THE NANNY'S SECRET CHILD - Lorraine Beatty - One Free Book

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

I’ve been blessed to have written a dozen books for LI now, and I hope to continue. I have tried my hand at an historical novella but don’t know if that will pan out or not. I’m very content with my writing life now. I’d be happy to write these books until I’m no longer able.

I know what you mean. Tell us a little about your family.

My hubby and I have been married 48 years. I know! Wow. We have two sons. The oldest lives in Nashville with his wife and two grown daughters. The youngest son lives in Monroe, Louisiana, with his wife and three children – ages 13-5. They’ll be moving back here to Jackson this summer so it’ll be nice having them closer.

We were raised in Ohio but have lived in several places. We get home as often as possible to see everyone. We love to travel especially cruising. The bigger the ship the better. J

James and I have been on two cruises, and we loved it. Hope to do one again. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Yes. For the worse I’m afraid. I tend to only read Love Inspired books to keep abreast of the trends and keep the tone of the books in my mind. The only time I get to read other genres is between books. Then I usually catch up on my friends’ books.

What are you working on right now?

I’m putting the finishing touches on book # 4 in the Montgomery’s of Dover miniseries. It’s the third brother, Seth who left Dover for the police academy and has returned to find he has a son he never knew about. The lovely neighbor steps in to help but she has a past that won’t mesh well with a cop.

Sounds interesting. What outside interests do you have?

I love singing in my church choir. But mostly I like spending time with the grandkids. My garden takes up some of my time but not as much as it used too.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I love small towns so when I created my Home to Dover series I chose a town near my home that was founded in the late 1880s complete with courthouse square and surrounded by historic store fronts. From there on it was simply choosing the appropriate part of town for each character.

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

There are too many to choose but one would be Walt Disney. I’d love to hear about all his ideas.

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

That writing for commercial fiction isn’t about writing what you want but what they want.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

How to work through chronic pain. My writing has always been done when I’m in a good mood and feeling confident. Now I’m learning to work through new challenges and compartmentalize my writing. It’s actually helping me write faster. J

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

Be teachable. Be patient. Learn all you can about writing.

Tell us about the featured book.

It’s a different take on the story of a woman giving up her baby at birth. Those usually revolve around the child looking for the parent but in Julie’s case, she craves reassurance that the little girl she gave up is in a loving home. She takes a temporary job as a nanny to the child but ends up getting deeply involved in the life of the girl and her single dad to the point that she could hurt everyone with her deception.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“Turn right onto Sycamore Avenue. Your destination is on the right.”

Julianna Bishop followed the directions on her GPS and made the turn, searching the house numbers for one-twenty-two. The old established neighborhood in Dover, Mississippi, could have been lifted from a fifties’ television sitcom. Each home oozed charm, their appealing facades nestled on neatly landscaped yards that even the gray drab of January couldn’t dim. Full grown trees stripped of their leaves arched overhead, filtering the bright sunlight streaming down from a clear blue sky. Evergreen live oaks and giant magnolia trees added a splash of green to the winter landscapes.

The peaceful and picturesque surroundings were at odds with the violent storm raging inside her stomach. She swallowed hard against the tightness in her throat and searched the house numbers again. Heart pounding against her ribcage, Julie pressed down on the brakes, bringing the car to a full stop. She had arrived. One-twenty-two was a two story white colonial with black shutters, a red front door, and a lamppost at the edge of the sidewalk. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, turning her knuckles white. She was doing the right thing. Her prayers had been answered.

Her gaze surveyed the white house more closely. It matched her vision, exactly as she’d expected. It was a beautiful home, the kind of place where family’s laughed and loved and enjoyed each other. All that was missing was the white picket fence.

Closing her eyes, Julie inhaled slowly, hoping to settle her jittery nerves. The house and the neighborhood were reassuring. Everything would be fine. It would.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: lorrainebeatty.com all the other links can be found there.

I look forward to hearing from readers. 

Thank you, Lorraine, for sharing this new book with me and my readers.

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

The Nanny's Secret Child - Christianbook.com
The Nanny's Secret Child (Home to Dover) - Amazon
The Nanny's Secret Child (Home to Dover) - 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. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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

PROTECTING THE WIDOW'S HEART - Lorraine Beatty - One Free Book

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

Oh, wow, probably a lot. I tend to write heroines who are a lot like me and my heroes are similar to my husband. But there are many traits that my characters have that I don’t. That’s the fun part of writing, I get to infused those things into my story people and experience it through them.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Probably taking part in a local variety show when I was younger. I did a number with several other girls and we sang and danced to “I love you a bushel and a Peck” from Guys and Dolls. In checkered short skirts. Too funny.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In the seventh grade. My English teacher had us write a short story every week. I loved it and had so much fun. I still have a few of those really awful things packed away some place.

