FROM BAGS TO RICHES - Sandra D Bricker - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I first became of Sandra when we both wrote for the same publisher. Soon after her first book came out, I met her face to face at the national American Christian Fiction Writers conference. We’ve been friends ever since. Redheads seem to gravitate to each other at those conferences. Sandra has a unique writers voice that can take serious subjects and find ways to help people deal with them, and she does all of this through some serious humor. I know that’s an oxymoron, but it’s true.

Welcome back, Sandra. Do you have a favorite genre to write? If so, what is it?

I transitioned last year from Laugh-Out-Loud fiction to Live-Out-Loud, but I think humor will always be part of my storytelling. That said, I’m really enjoying the opportunity to weave in deeper threads of life to my novels. For instance, last fall’s Moments of Truth addressed some pretty serious subjects along with the romantic challenges of five best friends. I was able to do that in From Bags to Riches, the wrap-up to the Jessie Stanton novels for Abingdon Press, as well. In this book, the finale of the series, I was able to go deeper with Jessie’s story than ever before. There’s a real freedom – for me as a writer, but also for the readers – in not being limited to the feel-good happily-ever-after. Not that my books will ever lose that quality … but I feel like I’m writing a more grown-up, thought-provoking story these days and my readers seem to be responding to it.

If you didn’t live in the part of the country where you do, where would you live?

A couple of years ago, I packed up my entire life and moved north again for the first time since I left in my twenties. I grew up in Cincinnati, but I spent my entire adult life in Los Angeles and Central Florida. So coming back to Ohio in time for the worst winter on record was a shock to my thin blood! Now my blood has had time to thicken up, and I find myself really enjoying the snow and cold weather. That said, my ideal spot to live would be San Diego … assuming I could afford it, of course. It’s a pricey area of the country, but so beautiful.

What foreign country would you like to visit and why?

Israel. I long to walk where my Jesus walked, see the things He saw.

There’s a slight possibility I might get to go to Israel soon. Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.

I’d love to sail off to a deserted island somewhere; one of those spots that have like ten villas on the whole island. Private beaches, magnificent views, sun and sand, gentle breezes, and lots of peace and quiet. I was born in Southern California, and my parents used to always say that I’d never been able to shake my “California-ness.” I recharge on the water like nowhere else.

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

I’m new enough to Toledo and the Northwest Ohio area that I’m still exploring to find the beautiful places. Once I do that, I think I’d love to set a book on Mackinac Island or possibly a teeny little lakeside town I’ve discovered across the border in Michigan called Luna Pier.

What is the main theme of this novel?

The bottom line of Jessie’s whole story – but particularly this third and final book in the series – is that our childhood experiences shape a large part of who we’re going to become. I mean, you can certainly take the girl out of Ohio (or in Jessie’s case, Louisiana), but the Ohio or Louisiana in the girl is pretty much there to stay. We often spend so much time running away from who we used to be that we miss the important fact that it’s the foundation that helped form who we are. While our past never has to define us, it’s imperative to learn from it.

Tell us about the story.

Jessie worked so hard to put her Louisiana roots in the rearview mirror. Now, in her quest to find the success, true love, and faith that has always eluded her, will God really lead her right back home?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Jessie hummed along with James Taylor as Danny drove along in silence. She glanced over at him and smiled. She loved the way he always removed the elastic band from around the gear shift and pulled his shaggy, long hair back into a ponytail before they set out anywhere in his open Jeep … and the way he always reached into the box behind the driver’s seat and produced a cloth band for her hair. Even the music serenading their drive embraced her with a comfortable, predictable lull. She’d had so much instability in her life that the calculability of Danny’s behavior had become a welcome warm blanket on a chilly night.

“Hey,” she said suddenly as a thought struck her, a memory of her best friend speaking to Danny in a whisper. “What was Piper talking about?”

Danny’s dimples deepened as he grinned. “What do you mean?”

“Before we left the courthouse. She told you something like, ‘Today. Not tomorrow, but today.’ What did she mean? And where are we going, by the way?”

“To celebrate,” he stated. “You have just been set free from a barnacle by the name of Jack Stanton. You’re free. Your store can re-open, and you can write your name with confidence again. You, my friend, are Jessie Hart.”

