SAFE HAVEN RANCH - Louise M Gouge - One Free Book

Bio: South Carolina author, Louise M. Gouge, writes contemporary and historical romance fiction, winning the prestigious IRCA in 2006 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She was also a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards in 2005, 2007, and 2008, and placed in the Laurel Wreath contest in 2012. Most recently, she was a finalist in the 2023 Selah Awards and is a current finalist for the 2024 Selah Awards. A former college English and humanities professor, Louise is a member of the Christian PEN and has been copyediting for well-known authors for fifteen years. Married for fifty-four happy years to her husband, David, Louise is now widowed and spends her days researching and writing her next novel.

Welcome back to my bog, Louise. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take? After publishing about thirty historical Christian romances with various publishers, I am now moving into contemporary Christian romance. My current release, Safe Haven Ranch, is contemporary.

What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them? Although I loved to attend conferences in the past, I’m not able to travel anymore. I would be delighted if a conference were held within driving distance of my new home in Columbia, South Carolina.

I understand that. I’m not traveling anymore either. If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why? Because I have a copyediting business in addition to my writing, I would plan a panel discussion about the importance of writers honing their grammar, punctuation, and usage skills. I would invite Kathy Ide and Jeanne Marie Leach to be on the panel. Kathy began the Christian PEN, of which I am a member, and she has written numerous books to help authors write well. Jeanne Marie wrote Christian romance novels before discovering her special gift for editing, which she now does full time. Both of these women have a lot to offer both new and experienced authors.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations? I love being a part of ACFW. In fact, I think my membership number is something like 90 or 190, so I’ve been around since close to the beginning. I am published because of connections I made through ACFW. I’m also a member of FHLCW, and the same goes for this group. I love the online fellowship in both groups and continue to learn from my fellow authors.

My ACFW membership number is 45. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer? Physical limitations prevent me from volunteering other than online prayer ministries.

I’m a part of the prayer ministry at my church, too. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how? My maternal grandmother often quoted scripture to me and helped ground my faith when I was quite small. My late husband was a constant source of encouragement to me in my writing, and I miss his input in my stories. My oldest daughter became a widow shortly after her second child was born, and her courage and resilience have been an example to me. My mother was a wonderful mom to her four children, and I tried to model my own mothering after hers. My father’s patriotism and courage in fighting in both world wars makes me proud to be an American.

I became a widow last October after 59 years with my husband. If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be? Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe.

Please tell us about the featured book. As mentioned before, Safe Haven Ranch is my first contemporary for Love Inspired. A special note about this book is that it’s a sequel to my historical series, Finding Her Frontier Family and Finding Her Frontier Home. It was so much fun to write about later generations of the fictional Mattson family of ranchers in New Mexico.

Here’s the back cover copy:

Can two little children help turn a feud into a family? It should be easy for widow Olivia Ortiz to despise Will Mattson, the man keeping her from buying the ranchland she needs for herself and her daughter, Emily. But when Emily becomes instant friends with Will’s nephew, Jemmy, Olivia and Will find themselves growing closer as well. And as Olivia’s feelings for the handsome cowboy shift, competing for the property could be the start of something more…

Please share the first page with us.

Outside Riverton, New Mexico

“You what?”

Olivia Ortiz stared at her elderly neighbor, barely sparing a glance at his too-handsome companion. “But, Albert, you promised to sell your land to me.” She was standing in her own driveway, hands fisted at her waist in a defensive posture.

“I know, I know.” Albert Winslow shrugged his bony shoulders and gave her an apologetic smile. “But wait ’til you hear what he has planned, and I think you’ll like it. Will, how about you tell Miss Olivia what you have planned.” As usual, the almost ninety-year-old gentleman repeated himself. He looked up at his much taller companion. “I think she’ll like it.”

“Um…” The younger man, who fit the very definition of a tall, dark and handsome cowboy—with curly black hair thrown in for good measure—grinned, and his blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight, causing a silly hiccup in Olivia’s chest. “Don’t you think you should introduce us first?”

