THINGS I NEVER TOLD YOU - Beth K Vogt - One Free Book

Bio: Beth K. Vogt is a nonfiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind doors marked Never. Beth’s first women’s fiction novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, releases May 2018.

Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA Award finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. Having authored nine contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there’s more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us.

An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and also enjoys speaking to writers' groups and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories. Connect with Beth at http://www.bethvogt.com.

Welcome back, Beth. You have described Things I Never Told You as “Little Women gone wrong,” with a This Is Us feel. Without giving too much away, can you tell us a little about this title and why it might be described in this way?

Things I Never Told You is a story about things both spoken and unspoken between sisters. Little Women is a classic story that idealizes the relationships between four sisters. For all their differences, the March girls are undergirded by a sense of loving unity and, well, goodness. The Thatcher sisters? I replace idealism with the kind of reality you see in the popular TV show This Is Us. The conflicts separating Johanna, Jillian, Payton, and Pepper seem to outweigh the sense of family.

What themes do you explore in Things I Never Told You?

Family is a major theme of the book. I also delve into grief, including delayed grief, and secrets, and the always intriguing topic of sisters.

I understand that you develop a story question for each book you write. What is a story question (or how does a story question help you as a writer)—and what was the story question for Things I Never Told You?

I’ll answer your question with a quote: “I start with a question. Then I try to answer it.” ~ Mary Lee Settle (1918-2005), author. A story question is a question of the heart and mind—one that your main characters are wrestling with throughout your book—and that your readers will try to answer, too. A story question is not easily answered with a yes or a no. Developing a story question before I start writing a book helps me just like fuel for a car: it keeps my story going. So long as I remember what my story question is, I can stay focused and keep writing because I know the heart of my story. For Things I Never Told You, the story question is this: Is family always worth fighting for?

This novel involves the complicated relationship between sisters. Why did you decide to tackle that family dynamic? Did your own experience inform this story?

Sisters can be the most supportive of relationships . . . but they can also be the most competitive of relationships, too. And yes, I’ve experienced this personally with my two sisters, one of whom is my fraternal twin. I’ve watched other sister relationships, as well as my daughters, navigate their relationships with one another. There’s a beautiful, yet at times, frustrating dichotomy between sisters.

Things I Never Told You deals with death, delayed grief, strained family relationships, impending trauma, and resentment. When faced with similar challenges, what questions must we ask ourselves? Where do we turn for answers?

So often, our first reaction to pain or tragedy is to ask, “Why?” I’m learning to ask, “How?” How am I supposed to walk through this tragedy, this trauma, this tension, in a manner that is both honest and allows me to survive? How do I find God in this? How do I hang on to my values through this—and let others be who they are during this time? When we face struggles of any kind, sometimes we are looking for answers . . . and sometimes we think we know the answers. Sometimes we are looking for an escape rather than God’s provision so that we can stand and face the problem.

The novel brings to light, both for the characters and the reader, certain challenges faced by many families. How might this story help your reader untangle their own family dynamics?

I think readers will see aspects of themselves and of others they know—friends, family members, coworkers—in Things I Never Told You. Maybe they will understand themselves—and someone else—a little better when they are finished reading this book. They’ll see choices fictional characters make and weigh what they would or wouldn’t do in similar situations.

What is the role of faith in your novel?

Both faith and unbelief play a role in my novel because I find both in this world. At one time, I believed in God—in a distant “I know you’re out there, but let’s not ask too much of one another, okay?” kind of way. Now, my relationship with God influences my entire life. But I know that not everyone believes as I do—and I try to weave that reality into my books.

Family is very central to the plot of Things I Never Told You, and many will probably recognize some aspect of their own family life in the characters. What do you hope readers will take away from being immersed in the drama and imperfections of the Thatcher family?

I hope they fall in love with the Thatcher sisters—Payton, Pepper, Johanna, and Jillian—as well as the subplot characters. I hope they miss them when they finish reading the book. I hope they tell other people about them because, while Things I Never Told You is fiction, what I write about is real life. I hope readers wonder, “Would I do what Payton did? What Jillian did?” And maybe, just maybe, it changes their real-life relationships in some way.

Your novel gives readers permission to have questions about their faith. Why do you think this is important?

