THE BELLE OF THE CONGAREE (THE SOUTHERN BELLES BRIDES COLLECTION) - Lauralee Bliss - One Free Book

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

I first thought my writing career was beginning to fade with only rejections, closed publishing houses, and other issues. Then I was chosen to be a part of this collection and several others. I’m also entering other areas of writing and have also just sold a magazine article. God isn’t done with any of us yet, and even if things appear to be cooling off for a season, prepare for a fire to be lit in His timing!

That is so true. Last year, I only wrote one novella. This year, I’ve already written one novella and two novels since January 1. Tell us a little about your family.

I’m married to my wonderful husband Steve for close to thirty years and have a son living in the Midwest. Right now our happy home is filled with three pups: Sky, Buddy and Eve.

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

I will read what I want to write to see what others have done and learn what the publisher is seeking, which is all part of learning the craft. But I realize too I have my own voice and ideas. I’m not out to be another author. I am who God created me to be with my own writing style and ideas, and that’s just fine with Him.

That’s so true. He created each of us unique. What are you working on right now?

I just completed a novella for Barbour’s Erie Canal Brides Collection, set along the famous waterway that revolutionized our nation, and releasing next spring. I am also finishing my nonfiction work about my adventures hiking the entire Florida Trail, set to release in 2019 through WhiteFire Publishing.

What outside interests do you have?

Hiking! I’ve completed the Appalachian Trail twice and also the Florida Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail of Vermont, and the Allegheny Trail of West Virginia. I also love to speak about hiking to both children and adults. Find out more about my adventures at www.blissfulhiking.com  

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I love to travel, so if I see an interesting place, I will think—now there’s a good place to set a great and moving story.

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

I would very much love to meet Abraham Lincoln and hear about his time as president during a very tumultuous time in our nation. I’m sure he would tell me that the trials of this day would very much pale by comparison to what was facing our nation back then.

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

Writing and publishing is a long process, filled with many more apparent downs than ups. But the one thing you must do is never give up on your calling, no matter what happens.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

To be patient, not to try and figure everything out, to rest and let Him handle the details of life.

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

• Write, write, write.
• Read books on writing. Attend conferences, do critiquing, learn all you can. Find mentors and a good agent.
• Don’t quit. 

Tell us about the featured book.

In my novella The Belle of the Congaree, Mason Bassinger reluctantly travels to war-torn South Carolina, seeking lands his carpetbagger brother can buy. Elisa Anderson barely survives after her family’s plantation is destroyed. She welcomes visits by the handsome and wealthy Mason, who makes the cottage by the Congaree feel like a home. But when Mason’s true purpose is revealed, will her heart be broken by betrayal?

Part of the Southern Belle Brides Collection where seven sweet and sassy ladies of yesterday experience romance in the southern states.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“Looks as if you’re about ready.”

Am I ready? Is anyone ever ready for anything in life? Especially when doubt comes sneaking in, ready to trip up plans or steal away the confidence that once led to a firm decision.

Mason Bassinger glanced at his saddlebags thrown over the croup of his mare Honey, the wool blanket that once adorned Mother’s bed, or so his brother Harold told him, rolled up and tied to the back. He was just a lad when she passed away, and couldn’t recollect things like the blanket on her bed. Harold had been the one to remind him of the past. Harold raised him. Provided for him. Guided him in the things of life. Now Harold was telling him it was time to leave. But all Mason could envision was falling off a rocky precipice if he rode away. Harold squinted at him.

“It’s going to be just fine,” he said, trying to alleviate the doubt that sought to disrupt the plans.

“You know what to do. We Bassingers have it in our blood to do good. It’s a part of us.”

Of course Mason knew what to do, but did he want to? Could he construe this mission as something good and godly? “I will go, Harold. But this is the last time.”

Harold stepped back, his brown eyes widening. “What do you mean?”

