THE METROPOLITAN AFFAIR - Jocelyn Green - One Free Book

Bio: Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King, A Refuge Assured, and THE WINDY CITY SAGA. Jocelyn lives with her husband and two children in Iowa.

Well-loved for her vivid writing and rigorous historical research, Christy Award–winning author Jocelyn Green plunges into the depths of one of New York City’s most esteemed museums, where a young woman discovers secrets, betrayal, and romance in this exhilarating series starter. Appealing to fans of Katherine Reay, Sarah Sundin, and Fiona Davis, Green sweeps readers into a tantalizing historical tale in her latest novel, The Metropolitan Affair.

About the Story: For years her estranged father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she’d accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions, giving her hope for the sense of belonging she’s always craved. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations. The first is her repentant father’s offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a fascinating new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the glittering world of New York’s wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York’s high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him identify fake relics and track down the con artist. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger’s identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, The Metropolitan Affair. For years her estranged father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she’d accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions, giving her hope for the sense of belonging she’s always craved. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations. The first is her repentant father’s offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a fascinating new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the glittering world of New York’s wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York’s high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him identify fake relics and track down the con artist. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger’s identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

Welcome to my blog, Jocelyn. This novel follows an assistant curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a detective. Can you tell us a bit about these two characters? Lauren and Joe first met at the Met museum when she was twelve years old and he fourteen. They have different class backgrounds but became fast friends until college took Lauren away. The novel begins more than a decade later, when they reconnect while hunting a forger of Egyptian art together. Dr. Lauren Westlake wants nothing more than peace—and approval from her estranged father. Detective Joe Caravello, recently betrayed by a corrupt cop on the force, wants nothing more than justice. The closer the two get to finding the truth, the more they realize they can’t have both peace and justice at once.

What inspired you to write a series set in New York during the 1920s? I was inspired by the first professionally trained female Egyptologist in America. The brilliant and humble Caroline Ransom Williams served as assistant curator in the Met’s Egyptian department in the early years. I set my novel a little later than Caroline’s time so I could also take advantage of the Egyptomania sweeping the world after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. From there, it was easy to imagine a series where the protagonists all work at revered institutions on Central Park. The second book will focus on the American Museum of Natural History, and the third will be based on work for the New-York Historical Society.

Of all the things you learned about the Metropolitan Museum of Art while writing this book, what most surprised you? The Met really has a fascinating history, full of many surprises. I especially enjoyed learning how the early pieces were acquired for the museum, and the drama and scandal surrounding either particular acquisitions or the funding for them.

What was the highlight of writing The Metropolitan Affair? My trip to Manhattan was most certainly the highlight of writing the novel. There is no substitute for being where I placed my characters, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Grand Central to The Plaza’s Palm Court and Central Park.

What challenges did you experience while writing this story? The book isn’t classified as a mystery, but there are definitely mystery elements to it, and sorting all of that out in my head, let alone on paper, was a challenge.

How is this series different from others you have written? This series is a change of pace from most of my previous novels in that there is no war or natural or manmade disaster to contend with. The only other novel I’ve written without either of those was Shadows of the White City. In that sense, The Metropolitan Affair enjoys room to delve more deeply into character development while interacting with the vibrant historical context of Prohibition Manhattan.

What lessons do you hope readers gain from reading The Metropolitan Affair? I hope readers pick up on many parallels to spiritual life that are tucked into this novel. One obvious theme is being able to identify something that’s counterfeit by studying the pure and genuine instead. But even more significant than any forgery analogy is the exploration of family relationships, our roles in those, and where the boundaries are.

How can readers connect with you? My website is www.jocelyngreen.com , and you’ll see on the home page a place to subscribe to my monthly newsletter. Otherwise, find me on Facebook (@jocelyngreenauthor), Instagram (@Author_Jocelyn_Green), and you can always find me on Goodreads.

Thank you, Jocelyn for sharing this book with my readers.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+metropolitan+affair+jocelyn+green&i=stripbooks&crid=WOJK8EK1QFZ7&sprefix=The+Metropolitan+Affair%2Cstripbooks%2C125&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_23

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 2 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 

MARK OF THE KING - Jocelyn Green - One Free Book, Plus More

BIO: Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including Wedded to War, a Christy Award finalist in 2013, and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Jocelyn lives with her husband and two children in Iowa.

