THE BOUNTY HUNTER'S BRIDE - Janis Jakes - One Free ebook

Welcome, Janis. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. When I create secondary characters, I think of people I know, or people I've met, and I ask myself, "How might this person respond?" or "What might this person do?" It keeps the characters having different personalities and truer to real life.

The female protagonist is a different story. I find myself interjecting my faith into her life. I'm a strong believer in Christ Jesus and want her to be the same. She may struggle at times, but in the end, she knows God's got her.  

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Bought a new car at an auto dealership in Texas, jumped in and kept driving. After several hours, my husband and I decided to buy a toothbrush, toothpaste, and some clothes, and continue to New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a fun, spontaneous trip with good food and great memories.

That sounds like fun. When did you first discover that you were a writer? First, I discovered that I was a reader. I loved books from an early age. Then, reading inspired me to become a writer.

My first artistic masterpiece came in the third grade. I wrote a play for all the children at the apartment complex where my family lived – assigning myself the role of writer, director, producer, and lead actor (the sheriff). So thankful there was no social media or phone recording back then!

But it was really God who put me on the path to writing and kept me there. He had several teachers encourage me in my earlier years and then when I finally got the nerve to submit a short story to a publication, it sold. That's when I first knew that writing wasn't just something I loved, but something God had His finger upon.   

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. Enjoy reading historical western and modern faith-based romances, as well as Christian fiction with a supernatural slant, e.g. This Present Darkness. Will also read non-fiction related to spiritual growth, physical wellness, and on the craft of writing. The last book I read was a biography: Getting Real by Gretchen Carlson.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? It does get crazy at times and like most people, I wear multiple hats (mom, wife, writer, friend, business owner, etc.), but I try to focus on the priorities of each day without forgetting what's on the horizon. I've learned that if I put too much focus on what's on the horizon instead of what I need to accomplish today, then I just invite stress. If I focus on the tasks for today, I invite productivity and can go to sleep at night with a sense of accomplishment.

From a spiritual perspective, I have moments throughout every day where I pause and commune with the Lord. Just thinking on Him brings a sense of peace to my surroundings and helps me remember what matters most.  

Other practical steps that have helped me keep my sanity …  pray before saying 'yes' to commitments, resist the perfectionism trap, and reevaluate my workload every six months or so and ask the Lord if anything needs to go.

How do you choose your characters’ names? Typically, the names come early and easy. I imagine the character with that name and see if it sticks. There is one name I didn't particularly like in the story, but it came and it stuck so I believe it was the right name.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? This isn't exactly an accomplishment, but the moment that makes me most proud is the moment I came back to the Lord. I'd been a prodigal for almost twenty years when I fell on my knees and told Jesus I wanted to return to Him. I'm so thankful He didn't turn up His nose or demand I quote ten scriptures or do fifty pushups or any other penance. He brought me back with a strong arm, and I've not walked away since.

I love hearing testimonies like that. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? I'd like to be a Hummingbird. They like their alone time, can zip all over the place, eat sweets all day but have very little body fat, and they're beautiful.

What is your favorite food? Salsa and chips. Okay, maybe that's not an official food (more of a snack), but I would trade food for salsa and chips any day.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Initially, the greatest roadblock I faced was waiting for the moment when I felt like writing.

What helped me more than anything was approximately three years I spent writing resumés for a major career site. I never once asked myself, "Do you feel like writing today?" I just wrote, and over time earned a spot as one of their top-ranked writers.

While I no longer do that work, I can say that it taught me self-discipline. I don't wait for the feeling to come. I sit. I pray. I write.

Tell us about the featured book. The Bounty Hunter's Bride is about a half-Comanche bounty hunter (Luke) on a routine capture who learns that the outlaw he's trailing is an innocent schoolteacher (Billie) who knows too much for her own good. Luke races across Texas, bent on getting Billie to safety, but equally determined to uncover the truth. The two fall in love but Luke doubts if Billie would ever be happy with a half-breed bounty hunter. It is only after justice is served and the two are reunited that Luke has his answer, once and for all.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Sweat dotted Luke’s brow, trickling down his temples in a ragged trail. If there’d been a hotter day in West Texas, he couldn’t recall when. His swollen tongue clung to the roof of his mouth. Sticky granules of sand peppered his cheeks. Not a single tree in sight and only one watering hole for miles—the perfect place to capture a criminal.

Looked like a kid off in the distance but ‚wanted dead or alive let Luke know to keep his guard up. Pistol in hand, he watched the lone figure—wondering what the kid would do next. Predicting the mind of an outlaw wasn’t easy, especially one who was likely hotheaded.

The young man rested on his knees at the water’s edge. He cupped his hands, bent to drink, and pulled off his hat. Copper hair tumbled down in a thick braid, stopping an inch or so above a slender waist.

Luke blinked.

The outlaw turned sideways, revealing curves. Confusion overtook Luke’s rational thoughts. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Maybe the desert heat was playing tricks on him. He looked again. Had the figure disappeared? He glanced toward the ground, rubbing his eyes once more.

I love this peek into your story. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.JanisJakes.com (website)

http://www.SisterSoldiersInChrist.com (blog)

@JanisJakes (Facebook)

JanisJakes@gmail.com (Email)

Thank you, Janis, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.

Readers, here is a link to the book.

https://amzn.to/3iuCCZL 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