Mason threw his foot up to catch the stirrup and drew himself into the saddle. “Just as I said. I—I need to do other things.”

Harold’s mouth fell open. “You can’t turn your back on what’s happening. The business is doing so well. With what I’ve been told about the land down there in South Carolina after Sherman’s march, there’s a fortune to be made.”

Mason adjusted his hat atop his crop of dark brown hair, gritting his teeth as he did. He wished he could speak the words from the Good Book he’d read last night about the root of mammon and Harold’s incessant desire for money—

Interesting! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website:  http://www.lauraleebliss.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-of-Author-Lauralee-Bliss

Blog: http://www.blissfulwalk.com

Hiking Blog: http://www.blissfulhiking.com

Twitter:  @LauraleeBliss

Thank you, Lauralee, for sharing this new collection with me and my readers, especially your contribution to the book.

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Southern Belle Brides Collection: 7 Sweet and  - Christianbook.com
The Southern Belle Brides Collection: 7 Sweet and Sassy Ladies of Yesterday Experience Romance in the Southern States -  Amazon Paperback
The Southern Belle Brides Collection: 7 Sweet and Sassy Ladies of Yesterday Experience Romance in the Southern States - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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BLISS - Tracey Bowen and Jenness Walker - Free Book

Welcome, Tracey and Jenness. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Tracy: I can find something to laugh about in just about any situation so the humorous element in the stories is definitely reflective of me.

Jenness: I seem to pop up here and there—with beverage selections, other preferences, incidents from my life, etc.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Jenness: Um, I kind of live the whole quirky thing, so I can’t think of one incident to share, and Tracy’s in the same boat. :-) But if we’re talking about things that happen to me, I did get stuck in my truck for an hour with firemen standing guard as they waited for the power guy to show and remove the live downed power line from my bumper. Yes, I took good notes and it will end up in a novel somewhere.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Tracy: My love for books is almost as old as I am. My secret desire to write started in my teenage years, but I did not act on it. When my youngest son, Isaiah, was born ten weeks premature in 2004 he had a very long hospitalization and multiple ongoing health issues. I started a Caringbridge blog to keep family and friends updated on his progress. Blogging was therapeutic and fun. I have been writing in some form or the other ever since then. It was actually a blog that caught the attention of Jenness, and she asked me if I would be interested in co-authoring with her.

Jenness: In first grade I believed I was a shoe-in to win a writing/illustrating contest. Apparently I thought I was a writer all the way back then, even if the contest judges didn’t agree.

I had become a published author before my second grandson was in first grade. When we went for grandparents' day, he proudly showed me the book he'd made and told me he was both the author and the illustrator. I got a kick out of that. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Tracy: I just love books! My personal library is very eclectic.

Jenness: Though I tend to read more contemporary romance or romantic suspense, I frequently branch out to, well, just about anything.

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

Tracy: I walk at least three miles with a group of my closest friends almost every day. The fresh air and great conversation, with no one demanding anything of me, gives me fresh perspective and energy.

Jenness: Music, and girls’ nights out.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Tracy: :-) Eeny, meany, miney, moe. This is actually one of my least favorite parts of the process.

Jenness: I look online and also through a list of some favorites I’ve selected over the years. In a romance, the guy and girl’s names have to sound right together (to me), and, even though they rarely get married in the book, her first name also has to go with his last name. :-) Of course, I usually end of changing things because I have too many “A” names or Irish surnames. Maybe I should switch to Tracy’s method.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Tracy: That my husband and I have managed to reach seventeen years of marriage, and I love him more than ever before.

Jenness: Although I’m pretty proud of some amazing Black Friday deals I managed to get, I’ll say managing (which so much help from so many people) to have a novel published. When it’s something you’ve told people you’re going to do ever since first grade or so, it’s quite the relief when you actually pull it off. :-)

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

Tracy: I would like to say something majestic and graceful, like an eagle. The reality is that I would most likely be a monkey, sitting around picking through my kids’ fur.

