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 do n'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.

Crystal (PA) is the winner of 100 Proof Murder by Mary Ellis 

Melanie (TX) Connie (TX), Cherie (FL), Lucy (WV), and Lourdes (NY) is the winner of Christmas Love Through the Ages.

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.    

DEATH AND A CROCODILE - Lisa E Betz - One Free Book

Bio: Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church. 

Welcome, Lisa. What drew you to set a mystery in first-century Rome? My interest in ancient Roman culture stems from many years teaching Bible studies. I have tried to absorb as much as possible about the culture and history of the Roman Empire so I can bring the ancient world to life and make the Bible more relevant to modern Christians.

I chose the mid-first century because I couldn’t write a light-hearted story with a snarky main character that was set during the Great Fire of Rome, or the persecutions that came after that. I’ve chosen to set the novel during the reign of Emperor Claudius, which means the story takes place a dozen years before Paul first visits the city.

One of the challenges I faced when researching this time period is a lack of “inside information” about the earliest days of church history. Most of what we know about how the early Christian churches functioned comes from later periods, when persecution was a problem and the Christians had been forced to become selective about who they allowed into their fellowship.  I have imagined the church at this stage was open to curious visitors, and had not yet developed the lengthy catechisms that converts were required to complete in later centuries.

How much freedom did women have back then? Is it feasible for a female to be a sleuth in that period? The Roman Empire was very much a patriarchal society. That being said, women enjoyed more rights during the Roman Empire than they’ve been allowed in most of the centuries leading up to modern times. For example, women could inherit property, run businesses, initiate lawsuits, and divorce their husbands. A clever and determined woman like Livia could find ways to investigate a mystery, although she would encounter obstacles a male wouldn’t face.

I knew there would be limits to what a young female sleuth could do without ruining her reputation, so from the start I knew she would need male allies to collect information from places or persons inaccessible to her. She will be collecting those allies as the series progresses. 

I have taken my inspiration for Livia from a host of other female sleuths who solve crimes despite the constraints of their historical eras. A few examples include: Lindsey Davis’s Flavia Albia, Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody, Margaret Frazers’s Dame Frevisse, and Jane Finnis’s Aureila Marcella. (You might notice that two of the sleuths I mentioned also thwart crime during the Roman Empire. So Livia is in good company.)

What is the significance of the coin shown on the cover of the book? When my sleuth’s father is murdered, she finds an old coin on his body that has an image of a crocodile on one side. From the start she’s convinced it’s an important clue, although in the end it doesn’t turn out to mean what she thinks it does. Despite her incorrect assumptions, the coin leads her to important information and plays a part in the final solution.

This particular coin was minted in about 10 AD. The crocodile chained to a palm tree represents the conquest of Egypt, when Augustus defeated Cleopatra and Mark Antony. If Livia had been paying attention during history lessons, she could have told you it was the decisive victory that ended the civil war and allowed Augustus to become sole leader, which eventually led to him becoming emperor, thus ending the Roman Republic and starting the Roman Empire.

What kind of persecution does Livia face for her faith in Christ? At this time the Christian church was in it’s infancy. It was operating under the radar of the Roman government. When they noticed it at all, they thought it was a sect of Judaism, which meant the earliest Christians enjoyed the same religious freedoms that were granted to Jews.

Once the authorities realized Christianity was a new and separate religion things changed. At that point Christianity became a religio illicita, or an unauthorized religion, and therefore open to government persecution.

Due to the early date, Livia doesn’t face active persecution from the authorities. She does face disapproval from her parents and others. Her parents adhere to a strict notion of traditional and respectable behavior. They would interpret Livia’s adoption of any non-Roman religion as abandoning her heritage, which could bring dishonor to the family and risk the disfavor of the gods. They would insist she give up her new beliefs and ban her from visiting her Christian friends. To avoid this, she’d kept her faith a secret, but sooner or later she’s going to have to admit it and deal with the consequences.

One of the issues your heroine faces in the book is an arranged marriage. What could a woman of her day do about that? A marriage would typically be arranged between the girl’s father and the groom. According to Roman law, a father couldn’t force his daughter into a marriage if she didn’t consent to it, so theoretically a woman had a say in the matter. But I doubt many girls really had a choice. If a daughter defied her father’s wishes, she might face being disinherited or kicked from the house. Few women could afford to take that risk.

Livia understands the realities of her society. She daydreams about swaying her father’s choice, but she doesn’t really expect her father will listen to her. When her father dies before finalizing the betrothal, she thinks she’s been given a lucky break. Her brother will take over as her guardian and she’s confident she can talk him into letting her marry the suitor of her choice.

But then her brother is accused of murder and it looks like her uncle may gain control of the household. If he succeeds, he’ll force Livia to marry the husband of her worst nightmares. The rest of the story is Livia’s attempt to control her destiny by proving her brother is innocent so he can remain her guardian and protect her from her uncle’s schemes.

Many of your characters, including the sleuth and her sidekick, are misfits.  Explain your reasons behind this choice. I have never been good at fitting into the accepted mold of whatever group I was with. I guess that’s why I’ve always been drawn to stories that feature misfits and underdogs. I understand the pain of not being cool or popular, and I respect others (real or fictional) who are brave enough to overcome and succeed despite their underdog status.

Living with authenticity is one of my core beliefs. In my blog I encourage my readers to appreciate their true selves and risk revealing their real persona to the world. In my novels I intentionally include characters who don’t fit the conventional mold. Then I show the heroic or honorable qualities hiding inside these people whom others see as flawed or useless.

My heroine is a free spirit who flaunts convention more publicly than I would dare. She needed a sidekick that could keep up with her, so I gave her a streetwise maid who speaks when she should keep her moth shut and lacks the polish of a traditional lady’s maid. She’s the prefect servant for a woman who decides to investigate a murder without any idea how to go about it.