“Oh.” Albert blinked and looked from him to Olivia and back again. “Sure thing. Miss Olivia, this is Will Mattson. Known this boy all his life. He’s the grandson of my old friend Andy Mattson, Lord rest his soul. Will, this is Olivia Ortiz. She and her father own this property.” He waved a hand around to include the fifteen acres that comprised her land, just over a quarter the size of his own fifty acres. Centered by matching pink adobe houses, the two properties were separated by a four-foot fieldstone fence, with a single flimsy, never-locked, much-used gate between them.

Will reached out a hand. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” He gave her a wide smile, revealing perfect white teeth set off by his perfectly tanned complexion, which caused another hiccup near her heart.

What was wrong with her? She wasn’t about to let herself fall for this man…or any man. No one could ever replace Sancho. Still, she briefly shook his hand as his name registered in her brain.

“Mattson? Are you…?” Annoyance replaced the shock that Albert’s devastating news had delivered.

“Yes, ma’am.” There went that cowboy “ma’am” thing again, punctuated by a boyish shuffling of his western boots on the dusty ground. “Can’t escape it around here.”

“Well, if you’re a Mattson, why do you need this small property to add to the…what is it? Eight or ten thousand acres your family owns?” She didn’t mean to sound so confrontational, but Albert had just crashed her desperately held dreams, so her social filters were crashing, too. “You plan to buy the whole county?”

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Web site at https://louisemgougeauthor.blogspot.com/ 

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

Follow me on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/louise-m-gouge

Thank you, Louise, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. You know how much I love your books.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

Safe Haven Ranch

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

COWBOY TO THE RESCUE - Louise Gouge - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I've loved reading Louise's books for a number of years. I was really interested in reading Cowboy to the Rescue. I loved this story told against a tapestry of beautiful Colorado with overtone remnants of the Civil war. The characters  grabbed my heart and held on. Trials and miracles added to the flavor of the story. You won't want to miss this one.

Bio: Award-winning Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes historical fiction for Harlequin's Love Inspired imprint. In addition to numerous other awards, Louise is the recipient of the prestigious Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award for her 2005 historical novel, Hannah Rose (first place) and her 2011 Regency novella, The Gentleman Takes a Bride, (second place). Please visit her Web site at http://blog.Louisemgouge.com

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

I love to write about God’s grace and forgiveness. Too many people think they have to work hard to please the Lord, but all they have to do is accept the free gift of His salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. This message becomes more important as spiritual truths are shoved to the sides more and more in the public arena.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Cowboy Seeks a Bride, the second book in my Four Stones Ranch series, is set to release in January 2015. This is the story of Rand Northam, a former prodigal son who is trying to change his ways.

I also recently released in indie novella, Daughter of Destiny, the story of a missionary bride who returns to the South Pacific Island of her birth in 1822, where the islanders welcome her as a personification of their volcano goddess, Pele. Leah Smith’s greatest challenge is convincing the islanders that she is as human as they are and every bit as needy of God’s love and redemption as they are.

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

This may sound funny, but I’d like to meet Dolly Parton. She seems very real and honest, and from what I’ve heard and read, she’s a Christian. I’d love to hear about her spiritual journey.

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

So many come to mind that it’s hard to choose. Today I was thinking about Mary Magdalene and all the controversy surrounding her. Was she a harlot or a madwoman? What was her life like before she met Jesus and after she became His disciple?

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

For those who aspire to be published traditionally, the most important thing to remember is how many times some of our greatest writers were rejected. You must keep trying. No matter how many times you’ve heard “no,” the very next publisher you approach may say, “This is the book we’ve been looking for.” In the meantime, keep working on your craft and network as much as you can with other writers.

Tell us about the featured book.

This is my first western, and I’m very excited to be writing in this genre. During my childhood, I watched many western movies and television shows, so they’re a great love of mine. I set my series in the beautiful San Luis Valley of Colorado, where I lived for many years.