Jenness: A meerkat—they make me laugh, and they look cute with potbellies. (Which ties in wonderfully with your next question.)

What is your favorite food?

Tracy: I love a good steak...and a good salad…and the Blooming Onion from Outback…and…okay, I confess, I just love food. :-)
Jenness: Depending on the mood I’m in…Cincinnati Chili, Santa Fe salad, my mom’s apple pie, various forms of chocolate…(Excuse me while I go grab a snack.)

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

Tracy: My greatest roadblock is time, and I am not sure that I have overcome it. My current plan is to sleep when I’m dead.

Jenness: Time and focus. And…I’m still working on it.

Tell us about the featured book.

Tracy: Bliss is about a girl who is trying to find herself. Our main desire was to show that God is the ultimate source of happiness, and to have a little fun in the process.

Jenness: Bliss comes at things a bit differently. Indie, our heroine, is intent on following the stars, but she keeps winding up in some crazy disaster. It takes a quirky cast of trailer park neighbors, a hunky boat captain, a moody roommate, a baker, and more, to help her meet the Maker of the stars.

Sounds really interesting. Please give us the first page of the book.

Perhaps if I had tripped over the heels of my chunky sandals the first day I came to Rabbit Hole, Kansas, I wouldn’t hate it here so much. Flat on your back, you at least get a break from the ever-present wind, and instead of never-ending plains of nothingness you can see…hmm, yes. That cloud looks just like an ice cream cone.

“Indie, babe, are you okay?”

My vision of calories is obstructed by masses of red curls and large, colored stones. Healing stones, to be exact. My mom thinks if one necklace can provide health for the body, then four should keep you in tip-top shape until the day you die—of old age, of course. They have yet to find a stone to cure that.

“I’m fine, Mom. Just couldn’t see over Miss Matilda.”

I’d rather blame the stuffed hippo sticking out of the box I carried than confess I tripped over my own shoes. Again. This is the fourth time they’ve landed me on my back. At least this time only two people—Mom and her main squeeze, Steve Gaines—witnessed my current disgrace. As opposed to an entire movie theater audience, like last year in Chicago.

I have a long list of similar humiliating events, and a corresponding list of the places I’ve lived. A few perks come with moving every year, like you don’t have to worry about running into someone who has watched you make an idiot out of yourself. New location, new audience.

“Maybe this is a sign.” Mom tucks a strand of that crazy hair—I can say that because she passed it down to me—behind her ear, and the strand of wooden beads on her arm becomes entangled in a dozen or so curls. While her hands flail as she attempts to extricate her hair from the beads, she says, “I think you still need me.”

Who needs who? With a deft twist of a curl, I set her free. “I have a sign, Mom. Pisces. And I am following it.”

“How do you know your horoscope meant for you to move to Florida? It’s so far away!”

“Everything is far away from Rabbit Hole.” But it’s a good question. It’s a shame I don’t have a good answer. I’m not going to tell her that the same day my horoscope told me to follow my sign, I learned Celine Dion had a home in South Florida.

Pisces is a water sign. Its symbol is fish. Water, fish. Together, those two practically scream South Florida. I’m not picky; if it’s good enough for Celine, it’s good enough for me.

I’m desperate to get out of Rabbit Hole, with its tornadoes, dusty roads, and, of course, my free spirit mother flitting from store to store—all three of them.

Horoscopes don’t come with specific instructions. Each reader must interpret the meaning. To give myself some credit, my reasoning has to be more sound than my mother’s—like the morning we picked up and left Dayton, Ohio, to move to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, because Mom’s daily horoscope stated, “Find the right path.” Right. Wright. Wright brothers. Why not? They ended up in Kitty Hawk, and so did we for ten whole months.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.tandjbooks.com/
http://www.jennesswalker.com/

Thank you, Tracey and Jenness, for the amusing 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.