Have you tried any of the unusual ancient recipes you describe in the book? A few. I made a pork stew with raisin sauce that was quite delicious. Another thing I’ve experimented with is must cake.  In my book, must cake is a favorite of Livia’s aunt. Must is crushed grape pulp and juice, and was a common sweetener. The recipe I tried was adapted from Cato’s writings. It was fairly dense and strongly flavored with cumin, anise, and bay leaf, with only a hint of sweetness. I’m sure the ones Livia purchases at Pansa’s bakery for her aunt are sweeter, flakier, and more subtly flavored.

Roman cooking in the first century was very different from modern Italian cuisine. Many foods we associate with Italy, such as pasta with red sauce, polenta, and cappuccino were not available to the ancients. Tomatoes and corn, for example, are new world foods, which didn’t arrive in Europe until the sixteenth century. 

Also, ancient Romans favored certain herbs that are no longer typical, such as rue (very bitter and potentially poisonous) and sylphium, which they loved so much they ate it into extinction. Another popular flavoring was a salty sauce made from fermented fish called garum. They used is as a condiment and as a common ingredient in sauces and stews.

With ingredients like those, many of the recipes handed down to us by the ancients don’t sound very appealing. I’ll leave it to Livia and her friends to enjoy some of the odder recipes without me.

Is your sleuth anything like you? Yes and no. I don’t think I’m assertive enough or nosy enough to be a good sleuth. But I do enjoy solving challenging puzzles an I have an independent streak. Like Livia, I want to be appreciated for the real me, rather than pretending to fit somebody else’s mold. Plus, we’re both fond of cats and have strong opinions about food.

However, Livia is more determined and energetic than I am. I wanted a heroine who had both the smarts and the gumption to solve crimes even when the men around her were trying to make her stop. She also needed an outgoing personality so she could talk herself out of problems (when she chases after clues without considering the consequences) and into the houses of total strangers (when she needs to ask a few nosy questions).

Ultimately, she’s a combination of many women I have admired over the years who had boundless energy, a zest for life, and enough drive to make their goals come to pass no matter the odds. My grandmother is one of my role models for her.

You started your professional career as an engineer. How did you end up writing mystery novels? I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up dreaming about becoming an author. English was never my favorite class, or even my third-favorite. Throughout high school and college I focused on the analytical side of my brain, eventually majoring in mechanical engineering and taking a job at a manufacturing plant.

And yet, all along I was nurturing my creative side as well: reading tons of books, attending and participating in live theater, writing silly drama for my friends to perform. So you see, stories and storytelling were always a part of my life. I love math and science because they’re predictable and logical, but stories are what grab my full attention. Stories have the power to transport me away from my reality to another world.

Story’s power to transport me happens when I’m writing as well as when I’m reading a book or watching a movie. That’s what has captured my heart and sustained me through years of learning the craft of writing.

Where do you see this series going? I am hoping that Livia will be solving mysteries for many years. I have a novella and two additional mysteries plotted, with ideas for more. The second novel begins shortly after Livia is married. (You’ll have to read the end of book one to find out who her husband will be.)

As the second novel progresses, Livia and her husband slowly move from the wary mistrust of strangers to mutual respect. Neither entered marriage expecting to find love, but they will eventually get there. As the series develops, they’ll learn how to become a team when it comes to solving crimes.

What was your goal in writing this book? My primary goal was to create an entertaining story for readers who prefer novels that don’t include sex, violence, or swearing. However, I wasn’t interested in creating a typical Christian historical romance. I have always been drawn to books that were different than what everyone else was reading, and so I wanted to write a story that was a bit unusual. That’s how I ended up writing a mystery set in first-century Rome. It combines the intriguing setting of a far off time and place with the action and suspense of a mystery.

How can my blog readers find you on the Internet? https://lisaebetz.com/

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your new novel with my blog readers and me. It sounds very interesting.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/iUgS50Gg5R3

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

HOPE FOR HEALING FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE - Karen DeArmond Gardner - One Free Book

Bio: Thirty year, four months, and two days after she said, “I do,” Karen DeArmond Gardner left an abusive marriage. Today she’s a trauma advocate for women who are in or have left abusive marriages. Karen is a truth teller and myth buster about domestic abuse.

Welcome, Karen. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally? I grew up in Southern California. My favorite place is the beach. Sand between my toes, the scent of salt in the air, the sound of waves crashing on the shore is calming to my soul.

I moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas in January 2005. I love living in Texas, though I wouldn’t mind moving to the mountains for the summer. I love to read. I’m a true crime fan, and a redhead who won’t let the gray come out to play.

I survived a thirty-year abusive marriage, which is how I ended up in Texas. I started writing when I was fifty-seven. I didn’t grow up wanting to be an author. I am proof that you’re never too old to begin again.

Tell us about your family. I remarried in 2010 to Tom Gardner, between us we have three adult children and five grandchildren. Tom and I own a private security company. Tom is a bodyguard and Elder at our church.  

Have you written other nonfiction books? I’ve contributed to Arise to Peace: A Daily Devotional and We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished! And I blog periodically.

Do you have any other books in the works right now? I have the bones of a book that I’ll start working on early next year. It will be a daily book of encouragement for survivors of domestic abuse.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy? I’m digging into our family ancestry. I’ve discovered that one line of our history goes back to the Kings of England, another line to Barons, Knights, Contessa’s, and Ladies with a US President and a serial killer thrown in. I’m still researching the French side of the family and we may be part Jewish. Which absolutely thrills me.

Why did you write the featured book? It was the book I needed when I left my abusive marriage. I found many books that explained what happened to me, which I needed to know. I didn’t know I could heal. I thought I would live with the pain for the rest of my life. The only option was to bury the pain deep within my soul. Pain always leaks out; it looks like something and acts like something, and it’s usually not pretty.