Here’s the blurb:

Though Georgia belle Susanna Anders agrees to accompany her father on a silver prospecting trip to Colorado, her heart belongs to the South. Then charming cowboy Nate Northam saves her father's life and gives them shelter at his ranch. Feeling gratitude is only natural, but falling for a Yankee? Both of their families would be outraged. 

While Susanna's father recovers at the Northams' home, Nate can't help being drawn to the sweet Southern beauty … and wishing he were free to think of courtship. That is until shocking revelations compel both Nate and Susanna to choose where their loyalties lie—fettered to the past or to the promise of a bold new love …. 

Four Stones Ranch: Love finds a home out West

Please give us the first page of the book.

June 1878

Daddy wouldn’t make it through another bitter-cold night. Susanna wasn’t even sure how she’d managed not to freeze to death on this Colorado mountainside over the past ten or so hours. Maybe her anger had kept her alive, a real rage like some folks back home in Georgia still felt toward the North and all Yankees. For the first time in all her nineteen years, she understood firsthand how they felt.

The only trouble was that she had no idea whom to hate. Still, if God brought them out of this predicament, she would see to it that justice was meted out on whoever robbed Daddy, beat him almost to death and left him to die amid their scattered belongings. If Susanna hadn’t been over the hill fetching water for their supper, she had no doubt those men would have done their worst to her, as well. Always the protector, Daddy had managed to tell her that when the villains had demanded to know who owned the female fripperies in the wagon, he’d told them his wife had been buried on the trail. Such a lie must have cost her truthful father dearly, but it had saved her from unknown horrors.

She placed a small log on the fire and used a poker to stir the flames she had somehow kept alive throughout the night. The sun had just begun to shed some light on La Veta Pass, so the day should soon warm up enough for her to make plans about how to get out of this mess. Daddy’s fever didn’t seem too high. Or maybe the cold just made his clammy skin seem cooler. No matter. She had to find a way to get them down into the San Luis Valley to a ranch house or town. One thing was sure. His silver prospecting would have to wait until he recovered.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Come visit me at http://blog.Louisemgouge.com ! 

Thank you, Louise, for letting me share this new book with my readers.

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

Cowboy to the Rescue - Christianbook.com
Cowboy to the Rescue (Love Inspired Historical\Four Stones Ran) - Amazon
Cowboy to the Rescue (Four Stones Ranch) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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

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

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

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

THE WEDDING SEASON: THE GENTLEMAN TAKES A BRIDE - Louise Gouge - Free Book

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

This is a question I’m delighted to answer. For the first time in my writing career, my publisher asked me to write a book on a particular topic, in this case, a novella about a Regency wedding. I polled some writer friends who write in this era, and they helped me come up with the “interrupted wedding” scenario. I invited characters from my Revolutionary War series to join me on this journey, and they accepted. After all, their children would be coming of age during the Regency period. Add some titled antagonists, a Jane Austen-y picnic, a masquerade ball, a broken marriage contract, and more than a few broken hearts, and you have an exciting time in 1810 England.

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

Well, you’re going to think I’m a terrible snob, but I don’t read contemporary fiction at all. You see, I like to live in the past . . . at least in my writing and reading, so I have no idea whom to invite. However, I am open to suggestions. Maybe someone who writes both contemporary and historical?

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Ah, this is a bit easier, but not much. I would invite my friends Ramona Cecil, MaryLu Tyndall, and Laurie Alice Eakes, because each of them writes beautiful, compelling stories that take me on grand journeys into the past. I would invite all of my fellow Love Inspired Historical writers (Is that cheating?) because I love our line and they are all so talented. And how about you, Lena? Would you come? Your historical novels are always a delight.

Of course. I wouldn’t miss it. 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?