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

I love romance, contemporary, historical, classics. But every now and then I’ll pick up a suspense novel for fun.

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

I love to do jigsaw puzzles online, and when the weather is nice, I work in my garden and spend time in my gazebo. Spending time with the grandkids helps too. My favorite thing is for my husband and I to take short get-away trips to relax.

I love online jigsaw puzzles, too. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I usually have a personality type in mind when I get a new idea so I try to find a name that fits. Often times the names just come with the idea. Other times I have to hunt one down. I also try the hero and heroine’s names together to see how they sound.  I wouldn’t want a Nicky and Vicki combination.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Personally, my marriage. We just celebrated 46 years. Writing wise, that I came back. I stopped writing for five years then took it up again. I’m glad I didn’t quit forever.

James and I will be celebrating our 50^th this year. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

At this stage of my life probably a bird. I’d love to fly over everything God has created and take it all in.

What is your favorite food?

Bread pudding. My dad used to make it and when we moved south I found I could get it everywhere.

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

Plotting. I can come up with romantic scenes, internal conflict, great dialogue from here to next week but I really struggle with the plot. I’m reading books on plotting and trying to change my viewpoint when I first start a book. I’m trying to pay more attention to the plot idea before I get too involved with the other things.

Tell us about the featured book.

Protecting the Widow’s Heart is the third book in my Home to Dover series, and the third sibling. Ty Durrant is a Dallas cop who was wounded in action and has come home to Dover to recuperate only to find a woman and her son living in his lakeside cabin. The heroine and her young son are trying to get to her mother’s in Arizona but get stranded in Dover. Both the hero and heroine are facing fears that are holding them back from life and faith. A funny thing about this book, when I wrote the first book, Rekindled Romance, I wasn’t sure it would get published let alone the other two. I needed a reason for the parents in the first book to leave town so I just tossed in a son who was a cop and he’d been shot. I never dreamed I’d be blessed by telling his story too.

Sometimes it works like that. Please give us the first page of the book.

Ginger Sloan kept one hand on her son’s shoulder and one on her small suitcase as they topped the wooden stairs hugging the side of the raised lakeside cabin and followed their benefactor, Mr. Nelson Cooper, across the wide deck. A patio table and chairs, two large rocking chairs and a big grill barely made a dent in the expansive space. All had been covered in heavy plastic to protect them from the weather. A quick glance past the railing revealed a large body of water sparkling in the moonlight. Its beauty escaped her. All she could think of was how isolated the place was, and what a fool she’d been to lose track of time.

Her seven-year-old son, Elliot, had begged for a break from the cross-country drive they were making from Shelton, Connecticut, to the small town of Spring Valley near Phoenix, Arizona. He’d been so good about being cooped up in the car for two days she’d wanted to reward him. So when they’d seen a sign for a Mississippi State Park touting their expansive playground and a lake, she’d agreed to the small detour. But they’d lost track of time and had made a wrong turn leaving the park, ending up on the far side of the lake after dark. Thankfully, she’d spotted some cabins and stopped to ask directions. But when she’d turned the key in the ignition, her car had refused to start, leaving them stranded and dependent upon the kindness of strangers for help and causing every nerve in her body to tighten in anxiety.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.Lorrainebeatty.com

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

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. Protecting the Widow's Heart - Christianbook.com
Protecting the Widow's Heart (Love Inspired\Home to Dover) - Amazon
Protecting the Widow's Heart (Home to Dover) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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

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

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

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

CHRISTMAS AT MONMOUTH in PLANTATION CHRISTMAS WEDDINGS - Lorraine Beatty - One Free Book

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

I’d had an idea several years ago about a jilted bride who ended up managing the plantation where she was supposed to have been married. When we added the wedding element to our plantation stories, it all fell into place. It worked well as novella but I still want to write a longer version at some point.

What are you reading right now?

Book 3 in Sandra Robbins Smokey Mountain Dreams series, called Beyond These Hills, and Book 3 in Diane Ashley and Aaron McCarver’s Song of the River series, called Jasmine.

