RANSOME'S QUEST - Kaye Dacus - Free Book

Welcome back, Kaye. It's always great to chat with you. Why did you become an author?

Because I couldn’t make the voices in my head shut up.

I guess I’ve always made up stories—but I wasn’t one of those people who started writing them down as soon as I could write. Being a visually oriented person, I played them out either outside playing make-believe with friends or by myself with my Barbie dolls. It wasn’t until I was twelve or thirteen years old that I started taking notes on what I was doing with my dolls (so I could remember the next day)—and then one day, I just went straight to the notes and kept writing instead of picking up the dolls again.

I didn’t feel the call to pursue publication until I was thirty years old, though. Up until then, writing was something I did privately and kept to myself, especially after a really bad experience with having my writing workshopped in a creative writing class when I was twenty. It took God a decade to pry my hands off the gift He gave me which was meant to be shared, not sequestered.

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

English professor at a small four-year liberal arts college. (And this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s read my latest contemporary novel, The Art of Romance!)

I have a master’s degree, so, who knows, it could still happen one of these days!

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

Even though I minored in history, love doing research, and love writing historical romances, I’m pretty happy with the air conditioning, cell phones, cars, and cable TV of the here-and-now. If I were absolutely forced to pick, I’d probably choose the Edwardian era, simply because I love the clothes so much.

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

Hmmm . . . that’s a great question, because I’ve lived and visited so many places already. But I’d love to visit New England in the fall. Autumn is my favorite season, and I always drool over photos of New Hampshire and Vermont during that time. Plus, there are all of those quaint little historical towns and villages up there that look like they’d be fun to explore.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I spent the month of June posting my virtual European vacation on my blog on Fridays, but if I had to pick only one, I’d have to pick Great Britain first and foremost. Not only is that where much of my ancestral heritage from (Scotland and England specifically), but it’s the place in which I have the most interest as far as history and research goes.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

As someone who’s lived alone, happily independent, for more than fifteen years, one thing I’ve come to rely on, and take pride in, is my self-sufficiency. Okay, my control-freakishness, if you really want to get specific. My life was on a certain path, and I had control of it. . .until I broke my ankle last November. I was already two weeks past deadline on my previous book (The Art of Romance) and had been at the library trying to get the last half of the book mapped out. Leaving the library, I lost my footing and fell, dislocating my right foot and breaking both major bones in the ankle (tibia and fibula)—and mildly spraining the left ankle. And I didn’t have my cell phone with me!!! I had to rely on someone else to call 9-1-1 for me. I did have my laptop with me so I was able to access my family phone list and call my cousins who live in town—and rely on them not only to contact my parents but also to come pick me up from the emergency room and then, the next day, to go get my car and bring it back to my house.

Since I was facing surgery and months of recovery, I couldn’t stay by myself—not with a house accessible only by the few steps from the yard to the porch, no paved sidewalk/driveway, and doorways too narrow for a wheelchair, and an incapacitated right foot, meaning I couldn’t drive, either. So much for independence and self-sufficiency! I spent the next day packing and the day after that, my parents came and took me to Arkansas to stay with them until I was once again able to drive and walk. It was like reverting to childhood, relying on my parents to feed me, drive me places, and take care of me.

And it was a great reminder—no matter how independent and self-sufficient I think I am, I need to let go. I need to let others help me. And, most of all, I need to rely on God to provide, not to believe I can do it all on my own.

Tell us about the featured book.

Ransome’s Quest is the conclusion of the action-adventure romance series, The Ransome Trilogy, following Ransome’s Honor and Ransome’s Crossing.

The pirate El Salvador de los Esclavos has haunted the waters of the Caribbean for almost ten years. When he snatched Charlotte Ransome, it was a case of mistaken identity. Now Charlotte’s brother, Commodore William Ransome, whose reputation in battle is the stuff of legend, is searching for him with a dogged determination. But another rumor has reached Salvador’s ears: Julia Witherington Ransome has been kidnapped by the man feared by all other pirates—the pirate known only as Shaw. The violent and bloodthirsty savage from whom Salvador was trying to protect her.

When word reaches William of his wife’s disappearance, his heart is torn—he cannot abandon the search for Charlotte, yet he must also rescue Julia. Captain Ned Cochrane offers a solution: Ned will continue the search for Charlotte while William goes after Julia. William’s quest will lead him to a greater understanding of faith and love as he must accept help from sworn enemy and have faith that Julia’s life is in God's hands.

And if you haven’t had a chance to get started with this series, now’s a great time—because the first book of the trilogy, Ransome’s Honor, is available as a free e-book until August 15. You can find the links to find it for different e-readers/formats here: http://kayedacus.com/2011/08/01/ransomes-honor-is-free/

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

No moon. Wispy clouds hid most of the stars. He could not have asked for a more perfect night. Before him, the house glowed like a lantern atop the hill. Behind him, his men waited for his command.

Julia Witherington was back in Jamaica. Finally. The pirate paused a moment, trying to count the years—the ages, the epochs—he had been on the quest to strike back at Admiral Sir Edward Witherington.

Julia was married—and had brought her husband here with her. The inimitable Commodore William Ransome. The admiral’s favorite; the man he’d taken publicly in hand as son long before Ransome married the admiral’s daughter. The one man in the world the pirate hated almost as much as the admiral.

He smiled. The commodore would ensure word reached Sir Edward of his daughter’s abduction.