I unintentionally healed, enough to remarry in 2010. In 2013, God determined to be more intentional in my healing. He led me to join a Mending the Soul group at the church I was attending. I thought it was the end of my healing. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was the beginning. Year after year, God invited me into deeper healing. I’ve since discovered the More of God. Domestic abuse isn’t a life sentence.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book? Leaving is just the beginning. It’s the beginning of unbelievable hard. Life doesn’t get easier; it actually gets more difficult as you heal from the one who vowed to love you. As you heal from his consequences while he goes on his merry way. The book is an invitation to heal, to encounter the One who truly loves you.

Is it abuse if he doesn’t hit you? The short answer is, yes. Domestic abuse is also called intimate terrorism and coercive control. Most abuse doesn’t involve physical abuse, it does involve the threat of violence.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book? I thought God expected me to stay in an abusive marriage. Though I was suffering for Jesus. I wasn’t. I was suffering because the man who vowed to love was a monster in disguise. God doesn’t condone abuse and sure doesn’t support it. He doesn’t expect us to keep forgiving. God loves us more than he hates divorce.
If this isn’t your story, you most likely know someone. We all do. We just may not know that we know. I hope that if this is you, you’ll read to learn how to help her, to know what questions to not ask. To become a safe person if she shares her story with you.

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

UNFALTERING

When It’s Time to Take Your Life Back

By your mighty power I can walk through any devastation, and you will keep me alive, reviving me. Your power set me free from the hatred of my enemies.

—Psalm 138:7 (tpt)

After a long day at work, I settled into my favorite chair to watch mindless television and avoid talking to my then husband. Finding myself bored with TV, I began to flip through the latest edition of Today’s Christian Woman magazine. I felt as if someone plunged a hot poker into my heart as I read that God doesn’t condone abuse, that I was one in four women.

I sneaked a glance at Guy, trying not to react, afraid he somehow knew what I was reading. Can he read my mind? As I continued reading the article, “The Silent Epidemic,” shock is the only word that describes how it felt to see my life played out in print. How could they know about the physical and verbal abuse? Yet that wasn’t what stopped my heart. It was the author talking about husbands destroy­ing sentimental property, issuing death threats, and isolating their wives from family and friends.

The harsh reality smacked me in the face.

My husband was an abuser.

It’s not just the way he was. It wasn’t just because I made him angry. He was a predator. It meant our marriage was a travesty. Even harder to admit...if he was an abuser, I was abused.

I couldn’t be.

Oh, but I was.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you? You can find me at http:www.AnotherOneFree.com, subscribe to my site and you’ll get at free download, “10 Expectations of Leaving.” I post daily encouragement at Another One Free on FB and Instagram @karengardnerauthor.

Thank you, Karen, for allowing me to share your book on my blog. I have a close friend who went through what you did. My heart breaks for women who are married to this kind of man. If any of my precious fans are one of those women, I want them to read this book.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/i1ny50GdTFk

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 do n'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.

Patricia B (TN) is the winner of Trail of Tears by Anne Greene.

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.    

CHRISTMAS LOVE THROUGH THE AGES - Lisa Bell, Gail Kittleson, Paula Peckham, Cleo Lampos, Lena Nelson Dooley - 5 Free Books

Lisa Bell – “Listen”

Imagine Christmas from the eyes of an angel. With so many people focusing on everything but Jesus, do the angels get frustrated? In “Listen,” fly with Gabriel, Michael and a band of loveable angels as they determine the best ways to capture the attention of humans and turn their thoughts back to celebrating Jesus’ birthday.

 

Gail Kittleson - Gold Mine Christmas - Set in WWII, a young Arizona woman in a chaotic family finds her voice. The risk she takes leads her far from home, but still near in heart to the clutch of younger sisters she has always nurtured. As she dedicates herself to the local U.S.O, she discovers a treasure far more valuable than she ever imagined.

Turtle Creek Christmas - An Orphan Train girl named Irene loses touch with her birth family as she comes of age in her new Iowa home. As she experiences a schoolroom for the first time, a caring teacher makes all the difference. Irene also makes her first friends, and discovers to her surprise that someone strong and kind finds her interesting and desirable. Through it all, the promise of the very first Christmas nestles down in her heart. 

 

Paula Peckham - The Father’s Gift - This story is a continuation of my debut historical romance novel, Protected. I enjoy writing historical fiction, and the collection needed a story from my time frame. I got to know Manny and Abby while writing Protected, and I was eager to follow them through their new life together. (Spoiler alert: In Protected, they fall in love. Sorry to ruin the ending for you, but it is a romance, after all.) In the new story, they look forward to the birth of their first child.

When I first started writing The Father’s Gift, I intended for the character Gabe to be a pseudo angel figure. I saw him playing a part that would almost qualify as a miracle. However, as the story grew legs, Gabe became a different character altogether. I won’t give that away, but I think he brings the story much more mystery and excitement.

Some other characters from Protected make an appearance, too. We get to see Yaideli, Manny’s grandmother, and Jonathan, Manny’s best friend. If you enjoy Manny and Abby’s story, you can go back to their beginning in Protected, arriving from Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. in March, 2022.

A Christmas Hallelujah - I based this short story on an actual event. My husband, John, and I were traveling, and we were sitting in the gate area, waiting for our flight. People crowded the space, and not a single seat remained open. A woman sat on the floor, leaning against a column. She stared at the floor the entire time, exuding sadness. I watched her for a while, then the Beth Moore story I mentioned popped into my mind. I felt God urging me to go speak to her. So I got up, walked over, kneeled beside her, and asked if she was okay. She told me her father was sick, and she was flying home. We prayed together, then I went back to my seat. I never spoke to her again. From that kernel, I layered the rest of my story around it.

