EHVAH AFTER - Rose Dee - One Free Book

Dear Readers, as I’ve said before, I love books set in Australia. Here’s another one from one of the Australian authors I featured last week in a Christmas collection. I read Ehvah After as soon as I received it and loved it. I’m sure you will, too. Rose’s writing takes the reader straight into the setting. I felt as if I was there in Australia.

Bio: Rose was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her Resolution series.

Two of the three Resolution novels have won Australian CALEB awards. She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel highlighting the pain of Australia’s past policy of forced adoption, as well as standalone novel, Ehvah After. Her most recent release is A Christmas Resolution, which is part of the novella box set, An Aussie Summer Christmas.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and her desire to produce stories that point readers to Jesus. Rose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and resides in Mackay, North Queensland, with her husband and son.

Welcome back, Rose. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Because that’s what the Lord inspires me to write. It’s also what I know – beaches, ocean, island, Australia, redemption, and grace.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

To date, it would be my wedding day. That was sweet. But it’s hard to narrow the happiest down. I’ve been blessed in abundance.

How has being published changed your life?

It hasn’t changed it that much. Whatever you do, do it for the Lord. Whether I’m published or not, it’s all about being in His plan, and what if His plan was just for me to write? Or write for just one person to read? We don’t know His purpose, but we do know it’s wonderful – whatever that journey entails.

What are you reading right now?

A non-fiction book by an Aussie author friend of mine, Jo-Anne Berthelsen called, Becoming Me. I’m only one third of the way through it, but I can certainly relate to the story. It’s about struggling with self-doubt, insecurity, and perfectionism and Jo-Anne’s journey through these bondages and into freedom. It’s a brave story, and I’m discovering things about myself through it. When the Lord uses a book to give you your own revelations, it’s a great book.

I’ve featured Jo-Anne on this blog, but it was a long time ago. What is your current work in progress?

I’m currently working on a new Resolution book. It’s been a while since I visited my little resort off the Australian coast, so it’s time to get back to the island.

What would be your dream vacation?

I would love to take one of those European river cruises. My husband and I were talking about it recently; it would be a real trip of a lifetime. We’ve never been to Europe.

I haven’t been their either. I’d like to travel to Norway and Sweden, the countries of my paternal ancestors. How do you choose your settings for each book?

My stories are known for their descriptive settings. With this in mind, I always write what I know. Places where I’ve been, mostly because I love to re-visit these places myself.

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

Deborra-Lee Furness. She’s Hugh Jackman’s wife. Deborra-Lee has been active in lobbying for change in Australia’s adoption laws. I’m a supporter of her work. Australia has had big problems with balance in this area. We have swung from the destructive laws of forced adoption and the stolen generation, (in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s) to the process today that sees children languish in foster care their entire childhoods. Change needs to happen, and I think people like Deborra-Lee are leading the charge.

My mother was a forced adoptee, and the Lord gave me so much understanding of that era in our history when I wrote my conjunction novel, The Greenfield Legacy. It deals with Australia’s past policy of forced adoption.

I’d love to feature this book on my blog. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Gold mining. We own a couple of gold mining claims in the Australian bush. We have a permanent camp and go mining every weekend. We haven’t found that enormous gold nugget … yet, but we have been blessed with small finds, and it’s a wonderful place of peace and rest.

That’s one of my favorite things about. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Getting started. I’m a horrible starter, but once I’m into a story it flows quickly and I love it.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Only He can navigate you through the writing journey He has you on for His purpose. Do NOTHING without consulting Him and knowing His direction, because there are a lot of options out there, and only He knows which one is the best for you.

Very good advice. Tell us about the featured book.

I could re-write the blurb, but instead I’ll give you my favorite quote from the book, and one that really spoke to me as I wrote it. It’s from Ehvah:

“I realized nothing can ever separate us if we have faith, and trust in Him. It’s not easy, but it’s a promise He has made to us. And I know now that God’s love for my parents went on, even after they died. His love for me went on, too. He’s just been waiting for me to get that it’s not about them and Him; it’s about me and Him.”