Actually, I’m between contracts right now. These are the hardest times for any author because we tend to believe our writing careers are over. We’re such a sensitive bunch. But if I truly believe my life verse, Psalm 47:4, that the Lord will choose our “inheritance” for us, which I believe means He has a plan for my life, then I certainly can trust that He will direct me in the path He wants me to take. My job is to keep writing proposals and keep looking to Him for the future He has chosen for me.

I so agree with you on that. Tell us about the featured book.

The Wedding Season: The Gentleman Takes a Bride (Love Inspired Historical). A Regency miss falls in love with a handsome gentleman despite the fact that he has just destroyed her beloved cousin's happiness. June 2011, Louise M. Gouge

I love the cover of your book. Please give us the first page.

Hampshire, England

June 1810 

“I will not settle for an untitled husband.” Lady Diana Moberly lifted her pretty little nose and sniffed. “I shall find a peer to marry, or I’ll not marry at all.”

     Seated beside her cousin in St. Andrew’s Church, Miss Elizabeth Moberly listened with rapt attention. After all, Di had just returned from her first London Season and knew everything about courtship and marriage. And in a few minutes, the wedding ceremony would begin, and Di’s older sister would marry a handsome gentleman she met at Almack’s only two months ago. An untitled gentleman. Di insisted she would do better.

     Before Elizabeth could voice agreement, her other cousin, Miss Prudence Moberly, squeezed Elizabeth’s hand and leaned around her to address Di.  

     “But what if the Lord wills for you to marry a good Christian gentleman without a title?”

     Elizabeth swung her attention from Pru back to Di.

     Di sniffed again. “La, such a question, Pru, but just what I would expect from you. Haven’t I told you? The Almighty and I have an understanding about such things.” She gazed down her nose at Pru.

     Elizabeth released a quiet sigh. She and her two cousins had been born within months of each other eighteen years ago. The youngest daughters of three brothers, they looked almost like triplets, with blond hair, blue eyes, and ivory complexions. They had enjoyed a merry childhood together, yet these days their views on most everything were different. Di was always ready with an opinion on any topic and brooked no contradiction. Pru was the sweetest soul, but she never backed down from differences with their more influential cousin, especially on spiritual matters. Elizabeth vacillated between the two, but these days she tended to follow Di, who always seemed to have more fun.

     Still, Elizabeth could not deny the peace she felt in this small stone church, which her family had attended for over two centuries. Nor could she guess how many relatives had been baptized here or how many lay buried in the ancient graveyard outside. This building was a place of beginnings and endings and all good things in between. Whenever she came here, it seemed to enfold her in sheltering arms, encouraging her always to seek God’s will, whatever she might undertake in life.

     Perhaps she could take the advice of both cousins. She would ask the Lord to send her a titled Christian husband.

     But this was Sophia’s day, and Elizabeth wished her great happiness with Mr. Whitson. Today, all things seemed to smile upon the bride. The sun shone brightly, and no one in their vast family had succumbed to illness to spoil the celebration. Flowers from Aunt Bennington’s garden and bright green and yellow ribbons bedecked the altar and the pew ends, filling the air with the heady fragrance of roses.

     The rustling of ladies’ gowns and the shuffling of leather shoes on the wooden floor across the aisle caught Elizabeth’s attention, and she glanced over her shoulder. Several people had moved down so a tall young man of perhaps three and twenty years could slide into the pew.

     Goodness, he was handsome, if a bit untidy. His wavy black hair appeared to have been arranged by the wind, and his black coat, while quite the mode, had a leaf caught under one lapel and perhaps a stray burr or two clinging to the sleeves. His lean, strong jaw was clenched, and his blue eyes gleamed with the look of a man set on accomplishing an important task. The gentleman must have ridden posthaste to arrive in such a condition. At the sight of him, Elizabeth’s heart seemed to hiccough.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My blog and website are the same: http://blog.louisemgouge.com . Come on over and visit me.

Thank you, Louise, for the interesting 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

AT THE CAPTAIN'S COMMAND - Louise Gouge - Free Boon

So glad to welcome you back to my blog, dear friend. Tell us about your salvation experience.

