LOVE'S SWEET BEGINNING - Anne Shorey - One Free Book

Welcome back, Ann. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

Forgiveness and restoration are two themes I return to over and over. Forgiving others when we feel we’ve been wronged is one of the most difficult things we’re called to do as Christians, yet once done, it’s one of the most freeing.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

In addition to Love’s Sweet Beginning, which just released, I have a novella titled Lessons in Love releasing in April. The collection is titled Sincerely Yours, and features novellas by Jane Kirkpatrick, Amanda Cabot, Laurie Alice Eakes, and me. The stories span the 19th century, and each features an intrepid woman who receives a letter that changes the course of her life.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I’d love to spend time with Laura Bush, our former first lady. She seems to be such a warm and gracious person. It would be my pleasure to spend an evening getting to know her.

I’d love to do the very same thing. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

My great-great grandmother. She’s not famous historically, but what a woman! Her mother died when she was 3, then her father left her with one of his sisters and took off for Texas with Stephen Austin. He never returned. At 14 she married a circuit-riding preacher who was 16 years her senior, and in 1836 they settled in southwestern Illinois. They were married for over fifty years, and reared 9 living children. She was the inspiration for my novel, The Promise of Morning. To sit and talk with her about her life would be amazing. That day will come when we meet in heaven!

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

First of all, I’d say if you feel God has called you to write, don’t quit. I received a large number of rejections before I got my first contract. I’d pray after each rejection that if it was the Lord’s will that I continue, would He please send a word of encouragement. Invariably, I’d receive a positive comment from some source or another to keep me from quitting.

Also, do pay attention to those rejections. Is there a common thread? Perhaps you need to do some revising before sending your work out again.

Tell us about the featured book.

Love’s Sweet Beginning is the third book in the Sisters at Heart series. The series is so named since the protagonists in each novel are close friends—sisters at heart. Love’s Sweet Beginning is Cassie’s story. Here’s a teaser:

A young woman from a life of privilege must find a way to support herself and her mother—but will her new boss give her a fair chance?

Please give us the first page of the book. 

St. Louis, Missouri

April 1868

Cassie Haddon jammed a pillow over her ears, hoping to block the sound of raised voices. In the hallway outside her room, her mother and uncle shouted at each other in tones no pillow could smother.

 “You’ve imposed on my hospitality far too long,” her uncle’s deep voice growled. “It’s time you and that useless daughter of yours moved on.”

Cassie cringed. Heaven knows she tried to be helpful. It wasn’t her fault that she’d reached the age of twenty-five without possessing any useful skills. Until the war, she’d always had servants to wait on her.

“If my Phillip were alive, he’d be appalled at your behavior. You’re his brother. You have an obligation to take care of us.” The thin walls did nothing to diminish her mother’s shrill pitch.

“Don’t put on airs with me, Eliza. After eleven months, I’ve more than fulfilled any obligation I may have had toward you. You have a brother of your own drifting around somewhere. Go find him.”

                       

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love hearing from readers! My website address is www.annshorey.com. I’m also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnnShorey.

Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog, Lena! I enjoyed our visit. 

I love having you on my blog.

To celebrate the novel, author Ann Shorey and Revell Publishers are pleased to present theSWEET BEGINNINGS Sweepstakes, and your chance to win one of three marvelous prizes, all closely connected to the story.

Timeframe & Notifications:

This giveaway starts February 4, 2014 and ends February 20, 2014 @ 11:59 pm (PST). Entry is open to US residents only, age 18 and over.

Winners will be selected Friday, February 21, 2014, and announced at AnnShorey.com. 

   

Baker's Bounty Pie-of-the-Month Club

When Cassie Haddon finds work in West & Riley's Restaurant, one of her first tasks is baking pies for a crew of rough workmen. She's never worked a day in her life, and has no kitchen skills, but really, how hard can it be to bake a pie? In honor of Cassie's baking trials (and eventual triumphs) our Grand Prize winner will receive a 6-month Pie of the Month Club Membership to the Grand Traverse Pie Company

       

Timeless Treasures Prize Pack

Cassie doesn't have many luxuries, as she struggles to reinvent herself and make a life in Noble Springs, but a few small treasures brighten her cottage and lift her spirits. Our Second Prize winner will receive a prize pack filled with some of Cassie's favorite things: a delicate, rose-colored lace shawl, a pewter pen and ink set, and a bath set filled with lavender and lilac soaps and lotion