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

I was only four years old but I remember it clearly. It was a simple, ordinary day. My mom was sorting laundry and my seven-year-old brother and I were hanging around, chatting as she did so. I made some comment about how I knew so many Bible stories, I thought I must know it all. Perfect segue for my mom to tell me it was more important to know God, than to know about Him. She and my brother tag-teamed in explaining that I needed to invite Jesus to be my Savior, and that knowing every story was not enough for me to have a relationship with Christ. It was my brother who led me in prayer as I received Christ as my Savior that day. As it happens, I was his first “convert”—he went on to become a missionary for many years, and is now a pastor. J

What a beautiful experience! You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
What a tough question! I know so many, but I’ll go with: Laura Frantz, Lori Benton, J.M. Hochstetler, and Jody Hedlund, because they have all written stories set in the same century as the one I’m working on right now (eighteenth-century) and it would be so nice to just ask one of them some random detail question about clothing or culture or food or etymology, rather than poring over stacks of research books to find the needle in the haystack answer.

Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I do speak to a variety of audiences, because I’ve written both nonfiction and fiction. I speak to military audiences, writers or aspiring writers, libraries, church or civic groups, women’s groups, and book clubs. For a list of popular topics, visit http://www.jocelyngreen.com/speaking.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
One of the very few times I worked out in the fitness center at college, I quickly became bored while speed-walking on the treadmill. It faced the stair-steppers, and looking straight ahead at them seemed awkward to me. So I closed my eyes to imagine I was actually walking through a beautiful forest. In short order, I stepped halfway off the treadmill, and totally wiped out, but in a sort of slow motion. I wasn’t even running. I was just walking, and I fell off, with all the stair-steppers watching. Everyone asked if I was OK, and I assured them I was. Then with beet red face I climbed back on and kept on walking. This time I kept my eyes open. I was laughing pretty hard because my roommate was three treadmills down from me, and she was laughing hysterically. It didn’t look like we had come together, it just looked like she was really mean. I got such a kick out of that.

People are always telling me that 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?
If they are just telling me they’d like to write a book someday, I just say something like, “That’s great! Good for you.” But if they ask me for advice, I usually tell them to read voraciously, study the craft, and attend as many quality writers’ conferences as they can. If they seem like they want more advice, I tell them to visit my Web site and click the tab “On Writing” at the top of the page where I give my best advice for aspiring writers.

Tell us about the featured book.

After the death of her client, midwife Julianne Chevalier is imprisoned and branded, marking her as a criminal beyond redemption. Hoping to reunite with her brother, a soldier, she trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling French colony of Louisiana. The price of her transport, however, is a forced marriage to a fellow convict.

New Orleans is nothing like Julianne expects. The settlement is steeped in mud and mosquitoes, and there is no news of her brother, Benjamin. When tragedy strikes, she turns to military officer Marc-Paul Girard for help, but does he know more about her brother than he will admit?

With her dreams shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous land, where only grace--and love--can overcome the stigma of the king's mark upon her shoulder.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Paris, France

May 1719

“You shouldn’t be here.” With gentle authority, Julianne Chevalier ushered a man twice her age to the doorway of his young wife’s lying-in chamber.

“You have what you need?” Toulouse Mercier looked over Julianne’s head, toward Marguerite. “My first wife died in childbirth. I cannot lose Marguerite too. Or the baby.” He gripped Julianne’s arm, pulling her close enough to smell the pomade on his wig and to see the powder dusting the shoulders of his black robe. “Marguerite lost the last baby. The last midwife did not bleed Marguerite, and so we lost the baby before it was fully formed. Please.”

Gritting her teeth, Julianne peeled Toulouse’s fingers from her arm and gave them a reassuring squeeze before releasing them. “Oui, monsieur, we have bled her monthly as required, and today of all days will be no different. Now, am I to attend any further questions, or shall I attend your wife instead?”