 

Cleo Lampos - Blessings on the 38th Parallel - The Korean Conflict rages in 1952 on the 38th Parallel as North and South troops fight for territory. Robert McAllister, a Radio Technician at Kimpo Air Base celebrates Christmas Eve fixing radio equipment at another base where he encounters the orphans who survive near the GIs. On the way back to his home base, Mack is given a baby boy. How will he handle this orphan? Meanwhile, at the MASH  unit, nurse Valerie Pazan leaves a midnight Christmas Eve service and discovers a tiny baby in a pile of rocks. She is able to attend to the physical needs of the infant, but worries about the prospects ahead for this child. On Christmas Day, these four person’s destinies will cross.

A Bookmobile Noel - Dorothy Wagner knows she is fortunate to have a job in the Great Depression of 1935. A graduate of library school in Chicago, her trial assignment as a bookmobile librarian in southern rural Illinois will determine her future. As Dorothy travels in the bookmobile, which is driven by a CC Lieutenant Tom Nelson, she faces the depth of the economic conditions of the country. The lack of nutritious food, medical care, birthing facilities, clothing, and homelessness. Visiting a hobo’s camp changes her perspective. Dorothy is able to assist in a scurvy outbreak, as she realizes that her future in this impoverished area would be a Christmas wish come true.

 

Lena Nelson Dooley - Rescued Christmas

When Rose Ellen Murphy becomes a mail order bride, the unthinkable happens. It is the worst mistake of her life. Or is it? Jedediah Strong finds a woman's beaten and bloody body in a gully on his ranch, high in the mountains of Wyoming. He starts to bury her, when he notices a slight movement. She's not dead. He takes her home to his mother.These two people help heal Rose Ellen’s body. Can they also help her emotions heal from the trauma she’s endured?

“A Divine Romance” - When God first told me to become a professional writer in 1983, He also told me to use my gift to bless people at Christmas instead of sending Christmas cards. I’ve only missed writing a Christmas short story four times since then. This is one of those stories. A friend leads Jolene to Colorado and then to Jesus.

Buy link to the books:

http://ow.ly/7tpB50GbrE6

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. There will be 5 winners. 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 

100 PROOF MURDER - Mary Ellis - One Free Copy of ONE FOR THE ROAD

Dear Readers, I love Mary Ellis novels. If you haven’t read any of them, here is your chance. We will be giving away a copy of her novel One for the Road to one of those who leave a comment on the blog.

Welcome back, Mary. Tell us a little about yourself and your background. Mary Ellis is a former schoolteacher turned USA Today bestselling author who’s written twenty-six novels including Amish fiction, historical romance, and suspense. Her first mystery, Midnight on the Mississippi, was a finalist for the RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Award and a finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award. First in the Bourbon Tour Mysteries was One for the Road from Severn House. Book two, One Hundred Proof Murder, released August 3, 2021. Her latest Amish novella is Missing available on Amazon Kindle. She enjoys gardening and bicycling and lives in Ohio with her husband and dog. www.maryellis.net or www.facebook.com/Mary.Ellis.Author

How did you become interested in writing? I have been interested in writing for as long as I can remember. Writing is simply jotting down the stories you make up in your head. As a child I made up stories all the time about the people who came in and out of my life. The milkman (yes, we had one of those), the elderly woman next door, and certainly friends of my brother if they showed any attention whatsoever.) Although I was usually too shy to tell these tales around the cook-out campfire or even jot them into my diary, I never stopped inventing mystery-romances.

What compelled you to write a book on this subject? I have crisscrossed the state of Kentucky numerous times and have been intrigued by the tremendous popularity of the bourbon distillery tours. Although I personally don’t care for the taste of bourbon, I thought: what a fine place to set a murder mystery!

Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book? My stories are primarily meant to entertain. However I do deal with the heartbreaking disease of Alzheimers in my story and how it impacts two different families. I hope readers will examine their own relationships with aging relatives to see if they can help in some way. Or if you are the aging family member, don’t be afraid to seek advice or assistance from your loved ones if need be.

What makes your book different than any other books similar to yours that are in circulation today? My cozy mysteries are written from a third-person point of view, instead of the tradition first-person. I hope using various viewpoints will deepen and enrich the mystery and make my characters more multi-dimensional.

How does the book intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him? My central character cannot say “no” to a person in need, even if that person asks for help with a murder investigation, something way out of her comfort zone. I try to serve as mentor to young people and gently guide the fallen-away back to the Lord. Each of us must serve by being the best example of Christian love we possibly can be.                                         

Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? My “favorite” changes often, depending on what’s going on in my life. My current favorite is: By grace are ye save by faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9

When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies? Of course, like most authors, I love to read. But my favorite hobby is working in my yard. I don’t have much sunshine so I can’t have much of a flower or vegetable garden. But I have an awesome shade garden right off my deck. Since it stays cool it’s a perfect spot for reading.                                    

Tell us about the book. Travel writer Jill Curtis is in Louisville, Kentucky, on the next stop of her bourbon tour assignment, and is keen to explore the major distilleries with her videographer, Michael Erickson – especially since her new beau, Lieutenant Nick Harris, lives in the city. But the night before Jill’s first tour at Parker’s Distillery, she is shocked to learn that the master distiller, William Scott, has died suddenly. The local coroner says he suffered a heart attack, but William's daughter, Alexis suspects foul play. Is there more to William’s death than meets the eye? Jill is soon drawn into a deadly blend of rivalry, jealously, and cold-blooded murder as she attempts to uncover the truth behind William's unexpected demise.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Louisville, Kentucky

The moment she spotted her videographer in the hotel lobby, travel writer Jill Curtis signaled the bartender. “We’ll take two of your famous cocktails,” she said.