       

Sisters at Heart Prize Pack

The women in Ann's Noble Springs series (Faith, Rosemary, and Cassie) are strong, resourceful, creative, and always looking for ways to give to others. To celebrate their giving hearts, our Third Prize winner will receive a complete, signed set of the Sisters at Heart series, to give to a friend, family member, or sister of the heart

     

How to Enter:

Go to http://www.annshorey.com/contest.html and complete the entry box, anytime between February 4 and February 20.  

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Love's Sweet Beginning - Christianbook.com
Love's Sweet Beginning: A Novel (Sisters at Heart) - Amazon
Love's Sweet Beginning (Sisters at Heart Book #3): A Novel - Kindle

Christian Book Store

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Even if the winner isn't in the US, you will receive a print book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

WHEN THE HEART HEALS - Ann Shorey - One Free Book

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

2014 will bring the release of the third book in the Sisters at Heart series, Love’s Sweet Beginning, along with a novella in a collection with fabulous authors Amanda Cabot, Laurie Alice Eakes, and Jane Kirkpatrick. I really enjoyed my venture into novella writing—it was a first for me. I hope to have opportunity to write another one . . . or two . . . or three!

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband and I are empty nesters. We have three grown daughters and three grandchildren.

We currently share our home with our loveable dog, Amber. She’s a Belgian Malinois (they resemble German Shepherds, but are somewhat smaller overall). She stays next to my desk all day to keep me from getting lonely while I’m writing.

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

A writing instructor told me once that writing would spoil reading for me. While that hasn’t quite happened (I’m sure nothing could spoil the pleasure I get from reading), I do read with an editor’s eye, and also tend to go back over well written passages to deconstruct how the author put the scene together. But when I’m caught up in a story, I just read for fun, like everyone else.

It took me a while after I started writing and being published before I could turn my internal editor off when I’m reading, but I was able to finally. What are you working on right now?

At the moment, I’m doing edits for the novella, and awaiting edits for Love’s Sweet Beginning.

What outside interests do you have?

My outside interests are, well, outside. J I love to walk our dog along our country road, I enjoy hiking, beach walks, and camping with my husband, and love to work in my flower garden. My “inside” interest is, of course, reading. I always have a book or two going.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

There’s always a smidgen of my family history in my books, so the settings are places where my ancestors lived. My husband and I have enjoyed our research trips to Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri. My great-grandparents came over the Oregon Trail, so I’m thinking about setting a future book or books in the places they traveled through.

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

Even though she’s not a famous historical person, I’d love to spend an evening with my great-great grandmother and have her tell me her story. Her mother died when she was three, her father left her with one of his sisters and ran off to Texas with Austin’s Original Three Hundred. She married a circuit riding preacher when she was fourteen and he was thirty. They settled in Illinois just a few years after the Blackhawk War. Don’t you imagine she’d have a fascinating story to tell?

I’m sure. I love to hear stories from my ancestors, too. What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I didn’t realize how much time my writing would take from my family. Deadlines can come at inconvenient moments. No matter how well I think I’ve planned my schedule, there are occasions I’ve had to pass on family plans to focus on a project.

I dislike those times, too. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

I love this question! I believe He’s teaching me that not all obstacles are meant to be overcome. He puts some of them in my path because He wants to redirect my steps. I’m learning to listen much more closely during my devotional times.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

At the top of the list is “persevere.” Don’t give up. Keep writing.

Second, attend all the classes and conferences you can afford. Keep learning and improving your craft.

Third, don’t stall out on your first project. If you get nothing but rejections, learn from them and start something new. The third novel I wrote was the first one to be published. The other two . . . well, they’re comfortable on a shelf.

Tell us about the featured book.

Courageous and unconventional, Rosemary Saxon served as a nurse during the Civil War, a service that has caused most women in town to regard her as unfeminine and even downright vulgar. Although she would like to put that part of her life behind her, she needs to support herself. She takes a nursing position with Dr. Elijah Stewart, but whenever they are together they always seem to do or say the wrong things. When someone threatens Rosemary, will she find the courage to stand or will she leave town—and Elijah—forever?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Noble Springs, Missouri

February, 1867

Rosemary Saxon startled awake. Downstairs, her dog sounded like he was attempting to burst through the front door. His bark was one continuous “rawr rawr rawr,” interspersed with deep growls.

