COMING HOME TO MERCY - Michelle De Bruin - One Free Book

Welcome Back, Michelle. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? I like to write about redemption and the process of healing from grief.

What other books of yours are coming out soon? The second book in this Coming Home series is coming next summer.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why? I’d want to spend time with our state’s governor because she is a true leader who is doing a great job.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? I’d like to have a conversation with William Wilberforce because he kindly yet tenaciously stood on principles that eventually changed the course of history.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? I would say to take a break and spend some time in prayer. The direction you are going obviously isn’t working, so that might mean that God has different plans for you and the rejections might be his way of leading you into new territory.

Tell us about the featured book. Coming Home to Mercy is a story about two middle-aged people who have been married in the past and lost their spouses. The heroine, Margaret, is trying to decide where her true home is. The hero, Matthew, is looking for a way to rise above the grief and pain in his life. They team up to care for a group of children and eventually choose to spend their lives together.

This book was so interesting to write because the early 20th century was a time of innovation and progress. To write this book, I researched all kinds of items from telephones, to flying machines, to Model T Fords, bandstands, and even the art of building a ship in a bottle. The attitudes of the era fascinate me. People felt the same way one hundred years ago as we feel today about new inventions and the changes they make in our lives.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chicago

April, 1913

Margaret Millerson glanced away from the mountain of buntings on the table and sought encouragement from Julia. Bright, cheery Julia. She always had a positive word on her tongue and a happy look about her eyes and mouth. If anyone could assure Margaret she hadn’t taken on too much by providing decorations for the Library’s Charity Ball, her younger daughter could bolster her once again.

“You’ll finish in plenty of time, Mother. Look how far we’ve gotten this morning.” Julia smiled, melting away a degree of Margaret’s tension.

Margaret shifted her attention to the white rosettes piled on the drawing room sofa taking shape under Bertha Reynold’s skillful hands. The woman looked up and smiled at her friend.

“Yes.” Margaret couldn’t quite smother the note of hesitation in her voice.

“And look at all those tablecloths Isabel hemmed.” Julia gestured to another of Margaret’s close friends serving on the committee.

Isabel paused her work with the needle and thread. “Only five more left.”

“But the ball is tomorrow.” Margaret held her breath against a sigh and looked at Julia.

“Which gives us the rest of today to finish, and tomorrow morning to set up.” Julia picked up a candlestick and polished it.

“I haven’t heard from the florist. I need those flowers for centerpieces.” The idea of hosting the grand event with no flowers to provide the perfect touch of elegance stole her breath away. “How will I know they will be ready in the morning if I haven’t heard from them?”

“I’ll stop and check in there this afternoon. But, Mother, don’t worry. Everything will be just beautiful.” Julia smiled again and worked on another candlestick.

The sigh slipped out. Margaret smoothed her hair and gathered a length of blue fabric into a swag. She must put her energy into her work and not into fretting.

The grandfather clock ticked away the minutes. Sounds of traffic in the street drifted through the open window on this mild spring day. Clatters of pans and the general hum of a well-run household echoed from the back part of the house. Margaret’s breathing returned to normal. Life would somehow go on, even if her part of the charity event failed.

The telephone rang. Margaret glanced down the hall where the wooden box hung hear the kitchen door. To think of talking into a wooden box. She was still trying to grow accustomed to the new device her brother Henry had installed last winter. Most calls were for him on the subject of some business matter or another. Margaret returned her attention to the fabric in her hand. This call was probably another one for Henry, and someone would have to tell the caller that he wasn’t home.

Hurried footsteps grew closer. Ida, the housekeeper, stood in the doorway. “It’s Logan.”

The announcement stilled Margaret’s movements. She couldn’t think why her busy preacher son-in-law would call long distance on a Monday morning and ask for her, unless he delivered bad news. Surely nothing had happened to her daughter or to that precious baby the whole family anticipated.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Michelle’s website:  https://michelledebruin.com/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MichelleDAuthor

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/MichelleDB40/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18522892.Michelle_De_Bruin

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/michelle-de-bruin

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/Uqi250FXZxb

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