AIRBORNE - DiAnn Mills - One Free Book

Bio: DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

 

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Retreats: Marketing, Speakers, Nonfiction and Novelist with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion for helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. 

 Welcome back, DiAnn. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

We are all driven by specific callings and goals. I call these passions. Obviously one of mine is communicating through the written word. I love to write books for fans of Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction, FBI Crime Solving Novels, and Clean Romance. I’m challenged daily to ensure my writing combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots which result in action-packed, suspense-filled novels. I also believe in mentoring serious new writers.

 

When God called me into writing, He also called me to give back to serious writers. I receive so much satisfaction when a writing student is published or receives an award. Through the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Edie Melson and I, as directors, strive to provide writers with the best tools to grow their craft and their relationship with God.

 

I live in Houston, Texas, with my husband Dean. He and I work together to provide my readers and writers the best possible experience—and glorify God. 

                                                                                                                                                           

How did you become interested in writing?

I can’t remember when I wasn’t writing. Story to me is life. Everyone is living a story, and I want to be a part of recording that history.

Due to lack of confidence, I didn’t start writing seriously until my husband challenged me to write a book. That was 1996, and that book was published in 1998. I’ve never stopped. For the past nearly four years, my husband has helped me full time. We view our partnership as a ministry.                                         

What compelled you to write a book on this subject?

An idea … What if a virus unleashed onboard an international flight?

The idea pestered me for nearly three years before I wrote the book. In fact, Airborne was scheduled for release before COVID hit our world.

The search to find experts who were willing to give me accurate information took another year. Along the way, God placed the right people in my path:

1. A woman and new friend whose doctorate is in microbiology and immunology.
2. A man who trains flight attendants for the airline that I envisioned in my story.
3. A pilot who not only flies for my designated airline but is also a suspense and thriller writer.
4. The amazing people and resources of the CDC.
5. The wisdom and guidance of the FBI. 

                                                                                                                                                           

What is the main theme or point that you want readers to understand from reading your book? Are there any other themes present in the book?                                                                                          

God is in control.

Marriage

Forgiveness

Trust

Mental health issues                                                  

                                                                 

Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book?

My mission then and now is to show a story that weaves hope, reality, and the sacrificial work of first responders when a deadly virus spreads through innocent people.

My prayer is people will experience God’s presence during our current global crisis. Will you join me in that prayer? 

                                                                             

What makes your book different than any other books similar to yours that are in circulation today?      

It’s a suspense that incorporates a crime, a failing marriage, and how various personalities work.       

                                                                                                                                   

How does the book intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him?

God is our priority, first place. He called me into writing fiction and teaching others what I learn. Airborne addresses God is in control of every aspect of our lives, and He cares.    

                                                                                                                                                                       

Do you have a favorite Scripture verse?

Jeremiah 20:9 NIV

But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
    indeed, I cannot. 

 

When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?      

Bake, cook, garden, read, and spend time with the grandkids. Also love to travel!

                                                                                                                                                           

Tell us about the book.

Heather Lawrence’s long-awaited vacation to Salzburg wasn’t supposed to go like this. Mere hours into the transatlantic flight, the Houston FBI agent is awakened when passengers begin exhibiting horrific symptoms of an unknown infection. As the virus quickly spreads and dozens of passengers fall ill, Heather fears she’s witnessing an epidemic similar to ones her estranged husband studies for a living—but this airborne contagion may have been deliberately released.

While Heather remains quarantined with other survivors, she works with her FBI colleagues to identify the person behind this attack. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field . . . and Heather’s husband. The Lawrences’ marriage has been on the rocks since Chad announced his career took precedence over his wife and future family and moved out.

As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time’s running out to hunt down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected. 