His watery blue eyes snapped as if woken from a trance. “I am away. If you require the surgeon, I’ll fetch him posthaste.”

“I’ll notify you at once should such a measure become necessary.” With a firm nod, Julianne watched Toulouse bow out of the room and closed the door. As she unpinned her lace cap from the curls that crowned her head, she swept to Marguerite’s bed, where Adelaide Le Brun already stood watch. Julianne had completed her three-year apprenticeship under Adelaide months ago, but Toulouse insisted on having the seasoned midwife present for the birth.

“You will help me?” Marguerite’s voice quaked as she reached for Julianne’s hand.

“With all that I am.” Julianne smiled as she unpacked her supplies and tied her birthing apron over her skirt, pinning the bib to her bodice.

“I’m so afraid.” Marguerite’s lips trembled. At sixteen years, she was nine years Julianne’s junior, and dangerously slight of frame.

“We have taken every precaution.” Her fingernails trimmed short, round, and smooth, Julianne gently probed Marguerite’s belly through the thin sheet covering her. “Today will be no different.” Throughout the pregnancy, Julianne had gathered this sparrow of a girl under her wing, providing linseed oils to help her skin’s elasticity, wraps to support the weight of the child, and advice on what to expect.

Adelaide stood by Marguerite’s head, speaking encouragement to her in low, practiced tones. With greased fingers, Julianne reached under the linen, and with her eyes still on Marguerite’s face, skirted the neck of the womb. It was still small and unwilling.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Web site: www.JocelynGreen.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jocelyngreen77
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jocelyngreen77
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/JocelynGreen 

Love HistoricalFiction? Enter to win one of FIVE copies of Jocelyn Green's new book! http://bit.ly/2ixOA8U

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

The Mark of the King - Christianbook.com
The Mark of the King - Amazon
The Mark of the King - 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

SPY OF RICHMOND - Jocelyn Green - One Free Book

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

Yes, He has. Spy of Richmond is my tenth book and the end of my Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series. Right now I’m exploring a few different directions for where I want to invest my writing energies next. I foresee both nonfiction and more historical fiction in my future, Lord willing!

Tell us a little about your family.
My husband Rob is the most supportive husband this homeschooling writer mama could ever ask for. He’s also a graphic designer, and has created the maps in my novels! Rob is the Web developer for the University of Northern Iowa library and is also in grad school for a master’s in Instructional Technology. Our 8-year-old daughter loves to read, ride her bike, write stories, and play violin. Our 6-year-old son loves anything with wheels on it, and is more athletic than my husband and I combined. We have one pet, a cat named Oreo who the children find absolutely irresistible.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I’m a much more thoughtful reader than I was before I wrote fiction. I keep a notebook and pen with me when I read so when I notice a striking passage, I’ll jot it down in my notebook or just scribble a note to myself about the author’s technique. I have much more appreciation for authors and books now that I know how challenging it is to do it well! I also read a wider variety of genres and authors now as I look for new and different ways to tell stories.

What are you working on right now?
I’m in the final stages of my current interlibrary loan spree for a new series I’m researching. In a few weeks, I’ll be ready to make travel plans to visit the location and really dive into some archives and get a sense of setting. I never feel like I’m ready to write until I’ve spent time “on-site.”

