MISSING - Mary Ellis - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Mary. I know you speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up in 2021?

Right now I haven’t scheduled anything for 2021 since I’m at high risk for the virus. But I do hope to attend the ACFW conference in the fall, and smaller Ohio conferences and meetings until then. I truly don’t look forward to getting on a plane.

I so understand. I’m at high risk for the virus, too, so I’m careful. If you were planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it?

I believe my theme would be “The role of Christian women in a rapidly changing world.” Between racial tensions across the country and this horrible virus, Christian women need to safely reach out to others with understanding and kindness. Many people are hurting—emotionally, financially and spiritually. We need to serve them while spreading the word that our only hope, our only lifeline, is Jesus.

I so agree with you. He is the only answer. Who would you want as speakers and why?

Well, the first speaker I’d invite would be you, Lena, because I know you and your husband have spent many years in Christian service. The second person I’d invite would be my pastor’s wife for her speaking ability, and finally I’d invite someone who has worked outside the US in missions.

Where would you hold the retreat and why?

I would hold the retreat at one of Ohio’s seven state parks. Each lodge has all the necessary amenities for the perfect getaway—pools, lakes, bike trails, water sports, restaurants, plus acres of forest trails for peaceful prayers and mediation. They have plenty of space to convene indoors, outdoors, even under the stars.

I would accept that invitation to speak there in a heartbeat. Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?

I’m an old-fashioned girl…I read only print books. I like the feel of paper and a solid binding. Also, since I spend so much time on my computer as an author, I like to get away from electronics during my free time.

Missing is an interesting title. How did you come up with it?

During rumschpringe, Amish parents allow their daughters quite a bit of freedom. This is the time for young men and women to experience the Englishers’ world before settling down, getting married, and committing to the Amish faith. When my Amish character disappears, her parents assume she went to an amusement park for a few days or took a trip to Cleveland. Only her English friend, Lily, suspects something has happened to Charlotte.

Interesting. So what is the book about?

Young women are disappearing in Plum Creek, Ohio, and Lily Sellers seems to be the only one concerned. Since her parents own a grocery store in Holmes Country, Lily grew up surrounded by Amish until she left for college. But her father’s sudden death brings her home until her mother can find a buyer for the store. FBI agent Marc Harris hasn’t been home since joining the profiler unit five years ago. His agenda for the next ten days includes fishing, visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and falling asleep in the hammock. But an impulsive stop at the country store changes his plans. Marc enjoys getting to know Lily but doesn’t buy her theory. Marc joins Lily’s wild goose chase, if for no reason than to prove Plum Creek is still the same sweet town he remembers. Lily accompanies Charlotte to an Amish tent revival where Charlotte meets the handsome, charismatic preacher. When Charlotte also disappears, Lily fears a dangerous predator is preying on young women. Marc must rally the Bureau’s full resources to unravel a complicated scheme of deception.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Funny how life sometimes turns out…

If anyone would have asked Lily Sellers the day she graduated from Ohio University what she’d be doing in three months, she never would have said stocking shelves with jams, jellies, and pickled veggies in the heart of Amish country. Armed with degrees in both web design and graphic arts, Lily had been searching for a job in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Her talents and abilities could be put to much better use in metropolitan-area corporations than in small towns surrounded by rolling farmland. Cities also had chic neighborhoods full of eligible bachelors and elegant apartments. Lily didn’t know what she wanted more: a furnished urban loft where she could display her fledgling collection of cityscape photographs, or an honest-to-goodness date that didn’t involve college sports or a fraternity house party.

Where did women meet men who enjoyed museums, art galleries, coffeehouses, and an occasional hike in the great outdoors? Certainly not in a grocery store that catered to tourists by the busload.

But for the foreseeable future, Plum Creek was where she needed to be.

Her father hadn’t asked for the heart attack which ended his life at fifty-eight. Nor had her mother wanted the auto-immune disease which robbed her of energy and motor coordination and now confined her to a wheelchair. Her parents had sacrificed summer vacations, home improvements, and creature comforts to put her through four years of college. So until they found a suitable buyer for Sellers’ Country Market, Lily would remain in Plum Creek to help Mom manage the store. Columbus, Cincinnati, and Chicago—along with Rome, Paris, and London—would still be there when the time was right.

“Lily?” said a weak voice over the store’s loudspeaker. “Could you come up front, please? And bring the broom,” her Mom added.

Lily pushed the case of apricot preserves out of the way of unobservant shoppers, grabbed the broom from the stockroom, and hurried to the front, smiling at tourists and local patrons along the way. At the cash register, Lily found a red-faced shopper and her mom in a ruffled smock with Connie, at your service embroidered over the left pocket.

“Sorry for the mess, Lily,” said the customer. “Your ma told me to leave the sunflower seeds in the cart, but I didn’t listen.” Between the checkout conveyor and the candy rack lay twenty-five pounds of scattered birdseed.

How can readers find you on the Interet?

I can be found at: http://www.maryellis.net/ 

or http://www.facebook.Mary-Ellis.Author/

Thank you, Mary, for sharing Missing with us. I’m eager to read it. I just love your writing.