Living a life of faith is hard. Choosing to believe in God doesn’t mean that you don’t doubt . . . that life is always good, that you’re guaranteed a permanent residence on the sunny side of Easy Street. A few years ago, I sat across from a trusted friend and said, “I know all the right answers, but they’re not working anymore.” I still believed in God, but life was harder than I ever expected. It’s important to know that God accepts us when we doubt. He is a big, big God—big enough to handle any and all of our questions.

Forgiveness and reconciliation can be difficult topics, and you include them as core themes of the novel. What do you hope your reader will learn from this?

I often say that all writers of faith have the theme of forgiveness in their novels—after all, forgiveness and reconciliation are at the very core of our Christian belief. And yet, I’ve had to unlearn and relearn what true, honest forgiveness means . . . and realize that reconciliation is hard, hard work. Life is messy—and God doesn’t shy away from any of it. Neither should we.

Thank you, Beth, for sharing this new book with us. Relationships are so complicated sometimes.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Things I Never Told You - Christianbook.com
Things I Never Told You (Thatcher Sisters) - Amazon paperback
Things I Never Told You (Thatcher Sisters) - 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

CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE - Beth K Vogt - One Free Book

Bio: Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author who said she’d never write fiction, the wife of an Air Force physician who said she’d never marry anyone in the military, and a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2015 and 2014 Carol Award finalist, her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, and their youngest daughter.

Dear Readers, I usually prefer historical novels, but there are some authors who write contemporary novels I always read as soon as they release. Beth K. Vogt is one of those novels. From her first published novel, I was hooked on her writing and storytelling. Crazy Little Thing Called Love grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. I loved the characters, the story line, and the setting. It’s the whole package. You won’t want to miss this book.

Welcome back, Beth. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I grew up in a religious home, but didn’t understand what it meant to have a personal relationship with God. I met my future husband, Rob, right after a rough breakup. On our second date, he shared his faith with me. When I told him I believed in God too he said, “I don’t see you doing anything about it.” (Yes, he’s a direct person.) We had a long distance relationship and he continued to share scripture verses with me.

Seven months later, we got engaged during the holidays and decided to have a “crash course” in premarital counseling while he was home for one week for Christmas. Rob was in the U.S. Air Force at the time, so we made a call to the Andrews Air Force Base chapel. –– We were assigned quickly to meet with a Quaker chaplain. During our first meeting, the chaplain pulled out a Campus Crusade Four Spiritual Laws tract and said, “Let’s just make sure we all know where we’re coming from.” He then walked us through the Gospel. At the end of that little booklet, there’s a picture of two circles: one with you on the throne of your life and one with Jesus on the throne of your life. And I stared at that page and knew I was in the wrong circle.

After that, my time was filled with reading the Word, attending a small Bible church once we were married, joining a couple’s Bible study – all of these things helped me grow as a young believer.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren. They have mentored me from the beginning of my writing journey, and they are forces to be reckoned with. I love “talking story” with them. Melissa Tagg will also be there because she’s just crazy-talented and loads of fun and we’ve known each other from the beginning of our writing journeys. Cathy West will also join us. She is another phenomenal writer. She’s a pantser, while I’m a plotter. I visited her in Bermuda this summer and wooed her over to my side of the writing process – a little bit. We had so much fun plotting a story together! Who knows? She might provide the location for the retreat.

I would want to be a fly on the wall of that retreat, especially if it is at Cathy’s place. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I enjoy speaking to women’s groups and to writers. I was involved with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers International) as a writer, editor, and speaker. I love encouraging young moms. I’ve spoken to local groups and at their national conventions. I also love teaching other writers what I’ve learned along the writing road. I’ve taught local workshops, online courses, and at the ACFW annual conference. For me, an opportunity to speak is an opportunity to encourage.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

Now how do you answer a question like this? I could fudge and say I’m always embarrassed when I can’t remember a person’s name – I am so bad at that! Or I could tell you about the time I was in a high school talent show and sang a song with two other girlfriends, and I missed my cue and came in at the wrong time. Yeah. Totally miffed it. And when you’re a teen that kind of experience scars you forever. Of course, we didn’t win the talent show. How did I handle it? I finished the song – and went off stage and cried. I apologized over and over again, and felt like a failure. I did learn that you survive that kind of experience.