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Houston, Early July Monday 6P

Vacations offered a distraction for those who longed to relax and rejuvenate, but FBI Special Agent Heather Lawrence wrestled with the decision to take an overseas trip alone. Normally she arrived for a flight at IAH eager to embark upon a new adventure. Not this time. Her vacation expectations had bottomed out over four weeks ago after Chad had slammed the door on reconciliation. Was she working through her grief or avoiding the reality of a husband who no longer wanted her? She waited to board the flight in a designated line at the gate. The hum of voices blended with airport beeps, and announcements swirled around her as though enticing her to join the enthusiasm. In the line beside her, passengers shifted their carry-ons and positioned their mobile devices or paper boarding passes. Ready. Alert. People eager to be on their way. Heather offered a smile to those nearest her. An adorable little blond boy with an older woman found it hard to stand still. A middle-aged couple held hands. The bald head and pasty skin of the man indicated a medical condition. He stumbled, and the woman reached for him. A robust man held a violin case next to his heart. A twentysomething woman with pink hair and a man behind her with a scruffy beard exchanged a kiss. Chad used to steal kisses. If she pinpointed the exact moment when he chose to separate himself from her, she’d say when he returned from a third trip for Doctors Without Borders late last fall. He’d witnessed suffering and cruel deaths that had scarred him. She’d encouraged his desire to help others, not realizing their future would take a backseat. While he drove toward success, their marriage drifted across the lanes and stalled in a rut. 

 

As we close, is there anything else you would like to add?

Readers can learn more about Airborne here: https://diannmills.com/books/airborne/ You’ll find a book video, bookclub aids, buy buttons, first chapter, and discussion questions. Let me know how you like the story.

As you consider your personal aspirations, expand your horizons to include the opportunities around you. We’ve all been given gifts and talents to further the kingdom of God. Don’t let them go to waste. Develop your skills and reach out to grasp that which God has purposed for you.

Don’t forget to comment to be entered in a random drawing for a copy of Airborne.

 

Thanks, Lena for hosting me. 

 

It's always a pleasure to have you on my blog. I'm really eager to read this story, and I know my readers will be, too. I just received it a few days ago, and it went to the top of my to-be-read stack.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I love to hear from readers! Email me at: diann@diannmills.com Or connect with me on the social media platforms listed on my website: https://diannmills.com/

 

Readers, here are links to the book.

Airborne - Christianbook.com

https://amzn.to/3mYLng1 - Amazon Paperback

https://amzn.to/3cKscCa - 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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

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.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.

Deanne (PA) is the winner of The Shopkeeper's Wife by Izzy James. 

Amanda (AL) is the winner of Valley of the Shadows by Candace West.

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.   

JUSTICE FOR ELIZABETH - Mary Vee - One Free Book

 Welcome, Mary. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Oh, dear, dear. My life is an open book with pages copied and infused inside every character. My favorite color (orange), my favorite dessert, and deeper yet are my fears and triumphs. Veiled in story, woven with a single thread of ink dripped here then there. First in the main character and later in a tertiary soul suffering from a dreaded sickness or some other horrible drama. I’d say, pertnear most of myself can be found in my characters.

 

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Only one? The candidates for quirkiest would keep you entertained. But. God has kept me alive despite my crazy whims to do more. The winner is: During our honeymoon, my husband and I chose to climb a cliff. We carried a rope up with us for the descent. Hours later, we reached the top, dangled our legs over the edge and feasted on the pine green treetop carpet beneath us. With the rope firmly anchored around a tree, we wedged our toes between rocks and grabbed onto tree roots, working our way down—but twenty feet above the earth, the rope unexpectedly ended. Yeah. Miscalculated that one. It was quite an adventure getting the rest of the way down.

 

Oh, my. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Although I’d written many short stories for my students, I’d never considered myself a writer until that golden day when an editor sent an acceptance letter for my first article and asked for a second to be published in their national church paper. So many doubts filled my heart before that moment. In truth, those rascal doubts occasionally surface still. But with God’s encouragement they vaporize.

 

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I enjoy reading suspense, mystery, historical, biblical fiction, the classics (Dickens, Hugo, Bronte, etc.) and on occasion fantasy and science fiction, oh and young adult. Well maybe military fiction and split time too but never ever, unless tied to a chair and promised chocolate will I read non-fiction, excluding the Bible, of course.

 

Most of the nonfiction reading I do is research for a book I'm writing. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I talk with God conversation style. Confession: I’ve complained to him. Cried to him. Laughed, sang, recited His word to him. I’ve often seen later that my emotions or misconceptions steered me crazy. Good that God is in charge and always brings about the proper results instead of granting my wishes. ;)

 

I so agree with that last line. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Research. Hours of research. Google is a good friend for this project. On occasion I borrow real people’s names like Dickens did. I want a name that fits the setting, is unique yet not weird, has the right sound when spoken, matches the age, culture, beliefs, circumstances, and basically is the perfect name. But. Sometimes. Characters don’t like the spectacular name bestowed on them. They tell me to change it midship. Seriously? Yeah. Characters can be like that.

