UNTIL JUNE - Barbara M Britton - One Free Book

Welcome, Barbara. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. Most of my characters have some aspect of my personality, maybe twenty-five percent. Stories have to have conflict to drive the plot, so my characters will face more challenges in a short period of time than I have in my lifetime. I draw on my own feelings and reactions to make my characters seem relatable. When my characters have to be brave, they reach into their life experiences and stay strong. I like to think they get that trait from me, but my strength comes from God and family.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? I love doing kid’s ministry, so I have done some crazy things. Sometimes I teach with a puppet “Rusty.” Adults look at me like I’m nuts, but the kids love when Rusty comes and “talks” to me. He’s more popular than I am.

When did you first discover that you were a writer? I taught elementary school chapel for six years. Finding curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade is a challenge. I had to modify curriculum and write drama scripts to go along with the material. One spring I was feeling worn out and I prayed for God to “Hit me with some creativity.” God gave me ideas for my lessons, but I also felt a prompting to write a story. Four stories later, my first book was published, and it was a plot similar to a Bible story. I should have begun earlier writing what I taught each week.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I became a Christian in the third grade, so I have a soft spot for children’s books that are spiritually based or are sweet stories. I’m always on the lookout for good resources for children. All my books have a romantic thread because I like a good love story, too. I enjoy reading Biblical Fiction, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and sweet Young Adult books.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Setting boundaries is key to staying sane. I make God and my family my top priorities. I have turned down book contracts when my family needed more of my attention. Some might say I was crazy, but God blessed me in unexpected ways.

Philippians 4:4-7 are my go-to verses to reduce stress and anxiety.

How do you choose your characters’ names? When writing about historical characters, I am stuck with their names. If my characters are fictional, I choose names that sound different and do not start with the same letter so as not to confuse a reader. Imagine my concern when I wrote about the daughters of Zelophehad: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. I worked really hard to keep the characters distinct because their names are similar.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Personally, it’s raising children that love the Lord. Professionally, it would be getting a second book published. With a debut novel, readers do not have any expectations. Expectations are high with a sophomore story.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? I would be a butterfly who hangs out on pretty flowers and makes people wonder at God’s Creation.

What is your favorite food? Dark chocolate. If chocolate’s not a food, then I would say tacos.

Of course, chocolate is a food. I love dark chocolate, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? My greatest roadblock, to this day, is self-doubt. I pray that God will help me write to the best of my ability. I pray before I write for the Spirit to help me craft the best story possible. I also never stop learning about the craft of writing.

Tell us about the featured book. Until June was the second manuscript I wrote—and that was many years ago. At the time, I was told that Historical Young Adult books would never sell. I worked on the book over the years because it was dear to my heart. On an Alaskan cruise excursion, I heard the tale of how a WWI veteran and his caregiver had lived at a lodge in Alaska and were cut off from society during winter. I had always had a passion to help veterans returning from war. I molded the lodge story and my compassion for veterans into a manuscript. Fast forward a decade later when my son texted me that someone had stolen my story. He had seen a movie trailer for Me Before You. My story is a caregiver trope too, but it has a happy ending. I dusted off my manuscript and submitted Until June to my publisher. Pelican Book Group accepted the story. The book is a departure from my Biblical Fiction.

Here's the official book blurb:

When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge to escape the influenza of 1918, there’s enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran, Geoff Chambers.

Geoff makes it clear that he isn’t too fond of the “runt” sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted amputee, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively. Though, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

This sounds interesting. Please give us the first page of the book.

Juneau, Alaska, September 1918

Josephine Nimetz slipped into a perfect replica of a wool coat, one she had drawn, designed, and patterned on old newspaper. She tucked a rectangular box under her arm and tiptoed across the living room toward her mother who slept in an oversized chair. Laying a gentle hand on her mother’s swollen knuckles, she whispered, “I’m off to the Chambers Estate.”

Her mother’s eyes fluttered open. “I thought you delivered Mrs. Chambers’s gown yesterday?”

“Yes, but Ann forgot to put the gloves and embroidered handkerchief in the box. I don’t want any complaints from our best customer.”

“Your sister can’t seem to think about anything these days. Anything, that is, except men.”

Josephine stepped toward the door. At seventeen, the last thing she wanted to discuss was her sister’s courtships. There had been too many stories of lonely miners with gold rush dreams. Her mother coughed and leaned forward. Josephine halted. “Do you need your medicine?”

“At night dear. Only at night.”

How can readers find you on the Internet? I have a website where you can find out about my books and sign up for my monthly newsletter, http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html. I am also active on Twitter, Facebook, BookBub, and Goodreads.

Thank you, Barbara, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I love reading stories set in Alaska.

Readers, here is a link to the book.

https://amzn.to/2OkWYcv

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

CLAIMING CANAAN - Barbara M Britton - One Free Print Book

Bio: Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Look for Barb to venture into Christian Historical fiction with Until June. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

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

I was a chapel teacher to elementary students for many years. My husband gave me excellent advice. He told me not to bore people with the Bible because it is the most exciting book ever. He also encouraged me not to just teach a Bible story, but to teach why the story is in the Bible. I used that advice in my lessons, and I apply it to the Bible stories that I write. I love bringing little-known Bible stories to light.