People are always telling me they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

My response varies with the person. Most of the time, I smile and say, “How interesting. What kind of book?” Inside my head, I’m thinking, “Let me know how that works out for you,” because most people do not understand what the writing life demands of you. If a person shows a real interest in writing though – an inkling of passion – then I listen. And if they ask questions, I offer a small amount of advice. Not too much though. They’ll find out when – and if – they start their writing journey.

Tell us about the featured book.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love asks the question: What if you discovered that what you thought was your worst mistake was actually the right choice? Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first novel in my destination wedding series that examines the power of love, and the mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.” 

Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.

Thousands—even millions—of women had routine choose-a-church, select-a-dress, plan-a-reception kinds of weddings.

For some unknown reason, she was not one of those women.

Vanessa scanned the brochures spread out across the scarred top of her mission-style coffee table, her plate of Chinese beef and broccoli shoved to one corner. Photographs of white sandy beaches curving around sparkling oceans presented an enticing mirage for a destination wedding. And then she reread the list of medical workshops her husband-to-be would be attending two days after they exchanged I do’s.

TIA’s and Strokes: State of the Art Approach

Advanced Airway Endoscopy Course

Hot Topics in Pediatric Emergencies

Not the typical themes for a honeymoon following a romantic destination wedding.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: http://bethvogt.com/

My blog: http://www.bethvogt.com/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethvogt

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bethkvogt/  

Thank you, Beth, for sharing this new book with my blog readers today. I know they'll love it as much as I do.

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

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Christianbook.com
Crazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel - Amazon
Crazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding 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 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

A NOVEMBER BRIDE - Beth K Vogt - One Free Ebook

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

Professionally, I’m launching a Destination Wedding series in 2015. Spiritually, I’m praying more and more to understand how I am collaborating with God as I write.

Tell us a little about your family.

My family is God’s best blessing to me. My husband and I have been married 34 years. We have one son and three daughters—and we are also blessed with one daughter-in-love and two sons-in-love. Our youngest daughter is almost 14. We have one GRANDchild, with a second due in 2015. And I am so thankful for how my family supports me as I pursue my dream of writing.

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

Now that I’m on deadline—or just off deadline, or waiting for rewrites or edits—I don’t have as much time to read as I would like. I find my downtime is usually around Christmas or spring break and I go through several books then.

What are you working on right now?

I’m finishing up Can’t Buy Me Love, the novella that will launch my Destination Wedding series in May 2015. It has a bit of a Pinterest story line and involves a Manhattan destination wedding.

What outside interests do you have?

I love to walk—I walk a minimum of three miles a day with a friend. We use the time to talk and to pray for our families. I also love to watch football—I am a very vocal Broncos football fan. And I love hanging with friends and family for game nights.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

So far each of my books have somehow been tied to Colorado, which is where I live. I love Colorado and there are so many beautiful locals here. This was true for A November Bride, which is set in Denver and included some of places I’ve been to in Denver, including the aquarium.

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

I would like to visit with Maya Angelou. I have a blog, In Others’ Words, that is all about quotes. I have quoted Maya Angelou a number of times and respect her greatly. It would be fun to sit down and have a conversation with her.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

My agent, Rachelle Gardner, told me this recently: We’re involved in publishing, Beth, not brain surgery. There is never any reason to panic. I wish I’d learned that truth earlier.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

The Lord is teaching me to not put him last in the writing process—to not write a book and then ask him to bless it. But rather, to walk with him daily, hour by hour, as I write my stories. It all goes back to the idea of “collaborating” with him as I write.

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

1. Find a mentor.

2. Find someone else to mentor.

3. Expect to fail and always learn something from that experience.

Tell us about the featured book.

A November Bride is the last in the Harper Collins A Year of Weddings novella series. I was thrilled to be invited to participate in this project. A November Bride tells the story of Sadie and Erik and asks the question: Can a decades-long friendship marred by two romantic missteps lead to happily ever after?

Please give us the first page of the book.

This was Sadie’s star moment. The reason she collected recipes and watched cooking shows. Why she made color-coded, computerized grocery lists cross-referenced by availability and quality of items, store locations, and layouts. Spent hours shopping for fresh produce and meats and poultry—and sales, always sales.

At last, it was time for the presentation of the prepared dish.