 

I've experienced a few if those. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

During my first summer as camp counselor for inner city children, God let me help a few girls see how to put their trust in Christ. In the many subsequent years, more opportunities came in Sunday School, AWANA, VBS, in the US, Mexico, and Honduras. The joy has never grown old.

 

I know what you're talking about. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

If I were an animal, I would be a mountain goat, fluffy and white, scaling cliffs, balancing on inches of rock…overlooking a sea of rugged, snow-capped peaks wildly rising above the clouds and kissing the sky. Then, in the still, I would look down at narrow valley canyons striped with blue squiggly rivers and cottonwoods. Why? Because I love to see God’s creation.

 

It is beautiful. I thoroughly enjoy his creativity. What is your favorite food?

Plain Jane. I use few spices in my cooking and always work to enhance original flavors. So, when I can strawberry preserves, I use twice the berries and half the sugar. YUM

 

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

For the longest time, I struggled with cryptic writing. What I mean is I focused on my conception of tight writing so much so I failed to paint 3-D word pictures. Reading well written books cured me of this problem like a sweet medicine. Occasionally, I fall back into the bad habit, but catch the rough sentences when editing. Caveat, tight writing is still important.

 

Tell us about the featured book. 

Today’s featured book is Justice for Elizabeth. Did you know the life of a high society, wealthy woman isn’t easy, especially when something goes tragically wrong? Social obligations and appointments fill a day from early morning to late evening. Real life truly hasn’t changed much since Downton Abby. Elizabeth Alexander can’t possibly fulfill her social calendar appointments with her husband locked away in prison. Who could when the gossipers won’t believe he’s innocent? Her family’s name is at stake. They’ll be ruined! She must hire someone who can prove him innocent. She chooses Carhill. The man who solved her dearest friend’s case last Christmas.

 

Detective Branson Carhill, a master of French, formal dance, dining, conversation, and all manners expected of one in the elite class, hides his true middle-class identity when working for his favorite clients. The rich. The witty. The arrogant. A campion force in the art of verbal sparring. How does he gain their confidence? With his motto: Your case can be solved quickly without notifying the media.

 

Wit. Friendship. Embezzlement. True Love. Murder. Justice. Humor. This is the next book to read.

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Branson Carhill rested his hand on the doorknob to his agency, preparing himself for the next five minutes. Dreading.

The matter on the other side of the door involved his loyal assistant, Mrs. Spinnaker. She seemed to think she should be paid on a regular basis and so dedicated every morning to regaling the current solvency, or lack thereof, of his business. He let her believe he didn’t keep track of these details mainly because no one could replace a good assistant, even a detective with a perfect track record.

Granted her assessment of the agency’s finances had merit. She was, after all the best. As with every other business morning, she’d greet him once he opened the door, then insist he improve the cash flow by approving a meeting with one of the clients from the case pile towering on his desk.

This morning.

If he wanted the electricity to stay on.

Bold, rich coffee aroma drifted through the door, tempting him to enter. Such a cruel deed, Mrs. Spinnaker.

 

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You’ll find a common theme when looking for my name. Mary Vee Writer or simply Mary Vee

Website:   https://www.maryveewriter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryveeauthor/

Twitter:     https://twitter.com/MaryVeeWriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryveewriter

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/maryveewriter

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-vee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15370130.Mary_Vee

Link for all my books: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Vee/e/B01N0XTYIQ

 

Readers, 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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

HOSTAGE - Cindy Bonds - One Free Book

Welcome, Cindy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I enjoy reading books with strong, female characters. I guess it’s just easier for me to relate! So when I write, I tend to use some the same characteristics that I see in me, in my female protagonist. Sometimes those characteristics are good: confident, a leader. Sometimes, they are not as good: prideful, unwilling to allow anyone to help.

 

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Quirky doesn’t really describe me or anything I’ve done. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment or anecdote?