“Hey, Erickson, over here.” Jill produced the broadest of smiles since her videographer and partner looked like he’d just eaten a dozen lemons.

Dragging his suitcase behind him, Michael pushed his glasses up his nose and shuffled to the barstool she’d saved.

“Quick, sit down,” she ordered. “I practically had to arm-wrestle two women who wanted your seat.”

Michael glanced around the elegant interior with mild interest. “Why are we here?”

“Because this is one of the hottest bars in the coolest hotel in town. Did you know that Al Capone and his cronies hung out here during Prohibition? So did F. Scott Fitzgerald. In case you weren’t paying attention in English lit, he wrote The Great Gatsby.”

“Fascinating.” Michael’s sour expression didn’t change.

“Plus this bar makes a cocktail for lightweights like me who can’t handle bourbon straight-up.” With impeccable timing, the bartender set two lemon-garnished flutes in front of them.

Michael’s left eyebrow arched. “Why on earth is a bourbon drink fizzing?”

“Because it also contains champagne. If you don’t like it, I’ll drink both of them.” Jill took a sip of hers and grinned.

He studied the bubbles and then drank. “It’s not bad. Now tell me why we’re in Louisville. The last time we talked, I said Mr. Fleming wanted us in Lexington to tie their distillery tour with the Kentucky racing industry. Anyone who’s driven down Interstate 75 has seen those impressive thoroughbred farms.”

Jill took another sip. “Oh, my, that is so good.”

Michael pushed her glass beyond reach. “No more bubbles until I get answers. I didn’t appreciate you changing the destination when I was halfway through Illinois. And by sending a text, no less. Did you forget Mr. Fleming is still the boss?”

“I didn’t forget. That’s why I called for approval before switching cities. Louisville is home to the granddaddy of horseracing, the Kentucky Derby, along with their famous drink, the mint julep. Louisville also has four stops on the state’s tour circuit and a new urban circuit of bourbon bars and restaurants, including where we’re sitting now. It didn’t take long to convince the boss.”

“Here you are, miss. My name’s Ray, by the way.” The bartender, who’d been eavesdropping, pushed Jill’s glass within reach. “Besides, we’re closer to Illinois and we’re more chic than Lexington.”

“Thanks, Ray,” Jill said with a wink. “See what I mean, partner? Best of both worlds.”

“Okay, fine. At least you didn’t make me smooth things over with the boss like last time.” Michael relaxed on the barstool. “Let’s finish these and head to our hotel. I’m starving and exhausted. There was nothing but road construction and fender-benders the entire trip from Chicago.”

“This is home-sweet-home for the next week, the beautiful Thurman House Hotel.”

Where can my readers find you on the Internet? Readers can find me at www.maryellis.net or on Facebook.

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

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/VIzQ50G9ME1

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

We interrupt this blog for A Special Announcement

Today is Release Day for A HEART'S FOREVER HOME!!!! 

I hope you'll check out this historical romance by award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley!

A single lawyer whose clients think he needs a wife. A woman who needs a forever home...or a forever family...or a forever love.

Although Traesa Killdare is a grown woman now, the discovery that her adoption wasn’t finalized sends her reeling. Especially when her beloved grandmother dies and the only siblings she’s ever known exile her from the family property without a penny to her name.   Wilson Pollard works hard for the best interest of his law clients, even those who think a marriage would make him more “suitable” in his career. And when the beloved granddaughter of a recently deceased client comes to him for help, he knows he must do whatever necessary to make her situation better.   As each of their circumstances worsen, a marriage of convenience seems the only answer for both. Traesa can’t help but fall for her new husband—the man who’s given her both his home and his name. But what will it take for Wilson to realize he loves her? Will a not-so-natural disaster open his eyes and heart? BUY LINKS: Amazon: http://ow.ly/nd7l50Ga1iX Apple: http://ow.ly/2ot450Ga1pA Kobo:  http://ow.ly/E0MK50Ga1te Barnes and Noble: http://ow.ly/mXl850Ga1zm As always, there is a giveaway on this blog. Book 1 in the series A HEART'S GIFT and book 2 in the series A HEART'S FORGIVENESS are Free on Kindle Unlimited.

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 do n't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

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Caryl K (TX) is the winner of A Warriors Heart by Misty M Beller. 

Melanie (TX) is the winner of So You Have a Disease by Beth Praed.

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.    

TRAIL OF TEARS - Anne Greene - One Free Book

Welcome back, Anne. How did this book come about? Most people in the deep South are acquainted with the history of the Trail of Tears. But I was raised in the Midwest and first heard about the Trail of Tears in church one morning when I lived in Wheaton, Illinois. Being a history buff and unaware of such a momentous event surprised me. The history fascinated me, and my first thought was – that’s a book that needs to be written.

Then, to make history exciting for my readers, I wrote a novel depicting what likely happened to one college-bound young man forced to travel the Trail. My book, Trail of Tears, The Story of John Ross, released February of this year.

Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique. Although the cover doesn’t show the hundreds of Federal soldiers that guarded the Cherokee, the bottom portion of the cover depicts the wagon train on which one thousand Cherokees were transported along the trail. The top portion shows John Ross, the hero, and the two women important in his life.

I’ve known about the trail of tears for decades and found it to be a very shameful blot on our history. Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book. Most of the events in Trail of Tears actually happened to the Cherokee people. I brought to life the hardship, suffering, and overcoming victory of the people as they spent seven months traveling from what is now Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Indian-controlled Oklahoma Territory.

A brave Moravian missionary accompanied this thousand-member wagon train of captives, and hundreds of Cherokees turned to Christ as they overcame the difficult, treacherous journey.

