NO OTHER WILL DO - Karen Witemeyer - One Free Book

Hey, Readers, we have another Karen Witemeyer book today. I know you’ve been enjoying her books as much as I have. She lives in Texas, and so do I, so her books are set in Texas, and they are authentic to Texas and the time period.

Welcome back, Karen. I love your new author photo. The colors are so pretty, and so are you. Why did you become an author?

I've always been enamored with story. I was a serious bookworm as a kid, preferring to hide away in my room with my nose buried in a book to nearly everything else. I never expected to be an author, though. Authors were amazing, creative people who transport a person into another place and time. I was just me. A math and band nerd whose only artistic expression was following someone else’s patterns, whether in music or in my one artistic hobby—cross-stitch. I was great at following directions, but creating from scratch? Not a chance.

Apparently, God had different ideas. He’d laid the foundation in my passion for reading, then sprinkled seeds along the way through English teachers and college professors who complimented my writing ability. Then finally, he took away my safety net when my husband lost his job in 2003 and as a young mother with three babies at home, I knew I had to do something to contribute to the family income. I ended up finding a day job, but God used that shock to jumpstart a dream of writing inside me. The bug had bitten, and I wasn't going to let it go. I started writing short pieces, then longer one. I attended national conferences and learned all I could about the industry. Then, six years later, in 2009, I signed my first 3 book contract with Bethany House. Only God could have brought to fruition a dream I didn’t even realize I possessed.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

Well, actually, I still work a day job in addition to writing. I’m not sure it is my dream job. I work for a university in the registrar’s office revising the catalog, attending academic council meetings, and managing the course-related information in our school data system. It’s a good job with great co-workers, and I’m very thankful for the position. But dream job? That would probably entail a mountain cabin with a path leading through a forest to a waterfall where people paid me an unrealistic sum to host secluded book clubs/cross-stitch camps on the weekends, leaving me the freedom to write during the week.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

I write historical stories, and I love romanticizing the 19^th century. Things were so much simpler back then. Families stayed closer together. God was a more vibrant part of the community. But in reality, there was no air conditioning, no washing machines, and no memory foam mattresses. Body odor was the norm and lice infested more heads than not. Would I like to jump in a time machine and visit the 1880's and 1890's that I write about? Absolutely! Would I want to live there? No thank you.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

I’ve never been to Montana. I’d love to visit a dude ranch up there and experience 19^th century life in 21^st century comfort.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege to visit both The Netherlands and Germany on book tours. What a fabulous experience! Europe has such rich history and architecture. The history nerd in me eats it up. One place that I’ve never visited that I would love to try is New Zealand. I’m a sucker for waterfalls and places with lush vegetation, and New Zealand seems to fit the bill. Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to see them firsthand.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

He always seems to have something new to show me. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot on his command to be fruitful. We are instructed to abide in the vine of Christ and to bear fruit. The fruit is designed to nourish others and to point them to Jesus. It struck me the other day as we were discussing this idea at ladies’ Bible class, that we are also encouraged to scatter seed for the kingdom. We often think of scattering seed as teaching the good news. But it occurred to me that by being fruitful and sharing that fruit generously with those around us, we are also scattering seed. For fruit, by definition, is a food that contains seeds. When people are touched by our love and kindness and nourished by the fruit of our good deeds, the seeds hidden inside are planted in them, perhaps without them even being aware. Others may water those seeds, and when the time is right, God will give the increase and bring about a harvest for his kingdom.

That is so true. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Tell us about the featured book.

Men are optional. That was the credo Emma Chandler’s suffragette aunts taught her and why she started a successful women’s colony in Harper’s Station, Texas. But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive the women out, Emma is forced to admit they might need a man after all. One who can fight. And there is only one she trusts enough to ask.

Malachi Shaw has finally earned the respect he’s always craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma’s telegram arrives, he leaves his job behind and rushes to Harper’s Station to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she’s not a girl any longer. She’s a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn’t deserve.

As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow into something more, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Winter 1882 – Cooke County, TX

Malachi Shaw made the arduous climb back into consciousness with great effort. But then, everything Mal had accomplished so far in his thirteen years of life had required great effort. Not that he had achieved anything worth bragging about. Orphaned. Starving. And . . . cold.

That’s what his senses picked up first. The cold. And not just the huddling-under-the-saloon-stairs-in-a-too-thin-coat-during-a-blue-norther kind of cold. No. This was a cold so harsh it burned. Which made exactly zero sense.

With a groan, Mal lifted his head and tried to draw his arms beneath him to push himself up. That’s when the rest of the pain hit. His shoulder throbbed, his ribs ached, and his head felt like it had collided with a train. Oh, that’s right. It had.