 

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve always done well at writing, at least in school. Term papers, poems, those early years in elementary school when we wrote our own short stories. But I never even considered doing it until about four years ago. I had been on a Dani Pettry binge and those books gave me so many ideas. I happened to see a few posts on Pinterest about how to write your own book and it hit me, I could actually do that.

 

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I tend to stick to the Christian side of suspense, but I have been known to lean into YA fantasy. I started out reading The Happy Hollisters as a child, so as long as it has a mystery or a twist to it, I’m hooked!

 

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

My husband and I teach the youth at our church and knowing we have to be prepared and ready to teach twice a week really keeps me in check. It’s so easy to step away from the Bible, to be too busy, too tired, too bored. But being involved in our church keeps my head down and my focus ready. As we do our best to lift up our students, it’s a wonderful reminder that we can be lifted up as well!

 

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I really like unique names and names that can have a shortened nick-name. I’m not much on pet names, so when the male protagonist uses a shortened name, to me, it conveys a level of intimacy and knowledge within their relationship.

 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Accomplishment- an act or instance of carrying into effect; fulfillment.

I would have to say, according to this definition, it would be the Genesis Contest with ACFW. I was a semifinalist in 2019 with this book, Hostage. To make it that far, it gave me a sense of accomplishment that the hours at the computer over the past several years, wasn’t a waste!

 

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I haven’t thought of something like this since grade school, not sure I really had an answer back then either! But when I think of being like an animal now, I think of Isaiah 40:31 - “But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” Being high above this world, away from the chaos, hate and frenzy; yes, that’s where I would want to be.

 

I agree with you. What is your favorite food?

Seafood. More specific, lobster. I love lobster! But as a foodie, I’ll pretty much eat anything. I do think a big plus with the lobster is that you get to dip it in melted butter. I mean, what could be better?

 

My favorite food is lobster mac and cheese. But I've only eaten it a couple of times. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

When I first started writing, I had so many ideas. For the first year and a half, I didn’t stop and never felt like I couldn’t fill a page. I didn’t realize I had been saving up for so long! But after that, I bottomed out. I would start with an idea, knowing where I wanted to start and where I wanted to end. The problem was, I couldn’t fill the middle! The answer was pretty easy; read. Instead of staring at an empty screen, I would read. Three books or so a week and suddenly, I had ideas and scenarios filling my mind. The imaginative juices flowing, I was finally able to complete all those half-ideas and thoughts, forming them into a complete story line.

 

Tell us about the featured book.

Macy Packer is a strong-willed woman taken captive while doing her best to protect a senator. Imprisoned, she leans on one of her fellow inmates for support. After a harrowing escape and rescue mission, she finds herself back on U.S. soil.

Kane Bledsoe is soon healed and ready for life to become normal again. That is, until he finds the woman he met while in prison. It doesn’t take long before she’s in trouble once more and he steps in to help. But everything gets turned upside down as the threat becomes more than they can handle on their own.

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

“Get down!” Macy Packer shoved the senator to the ground and took cover. Gunfire erupted around them. Bullets ricocheted over her head, forcing her to wait before returning fire. Her com-link rang out with the voices of her five man crew, nearly deafening her, but over a short time, their voices faded. The outcome of the battle became clear. The smell of smoke stung at her eyes and throat. Fire engulfed their helo.

 

She yelled, “Get that bird here now!”

 

“Two minutes out.”

 

“Too long,” she muttered. Macy reloaded and rained another torrent of bullets, pushing back the insurgents making their way across the rooftop. She grabbed Senator Marstill and rolled him beneath her. He cried out and grabbed his head. “Don’t move.”

 

Ducking down, she snagged a Glock from a deceased friend, noting the blood seeping through his shirt and pooling around his body. There would be time to mourn later. Right now, she was intent on living through this day. A bullet tore past her shoulder as she stood to move the assailants back, firing and falling back to her position.

 

More! I want more! How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is https://cindybonds.com/ and you can find my author page on Facebook @CindyBondsAuthor. Here is the link to purchase Hostage: https://scrivenings.link/hostagekindle

 

Readers, 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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

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.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.

Needful Things (FL) is the winner of The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y'Barbo. 

Perrianne (TX) is the winner of Hear of a Warrior by Angela Couch.

 
Traveler (NM) and Sharon (SC) are the winners of Ephesians and All That Jazz by Tom Anderson.