What outside interests do you have?
Between writing, reading, and homeschooling, I don’t have much time leftover. But if I did, I’d spend more time gardening, knitting, baking, and scrapbooking.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
With my Civil War series, I chose the roles women played during the war first, and the settings fell into place. Wedded to War was about the first band of trained professional nurses, which took place in New York City and Washington. I wanted to also show how civilian women were affected by battles close to home, so Gettysburg was a great setting for book 2. Yankee in Atlanta combines two different roles—that of the female soldier, and the secret Unionist in Atlanta. I chose Richmond for the setting of Spy of Richmond because Elizabeth Van Lew, the most famous female spy for the Union, lived there on Church Hill. My heroine, Sophie Kent, works in Van Lew’s spy network.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Nellie Bly. Born in 1864, she grew up to be a ground-breaking reporter, which was remarkable for a young women in those days. She launched a new kind of investigative journalism and wrote an exposé on the conditions inside an insane asylum, among other stories. She also traveled around the world without a chaperone in a record-breaking 72 days. I was trained as a journalist, so Nellie’s story fascinates me.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
Honestly, I wish I would have had a little more confidence in myself early on. When I switched from nonfiction to fiction, I had a lot of self-doubt, and it’s really difficult to be creative when you feel lousy about yourself. Ironically, my first novel, Wedded to War, was a Christy Award finalist in two categories. I could have saved myself a lot of hand-wringing if I had just been able to turn off those negative voices in my head.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
He’s teaching me to wait upon His timing. It’s so easy to rush around and behave as though my success is defined by my productivity. But that’s not the case. My success is determined by how closely I follow God’s will for my life. That could mean I write ten books and I’m done, or it could mean I have many more to write than that. Trusting God’s timing releases me from comparing myself to others. I need only seek His will, rather than try to match someone else’s success.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Read, read, read. Work on your craft even when you’re not in the mood. Find creative ways to market—and one way to do this is by joining associations that foster cooperative efforts.

Tell us about the featured book.
Richmond, Virginia, 1863. Compelled to atone for the sins of her slaveholding father, Union loyalist Sophie Kent risks everything to help end the war from within the Confederate capital and abolish slavery forever. But she can't do it alone.

Former slave Bella Jamison sacrifices her freedom to come to Richmond, where her Union soldier husband is imprisoned, and her twin sister still lives in bondage in Sophie's home. Though it may cost them their lives, they work with Sophie to betray Rebel authorities. Harrison Caldwell, a Northern freelance journalist who escorts Bella to Richmond, infiltrates the War Department as a clerk-but is conscripted to defend the city's fortifications.

As Sophie's spy network grows, she walks a tightrope of deception, using her father's position as newspaper editor and a suitor's position in the ordnance bureau for the advantage of the Union. One misstep could land her in prison, or worse. Suspicion hounds her until she barely even trusts herself. When her espionage endangers the people she loves, she makes a life-and-death gamble. Will she follow her convictions even though it costs her everything-and everyone-she holds dear?

Please give us the first page of the book.
Outside Savannah, Georgia

Thursday, March 3, 1859

It is madness.

Rain hissing to the earth in torrents behind her, Sophie Kent shivered and craned her neck toward the platform, half expecting lightning to strike the Ten Broeck Race Course any moment. It was the second day of the auction selling more than 420 slaves, and the second day of boiling, weeping storms. Gripping her pencil and papers beneath the folds of her wrap, Sophie trained her eyes and ears to the drama around her.

Humiliation tightened her throat as she watched a woman on the stage made to jump, bend, twist, and turn. Her smooth complexion was the color of tea with milk and honey, a bright contrast to the cocoa and coffee bean shades of the others. Her almond-shaped eyes were cast downward as a man tugged off her shawl and head rag before pinching her arm and pulling her lips apart to display her teeth. Modesty told Sophie to avert her gaze from the indignity, but she resisted. For years, she’d been blind to the horrors of slavery. This time, she would not look away. Neither will I stay silent. Not any longer.

The man spun the woman around and made some remark into her ear; she let him expose her back to the audience. “No scars from the disciplining lash—no trace of rebellion in her spirit,” he said. The woman covered herself once more.

As the bidding began from within the two hundred buyers in attendance, Sophie withdrew her auction catalogue from her wrap, her pencil poised to take notes. Humidity curled the pages, and the list of souls for sale drooped in her gloved hand.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.jocelyngreen.com

www.heroinesbehindthelines.com

www.facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor
www.twitter.com/jocelyngreen77

www.pinterest.com/jocelyngreen77

Thank you, Jocelyn, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Spy of Richmond - Christianbook.com
Spy of Richmond (Heroines Behind the Lines) - Amazon
Spy of Richmond (Heroines Behind the Lines Book 4) - 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

YANKEE IN ATLANTA - Jocelyn Green

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

Oh my, has He ever! Right now I’m finishing up the manuscript for the tenth book in five years, and I’m nearly gasping for breath. This is the first time in several years that I don’t have another deadline looming. I’m looking forward to a bit of a break from writing to spend time with my family and to re-evaluate where I should invest my writing energies in the future. I’ve done six nonfiction and four novels (the fourth is coming March 2015), and I can honestly say I love both genres, but for very different reasons. I’m not ready to give up either one of them.

