CAROUSEL DREAMS - Teresa Ives Lilly (and other authors) - One Free Book

Welcome back, Teresa. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

 

I’m very excited first of all to have had my greatest writing prayer answered by God which was to be included in a collection by Barbour Books. I hope to continue writing for Barbour and outside of traditional publishing, I am currently involved in writing in over ten series, all of which are Sweet Clean books and mine will be faith filled.

 

 Tell us a little about your family.

 My husband and I live in Texas.  I have three grown children who I love to have live fairly close to me and I also work part time at my son’s oil change for fun and to be near him.   (You should see the strange looks I get from some customers who wonder what this grey-haired woman is doing putting air into their tires.)

 

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Honestly, I struggle to read because I only write between 9pm and midnight which is also the only free time I have for reading. I reread all of Grace Livingston Hills 100 books every three years though.

           

I had a fairly large collection of Grace Livingston Hills books that I had read. When a friend who loved to read had their house burn down, I gave the collection to them for her and her daughters to read. What are you working on right now?

Currently I am writing The Christmas Inheritance, a book in the Billionaires and Debutantes series. That will be followed by a variety of novella length books in several wonderful series.

                       

What outside interests do you have?

I love to garage sale, thrift store shop, and I currently do 300-piece puzzles while watching old Western movies with my hubby in the evenings. I buy and sell used puzzles just for fun because I love to wheel and deal.

 

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Many of my books take place in fictional towns that I can have fun creating. If I like a town, I’ve created I often return to it in another book.

 

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’d love to go back and live a week of her life to see what it was like in reality, as compared to her books.

 

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

How to trust an editor. I’ve learned so much by allowing my work to be edited.

 

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

To be brave in a scary world. To speak up and share His goodness with people through my writing as well as in person. While at the oil change, I have an opportunity to ask customers if they need prayer. I’ve been able to pray for many people.

 

That's wonderful. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Get and Editor and learn from them.  Consider writing in a series with other successful authors. Get organized and utilize a website, amazon author central, Bookbub, and Goodreads.

 

Tell us about the featured book.

Carousel Dreams was actually my idea. I researched old Carousels and suggested the four different carousels that are represented in the book. And was pleased to have the idea accepted. My carousel is found in Conneaut Lake Park.  I happened to have met my husband in Conneaut, Ohio, so it was interesting to find out more about the area.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth. (NLT)

“Ouch! My ankle,” Tamara Brand fumed and stared at the tall, ginger-blonde-haired man hovering over her. From her seated position on the hard pier bench, the man seemed almost a giant. Even if he did have gorgeous blue eyes, which dared to compete with the open sky, she wasn’t about to smile at his gracious apology.

If I ever meet the owners of Bessmer and Lake Erie Railroad, I will be sure to give them a piece of my mind….

“I’m sorry I was so clumsy, Miss. I never meant to hit you with the suitcase.” The man waved a newspaper back and forth over her. “Please don’t try to stand up. You might collapse.”

It was difficult not to faint from the pain, which wrapped around her ankle, but her irritation with the ridiculous situation agitated her even more. She sat up straight and waved away his impromptu made fan.

“Please stop waving that paper! I never collapse or faint.” Her words came out through clenched teeth.

The man tucked the newspaper into his pants pocket and lifted his flat cap, which Tamara had seen only last week in the latest Ladies’ Home Journal referred to as a Newsboy, off his head and allowed unruly curls to spring loose. He wiped his arm across his forehead to erase the bead of sweat from his brow.

“I’m sure you need a doctor. This suitcase hit you pretty hard.”

Tamara wished she could lift anything to give herself some relief from the July sun, but the unbreathable petticoat under her silly silk dress clung to her legs. She instantly regretted allowing Thelma to convince her she must arrive at Exposition Park Resort wearing this monstrosity. Tamara grasped the railing, which protected her from falling into the cool waters of Conneaut Lake, and pulled herself into a standing position, a short gasp of pain escaping her thin lips.

 

 How can readers find you on the Internet?

 www.teresalilly.wordpress.com  Join my newsletter and get a free book under the                                 Gift section.

https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Ives-Lilly/e/B009DO2PLG Amazon

https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard  Goodreads

 

Thank you for sharing this collection with my blog readers and me.

 

Readers, here are links to the book.

Carousel Dreams - Christianbook.com

Carousel Dreams: 4 Historical Stories - Amazon Paperback 

Carousel Dreams: 4 Historical Stories - Kindle

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