Author Marta Perry - MISSION MOTHERHOOD - Free book

Another series of Love Inspired romances is starting, written by six different authors. We're going to feature all of them the month their book releases. Today, welcome Marta Perry. Her book Mission Motherhood is a July release.

Welcome, Marta, I just love reading these series by Love Inspired. What is the name of the series this book is in, and where in the series does it occur?

MISSION: MOTHERHOOD is the first book in the Homecoming Heroes series from Love Inspired. This is the first time I've written Book One in a continuity, so it was a different challenge, but I loved it. MISSION MOTHERHOOD will be released in July, and the other five books will follow one each month.

Who came up with the idea for the series?

The basic idea for the series came from the editor, but the authors worked together to flesh if out. One of the best things about doing a continuity is working with the other authors. They're a very talented bunch!

I know that working on a series that weaves together takes a lot of work. How did your team schedule the work?

Well, since I was doing the first book, I had the first deadline, so I really had to fly on it. We were very fortunate to have one writer who knew a lot about Texas and the military and another who could give us answers to all of our medical questions. People just jumped in and offered to find the answers we needed, and it really worked out well.

I've written the first in a novella collection, and I prefer doing that. Did you find it hard or easy to work within the series framework?

Certainly it's not easy, since everything I wrote had implications for the writers who would follow. But it's a very rewarding experience. Writing can be a lonely profession, and the experience of working together on a project is just a lot of fun!

I'll agree with that. It really gives you a bond. What other books have you had published?

MISSION: MOTHERHOOD is my 32nd book, so there's a long list! My most recent titles are FINAL JUSTICE, the last book in the Reunion Revelations series from LI Suspense; the three titles in my THREE SISTERS INN series: HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT, A CHRISTMAS TO DIE FOR, and BURIED SINS; and before that the seven books in my Flanagans series.

When you aren't writing or spending time with your family, what is your favorite activity?

Mostly I'm either writing or spending time with my six beautiful grandkids. My husband and I are both very active in our church, and we love to travel. We'll be embarking on the trip of a lifetime this June, when we take a Northern European cruise on the Baltic Sea.

That sounds like fun. I love to cruise. Where do you do most of your writing?

Anywhere I am! I have an Alphasmart, which I just love, and I can even write in the car on a long trip with the radio playing. And my husband driving, of course! But I do love my office. I'm looking out the window right now to the view of our springhouse, the azaleas that are blooming on the bank, and the hedge of lilacs that are bursting into flower.

What part of the country do you live it? And why do you like that part of the country?

I live in central Pennsylvania, in the country, in a valley between two mountains. It's beautiful here in every season, and I cherish all the things that are unique about Pennsylvania. Thanks to William Penn's ideas about religious freedom, our history is filled with people who came here for that reason, including my own Pennsylvania German ancestors.

But I do have a second love--our vacation home on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We spend every winter there now, and we've discovered that our kids and grandkids especially love to visit us there!

Tell us about the featured book.

MISSION: MOTHERHOOD is the story of Caitlyn Villard, who finds herself the instant mother of five-year-old twins when their parents are killed in action in the Middle East. Forced to give up her high-powered job in New York and return to Prairie Springs, Texas, the small military town she'd left years ago, she discovers that becoming a mom isn't especially easy. When her part-time job involves her in the difficult task of bringing an injured child from the war zone to a Texas hospital, she has to put aside her independent ways and lean on the strength of army chaplain Steve Windham. None of it is easy, but she eventually discovers that sometimes you find the man--and the life--of your dreams where you least expected.

How can my readers find you on the Internet?

I hope your readers will visit me at www.martaperry.com. If they write to me at marta@martaperry.com I'll be sure to reply, and I'll be glad to send them a bookmark and, if they want, a copy of my booklet of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.

Readers, you'll want to check out her web site. I'm going to ask for a copy of the Pennsylvanie Dutch recipes.

Before you go, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Mission:Motherhood.

Author Marta Perry - FINAL JUSTICE - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Marta Perry to our blog today. The book we'll feature is Final Justice.

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

I’m really not sure how to answer that. I suppose all of my characters, including the villains (!) have a little piece of me in them. When I start imagining a character, he or she just starts to grow. When I can hear his or her voice in my head, I know I’m ready to start writing.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am both introverted and conventional--quirky isn’t a part of my vocabulary!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was about eight and read my first Nancy Drew mystery. Most girls that age get to the end of the book and want to be like Nancy. I wanted to be like the author—able to tell an exciting tale that other people would want to read.

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

I enjoy reading classic British mysteries, and if there are no new ones to be found, I’ll re-read my Agatha Christies and Patricia Wentworths. I read a lot of non-fiction on whatever I’m writing about at the moment. I recently read THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL by Philippa Gregory, even though I don’t usually read historicals, and found it fascinating. I also re-read all of CS Lewis periodically—there’s always something new to be learned.

James and I went to see the movie Prince Caspian last week. We loved it. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

FINAL JUSTICE is my 31st published book. My most recent releases include the three books in my THREE SISTERS INN series set in Amish country: HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT, A CHRISTMAS TO DIE FOR, and BURIED SINS. Before that, I wrote the seven books in my Flanagans series.

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

I’ve learned how to say ‘no,’ much to my surprise. There are lots of good things to be done, but I’m not necessarily the one God picked to do all of them. I focus on my faith life, my family, and my writing, and fit other things in as I can.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Usually the characters come to me with names attached, so I guess they choose their own.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising three children who have turned into responsible Christian adults. And the bonus is that I end up with six beautiful grandchildren!

Oh, yes, we do love those grandchildren. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A cat, because cats are solitary creatures who can still be very loving.

What is your favorite food?

My grandmother’s recipe for chicken with homemade noodles. It’s a lot of trouble to make, but eating it takes me right back to my childhood.

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

I spent a lot of time writing all kinds of different things, and while I learned something from all of them, I eventually realized that I had to find the one thing that I was meant to do. God closed a lot of doors and opened the right one, and fortunately, I was listening.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Read, read, read, and write, write, write. Don’t be in a rush to get published—take some time to figure out what you really want to write and where your talents lie.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

FINAL JUSTICE is the last book in the Reunion Revelations series from Love Inspired Suspense. The series is about a group of college friends who come back together again after ten years apart, only to find themselves threatened by a killer. I happened to be writing this book at a time when I was going back to my own college reunion and getting together with friends I hadn’t seen for years. I think that experience added a ring of truth to my story.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m at www.martaperry.com. If they write to me at marta@martaperry.com, I’ll be happy to reply with a signed bookmark and/or a copy of my booklet of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.

Thanks so much for inviting me! I’ve enjoyed it!

Thank you, Marta. I've loved spending this time with you. I'd love to have a copy of the Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.

Readers, I've read the whole Reunion Revelations series. You'll want all of them. Check out the reviews of the books in the last few newsletters on my web site: www.lenanels0ndooley.com

Leave a comment if you'd like to win a copy of the book.