I want to schedule that book on my blog, too. Tell us a little about your family.
I’m married to the most supportive husband a writer mama could ever ask for. J Rob is the Web developer for the University of Northern Iowa library (starting August 11!) and is also in grad school for a master’s in Instructional Technology. Our 8-year-old daughter loves to read, ride her bike, write stories, and play violin. Our 5-year-old son loves anything with wheels on it and is more athletic than my husband and I combined. I home school the kids, and we are looking forward to a great school year ahead!

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Yes. I read a wider variety of genres and authors now, looking for new and different ways to tell stories. It also broadens my vocabulary! I underline and scribble in the margins of whatever I’m reading, normally in appreciation for a shining passage. If I’m reading on Kindle, I’ll highlight whatever strikes me. I also read more with a view to get a better grasp on human psychology and character motivations. I’m very blessed that reading good books is professional development for my career as a writer.

I love that part of writing as well. What are you working on right now?
Right now I’m writing the final chapter of Spy of Richmond! It’s the fourth and final book in my Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series, and will release in March.

What outside interests do you have?
I enjoy gardening, baking, knitting, and scrapbooking, although I haven’t had much time to do those things these last few years. Maybe after Spy is turned in! But as a home schooling mom, I’m also very invested in my kids’ education. I’m excited to teach a history class to girls this fall through our home school co-op, and I’m also on the board of a new troop of American Heritage Girls we’re starting in our area.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
With my Civil War series, I chose the roles women played during the war first, and the settings fell into place. Wedded to War was about the first band of trained professional nurses, so that took place in New York City and Washington. I wanted to also show how civilian women were affected by battles close to home, so Gettysburg was a great setting for book 2. Yankee in Atlanta combines two different roles—that of the female soldier, and the secret Unionist in Atlanta. I chose Richmond for the setting of Spy of Richmond because the most famous spy for the Union lived there on Church Hill. My heroine, Sophie Kent, works in that spy network.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Abigail Adams. She was such a strong woman, and influenced her husband and thereby the country during an extremely tumultuous time, while mothering her children.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
That it would require far, far more time and energy than any nonfiction book I’ve ever worked on!

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
Yesterday I told someone that I really hate conflict, and I feel awful when I have to do something really mean to my characters. Sometimes I even feel physically ill, and once I cried. “But,” I explained, “the characters would have no need to rely on God if their lives were easy. Or they need the trials to refine their character and strengthen their faith.” After that conversation, I realized how much this sounds like God. He never throws disaster at us just for fun, and I believe He weeps when we weep. But He doesn’t waste the valleys. The pain is for a purpose. He knows the end of our story, and He is faithful to take us through the steps to get us there.

That is so true. I spoke on that at the North Texas Indie Christian Authors meeting this weekend. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Read, read, read. Work on your craft even when you’re not in the mood. Find creative ways to market—and one way to do this is by joining associations that foster cooperative efforts.

Tell us about the featured book.

In Yankee in Atlanta, Caitlin McKae hides from her past to find a future—and lands on enemy soil. When Caitlin wakes up in Atlanta after being wounded in battle, the Georgian doctor who treats her believes Caitlin’s only secret is that she had been fighting for the South disguised as a man. In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta as a governess for the daughter of Noah Becker—on the brink of his enlistment with the Rebel army. Though starvation rules, and Sherman rages, she will not run again. In a land shattered by strife and suffering, a Union veteran and a Rebel soldier test the limits of loyalty and discover the courage to survive.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Saturday, May 31, 1862

The Virginia Peninsula

Not now. Please, not now. Rebel bullets ripped through the sulfurous fog hovering above Caitlin McKae’s head. Her middle cramping violently, she prayed her anguished bowels would not betray her. Not now.

“Don’t let them take my leg, please! I’d rather die on the field!”

