and—if you can’t find me through searching—my social media links as well.

Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing this story with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.
The Alamo Bride - Christianbook.com
The Alamo Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower) - Amazon.com paperback
The Alamo Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower) - 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, 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:

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

KNOX - Susan May Warren - One Free Book

Dear Readers, when I first met Susan May Warren, her family was missionaries in Russia. That was many years, and many books, ago. And what wonderful books they have been. I’ve loved reading her unique stories. Her characters are fully developed with flaws and endearing qualities. They meet and overcome obstacles, and there is always a happily-ever-after ending. What’s not to love? She really knows how to write a satisfying romance.

Welcome back, Susan. What genre do you write and why?
I write the genre I love to read—epic romantic adventure! Give me a great story about a hero and heroine trying to survive trouble (and the occasional bad guy!)

If you were to choose one superpower, what would it be?
FLYING. For sure.

Do you ever get stuck when you’re writing a book? What do you do to get unstuck?
Yes, of course. It’s usually because I don’t know what the immediate problem of my character is or what the stakes are in the scene. In order to get unstuck, I call my writing partner, Rachel Hauck, and we talk through what the character wants now, and why, what happens if they don’t get it, and what obstacles can we throw in the way! That usually sparks my imagination.

What is your least favorite part of writing?
PROOFING. I am the worlds worst proofer. And, by that time, I’ve read the book so many times, I’m tired of it!

I know what you mean. I’m good at proofing, but by the time I reached the fourth, and last, book in my first series, I was sick of the setting. If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
Fajitas. Or maybe my homemade pizza.

Yum. They both sound good. What is your typical day like?
I’m up around 6:30 and if it’s summer, I take a walk. If not then I do some stretching, then I make coffee and have my quiet time. Then I look at my schedule for the day using my writing planner (shameless plug! http://www.mybrilliantwritingplanner.com). I budget my time in time blocks, so my first time block is from 9am-noon, and usually I do business work – marketing, newsletters, emails, finances, etc. My next block is 1-3, and usually that is my first writing block. My last time block is 3:30-5:30 and often write at that time, also.  (I try for about 2500 words per writing block).  We eat dinner at 6ish, then the rest of the evening I hang out with hubs. I usually go to bed around 9pm and read for an hour.  Not a super exciting day, but I like it.

Maybe I need to order one of those planners. What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict, or emotions? Why?
I think emotions are always the most difficult. It’s hard to dig deep and find exactly the right emotion for your character, so usually that takes a couple passes. I will often lay down the foundation and structure for the scene, then go back and add in storyworld, mood and finally nail the emotion of the character.

How likely are the people you meet going to end up in your next book?
Somewhat. Strangers, tho—I don’t put friends in my books. I often will put people I meet on airplanes, or while travelling. I enjoy hearing their stories, and since I don’t know them, I can use pieces of them if I were to have a story idea.

Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.
My hero is my husband. He is kind, patient, a listener, deeply cares for others, an amazingly hard worker, knows how to have fun and laugh and loves the Lord. I’m so blessed to be married to him.

Please give us the text on the first page of your first chapter.
Oh goody, now Knox got to watch his troublemaking little brother break his ornery neck.

“Tate, this is a bad idea.” Knox said it in his big-brother voice, but Tate hadn’t a hope of hearing him over the cheers as he walked into the straw-padded arena under the hanging lights of the beer tent toward the mechanical bull.

His renegade brother nailed the rough-edged charm of a cowboy, complete with his faded jeans, a black Stetson over his dark brown hair, a scrape of off-duty dark whiskers, dusty boots, and a swagger that suggested he’d been born on a bull.

Tate always did know how to put on the game to charm the ladies.

The organizers of the after-hours entertainment of NBR-X, the professional bull-riding tour, knew their crowd—beer-gesturing, cowboy-hatted rowdies who spent the evening watching young men pit their lives against angry, thousand-pound animals hoping to crush their rider into the dirt or against the rodeo boards.

The scent of blood spilled today turned wannabe cowboys into daredevils.

The crowd knotted around the circle, shouting smack and laying bets for or against Tate’s success. The ruddy rodeo aroma—horsehide, dust, hay, and plenty of craft beer—only added to the trouble brewing in Knox’s gut.

Probably Tate would survive. Knox had seen Tate ride—had taught him how to stay on the back of a real bull, and frankly, a smart man would ante up a Ben Franklin to the bookmaker collecting cash in an oversized boot.