Readers, here is a link to the book.

Missing

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.

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

MISSING - Lisa Harris - One Free Book

Dear Readers, it’s always a special day when I feature Lisa Harris on my blog. I first met Lisa when she came to the critique group I host in my home, many years ago. When she first read, I recognized her gift of storytelling. However, there were a number of ways we could help her hone her craft. She was an eager learner, and I’ve watched her writing grow and mature. As is often the case, the student has far surpassed the teacher. Her Christian romantic suspense novels are some of the best on the market. Now she and her husband are missionaries in Mozambique, Africa.

Welcome back, Lisa. What kind of files takes up the most space on your computer?

I’d have to say photos. Family photos, ministry photos, animal photos. . .can you tell I love photos?

And you take some very good ones. I love seeing them. Do you have plans to ever retire from writing? Why or why not?

From publishing books? Maybe, but I’m not sure I ever will completely retire from storytelling. The stories always seem to be there, waiting to be put down on paper.

Several years ago, I read a report that they’re finding a larger percentage of alzheimer patients among writers who stop writing than in the general population. I decided then and there to never stop writing. Are you a stay at home kind of person, or do you like to be on the road a lot?

We travel a lot for our ministry, but I’m really a stay at home kind of person. I love days when I don’t have to go anywhere.

Please share a Bible verse or passage that has had the most impact on your life.

This verse sticks out for me as a reminder to not give up, but to persevere.  “. . .let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Do you have a favorite Bible character? Who is it and why?

I’ve always loved Esther who was called for such a time as this. I want to be used by God in whatever way He has planned for my life.

I have always been interested in Esther. I even wrote a dramatic monologue of Esther. What has been your favorite time in your life? And why?

Whenever I have all my kids home at the same time. Right now they’re spread out in three different countries which is tough for a mama. So having them all together—whenever we can—is the best time.

Do you have an ereader? If so, what kind do you use?

Yes, I just got a Kindle Fire after we had one stolen and I like it. Living overseas without any bookstores nearby it’s wonderful to be able to instantly get books I want to read!

James gave me a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I didn’t even think he’d know how to go about doing something like that, and he really didn’t. But he asked our grandson-in-law and one of our daughters to help him. Do you read mostly print books or ebooks?

I still enjoy print books, but mostly read ebooks.

They’re surely easier to carry with you when you travel. Do you like to read books in the genres you write, or do you read only other genres … and why?

I love romantic suspense, but always find myself critiquing them way too much. When I read a historical, though, for example, I can just sit back and enjoy the story. Strange, maybe, but definitely true. So a romantic suspense book that makes me forget to critique is a keeper!

Please tell us about the book we’re featuring today.

I’m so excited about Missing. It’s book two in my Nikki Boyd Files series. Most of the comments I’ve been reading say that you can read it as a stand alone without any problems, but there are some overarching themes that you’d miss without reading Vendetta, book one.

Nikki Boyd isn’t usually called in on homicides; her forte is missing persons. But when a case with two murdered and two missing pops up on a quiet suburban street, she’s ready to start the investigation and find missing homeowners Mac and Lucy Hudson. When the first clues lead her to the boat of her friend Tyler Grant—and another dead body—Nikki must untangle what ties Tyler to the Hudsons. The clues pull her into a deadly maze of counterfeit drugs and a killer who will stop at nothing to silence anyone who threatens his business—including Nikki.

I know I’ll love this one. Please give us a peek at the first page of the book.

8:25 a.m., Thursday

Nashville suburb

Nikki Boyd slid out of her white Mini Cooper as two bagged bodies were being wheeled from the one-story house nestled in one of Nashville’s nicer suburbs. Her stomach clenched. Even after eight years on the force, the emotional challenges of the job had yet to make her completely calloused. It was impossible not to personalize some of what she saw. The cases she couldn’t solve. The brokenness she couldn’t fix. But neither could she let her cases become personal. She started down the walk where half a dozen police cars and the local medical examiner had parked in front of the taped-off crime scene, allowing both uniformed and plain-clothed officers to take over the sleepy, tree-lined street. One of her teammates, Jack Spencer, stood waiting for her on the curb dressed in one of his suit jackets and white dress shirt paired with a typical blue-and-orange paisley tie.

“Morning,” she said, holding up a takeaway box from her parents’ barbeque restaurant. “I was having breakfast with my mom and Jamie when the call came in. Thought you might like a couple of my mom’s homemade cinnamon rolls to celebrate your first day back to work.”

Five weeks ago, he’d gotten shot in the middle of a hostage situation that had almost gotten both of them killed.

“You can’t imagine how happy I am to be back on the job,” Jack said. “Though next time, I’d appreciate it if you’d remind me to duck when someone starts shooting at me.”

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Drop by my website at www.lisaharriswrites.com to find out more about my books and life in Africa!

Thanks so much for having me, Lena!!

My pleasure and great blessing, Lisa.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Missing - Christianbook.com
Missing (The Nikki Boyd Files) - Amazon, paperback
Missing (The Nikki Boyd Files Book 2)  - Kindle
Missing - audiobook

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 not in US. (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