“We’re getting you out of here, Marty!” Caitlin fairly shouted as she and the other three stretcher bearers carried the wounded soldier a quarter mile to the rear. Sweat poured from beneath her kepi and itched across her tightly bound torso. River water from the rain-swollen Chickahominy soaked through her brogans, and she faltered more than once in the red clay quagmire.

Head pounding like a fusillade, Cailtin slogged back through the mud to pluck more wounded comrades from the spongy earth. She scrambled after the other stretcher bearers and wondered how long this desperate battle for Richmond had lasted so far. Had an hour passed? Two hours? Three? Suddenly spent, Caitlin doubled over, gripping her knees. Her stomach heaved, though it had no contents to vacate.

But her body wasn’t through. Her insides churning, Caitlin was left with no choice but to break away to the furthest pine tree she could make it to and find relief in relative privacy behind its trunk.

Before she could reach it, a lead ball tore through her arm. The twisting pain in her middle paled as fire blazed through her right bicep. The bullet had ripped completely through.

As she dropped to her knees, Caitlin’s thundering pulse dimmed the sounds of battle. With fumbling fingers, she unbuttoned her jacket with her left hand, wriggled free of it, and wrapped it around her bloody shirtsleeve. I could go back. I can still hold the stretcher with my left hand. But she couldn’t. Strength sapped from her body, her limbs felt as though they’d been filled with lead.

Flat on her back now, Caitlin tried to steady her breathing. The sky is still blue, she told herself. Somewhere, far above me, where bullets cannot reach and cries cannot be heard, the sky is still blue. The haze of gunsmoke thinned, and she caught a glimpse of Professor Lowe’s balloon Intrepid hovering in the sky, with Lowe inside, reporting Confederate troop movements to General McClellan. Her eyelids drifted closed and she imagined herself there. But if I were, I would cut the lines tethering it to the ground and sail away, far away from war and disease and death. If only it weren’t for Jack. Her thoughts trailed away, into a blank expanse as welcoming as the sky.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.jocelyngreen.com

www.heroinesbehindthelines.com

www.facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor

www.pinterest.com/jocelyngreen77

Thank you, Jocelyn, for sharing this new book with us. I will start reading it today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Yankee in Atlanta - Christianbook.com
Yankee in Atlanta (Heroines Behind the Lines) - Amazon
Yankee in Atlanta (Heroines Behind the Lines) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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WEDDED TO WAR - Jocelyn Green - One Free Book

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

I haven’t written a character completely inspired by own life or personality, but in several characters, I find there are traits I can relate to, which makes it easier for me to write those aspects. For example, in Wedded to War, the main character is Charlotte Waverly, a single wealthy young woman from Manhattan who wants to give up a life of comfort to have a significant role in the Civil War as a nurse with the newly formed Sanitary Commission. Her independent streak conflicts with others’ expectations of her. I could easily write about her independence, because that’s something we share in common. But her sister, Alice, says her priority is serving her husband first, then the rest of the world. I can relate to that too, so I invest that part of myself into her character.

In the book I’m writing now, Widow of Gettysburg, Harrison Caldwell is a war correspondent who develops combat stress from being in so many battles in a row, and from all his interactions with the wounded. As a journalist and nonfiction author, and former military wife, I have spent the last five years collecting war stories from veterans, soldiers, chaplains, and their families, and I can tell you, even though it is fulfilling, it can really take an emotional toll. I don’t pretend to have combat stress, but my own experience has helped me understand what Harrison is going through from being in the midst of the battles at Antietam, Gettysburg, etc. Even just researching for my own books, I have nightmares I won’t describe, so I can’t imagine what it would be like if I were “embedded” like Harrison. For a magazine article several years ago, I interviewed a Pulitzer-prize winning photographer who struggled similarly. His life was all about capturing images of human injustice, and it was extremely difficult for him to process that. It affected his personal relationships, too.