But Knox worked too hard for his cash, and to his knowledge, Tate hadn’t been on a bull in years.

“C’mon, Tate, let’s go,” Knox said, a last-ditch effort to put a halt to the crazy. But when Tate got something in his head, he practically turned into one of those bulls in the nearby barn. Red-eyed, focused, and lethal.

The crowd exploded with fervor when Tate handed his red Solo cup to a blonde wearing a hot-pink Bull Riders Know How to Hang On T-shirt. When she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him to herself for a quick good luck kiss, Knox just wanted to shake his head.

He should probably hightail it out of the Tent-o’-Trouble and back to his room at the Hyatt where he could take a shower and whisk off the grime that seemed to hover in the air.

Tell us about your next book and when is it being published?
The next book out is TATE, book 2 in the Montana Marshall series, out in July! I can’t wait for people to meet this amazing hero, a bodyguard who must save the woman he loves.

I will want to feature it on my blog too.

Where can my readers find you online.

Thank you, Susie, for sharing this new book with me and my blog readers. I’m eager for my copy to arrive.

Readers, here are links to the book.
Knox  - Christianbook.com
KNOX: The Montana Marshalls - an inspirational romantic suspense family series - Amazon.com

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, 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:

Monday, March 25, 2019

HER DEADLY REUNION - Beth Ziarnik - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to have Beth on my blog again. I loved reading Her Deadly Reunion. The cover reminds me of the Gothic novels I read for years. The dark mysterious setting. And as I read the story, it was a lot like one of those novels. I’ve always loved trying to figure out the mystery in them. With this storyline, Beth kept me guessing. I loved the heroine and hero. They quickly pulled me into their story. It is a real page-turner with a satisfying ending. Thank you, Beth.

Welcome back, Beth.Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I love reading romantic suspense, Lena, and have for years. Never tire of it. Probably because it’s a grown-up, contemporary version of the fairy tales I loved as a child. Think of it—hero and heroine fall in love as they fight against great odds to reach their happily ever after.  I think we all desire a happily ever after of some sort, don’t you?

Yes, and my HEA is with my husband James. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
You would think getting married to my handsome sweetheart, the births of our two sons, and finally getting that first novel published would top the list. But my happiest day was when Jim and I had made it to our happily ever after. Married 47 years and I suddenly realized we were not only dearly in love, but with all the wonder of those glorious days when we first fell in love. We had come through many conquered challenges to reach that joy and peace! That perfect love. Unfortunately, we only enjoyed that heavenly place for a short time. Two weeks later and without any warning, Jim went to be with Jesus. 

I’m sure that is hard. How has being published changed your life?
Being published has not only changed my life, it has become my life during these six years since Jim’s passing. My first novel, Her Deadly Inheritance, debuted three years later—the one Jim so believed in that he said he’d publish it if no one else did. Its sequel, Her Deadly Reunion, released last November while I was healing from two broken ankles.

Wow! Two broken ankles. Must have been hard. What are you reading right now?
Currently, The Power of the Blood by H.A Maxwell Whyte—a fabulous old classic that dates back to 1973. I lead a women’s Bible study at church, and we’re bowled over by what we are learning as we draw intimately closer to Jesus and put its teaching into practice. I’m also reading a lineup of romantic suspense novels by Christy Barritt, Terri Reed, Lisa Harris, and Laura Scott. After that, I have so many more TBR novels on my list.

What is your current work in progress?
Her Deadly Vows, the third book of my Jill Shepherd Suspense Series. Jill joins Clay in Haiti. While he works on restoring an historic hotel, she works on the final preparations for their wedding. Before long she realizes she may not live long enough marry Clay.

We must feature that book on my blog when it releases. What would be your dream vacation?
I’d love a 7-10 day Mississippi riverboat cruise with tours of the southern plantation mansions still in existence. Maybe because I’ve started a pre-Civil War romantic suspense series, where my heroine winds up on a riverboat in the first and second novels. Onsite research is so much fun! And I love fascinating architecture. Faster than anything else. it propels my mind into the “What if?” of story possibilities for my characters.