Memories swirled through his mind as he slowly crawled out of the snowdrift that must have broken his fall. He’d hopped the train, just as he’d done a half dozen times over the last month since his drunk of a father finally got himself killed, run over by a wagon while trying to cross the street. The old man hadn’t been good for much, leaving Mal to scrounge for food in garbage bins while he spent whatever coins he managed to earn at the card tables on whiskey. But at least he’d kept a roof over their heads—a rundown, leaky roof supported by slanted, rickety walls that couldn’t even hold the wind out—but a roof nonetheless. The morning after they laid his father in the ground, the lady who owned the shack kicked Mal out on his ear. Barely gave him time to gather his one pathetic sac of belongings. A sac, Mal discovered as he frantically searched the area around him, that was nowhere to be found.

“No!” He slammed his fist into the frozen earth near his hip then slumped forward.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://karenwitemeyer.com - The best place to connect with me online is at my website. I offer monthly drawings for free books, bonus material like deleted epilogues and behind-the-scenes peeks into my books, as well as free excerpts for all of my stories.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KarenWitemeyersAuthorPage/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3114906.Karen_Witemeyer

Blogs - http://petticoatsandpistols.com/ and http://inspiredbylifeandfiction.com/

Thank you, Karen, 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.
No Other Will Do - Chritianbook.com
No Other Will Do - Amazon, Paperback
No Other Will Do (Ladies of Harper's Station Book 1) - Kindle
No Other Will Do: Ladies of Harper's Station, Book 1 - Audio

Comments: What is the favorite Karen Witemeyer book that you've read?

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. (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 WORTHY PURSUIT - Karen Witemeyer - One Free Book

Welcome back. Karen. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

There is usually a single spark that gets a book idea started. For A Worthy Pursuit, that spark was the idea of incorporating gifted children—child prodigies, each having a gift in a different field. And the one who doesn't consider himself gifted ends up being the one who saves the day, proving he is, in fact, remarkable.

I also wanted to play with the idea of opposites attracting. So I chose a refined, educated headmistress who doesn't trust men and paired her with a man of action and intrigue who practically walks off the pages of a dime novel. Charlotte has to learn to trust the man who was sent to destroy her in order to protect the children in her care, and Stone must dig deep to unearth the patience it will take to win the heart of the plucky woman he comes to admire.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Well, parties are always so much more fun when you are with people you know, so for my contemporary fiction party I'm going to invite some of my closest author friends – Becky Wade, Dani Pettrey, Lisa Wingate, and Kellie Coates Gilbert. Then I would also include a couple ladies who I know would keep things lively – Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren.

I’d love to peek into that party. That’s a group of some of my favorite people. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Again I would go with my closest friends. Regina Jennings and I recently roomed together at the RT Booklovers Convention and had a fabulous time. She even got me line dancing at one of the sessions. Ha! In addition to Regina I would invite Mary Connealy – always a hoot to have around. Jody Hedlund – Jody and I started out at Bethany House together and have shared many facets of our publishing journey. Kristi Hunter – she's about to debut her first book with Bethany House. She and I met at the last ACFW conference and really hit it off. Next, I would invite Lorna Seilstad, another great buddy. And finally the irrepressible Jen Turano. There's going to be a lot of laughing at this gathering.

That sounds like fun. More of my favorite people. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

The most difficult part is finding the time to get everything done. I still work a full-time job in addition to writing full-time. I also have 3 teenagers at home. With all the marketing we are asked to do, blog writing, and social media interactions on top of family, church, and work responsibilities, it's hard to find the time needed to write the next project. Yet that is the most important commodity an author has. If you throw together a shoddy book, you're going to lose readers. Besides that, as Christians, we are called to always work as if working for the Lord and not for man. That means creating excellent work, which is something I continually strive to achieve. I write slowly and really have to guard my time. Not an easy task. 

Tell us about the featured book.

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the little girl entrusted to her care after her mother's death. Charlotte promised Lily's mother she'd keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

When the teacher he's after produces documentation that shows she's the little girl's legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he's been led to believe. Is Miss Atherton villain or victim? She acts more like a loving mother than an abductress, and the children in her care clearly adore her.

Then a new danger threatens, and Charlotte is forced to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone becomes determined to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he's ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte's heart.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

February 1891 - Austin, TX

Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths

"I'm closing the school, Miss Atherton, and that's my final word on the subject." Dr. Keith Sullivan closed the attendance ledger on his desk with an ominous snap and pushed to his feet, forcing Charlotte to stand as well. "I've sent wires to all the students' parents, informing them of the closure and offering to reimburse a percentage of the tuition to compensate them for the inconvenience of ending the school term earlier than expected."

A reimbursement of funds? From the man who'd refused to purchase a single new text in the last five years? It was all Charlotte could do to keep her jaw from coming unhinged. There must be another source of income—one large enough to overshadow the loss of tuition. Dr. Sullivan charged exorbitant fees for his exclusive school. Only the most noteworthy students were accepted into the small academy. Unless, of course, a particularly wealthy family sought entree for one of their children. In that case, a well-placed donation seemed to make up for any lack in giftedness. She could only imagine how large a donation would have to be to convince him to close the school entirely.