Not that she’d ever actually been Jessie Stanton, but for a dozen years or so, she’d been duped into believing it while living in a world of utter make-believe, a world Jack had fabricated for the benefit of just about everyone he knew – including her, his fairytale wife. Instead, Jack had been a handsome cancer making his silent and diabolical way into every available cell of her life, conning her into believing their world – his business, the home they made, and the dreams they’d been dreaming – had been built on a solid foundation of rock. But when the sand was discovered, that life crumbled so quickly she’d barely had time to escape with anything more than the clothes in her closet and the rock on her hand … both of which became the stuff new foundations were made of. In her case, Jessie’s non-sand bedrock came from the sale of nearly four carats of perfect Neil Lane clarity dropped into a platinum setting, and the proceeds had funded a marginally acceptable apartment. Combined with the designer labels left behind in her closet, the infrastructure of her brand new life had been built: Adornments. Designer labels for rent to wannabes with champagne dreams living on ginger ale budgets.

“Hey, wait a minute,” she blurted as she noticed the familiar surroundings. “Where are we, exactly?”

“Somewhere we can celebrate.”

I’m eager to read the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.SandraDBricker.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SandraDBricker

Twitter: @SandieBricker

Thank you, Sandra, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are as eager as I am to read  it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
From Bags to Riches - Christianbook.com
From Bags to Riches: A Jessie Stanton Novel - Book 3 - Amazon
From Bags to Riches: A Jessie Stanton Novel - Book 3 - 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

MOMENTS OF TRUTH - Sandra D Bricker - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, I first met Sandra D Bricker at a national Christian writing conference in Denver several years ago. She’s another of my redheaded writing friends. When we met, we were writing for the same publisher. She writes wonderful books with humor and a lot of heart. 

Welcome back, Sandra. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?
After losing four publishers in as many years because of the CBA avenues for fiction growing leaner and more narrow, I’ve become a bit of a hybrid. This has been The Summer of Everything for me as a writer. In August, Be My Valentino, Book 2 of my 3-book series for Abingdon Press, came out. Then in September, I published with a smaller boutique publisher that—while they don’t have the traditional houses’ promotion dollars behind them—they are able to offer a much higher royalty percentage than I got before. And in October, I’ll be embarking on the indie road with a unique and interactive project that will bring back the characters from my popular Another Emma Rae Creation series. From there, who knows! As quickly as the industry has been changing, other roads are being forged almost as fast.            

What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?
I won’t be attending any conferences until next year around this time.

I wasn’t able to attend the ACFW conference this year because of my knee-replacement surgery. Since it was here in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, I did go over to the hotel for a couple of hours one day, so I could see some of my faraway friends. 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?           

I think a really interesting, in-depth conversation would be had with guests like Debby Mayne, Kristin Billerbeck, and Janice Thompson, three of my favorite authors who dove into the uncharted waters of indie publishing long before I did. Then I’d add innovators in publishing like agents Steve Laube and Rachelle Gardner to level our heads and give it to us straight.

That would be a dynamite panel. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?          
It’s crucial. There’s so much information available to writers, from aspiring to established, that is imperative when building a career. As much as writing feels like a lonely profession that we pursue from our own private islands, that just isn’t the case. We need one another for guidance, inspiration, and support.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?     
I’m very active in my local church, CedarCreek. I volunteer for special projects and the like, but I’m also a regular moderator of their iCampus, an online stream of five live services each weekend. Because I found them myself via the iCampus, it’s very close to my heart, and my work with that team is a calling I eagerly fulfill.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?
Carlton Garborg – He was owner of Summerside Press and gave me my first opportunity in Christian publishing. Carlton is someone ahead of his time who understands marketing like very few people do. I have no idea what he saw in me, but he swung open a door I’d been banging on for years.
Barbara Scott – She was the editor at Abingdon who responded to my writing very early on and extended herself to mentor me through several books. Barb eventually became more than an editor; she’s one of my closest and most cherished friends as well.
Eva Marie Everson – A few years back, we ended up in a critique group together, but it was a five-person group and it started to feel to both of us like herding cats trying to get everyone together. Finally, Eva said, “You know, why don’t we just create a private group, just you and me?” My writing hasn’t been the same since. In addition to her storytelling talent, she’s a phenomenal editor and idea person. I can bounce anything off her, and she won’t hesitate to tell me what she thinks, even if the idea is a stinker.
Lynn Herring – She plays Lucy Coe on ABC-TV’s General Hospital. Lynn was one of my first clients when I worked as a personal assistant and publicist in L.A., and that was 25 years ago. Our relationship has only grown and blossomed since then, and I think she’s one of the most exceptional people I’ve ever known. Her friendship has become more valuable to me with each year that passes, and I learn so much from her upbeat positivity and joy for life.
Marian Miller – I’ve known her for something like 40 years, and she’s my BFF. What can I say? She’s just a spectacular human.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?
“Well done, good and faithful servant! Well done.”