James and I have been on cruises of the Caribbean, but never a river cruise. How do you choose your settings for each book?
Strangely enough, they seem to come to me, more than my searching for them. For my first novel, I knew I wanted a paper mill town and an island. When I prayed about it, I ran across The Grand Island Story by Beatrice H. Castle and knew I’d found the perfect setting for Her Deadly Inheritance. For Her Deadly Reunion, a one-day senior bus tour to the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hooked me. Talk about breath-taking architecture inside and out, and all the features I’d need for that story. As for Her Deadly Vows, even before the story started forming in my heart, the Lord surrounded me with family and friends who are familiar with Haiti and its culture. And I’m enjoying all the research. Unfortunately, I don’t expect ever to visit that fascinating island. Though I hear such great things about its people.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
When I was six years old, I would have said Roy Rogers. I wanted him to wait until I grew up and could marry him. He struck me as being kind and courageous—not to mention a terrific singer! What can I say? I’m a music lover.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I work jigsaw puzzles and play games with friends and family. Can you believe I love snow blowing my Wisconsin driveway with my little Toro. Though--LOL--I guess we can’t call that a hobby, can we? Does playing my Q-Chord and singing along count? How about camping in my A-frame, fold-down camper? And this summer, I plan to get back to gardening, making beautiful flowers and fresh vegetables grow.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Truthfully, my most difficult writing obstacle is getting the seat of my pants in chair. But I’m working on that because the moment I start writing, I get lost in the story and time disappears until I emerge from the lives of my characters again. And I actually enjoy editing.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Write! You can’t be a writer unless you write. (I tell myself that all the time!) Try to write at least 15 minutes a day. Once you start, you’ll find it hard to stop. Find a local, or online, Christian writing group and join it. Writers need other writers who understand their passion, encourage them, and help them grow in their craft. Go to a Christian writers’ conference. Yes, every year. You’ll be amazed how fast you’ll advance in your writing dream.

Tell us about the featured book.
Jill Shepherd is desperate to meet the father she’s never known. She accepts his invitation to spend the holidays at his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Upon her arrival, she’s not only met with hostility from his family but finds him gravely ill. When his nurse secretly shares suspicions that someone is trying to kill him, Jill attempts to find out who at the house might have a motive.

Her father’s condition worsens. Jill and her boyfriend Clay Merrick are ordered from the house, and suddenly find themselves embroiled in a race to outwit a mysterious killer and unmask a bitter plot that has been years in the making. With the life of her father hanging in the balance, how can Jill and Clay prove her innocence and stop the killer before it’s too late?

Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.
Never look for your father! Promise me!
           
Minutes from her birth father’s home, her mother’s words of pleading echoed through Jill Ashley Shepherd’s heart, growing more insistent. Was she making a terrible mistake?
           
Seated beside Clay Merrick, she gazed at his dear face as he steered his old Ford F-150 truck through Milwaukee’s snow-filled streets. Was it only six months ago they had fallen in love? So strong was their bond, it seemed they had already loved for a lifetime. How she treasured his emotional support at a time like this.
           
A stray curl of his dark hair fell against his forehead as he glanced at her, his gray eyes soft with concern. “Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?”
           
She blinked and swallowed hard, then turned to stare beyond the windshield at the large, lazy snowflakes drifting from a white Wisconsin sky. Snowy mounds frosted the edges of business windows displaying Christmas delights and grew on streetlights festooned in evergreen wreaths and bright red bows. Cheery Christmas lights winked at passersby from every direction.
           
But reminders of Christmas failed to lift her spirits.
           
Was this the right day to meet her birth father? “Absolutely,” she squeaked out.
           
Clay’s raised brows said it all.
           
For years, she had dreamed of the father-daughter relationship she’d been denied. For years, she had wondered, did she resemble him? Would her father have a place in his heart for her? What had separated her parents so long ago?

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Since I’ll have a new website up around the end of this month, Lena, readers can best find me now at:

Thank you for having me back on A Christian Writer’s World, Lena.

And thank you, Beth, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers.

Readers, here are links to the book.
Her Deadly Reunion - Paperback
Her Deadly Reunion (Jill Shepherd Suspense Book 2) - 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, 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:

Sunday, March 24, 2019

WINNERS!!

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Paula (MO) is the winner of the book A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot. 

Perrianne (TX) is the winner of Beauty in Hiding by Robin Patchen.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations
, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.