Backing out of the way as her employer strode around his desk, Charlotte fiddled with the cameo at her neck then marched after him. "What of Stephen Farley? His parents are in Europe. They couldn't possibly collect him before we close the doors. And John Chang is an orphan here on scholarship. He has no place to go."

I am looking forward to reading this one. How can readers find you on the Internet?

The best way to find me is on my website. I have an occasional newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on my newest releases, and everyone who subscribes will be automatically entering in my monthly drawings for 2 Christian Historical Romance Novels. I also love to connect on Facebook and Goodreads. Please find me on the links listed below.

Website: www.karenwitemeyer.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenWitemeyersAuthorPage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3114906.Karen_Witemeyer

Thank you, Karen, for sharing this new book with us. You know how much I love reading your stories. I'm sure my readers do, too.

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

A Worthy Pursuit - Christiabook.com
A Worthy Pursuit - Amazon
A Worthy Pursuit - 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 MATCH MADE IN TEXAS - Carol Cox, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, Karen Witemeyer - Three Free Books

Dear Readers, there were a lot of really good novella collections that I received in 2013. I read most of them and loved them. But this collection if my very favorite

Welcome, Carol Cox. How did your story for the collection come about?

I spent a number of years in Fort Worth while my husband was in seminary. During our time there, I fell in love with Texas. One of the reasons I was thrilled to take part in this collection was that it gave me an opportunity to write a story set in a state that still has a claim on my heart. An idea had been percolating in the back of my mind for quite a while about a young woman hired to help keep an eye on an older woman who is prone to flights of fantasy … or is her mind really a lot sharper than anyone suspects? A Match Made in Texas provided a perfect vehicle for bringing that story to life.

What other books have you had published?

This novella marks a milestone for me, since No Match for Love is my 30th published title. I’ve written novels and novellas for several different publishers in varied genres, including contemporary romance, contemporary cozy mysteries, and historicals. The historicals outnumber the others by far. You can find a complete bibliography of all my titles on my website: www.authorcarolcox.com

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

No Match for Love is my 12th novella, so I’m very familiar with the process of putting a collection together. Some only have a unifying theme—a season, holiday, locale, etc. But in a collection like this, where the stories are intertwined, characters and locations overlap. It’s vital to keep them all straight, and that can be a tricky process! I felt very blessed to be part of a team that was so easy to work with and worked hard to keep all those details straight.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

There’s something special about joining forces in a project like this. I love the brainstorming and sharing of ideas that goes on! Of the other three authors, Mary is the only one I’ve met in person. Working with all of them was a joy, and getting acquainted with Karen and Regina online was a real bonus. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting them face to face one day!

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

I’ve been a member of ACFW since the beginning, back when it was known as ACRW (American Christian Romance Writers). Living in a somewhat isolated area, I don’t have many opportunities to connect with other writers locally. When I heard about a new group forming that would be devoted to Christian writers, I jumped at the chance to be a part of it. It’s such a blessing to be able to be a part of an organization like this, even though most of my connections are online rather than in person. The things I’ve learned through ACFW and the relationships I’ve formed with a number of the other members are priceless.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I love connecting with readers online! You can find me:

at my website: www.authorcarolcox.com

on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.cox

I also blog on Writes of Passage on the first and third Saturdays of every month: http://www.writespassage.blogspot.com/

Thank you for a wonderful interview, Lena. I appreciate all the support you’ve given over the years more than I can say!

It’s been my pleasure to help promote your books I love them, and the Writes of Passage blog is on that I’ve followed and read a long time.

Welcome, Mary Connealy. How did your story for the collection come about?

Karen, Regina, Carol, and I are all Bethany House authors and Bethany wanted a novella collection. They hunted around for authors who had similar styles. We are all historical authors, who can write in a light-hearted style, plus we had time and were eager to do it. So we brainstormed story ideas and pitched them to Bethany House and we came up with this Matchmaker idea that we all loved.

What are you reading right now?

I am right this minute reading (brace yourself LOL) A Match Made in Texas. I hadn’t read the other stories in the collection. I finished Karen’s book on Christmas Eve. I am so in love with her Archer family that I was dying to get my hands on this book, and I finally had time late at night Christmas Eve after all the festivities were over AND I’d managed to launch myself into an insomniac fit, probably because of an overindulgence in caffeine laden things like chocolate. But I had the book at hand and just loved it. I didn’t get back to it last night but I’m looking forward to reading through the whole collection.

What other books have you had published?

C’mon, Lena, you don’t want the list and you know it. A Match Made in Texas is my … I’m gonna say 27th book. Mostly all romantic comedy with cowboys—though I’ve done a few other things. And last spring I signed a new contract with Bethany to keep doing this for a while, so the next book from them Stuck Together, which is book #3 in the Trouble in Texas series comes in June then we start a new series in September called the Wild at Heart series, book #1 is Tried and True.