What other books have you had published?

Beautiful Dreamer – Heartsong Presents  Nov 2912

Rekindled Romance – Love Inspired  April 2013

Restoring His Heart – Love Inspired   June 2013

Protecting the Widow’s Heart – Love Inspired will come out in  March 2014

The Last Angel Song – Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine – Barbour Christmas Collection for 2014

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

I might be able to better answer that question after I finish the Bethlehem, Maine, story for next year’s book. Those stories will be more intertwined. This one was fairly simple since we all wrote about different estates and the stories take place in different years. My character, wedding planner Wreath Anderson, did make cameo appearances in each story so I looked those over and provided a brief sketch of her personality for the others to use.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

The biggest impact was getting to go to Natchez for research. What fun and what a rare opportunity. Now that the book is published, we’ll be able to do all the book signings as a team. We have a signing in Natchez in December, and we’re all looking forward to it. For two of our authors, Cynthia Leavelle and Virginia Vaughan, this was their first sale to a traditional publisher. That was one of the most exciting parts.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Usually they just come to me. I keep a list of potential names, and I like to pick names that have a good feel to them for each character. I don’t worry about the meaning of a name. I think more about what suits character. In the case of Christmas at Monmouth, I knew I wanted a holiday name, but the usual ones didn’t feel right – Noel, Holly, Chris. I knew a woman once whose name was Wreath, and I’d been waiting to use it. This was the perfect story. The hero’s name I picked because it sounded strong against her softer name.

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

I hope they are reminded that the vows we take are serious. I want people to remember that a wedding is about a long-term commitment. It’s a covenant not a dress-up day where the bride plays princess. I want them to remember that our Lord is a God of second chances who will, if we let him, give us blessings that are far beyond what we think we want or deserve.

I’ve read this book and loved it. Please give us the first page of your story for my readers.

Christmas at Monmouth

Wreath Anderson strolled through the hall of Monmouth Plantation, her gaze resting lovingly upon the antique furniture, the curved staircase and the colorful mural wallpaper. Of all the antebellum homes in Natchez, Monmouth was her favorite. The Early 19th century Greek revival with its large portico, broad zigzag railing, and four massive square pillars across the front, epitomized the image of a southern estate. Situated on twenty-six acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the historic property had evolved over the years into a five-star boutique hotel.

Chill winter air rushed around her ankles as she stepped outside, sending a shiver all the way up to her neck, and hastening her steps across the courtyard of the historic Inn. Winter in Natchez, Mississippi was always unpredictable. One day’s balmy spring-like weather could become a blustery sweater-and-boots day the next. Today had been a combination of both—warm in the morning and cold and windy by the afternoon.

As soon as she checked in with sales manager and event planner, Helen Fletcher, at the office, she’d head home, fix a pot of raspberry tea and snuggle up on the couch. But first she had a few wedding details to go over. Her business, The Wedding Wreath Bridal and Event Planning, was exceptionally busy this Christmas season. The next three weekends were packed full of luncheons, parties, a special benefit dinner and a small wedding at one of the historic plantations. But it was the wedding at the end of the month here at Monmouth that was churning up the past and keeping her off balance. The bride, Grace Donovan, had chosen an antebellum theme for her wedding, complete with period uniforms and hooped skirts. The same theme and the same venue as Wreath’s wedding six years ago. The wedding that never happened.

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

I am a member. I used to write the steamy books, but one day I was in my office working on one of those scenes and I thought,  if Jesus came in and asked me what I was doing, would I want him to see what I was writing? I wouldn’t have been. When I started writing again after a few years away from it, I decided to do Christian fiction. ACFW has been a valuable asset. I’ve learned so much from the other members, the resources, and mostly the yearly conference.

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

One of the first things I heard from another writer who had received a rejection letter from the editor of a prestigious literary magazine was this: Writing commercial fiction is about writing what they want. Not what you want. It took me many years to grasp what that meant, but when I did my writing journey took a huge turn for the better.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.Lorrainebeatty.com

http://lorrainebeatty.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/Lorrainebeattyauthor

http://www.pinterest.com/lcbeatty/boards/

Thank you, Lorraine, for sharing your new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Plantation Christmas Weddings - Christianbook.com
PLANTATION CHRISTMAS WEDDINGS (Romancing America) _ Amazon.com
Plantation Christmas Weddings: Four-in-One Romance Collection (Romancing America) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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

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

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

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