She turned from the professional-grade oven, heat wafting against her back, dampening the cloth of her white chef jacket. Was it still clean? With a flourish and a well-practiced smile, she held the steaming dish aloft in her gloved hands. Inhaled the aroma of chicken in the bubbling sauce of Italian dressing, and topped with lightly browned, grated Parmesan cheese. At the last second, she remembered to nudge the oven door closed with her shoulder.

Hold the smile. Always hold the smile.

“Oh, this smells delectable.”

Ugh. Maybe not the best word. Too late now.

Sadie set the deep red stoneware dish on the waiting trivet, turning it just so, knowing a trusty cameraman would capture just the right angle. “Boneless chicken breasts. Grated cheese. Italian dressing. And, for those of you who are gluten- free, I used a coating of crushed cornflakes instead of bread crumbs.”

She stood tall, despite the tightness in the small of her back, recounting the other dishes she’d made that day.

And smile.

“There you have it. A week’s worth of dinners: chicken Parmesan, chicken piccata, salmon Sedona cakes served with English muffins, crown rack of lamb, and braised beef short ribs. ” She resisted the urge to push the bangs back from her face. The focus was on the meals she’d prepared, not her.

“On the next segment of Your Personal Chef, I’ll share another week’s worth of dinners, including—”

When notes from the “Peer Gynt Suite no. 1” sounded from her smartphone on the desk in the corner of the kitchen, Sadie closed her eyes, her mouth twisting. “A call? Really? We were almost finished.”

Silence—and then her phone sounded again.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.bethvogt.com

Twitter: @bethvogt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/beth_vogt/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt?ref=hl

Thank you, Beth, for sharing this new book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A November Bride - Christianbook.com
A November Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella Book 12) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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 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

SOMEBODY LIKE YOU - Beth K Vogt - One Free Book

Dear Readers, when this book arrived at my house, I was eager to read it. I had written a series about identical triplets, and this one is about identical twins. I’m always interested in reading about multiples. I had really enjoyed Beth’s first two books, so I knew I would like it. This book takes the reader deep into emotional places that really grip their hearts. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. You won’t want to miss it.

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

I tell people I write “real life” romances. By this I mean that I don’t avoid the reality that relationships are messy. I believe there is more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us – and I like to write the stories that tell the truth: happily ever afters happen without the benefit of fairy godmothers.

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

The happiest day of my life … oh how to answer that? The happiest day of my life is today … because I am so fully aware of all the blessings I’ve experienced – and yes, some of those blessings were once overwhelming challenges I faced that made me question my faith. Not doubt God, no, but question in a way so that I grew closer to him.

How has being published changed your life?

I’m either on deadline or just off-deadline or waiting for edits to come back from my editor. That’s different. And I’ve also wrestled with self-confidence in a whole new way – reviews will do that to you. But I’ve learned to anchor my sense of worth more and more to who God says I am.

What are you reading right now?

Oh, so many things! Becky Wade’s Undeniably Yours. Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney. Tornado Hunter (for research) and Loves Come Calling by Siri Mitchell, which I had to put aside while I was on deadline.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, which will launch my Destination Wedding series for Howard Books in 2015.

What would be your dream vacation?

My husband and I are planning that right now. We’re hoping to go to Venice and yes, I hope we can take a gondola ride.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My first three novels and one novella were all set in Colorado, which is where I live. Colorado is a beautiful state with so many possibilities for story settings. For the Destination Wedding Series, I researched top destination wedding locations in the U.S.

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

Oh, I am never good at these “pick one” questions. I’m going to go with the outside the box answer that came to mind: Dick Van Dyke. I remember watching the Dick Van Dyke show as a little girl (yes, I’m dating myself) and all of my kiddos have watched the black and white TV series on DVD – and laughed out loud, just like I did. He’s a talented, versatile actor who has had struggles. He’s a comedian who has made decades of audiences laugh – and laughter is my favorite sound. It would be fun to sit down and talk with him about his life. There, nothing deep or philosophical about my answer. But I’m juggling a number of projects right now, so I probably can’t do “deep” at this moment.

My husband and I love the various parts Dick Van Dyke has played. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I enjoy walking/hiking. Colorado is great for that. And I love to watch cooking shows, although I don’t spend all that much time in the kitchen! Another favorite pastime is spending time with my close girlfriends. Not all are writers, but they’re very patient with me when I talk story.