Tell us about the featured book.    
Moments of Truth centers around Girl Power, and the lives and loves of five women who have each other’s backs no matter what comes. The most exciting thing about it–to me, anyway–is the underlying theme that really speaks to me. I feel like so many of us wander through life feeling like our thin little rays of faith are pretty insignificant in the bigger picture. But the truth is that even the most meager light reaches out and touches all the lives around us in some way. That’s what happens in Moments of Truth.

Book blurb: Regan Sloane was married once. Eight years, no kids, she got the house. In the years since the divorce, she’s managed to keep afloat with the only real skill she has: Writing. She hadn’t really noticed how her readership had blossomed until a well-known reviewer noticed her sweet little lifestyle blog. When had it transformed into a single woman’s go-to? With the life and loves of her four BFFs to fuel the content and have her back at every turn Regan realizes that something magical happens when women join forces. Girl Power just might be the new super power!

Please share the first page with us.
Eight years of marriage. No kids. She got the house.

Regan felt as if those words might make a great tattoo—assuming she were inclined to get a tattoo, of course—maybe right across her forehead. Anything to keep from explaining it time after time. With the long bangs she still wore acting as a curtain of sorts, when someone inquired yet again, she could just lift them with the back of one hand, give the inquirer time to read her forehead, and be on her way. Story told. No muss, no fuss.

No muss, no fuss.

The words made her chuckle as she stirred vanilla creamer into her morning cup of bold roast. Had she ever had a muss- or fuss-free day in her life?

Regan twisted her long dark hair into a knot at the top of her head. She pushed her brown-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose before snapping the lid on her travel mug and padding, barefoot, across the cold stone tile of the kitchen. She climbed the oak stairs to the loft and pushed the large window wide open, stopping to inhale the salty Pacific Ocean in the distance. She flopped into the creamy Italian leather chair in front of her desk, flicking the power button on her laptop as she did. It wasn’t much of a commute to work, but she set the alarm every morning, showered and dressed, and filled her travel mug with coffee before setting out across two thousand square feet of house. It made her feel as if her role as blogger for Vertical Magazine carried more importance than a simple lifestyle blog for women might tend to hoist. Regan knew a little something about the challenges of remaining spiritually vertical, after all, especially in the face of adversity.

It didn’t pay much, but her one lone skill for putting words on the page combined with an abundance of random opinions on just about any topic concerning women made the job a good fit for her now. She’d almost thought it was a joke when Vertical’s senior editor called.

“I ran across your blog this morning,” said Delores Cogswell. “And I was so drawn to it that I spent hours reading the archived material. This is really something special, Miss Sloane. The way you tie your friends and your life with the lives of your readers. Oh, and I love how you refer to your ex-husband as 30-Watt.”

Actually, it was 40-Watt; a metaphor for the realization that his 100-watt smile—the one promising a shiny future together filled with wonder and joy and children—soon grew dim in the face of reality.

Oh, Sandie, I love it. I can’t wait until my copy arrives. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
Author website:  www.SandraDBricker.com

Book website:  www.moments-of-truth.net

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SandraDBricker

Twitter:  @SandieBricker

Thank you, Sandie, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers will want to read it, too.

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

Moments of Truth - Amazon
Moments of Truth (Contemporary Romance) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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.