I didn’t have those two books scheduled on my blog, so I just scheduled them. What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Well, there was nothing about this that really counted as hard, so when I say hardest part it wasn’t hard at all. But we did start each of these books in the same town, Dry Gulch, Texas. My book stayed in Dry Gulch but Karen, Regina, and Carol took there “show on the road” you might say. They started there and immediately left. Still that start forced us to get our story straight about Dry Gulch. How big was it? Was there a train? What was the name of the General Store? Was anyone mentioning names of the characters in town and if so, what are those names. I had the son of the banker be my hero, the Whitfield Bank. So if anyone mentions the bank, they need to call it the Whitfield Bank. Karen’s heroine’s long deceased father owned the General Store. I had a General Store called Claasens. So she mentions the store as part of her backstory and then she has to say the old name and get the current name right, or at least not get it wrong. So we had to get a few of those facts straight, but that just gave us a change to talk to each other and that was always fun.

I have to tell you a funny story, Mary. I host a critique group in my home. Many newer authors have too much backstory in their first chapter. I've written it so many times, I started saying "too much BS." A while back, one of the new authors almost fell off her chair when she saw that. How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Mainly it gave me a chance to get to know Karen, Regina, and Carol better and that was great. We had a lot of fun writing this book.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

After 27 books, naming characters is just part of the landscape of my life, Lena. You know how that is. I name more people by noon on Wednesday than most people do in a lifetime. The main characters take a little thinking as do villains but there are a lot of secondary characters too and some of those names just don’t MATTER. It just needs to be done. Sometimes I name them by clicking on some random link on Google and just skimming some news article until a likely name jumps out at me. I try to be careful about that. I don’t think I’ve got any secondary characters named Tim Tebow, at least not yet.

Mary, you are so funny, Mary. What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

My main goal in my books is to entertain. I’m trying all the time to write the best, most entertaining book I’m capable of writing. If someone gets a deeper message from it, well that’s probably an accident.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Seekerville
Petticoats and Pistols
My Blog
My Website
My Newsletter

Friend me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryconnealy

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/maryconnealy

Welcome, Regina Jennings. What are you reading right now?

I am reading The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung, A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman, and The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd.

I just finished reading The Headmistress of Rosemere last week. I loved it. What other books have you had published?

Like A Match Made in Texas my other books are historical romances and usually involve Western settings. My first two releases are Love in the Balance and Sixty Acres and a Bride, and I’m really excited about the upcoming spring release Caught in the Middle which stars a buffalo-hunting woman and a railroad tycoon.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

I’ve never written anything shorter than 95,000 words, so this was a huge shift for me. While plotting I kept thinking of subplots, secondary characters, changes in settings, and then I’d remember that I have a quarter of the words I’m used to having. That was difficult. On the other hand, my favorite scenes are always those that feature the romance. An Unforeseen Match gave me permission to stack those scenes up one after another, without apology.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

In this novella I kept thinking of my heroine as Faith but then I realized that she’s losing her eyesight and we can’t have Blind Faith, can we? Her name is now Grace.

Clayton Weber shares a last name with a friend of mine whom I used to babysit. Now she’s a librarian in Florida and yes, I’ll try to take credit for that.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

I want to remind them that they are capable of accomplishing great things. In the story, Grace fears that she has nothing left to contribute to the world because she is losing her sight, but with Clayton’s help she learns ways to compensate for her disability. In real life, our oldest daughter suffers from severe dyslexia and is a patron of the Library for the Blind. While visiting their facilities, we’ve met blind staff members who work fulltime shelving the audiotapes and books. With modified computers they keep tabs on their circulation and answer emails. There seems to be no limit to what they can do, and that opinion was solidified through the biographies I read about visually impaired people.

My research inspired me to look again at my excuses and ask myself if I’m really doing all I can, and I hope this story inspires others, too.

  

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Several places, and I hope they do come alooking! I love getting to know readers.

Facebook - website: www.reginajennings.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReginaLJennings

Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/ReginaJennings  

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/reginaljennings/

Welcome, Karen Witemeyer. How did your story for the collection come about?

My story, A Cowboy Unmatched, came about because I really wanted to write a happy ending for the last of the Archer brothers. Travis and Jim had found their true loves in Short-Straw Bride. Crockett and Joanna had their happy ending in Stealing the Preacher. But the youngest Archer, Neill, still needed his story told. I had so much fun turning the tables and putting a pretty (and very pregnant) widow on the business end of a shotgun to meet him when he arrived to work on her roof. Since the reclusive Archers were always scaring visitors off their land with the threat of firepower, this seemed poetic.

When I started reading your story and realized it was an archer brother, I was thrilled. What are you reading right now?