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

Interruptions! Real life – and real people whom I love -- have a way of intruding on my fictional worlds and imaginary characters. And interruptions disrupt the creative flow. So I’m constantly battling with trying to find uninterrupted writing time and reestablishing my focus when I’ve lost it.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

As writers, we often talk about pursuing our dreams and we celebrate when those dreams come true. Once you sign on the contractual dotted line and embrace deadlines, living the dream becomes doing the work. The challenge is balancing the two: remembering the joy of the dream and persevering through the work.

Tell us about the featured book.

Somebody Like You asks the question: Can a young widow fall in love with her husband’s reflection? Haley Ames discovers four months after her husband’s death that he has a twin brother – a startlingly identical twin brother who shows up on her front doorstep one evening. The novel examines complicated relationships – both the possibility of a romance between Haley and Stephen, as well messy family relationships.

Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.

This conversation wasn’t going to be easy.

Haley pulled off the faded fatigue-patterned ball cap, twisting it in her hands as she approached the front counter of the gun club. Thick arms crossed over his barrel chest, her boss chatted with Frank, a club regular.

“Wes, I need to talk to you—”

The man wrapped up his conversation with a gravelly laugh before clapping the guy on his back and focusing on her. “There a problem, Hal?”

A glass display case separated them, filled with two shelves of handguns—ranging from .32 caliber to 9mm—that members could rent for use on the range or purchase. “I need to talk to you about taking maternity leave.”

“Now?” Wes stopped prepping to count up the day’s take. “I thought the baby wasn’t due for a few more months.”

“Not until April.” She scuffed the faded patch of carpet with the toe of her brown cowboy boot. “But I need to get off the range.”

“What’s bothering you?” Wes dumped his unlit cigar in a spotless ceramic ashtray.

Haley twisted one of the strands of hair that had slipped free from her ponytail. “One of the women in the gun safety class asked if it was safe for a pregnant woman to be on the range.”

“Is that all?” He dismissed her concern with a wave of his beefy hand. “Of course it’s safe. We have the best ventilation system in town.”

“But what about the noise? I hadn’t even thought about that.” Repositioning the hat on her head, she rubbed the palms of her hands along the front of her sweatpants. “I wear stuff to protect my eyes and ears—but it’s not like I can soundproof my belly. I haven’t read a lot of the information online, but I do know unborn babies hear sounds.”

“So what are you telling me? You want to quit because your baby might be bothered by the noise?”

“I didn’t say quit. But maybe ... a leave of absence? Just to be safe?”

“You know I’m short-staffed as it is, Hal. Who am I going to get to teach your classes?”

“How about I make a few phone calls? Maybe someone at the Olympic Training Center might know of a competitive shooter looking for part-time work. And maybe I can do some shifts behind the counter. Let’s both sleep on it and talk tomorrow or the next day, okay?”

A few moments later, Haley stuffed her gear bag into the backseat of her Subaru Forester, standing to stretch the ever present ache in her lower back. One more decision to make—and no one to talk it over with. She couldn’t even ask someone to help her remember to make the phone calls—except for the virtual assistant on her iPhone.

Why couldn’t that woman in her class mind her own business? Most people didn’t even notice she was pregnant, especially when she wore one of Sam’s baggy chamois shirts.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Twitter: @bethvogt

Author Facebook page – where I keep readers updated on contests and new releases

Website – and my blog about quotes, In Others’ Words

Pinterest

Thank you, Beth, for sharing this new book with me and my readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Somebody Like You - Christianbook.com
Somebody Like You: A Novel - Amazon
Somebody Like You: A Novel - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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 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

CATCH A FALLING STAR - Beth K Vogt - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus Much More

Meet Beth: Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice), though she said she'd never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four, though she said she'd never have kids. She's discovered that God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." Her contemporary romance novel, "Wish You Were Here", debuted in May 2012 (Howard Books), and "Catch a Falling Star" releases May 2013. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. 

About Catch a Falling Star: 

What does a girl do when life doesn't go according to her plan? 

At 36, Kendall Haynes has seen some of her dreams come true. She's a family physician helping kids with severe allergies and asthma achieve more fulfilling lives-a childhood struggle she knows all too well. But the feeling of being "the kid never picked" looms large when romance continues to evade her and yet another one of her closest friends gets engaged. Are Kendall's dreams of having it all-a career, a husband, children-nothing more than childish wishing upon a star? Should she hold out for her elusive Plan A? Dust off Plan B? Or is it time to settle? God says he knows the plans he has for her-why can't Kendall figure them out and be content with her life?

Griffin Walker prefers flying solo-both as an Air Force pilot and in his personal life. But a wrong choice and health problems pulled him out of the cockpit. His attempts to get out of "flying a desk" are complicated by his parents' death-making Griffin the reluctant guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother, Ian. How did his life get so off course? Can God get his life back on track ... or has there been a divine plan all along?

Catch a Falling Star reminds readers that romance isn't just for twenty-somethings and that sometimes letting go of your "wish I may, wish I might" dreams is the only way to embrace everything God has waiting for you.

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

I posted this answer on my Author Facebook page a few weeks ago when the reason I write crystallized for me: I write books because ... life is messy. And I write stories about that. About how we make a mess of our lives ... or someone else messes up our lives ... and there is hope ... there is redemption ... It's the whole reality of "But God ... "

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

The day I married my husband, Rob – because that was the beginning of so many other wonderful things in my life: adventures as a military wife, motherhood, even the difficult times we’ve faced – God’s used all of these things to make me the woman I am today, revealing both my strengths and my weaknesses.

How has being published changed your life?

Being published strengthened my relationship with God. I’ve learned that, in God’s economy, being published isn’t about how many books I sell or if I win an award or not. He’s using everything in this journey along the writing road to conform me to His image – to make me look less like me and more like Him. That means he’s had to scrape off whatever attitudes mar his image: doubt, jealousy, fear, pride. And yes, all of those emotions have shown up this past year.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading and re-reading a manuscript that is due to my publisher in early May – and trying to ignore some wonderful books that have arrived by Joanne Bischof and Jody Hedlund and Susan May Warren and Cynthia Ruchti.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a novel called Take Another Look, which is a contemporary romance set in Colorado that involves twin brothers.

I can’t wait to read that one, too. My most recent series is about identical triplet sisters. What would be your dream vacation?

I’ve been to Venice back when my husband was in the air force and when our children were young. I would love to go back with my husband and enjoy a romantic moonlit ride in a gondola.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I’m having fun exploring all the different corners of Colorado—I haven’t begun to exhaust the possibilities. But every time I travel some place I think, “Hhhhhm. What kind of story could I write about this location?”

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

I can’t tell you how many times I read and re-read this question. At first I thought about saying Elisabeth Elliot because I respect her so much as a writer and a woman of faith. And then I decided my answer would be my husband’s Aunt Jean. She’s my “mom in the Lord” – a true woman of faith and a prayer warrior for many, many years. Our relationship has been mostly long-distance and having an evening to sit and talk with her, uninterrupted, would be delightful. She has the treasured ability of truly listening when someone talks and her words of wisdom are laced with compassion.

When I wrote curriculum for a Christian company, I wrote a script for a video about Elizabeth Elliott. I became very interested in her life and the life of her husband. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I’m craft-challenged, so I don’t do anything like knitting or crocheting – and I gave away my sewing machine years ago. I love to go walking and/or hiking in Colorado. I’ve also learned to shoot at a local gun range, but I really need more practice. I like to exercise and a relaxing evening at home watching classic movies – think Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn or some of the musicals like Singing in the Rain or On the Town – is my idea of the perfect Friday night. My family loves game nights too: Bohnanza and Scotland Yard and Quelf are favorites.

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

I trip myself up more than anything else – doubting myself, focusing too much on “I can’t” rather than trusting the talent God has given me, the support system He’s given me, and believing that I can. The English writer Samuel Johnson had a great quote: “Knock the ‘t’ of the can’t.”

Thanks for the quote. I’m facing a daunting project myself right now. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

You’re going to need a lot of patience along the writing road. There’s a lot of waiting – both before you’re published and after you sign a contract. Don’t waste the waiting. Learn the craft. Hang out with other writers. Keep writing.

Tell us about the featured book.

Catch a Falling Star was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend who was in her mid-forties who has a very full, satisfying life: a wonderful career, lots of friends, hobbies – and yet, Mr. Right hasn’t shown up yet. There are lots of women in their 30s and 40s who face the same reality: Life is good in so many ways but … And everyone deals with the question: What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? While the book is a romance, that’s the question all the characters in Catch a Falling Star have to answer.

Sounds wonderful. Please give us the first page of the book.

What exactly was she celebrating?

The question haunted Kendall all day long. It was her birthday—she ought to be able to answer it.

She pulled into a parking space outside her favorite Mexican restaurant. Shifting into neutral, Kendall turned off the Jeep and deposited her keys into her purse, exchanging them for a tattered makeup bag and her ever-handy GorillaTorch.

Just once, she’d like to put her makeup on in front of the bathroom mirror like a normal person.

Attaching the twistable hands-free flashlight to her steering wheel so her face was illuminated in her rearview mirror, Kendall twisted her body to the left so she could trace a hint of brown eyeliner. Sheesh. Most women used a makeup mirror. Tossing the pencil into the bag lying open on the passenger seat of her Jeep, Kendall sorted through the containers of eye shadow and lip gloss, looking for her mascara. A quick peek at her phone lying on her dash told her that she had five minutes before she was officially late to her birthday dinner. Yep. Enough time for mascara and a little blush. She assessed her short brown hair—all it required was a quick comb-through with her fingers.

Her closest friends waited inside On the Border, eager to celebrate. Nineteen hours into her birthday and she wanted to label it RETURN TO SENDER. Kendall couldn’t help comparing today with her thirteenth birthday, when her mom decided to deluge her with pink frilly clothes. Pink. She looked like an overdose of cotton candy on a too-short stick. She returned all her gifts—except for the oversized stuffed pink bear her then three-year-old-sister Bekah refused to release—and pocketed the cash.

Kendall swept blush across her cheeks. It wasn’t that she didn’t have a satisfying life—an exciting life, even. It’s just that at thirty-six years old, she’d hoped for . . . more.

The buzz of her phone mocked her attempts to be on time. Why did she think she’d ever be in control of her time and be the first to arrive? She abandoned that ideal the day she entered medical school. Besides, all the other partygoers tonight were physicians like her. They’d understand when Kendall walked in late. Half made up. As usual.

She switched from blush to mascara as she turned her phone to speaker. “Dr. Haynes.”

“Kendall, it’s Mom.”

Kendall’s eyes closed as she mentally and physically sat straighter, as if her mother could see her. “Hey, Mom. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Are you having a good birthday?”

“Just finished clinic. Going to dinner with friends.”

“Oh, how nice. I’m so glad you’ve found some friends there in Colorado.”

The book came the other day. I can’t wait to read it. I’m sure my readers feel the same way. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt?ref=hl

Twitter: @bethvogt

Website and blog (In Others’ Words): http://www.bethvogt.com

Celebrate the release of Catch a Falling Star (Howard Books) with Beth K. Vogt by entering to win a Romantic Weekend Getaway and RSVPing for her June 4th Author Chat Party.

  One "lucky" winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Perfect for a weekend stay at a hotel or B&B!)
• Catch a Falling Star and Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon-worthy!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Catch a Falling Star" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 4th. Connect with Beth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Beth will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Catch a Falling Star and join Beth on the evening of June 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Thank you, Beth, for sharing your book and the party with us.

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

Catch a Falling Star: A Novel - paperback
Catch a Falling Star: 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 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

WISH YOU WERE HERE - Beth K Vogt - Free Book

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

I tend to weave some of my life experiences throughout my novels. It might be a specific struggle that I faced, such as overcoming fear, which is something Allison, the heroine of Wish You Were Here, deals with. Or it might be an actual event I lived through. In Wish You Were Here, the hero, Daniel, has an accident while he’s hiking and is injured – the same thing happened to my husband.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My husband and I once attended a murder-mystery dinner. My character was a “Goth” editor—yes, still couldn’t get away from my editor title. I went all out: black wig with red highlights, long black skirt paired with a black lace top, boots with 4-inch heels, lace gloves, red nails (I like red nail polish), black lipstick, pale foundation on my face. My youngest daughter asked me, “Please do not come in and kiss me good night when you come home later tonight.”

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I knew by 8^th grade I loved to write. I never groaned when the teacher said, “I want you to write about …” I was one of those kids who went to the library and came out with a stack of books taller than herself. I plowed through all those books and then would write my own stories to keep from being bored until it was time to go back to the library.

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

Other than horror novels, I’ll read just about anything—and I did try a Stephen King short story one time. Just thinking about it now scares me. Some of my favorite novelists are: L. M. Montgomery and Georgette Heyer to Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, Donita K. Paul, and Siri Mitchell. My bookshelves also have a wide range of nonfiction—everything from favorite authors like Max Lucado, Kevin Leman, Howard Hendricks, Kay Arthur, and Gary Smalley to writing books and parenting books. I love loaning books out.

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

My husband, Rob, keeps me sane. He reminds me that I have to say “no.” My family and friends keep me sane because they are the ones I laugh and cry with. My faith keeps me sane—particular verses like “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3)  Deadlines have been crazy the past few months. One friend told me, “God is bigger than all this stuff.” She’s right.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Oh, I have fun with characters’ names. I like to use my friends’ names—but never for a villain. I also like to look up the meaning of names and choose a name that way.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I have always said that if people look at me and say, “She loves her husband and her children,” I am content. I am most proud of my family. I am amazed and thankful that they are my “home.”

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Oh, this is easy!

An otter. I love otters. They seem so happy and carefree and … fun! Do otters ever have a deadline? If they do, I don’t think it fazes them. How stressed can you be if you fall asleep floating in the water?

We visited my aunt who lives on the Monterrey Peninsula. I loved watching the otters. What is your favorite food?

Crème brulee—that’s my all-time favorite dessert.

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

Storyworld. I crossed over to fiction from writing nonfiction. I was a journalist and I knew how to write tight. So for me, storyworld was something like “four walls, a floor, and a ceiling.” Done. I learned quickly that is not adequate storyworld. (Thank you, Susie May Warren.) How am I overcoming this? I’m trying to “up my game” with each novel I write, focusing on one or two particular aspects of the writing craft. (This is yet something else I learned from Susie May Warren.) For my second novel, one thing I’m slowing down and zeroing in on is storyworld.

Tell us about the featured book.

Wish You Were Here is a contemporary romance that asks the question: Can the wrong kiss lead to Mr. Right? It tells the story of a woman who kisses her fiancé’s brother five days before her wedding. The question is, which is the mistake? The wedding? Or the kiss? On a deeper level, Wish You Were Here explores the question: Can God redeem our mistakes and bring something good out of them?

Please give us the first page of the book.

She never should have said yes.

Allison smoothed the bodice of the wedding gown, the fitted lace sleeves clinging to her arms. Waves of material billowed out from her waist, threatening to overwhelm her like a silken tsunami.

The style was all wrong.

She’d known it months ago—the moment the saleswoman released the dress from its protective plastic covering. Allison doubted all those layers of ivory lace and silk, bows and beads would ever fit back into such a small bag.

Securing the myriad of tiny pearl buttons marching down the back took precedence over her request for something simpler. She’d been instructed to stand on a round carpeted platform in front of a wall of angled mirrors. Encouraged to turn this way and that for the assembled critics—her best friend, Meghan; her mom; her younger sister, Hadleigh; and Seth’s mom. Her future mother-in-law’s breathless “Perfect” sealed Allison’s fate.

While her mother paid a price as outlandish as the dress, the bridal shop attendant stressed the “no returns/no refunds” policy. And now . . . well, Allison couldn’t do anything about her decision five days before the wedding.

I loved the runaway bride movie, so I’ve been looking forward to your book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.bethvogt.com .

You’ll find my blog, In Others’ Words, on the front page of my website. I’m a quote aficionado and my posts highlight different quotes and the fun and insightful conversations spurred by them.  For me, blogging is all about getting a conversation started.


Win an iPad2 from @BethVogt! Celebrate with Beth by entering her Wish You Were Here Giveaway!

One "happy" winner will receive:

• A brand new iPad with Wi-Fi (The must-have, do-everything gadget!)
• Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon worthy.)
• $15 iTunes Gift Card (Music, books, apps, & more.)

Hurry, the giveaway ends on 6/4/12. The winner will be announced 6/6/12 on Beth's website!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Beth's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

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

Wish You Were Here: A Novel - paperback
Wish You Were Here - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog, separate from Beth's giveaway. 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