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.  

VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS - Candace West - One Free Book

Bio: Candace West was born in the Mississippi delta to a young minister and his wife. She grew up in small-town Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. At twelve years old, she wrote her first story, “Following Prairie River.” In 2018, she published her debut novel Lane Steen. By weaving entertaining, hope-filled stories, Candace shares the Gospel and encourages her readers. She currently lives in Arkansas with her husband and their son along with two dogs and three bossy cats.

 

Welcome, Candace. I was born and lived in Arkansas until I was a junior in college. Then my faily moved to Texas, and I transferred to a Texas school. I didn't transfer again when they moved to New Mexico the next year. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

 

Even though a little bit of myself exists in my characters, I enjoy discovering their differences and looking at the world through their eyes. They need to be distinct and unique. The challenge is learning how they react to situations, how they think, and feel.

 

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Often during my teen years, I donned an old fashioned dress, grabbed a book, a quilt, and spent the afternoon in a hay field reading. I pretended I was Anne of Green Gables.

 

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

 

I was twelve. My family and I were on a long car trip to visit my grandparents in Colorado. As we drove through Kansas, I grabbed my notebook and penned “Following Prairie River” to pass the time. Through those rolling hills, I created a western adventure of an orphaned brother and sister.  

 

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

 

I read either clean or Christian books. Historical fiction is my first choice, hands down, but I read contemporary romance and some suspense as well. I love the classics and British literature. I also enjoy reading biographies and autobiographies of historical figures, particularly American ones.

 

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

 

All my life, I’ve been a homebody and a country girl. Spending time with family is therapeutic for me. When things get too busy, I step back and spend time with them. Also, spending time with the Lord keeps me grounded and resets my focus.

 

How do you choose your characters’ names?

 

That’s a funny question because when I first started writing, I opened a phone book. Remember those? I thumbed through the list of names and picked the ones I liked. Now, though, I search through old fashioned names on the internet. Sometimes, if I hear an unusual name, I’ll jot it down for future use.

 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

 

That’s a hard question because often I don’t feel I’ve accomplished much. My hope and prayer is that the Lord will use my life somehow for His glory. Ever since I had my son, my desire is to be a blessing to him, to teach him what it is to walk with the Lord.

 

A very worthy endeavor. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

 

What a fun question! I love animals of all kinds, but I especially love cats. They’re comfortable in their own skin, confident. They’re master tree climbers. And most importantly, cats know how to nap!

 

What is your favorite food?

 

Mexican and southern home cooking. Enchiladas with white cheese sauce, beans, and rice is my favorite Mexican dish. At home, during the summer, I could eat fried okra and fried squash every day. And let’s not forget purple hull peas. Now, I’m hungry!

 

I love okra, squash, and purple hull peas. The best way to cook okra without frying it is to cook it whole on top of purple hull or blackeyed peas. There's no slime that way. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

 

Time. During my twenties and mid-thirties, I had little time to write. After marrying and starting a family, I found even less time. Stories filed away in my head for some day. In 2018, I made up my mind to publish Lane Steen. The way I overcame not having time was to make time. It’s a daily thing.

 

Tell us about the featured book.

 

How does a villain become a hero? Valley of Shadows is a second-chance story of an outcast and his estranged wife, both former concert musicians, working together to save a community and rebuild their life. But will the shadows from their past forever darken their future with failure?  

 

Sounds interesting. I love second-chance stories. Please give us the first page of the book.

September 2, 1910

The torrent swept away Lorena’s well-devised surprise into the muck. Coal-black clouds hurled sheets of rain upon the surrounding Ozarks and against the little train station huddled under the trees.

 

Stranded. Lorena was five miles away, but she might as well be five thousand miles from Valley Creek. No one knew she was here. Father told her to wire first, but she wanted to surprise her daughters. Lorena shook her head.

 

Edging back farther on the covered platform, Lorena winced as rain thundered down the tin roof, splattering mud on the bottom step as it pounded the ground. A burst of lightning swept across the sky and the hills. A sudden flood of color assailed the next moment with gray. Thunder  crashed and rattled the station’s windows.

 

“Ma’am.” The stationmaster poked his whiskered head around the door. “You ain’t got no one to pick you up?”