Right now I am reading a western Christmas novella by Kaki Warner titled Miracle in New Hope. It's excellent.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

The hardest thing is making sure little details match up. We purposely tried to keep our stories linked yet separate so there would be less overlap and fewer details to try to coordinate. But even so, our editor still found a few discrepancies that we needed to tweak. For example, I originally described the town of Dry Gulch as a dusty, one-horse town with only a handful of buildings. Since most of my story took place outside of town, this worked well for me. However, other stories that took place more in town, described Dry Gulch as a much more developed place. So I adjusted my description to match theirs. Editors are such a blessing!

Yes, they are. We authors couldn’t do without them. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I love using historically accurate names. I often visit the Social Security website and search their database of popular names by year. You can search all the way back to 1880. A fabulous resource! I also love using biblical names. However, my Archer brothers were extra fun because I named them each for a hero from the Alamo – Travis, Crockett, Bowie (who only answers to Jim), and Neill. Neill was named for the commander who had to leave the Alamo to care for an ill family member and therefore survived because he was absent when Santa Ana laid siege.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Galatians 6:2 says we are to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” While many of us are good at helping others with their burdens, we often refuse to let others help us carry our own. Whether it be pride that keeps us from accepting help or fear that others will let us down or think us weak, it is hard to ask for help. Yet that is what the brotherhood of Christ is all about. Carrying each other’s burdens. That is the message of Neill and Clara’s story. Not only are we to be willing and eager to serve others in their time of need, but we are also to step out in trust and humility and allow others to serve us in the same way. 

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes. I have been a member of ACFW since 2005. I credit this organization with launching my career. From pairing me with online critique partners, to providing an email loop where new authors can ask questions of seasoned veterans, to hosting national conferences where authors can interact with agents and editors from the top Christian publishing houses, ACFW is a Christian author’s best friend. I met both my editor and my agent at their conferences, and I truly believe I wouldn’t be published today without that contact.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

The easiest place to find information about my books is on my website at:

www.karenwitemeyer.com

I also love to interact with readers through Facebook and the two group blogs I contribute to: www.facebook.com/KarenWitemeyersAuthorPage

www.petticoatsandpistols.com (A western romance blog)

www.writespassage.blogspot.com (A Christian fiction blog of bestselling authors) 

Thank you, Carol, Mary, Regina, and Karen, for sharing with us today.

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

A Match Made in Texas - Christianbook.com
Match Made in Texas, A: A Novella Collection - Amazon.com
Match Made in Texas, A: A Novella Collection - 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 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

STEALING THE PREACHER - Karen Witemeyer - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus Much More

Bio: Two-time RITA finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion and ACFW Carol Award, CBA bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance because she believes that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. 
She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children. 

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

My spiritual themes usually center around issues that I struggle with in my own faith journey. Pride, forgiveness, waiting on God's timing, carrying one another's burdens, trust, not judging, realizing that living right is more important than being right.

In Stealing the Preacher, the theme centers around the idea that in order to truly fulfill God's calling on our lives, we must be willing to surrender our assumptions and rationalizations about what we think that calling entails to follow him in the direction he actually leads, even if that guidance takes us in a different direction than we expect. A secondary theme emphasizes the need to never grow weary of scattering spiritual seed, for God will never give up his pursuit of any individual soul.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

My next project is actually a novella that features Neill Archer, the final brother in the Archer clan. I just couldn't let him go without giving him his own happily ever after. Away from the Archer ranch for two years to earn the money needed to start up his own spread with his childhood friend, Josiah, Neill takes a job repairing a little old widow’s roof. Only the widow isn’t old nor is she little. She’s nine months pregnant with her deceased husband’s child, and she meets Neill with a shotgun aimed at his chest.

Neill’s story, A Cowboy Unmatched, will be part of a collection entitled A Match Made in Texas. It releases January 2014 and includes novellas by three other wonderful historical authors: Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Carol Cox.

I must feature this book on my blog. You four are some of my favorite historical authors. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

Being a music lover, I'm going to pick Josh Groban. I love his voice, and if I could somehow convince him to let me sing a duet with him (no audience, of course), I think I would float around in a delighted haze for weeks.

A good choice. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Elizabeth Blackwell. I remember reading a book about the first woman doctor when I was in 5th grade, and it made a huge impact on me. Plus, I would love to ask her a ton of questions about medical treatment in the 1800s for research purposes.

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

Publishing with a traditional house can be a difficult journey that requires perseverance and tough skin. Rejections are a big part of it. I wrote for 6 years before signing a contract. And that contract came after the same publisher rejected my first manuscript. Thankfully, they saw enough potential in me that they asked me to submit again. Even after publication, rejection is still part of the game. The last time I was up for a new contract, my publisher rejected 2 out of 3 of the story ideas I proposed. I had to go back to the drawing board and start again.

Do your best to learn and master the craft of writing, read extensively in your genre, study the market, find critique partners or freelance editors to help you uncover problem areas, enter contests and listen to the feedback you receive, attend workshops and conferences to meet and network with industry professionals, but most of all, just keep writing and submitting.