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LOVE FINDS YOU IN BETHLEHEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE - Lauralee Bliss - Free Book

I know many of you are collecting all the Love Finds You books, so here's another one to add to your collection.

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

Each book is different in regards to a theme. I like to write an entertaining book that ministers to the heart. In each of my books I write a spiritual lesson that Christian readers can take away – from forgiveness, to being a servant, to finding hope and purpose in time of greatest need.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I have a three book contemporary romance series set in the beautiful state of Utah coming in 2010 by Heartsong Presents, Barbour Publishing. The first book, “Love’s Winding Path” is based on the biblical story of the Prodigal Son.

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

I would like to spend time with Sarah Palin. What an incredible Christian woman who is living in an incredible state and with her own fascinating journey as a wife, mother, grandmother, and political figure. I believe she is a true inspiration to all women seeking to embrace the call on their lives to go greater with God. I hope she writes a book!

Funny you should say that. Her memoir is releasing in November. How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Since I was fourteen when I wrote creative pieces for my English teachers. They were supportive of my early endeavors, and I owe a lot to them for putting me on the path I’m walking today.

What can you tell authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Rejection is a tough but a necessary road in the journey of a writer's life. I mean, we can’t have everything accepted. But when it seems like nothing is happening and the doors are closing everywhere, that's when faith must take over. You need to give your writing and its results to God and allow Him to open the doors when the timing is right. And one never knows when that will be. It is our job to make the most of the talent He has given us. One waters, another plants, but it is God that causes the growth.

Tell us about the featured book?

Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, is what one reader calls - a "twist" on the mail order bride story, sort of like the mail order bride meets up with My Fair Lady. In it there’s an uneducated and penniless orphan whose well meaning friend answers an ad for a bride, and the unsuspecting suitor who has no idea what to make of the woman who arrives at the train station. Even if he feels he cannot marry her, he will provide for her. But both are in for a surprise and a change of heart and attitude - thus leading to the idea of the first Bethlehem - that the most precious gifts don’t always come as they're expected.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

“I don’t know if I can make it!” cried a young voice.

The paintbrush shook in his hand, creating a zigzag of azure across the canvas. Tom Haskins tried to set the brush on the easel but it fell, coloring the blades of grass a murky blue. Nearby, a young couple stumbled out of the woods. The man supported a finely dressed lady who limped along, wincing in pain.

“What happened?” Tom called, hurrying to assist them.

“It was silly of me,” the young woman moaned. “You know the many rocks here. I was looking at a flower and didn’t see where I was going. I tripped.”

“My wife hurt her ankle,” the man continued. “I don’t think it’s broken. It’s all right, my love,” he now said to her in a soothing voice. “We’ll take you right away to the doctor and have it examined. I’m sure in a day or two you’ll be fine.”

“Oh, I hope so. I’d hate to ruin our holiday over such a foolish thing as this. You deserve it after all the hard work you put into the company.”

“Never fear, my dear. My carriage is there,” he said to Tom, pointing to the coach Tom had seen when he arrived to this fine wooded setting, not far from the town of Bethlehem.

What an interesting start for the story. I want to turn the page. How can readers find you on the Internet?

On my web site at http://www.lauraleebliss.com/
my blog, http://www.blissfulwritingthoughts.blogspot.com/
or look me up on Facebook – I’d love to be friends!
http://www.facebook.com/lauralee.bliss

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

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 BLUE & GRAY CHRISTMAS - Vickie McDonough, Lauralee Bliss, Tamela Hancock Murray, Carrie Turansky - 3 Free Books

This is the second of the Christmas novella collections I'm featuring this year on the blog. And the writing team is a really strong one. This will be a wonderful collection. The first author we're featuring is Vickie McDonough.