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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

RISE AND SHINE - Sandra D Bricker - One Free Book

Readers, I first met Sandra when we both attended a writers conference in Denver several years ago, and we’ve both been published by one of the same publishing houses. She’s a lot of fun to be around, and her books are a hoot to read. I think you’ll like reading them as much as I do.       

Welcome back, Sandie. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?  

I’ve recently transitioned my brand from Laugh-Out-Loud to Live-Out-Loud fiction. My agent and I made that decision because of the unique response my readers had to my first more serious book, Raw Edges for the Abingdon Quilts of Love series. I had become known strictly for light and fun romantic comedy prior to Raw Edges, and I really didn’t know how much my readers would love something a little deeper from me that still maintained a thread of humor. So going forward, this has opened up a real opportunity for me to dig deeper with my characters and their stories. I’m very excited about that. Meanwhile, I’m still looking into several opportunities for translating some past books to film or television.

I know that the ones I’ve read would make good movies. Actually, I’m soon going to be adapting another author’s novel into a screenplay for a Christian movie. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?   

I’m not planning to attend any conferences this year because I’ve recently made a pretty significant move (from Florida to the arctic state of Ohio!), and I spent anything I might have spent on travel for the move. There is a possibility, however, that I’ll turn up at ICRS in Atlanta in June. Stay tuned.

I’m really wanting to go to Atlanta right before the ICRS. The banquet for the Golden Scroll awards are the day before ICRS opens, and I’m a finalist. I’m not sure if my husband and I will get there or not. 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?         

I really enjoy this kind of thing. I’d love to have a panel discussion about author branding because I’m a big proponent … and many of my author buds feel like it’s unnecessary or overrated. So I’d invite people like Julie Gwinn (marketing guru), Rachelle Gardner (agent extraordinnaire), Brandilyn Collins (branding genius), and Barbara Scott (former agent and current editor). These are people I think have a lot to say on the subject, and they’re also all really personable, fun women I’d love to interact with.

I love all those women and they are a powerhouse of information. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

ULTRA important. When a person works in Corporate America, or even elsewhere, they have colleagues with whom they can exchange ideas, keep current on marketing trends, and learn new ways to improve. As writers, group meetings and organizations help us to do that. A stagnant writer isn’t going to cut it, especially in today’s changing publishing environment. We need each other.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?       

I participate in fundraising and awareness campaigns for various dog rescues and ovarian cancer organizations; in particular, Ovacome – the support group in Tampa for ovarian cancer patients and survivors. In addition, I am a weekend moderator for my church’s iCampus, the live stream chat room for five services a weekend at my home church, CedarCreek Church. I’ve been doing that for about three years now, I think. Previously, I also served on the writing team of their Living It Out Bible studies. I had to give it up temporarily but, now that I’m getting settled in the Toledo area where my church is headquartered, I’ll probably get involved with Living It Out again in the spring.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?        

1. Marian Miller. She’s been one of my closest friends for something like forty years (No, you didn’t misread that! 40 years!), and she’s got what we describe as a “servant’s heart.” She’s been so good to me – and so many others. She credits me for showing her the way to her faith, but I credit her for helping to keep me strong in my own faith. She’s just inspiring.

2. Rachelle Gardner. She’s my agent, but it goes so far beyond an author/agent relationship. She inspires, encourages, counsels, listens, cares … And beyond the friendship we’ve forged and even beyond anything that she actually offers ME, I really admire her as a woman and aspire to be more like her.

3. Donna Eoff. She’s someone I work with in my volunteer duties at CedarCreek, and over the last couple of years I’ve started to realize what an amazing person she really is. One of those women who causes you to question when you first meet them if they can possibly be as great as you think they are. I can honestly say Donna is, and I’m fortunate and blessed to call her my dear, sweet friend!

4. Barbara Scott. Without going into too many details, I’ll just say that I was dying (literally), and when no one else could invest the ridiculous amount of time and care-giving I needed, this woman put her entire life on pause and flew from Nashville to Tampa (twice!) to take care of me for a period of more than six weeks. She became my advocate with doctors, nurses, hospitals, insurance, you name it. She prayed with and for me every single day. She even loved on and cared for my lonely, confused dog! She provided the kind of assistance no one really wants to need or give, without one word of complaint, without ever making me feel “less than.” I attribute the fact that I’m still alive to God and to Barb, without question. Every time I look back on that period, I ask the Lord to help me demonstrate love for others the way she did … and does.