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

I grew up in a wonderful family, but we weren’t Christian. My mom became a Christian through Bible Study Fellowship and took my sister and I to church. My father didn’t attend church with us. We prayed for my dad for years. We were ecstatic when he accepted Jesus and was baptized.

How has being published changed your life?

Once you send a story off into the world and develop a readership, readers want to know when your next book is coming out. As an author, you have to write the next book and spread the word about your existing books. You wear two hats instead of one. I am much busier on social media and with speaking engagements as a published author. It’s very important to me to stay engaged with church and ministry, so my days are fairly full.

What are you reading right now?

I am reading Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar. It is the book selection for the Biblical Fiction Buffs Goodreads group. Tessa brings the story of Aquila and Priscilla to fiction. She is one of my favorite authors.

Another author of biblical fiction that I love is Mesu Andrews. What is your current work in progress?

I’m tackling the life of David in-between book launches. I enjoy writing about the Old Testament and finding new-to-me saints.

What would be your dream vacation?

I’d love to discover more of our National Parks. I visited Yellowstone last summer and was amazed at the beauty and the geological variations. Huge Bison strolled by our car. We didn’t see any bears and that was fine with me. I hear Utah has scenic parks.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The story chooses the setting. With Biblical Fiction, I’m limited to Israel and the surrounding countries. When I get an idea for a book, I am usually standing in the setting. Hearing stories on vacation gets my mind swirling with stories. I have set stories in Israel, Hawaii, Alaska, and Wisconsin.

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

Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She was a press secretary to the President, and she is the daughter of a Governor. I would ask how she manages young children and an intense job. What is it like to be under constant scrutiny? Of course, I would listen to any job secrets she was willing to share.

I highly respect both her and her father. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I enjoy walking outside. During Wisconsin winters, I walk on a treadmill which isn’t as fun. I get a lot of praying done while I walk on the treadmill. I also like analyzing movies for plot lines.

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

Insecurity. Even though I have several books published, I still doubt my ability at times. I pray to God that He will help me to write the best story that I can. I also say to myself that I’m writing the manuscript for me and no one else.

I don’t know any Christian author who doesn’t feel insecurity in some measure. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Early in my writing journey, I was given the advice to join professional writing organizations, get involved in the local chapters, and attend writing conferences. I have done that for twelve years. Meeting other writers helps you build a support system. A writer needs to learn how to craft a book, but you also need to learn about the publishing industry. Professional groups help with the learning curve and friendship building.

Tell us about the featured book.

I have been a Christian for decades, but I did not know the story of the daughters of Zelophehad. Five orphaned sisters asked Moses if they could inherit their deceased father’s land. Moses went to God and God said the girls were right. If a man died without a son, his daughters could inherit his land. I wrote a book about the girls’ big ask. I was going to write one book, but at the end, the sisters did not have their land. I followed the girls through the book of Joshua. Claiming Canaan shows the sisters receiving their inheritance of land.

Claiming Canaan book blurb:

When the tribal elders make marriage a requirement for claiming her land, Milcah bat Zelophehad must find a betrothed straightaway. The only problem in finding a husband is that all her suitors were slain while conquering the land of Canaan. Men avoid her in order to stay alive.

After praying to God to send her a bold suitor, a man from her father's clan plummets from a tree right on top of her. Is this God answering prayer, or a foolish antic by Eli, the war-scarred brother from one of her clan's rival families?

Will settling in Canaan sort out Milcah's troubles, or have her woes just begun?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Six years after the battle for Ai

The camp at Gilgal, outside the fallen fortress of Jericho

Milcah bat Zelophehad stood in the noonday sun, on a hill not far from the rowed tent tops of camp. She waited with her older sisters. Her sisters waited for their husbands. She waited for Hanoch. The man who had asked her eldest sister if he could arrange a betrothal when he returned from battle. Hanoch, a brave soul, did not care that another man who had expressed an interest in marriage to her lay buried deep beneath the ground somewhere in Canaan

Battle-hardened warriors traipsed along the path toward their homes in Gilgal. Men from the tribes of Israel, the sons of Jacob, carried satchels of spoils. Some bulging. Others thin. But all contained wealth from fallen cities.

“Do you see them?” she asked her sisters, rising on tiptoe. She twisted the gold band on her finger. The ring with the ruby as solid and handsome as her Hanoch. He had sneaked the ring to her before he departed.

“Not yet,” her sister Hoglah said. “I have seen few of our tribesmen. Perhaps the men of Manasseh ventured farther north with Joshua.”

Two men passed on the trail. One fighter tugged a wide-bellied cow toward its new home. Would Hanoch bring her livestock?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website has information about my books, www.barbarambritton.com.

I also like to connect on Twitter @BarbaraMBritton, and on Facebook, and Goodreads.

You can purchase Claiming Canaan on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Pelican Book Group, and where books are sold. Libraries can order the series too.