Movement caught his attention and honed his focus on the house. He turned, maintaining his crouched position. “Remember, men, no killing—especially the navy officer. The woman is mine. No one is to harm her. Is that understood?”

“Aye, Cap’n,” his men whispered back.

The pirate turned to face the house again. It seemed he had awaited this moment his entire life. The rules of engagement were about to change.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: http://kayedacus.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kayedacus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kayedacus

Thanks for another wonderful interview, Kaye.



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.)

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THE ART OF ROMANCE - Kaye Dacus - Free Book

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

Having been raised attending church, I began wondering what it meant to “be saved” around eight years old. I received wonderful guidance from my parents as well as the pastor of our church. Then, when I was fourteen I knew I was ready to make that decision. Without having told anyone else about it, one Sunday morning during the invitation, I felt the Spirit’s prompting and I went forward and made my profession of faith. There have been many struggles since then, including a deep depression that led to my dropping out of college at age twenty-one, as well as times when I’ve clearly felt God leading me, as when I moved to Nashville at age twenty-five. But no matter what I was going through, ever since making that profession of faith, I’ve never doubted my salvation or God’s faithfulness.

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

Ask me this question on another day and I’ll have a completely different answer. Right now, it’d have to be Liz Johnson, because we’re brainstorming a series idea together; Jodie Bailey,  an as-yet unpublished author who motivates me just by being who she is; Annalisa Daughety, because we always have a good time together and I love her writing; and Leslie Guccione, one of my grad-school mentors, because she can challenge me to be a better writer the way  no one else can.

Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I love speaking to groups. Most of the time when I’m scheduled for an event, I’m asked to talk about writing, which I thoroughly enjoy because I’ve always felt drawn to teach it. But I also like sharing about being a thirtysomething single in a church that emphasizes marriage and family as “the norm” and leaves singles out in the cold.

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

 Before I truly understood my own nature as an introvert—and why it wasn’t good for me to be around people twenty-four hours a day for a full week, I went on a spring break mission trip with the Campus Crusade group from LSU. By the end of the week, I was on people overload, and I ended up losing it, spectacularly, when a friend good naturedly teased me about something (I don’t even remember what). Fortunately only he and a couple of other people where there, so once I was able to stop crying enough to breathe and try to explain why I’d lost it (thank goodness one of them was a Psychology major and could help me figure it out), we all prayed together and then they suggested that instead of going into the chapel for the hour of worship time with the ninety other people on the trip, I take my Bible and go sit out in the garden and have some private time. And it was the best learning experience I ever had in figuring myself out.

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?

“There’s no time like the present. All you need is paper and a pencil. Go for it.”

Tell us about the featured book.

Sassy Evans and Perty Bradley are determined to get their older grandchildren married off, but when twenty-eight-year-old Dylan comes home after being fired from his teaching position because of the betrayal of his ex-girlfriend, Perty knows her grandson has more important issues to deal with first.

Sassy understands her friend’s reservations about timing, but she also sees so many ways in which Dylan would be the perfect match for her thirty-four-year-old granddaughter Caylor. With his record of acclaimed paintings and Caylor’s bestselling novels, they could complement each other’s talents and provide each other support and encouragement. And there’s no denying the spark of attraction between the English professor with the untamed red hair and the painter with the unusual tattoos.

But neither grandmother realizes the secrets both Caylor and Dylan are keeping from each other. Will pain and embarrassment from the past keep Caylor and Dylan apart, or will they develop the courage to be truthful with each other and discover the true art of romance?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Celeste “Sassy” Evans might have had her driver’s license revoked for poor eyesight, but she could clearly see something was wrong. She added artificial sweetener and creamer to her coffee and studied the faces of the two women sitting across the large table from her.

So far, only she, Trina Breitinger, and Lindy Patterson were here—because the three of them had come together.

“So they’re really not getting married?” She hadn’t earned the nickname Sassy in college for keeping her nose out of other people’s business.

Trina’s dark brows furrowed. She exchanged a glance with Lindy before answering. “Oh, they’re getting married all right. Just not anytime soon.”

“Apparently, they think they need more time to get to know each other before they set a wedding date.” Lindy dunked her teabag in and out of her cup in a slow rhythm.

“Wait. We’re talking about Zarah and Bobby here, right? The ones who were practically engaged when they were younger. Correct?” Two weeks ago at Thanksgiving dinner, Trina’s granddaughter and Lindy’s grandson had announced their engagement—and told the story of how they had met and dated many years before.

Sassy figured since they’d known each other for so long, the engagement would be short and the wedding soon. “What about our pact? What about our agreement that we would work to get at least one of our grandchildren married so that we have a great-grandchild before. . .a certain other person in the senior-adult group?”

Trina arched an eyebrow. “Lindy and I aren’t the only ones with unmarried grandchildren.”

“No, but at least yours are engaged. Caylor doesn’t even go out on dates anymore. If it weren’t for me—and Zarah and Flannery—my granddaughter would have no social life whatsoever. How am I supposed to work with that, I ask?”

Trina and Lindy were saved from answering by the arrival of the other two-fifths of the group: Helen “Perty” Bradley and Maureen O’Connor. Sassy was about to catch them up on the conversation so far, then changed tacks when she caught sight of Perty’s expression.

“Why the long face, Perty? I swany, between you, Trina, and Lindy, people will think we just came from a funeral.”