Lena, there never was a time in my life when I didn’t know for certain that Jesus was my Savior. I remember going to Sunday school when I was very small, and our sweet teacher told our class about God’s salvation. I believed with the innocence of a child, and from that time on, I loved learning about Jesus. At first, John 3:16 was the verse that I loved the most because it encapsulates all the Truth of salvation. Then I fell in love with Ephesians 1:6, “He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” What a precious truth. Finally, Psalm 47:4 says, “He shall choose our inheritance for us.” I believe that means God has chosen a path for each of us, and to seek and follow that path leads to the greatest joy in life and for eternity.

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

Because I write historical fiction, I would love to sit down with authors of the past whose work I admire and who have influenced me. I would choose Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, and Lew Wallace. The first three are English authors who really understood human nature, both good and evil, and the tragedy that strict social structures can cause. Wallace wrote Ben Hur after spending several years trying to prove God did not exist. At the end of his journey, he found Jesus, just like his character. These authors could tell me what life was truly like in their time periods, and with that knowledge, I could write more realistic stories.

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

I do have a speaking ministry, but it’s not the typical kind. I teach Composition and Humanities at a community college, and I begin each class with a “thought for the day.” Sometimes these are Bible verses or quotations from great Bible teachers, other times they are words of wisdom from secular sources that reflect biblical truths. In my course work, I assign stories that honor God. In classroom discussions, I try to draw out Christian students and give them the opportunity to share their faith. While I can’t preach to my students, I do try to be a light for the Lord in my fairness and (I hope) kindness to each student.

Sounds like a delightful class. 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?

I tell people the same thing my friend said in 1984 when I told her I wanted to write a book: Go home and write it! So I did. Then, after going back to college and getting my degree in creative writing, I was able to edit that book, and it became my first publishing credit. I always tell people, “If I can do it, you can do it. So go do it!

Tell us about the featured book.

At the Captain’s Command is the third book in my Revolutionary War series with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line. Loyal to the British Crown, orphaned Dinah Templeton has vowed never to marry a seafaring man, for her father died at sea and her merchant captain brother is always away. But when Captain Thomas Moberly sails into St. Augustine to defend the East Florida shores from American pirates, Dinah finds that her heart may overrule her head regarding this seafarer. Captain Thomas Moberly, captain of HMS Dauntless, has been assigned to capture the notorious American pirate Nighthawk, who plagues the Atlantic coast of East Florida. War-weary and hoping for a refreshing visit with his brother and sister, who live near St. Augustine, Thomas never expects to find love. But how can he resist the lovely Miss Templeton, even though she is what his father, Lord Bennington, would call a common American?

An intriguing story idea. Please give us the first page of the book.

May 1780
St. Augustine, East Florida Colony

The instant Dinah saw the three naval officers, she ducked into the mercantile and hid among the stacks of goods. To her relief, the men, grandly uniformed in indigo wool, gold braid, and black bicorne hats, continued up St. George Street. Yet she could not help but notice the well-formed profile of the captain among them. A strong jaw. High cheekbones. Jet-black hair tied back in a queue. She wondered what color his eyes were.

What was she thinking? She quickly turned her attention to a display of awls and knives laid out on a shelf.

"How may I help you, Miss Templeton?" The rotund, middle-aged proprietor approached her, admiration gleaming in his dark eyes. "Some silk for a new gown, perhaps? My latest shipment of lace has arrived and—"

"No, thank you." Dinah lifted her basket of lavender flowers from her arm and held it like a shield as the widower moved closer. Coming in here had been a mistake.

"I do not require anything." Tension tightening in her chest, she hurried toward the door.

He reached it first, and his eyebrows arched. "I have tea from China and…"

Dinah drew herself up to her full height and lifted her chin. "Please allow me to pass, Mr. Waterston."

I can hardly wait to read it, and my copy arrived today. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://blog.louisemgouge.com/. I’m also on Goodreads.

Thank you, Lena, for having me as your guest!