Tell us about the featured book.

On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he’s forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man’s daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape—which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.

For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

I have read this book and loved the characters and plot twists. Please give us a short excerpt from the book for my readers.

The horse whinnied at the rough treatment and thrashed about trying to gain his freedom. Crockett used the diversion to make a run for the trees. A building of some kind lay to the north. A building meant people. People meant help. He just prayed he'd been right about the bandits not wanting to lodge a bullet in him.

A shot rang out. Angry shouts demanding he stop followed. But no lead slammed into him, so Crockett kept running.

He ducked beneath post oak branches and zigzagged from one tree to another, taking advantage of any cover the terrain afforded.

The building was getting closer. A barn, maybe? He just had to keep his legs under him.

Hooves pounded into the earth behind him. Crockett's heart rate tripled. They were running him down. And he was running out of trees.

Open grassland lay between him and a fenced pasture. Keeping to the trees would only allow him to delay capture, not elude it. His only chance was to scale that fence and hope that Silas and his gang wouldn't risk discovery by pursuing him onto private property.

Lungs on fire, Crockett burst out of the woods and sprinted for the fence. The hoof beats behind him escalated.

A soft whirring caught his ear a second before a lariat dropped over his head and shoulders. Crockett made a desperate grab for the rope, but before he could get his thumbs hooked, the noose tightened around his chest and yanked him backward. In a flash he was flat on his back staring at the sky.

He'd just been lassoed like a new calf at branding time.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

The easiest place to find information about my books is on my website at:

www.karenwitemeyer.com

I also love to interact with readers through Facebook and the two group blogs I contribute to. My author page on Facebook is:

www.facebook.com/KarenWitemeyersAuthorPage

If you like my page, you can gain access to the first three chapters of Stealing the Preacher for free.

I blog with a group of western romance authors on a site called Petticoats & Pistols. This group features both Christian and general market authors.

www.petticoatsandpistols.com

The second group I blog with is called Writes of Passage. This group is made up of bestselling inspirational historical fiction authors. Some names you might recognize are Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Julie Klassen, and Lynn Austin. We have so much fun together and love to interact with readers.

www.writespassage.blogspot.com

I love the Writes of Passage women and always read the posts. Thank you, Karen, for visiting with us today.


Karen Witemeyer is "kindling" the excitement for Stealing the Preacher (Bethany House) with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and connecting with readers at her June 18th Facebook Author Chat Party!

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at 4pm on June 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Stealing the Preacher" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 18th. Connect with Karen for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Karen 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 Stealing the Preacher and join Karen on the evening of June 18th 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 18th!

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

Christianbooks.com 
Stealing the Preacher - Amazon paperback
Stealing the Preacher - 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

SHORT-STRAW BRIDE - Karen Witemeyer - One Free Book

Bio:Two-time RITA® Finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion, CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Readers, I’m reading this book right now. You’re going to love it. Now welcome, Karen. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

My spiritual themes tend to be influenced by my own struggles. In my newest release, Short-Straw Bride, my hero and his brothers have isolated themselves from the rest of their community. This originated from necessity since they were orphaned as young boys and had to fight to stay together and protect their land. But when the need for isolation passed, their habits had become so ingrained that the Archer brothers failed to reintegrate. Until Meredith Hayes breaches their solitude.

I tend to be introverted and love to hide myself away. However, the Bible calls us to live a life of community, of hospitality, of ministering to our neighbors and carrying each other's burdens. I can't do this if I barricade myself away. By tackling this spiritual theme in my novel, I was forced to face it myself. I tend to step on my own toes most of all when I write.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I only write one book a year, so Short-Straw Bride is the only one arriving in 2012. However, I recently learned that my 2011 release, To Win Her Heart, won the 2012 HOLT Medallion for Best Long Inspirational Romance, so I guess I'll brag on that one a bit. It is also a finalist for the RITA and the National Reader's Choice Award. Those results will be announced at the end of July at the RWA national conference.

Those awards are wonderful. My 2011 release recently won the Selah award for historical fiction. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

Now, I just confessed to being an introvert, and now you want me to meet up with a complete stranger? Ha! I guess I need to keep working on that hospitality thing. I'm going to pick Josh Groban. I love his voice, and if I could somehow convince him to let me sing a duet with him (no audience, of course), I think I would float around in a delighted haze for weeks.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Elizabeth Blackwell. I remember reading a book about the first woman doctor when I was in 5^th grade, and it made a huge impact on me. Plus, I would love to ask her a ton of questions about medical treatment in the 1800s for research purposes. I'm writing a scene right now where my hero has to remove a bullet from another character, and having her input would be a tremendous help.