A glance out the window told her daylight waited somewhere beyond the horizon. She flung her wrapper over her shoulders and tiptoed down to the entryway. Her heart thudded in her throat at skittering noises on the porch.

Crouching next to Bodie, she placed her hand on the raised fur along his back. “Shh. We’re fine.” She inched to the window and peered through a corner of the lace curtain. Blackness.

Bodie growled low in his chest. Her pulse gradually slowed as she stroked his velvety ears, reassured by this solid presence next to her. Anything that got through her locked door wouldn’t get past Bodie.

I can’t wait to see what is beyond the door. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My webpage is www.annshorey.com.

Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnnShorey?fref=ts.  

I’m also on Twitter (Ann_Shorey) and on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/annshorey

Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Lena! I’ve enjoyed visiting with you.

And I always enjoy having you drop by. Thank you, Ann, for sharing your life and story with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
When the Heart Heals: A Novel (Sisters at Heart) - paperback
When the Heart Heals (Sisters at Heart Book #2): A Novel - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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 Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

Remember, my book Maggie's Journey is still a FREE download in all ebook formats until February 12.

WHERE WILDFLOWERS BLOOM - Ann Shorey - Free Book

Welcome, Ann. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

History and research are my passions. I have a collection of family memoirs dating back to the American Revolution, and became interested in fiction when I realized all the memoirs were written by men. In order to learn what women’s lives were like, I turned the stories into novels.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? 

When I was baptized. In my church, we baptize by immersion. I’ll never forget the joy I felt when I came up out of the water. It’s been thirty-some years, but whenever I think about that occasion, I feel the joy anew.

How has being published changed your life?

Being published has made my life much busier! No one tells you ahead of time how many things other than writing there are to do once you have books out there. The marketing, which includes blogging, social networking, book signings, and more, takes so much time—as you well know. I love what I do, so it’s all good, but there are days when I wish I had a few hours to just kick back and read a book all afternoon. J

I know what you mean, but I love connecting with readers. What are you reading right now?

Liz Curtis Higgs’ Mine is the Night. I’m loving it. Along with the first book in the series, Here Burns my Candle, it’s a fascinating re-telling of the story of Ruth and Naomi.

What is your current work in progress?

A novel for Revell titled When the Heart Heals. It’s Book 2 in the Sisters At Heart series, and continues the stories of Faith, Rosemary, and Cassie.

What would be your dream vacation?

My dream is to have the time and the money to tour every one of the lower 48 states (I’ve already been to Alaska twice). My husband and I have visited a number of states, both for research and pleasure, and I’ve enjoyed seeing the regional differences in our beautiful country. Oh, to visit them all! I can dream, can’t I?

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My series have been inspired by the lives of my female ancestors, so the settings are chosen from family history.

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

Franklin Graham. I’d love to talk with him about the origins of Samaritan’s Purse.

James and I have followed Franklin's ministry for years. We were very active in the Christmas Box program. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I collect antique kitchen and laundry implements, and also keep an eye out for unusual Vaseline glass pieces when I go antiquing. I enjoy trying new recipes, puttering in my flower garden, and riding dirt bikes. (The dirt bike part isn’t true—I just realized I sound kind of boring, so thought I’d add something with a little spark. J)

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Staying away from email and Facebook requires a ton of discipline when I’m writing. The other obstacle is interruptions. Some days are shattered by multiple phone calls. Aargh.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

This is so basic, but “don’t quit” is the best advice I can give. Perseverance is the key to being published. Constantly improve your craft with each rejection and then resubmit.

Tell us about the featured book.

The War Between the States stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg—as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Noble Springs, Missouri, March 1866

               “You can do this,” Faith Lindberg told herself as she gazed into the hall mirror and straightened her bonnet. “After all, it’s only for a short time.” Once she gathered the courage to talk to Grandpa about her plans, she knew they’d be leaving Noble Springs.