5. Roanne Eisenbise. Roanne was my business partner for 18 years, and my friend for something like 30 years. She was unique and multi-faceted, and often difficult for others to understand. But I discovered that Roanne had the heart of an encourager. She is the person who pulled me out of an abusive marriage, set me on my feet again (along with her mom, Tone – who led me to the Lord and is my dear friend to this day). Roanne boldly told me my writing was “genius” and that, if I wanted to be a writer, I needed to start making it a priority. And then she filled in the gaps in our business so I could do just that. We went our separate ways for many years, but she called and asked me to pray with her just a week before she passed away a few years ago. When I get to Heaven, I really do want to make sure she knows I wouldn’t be who I am without her support and encouragement.

You don’t know this, Sandie, but through a dear friend of both of us, I knew about your serious illness time and about Barbara ministering to you. I prayed for both of you a lot during that time. If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?

Well done, good and faithful servant. You made a difference.

Tell us about the featured book.     

Rise and Shine is the second book in my Contemporary Fairy Tales series; this one is based (loosely) on “Sleeping Beauty.” Shannon Ridgeway’s diving accident happened on her honeymoon, and she has been in a coma for nearly ten years. Waking up to the news that she’s 30 years old would have been daunting enough … but she also learns that her young groom has recently died. He has provided for her ongoing medical care, and the tiny home they bought but never moved into is still available to her, but nothing else in life is much of a sure thing. Her gorgeous doctor Daniel Petros seems to know everything about her and becomes Shannon’s tour guide into a whole new world of madness where reality television has taken over the planet and everyone’s life appears to revolve around a tiny screen on their cell phones!

Sounds intriguing. Sorry I had to change the ampersand to the word and in the title, because ampersands do strange things on the blog post. Please share the first page with us.     

PROLOGUE

Bega Lagoon, Fiji

August 2005

“I picked up the workbook for our marriage class before we left Austin. Let’s work on filling out the first exercise over breakfast, okay?”

“Shannon, we’re on our honeymoon.”

“What better time to investigate how we can become a stronger couple?”

Edmund couldn’t think of a single retort.

“Besides, we can totally smoke the rest of those losers in the class by showing up prepared on the first night,” she said, wide-eyed and pen poised over the page like an Olympic runner standing at the line, ready to sprint. “They’ll never expect us to have the first questionnaire filled out and ready on the very day we return from our honeymoon, baby. So let’s go. Are we in this to show them who’s boss, or what?”

Edmund chuckled and shook his head as his bride leaned forward, slumping over the first page of the workbook as if it might run off somewhere.

Shannon paused to twist her long copper waves into submission, twirling them around her fist and forcing them into a messy bun secured with a second pen that she produced from her handbag. Her greenish eyes glistened with golden flecks as she lifted her eyebrows in anticipation and stared at him.

“So?” she prodded. “Are we gonna do this thing, or what?”

“Alright,” he conceded. No use in dousing the fire. “But the shuttle arrives to take us to the marina in an hour, so we eat while we do it.”

“Deal,” she said, and her perfect merlot lips curved into a victorious smile.

That smile got him every time.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

My website: www.SandraDBricker.com

My reader page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SandraDBricker

My Twitter page: www.twitter.com/SandieBricker

Thank you, Sandy, for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait for my copy to get here.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Rise & Shine - Christianbook.com
Rise and Shine: A Contemporary Fairy Tale - Amazon
Rise and Shine - 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 a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

ALWAYS THE BAKER FINALLY THE BRIDE - Sandra D Bricker - One Free Book

I've been anxiously awaiting this book by my friend Sandra D Bricker.

Welcome, Sandie. Why did you become an author?