How much research did you have to do for this book? I researched the Trail, following it from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where my story begins, through western Kentucky, southern Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, until the Trail ends at Tahlequah, Oklahoma. I saw the outdoor drama, Unto These Hills, and visited the cultural center, Oconaluftee, an 18th century Cherokee Village replica. I met the present-day chief in Tahlequah and researched numerous books about the Cherokee Removal.

What are some of the most interesting things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story? Most of the American soldier guarding the Cherokee and the vast majority of American people were horrified that President Andrew Jackson uprooted the wealthy, educated, self-governing Cherokees from their ancient home to confiscate their land and search for their gold.

What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book? Before the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee Nation split into two factions – a small group wanting to transport to the Oklahoma Territory – and a larger group led by John Ross, who believed by using passive resistance they could remain in their homeland. The splinter group’s leaders were executed by the larger group. Two leaders of the splinter group survived. Jarrett Ross fell in love with one man’s daughter – a man who swore to kill every Ross male. The other leader, Stand Watie, went down in history as the last Confederate General to surrender his sword. The Cherokees were split, brother fighting brother, in the Civil War as fought in the West.

What do you hope the reader takes away from the story? The story sounds as if it might be sad … and there are tragic events portrayed, but my book, Trail of Tears, is about hope, overcoming, and finding a new way of life. I think from the first page to the last, you will find Trail of Tears difficult to put down. It’s one of my favorite books!

What is the next project you’re working on? The second book in The Ross Family Saga. For Such A Time As This takes the reader into the life of Jarrett Ross, John’s younger son born in the wild Oklahoma territory. My book opens with Jarrett’s adventures with the Osage Indians, continues on to his time spent as a Pony Express rider, and includes Jarrett’s being conscripted into the Union army while his older brother fights for the Confederate side. All this time, Jarrett attempts to win the daughter of his family’s sworn worst enemy.

What do you do when you have to get away from the story for a while? I’m usually so intent in a story, I have trouble wanting to be away. But I do maintain a rigorous schedule of exercise – a daily walk and four times as week at the health club.

Tell us more about the story of Trail of Tears.

What if you are a twenty-year-old, about to attend college, and your whole world collapses? Your mother and sister are missing, and soldiers murder your father, burn your mansion, and take you prisoner.

Trail of Tears relives one of the most heartrending chapters in American history as the US Government transports the self-governing, wealthy Cherokee nation from their ancestral homeland to relocate in hostile Indian Territory.

The Georgia militia forces John Ross, with only a trickle of Indian blood flowing in his veins, to walk the thousand-mile Trail of Tears.

After John protects a full-blood Indian girl from the lustful wagon master, the cruel soldier targets John for retribution—until John’s shoved too far.

Bitter animosity explodes from a jealous Army Captain as John pushes and pulls his Conestoga wagon over mountain roads made muddy by rain and slippery by snow. 

Yet the persuasive voices of the preacher and his daughter have an impact.

A new destiny awaits John at the end of the trail—if he survives. Four thousand Cherokee do not.

Please give us the first page of the book.

June 1838

John Ross walked with a confident stride, sure of his place in the world. He swung his arms, relishing the freedom of his buckskin shirt, so different from the confining claw-hammer coat dictated by his aristocratic status. His long steps covered ground fast. He wiped perspiration from his forehead and couldn’t wait to dive into the cool lake.

Today Father had released him from his responsibilities. Father said the slaves needed a day off. He would not admit to giving the reprieve because John needed one. But Father wasn’t blind. John smiled. Last night his footsteps dragged when he trudged up to his bedroom. Learning to oversee the Ross plantation hadn’t been easy. Without resorting to whips, he’d needed sweat and guile to motivate their slaves.

 “Gain their respect. Show them you can do any job better than the best of them.” Father laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Make them hustle to keep up with you.” 

John hadn’t been certain he could obey Father’s orders. But he stood in line beneath the blistering sun for hours loading heavy bales of cotton onto wagons to be driven north from the plantation to what when Father had been a lad had been called Ross Landing but was now named Chattanooga.

Many times, only John’s Scottish—Cherokee pride kept him working. The gentleman in the suit couldn’t quit with the slaves watching. If he gave up, they would call John a lily‑livered silk stocking.

John flexed his work-hardened hands. All that suffering paid off. He was in top shape, his muscles toned, lean and hard.

John stiffened. What?

His moccasins skidded as he slid to a stop on the dewy grass.

A huge oak blocked his path. The scent of fresh sawdust filled the air. He touched the smooth still-living end of the hewn-down tree. Someone had cut down the boundary oak.

He rubbed a hand through the short hairs on the back of his neck where every nerve prickled.

Toppling the boundary tree was an act of war.

This land would one day be his. And he wouldn’t let anyone steal it. He was born here where the wind blew free, and his father before him, and his father before him. John tightened his lips. He knew every stream and every wood.

He glanced around, scanning the countryside. The small lake sparkled, serene in the early morning sunlight. Across the water, familiar farmland rolled toward foothills. Mountains rose above the hills, following each other in stately procession, peaks shadowed with smoky haze. No enemy in sight.

He shifted his feet. What should he do?

In the distance, a horse neighed—answered by another.

He clenched his fists. He had to get home. Something was wrong.  

He spun back the way he had come and sprinted. In the hot, muggy air his moccasins made no sound. Following a faint path beneath trees festooned with ivy, ears sharpened for danger, he heard only the shrill chirp of an occasional bird, bees buzzing among wild flowers, and the whisper of squirrels foraging for nuts.

Humid air hung a damp coat of perspiration, wetting the buckskin on his shoulders and chest. Swiping a sweaty arm across his brow, he dodged a clump of wild raspberry branches reaching across the trail to rip at his buckskins.

Suddenly, gunfire thundered from the direction of the house. Taking a shortcut, he pounded off the narrow path, shielding his face as he plowed between tangled branches, briars, and bushes. Shot after shot crackled in the still morning air.