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

Publishing with a traditional house can be a difficult journey that requires perseverance and tough skin. Rejections are a big part of it. I wrote for 6 years before signing a contract. And that contract came after the same publisher rejected my first manuscript. Thankfully, they saw enough potential in me that they asked me to submit again. Even after publication, rejection is still part of the game. The last time I was up for a new contract, my publisher rejected 2 out of 3 of the story ideas I proposed. I had to go back to the drawing board and start again.

Do your best to learn and master the craft of writing, read extensively in your genre, study the market, find critique partners or freelance editors to help you discover problem areas, enter contests and listen to the feedback you receive, attend workshops and conferences to meet and network with industry professionals, but most of all, just keep writing and submitting.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here's the official blurb:

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Anderson County, Texas - 1870

Ten-year-old Meredith Hayes balled her hands into fists as she faced her tormentor.

"Hiram Ellis! Give me back my lunch bucket this instant!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Meri. Did you want this?" His voice dripped sarcasm as he dangled the small pail in front of her.

She lunged for it, but her hands met only air as the older boy snatched it away then tossed it over her head to his snickering brother. Meredith ricocheted between the two, never quite fast enough to get more than a finger on the tin.

Why was she always the one to get picked on? Meredith stomped her foot in frustration. She thought she'd gotten enough of a lead today after school, but Hiram must have been watching for her. He'd had it out for her ever since her family moved to the area last spring. Probably because the land they bought used to belong to his best friend's family.

"Meri, Meri, quite contrary," Hiram sang in a ridiculously high pitched voice, skipping in a circle around her and swinging the lunch bucket back and forth. A group of girls came around the bend and stopped to giggle behind their hands. Meredith asked for help, but they just stood there smirking and whispering behind their schoolbooks. Even Anna Leigh, her desk mate, and the one girl Meredith thought a friend. Angry tears pooled in her eyes, but Meredith blinked them away. She'd not let Hiram win.

You can read the entire first two chapters on my website, here: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/excerpt_straw.html

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to connect with readers. The best place to do that is through my website: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com Here you can learn about my books, find deleted scenes, background on my characters, and a chance to enter my monthly giveaways.

I'm also fairly active on FaceBook. I'd love for you to send me a friend request.

I blog twice a month with a group of western romance authors over at Petticoats & Pistols. We have a lot of fun together, and if you enjoy rugged cowboy heroes, you'll fit right in. Come visit us here: http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

Thank you, Karen, for visiting with us today.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Short-Straw Bride - paperback
Short-Straw Bride - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

TO WIN HER HEART - Karen Witemeyer - Free Book

Author Bio:

Karen Witemeyer is a deacon's wife who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul. Her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, recently claimed honorable mention in the 2010 Best Western Romance contest. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.

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

It still amazes to me to think that I am a multipublished author. I thought the newness would wear off, but the thrill returns each time a new book releases. I recently signed another three-book deal with Bethany House, so I will continue to write historical romance for them—one book a year, which is a pace that suits me since I work full-time and have three school-aged kids at home. My dream is to continue writing my passion, historical romance, for Bethany. They have been a wonderful publisher to partner with, and I couldn't be happier.

Tell us a little about your family.

I met my husband, Wes, in college. He's the Texan that roped this California gal into leaving the beaches and mountains behind for a rugged landscape of scrubby mesquite and glorious sunsets. He's a wonderful supporter of my work and word-of-mouth marketer even though he's never read more than the dedication page of my first novel. He's a sci-fi guy and has no interest in romance novels, but I love him anyway.

We have three children, a daughter and two sons. My daughter is twelve and is just old enough to enjoy reading Mom's books. She is an avid reader, and I manage to sneak a few classics like the Anne of Green Gables and Black Stallion series into her steady literary diet of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson's Olympians. My sons are ten and eight and are video gamers like their daddy. They enjoy soccer and baseball and anything Star Wars.

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

My writing has only reinforced my reading habits. I write historical romance because that is all I ever read. It is my favorite genre, and even before I started writing, it dominated my TBR pile. I love escaping into the past with a strong hero and a feisty heroine. The only thing that has truly changed about my reading habits is that now I will occasionally pick up a book on writing craft and add that to the mix. My pleasure reading, though, has remained the same.

What are you working on right now?

I'm currently working on my fourth historical romance for Bethany House. The working title is Short-Straw Bride. Four brothers draw straws to see who will marry the heroine in this twist on a marriage of convenience story. All Travis Archer has ever cared about is his brothers and his land. But when a good deed goes awry, he’s stuck with a bride who endangers both.

One fun tidbit about the brothers in this story – they are all named for heroes from the Alamo. Travis is the main character, the next oldest is Crockett, the kid brother is Neill (for the Alamo's commander who missed being at the fight because of a family illness that called him away), and the third brother's given name is Bowie, but he refuses to answer to anything except Jim. I don't blame him. Poor guy. What we authors do to torture our characters.

What outside interests do you have?