Not even Sassy’s teasing put a smile on Perty Bradley’s face. “My oldest grandson has moved into our carriage house. I know, I know, that should make me happy. But from what little he’s told us, there was some big scandal when the art college learned he was romantically involved with one of the deans or something. I can’t get a straight answer out of him about exactly what happened. But whatever happened, he makes it sound like it’s going to be nearly impossible for him to get another professorship somewhere.”

The server arrived with their pitchers of pancake batter and ramekins of fruit and other toppings, the same thing they got every week when they descended upon the small, kitschy eatery in the Berry Hill neighborhood of Nashville. It had taken them a while to settle on a regular place for their Thursday morning get-together once the coffee shop they’d been going to down in Franklin had closed. But after their first visit to the Pfunky Griddle, they’d been hooked.

“He teaches art doesn’t he?” Sassy asked, lifting the jug of whole grain batter; Perty nodded. “Caylor said something the other day about Robertson having trouble filling their adjunct positions. Get a copy of his résumé, and I’ll have her pass it along to the appropriate people.”

Perty smirked. “Have Caylor pass it along? All I’d have to do is pick up the phone and make one call, and he’d be hired. I was the first woman president of our alma mater, if you recall.”

Lindy, Trina, and Maureen exchanged looks Sassy wasn’t sure she liked. More than sixty years ago, the three of them had come up with the nicknames Sassy and Perty for Celeste and Helen—nicknames that had stuck so hard even their grandchildren had picked them up and used them.

“What?” Sassy and Perty asked at the same time.

“Well, I know we’re not limiting the search for partners for our grandchildren to each other’s grandchildren.” Maureen leaned forward to sprinkle sliced strawberries on her pancake. “But, Sassy, Caylor is single. And Perty, your grandson—Dylan—is single. As is Dylan’s younger brother. Aren’t both of those boys college professors? Surely Caylor would like one of them.”

Sassy shook her head. “Caylor met Paxton at the family cookout in October. Said he was a nice guy, but far too young—at twenty-five, he’s almost ten years younger than her.”

Perty shook her head, too. “With Dylan just coming out of a relationship that cost him his job, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Sassy adopted her most serious expression. “We should work on getting the already-engaged couple to the altar. And Perty and I”—she looked to her best friend, who nodded in agreement—“will do what we can with our offspring. If we put our minds to it, we can accomplish anything. After all, we are the Matchmakers.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: http://kayedacus.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kayedacus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kayedacus

Thank you, Kaye, for the fun interview.

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

LOVE REMAINS - Kaye Dacus - Free Book

This series intrigues me, Kaye. How did you come up with the idea for this story?


The idea for Love Remains originally came to me back in 2002–2003 when I discovered a new coworker (a very handsome new coworker) had been stationed at White Sands Missile Range back in 1988 when he was in the Army. My father had still worked there at that time, so of course my imagination went wild with what-ifs. And because Jane Austen’s Persuasion is my favorite novel, those what-ifs started falling into a very Persuasion-ish kind of storyline, with a modern setting, naturally. I wrote the original draft of the story in 2003, but then set it aside after finishing it when I got the idea for Stand-In Groom. Last year, when looking for story ideas for a new series, I remembered Love Remains and knew it would be perfect to revamp for the new Matchmakers series.

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

My six invites would go out to Ronie Kendig, Tamara Leigh, Annalisa Daughety, Jen Stephens, Nicole O’Dell, and Jenny B. Jones. Why this group of people? Well, because I know Ronie, Tamara, Annalisa, and Jen from spending time with them, and I know Nicole from editing her books, and Jenny from being “agent sisters” (we’re both represented by Chip MacGregor) and sitting with her at the famous Clan MacGregor table at the ACFW banquet every year. And while there’s definitely a lot of romance writers in this group, it’s also a group of great individuals who have a lot to say about a lot of different topics. And that’s what makes a party fun.

I've spent time with some of those people. The party should really hop. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

This is so much harder to narrow down, because I know so many more historical fiction authors and wouldn’t want to leave anyone out. But if I could invite only six, I’d have to invite MaryLu Tyndall, Julie Klassen, Julie Lessman, Laura Frantz, Shar MacLaren, and Linda Windsor. Again, lots of romance going on with these authors’ books, but having met all of them (well—all except Laura, whom I’m looking forward to meeting at ACFW next month), I know this would be a great mix of interests and talents that would keep the conversation going until the wee hours of the morning.

Oh, yes. I've spent a lot of time laughing with Shar and Julie Lessman. 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?

For me, it’s a problem mixed in a blessing. With two publishing houses I’m writing for, each wanting to continue to put my books out (one house wanting to do two each year and the other publishing one each year), that means that I’m committed to writing three books every year. And because as a newer author, I didn’t have much say in negotiating my deadlines, it’s meant that for a couple of my books (this year), I’ve only had about two months to write them after finishing the previous book. And even with putting out three books a year, I’m still not able to be a “full-time writer.” I still have to work about three-quarter time as a freelance editor to pay the bills and have money for conferences and trips to visit my family. I’m actually working harder and more hours now than the few years when I was working full-time, attending college part-time, working as an officer for ACFW, and writing. But I wouldn’t give it up for anything. It’s my dream job, and, once the stress of deadline is over, a job I love having.

Tell us about the featured book.