How can readers find you on the Internet? I’m always happy to interact with my readers. I’d love for you to join my newsletter.

 https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Greene/e/B004ECUWMG

https://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com

https://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1873472.Anne_Greene

https://twitter.com/TheAnneGreene

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

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/SuUB50G7Wdv

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 do n'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.

Pam (OH) is the winner of Coming Home to Mercy by Michelle De Bruin. 

Tami (TX) is the winner of Christmas in Galway by Elizabeth Ludwig

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.   

SO YOU HAVE A DISEASE - Beth Praed - One Free Book

Welcome, Beth. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally? In many ways, I have lived a fascinating life. I am very fortunate to be highly educated. My first master’s degree (from Butler University in Indianapolis) was in music education, and I taught elementary school music for many years. Next I received my second master’s degree in Communications from Georgia State University. The Communications’ degree covered public relations, public speaking, and journalism. While I was living in Atlanta, Georgia, I worked in public relations for a Fortune 100 company for about 10 years. Then my family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to be closer to family. After I moved here, I again began working as a music teacher at Ken-o-sha Elementary School. But after I was diagnosed with MS and the disease caused me to lose the ability to play the piano, I had to resign as a music teacher.

But then something amazing happened. I had a dream that I couldn’t get out of my mind. I even wrote about that experience in Guideposts’s Mysterious Ways Magazine. The story can be viewed here: http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/mysterious-ways/miracle-words  

After that dream occurred, I started writing the book. After I had finished the book, I said a prayer and prepared a package for one of the world’s largest publishers—Penguin Publishing. I think that I even kissed the FedEx package (causing the FedEx salesperson to give me an odd look). Then the very next day, I got a call from Penguin. They wanted the book. My first book did very well. It was the top book on multiple sclerosis at Amazon for six years. It was even printed in second language. But I didn’t write the book. God did! And I even put in the dedication page, “To my sweet Savior who gave me this book in a dream.”

Tell us about your family. I have three children—two daughters and a son. I have also had numerous pets my entire life including a couple of cats and a string of dachshunds. We even had a path along my back deck that one of my children would shovel in the winter. It’s unofficial name was the “wienie highway” and our two dachshunds would use it to get off the deck during snowy days. My children are older now and live on their own.

Have you written other nonfiction books? Yes, my second book was The AD/HD Book, and it was also published by Penguin. I published my third and fourth book on my own. My third book was called Domestic Violence: My Freedom From Abuse. I am a victim of domestic violence, and this book was based on things that I learned when I was using Safe Haven Ministry’s services. I also interviewed seven women who gave me their stories for the book. My fourth book was a children’s picture book called Moo the Ghost. That book is about a ghost who has a speech impediment. Rather than say “Boo” like the other ghosts, all that he can say is “Moo.” The lovely illustrations in that book were done my late father, Jack Praed. Also, my children’s picture book, Moo the Ghost, was awarded the Readers’ Favorite Finalist Award in the Children-Concept Genre in September 2020. And now, work is being done by Go To Publish to prepare a print version of the book for children. The new print version should be available by November 2021.

Do you have any other books in the works right now? No new books at the present time. But I am working to help get my devotional about disease recognized. Advertising for my latest book has reached nearly 30,000 people, with nearly 10,000 engagements and 3,600 thumbs up.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy? Because I am in a wheelchair now, I can’t do anything that I used to love doing. I used to do kickboxing, but that isn’t going to happen now. And I have lost what some would say was my greatest gift—the ability to play the piano. At first when I was getting my first master’s degree, I was getting it in music performance because I wanted to play the piano professionally. I also had a professor who thought that I was capable. I’m glad that I switched from performance to music education. I had many years that I spent teaching young people about music. Also, since I lost my ability to play when I was just 35, that would have been a very short career as a pianist if I had stayed in performance.

Why did you write the featured book? A  Whacky Dream Or Not?

(Story About How Book Came To Be By 5 Time Author Beth Praed)

When my neurologist told me that my MS would eventually be fatal for me, I was depressed and angry. The reason for being depressed is obvious. But the anger? I was mad at God! How could He let this happen to me! I had been working on a devotional book about living with a disease. But when I received the latest diagnosis from her, I shelved the book and didn't write again for a year and a half.

And then, I had a dream about my funeral. In that dream, I could see my body in a casket. Then the “dream minister” began his homily. He mentioned how “God gave Beth her first book on MS in a series of dreams. That book became the top book on multiple sclerosis for six years at Amazon. (Which happened in real life.) But the book for which she is best remembered is her devotional about disease.” When I woke up, I remembered the dream. It was then that I realized that the dream minister was talking about this book! So, I started writing again.

(I love this story, Beth. That’s the God I know and Love.)

Maybe it was just some  wacky dream! But my dear boyfriend Jim didn't think so. He once said to me, “If I am ever flying on a plane sometime, and you have a dream that my plane crashed, guess what? I would cancel the flight!” Jim unfortunately died before the devotional book about disease was published, but I do believe that he knows.

So now my 5th book, So You Have a Disease: Devotions and Stories To Restore Hope, has been published by CrossLink Publishing and is available. But mainly I am so grateful to God for giving me the motivation to finish writing the book. It probably wouldn't have happened otherwise if He hadn't given me that dream.

Multiple Sclerosis has robbed me of absolutely everything. I have gone from doing daily kick boxing to now being in a wheelchair. But if this book helps other people who are suffering from a serious disease, then my life will have had some purpose and I am so grateful for this opportunity to speak to other individuals who are also suffering.

And to think, the book almost didn't happen if God hadn't given me that whacky dream about my funeral!