 

“No, I was planning to walk to Valley Creek. I guess it’ll have to wait for now.”

 

I want to know what happens next. I'm sure my readers do, too. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please connect with me. I love becoming friends with my readers!

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Purchase Valley of Shadows at Amazon here: https://scrivenings.link/valleyofshadowskindle

https://scrivenings.link/valleyofshadows

 

I’m also coming soon to the Mosaic Collection of authors. https://www.mosaiccollectionbooks.com/

 

Readers, 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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THE SHOPKEEPER'S WIDOW - Izzy James - One Free Book

Welcome, Izzy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I’m not sure I have an exact equation for that, but generally I would say that at least one of the principles I live by is a part of my characters.

 

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I am usually pretty staid, methodical, and frugal. A couple of years ago a friend of mine was selling her Mazda Miata convertible. After a 5 minute discussion with my husband, I decided to buy it. Since then I drive it as often as I can. Even a trip to the grocery store in the middle of winter for a couple of items will find me with the top down roaring down the twisty-turny country roads.

 

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I can’t say with certainty how young I was when I first attempted a story. I do remember it was difficult and it caused me to think through what the necessary parts were to a coherent story. By junior high school I was getting chosen to read my stuff to the class and getting chosen to have my plays performed. It was then I began to understand that I just might be able to do this writing thing.

 

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I LOVE to read. In fiction it ranges from literary fiction to cozy mysteries to romance. In non-fiction, I read about mathematical modeling to histories to diaries.

 

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I work 6 days and guard the seventh. Sometimes the day of the week changes, but I guard that seventh day. I take short vacations and stay-cations with my husband.

 

How do you choose your characters’ names?

So this is a pretty funny question for me. I LOVE to look at names. I’m partial to old-timey ones, particularly Puritan names. For my historicals ,I look through old marriage registries for the time period, but that can get you into trouble too. When I first wrote The Shopkeeper’s Widow, I used an old marriage registry and found the name Xaney. It appeared twice in the e-book I used. Well, the name was so unusual that I got questioned about it in a contest, in fact I wasn’t allowed to continue and one of the reasons was they thought her name was too odd. So I went back to the book—it wasn’t there. In its place was Nancy. Apparently during the ebook conversion some weird mistake happened, and I didn’t know the difference! :-) So then I did another search and Xaney was renamed Delany. Given my ‘drothers though, I’d have stuck with Xaney.

 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Honestly, this one is hard, I think it changes depending on the context. Right now, I am very proud that The Shopkeeper’s Widow was chosen for publication by The Pelican Book Group’s White Rose imprint. The people at Pelican are dedicated to the Lord first and to publishing wonderful Christian stories. I haven’t read a bad book published by them yet. To have The Shopkeeper’s Widow sitting in that group of wonderful books is just an honor.

 

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

It’s between two: a dog because they are loyal, kind, loving, and they guard their families or an eagle that soars to the heavens. Too bad I couldn’t be a flying dog. That would be great!

 

Thanks for my first chuckle of the day. What is your favorite food?

Spinach cooked in olive oil with roasted garlic.

 

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Having enough time to plan what comes next and write the words. I had a talk with the people concerned and began to guard the time.

 

Tell us about the featured book.

The Shopkeeper’s Widow is a romance that tells the story of Delany Fleet and Field Archer. 

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Circular Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to the Governours of the Colonies

Whitehall, October 19, 1774

Sir:

His Majesty having thought fit by his Order in Council this day to prohibit the exportation from Great Britain of Gunpowder, or any sort of Arms or Ammunition, I herewith enclose to you a copy of the order; and it is His Majesty’s command that you do take the most effectual measures for arresting, detaining, and securing any Gunpowder, or any sort of Arms or Ammunition which may be attempted to be imported into the Province under your Government, unless the master of the ship having such Military Stores on board shall produce a license from his Majesty or the Privy Council for the exportation of the same from some of the Ports of this Kingdom.

I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, DARTMOUTH  

30 September 1775
Borough of Norfolk, Virginia

With a startled swipe of her arm, Delany Fleet brushed Noah’s animals to the floor. Still grasping the tiny wooden giraffe from the set she’d been arranging, she hurried toward the door of her shop and the sound of the drum.