Nashville native Bobby Patterson has just returned home after many years away to take a position with the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. His new job: lead a task force investigating potential real estate fraud connected with the Middle Tennessee Historic Preservation Commission. Zarah Mitchell, who’s worked at the Commission for more than a decade, is about to face a piece of history that could ruin the life she’s built in Nashville: Bobby Patterson—her first love and the reason her father kicked her out fourteen years ago. When Bobby realizes Zarah is part of his investigation, he is tempted to use his grandmother’s not-so-subtle setups as a way to learn if Zarah is involved in the fraud. Zarah, at her grandmother’s suggestion, tries to put the pain from the past aside to see if any love remains between her and Bobby. But when she learns he’s been investigating her, will she be able to forgive him a second time?

Oh, I like that. Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

“You’d think she won the lottery or something.” Katrina Breitinger glared at the woman flouncing by, nose in the air.

“She’ll be lording it over all of us until someone else achieves the same feat.” Lindy Patterson crossed her arms and blew a lock of blond hair from her eyes.

“One would think she’d be mortified that it happened when she’s still so young.” Celeste Evans craned her neck to continue watching the woman in question.

Helen Bradley made a derisive raspberry sound. “Young, my foot! You know she’s had work done.”

“The least she could do would be to stop coloring her own hair.” Maureen O’Connor touched her professionally hued auburn tresses. “Hers always looks so brassy.”

Trina clicked her tongue, feeling slightly guilty. “Listen to the five of us. Standing here being catty about someone in church.”

“You’re right. Someone might overhear us and tell her.” Lindy looked over both shoulders.

“We sound just like teenagers. It’s unbecoming of us to speak ill of someone else.” Trina set her lips in a firm line and looked at her four companions.

“To speak ill of her, but not to think ill of her?” Lindy, Trina’s best friend since high school, winked.

“You know what I mean. Honestly. We’re over eighty years old, and we’re still acting like sorority girls.” Trina raised her hand to signal her husband, who’d just entered the back of the sanctuary.

“But what are we going to do about her?” Helen jutted her chin toward the object of their ire.

“There’s nothing we can do. Until one of our grandchildren get married, she’ll keep taunting us with the fact that she’ll have great-grandchildren before we do.”

Lindy grabbed Trina’s arm. “That’s it!”

“What?” Maureen asked.

“All of us have grandkids who’re getting up into their twenties and thirties. High time they should be getting married.” Lindy pulled the rest of the girls into a huddle.

“Don’t remind us,” Helen wailed.

“No, listen. We make a pact. Since each of us prides ourselves on knowing our offspring well, we’re going to be very picky about whom our grandchildren choose. So we narrow the pool.”

Trina stared at Lindy, following the train of thought to the next logical step. “We set our grandkids up with each other’s grandkids.”

“Exactly! We take the guesswork out of finding suitable partners for them.”

“But how—?” Celeste’s question was cut off by the organist beginning the prelude.

“We’ll work that out later—we’ll talk about it at coffee on Thursday.” Lindy stuck her right hand into the middle of the circle. “Who’s with me?”

Trina hesitated only a second before placing her hand on top of Lindy’s. Celeste, Helen, and Maureen quickly followed suit.

Lindy looked around at each of them, beaming. “I hereby dub us the Matchmakers.”

Fun! How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love connecting with readers online! They can find me at:
http://kayedacus.com/
http://www.facebook.com/kayedacus
http://twitter.com/kayedacus

Thank you for this interesting interview, Kaye.
 
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. (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/

RANSOME'S CROSSING - Kaye Dacus - Free Book

Wonderful to have you back, Kaye. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I don’t consciously set out with a spiritual theme in mind—they seem to develop naturally as my characters do, as part of the conflict that comes from the character’s background and experiences. One that does tend to show up in many of my books is that of forgiveness—mainly because I think that’s something that we all struggle with and can relate with. Madeleine L’Engle once wrote, “Sometimes it is years after a book is published that I discover what some of it meant.” I’ve had people point out spiritual themes in my stories that I never intended or even realized were there.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

In addition to Ransome’s Crossing, coming out June 1, the first book in my new contemporary romance series The Matchmakers, Love Remains, comes out in August. I also have three books set to release in 2011, including Ransome’s Quest, the final book in The Ransome Trilogy.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I’d love to sit down with screenwriter/director Joss Whedon. He’s a great storyteller and brilliant at twists and turns as well as humor and world building. I’d love to spend a few hours brainstorming story ideas with him.

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

I would have to go for Louisa May Alcott. Her sense of humor shines through her fiction, but she had a serious side, too, which most people don’t know about because they’ve never read her nonfiction. Having grown up in the enclave of transcendentalists—her father, Emerson, Thoreau, Dickinson, etc.—in mid-nineteenth century New England as well as being someone who obviously had a vivid imagination, I would love to have a few hours to sit down and brainstorm story ideas with her because I know her perspectives would be unique.

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

Maybe it’s time to take a break from submitting and focus on writing something new, on pouring your energies on developing new story ideas, and on telling stories again. We sometimes get so focused on the business of writing that we forget the joy of simply sitting down and writing a story. And sometimes, we must reexamine our calling to make sure that trying to get published is what God wants us to do.

Tell us about the featured book?

Ransome’s Crossing is the second book in The Ransome Trilogy from Harvest House publishers. Picking up where Ransome’s Honor left off, it continues the story of William and Julia, while turning the focus onto William’s younger sister Charlotte and the goals only hinted at in the first book:

To get to her secret fiancé in Jamaica, Charlotte Ransome disguises herself as a midshipman and joins the crew of one of the ships in the convoy led by her brother William. First Lieutenant Ned Cochrane has only known his captain’s younger sister for a brief time, but is sure she’s the wife he’s been praying for—except he’s about to leave for the Caribbean for at least one year.