I love to cross-stitch. If you look around my house, you will find many pieces adorning the walls. It's relaxing and a fun, creative outlet that makes me feel artistic even if all I'm doing, really, is following a pattern. Watching the picture take shape is much like watching a novel come together, and I get the same sense of satisfaction when the piece is completed.
  

I also enjoy singing with my church, teaching ladies Bible class, and watching my kids in whatever sport or musical pursuit they are engaged in. Sitting back and getting lost in a good movie is also a favorite way to unwind.

I love most all kinds of handcrafts. My daughter did me a cross-stitch angel for Christmas one year. I tried my hand at making a different style one. Hers is even, mine not so much. I don't like to do all the counting while I work. How do you choose your settings for each book?

So far, all of my settings have been in Texas. Since I live here and have access to much first-hand research, it works well for me. Also, Texas is such a large place, there are a wide variety of landscapes to choose from. Though, I must admit the eastern and southern sections are prettier, so I tend to veer in that direction even though I live in what is considered West Texas. 

The characters and plot really come into play when I choose a setting. For example, in Head in the Clouds, I needed a sheep ranch for my Englishman hero, so I chose a fictional ranch in Menard County, in the heart of sheep country.

In my current release, To Win Her Heart, I created a fictional town loosely based on the history of the real town of Marquez in Leon County, TX. Marquez sprouted up in 1871 along the International-Great Northern railroad line and was named in honor of María de la Marquez who owned the land grant on which the town was platted. In similar style, my fictional town of Spencer was named for the town founder, Calvin Spencer, whose daughter decided to make her home there after a scandal drove her away from the family's primary residence in Austin. This location was relatively close to Huntsville, where my hero had been incarcerated, so that fit as well. There was also evidence of limestone quarries in the region, and I knew I needed a quarry for one of the pivotal scenes in the book. All in all, it was the right size town, in the right place, at the right time.

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

Abraham Lincoln. The man was such a humble, godly leader. I would love to benefit from his wisdom. 

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

I can't seem to settle on any one thing. Somehow, I think that if I had known information about the outcome of my journey or been aware of certain skills that would need to be gained, I wouldn't have continued along the writing path. I would have either grown lazy and self-assured that all would work out well, or I would have agonized over how little I truly understood about fiction writing and marketing, growing disheartened until I gave up. I think the Lord knows just how much to reveal to us to keep us going—not too much, not too little.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

It seems that the underlying themes of my stories always consist of lessons I need to learn. In my current project, my hero and his brothers have secluded themselves from the rest of the world on their ranch. This was born out of necessity for their protection when they were too young to stand on their own among ruthless men. However, it became a habit that now keeps them from ministering to their neighbors or others in need. When the heroine comes on the scene, the Lord compels her to help these men get out of their rut and become more hospitable.

Hospitality is something I struggle with. I am comfortable with my family and close friends, and feel little need to reach farther than that immediate sphere. I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know more than one or two families who live on my street. I rationalize about how little time I have and how busy I am, and my inward focus becomes habit. We are called to be Good Samaritans, to welcome strangers and entertain angels. I might not live in physical seclusion, but I struggle with involving myself in the lives of others. As I write this story, I feel the Lord tugging on my sleeve and reminding me to "look not only to [my] own interests, but also to the interests of others."

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

Master the fiction-writing craft.

Writes stories you would love to read.

Have a humble, teachable spirit and follow where God leads.

Tell us about the featured book.

Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets. . . .

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Levi’s renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

Since I love your writing, I know I want to read this book. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

Spencer, Texas - 1887

After two years, they finally cut him loose. Gave him a new suit of clothes and everything. Funny, though. The shame of the convict stripes still clung to him, as if they had been tattooed horizontally across his skin. Levi Grant rolled his shoulders under the slightly-too-tight coat he'd been issued and wondered how long it would take to get re-accustomed to civilian clothes.

Or to get the smell of turnips out of them.

A farmer had let him ride in his wagon bed for the last ten miles or so of his journey from Huntsville. Levi's feet had welcomed the respite, but now, standing outside the parson's small, box-shaped house, second thoughts needled him.

His future hinged on making a good impression. The Bible and recommendation letter in his knapsack fueled his hope, but his past dragged behind him like the lead ball that used to be shackled to his leg. The Father might have forgiven his prodigal ways, but the world was full of parabolic older brothers who would either resent the second chance he'd been given or condemn him outright. Not that he would blame them. Christian charity could only be expected to stretch so far.

A gust of cool, February wind jarred him from his thoughts and pushed him forward. The Lord had led him here. The least Levi could do was knock on the door.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I'd love to have you visit me at my website: www.karenwitemeyer.com. I host a monthly giveaway of historical Christian novels from a variety of well-known authors as well as post interesting tidbits about my characters and the research behind their stories.

You can also find me on Facebook. Send me a message sometime. I'd be honored to chat with you.

Thank you, Karen, for the interesting visit with you.

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

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 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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com