If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.
Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

Thursday, March 21, 2019

STARS IN THE GRASS - Ann Marie Stewart - One Free Book


Welcome, Ann. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Many people have asked if STARS is autobiographical and if Abby is me. People see the 10-year-old Abby in the 50+ year old me. I was born the same year as Abby and I wanted to go “home” to my youth and it’s easier to write about what you know. Birch Bay, Washington, two miles from my grandparents’ farm, was my idyllic childhood vacation place. Various other characters in my novels stem from my life experiences. For a character to have any degree of believability he/she has to be based on someone or have some quality of someone I believe in. I like to feel I know all my characters and could pick them out off the street.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Not exactly quirky but I did a mini triathlon in my 20’s and I was almost clawed under during the swimming portion, and the wheel almost fell off my bike during the biking. I used to sing the National Anthem for the Seattle Mariners in the Kingdome before it was blown up.

Cool on the National Anthem. When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Very young. I was writing first person short stories in elementary school as the life of a pencil. My dad thought of me as such a good storyteller that he gave up his turn at the Toastmaster podium, and turned it over to his elementary-aged daughter. I did some sort of three-point presentation on how grownups ruin Christmas by trying to be too organized.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.  I enjoy non-fiction and memoirs (Brain on Fire, Boys in the Boat, Seabiscuit, Unbroken) to Christian fiction by Chris Fabry and Charles Martin, to women’s literary fiction – saga, mother/daughter stories. Some favorites:  To Kill a Mockingbird,  Cutting for Stone, The Language of Flowers, Kite Runner, The Light Between Oceans, The Glass Castle. I’ll read almost any genre if the book has a strong VOICE and it’s “readeemable.”  

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Do I? I have four jobs: voice teacher, musical theatre director, substitute teacher, and author. The beauty of these jobs is that they all give me freedom. I can say yes or no or change up my schedule. Right now, there’s NOTHING I want to retire from! But I have learned that “No” is a really important choice because it gives me margin. We all need margin. There was a three-month period I had no margin and I turned down two friends who needed my help. I hated that. My children are 20 and 22 and I loved raising them on a farm where we can breathe even if we take in the aroma of sheep. It’s so difficult to “compete” with this world’s fast pace and intensity and it’s just not healthy.

I so agree. How do you choose your characters’ names? 
That’s such a great question because in my novels, there is usually significance to each character’s name and how they earned it and how they feel about it. It has to resonate with me in a special way. After I’ve selected it, I write with the name and then after I’ve lived with it, I either love it or not. If I’m iffy, it goes. As a kid sitting in church, I would sketch out big families and name every member. I’ve ALWAYS loved names. Writing and naming people is a way to have a big family and the fun of naming them all!

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
It’s not my accomplishment, it’s God’s. My family. I love my entire extended family and am so proud of the women of God my daughters have become. One is a kind and gentle nurse and the other is studying International Relations/Arabic so she can be a positive liaison for peace.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
A puppy. Who doesn’t love a puppy? Pleasing everybody! You get away with everything. Hahaha.

What is your favorite food? 
All kinds of fruit. White pizza. Arugula. Tiramisu. Salted Caramel, white chocolate. Butterscotch chip brownies.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? 
Getting things right. Sometimes I feel stuck at the beginning of research. If I am in a different time period, location, and I want believability, I can be my worst critic. I’m currently working on Out of the Water, a time-slip novel in 1919, 1931, and 1981. It covers Boston, Deer Lodge, Montana, and Seattle, Washington. I’m fascinated by Boston during the war, pandemic, and even a molasses flood, as well as a prison town in Montana, but these locales and time periods are unfamiliar. I wrote a Christmas novella in a month this winter and it takes place in Loudoun County, Virginia, and Washington, DC, my stomping grounds. The research was delightfully easy! How do I overcome it? I just have to put something on the page and then have someone read it for accuracy later. If I wait for perfection, nothing will happen.

Tell us about the featured book?.
Stars in the Grass was originally the short story “Seeing from the Balcony.” It came out of my greatest fear. Ironically, the fear of losing a child came before ever having a child. In the meantime, I did get married, raised two little girls, and wrote three other books. Finally, I returned to the short story and brought the characters to life with the novel. Originally 102,000 words, my book doctor said it should be 80,000. I tightened it to 85,000 and it was a better book for the pruning. Someone asked me, “How do you know it’s done?” I knew STARS was ready. There wasn’t anything more I wanted to add or delete, and I had read it soooooo many times! 