An attack on the convoy gains Ned the promotion to commander he has long dreaded—especially once he discovers one of his midshipmen is actually Charlotte Ransome in disguise. After seeking Julia’s advice, Ned decides to keep Charlotte’s secret…and hopes to win her love. Charlotte will soon discover that losing her heart to Ned is not the greatest danger she’ll face on this Atlantic crossing.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Ransome’s Crossing
Book Two of the Ransome Trilogy
ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-2754-3
Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
© 2010 by Kaye Dacus

Prologue
Gateacre, England
April 1803

A scream of agony bubbled up in Charlotte’s chest, but she stopped it before it could escape.

“The shoulder is reset.” The physician poked and prodded more, sending bolts of pain and waves of nausea through her body. But she managed to hold all at bay—except the two tears that escaped the corners of her eyes and ran down into her hair.
“So long as there is no injury to the spine, the child should recover full use of the arm. But it should be bound for two weeks, and she should be made to rest as much as possible.”

“Thank you.” Her brother William’s voice sounded harsh and gruff. But he’d been different since returning from Portsmouth six months ago—he no longer laughed, told stories, or drew pictures of fascinating sea-creatures for her.

She kept her undamaged arm over her eyes as the doctor bound her left arm in a sling. Some of the pain was gone. But she couldn’t bring herself to look at her oldest brother.

William thanked the doctor again. “That will be all.”
She heard the clink of coins then retreating footsteps. She risked a peek under her arm. William stood beside her bed, arms crossed.

“Tell me exactly how you came to fall off a rotted rope ladder ten feet from the ground.” Though soft, his voice carried such a tone of command that Charlotte cringed.

“Philip told me he did not think I could climb it. I told him I could—that I’ve been climbing it every day to practice for when I join the navy.”
William turned his back on her and stalked to the window. After a long pause, he returned to tower over her bedside. “I shall speak with Philip later. But I cannot believe the unladylike manner in which you have behaved. You know better than anyone that girls cannot join the Royal Navy.”

She struggled to sit up. “But, William, I know everything—the flags, the ropes, the bells, the ships’ ratings. I’ve been practicing climbing the rope ladder to Philip and James’s old tree fort so I can be ready to climb the shrouds to the mast tops.”
An odd expression flickered across her brother’s countenance, and for a moment she hoped he might relent.

“It matters not what you know or what you can do. Females are not allowed to join the navy.” He sighed and rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Charlotte, you are almost seven years old. It is past time for you to stop pretending you are a boy and start acting like a young lady. You will not be climbing shrouds to the top of any mast on any ship. You will stay here in Gateacre, attend to your schooling, and grow up to be a proper lady. Do you understand me?”

He never raised his voice, but her ears pounded as if he’d yelled the words at her. She clamped her teeth down on her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. How could he be such a mean . . . ogre? She wanted nothing more than to follow in her father’s and brothers’ footsteps.
“I’m waiting for an answer, Charlotte.”
“Yes. I understand.”

“Good.” He nodded curtly. “Now, you are to rest until dinner.” He left her room, shutting the door behind him.

Charlotte stuck her tongue out at the closed door and lay back down. She’d show them—all of them—that if she wanted to join the navy, no one would stop her.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at:
http://kayedacus.com/
http://twitter.com/kayedacus
http://www.facebook.com/kayedacus

Thank you, Kaye, for visiting with us again.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using the link when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

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/

A CASE FOR LOVE - Kaye Dacus - Free Book

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

For the near future, I’m focusing on the books I already have under contract. In the past twenty-four months, I’ve signed contracts for nine books: six contemporaries and three historicals. I’m currently writing contracted book #5 (the first book in a new contemporary series) and working on edits of contracted book #4 (the second book in the historical trilogy). I have four books to write in the next fifteen months, so between that and marketing each book as it releases, that’s pretty much what I see on the horizon—and I’m loving every minute of it. It’s what I always wanted to do.


Tell us a little about your family.

As a thirtysomething single woman, my household is comprised of just me, myself, and I. Which is why I travel as often as possible to go visit the rest of my family—my parents, who have recently retired to my dad’s hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and my grandmother and my sister and her family who live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My large extended family (my mother is the oldest of six children) is the inspiration for the large Guidry family in the Brides of Bonneterre series. While we’re much more geographically scattered than the Guidrys, it was fun imagining what our family dynamics might have been if we’d all stayed in Baton Rouge as the Guidrys have stayed in Bonneterre.

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

I don’t know it’s so much writing that’s changed my reading habits as it is a combination of two things: graduate school and working as an editor for the past several years. In graduate school, they taught us to read critically—to break a book down into its basic elements—plot, characters, themes—as well as critique it for craft. Then I started working full-time as an editor, which trained me to stay aloof from what I was reading and view it as a technical piece of writing not as a “story” which I was allowed to lose myself in. It’s very hard to turn off that internal critic/editor—but that’s how I know if a story is well written: if I can get lost in the story and not focus on the technicalities of the writing. Of course, between my own writing and the freelance editing I do, it’s hard to convince myself to sit down and read when I’ve spent eight or nine hours that day staring at words or developing a story.