Outside, fifteen British soldiers marched up the narrow, mud-caked street. Bayonets glinted in the early afternoon sun. Redcoats crisp against white lapels. Black boots marched in cadence with the drum.

Her heart thumped with the beat. Behind them, in the harbor, the fourteen-gun sloop-of-war, Otter, leveled its barrels at the borough.

People streamed out of their shops and houses to witness the spectacle.

Delany had grown accustomed to the sight of soldiers making a nuisance of themselves around Norfolk, but this formal display of British military strength took her breath away. It was Lord Dunmore’s latest ploy to control the ‚rebellious‛ Virginia colony. If only all this unrest would go away. She’d worked too hard to lose everything in a game of politics in which she had no part.

The soldiers marched two abreast, a wall of hewed stone. The men towered above her own sixty-inch height, faces wiped of all expression.

Their power stirred in her rebellious emotions she thought dead with her late husband, Tom. The spell broke when her nephew, Ben, arrived at her side. She pulled him close. At thirteen, Ben itched to join the militia. This display wouldn’t help matters. Forgetting the open shop, she and Ben followed the crowd as the column made a turn onto Main Street and arrived at the Virginia Gazette.

 

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website:  http://www.echull.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/IzzyJamesAuthor

Twitter: @chevyhull

Instagram: izzy.james

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://amzn.to/35BJ8cm 

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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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

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EPHESIANS & ALL THAT JAZZ - Tom Anderson - One Free Book

 Welcome, Tom. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

 

The one thing I would like your readers to know about me is that God takes the unlikely and unremarkable and uncertain, loves on them and, over time, creates a message in them through the events of their life and then uses that to ministers to others.  For me and Nan, God used our marriage which should have failed miserably to show us how un-messes the messy and how He transforms lives and relationships.

 

Tell us about your family.

 

Nancy and I have been married over 45 years and, from the beginning, had a heart for God and for the things of God.  But for the first eight, we were on life support.  Then God stepped in with a specific word that began the transformation.  We have two children who are walking with the Lord, six grandchildren and some life-long friends. 

 

Have you written other nonfiction books?

 

This is the first book that I have written.  I have written in the past for myself because I found that the Lord seems to speak or clarify my thoughts as I write.  And when I preach, I also write and re-write the sermons. This book really had the same feel as that.

 

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

 

I am working on a book about Abraham.  It hit me a couple years ago that God declared him righteous about 10 years after he committed his life to the Lord.  It messed with my evangelical mind where we are declared righteous when we put our faith in Christ. 

 

Abraham’s righteousness was not about him believing in God, but believing what God said about him.  Abraham did not believe who God said he was (that is the father of many nations) until God brought him out under the stars.  At that point, Abraham went on a journey of becoming and this journey had specific stages.  These are the same stages each of his and God’s children go through. These stages can be summed up in three words—faith, hope, and love.

 

Abraham finally believed what God said about him and then spent years hoping against hope that he might become.  Finally, on Moriah, this was fulfilled in him because Abraham was willing to freely give back to God what He had given him.  Abraham didn’t need externals to know who he was or who God was.

 

This is what God desires for each of his children and is the path that I have seen God take me on.  First to know both that you are the loved son or daughter of God and you were created with specificity.  Then to know the process.  We need both to recognize the why of you and the how.

 

 What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Much to my wife’s consternation, the only hobby I have is her.  Saying that, we enjoy going out for coffee together, spending time with the kids and grandkids and developing friendships.

 

What is Ephesians and All that Jazz.  Riffing with Paul.

 

Jazz is a paraphrase of Ephesians.  It takes small sections of Ephesians and tries to express Paul’s heart in ways that might resonate with the readers.    

 

Why did you write Jazz?

 

I began writing Jazz to explore what I believed about God. The thought of publishing never crossed my mind because I never thought I would finish it.  But as I wrote, it drew me in and caused me to see God in a delightfully different and engaging way and, in light of seeing God, I began seeing myself in a new way as well.  I have published this because, I think, Jazz can create a wonderment in others as well.

 

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

 

My greatest hope for those who read Jazz is not that they come away with answers per se but to come away with questions that will lead them into their own encounter with God. I invite the readers, in the intro, to journey with me as I explore my own soul and try to grasp the Wind. But, as they read my journey, I hope they would be encouraged to start their own.   