Please give us the first page of the book.
This is a funny question. The novel opens with the Prologue. The first chapter of my book is a few pages later. When at the Christy Awards, they announce winners by reading the opening paragraph of the novel. When I didn’t hear the Prologue, I thought I lost. But the words I was hearing didn’t sound like it was a Holocaust Novel or anything in the Middle East. Suddenly, I recognized my own words. But when I turned to my best friend and my publisher, and said I thought it was my book, they were disbelieving. They, too, were waiting to hear the Prologue.  I’ll give you the Prologue—what I was expecting to hear!

Prologue

I spent the better part of my childhood sitting on a pew in the balcony of Bethel Springs First Presbyterian Church, listening to my dad’s long vowels as he preached on predestination. Sandwiched between my older brother, Matt, and my little brother, Joel, I counted bald heads, doodled on church bulletins, and studied the stained-glass Jesus.

Reverend McAndrews was godlike and mysterious. Definitely not the same man who read to us from Dr. Seuss, ran through the sprinkler on steamy Ohio summer afternoons, or smiled as we played hide-and-go-seek in his Father’s House.

Though I can’t remember many of his three-point sermons, I have other good memories. One Sunday during a hymn, Matt and I sang loudly, changing the words to our liking, “Gladly, the Cross-Eyed Bear,” and crossing our eyes for added effect. When we sat back down, I rested the hymnal on the railing and fanned myself by riffling through the pages. Then it happened. Onto one of the fifty-one shining bald heads below, I dropped the hymnal.

It clapped to the floor, and then in the congregational hush, Mr. Ludema winced in surprised pain. I only looked down long enough to see necks craning up toward the balcony and then turning toward my father and then back to the balcony. Dad squinted to see Mrs. Ludema as she nursed her husband’s head and then looked up at the cause of the disruption. Me.

Dad stared at me for fifteen seconds. I know because I counted every one of them. I did not look away; instead I memorized his sandy thick hair fringed with gray streaks. I couldn’t see his eyes because the sun was reflecting on the lenses of his glasses. His mouth was closed, his thick jaw tense. The congregation waited for the Reverend McAndrews, and so did I. At last he said, with a nod to the balcony and a sigh, “And the Word has come down from on high.”

During responsive reading, his voice rose and fell so predictably, I was nearly lulled to sleep unless I pulled out a pencil to sketch the hills and valleys. “‘O give thanks to the Lord, for he is gooood,’” Reverend McAndrews read from Psalm 136. His voice grew louder and the pitch higher until the word Lord, where he paused and let it fall off to a low, soft, long, concluding gooood. We echoed, “‘For his steadfast love endures for ever.’” After repeating it twenty-six times, what I thought everlasting was the psalm itself.

I did not question the psalmist’s message until I was nine and Matt was fifteen and we crossed a crevasse of pain. It took struggling through that jagged blackness of doubt and fear for the girl in the balcony to finally consider the words, and to really connect with the man in the pulpit and the woman at the organ.

My mother looked just like Jackie Kennedy. I don’t know if our former First Lady could play the organ, but my mother could not, despite the expectations of the elders of BS Pres. (Such an unfortunate acronym, but one this Preacher’s Kid enjoyed flaunting.) The organ faced forward, so my mother’s back was toward the congregation, which could have been symbolic considering her reluctance to play the role. Though my mother’s keyboard technique lacked beauty and grace, her speech did not. My mother’s voice was soft and gentle, full of intricate words she shared, always believing in expanding her children’s vocabulary at every opportunity. Nothing about her projected strength, but I would learn she had enough for all of us
.
The summer before I turned ten was idyllic—until August 3, 1970. At the time I didn’t know what that word meant, not having heard it in a sermon or one of Mom’s vocabulary lessons. But it perfectly describes a time when I thought the world was safe and good things lasted forever. What I couldn’t know then, but try to remember now, is how fragile and delicate are the moments we most treasure, and if they break into pieces, repairing means seeing anew.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Social media links:
Website: www.annmariestewart.com  see book trailer!