What are you working on right now?

I’m finishing up the first book in my next contemporary series with Barbour. The series is called The Matchmakers and the first book is Love Remains. And as soon as I finish it, I’ll start on the final book in the Ransome Trilogy—in which we finally get to meet the pirates!

What outside interests do you have?

I love British and American history, everything from William the Conqueror to the late 19th Century American frontier. Because of this, I love costume-drama movies and miniseries. I’ve also recently taught myself to knit, and have become a master at producing “lap blankets” and scarves. (I’m great at the straight-line knit and purl stitches!) I hope to do a lot more traveling this year as well—I’d love to be able to take my first overseas trip (to England) before the year’s out.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I started developing the city of Bonneterre, Louisiana, in 1992 when I was a student at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a laugh, I started writing a “where will we all be in five years” story for my best friend, featuring us and some of our closest friends from school. Well, what started as a lark started to grow—and grew into a 300,000-word behemoth (about the length of three full novels!). I needed to fictionalize it, though, so I renamed all of the characters along with the college and the city. And that’s how Bonneterre came into existence. Once the city existed, I had to populate it, and that’s when the Guidry family came to be. Because I had worked within that fictional setting for more than ten years, it was only natural to use it for Stand-In Groom and its sequels, Menu for Romance and A Case for Love, because I knew it better than any other place I’d ever been. For my next contemporary series, I chose Nashville as a setting because, after living here fourteen years, I know it pretty well by now—and I love the idea of showing readers the Nashville I know, not the stereotype outsiders expect.

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

I know a lot of people would probably expect me to say Jane Austen here, but I would have to go for Louisa May Alcott. Her sense of humor shines through her fiction, but she had a serious side, too, which most people don’t know about because they’ve never read her nonfiction. Having grown up in the enclave of transcendentalists—her father, Emerson, Thoreau, Dickinson, etc.—in mid-nineteenth century New England as well as being someone who obviously had a vivid imagination, I would love to have a few hours to sit down and brainstorm story ideas with her because I know her perspectives would be unique.

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

How to do it. I started writing when I was twelve or thirteen years old, but it wasn’t until I was thirty years old that I had any training in how to actually craft a novel. If I’d had training earlier in life, I think many of the negative experiences that kept me from doing it until I was in my thirties probably wouldn’t have “stunted my growth” as a writer for so long.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Back in 2001, I made a prayerful goal that by the time I turned thirty-five (in 2006) I would be well along the path toward publication. The year I was thirty-five, I finished my master’s in Writing Popular Fiction, won second place in the ACFW Genesis Contest with my master’s thesis (Stand-In Groom), and signed with my wonderful agent, Chip MacGregor. The next year (2007), I signed my first book contract. In 2008, after two years working full-time at a publishing house, I prayed God would help me prepare to eventually be able to stop working full-time and be able to support myself with a combination of writing and freelance editing. In July 2008, I was laid-off from my job. Since then, there have been a few rough financial patches, and when I prayed about it, about whether or not I was supposed to go back out and work again, He “blessed” me with another three-book contract as well as a regular freelance editing job that basically equates to a part-time position (with the company from which I was laid-off). With four books to complete in the span of about fifteen months as well as the freelance work, He’s definitely teaching me perseverance—and to be careful what I ask for!

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

First, though the work is hard, stick with it. Seek out knowledge and mentorship, and learn how to take, process, and utilize criticism to make your work better. Don’t get antsy or impatient and jump out ahead of where God wants you to be on this journey. Take it one step at a time—and if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Second, understand that this is a business. Even though we write the stories we feel God has given us, the people making the decisions as to whether or not to publish your work are making business decisions. It’s not about ministry, it’s not personal. It’s business. Learn to interact with others—writers, agents, and editors—as a businessperson and build those networking contacts in a professional manner.

Third, don’t pin all your hopes to one story. Write, write, and keep writing. The more completed manuscripts you have, the more opportunities you have to submit—and the more manuscripts you complete, the better your skill becomes. Once a manuscript goes out for consideration, move on; write something else. Editors and agents want to know that an author has more than one story to tell. And if you’d like to write in more than one genre (such as contemporary and historical romance), having both manuscripts complete is a great way to prove that you can do it.

Tell us about the featured book.

A Case for Love is the third and final (?) book in the Brides of Bonneterre series, and it gives readers the story they’ve been clamoring for—that of everyone’s favorite control-freak, Forbes Guidry:

The Alaine Delacroix that all of Bonneterre knows is the carefully polished image she puts forth every day on her noontime news-magazine program. When her parents’ home and small business is threatened by the biggest corporation in town, Alaine is forced to choose between her image and fighting for the life her family has built.

Lawyer Forbes Guidry is used to making things go his way. But when he’s asked to take on a pro bono case for a colleague, he’ll learn that he can’t control everything—including his feelings for his new client: Alaine Delacroix.

Alaine’s only option to help her family is hiring Forbes, but can she bring herself to trust the handsome, disarmingly charming lawyer? And will Forbes Guidry be able to make a case for love before losing his job and family? Can both trust that God will present a solution before it’s too late?

Please give us the first page of the book.

“You did what?”

Forbes Guidry sank into the tall-backed leather chair, extremities numb, and stared at the couple sitting across the desk from him. As a partner in the largest law firm in Bonneterre, Louisiana, he’d heard a lot of shocking things over the fourteen years he’d been practicing. But nothing had hit him quite like this.