My pleasure, Louise. Come back anytime.
 
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 THINE ENEMY - Louise M. Gouge - Free Book

We haven't seen Louise on this blog for a long time. Welcome back, Louise. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

My favorite theme is God’s amazing grace. In all my stories, I try to bring out the eternal truth that God has completed all the work necessary for our salvation. When Jesus said on the Cross, "It is finished," He meant finished. We have only to believe in Him as the sacrifice for our sins, and we have eternal life with Him. Once we accept that salvation, we should to tap into that same grace of God to grow into the people He wants us to be. Those are the themes I love to write about. One of my favorite songs from childhood is, "I love to tell the story … of Jesus and His love." It’s a lifelong passion of mine.

A wonderful passion! What other books of yours are coming out soon?

The next book in my Revolutionary War series is The Captain’s Lady, a Love Inspired Historical due to be released in March 2010.

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

Oh, dear, this is a hard question. I’ve reached the point in my life where I feel a certain contentment and don’t ache to be in another place or with another person other than the ones around me. God has been so good to me. While we don’t have much materially, we do have each other. No doubt, my feelings come from my husband’s recent bout with cancer, his making it through surgery and treatment, my widowed daughter and grandchildren sharing our home, and our sons doing well in their careers. To me, this is what life is all about.

How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

I have always had an active imagination, creating stories very early in my childhood and writing term papers in the forms of plays and short stories. When my children were growing up, I invented bedtime stories and songs, and also wrote many church plays. Then, at the urging of a friend, I began my first novel, a contemporary romance. It was so much fun that I decided to keep writing. I’ve been writing since 1984. I sold that contemporary romance in the early 90s, and it came out in 1994. But before I tried to sell it, I went back to college and earned a creative writing degree so I wouldn’t embarrass myself when I submitted it to editors.

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

Writing is only partly about your dreams. Book publishing is a business. Editors know what they’re looking for, what will sell, and what their publishing house needs. Since I want to sell my stories, I need to hone my writing skills and then find out what’s working in the book market these days and aim my writing in that direction.

Tell us about the featured book?

Here’s the back cover blurb. It encapsulates everything about the characters and conflicts:

The tropics of colonial Florida are far removed from America’s Revolution. Still, Rachel Folger’s loyalties remain with Boston’s patriots. Handsome plantation owner Frederick Moberly’s faithfulness to the Crown is as certain as his admiration for Rachel—but for the sake of harmony, he’ll keep his sympathies hidden. After all, the war is too far distant to truly touch them...isn’t it?

A betrayal of Rachel’s trust divides the pair, leaving Frederick to question the true meaning of faith in God and in country. Inspired by Rachel to see life, liberty, and love through His eyes, Frederick must harness his faith and courage to claim the woman he loves before war tears them apart.

Love Thine Enemy, LIH July 2009, ISBN - 13: 978-0-373-82815-9
　
Please give us the first page of the book.

Through the window of her father’s store, Rachel watched the Englishmen ride their handsome steeds up the sandy street of St. Johns Settlement. Their well-cut coats and haughty bearing – as if they owned the world – made their identities unmistakable.

"Make them pass by, Lord," she whispered, "for surely I’ll not be able to speak a Christian word to them if they come in here." She glanced over her shoulder at Papa to see if he had heard her, but he was focusing his attention on a newly-opened crate of goods.

Rachel turned back to the window. To her dismay, the two young men dismounted right in front of the store. One snapped his fingers at a small black boy and motioned for him to care for the horses.

Her dismay turned to anger. How did they know the boy could take time to do the task? Did they care that the child might be beaten by his owner if he lingered in town?
　
I love the hook. I'll have to move that book up on my to-be-read-list. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.louisemgouge.com/

Thank you, Lena, for inviting me to be a guest on your blog!

And thank you, Louise, for spending this time with us. I really miss seeing you since you no longer come to this area to visit your daughter's family.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Love Thine Enemy:

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http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com