Please consider purchasing the $2.99 Kindle Ebook.

https://www.amazon.com/So-You-Have-Disease-Devotions-ebook/dp/B08BF9KTQK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&

What do you want the reader to take away from the book? I had been working on my devotional book about living with a disease to help other individuals who suffer from a disease of some kind. Having lived with MS for 25 years, I know the despair that one can have when dealing with such a horrendous disease. I felt that some of the stories are memorable and helpful. For example, there is the story, “Air In the Tires.” In that story, it was a snowy day and I was going to a doctor’s appointment. I went into the gas station with my cane and overheard a request from an elderly woman who wanted help putting air in the tires of her car. At first, I wasn’t going to help her. I had legitimate reasons (like it was slippery out there and being handicapped, I could fall) and not very legitimate reasons (like I wanted to get coffee first before I went to the appointment). But God knew that there was a very important reason why she needed my help at that moment that I didn’t know yet. There are many other short stories in the book that are amazing (like the story about how I helped a woman who I saw hit by a car right in front of me).

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book? I had a Near Death Experience that happened when I was just a child of ten. In the experience, I saw Jesus. That story was told in Guideposts’s Mysterious Ways Magazine and it is also told in my devotional about disease. My NDE happened just a week after my 10th birthday. This year, I turned 60. So basically, I was given an extra 50 years! Difficult at times, that is true, but I am so grateful for those years and for the amazing ways that I could help Jesus (even if I sometimes did so reluctantly)!

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

Preface

My doctor says that I am dying. Every time that I see her, she tells me this fact in a new way. “The multiple sclerosis is killing you; You will not live a long life; your life will be shorter than most; the MS is causing your brain to resemble Swiss cheese; and you’re lucky to know what you are dying from, most people don’t.”

She is a great doctor, and I truly believe that she is just trying to help me when she says these things. Maybe she thinks that I am in denial about my disease. I’m not. I just don’t think that anyone can predict how long someone will live. What am I supposed to do? Just sit in a chair, watch television, and wait to die? All of us will die eventually. A perfectly healthy person can be walking along and be hit by a bus, while another person—to the surprise of his or her doctors—can live decades with cancer. The truth is, only God knows how long that I will live. I just don’t think that He is finished with me yet and that is why I am still here.

And the fact is that I have already died before this time. I had a Near-Death Experience (NDE) when I was just nine, and this experience was written about in Guideposts’s Mysterious Ways

Magazine. It is also told again in this book.

The devotions in this book were given to me by God to help individuals when they are struggling to cope with a chronic illness or a disease. This is the only reason for this book to exist, and it was not written to make a ton of money. If my doctor is right with her diagnosis, I won’t need money where I’m going.

Money is not important to God. Why spend my final days on something that has little meaning? If God can use this sick, broken person to make a difference in the world, then that is everything

to me, and my life has some purpose.

In this book, you will hear me repeat the same mantra: “Surround yourself with good people.” There are many good people in this world. Find them and foster those friendships. We are here to help and support each other. You are not alone. Search for the good people out there—they do exist! If you feel alone, look around you and they will actually come running. God uses his children to help others again and again and again.

I also state throughout the book that maybe you are an “angel-in-training.” Did you ever realize this? Maybe angels are developing from ordinary people who have gone through extraordinary

circumstances, both good and terrible. Right now, you feel sick and discouraged. But perhaps God will use this to help you grow and develop into the person that He needs for you to be. How

about this idea? Wouldn’t that be incredible?

When I was a child, my grandfather used to tell me, “There are only two things that you have to do in life—die and pay taxes!”

Well, he was wrong. There is one more thing, and that is to change. Our lives are constantly changing and I know mine certainly did in December 1995 when I developed multiple sclerosis.

Before that time, I was young; I was healthy; I was superwoman!

Or so I thought. I worked long hours as a public relations executive for a Fortune 100 company in Atlanta. I was married with one child and another on the way. I also was completing my

second master’s degree in communications. I worked eight hours and then went to class at night. I was young! I was invincible!

Before I developed MS, I considered myself a spiritual person. I went to church on a regular basis. And most days, if I remembered, I prayed before bedtime. But, honestly, God was not

a large part of my life. I knew He was there, but I was too busy with work, children, and school to take much notice.

It is interesting how an illness can change you. For some people, a chronic illness or disease can be devastating and more than they can handle. I realized just how unbearable illness can be while I was reading an Associated Press article about Dr. Kevorkian, or Dr. Death. According to the article, twenty of the ninety-three people whose “suicides” he engineered had multiple sclerosis (MS)! Although multiple sclerosis can be a dreadful disease, most MS sufferers don’t die from it. As I read the article, I was immediately struck by the power illness has to devastate people’s lives. These gentle souls were so fatigued and tired of dealing with the MS every day, they no longer wanted to live—they wanted out.

I truly believe that people can sometimes have too much tragedy in their lives. Just like Dr. Kevorkian’s patients, many of us can and do have more than we can bear. Life can be very difficult.

Illness or disease greatly adds to that burden, and we can feel that we are broken. In reality, it might even feel worse than being broken. It can sometimes feel like our lives have been  shattered.

How do you begin to heal from your disease if you are in little pieces? So You Have a Disease: Devotions and Stories To Restore Hope is intended to help bring God’s hope and reassurance to individuals who feel like they are broken from illness. If you have been diagnosed with a disease, it will change your life. If I told you differently, I would not be telling the truth. Sometimes a disease can start suddenly, or sometimes you will slowly realize that something is wrong.

I hope and pray that this book is helpful to you. I would like to begin with a Gaelic blessing that is one of my mother’s favorite prayers. Perhaps you have heard it before. Even though you and I

might not ever meet, we are related. We are brothers and sisters. Not only because we all are suffering from a disease, but because we are children of God.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

My five books can be viewed at Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=beth+praed&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Thank you, Beth, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I know it will help some of them or their friends or family members.

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