“We eloped.” His sister held up her left hand where a diamond wedding band had been added below the antique engagement ring she’d sported for the past three months. “I know you were looking forward to being Major’s best man, which is why we’re telling you before breaking it to the rest of the family.”

He hardly spared a glance at his best friend—now his brother-in-law—before pinning his gaze on his sister. “Meredith, this is a joke, right? What about the meeting Monday with Anne—the plans we discussed?” Sure, Meredith had been a little too quiet in that meeting, had voiced concerns about how big the wedding seemed to be growing, but she’d been coming off of working a huge event that weekend and had been tired . . . hadn’t she?

“Things were getting out of hand—had already gone too far.”

“Stop.” Forbes fought the urge to press his hands over his ears. “Way too much information.”

Major chuckled; Meredith frowned at both of them. “Oh, for mercy’s sake. I’m talking about the wedding plans. Neither of us wanted a big wedding, but every time we met with Anne—or you or anyone in the family—it grew exponentially. Especially once Mom and Dad stuck their oars in and started making lists of all of their business acquaintances that needed to be invited.”

Forbes stared at his sister, dumbfounded. He prided himself on knowing exactly what each member of his family was thinking before they ever thought it. How had this blindsided him so completely?

I love it. I can hardly wait to read the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://kayedacus.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kayedacus
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/kayedacus

Thank you, Kaye, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. Remember by using this link to order, you're helping support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


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.

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Author Kaye Dacus - STAND-IN GROOM - Free Book

I've watched Kaye during much of her journey to publication, and I'm pleased to introduce her to you with her debut book. Welcome, Kaye, tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

There’s usually a pretty good bit of me in every character I write, even when they’re nothing like me. Because I’m not an adventure-seeking kind of person, each character I create is a way for me to experience situations I would not necessarily want to put myself into, so it’s a way of living vicariously, of challenging myself to see what decisions I might make if I were faced with the kinds of conflicts I throw at my characters. The act of writing is an act of self-exploration, of stretching myself beyond the limitations on my own life—whether of my own making or of outside influence. And it is through my characters that I’m able to work through my personal struggles and issues by layering those emotions, questions, doubts, and concerns into the makeup of my characters.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’d have to say that the quirkiest thing I’ve ever done would be when I took Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren to the Bluebird Café a few years ago so they could experience one of the most iconic music venues in Nashville—and I spent most of the evening writing a chapter of Stand-In Groom on every napkin I could get my hands on.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

From the earliest age, I always lived in a world of imagination, but it wasn’t until I was in my early teens that I started actually putting my imaginings down on paper. The first thing I ever wrote that was more than just some scene or vignette that came to mind was when I started writing a “sequel” to my favorite YA romance novel, Victoria by Willo Davis Roberts. I never finished it. In fact, though I wrote prolifically through my teens, I never let anyone else read what I’d written until I took a creative writing class my senior year of high school—and was told that I should consider pursuing it further. Even though I majored in Creative Writing as an undergrad student, it wasn’t until after I attended my first writing conference (Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers’ Conference in 2001) that I began calling myself a “writer.”

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

I tend to enjoy stories that have a strong romantic thread, whether they’re contemporary or historical, or even fantasy, science fiction, political thrillers, or mysteries. As anyone who’s read my blog regularly knows, Jane Austen is my favorite author; and with a degree in English, I’m sure it’s not hard to imagine that I do tend to read classics often. I’m currently reading the works of Elizabeth Gaskell, an early Victorian contemporary of Charles Dickens, who gave us Cranford, North and South, and Wives and Daughters, all of which have been adapted to film in the past several years. While I love the snap and sparkle and pacing of modern writers, I also love to immerse myself in the flowing, descriptive language of our counterparts of two hundred years ago. This year, I set reading goals for myself, making sure I had a good balance of CBA, ABA, and classic fiction, including My Name Is Russell Fink by Michael Snyder, Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh, Shadow Music by Julie Garwood, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, Bleak House by Charles Dickens, and Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell.

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

I have a distinct advantage over a lot of people when it comes to this: I’m single and I live alone. Though I do desire to fall in love and marry, at this point in my life, singleness is a blessing, as it gives me the time I need not just for my writing, but for connecting with God and family and friends. I work a full-time, eight-to-five job as a copy editor, but my evenings are my own, with very few outside demands on my time other than those I’ve gladly taken on—such as writing deadlines! I go to the gym and workout with a friend every evening after work, and I swim on the weekends. It’s amazing the brainstorming I can get done while in the pool. In fact, it was while swimming that I came up with some of my favorite scenes in Stand-In Groom.

I have also learned over the years how to say NO. That was really hard for me for a very long time, as I always felt that people wouldn’t like me any more if I said I couldn’t do something or be somewhere. But six years of working fulltime and going to college/graduate school part-time helped me see the importance of prioritizing and not overcommitting myself. And all my friends still like me, even when I say no. :-)

How do you choose your characters’ names?

The characters’ names usually come to me along with the character, though that’s usually more true of my heroes than my heroines (my heroes usually come to me more fully formed than my heroines do too). When I first started writing Stand-In Groom, because my heroine wasn’t forthcoming with her name from the beginning, I named her Nell, my middle name. I wanted something classic with the strength of a one-syllable name. When I started submitting it for critique, however, so many questions came up about whether or not it was too autobiographical, with my heroine sharing part of my name, that I knew I had to change it. So Nell became Anne—and once I renamed her, it was amazing the transformation that the character underwent. She became more confident, a more successful businesswoman, and an all-around more well-rounded character.