Thank you, Ann, for sharing this book with my readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.
Stars in the Grass - Christianbook.com
Stars in the Grass - Amazon paperback
Stars in the Grass - 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, 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:

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

THE SHATTERING - Marsha Barth - One Free Book


Welcome, Marsha. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Most of my stories are non-fiction so my characters pretty much contain 100% me. In my fictional writings that I do and my blogs, they too contain pretty much 100% me.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Probably chasing two criminals, with my husband, behind a department store where they had just robbed an elderly lady of her purse. (I was a lot younger and faster then, than I am now when I did that.) Laugh a lot.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
When I wrote my mom a poem for Mother's Day and she cried as she read it. I learned how powerful words can be when they are able to move a heart.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Wow, I love pretty much all range of books. I love true stories, inspirational stories, fictional stories that could be true, stories of good overcoming evil, and stories of love, victory, and adventure. I love books that I can learn from which covers all ranges. My favorite book that covers all those genres, and that I love the most—The Holy Bible.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I have to take down-time. I make myself, because I am an A personality. In that down time, is my time with God—just Him and me, time that I read some or any of the above books, and I love watching old movies to just veg.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
I have to envision that the name I pick fits the character I am developing. I probably could not pick a name for a bad person in which I have only known nice people with that name. I kind of pick names I have no connection with personally or I pick names I purposely associate with good people or bad people. This makes it very easy for me to develop the character either into the villain or the hero.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Wow, that is another great question. But I have several that tie for that one. Marrying my wonderful husband of 45 years and having my two beautiful children will always be at the top of that list. I also am thankful for the accomplishments God has called me to do in the work that I am doing—whether it be from teaching a small child in Sunday School who now is grown and serving God, or speaking at the prisons, rehabs, Universities, state events, to congressmen, senators, governors, and bringing them the wonderful message of hope that we can go from Victim to Victor. Whether writing books, blogs, or speaking and teaching, the joy of being a small part of changing a life is an accomplishment that brings more joy than pride, I believe.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
Probably, a doggie. Any kind. The dogs I have had throughout my life have always given me so much love. They were my best friends, and my best ears, for listening to my problems at some of the hardest times in my life.

What is your favorite food?
Wow, can any of us only pick one? Unfortunately, I love many. I love chicken and veal and a good roast beef, real mashed potatoes and gravy that only southern people can make. And for dessert, a German Chocolate Cake, or Carrot Cake or a prize winning Apple Pie. That's my one favorite.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My books are my true stories, so writing was a little more different for me because as I wrote my stories, I initially had to relive them. I overcame this, because God had taken me on a healing journey before I wrote my stories. I was able to write them as a victor and not a victim. Also, as far as the actual writing in itself, I believe that any story's greatest challenge in writing will be to find a key interest point that draws the reader into the book before he/she knows they are hooked. Also, not overwhelming the reader with too much detail or difficulties at once, by intriguing uplifting moments or laughter to soften these, is a very beneficial attribute for any author to challenge themselves to do this



Tell us about the featured book.
The Shattering- A Child's Innocence Betrayed by Marsha Barth is my true story. More than a story of victimization from abuse, it is a story of the power of love, the promise of hope, and the joy of overcoming. All of us have been shattered at sometime in our life by someone or something. In this amazing story, written in novel form, the reader gets to see how one thread of hope changes a life forever and how we can go from victim to victor. The Shattering is a story of how all of us can be inspired to overcome what has shattered us and to realize that sorrow is but for a season and that joy does come in the morning. May you be blessed by the reading of this inspirational book. May your heart be opened to the joy and realization that, you do matter, and that you can heal. May you know that God has not forsaken you and that He is not the cause for man's sorrow, but the solution to our complete restoration.

Please give us the first page of the book.
A light breeze blew through the open door and blew the loose pictures off  the end table. Julie bent down to pick them up. She leaned back in the chair and fingered the pictures tenderly, looking at them one by one. She paused, engulfed in the memories that they were stirring. A slight smile broke across her young face as she looked at the picture she now held in her hand. It was an old black and white picture. Julie remembered the little white house with the red shutters. Julie shifted in the big chair. She tucked her legs up under her to get more comfortable. Slowly, she turned the pictures through her hands before stopping once again. The old photo with the pinked edges had caught her attention. Julie held the photo in her hand and placed the other photos down on the table beside her. She peered into the photo as if to glean some understanding from the young face that stared unknowingly back at her. The child in the picture looked to be six or seven years old. His straight, dark-brown hair hung to one side and swept over his small brow. Julie brought the picture closer and studied it in detail. The little boy did not smile, which saddened Julie. Even more disturbing was the lost look in his little eyes. They were void of laughter and appeared sorrowful. The innocence of childhood... 

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thank you, Marsha, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here is a link to the book.
The Shattering

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, 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: