THE PROMISE - Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley - One Free Book

Bio: Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of 9 novels, published by Revell and Guideposts. He’s won 2 Selah Awards, 3 Carol Awards, and twice his books have been finalists for RT Book’s Inspirational Book of the Year. Now he’s writing a 4-book fiction series with Gary Smalley. Book 2, The Promise, released on Sept 1st. Dan served as a pastor for 25 years and now writes fulltime. He and his wife Cindi have been married 36 years and live in Port Orange, FL. 

Welcome, Dan. It was wonderful to see you at the ACFW Conference this past weekend. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Since we’re talking about Book 2 of a series, the first person I should mention is Gary Smalley, who contributed the source material I used (along with Dr. John Trent) when writing The Promise. They wrote an amazing book called The Blessing, which sold two million copies. Gary also gave many helpful suggestions along the way. Next, would be my wife Cindi. She reads every chapter after I write it and gives me great advice, especially ensuring the parts involving women ring true. And finally, my editor for all my books with Revell, Andrea Doering. She has final say on everything before the book goes to press.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I do speak and teach occasionally. I think I would enjoy doing even more. The only two things confirmed on the calendar right now are the Florida Christian Writers Conference in April, and the Oregon Christian Writers Conference next August. I’ll be teaching fiction workshops there and sharing the keynote messages with Allan Arnold.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

Maybe Charleston, SC, as long as Cindi would be there with me. It’s simply our favorite town in the country. We’ve visited Charleston more times than I can count. But I’d have to have a lot more money in this fantasy, because we’d have to live in the historic district to be happy there.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

I know the idea being self-published has become a far more favorable thing than in years past, and a few authors have even become huge bestsellers taking this route. But don’t be fooled into thinking you can take shortcuts with the quality of your writing or your storytelling skills. You should hone your craft until you write well enough to be picked up by a traditional publisher, even if you take the self-publishing path.

That is excellent advice. You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

I guess I’d ask Michael Buble and his band to do the music, because it’s fun to listen to and husbands and wives could dance to it, too. I’d try to sign up a couple of really funny and clean comedians, because I love to laugh. And I’d hire Gary Sinise to put together some kind of play, because he is one of my favorite actors. 

I would recommend Michael Junior as one of the comedians. He’s a Christian and very funny. He’s also nationally known. Tell us about the featured book.

It’s called, The Promise. I wanted to call it, The Broken Portrait. If you read it, I think you’ll agree that’s a much better title for the book. It’s getting great reviews, thankfully, so I guess that doesn’t really matter. My friend and author, Martha Rogers, just emailed me her review of the book today. She does a great job of summarizing the story.

“In The Promise, Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley give us the continuing story of the Anderson family. The main plot revolves around the son, Tom and his wife Jean, who are having much the same problems as Jim and Marilyn in The Dance. Where the first book began with how the problems were resolved, this book dives deeper into the pain that is produced by deceit and non-communication in a marriage. The reader also gets to see how Jim and Marilyn Anderson from the first book are carrying out what they’ve learned, and I loved seeing Italy through their eyes. Jim realizes what his previous behavior has produced in his son, and sets about to remedy it. The story wraps up in a beautiful way I won’t divulge. These are characters with whom the reader can relate.  In fact, I became so involved with their lives I wanted to give them some advice of my own.”

Please give us the first page of the book.

Tom Anderson would point to the events of this day as the time his master plan began to unravel. Like many of his flawed schemes, this one, too, seemed like a good idea at the time. Tom wasn’t quite twenty-seven years old but felt as if he’d already made enough bad decisions to last a lifetime. He was glad his folks were on their second honeymoon in Italy; he didn’t want his father to ever here about the mess he’d made of things.

It all started to fall apart when the glass door of the Coffee Shoppe flew open and a young man in a black hoodie came in.

Tom was sitting pretty close to the front doors. He always did; it was his table. It had an outlet nearby for his laptop. Normally, he didn’t pay attention to people coming through the door, but he couldn’t help but notice this guy. The hoodie caught his eye. It was the end of April in central Florida, already hot enough to make you wonder if they’d be skipping spring this year and jumping right into summer.

Everyone else in the café wore short sleeves, including Tom. Most wore sandals and flip-flops too. He glanced over his shoulder at the kid, now standing in line. An elderly man was at the counter in front of him, placing his order. The kid’s head swiveled on his shoulders, his eyes scanning the room. Taking in the customers first, then the exit, then the cashier. Back to the exit, then another look at the customers. On this second pass, he looked right at Tom for a moment.

Tom knew then something bad was about to happen. 

Okay, I’m so glad that book has arrived at my house. I must know what happens next. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

The best way is probably from my website: http://danwalshbooks.com . On my homepage buttons you can click to link up with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I also blog weekly with two of my good writing friends, Jim Rubart, and Harry Kraus at http://3menwalkintoablog.com.

Oh, I love reading all three of the male authors. Thank you, Dan, for again gracing my blog.

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

The Promise - Christianbook.com
Promise, The: A Novel (The Restoration Series) - Amazon.com
Promise, The (The Restoration Series 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.

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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE DANCE - Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley - One Free Book

Readers, I was very excited for my friend Dan Walsh when he was invited by Gary Smalley to co-write a series of novels with him. Today, we're talking to Dan, who is one of my favorite male Christian fiction writers.

Welcome back, Dan. I know that this is a collaboration. How did this story come about?

The inspiration for The Dance came as I read a major best-selling book Gary had written in 2007 with his sons, Greg and Michael. It’s called The DNA of Relationships. We decided to draw the theme for the first book in our Restoration series from this DNA book. I hadn’t read it before but, to me, it is one of the best books on relationships I’ve ever read. While reading it, the whole story for The Dance came into view. They use the idea of couples dancing as a wonderful metaphor to illustrate some of the key relational truths in the book.

Did you find it easy to work together on it?

At first, the idea of working with Gary Smalley was intimidating. He’s kind of a living legend, with over six million books in print and eight million DVDs on marriage and relationships in circulation, not to mention he’s been interviewed by every national TV and radio talk show in the country. Then there’s the fact that Gary’s first book, If Only He Knew, literally saved my marriage thirty years ago. But right off the bat, Gary set me at ease. We spent several days together at his home in Branson, Missouri, discussing the project. We laughed constantly, and I can honestly say working with him has been a joy ever since.

How did collaborating with Gary impact you?

I’ve learned a lot from Gary. You’d have to be very dull not to; he’s a very wise man. Plus he’s also extremely gracious, humble, and generous with his encouragement. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover he really practices what he preaches behind the scenes. He has a great relationship with his wife, adult children and their spouses, and his grandchildren. He works hard at this, and it shows. Being around him provokes me to want to do better in my own relationships.

What is the hardest thing about writing as a team?

Probably just not having him down the hall as I write. Gary insisted I write the book. He said he loves my books and didn’t want to change a thing. So I sent him two chapters at a time by email attachment, and he’d send me back his thoughts and ideas written in red. He always got back to me the same day. Then I’d make changes and keep writing. We’ve got quite a rhythm now, having already finished the second book, The Promise. I’ve just begun to write Book 3 and I’m really looking forward to it.

I hope you’ll let me feature the next books on the blog, too. What are you reading right now?

I’m doing quite a bit of research for Book 3 of the Restoration series. I’m also reading Sarah Sundin’s upcoming novel, On Distant Shores, which I will easily endorse. For fun I’m reading Michael Reynold’s first novel, an historical about the Irish immigrating to America, called Flight of the Earls. Really enjoying it.

How did you choose your characters’ names?

I don’t have a process that people could easily replicate. More of a trial and error approach. I often begin with one set of names and change them several times in the first fifty pages, as I get to know the characters more. 

Would you want to work on another book together?

Definitely. We have to finish Books 3 and 4, and there is an option to continue the series after that. We’ve enjoyed working together so much, we’ve begun to discuss collaborating on a new nonfiction series.

That sounds like an awesome opportunity, Dan. What a blessing! What do you want to tell us about the book?

The excellent review we got from Publishers Weekly summarizes the book quite well: “Marilyn Anderson, after 27 years of marriage, leaves her husband. ‘I’ve dropped hint after hint, clue after clue,’ she says in her note. Jim, a successful businessman, is clueless, but, once over his anger, he begins soul-searching with help from his children and retired dance instructor Audrey Windsor. Marilyn, meanwhile, finds a job and a roommate and begins dance lessons. Throw in a well-meaning uncle, their daughter Michele’s wedding, their sons’ questions, a demanding church deacon, a dashing dance instructor, and a hurricane, and readers will definitely come away satisfied and shedding tears at the end. Mixing fiction’s emotion and nonfiction’s teaching works splendidly here.”

Please give us the first page of the book.

Marilyn Anderson drove her car into the charming downtown section of River Oaks, Florida, holding her cell phone three inches out from her face. She hated talking on the phone with Jim when he was upset. She’d been dreading this day for months. And this call. Things like this should be said in person; she knew that. But she also knew that would never happen. She’d never muster up the nerve.

Sitting there at a stoplight, she looked at the phone. Jim was inside it. Him and his angry little voice.

“Please, Marilyn,” Jim said. “I’m just getting back from a horrible lunch. Another tenant is canceling their lease. You have no idea the pressure I’m under right now. Can’t this wait till later?”

Marilyn sighed. She wanted to yell back her reply but didn’t dare. “No, it can’t wait,” she said.

“Well, it’s going to have to. We’ll talk about this when I get home. Love you, bye.” He hung up.

Love you, bye? Did he really just say that?

The light turned green. Marilyn gently applied pressure to the gas pedal. I have to do this. There’s no other way. Tears flowed down her face, but she refused to turn the car around. To silence the guilt that had been hammering her all day, she blurted out, “God, I know you understand me. Even if no one else does, I know you do.”

I’m glad this book is on my table right now. I will start reading it later today. Where can our readers find you on the Internet?

My website is the easiest place. My blog is there, as well as buttons for connecting with me on places like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest. It’s http://danwalshbooks.com

Gary’s website is done with his son, Greg, who’s also an amazing author and marriage counselor. It’s simply: smalley.cc

Thank you, Dan, for sharing this book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Dance, The: A Novel (The Restoration Series) - paperback
Dance, The (The Restoration Series Book #1): 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