I loved that line, too. Please give us the first page of the book.

“I can’t believe how horrible it was tonight. I don’t know why I bother going to these things.” Ehvah Rowe flipped the car visor down and groaned at the sight of her knotted hair in the tiny mirror.

“I know. The paparazzi were nasty.” Ritchie pulled the sports car around a series of Beverly Hills corners. Palm trees flashed in the headlights as he braked.

Ehvah fingered the hair extensions in an effort to improve her appearance, then flipped the visor back up.

“You could have grabbed me before I fell. Now the whole world will think I’m back on the clubbing scene.”

“Aren’t you? This is the third club we’ve been to this week.”

Ehvah let a long sigh escape. “Only because you insisted we go. The tabloids must be sick of printing photos of me leaving clubs. Besides, I hadn’t stepped foot in one for over a month before you dragged me back in. I’m sick of my bad press.”

 “You can’t blame me for your fallen princess rep. You got that title all on your own, dahling.” Ritchie changed gears as they climbed a hill.

“Don’t remind me. Sometimes I wish I could re-do the last two years.”

Ehvah closed her eyes in the hope that the pitch black would block out her mistakes.

“I can’t go back to clubbing every night, Ritchie. No matter how much you love the scene. There’s nothing in it for me anymore.”

“So what are you going to do? Your singing career didn’t take off. Are you going to try to get back into acting?”

Ehvah contemplated his question. Her successful years on a TV sitcom may have scored her a teen queen title and a few hit singles, but the fame was long gone. The time she had spent out of the entertainment industry had produced nothing but a fallen star persona.

“I want to sing, but I just can’t break though. The last time I met with a recording company, they told me I had a great voice, heaps of talent, and a fine heritage, but I didn’t fit into any of their current successful molds. Nothing much has changed in the last two years, so what’s the use?”

She had been devastated to be pegged as a has-been at the age of twenty-two. At the time she had settled for being a professional party girl. Now it was obvious that career move had been useless.

“I have no idea what to do, but anything is better than being tabloid fodder.”

Ritchie pulled into the long driveway of the two-story Beverly Hills house she shared with Aunt Mara and her fourth husband, James.

“Turn off the lights and try to sneak around the back entrance,” Ehvah said as they approached the building. “I don’t want James to know I’m home.”

The last thing she needed was an encounter with her uncle. Besides, the two cars parked in the front driveway meant he was busy with clients.

“Does he hate you for coming in late all the time?”

And now every reader wants to know the answer of that question. How can readers find you on the Internet?

https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Dee/e/B006VAASZU

https://rosedee.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Rose-Dee-Author-172886062810998/

Thank you, Rose, for sharing this book with us.

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

Ehvah After - Paperback
Ehvah After - Kindle

Conversation Starter Questions: Do you like romantic suspense? If so, you'll love this story.
Do you like novels set in foreign countries?

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, 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

AN AUSSIE SUMMER CHRISTMAS - Six-Author Collection - A Giveaway of 5 Copies of the Ebook

An Aussie Summer Christmas
Six new inspirational romance novellas

Dear Readers, I'm thrilled to introduce this Christmas novella collection to you. I'm personally acquainted with the first 4 authors. I just finished reading this collection last week. It interfered with my working time, but I just had to read a few more pages. Now that I've enjoyed a book by each of the other 2 authors, I'll be looking for more of their books. I know you'll enjoy this collection as much as I did.

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann

What surprised you the most when writing Melbourne Memories?

I had originally started this story to submit as another Passport to Romance for my publisher. However, when Narelle Atkins asked me about putting the Aussie story I’d started into this set, I decided this was the home for this story. For Passport to Romance stories, the authors have to write using three writing prompts, and so I’d planned my story around those. One of them was an artist. Wanting to think out of the box, I decided that my heroine would own one of the most popular coffee shops in Melbourne and create amazing latte art. What I didn’t know when I started planning and writing this story—and of course I was ecstatic when I discovered it in my research—was that Melbourne is renowned for its coffee culture. I’m always amazed at how God directs my writing—even when I don’t know, He knows, and plants the story ideas in my mind, and then surprises me when I discover how well the story fits for its storyworld.