Aside from a brief period with my sights set on being a ballet dancer (eek!), I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write. It’s just always been part of who I am. I write because I can’t NOT write.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

In my pre-writing career, I was an entertainment publicist. I might go back to that, or pursue graphic design. As long as it’s a creative outlet, I’m in.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

I think I’d like to live in the 1950s. I was a bit of a flower child of the late 60s and early 70s, but sock hops and poodle skirts, rockin’ around the clock at the malt shop? Oh yeah, I could rock me a poodle skirt, Lena!

I was a teenager in that time period, and I always wanted a poodle skirt. My mother made me a felt, circle skirt with her new sewing machine that made all kinds of fancy stitches. She stitched designs all over it, but I didn’t get the poodle. What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

The Grand Canyon. With all the traveling my family did when I was a kid, and that I did as an adult, I’ve never made it there. I really want to see it!

I do, too. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I’ve wanted to visit France since I was a kid. In fact, I’ve had a Paris trip planned twice, and both times something happened where I had to cancel. The second time I canceled, I was booked on TWA flight 800 – the one that crashed. My guardian angels were at the top of their game that day!

And we’re so glad they were! I had French in college as my second teaching field, and I’ve wanted to go to France as well. What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

I’ve been the co-moderator for a 6-week study at my church based on Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. In the first week, we dug into the idea that God created us for the sole purpose of loving us. It’s not like I didn’t know He loved me, but it still dropped on me like a ton of bricks. There I was, comparing His desire to love us to the yearning of a couple who really want to have a family. They do fertility treatments, she harvests her eggs, they talk to surrogates…they’ll do anything to make that dream of a family come true. Multiply that by a gazillion, and that’s how much our Creator wanted a family to love! That picture-type compounds my gratitude in a big way.

It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it? I’m sure it changed you as much as that concept changed me. Tell us about the featured book.
Always the Baker Finally the Bride is the fourth and final book in the Another Emma Rae Creation series for Abingdon Press. It revolves around The Tanglewood Inn, a boutique wedding destination hotel in Roswell, Georgia. The series introduces quirky characters, yummy cakes and confections, and a lot of laugh-out-loud humor. This book ties up the series and creates – hopefully! – a really satisfying end for my readers.

I love your books, so I’m sure it does. Can’t wait to get my copy. Please give us the first page of the book.
“A champagne flute of vanilla bean gelato topped tableside with a shot of espresso.”

            “Seriously?”

            “Chocolate chip bread pudding drizzled with warm caramel.”

            “Oh. My.”

            “Tiramisu lady fingers in coffee liqueur and cocoa.”

            Emma balled up the lapel of her jacket in her fist and whimpered. “Jackson. My heart.”

            Jackson leaned toward the waiter and clicked his tongue. “I’m thinking we should just move on to the sugar-free menu. She’s diabetic.”

            “Oh. All right.”

            The gentleman pointed at the other side of the dessert cart as Jackson interrupted. “But I’ll have that bread pudding,” he whispered.

            “Yes, sir. And for the lady, our sugar-free menu includes a warm berry tart with frozen vanilla yogurt.”

            “Oooh!”

            “A red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing sweetened with agave.”

            “You can stop right there,” Jackson told him. “You had her at red velvet.”

            “Not so fast,” she countered, and Jackson’s heart began to thump. “Go on. What else?”

            “Pumpkin spice cake with creamy buttermilk icing.”

            “Oh, that sounds lovely.”

            Perspiration puddled over his top lip, and Jackson wiped it away with his napkin. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “Red velvet is your favorite.”

            “Yes, but I can make my own sugar-free red velvet. The pumpkin sounds—”

            Jackson’s attention darted to the waiter and they shared a lingering exchange before the waiter offered, “The red velvet is our specialty. It comes highly recommended.”

            “Really?” she reconsidered. And by the time she nodded, Jackson’s heart had begun to pound at double-time. “Okay. I’ll try the cupcake.”

            “Very good.”

            “Coffee for me, and a pot of tea for my date, please,” Jackson said, leaning back against the leather booth with a sigh.

            “Are you all right?”

            “Hmm? What do you mean?”

            “I don’t know,” Emma replied. “You seem a little tense tonight.”