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

I wondered what would happen if a soldier from the North unwittingly fell in love with a woman from the South. My heroine has laryngitis, and the hero develops feelings for her because of her kindness to his mother and then grows to care for her. He doesn’t learn of her heritage until he’s already fallen for her. Makes for a great scene when he does find out. :-)

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading a contemporary romance by Gail G. Martin

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I’ve written 8 Heartsong novels and 8 novella collections. If you’d like more info about my books, please visit my website: http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/

Also coming out this fall is a Christmas novella collection called Wild West Christmas—but then you know about that, Lena, since you’re in it. :-)

Next April, my first long fiction book called The Anonymous Bride will be release.

Yes, we'll be hearing from Vickie again when I feature our novella collection. Vickie, what is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

This collection was fairly easy because the stories aren’t tied together other than by the Civil War theme. Collections that have sibling stories or ones all set in the same town are much harder. You have to make sure the farmhouse or town setting stays the same in all stories, as well as the looks and personalities of the characters. Those kind are a challenge, but fun to do and to read.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

I was able to deepen friendships with some ladies who I’ve worked with before.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

It varies. I look at their ethnicity sometimes. The location plays a factor. Where my character grew up is important. I wouldn’t name a hero from New York Billy Ray, but I might if he was from the South. Sometimes I just research an online Baby Name’s sight and search until I find a name that seems to fit the character.

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

That God ordains our steps even when we can’t see it. He’s with us in the most difficult times and wants to comfort us, if we’ll just turn to Him.

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

Yes! Because it’s the greatest fiction writers group in the world!

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

I went to a conference once, and the speaker passed around a tin can filled with all kinds of buttons. She said the button was the key to becoming a good writer and had us each take one and save it until she was done talking. Then she told us, “The key to being a great writer is to keep your “butt on” the chair and write. If you don’t write, you won’t ever finish a project, and the more you write, the better your writing becomes.

Very good advice, Vickie. Now we're going to meet one of you teammates, Lauralee Bliss.

Welcome, Lauralee. How did your story in the collection come about?

It came from extensive research I had done many years ago on the Fredericksburg campaign and from my own personal interest in Civil War history, living here in Virginia. And from a personal belief in the importance of covenant within relationships.

What are you reading right now?

Home to Hart’s Crossing by Robin Lee Hatcher right now and other Christian fiction to come.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I have written over fifteen books in various genres, from contemporary romance to suspense to historical and yes, even a science fiction trilogy (yet unpublished). Beside this collection, my other book due out is a historical romance with Summerside Press – Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. http://www.lauraleebliss.com/

I'm looking forward to featuring the Summerside book. I have one comeing out in May. What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Making sure that I do not disappoint the other members of the team. It is a team effort all the way, even if the stories are not related to each other, per se.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

It made me aware of the gifts we each have, the different styles of writing, and the importance of a good critique.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Names just come to me.

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

That no matter what happens or what trials we face, the covenant we make with our spouse is for life – until death do us part.

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

Yes. It is an invaluable place to network with other writers and grow in the writing ministry.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

T

o never give up and to keep writing.

Now we're talking with Tamela Hancock Murray. Welcome, Tamela. How did your story for the collection come about?

I was challenged to write about the war from the Northern viewpoint even though I’ve lived in the South all my life. I felt led to write about a pacifist hero. Writing such a plot proved exciting and rewarding. Through Barry, I lived another viewpoint.

What are you reading right now?

I am reading MY SON JOHN by Kathi Macias. This is quite a compelling and moving story by a talented author.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I have written many books, and all are listed on my web site at http://www.tamelahancockmurray.com/. One of my recent titles is THE MASTER’S MATCH from Barbour Publishing, an historical story that one reader described as “part Cinderella and part My Fair Lady.”