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams

What is special about your novella in this collection?

I love Christmas books and movies and always have. (While You Were Sleeping, anyone???). So being invited to this collection was a big YES from the start. I'm from Oklahoma in the U.S. and we have mild/cold winters here, so imagining the warmth of a beach Christmas was great fun! I'd love to go one day when my kids get bigger and experience it myself. Another fun thing that I included in the book was the dog, Ollie. I'm a huge dog person and loved doing some research about dogs and vets in Australia and incorporating that into the story. 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins

In Seaside Christmas, Gus is a political advisor and Chelsea can’t stand politics. Does politics play a big role in the story?

The answer is yes and no. Gus works for a NSW Senator based in Sydney, Australia. This means Gus lives and works in Canberra, the national capital, when Parliament is sitting. His job involves travel and this aspect of his career is explored in the story. During the story Chelsea meets Gus for coffee in Parliament House and we gain an insight into his political career. His political party affiliation and political views are not mentioned in the story. Chelsea’s father was the mayor of her local council when she was a teen. She’s not interested in talking about politics with anyone, including. Gus. The focus of the story is on their romance and how his career impacts their developing relationship.

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee

Considering most resolutions happen on New Year’s Eve, what is your novella, A Christmas Resolution all about?

Resolution is the name of my fictional island that sits off the Australian tropical coast. For those who have no idea where this is, it’s up the top of the country – where the Great Barrier Reef is. This story ties in with my Resolution series. Think long sandy beaches, clear blue ocean, salt air, and as it is set at Christmas time, summer breezes. In the story, you will find romance, some drama, the Aussie larrikinism our country towns are known for, as well as a message of faith and overcoming. Each of my Resolution books hold stories of redemption, and the resolution to our struggles that only comes from faith in Jesus. And I believe those sort of resolutions can happen any day of the year.

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg

You mention that Josh, the hero in All is Bright, is a secondary character in your first book, A Simple Mistake. Why did you decide to write your novella about him?

It was a no-brainer really. I’d always felt sorry for Josh and was thrilled to be able to give him his Happy Ever After. When we’re introduced to Josh in A Simple Mistake, he’s already a widower. He meets Lainey straight after coming back from teaching overseas, where he went to “get away from it all.” He’s ready to find love again, and is pretty annoyed when things don’t work out, and for good reason! (Those of you who’ve read A Simple Mistake will know what I mean J).

The hard part about writing Josh’s story meant I had to write about finding love after losing a spouse; not an easy topic, and not one I’ve experienced myself. Putting myself in his shoes made me teary a few times, believe me!

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce

Why did you choose to use Aussie Rules football as the backdrop for your story?

 I am a mad footy fan and watched the emergence of women in this sport, mostly in support-staff roles.  During one game, the young female goal umpire was nearly steam-rolled by one of the players. Fast, fit and large, if he’d hit her, she would have been flattened. This stirred my imagination. I decided Maddie was going to be Australia’s first professional female umpire, who gets hit by one of the players, Zac.

Zac’s public faith is often scrutinised. The media are waiting for him to fall from grace. When they are both knocked unconscious, he regains his senses,  and carefully wipes blood from her face—in the eye of every camera. It’s taken out of context, and they are accused of a secret affair, and a breach of professional ethics.

An Aussie Summer Christmas – six new Novellas set in the land Downunder is available now at Amazon for the special price of $.99.

https://www.amazon.com/Aussie-Summer-Christmas-inspirational-novellas-ebook/dp/B01LJQS4FQ/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Thank you, Marion, Lacy, Narelle, Rose, Andrea, and Meredith for sharing this collection with us. I fell in love with Australia decades before it became so popular in the US. As a matter of fact, I have an unpublished novel that is partially set in Australia. Maybe I should pull that out and finish it. Meredith and Andrea--all of you really--I love to promote other Christian authors, and all of you would be welcome to schedule an interview on my blog with your other books. I've feathered Marion, Lacy, Narelle, and Rose before.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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.)