But all three of these characters I mentioned were crafted first from diaries of real people who did what I’m having my characters do. A Civil War nurse, her sister, and a war correspondent. Then I layer my own experiences/perspectives on top of that to help fill in the blanks and round out the characters.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hmmmm. I bought and used a dog stroller for my pug. Let me explain. After my husband’s tour in Alaska with the Coast Guard, it was time to move cross-country, and he was at a conference, which left me to drive our pick-up truck five thousand miles. My friend from college made the trip with me, and we made an adventure out of it, hitting seven national parks and monuments, camping in the back of the truck almost every night. We also had our one-year-old pug with us, who we gave half a tranquilizer pill to help him cope with the twelve hour days of driving. But that meant when we wanted to get out and walk around a beautiful place for a while, he couldn’t walk! So we popped him in the little stroller feeling like idiots and pushed him around. The best reaction we got to our pug baby in the dog stroller was from a group of rough-looking motorcyclists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They oohed and ahed!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I could pick up a pencil. Writing stories has always been part of who I am. My first book was narrating a Bugs Bunny coloring book.

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

Nonfiction, including biographies, Christian living, memoirs, history, etc., plus fiction—historical fiction is my favorite genre.

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

My two kids, ages three and six, help keep life in perspective. Plus, we live in a small college town in Iowa, where the pace is much slower than most. After living in Washington D.C., and Alaska, this is a great middle ground. J

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Some I choose because I like the sound of them. Others have special meaning that is tied to the theme of the book, and others I can’t decide so I let my Facebook fans suggest names and I choose from those! We have lots of fun, especially with villain names. I also hold a contest where the winner gets a character named after her. www.jocelyngreen.com/contest

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

The accomplishment I am most proud of is being present and active in my children’s lives. Writing books is really time-consuming, and juggling it with family is a real challenge. A few weeks ago, my six-year-old colored a family picture of us at the park, and I was in the picture. I can’t tell you how much this meant to me, because lots of times, my husband will take the kids out so I can write. To know that I’m still “in the picture” for them anyway, tells me God has been answering my prayers on the whole work-life balance.

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

A dolphin, because they are smart and social.

What is your favorite food?

Depends on the mood. But on any given day, I could either go for chocolate, or Mexican.

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

Time. Creativity can’t be rushed, and when you try, bad things happen. J I overcame it with the help of a team of people- my husband, my parents, child care providers, and the freezer section of the grocery store.

Other than that, a big roadblock when switching from nonfiction to fiction was just confidence. To overcome that one, I did my homework, studying the craft, hired a book mentor for my first novel, and just kept pushing through it even when a little voice told me to quit.

Tell us about the featured book.

Wedded to War was inspired by the diary of real-life Civil War nurse Georgeanna Woolsey. Here’s the synopsis of my fictionalized tale:

It's April 1861, and the Union Army's Medical Department is a disaster, completely unprepared for the magnitude of war. A small group of New York City women, including 28-year-old Charlotte Waverly, decide to do something about it, and end up changing the course of the war, despite criticism, ridicule and social ostracism. Charlotte leaves a life of privilege, wealth-and confining expectations-to be one of the first female nurses for the Union Army. She quickly discovers that she's fighting more than just the Rebellion by working in the hospitals. Corruption, harassment, and opposition from Northern doctors threaten to push her out of her new role. At the same time, her sweetheart disapproves of her shocking strength and independence, forcing her to make an impossible decision: Will she choose love and marriage, or duty to a cause that seems to be losing? An Irish immigrant named Ruby O'Flannery, who turns to the unthinkable in the face of starvation, holds the secret that will unlock the door to Charlotte's future. But will the rich and poor confide in each other in time?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Monday, April 22, 1861

New York City

When Charlotte and Alice told their mother they were taking the omnibus down Broadway, they weren’t lying. They just didn’t tell her where they would be getting off. There was simply no time for an argument today.

Boarding at Fourteenth Street, the sisters paid the extra fare for their hoop skirts, as if they were separate passengers, and sat back on the long wooden bench for the ride.

“This is against my better judgment, you know.” Alice’s voice was barely audible above the clatter of wheels and horse hooves over the cobblestones.

“Don’t you mean Jacob’s?” Charlotte cast a sidelong glance at her sister.

Alice twirled a ringlet of her honey-blonde hair around her finger—a nervous childhood habit she never outgrew—but said nothing.