            “Oh. No. I don’t know. I guess—”

            Fortunately, the waiter reappeared so that he didn’t have to concoct some lame excuse. He stopped breathing as the waiter set the beautiful red velvet cupcake down in front of Emma. A shiny pink cupcake tin held the confection, and a ring of intricate white chocolate made to look like a crocheted doily surrounded it. The carefully-chosen diamond ring shimmered on top of it, catching the light from the chandelier overhead and reflecting the glint of recognition in Emma’s brown eyes.

I love it! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Either on my website (www.SandraDBricker.com ) or they can LIKE my reader page on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SandraDBricker ).

Thank you, Sandie, for sharing this new book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Always the Baker, Finally the Bride: Another Emma Rae Creation / Book 4 (Emma Rae Creations) - paperback
Always the Baker, Finally the Bride: Another Emma Rae Creation / Book 4 (Emma Rae Creations) - Kindle


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.

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ALWAYS THE DESIGNER NEVER THE BRIDE - Sandra D Bricker - Free Book

Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?        

I got a little tingle when I read that! “…published regularly…” Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Thanks for that! I’ve recently signed with a new publisher, a division of Moody Publishers called River North Fiction. I’ll write at least two books for them – maybe more, if the series takes off. They’re contemporary romantic comedies based (very loosely) on fairy tales. The first one, If the Shoe Fits, is a Cinderella-inspired story, and the second one, Rise & Shine, runs with the tale of Sleeping Beauty. In addition to that, I’m working on at least one book for the Quilts of Love series just launching from Abingdon Press, and we’ll see if there are more to follow. There are a few other things in the works, and I’ll tell you about them when they solidify.

Keep me in the loop. I love your books. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?

I don’t think I’ll be attending any conferences this year. Last year was pretty scary, and I spent about six months of it in/out of hospitals. I’m doing much better at last, but six months with no income can make for a very lean travel budget! So I’ll be sticking close to home for most of the year and devoting my time to writing really fun books.

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?      

That’s a really great question! Several topics spring to mind, but I think the first one I’d love to put together is one of those “What No One Ever Told Me” discussions for aspiring authors. I’d have a range of writers there, from someone new to just burst on the scene all the way to today’s heavier-hitters, like Susie May Warren, Tracie Peterson, and Karen Kingsbury. I’d sprinkle in a couple of editors who have a wide range of experience that reaches from editorial to marketing, like Julie Gwinn from B&H; a couple of agents experienced in (and with a heart for) building Big Picture careers, like Rachelle Gardner from Books & Such and Barbara Scott from Wordserve Literary. Then I’d probably add a mentor or two, like you, Lena. And we would all give a realistic and detailed look at what the world of publishing is really like because, frankly, I came into it like a big blind monkey with way more confidence than smarts about what I thought I wanted to do. Of course, we’d have to take frequent breaks and give the attendees cold compresses and Tylenol because sometimes the truth is a little hard to take. J

That’s true, but I’m kind of glad I didn’t know at the first. I personally might have given up, and I wouldn’t want to have missed the benefits this writing life brings you. One of the greatest is the wealth of friendships with author across genre lines. Knowing people like you would never have happened for me. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?   

Very important. I think it not only keeps you current and delivers a lot of inspiration (such as reminding you that you’re not the only one going through the maze), but more importantly it’s a way of giving back to the people coming up behind and beside you. I’m a judge for several writing contests like The Frasiers, and I also devote time to speaking to writing and reader groups as well as mentoring certain writers who have reached out to me. Writing is such a solitary business that it’s really important to become part of the community whenever you can.

Yeah. Other writers are the only people who can really understand our quirks. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer? 

I am active in raising funds and awareness for ovarian cancer and Parkinson’s research, and I’m an advocate for dogs through my devotion to various animal rescues. Ialso lead one of the writing teams at my church that converts the pastor’s Sunday messages into a daily Bible study throughout the week called Living It Out.

Cool. Last year, and now this year, I’m taking part in author Brenda Novak’s auction to raise funding for diabetes research. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how? 

Wow, you ask some good questions, Lena!

1. Marian Miller. I’ve known her since we were in high school and, even though we’ve spent a lot of our lives moving around, we are solid BFFs. Marian is a beautiful Christian woman, and I’ve taken such joy in watching the development of her faith over the years.

