A LADY'S CHOICE - Sandra Robbins - One Free Book

Bio: Sandra Robbins, former teacher and principal, is an award-winning, multi-published author of Christian fiction who lives with her husband in the small college town where she grew up. Angel of the Cove, her first book in the Harvest House Publishers historical romance series Smoky Mountain Dreams, released in August, 2012, and was recently named the 2013 winner in the Inspirational Standalone Category of the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Mountain Homecoming, the second in the series, released in March 2013. The third book Beyond These Hills will release in September. In April 2013 Summerside released A Lady’s Choice which chronicles the plight of suffragists who picketed the White House to gain the vote for women. 

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I grew up in a family that is very interested in politics. My parents never took their right to vote for granted and taught their children to be thankful for living in a country where any person could cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. When I became aware of the hardships the American suffragists faced in their fight for women’s right to vote, I knew I had to write a story to tell of their struggles. A Lady’s Choice became that book.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

This question made me smile because I just attended a party with six authors two weeks ago. My local writers’ group is a small group of eight authors who meet once a month. Some of us are multi-published, and others are still trying to sell that first manuscript. We decided it would be fun to have a retreat with just our group. So we rented a cabin for three days at Kentucky Lake and made all the plans. Unfortunately, only six of the eight were able to make it, but we had a great time with our workshops, critiquing and brainstorming sessions, and devotionals. We all came away knowing that God had placed us together so we could help each other to proclaim His word through our stories to the world. You may not know some of the women yet, but you will. The six Ken/Ten writers who attended were Susan Page Davis, Kathy Cretsinger, Regina Merrick, Rene Yancy, Laurean Brooks, and me. If I were to plan another party, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather invite than these people, but I’d sure want the other two Pam Harris and Robin Stevens to be there, too.

I’ve been on a writer’s retreat for historical writers with Susan Page Davis. I know how much fun she can be. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Since Kathy Cretsinger and Susan Davis write historical, I’d invite them along with Dorothy Love, Janelle Mowery, Lisa Ludwig, and you, Lena. I think we’d have a wonderful time together.

I know this one would be a wonderful party. I love all these ladies, including you, too. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

When I was unpublished, I thought there would be no more problems if I could see that first book. Of course, I found out differently. Now I find that at times I am very impatient. When my agent sends out a proposal and editors don’t respond as quickly as I think they should, I have to remind myself that God is in control. I can’t do anything to speed up the process. Waiting for an answer can be difficult for me.

I’m between contracts right now, so I know what you’re talking about. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that God is in control. Tell us about the featured book.

A Lady’s Choice tells the story of Sarah Whittaker, a young girl who has been raised in a home where both her parents supported suffrage. When she accompanies her dying mother back to the rural community where she grew up, Sarah meets Alex Taylor who is home for the summer after finishing law school. They fall in love, but Alex’s plans call for him to go to work for a Memphis law firm that opposes suffrage. After her mother’s death, Sarah returns to Memphis where she grew up and becomes involved in the local suffrage movement while Alex begins his job at the law firm. Sarah’s journey takes her from Memphis to Washington, DC, where she joins other suffragists to demonstrate at the White House gates. When she is arrested and sentenced to Occoquan Workhouse and the cruel treatment of its inmates, Sarah is near death. Alex hopes he can arrive to help Sarah before it is too late.   

Wow! Sounds like a wonderful read. Please give us the first page of the book.

June 1916

None of the Saturday afternoon customers seemed to notice when she slipped out the front door of Weston’s General Store. That suited Sarah Whittaker fine. If one more person asked her how she liked living in Richland Creek, she might very well forgo her resolve to endure her present situation and tell them what she really thought.

Thankful to be free of the buzz of activity inside, she leaned on the railing around the front porch of the white clapboard build­ing and closed her eyes. The afternoon heat enveloped her and threatened to suck the breath from her body. What she wouldn’t give to be sitting in the shade of the big trees in their backyard in Memphis. There was probably a cool breeze rustling the leaves right now as it rolled up the bluff from the Mississippi River.

But she wasn’t in Memphis. She was in a place called Richland Creek, Tennessee.

With a sigh, Sarah glanced up and down the dirt street that ran the length of the small settlement. Her mother called it a town, but to Sarah’s way of thinking there wasn’t much here to qualify it as such. She let her gaze travel over what the locals considered the rural community’s center of activity.

I can hardly wait until my copy of the book comes. How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at my website http://sandrarobbins.net or email me at sandra@sandrarobbins.net. They can also find me at Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. 

Thank you, Sandra, for sharing your new book with us today.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

A Lady's Choice (American Tapestries series)


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