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

BUILDING BENJAMIN: Naomi's Journey - Barbara M Britton - One Free Book

Welcome, Barbara. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I try to think about what personality traits my characters will need to reach their goals in my story. I might have some of their traits, but my heroines are braver and bolder than I am—or the story would be boring. Since I write Christian fiction, my characters and I share a faith in God.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I love music, but I don’t sing very well, so I lip sync. My family and I performed in a lip sync competition as the Partridge family. I was Lori Partridge on keyboards.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I came to writing later in life through teaching chapel lessons. I taught kindergarten through fifth grade—all at one time—so I had to revise curriculum or write my own. I prayed for the Lord to give me creativity to craft my lesson plans and He prompted me to start writing novels. I was in my forties with children still at home, but I managed to get a few books written. As long as God keeps putting ideas in my head, I will keep writing. I enjoy bringing little-known stories in His Word to light.

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

Most of the books I read are written by my friends, so they are Christian fiction or sweet romances. I enjoy a happily-ever-after. I do venture into the Young Adult genre, but most of those characters do things my parents would never have allowed—and I don’t allow as a parent!  

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

It’s getting more and more difficult. I turn off social media and avoid computer screens when life gets stressful. It helps that I draft my novels on notepads. I like to walk when the weather is nice here in Wisconsin, and listen to music. My writing and weekly Bible studies keep me digging into the Word of God for refreshment. 

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I scan the Bible looking for names that my readers can pronounce. I try to avoid names that sound alike or start with the same letter.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’ve been married for 29 years and have two wonderful sons who love the Lord. None of the men in my life are perfect, but they’re forgiven and loved.

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

I would be our cat—the one who won the lottery. She was a stray we adopted. She isn’t very nice, but she is so cute! Everyone loves her even though she hisses at them. Go figure.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate. I wish it was calorie-free. 

                                                                        

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

’m still battling my problem. Even though I have three books written and contracted (two are out), I doubt my writing ability. I believe Satan doesn’t want me to write about how amazing God is, so he plants doubt in my head. I tell myself to write the book I want to write, and if no one sees it, then that’s okay. I work on this issue with every book.

Tell us about the featured book.

I was reading through the Bible and came across crazy events in Judges that I had no idea were in the Bible. The book of Judges ends with a war between the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Benjamin is almost wiped out. Only 600 men survive, and they have no women or children. What are the men going to do? They abduct unsuspecting girls from the other tribes so the tribe of Benjamin will survive. My book follows three girls who are kidnapped from a festival by these Benjamite men. The tribe carries on and gives us the first king of Israel and the apostle Paul. Here is my blurb:

Love Grows Where God Grafts the Tender Shoot.

Naomi desires to dance well enough to catch the eye of a wealthy landowner. Her father needs a substantial bride price due to the deaths of her brothers at the hands of the tribe of Benjamin. But when Benjamites raid the Ephraimite feast and capture young girls, Naomi is bound and carried from her home by Eliab, a troubled shepherd who needs a wife.

As Naomi awaits rescue, she finds Eliab has a strong faith in God and a just reason for abducting her. A reason that affects all the tribes of Israel. The future of the tribe of Benjamin hangs in the balance, but if Naomi follows her heart and stays with Eliab to rebuild his lineage, she must forfeit her family and become a traitor to her tribe.

Please give us the first page of the book.

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. Judges 21:25.

Shiloh, in the land of the tribe of Ephraim

Naomi peeked from behind the tent flap. Girls emerged from scattered booths, illuminated by the flames of the bonfire. The beat of a timbrel echoed over the vineyards while tambourines tinked in thanksgiving to God for an abundant crop. Naomi’s stomach hollowed at the thought of joining in the revelry at the harvest celebration. She had never danced before at the feast in a manner to seduce a husband.

Her palms dampened. It was almost time. Time to twirl and catch the eye of a landowner. With two of her brothers slain by the Benjamites, her father needed a bride price.

Movement in the moon-shadowed vineyard caught Naomi’s attention. Had a goat gotten loose among the vines? She squinted into the darkened rows of naked stalks. No leaves shook. No trellis gave way. No bleating rang out. The smoke is deceiving me. She blinked and retreated from the open flap. Cuzbi, the merchant’s daughter, came close as if to share a secret. Naomi’s reflection widened in the gold of Cuzbi’s headband. “Do not worry,” Cuzbi whispered. “Follow me and the men will line up to give our fathers gifts.”

Naomi prayed this was not a lie. Cuzbi had danced the previous harvest, and the one before, but Cuzbi’s father had not received a single shekel.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find out about me and my books on my website (www.barbarambritton.com), or on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter @Barbara M. Britton.

Thanks for having me on your blog today. I’m curious if your readers were familiar with the ending of Judges.

Thank you, Barbara, for sharing this book with us.

Comment Question to answer: Were you familiar with the ending of Judges before this interview?

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Building Benjamin: Naomi's Journey (Tribes of Israel) - Paperback
Building Benjamin: Naomi's Journey (Tribes of Israel) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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