Conversation starter question: Have you ever read a book of books set in Australia? Have any of you been to Australia?

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

BACK TO RESOLUTION - Rose Dee - One Free Book

Welcome, Rose. I love having Aussie Christian authors on my blog. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think there is a little bit of me in every one of my characters. It’s hard to avoid this. If you want to get into the character’s head, you have to know them inside out. Having said that; I avoid applying the characteristics of anyone I know to a character. I find the familiarity gets in the way of my storytelling. So I guess there a little bit of me, and not a lot of anyone else.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Where do I start? I am the queen of quirk. I’m Australian – a country Aussie at that. I put my characters through a lot of my own experiences; like falling down in mangrove mud, or having to swim ashore from a tinny (dingy) whilst negotiating large waves. Being chased by a bush turkey is another one. But all the crocodile scenarios – well – I’ve seen a lot of them from a boat, but never from in the water.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I decided to write something. I had been wrestling with the meaning of my life, and praying for my purpose. One day it fell upon my heart to try my hand at writing. That very first attempt produced Back to Resolution. If I look back now I can see that I always had this passion. It just took my request for direction to embark upon the right path.

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

I love historic romance, contemporary romance, non-fiction with romance (see the emerging pattern?). Yes- I am a romantic. I can even get into sci-fi if it has a romance element (which many do these days). But my all time favorite books would have to be Jane Eye and Pride and Prejudice. But you would have probably guessed that without my telling you.

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

When I get really stressed out I take to the sea. My escape could consist of a walk on the beach, a spin on the ocean in a boat, or a weekend away to one of the incredible islands at my doorstep. There’s something raw and honest about a salty breeze. It’s revitalizing, purifying, and reminds me of who God is and what He can do. It’s a great way to keep your sanity.

I wish I lived close enough to the ocean to do that. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Some of them just come to me. They almost name themselves. Others, I have great trouble with. I’ve become so desperate for a name that fits I’ve even scanned baby naming websites (I know – bad right?). On the odd occasion a friend will suggest a name, and I don’t always apply it immediately, but sometimes it will fit for a later character – that has been helpful. Regardless of how I find names I never use the name of someone I know. The association gets in the way of my character development.

I have also unconsciously used the same name twice for completely different characters. That was an interesting idiosyncrasy.

Many authors use baby name sites, so that’s okay. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Being a wife and mother. You never quite understand just how hard a job it is, until you are living these two roles. It’s exhausting and rewarding in equal measure. Being committed to someone else’s happiness is a lifetime endeavor. Of all the things I value – this would have to be top of the list.

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

I would be my dog, Noodle. He’s awesome. He sits around all day, never has to worry about where his next meal is coming from, and has devotion and love at his paw-tips. I am sure he is close to being human. He never seems to lack communication skills. We always know what Noodle wants and what he is thinking.

What is your favorite food?

Every kind of pasta and antipasta. I grew up in a large Italian community and, although I don’t share the cultural heritage in a biological sense, I certainly have adopted it by nurture.

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

My greatest roadblock thus far would have to be self doubt. I still have times when I am worried that I lack qualification to be an author. But then I remember that so long as I am in the Lord’s plan, he will give me all that I need. That includes the lessons to make up for what I lack, as well as developing what I’ve got.

Tell us about the featured book.

When I sat down to write something the only advice I could recall about writing was: Write what you know – and - write what you love. I have done this in Back to Resolution. The story is about Bay, who was born in Australia, but grew up in Los Angles. After the death of her mother she embarks upon a mission to find her father “down under.”

The story showcases the region in which I live, the rugged tropical islands, ocean, and coastline. But also the Aussie larrikin personalities you will find here in North Queensland. Each colorful character brings life to the story. There are lots of twists and turns; romantic entanglements; and a mystery. My greatest hope is that the reader ends the story feeling entertained and uplifted.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Visit Rose at: www.rosedee.com


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


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Back to Resolution - Amazon paperback
Back to Resolution - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/back-to-resolution-rose-dee/1106820731?ean=9781921633607&itm=2&usri=rose+dee - Barnes & Noble


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 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