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

For me, it’s writing a story that fits in well with the rest of the collection while being unique. This aspect is always interesting and offers many opportunities for growth as a writer. For example, I had the privilege of writing a western for the BROTHERS OF THE OUTLAW TRAIL collection. And I doubt I would have proposed a full length story such as the one I wrote for A BLUE AND GRAY CHRISTMAS.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

I felt privileged to collaborate with such a talented team of authors. Writing with them, and about this era in history, expanded my horizons. I learned much about different events that took place during the war as I read their stories.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

One of my favorite books for choosing historical names is NAMES THROUGH THE AGES by Teresa Norman. This is an excellent resource for writers and a great read for historians.

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

Through Barry’s difficult relationship with his brother, I hope to show the value of loving the unlovable. Through Arabella’s stalwart devotion to Barry, I hope to encourage readers to stand by those they love. I also hope to show that pacifism isn’t necessarily cowardice.

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

Yes, I am a member of this wonderful organization. They offer sweet fellowship and support each other in an industry that isn’t the easiest career path.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

That if you write 1000 words a day, you will have a complete book in three months.

Now I'm introducing the last member of the team. Welcome, Carrie. How did your story for the collection come about?

Back in 2004 I was reading a book about women in the Civil War for a homeschooling project I was working on with my kids. Those one-page vignettes really stirred up my interest in the time period. Up until that time I had only written contemporary stories. I did some more research online and became very excited about several story ideas based on real people and situations. I shared the ideas with my critique partners, Vickie McDonough and Tamela Hancock Murray and also author-friend Kristy Dykes.

We met with Rebecca Germany at an ACFW Conference and shared the ideas with her. She agreed to take a look at our proposal, so we worked on that and sent it in. Though she liked the idea, she held on to it for a few years before finally contracting it in 2008.

Kristy was fighting a very brave battle against cancer at that time and decided to step down from our team. We invited Lauralee Bliss to be our fourth co-author, and she did a great job. We turned in our novella on February 1, and A Blue and Gray Christmas releases in September.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished reading Tammy Alexander’s novel, The Inheritance and enjoyed it very much. Other recent reads I would recommend: The Baby Bond, by Linda Goodnight. (Great characterization). Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts. (Wonderful debut novel).

What other books have you written, whether published or not.

Carrie’s Published titles:
Along Came Love, Steeple Hill Love Inspired
Wherever Love Takes Us in Wedded Bliss? Barbour
Tea for Two in Kiss the Bride, Barbour
Moonlight and Mistletoe in A Big Apple Christmas, Barbour
A Shelter in the Storm in A Blue and Gray Christmas, Barbour
Home To Fairhaven, Steeple Hill Love Inspired 2010
Carrie’s Unpublished:
Kenya Calling
Promises
Garden of Secrets
Coincidentally Yours
Surrendered Hearts

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

The first challenge is finding like-minded authors who are excited about the story ideas and willing to work together to develop complimentary novellas. I was very blessed to partner with Tamela, Vickie, Kristy, and Lauralee. Each woman is multi-published and very talented. I learned so much from working with them.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Working on this team challenged me to do my very best. We critiqued for each other as we were writing our novellas, and I think that made all of our stories stronger. I am very pleased with the final version that each author turned in. I’m confident our readers will enjoy this collection.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I use baby books, and online lists. For historical books, I look at census lists from that time period. I also keep a running list of names I like.

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

I hope readers of Shelter in the Storm will be reminded that God is constant strength and comfort when we go through the storms of life. He can be trusted to lead us and guide us, but we must turn to Him and trust Him each step of the way.

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

Yes, I have been a member of ACFW since 2000. I have learned so much from this wonderful group of writers! I don’t think I would be published if it were not for the friendships and knowledge I have gained from ACFW. I highly recommend it to all aspiring fiction authors.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Kristy Dykes encourage me to keep on writing and never give up. Her faith and trust in God and His goodness continue to inspire me even after her passing. Her example of balancing love for her husband and commitment to ministry as well as writing were also great examples that continue to impact me. I will always be thankful for her friendship and the way she mentored me in life and in writing.

Vickie, Lauralee, Tamela, and Carrie, thank you for spending this time with us.

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