She didn’t have to. Ever since she had married the wealthy businessman a few months ago, she had been even more pampered—and sheltered—than she had been growing up. Heaven help her when they reached their destination.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Author Web site: www.jocelyngreen.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jocelyngreen77

For military wives (based on my devotional books): www.faithdeployed.com

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

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Wedded to War (Heroines Behind the Lines) - paperback
Wedded to War (Heroines Behind the Lines) - 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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BATTLEFIELDS & BLESSINGS - Jocelyn Green - Free Book

When Jocelyn contacted me about being on my blog, I was glad to feature her, since my grandson is serving in Afghanistan right now. Welcome, Jocelyn. You are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?

No, I don’t. I would love to be able to do that someday, but I have serious doubts about my ability in that genre. I have the utmost respect and admiration for fiction writers!

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?
All the books I have worked on are related to the military in some way—the reason for which can be traced back to July 5, 2003. That was the day I married a Coast Guard officer and was swept from Washington, D.C. to Alaska. I wasn’t a military wife for long, but it was long enough to give me an understanding and compassion for military families and to want to encourage them and share their stories.

Also, I’m an ordinary mom. I used to do all my writing during my child’s nap times and after she went to bed at night. Now that we have two small children, my husband uses flex time with his job to allow me to write two mornings a week. The rest of the time, I’m wiping runny noses, changing diapers, doing laundry, washing dishes, and occasionally, cooking. (Cooking is always the first thing I let go when I’m under a deadline.)
I’m a firm believer that most days can be made a little brighter with good music (I love Keith and Kristin Getty), good chocolate (aka Toblerone), coffee (I’ll settle for Folgers when the budget is tight) and finding new ways to make my children laugh.

Tell us about your family.

My husband Rob is no longer active duty but is still connected to the service through the business he started, which provides graphic design to Coast Guard ships, units, air stations, etc. Our children are Elsa, age 4, and Ethan, who will be 2 in October. Elsa is beginning to make up her own stories now, much to her mother’s delight, and Ethan is content to make truck and train noises all day long. Ethan was born with hypothyroidism, so he is on lifelong medication for that. So far, it appears that the condition was caught in time so that he has no signs of mental or physical retardation.

I'm really glad to hear that. Have you written other nonfiction books?

Yes, my first book was Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2008). But I couldn’t have completed that without the contributions from 14 other Christian military wives from every branch of service.
I was also the contributing editor for the award-winning Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War 2 by Larkin Spivey.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes. I’ve teamed up with Larkin once again for the Battlefields & Blessings book for Viet Nam, plus I’ve got proposals in the works for more devotions for military wives, as well as a book of devotions for parents of special needs children.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Reading tops the list, then scrapbooking, gardening, and baking. I recently discovered The Cake Mix Doctor book, has been so much fun that baking now ranks pretty high on my favorite hobby list, but practically-speaking, it’s just not healthy to spend too much time on cake.

Why did you write the featured book?

My two co-authors (Jane Hampton Cook and John Croushorn) and I wrote the book to tell the stories that otherwise are not being told. We interviewed about 70 people connected to the current war, including soldiers, chaplains, military family members, widows, medics, humanitarian workers, government contractors and more. Our goal was to honor today’s generation of heroes (including the heroes at home) but also to show through their stories that God is big enough even for the pain and heartache war brings. God is faithful even in the most uncertain times. He offers peace when the battles literally rage. That’s what this book is all about.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

This is a 365-day devotional book, so each story also has a Scripture and a brief prayer. Naturally, we want readers to come away from the book with a closer relationship with God, and with a broader understanding of who He is. We also hope readers will have a better, more multi-dimensional picture of America’s soldiers, their families, and the sacrifices they make (largely unnoticed) every day. We also want readers to be inspired by their courage and faith in the midst of trials and grief. There are heartbreaking stories in this book, but there are also wonderful pictures of redemption and hope.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

My Web site is http://www.faithdeployed.com/ . You can also find me at www.facebook.com/FaithDeployed .

Thank you, Jocelyn, for sharing this wonderful book with us.

Readers, by using this link, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/