 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?

 

In the title, Jazz is called a transliteration. There are three terms used in translation. The first is translation which is what we all know where there is a one to one correlation between the word in the original language and the one you are translating it it.  For example, charis is grace.  Agape is love.  A paraphrase will take the basic thoughts and take liberty with the text in order to paint pictures that help the reader understand the thoughts better.  In the truest sense, what I have done is produce a paraphrase.

           

A transliteration, however, knows that there is not a word in your language that approximates the word or concept in the language you are trying to translate so you must create a new word and attach meaning to it to be able to communicate it. There are many words in the Christian jargon that have definitions but no meaning. Words and concepts, like righteousness, the Trinitarian God, being filled with the Spirit, and others, can cause one’s eyes to glaze over.  The Holy Spirit needs to creates new words in our internal dictionary before they can come alive in you and before you can begin to understand and walk in them. 

 

Please give us the first page or two from the book.

 

You can find larger sections on Amazon but here is the intro:

 

Jazz is the best way I can describe what I have written.  Jazz is a uniquely American art form and, in its purest form, is improvisation.  It takes basic chord structures and then riffs or expresses notes that are imagined, not written.

 

Jazz is highly subjective and invites the audience to take a journey with the musician as he explores his own soul.  At times, it is brilliant.  At other times, not so much.  Jazz occasionally is not safe.  But it is always authentic.

 

In the first century, Paul was a jazz musician. The good news he proclaimed was uniquely his.  He even called the message he preached, “my gospel.”  What he heard from God was distilled in his own soul before he communicated it to those who were to hear the wonderful love of God. 

While Paul was unique in the breadth and depth of the revelation he received, he is not unique in how God transmits His message.  Though God can and does sovereignly reveal His Son without human agency, His plan has always been to infect others with someone who has been infected with God. 

 

Paul also talks about two ways to communicate the message.  One is by the letter and the other, by the spirit.  In musical terms, the letter would be reading from a score and the spirit would be playing jazz.  Both require a firm understanding of music theory and an effortless expertise.

While both produce music, however, one is born from within while the other echoes the past and others.  John the Baptist, when asked who he was, said that he was a unique voice and not an echo, even though the prophets of old could be heard resounding through him.

Paul said that the Christ he proclaimed was the Christ who was revealed “in” him.  The Word that had become Flesh, became flesh once again in Paul.  His life and writings were but an outworking of this. 

 

And that Word, in part, has become flesh in me.  This work is the result of many years of God changing my thoughts about Him, about myself and about life, and then ultimately changing me.  Most of these thoughts I have carried with me for years.

 

But there were moments when I was writing, that an idea dropped into my mind which had never occurred to me, nor had I heard, before.  These thoughts are either brilliant or borderline heretical.   It felt at those moments as if I was attached to a tether which was being stretched beyond its tolerances.  And I let it.

 

You might sense this as well because jazz at times can have a disrupting effect on one’s assumptions and create cognitive dissonance.  Jazz can bring unanticipated moments for everyone.  But these are the moments when you just might encounter God.  Moses did when he stopped to gaze at the incongruent scene of a bush being consumed by fire, yet not burning out.  It was in that moment that Moses experienced God in a new way. 

 

With jazz, it is difficult to have the music pause so you can think about what you just heard; but with this, you can.  It might be best read in bite-sized chunks so you can consider and pray about the thoughts which might bring a different perspective.      

 

I am asking you to join me in my journey as I try to express the heart and mind of Paul through mine.  You will experience some “aha” moments which will create fresh thoughts in you.  You also will scratch your head at times (which is equally my hope). 

But if you let Him, you will sense the breath of God blowing on you through these pages and find a desire grow in you both to know the God you could never have imagined and the you He imagined before the worlds began.  And hopefully at the end, you will find the courage to begin riffing yourself because you too were created to be a jazz musician. 

 

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

 www.Ephesiansjazz.com is the book’s website

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjAvSMLUIAImJXbH8J5-hrw?view_as=subscriber is my youtube channel.

ephesiansjazz@gmai.com is my email address

 

Thank you, Tom, For sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I know it will touch and change lives.

Readers, here are links to the book.

 https://amzn.to/2Zl8PtR

https://amzn.to/3hkyQ2x

 

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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com