I collect names from traditional places (baby name books, family genealogy), but also from more unusual places, such as movie credits or acknowledgment lists in books or CD-inserts. When I need a Cajun surname for someone in Bonneterre (the fictional Louisiana city where Stand-In Groom and its follow-up novels are set), I need look no further than my LSU yearbooks.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of the fact that, even though I took a detour or two along the way, I eventually got on track and followed the calling God put on my life to write and to teach others about writing. While the teaching I do isn’t in an official classroom, it’s through my blog and at my local writing group’s monthly meetings, every time I do it, I’m filled with a sense of accomplishment. Through teaching, I’m pursuing and fulfilling the desire God laid on my heart—to give others the encouragement and opportunity to learn and grow as writers that I didn’t get until I was almost thirty years old.

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

Even though I’m allergic and I’m not a big fan of them anyway, I think I’d have to say I’d want to be a cat. They can do whatever they want to do, act however they want to act, and their owners still dote on them. What a life!

What is your favorite food?

Because my father was stationed in New Mexico for most of my childhood, my favorite cuisine is New Mexico-style Mexican food—with plenty of green chiles and heat! But because that’s hard to get here in Tennessee, my second favorite is Popeye’s spicy fried chicken with a side of red-beans-and-rice and beignets for dessert—you can take the girl out of Louisiana, but you can’t take the Louisiana out of the girl!

Tell us a little about your journey to publication.

My journey to publication, like the majority of authors, is about perseverance. But for me, the perseverance led me along a somewhat different path. As I’ve already mentioned, I’ve spent my entire life making up stories. After having a wonderful experience in my high school creative writing class, I felt God was calling me to major in CW in college—both to write and to teach.

However, once I got there, I realized I didn’t write the kind of stuff that was expected—literary, dark, angst-ridden and modeled after Hemingway and Faulkner not Jane Austen or the contemporary romance authors I read. After being completely broken down to the point where I swore I’d never let anyone read anything I’d written again, I dropped out of college and started working full time—and I kept my writing secret again.

But after a few years, I couldn’t deny God’s calling on my life to finish my education, and to focus that education on writing. So, while working full time at Nashville’s daily newspaper, I went back to college part-time. The first class I took was the general Creative Writing course. My professor was so supportive and encouraging about my writing that I regained the confidence in the gift God had given me.

Then, in 2001, I “mysteriously” received a brochure in the mail for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers’ Conference. My parents “gave” it to me as an early thirtieth-birthday present. I vividly remember spending the second night of the conference shut up in my dorm room in tears—not because I was sad, but because I was so overwhelmed at being surrounded by other people who wrote the same kind of stories I did, who cut pictures out of magazines because the models looked like their characters, who could teach me the basic fundamentals of how to structure a novel—not just tell me to “write something and turn it in.”

At that conference, I met Rachel Hauck and Patty Smith Hall, who not only generously listened to me read from my (what I now know is poorly written) manuscript, but who suggested I join what was then known as American Christian Romance Writers (now ACFW).

While finishing college and getting started on my master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction (www.setonhill.edu), I became more and more involved in ACFW—first as a volunteer, then as an elected officer, and then as Vice President—and through that wonderful organization, I met mentors and critique partners and started networking with editors and agents.

In 2006, the first twenty-five pages of Stand-In Groom (then entitled Happy Endings Inc.) placed second in the ACFW Genesis contest. At that conference, I approached agent Chip MacGregor and asked if I could submit my proposal to him.

In January 2007, Chip signed me on as a client, and in December 2007, I received my first contract from Barbour, for Stand-In Groom. I have recently signed contracts for two follow-up books: Menu for Romance (Fall 2009 release) and A Case for Love (Spring 2010 release).

I wish I had some wonderful, encouraging story about being rejected so many hundreds of times and still sticking with it. The truth is that the first manuscript I ever submitted is being published. But it’s a manuscript that went through three years of critiquing, editing, and revisions before I felt it was ready to go out. And when I trace my journey back to 2003 when I originally came up with the idea for Stand-In Groom, after completing four other manuscripts, I started writing that book—and then stuck with it through the end—because I had faith in God’s promise that I was on the right path and doing what I was supposed to be doing.

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

For me, the biggest roadblock in writing was not finding a community of supportive, encouraging, loving writers from whom to learn until I was in my late twenties.

What advice would you give to others who are trying to get their first book published?

I work with a lot of “newbie” writers. The main piece of advice I always give them is: GET YOUR FIRST DRAFT FINISHED. If you’ve never completed a manuscript and you really want to pursue publication, the most important thing you can do is to complete your manuscript.

Two is even better. Don’t spend your time just revising and rewriting your first three chapters for contest entry or submission. I’ve learned more about writing by having to push through and finish manuscripts than I ever did by just playing around with stuff that isn’t finished.

Very good advice. What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

Stand-In Groom represents a life’s journey and a major dream-come-true for me. While I wrote it to entertain, I also hope that readers will be able to sense my desire to reflect Jesus’ light to others.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.kayedacus.com/

Thank you, Kaye, for spending this time with us. I'm sure readers and writers alike will gain a lot from reading about your journey.

Readers, you can order a copy of Stand-In Groom by using this link:

Visit Kaye's web site, and leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.