               She slipped her well-worn copy of Randolph Marcy’s The Prairie Traveler into her carryall. Her grandfather said he wanted her to take over managing the store. He hadn’t said she couldn’t spend time reading when there were no customers.

               The onyx mantel clock in their parlor chimed the half hour. Grandpa had been very specific—meet him at eight o’clock and he’d show her what to do before Lindberg’s Mercantile opened for the day’s business.

               Faith hurried out the door, grateful that the morning sun promised a pleasant day after a week of rain. Maybe she wouldn’t have to bother with lighting the store’s cranky wood-burning stove. Its warmth drew elderly gossipers the way a freshly iced cake drew bees.

I'll love reading this book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.annshorey.com; on Facebook, please visit my Ann Shorey Author page, https://www.facebook.com/AnnShorey; and on Twitter, I’m Ann_Shorey. When you find me, please let me know you read this on Lena’s blog!


Thank you, Ann, for spending this time with us on a busy day.


Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Where Wildflowers Bloom: A Novel (Sisters at Heart)


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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 Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

Author Ann Shorey - THE EDGE OF LIGHT - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Ann Shorey with her debut novel. Ann, tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

A little bit of myself works its way into many of my female characters. In The Edge of Light, the little girl, Luellen, is me as a child.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My husband and I danced on a tabletop at a military ball when we were dating, just like in the old Fred Astaire films. Crazy, but fun. Neither one of us drinks alcohol—we were just in love and goofy. Fortunately, the table held our weight or it wouldn’t have been so funny.

How romantic. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was in high school. In my junior year we were given an assignment to write a story. When my English teacher handed the papers back, she encouraged me to continue writing. Before that, I’d made up stories and scenarios with my sister all through our childhood—just didn’t write them down.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Almost everything but sci-fi/fantasy, and even some of those if the story captures my imagination. I’m never without a book or two on my nightstand. I love historical novels, literary fiction, and read mysteries for fun. I also enjoy nonfiction, such as Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air. One of the best things about reading is being entertained while learning new things. A recent novel, The Hearts of Horses, by Molly Gloss, is a good example. Her captivating story is set in eastern Oregon during World War I. It fascinated me to learn how that conflict affected families in rural areas. And of course, as a writer of historical fiction, I read many nonfiction books for research.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I wrote a nonfiction family history, which was privately published in 1998. The title is A Great Cloud of Witnesses. That’s the project that inspired my fiction series. I’ve also written a couple of “practice” novels, which I’m now grateful were never published.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

With quiet times of Bible reading and prayer; walks with my dog; and escaping into a good book.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I look for names that reflect my characters in some way. For instance, in The Edge of Light, there is a blacksmith named Jered Pitt. To me “Pitt” sounds kind of dark and harsh, which fits my image of this character.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’d have to say it’s the friendship between my grown daughter and myself. Throughout her childhood, I prayed we’d have a lasting, loving relationship, and the Lord has graciously granted my request. On the professional level, I am thrilled to have my three-book series, At Home in Beldon Grove, contracted by Revell.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A wild and free lioness. I love the desert, and the images of lions in Africa conjure up warmth and freedom. On the practical side, being a beloved dog would be comfortable, but there’s something about the idea of running across the open veldt just for the joy of it . . .

My friend, Lisa Harris, who with her family is a missionary in Africa, often has videos of lions they've seen on her blog. I love watching them. Now what is your favorite food?

Chocolate.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Discouragement. So often I’d be on my knees asking the Lord if He really wanted me to write, or should I quit? I never sensed Him telling me to quit, so I persevered.

I spent many years like that, too. What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Consider your first book or two as practice runs. There’s no better way to learn to write fiction than to write and re-write. If a book is rejected several times, learn from it and start another. Take your writing seriously and don’t let people diminish your dream. Go to every good conference you can afford and take the classes offered that pertain to your work.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

The Edge of Light is set in 1838 in Missouri and Illinois. Molly McGarvie has three small children and is pregnant with her fourth when her husband dies of cholera. She believes life can’t get any worse—but it does. The story offers a look at women’s lives in a time when their options were severely limited. According to advance readers, how Molly carries on in the face of disaster is page-turning fiction.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.annshorey.com/

Thank you, Ann for spending this time with us.

Readers, you can order The Edge of Light by using this link:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.