2. Barbara Scott. She was the senior editor at Abingdon Press who bought my first book for them (The Big 5-OH!), and who had the idea of turning Always the Baker Never the Bride into a series because she saw the potential in those characters and setting. She’s since moved on from editing and is an agent now, but she is still one of my most fervent cheerleaders, both in my career and in my personal life. Even though she lives two states away, when I was so sick last year and didn’t have any family to take on the intense care that I needed, Barbara packed a bag, got on a plane and gave me SIX WEEKS out of her life to provide medical care and advocacy. There is NO ONE like her. (I knew that, and I prayed for both of you.)

3. Rachelle Gardner. Rachelle has been my agent for several years now, and she initiated the concept of developing Team Sandie, which is surrounding yourself with a group of loyal, capable people who are on the same page. She’s one of the few people I’ve ever met who can keep me in line without making me feel like she’s doing it. When I’m worked up, she hears me out. When I’m confused, we talk it through. We don’t always agree, but I do know that she has my interests at heart. How many writers can say that about their agent (and mean it)? (I have an agent like that. It’s a priceless treasure.)

4. Jemelle Tola. I met her within my first week of leaving L.A. and coming to Florida. We have almost nothing in common, from our beliefs to our backgrounds. She is stunningly beautiful, one of the coolest people I know, and one of the most honest. Even though it drives me out of my mind at times, she will NEVER tell me what I want to hear. She lays it right out there and makes no apologies for it. And she’s almost always right, which also drives me a little crazy. I think of Jemelle like a stunning piece of candy. She has a tough exterior with a sweet, gushy center.

5. David Page. I also met David soon after arriving in Florida, and I was a mess. Somehow, he saw through it, and we got to know one another. I fell in love with him pretty early on, then fell out of love a couple of years later; we got mad, got glad, got happy, got sad, got confused, felt abused…You know. Like real-life. I can tell David ANYTHING. And (the poor guy) I usually do. He is hands-down the funniest, smartest person I’ve ever met, and – Bonus! – he truly believes I’m fabulous, talented and destined for great things. You really don’t find someone like David very often in life. He’s one of my most essential and valuable relationships.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?           

“She changed lives, never gave up, always believed, nursed instead of wounded. And she was SO FUNNY. Did you know she was funny?  If only she’d have learned to look before she leapt off that cliff.”

Tell us about the featured book.     

Borrowing from CBD.com’s description of the book:  “No matter how busy she is, dress designer Audrey Regan can't say no to her friend Carly when she asks her to be maid of honor---and create the perfect wedding dress. Carly's nuptials promise to be the event of the year. Then the groom's best man---tattooed biker J.R. Hunt---walks in and turns Audrey's world upside down!”

I have loved all the books in this series. Please share the first page with us.       

CHAPTER ONE

“Audrey, the car will be here any minute. You’re going to miss your plane.”

“Shh. I just need another minute.”

She leaned down over her sketch pad, nibbling the corner of her lip as she put the finishing touches on the train of an elaborate A-line wedding dress.

“Oh, Audrey! That’s beautiful. Is it for Kim?”

She didn’t reply for another moment or two; not until she felt perfectly secure in the fact that she could lay down her pencil and be done with it.

“There are two others in the leather portfolio in my closet. The messenger will be here at three o’clock to pick them up and get them into Manhattan by four.” She handed her assistant the finished product, pausing for an instant to admire the drawing. “Be very careful about it, but put this one with the others, and be sure to zip it all the way around so they aren’t wrinkled. Just give him the whole case, and call Kim once he’s on his way to give her a heads up that they’ll be delivered to the penthouse.”

“Will do.”

“My plane lands in Atlanta at five-something, and it will take me an hour or so to get out to Roswell where this hotel is located. You’ve shipped—”

“And confirmed. Carly’s dress is safe and sound at The Tanglewood Inn, awaiting your arrival.”

Audrey sighed as she cast a quick glance toward the door where Kat had lined up her pink plaid luggage. One oversized rectangular case and one large round one, both on wheels, both packed to full capacity.

Audrey applied a glaze of Cherry Bliss to her lips while Kat added the final sketch to the leather case. She paused with the wand in mid-air until she heard the vvhht of the zipper. As she slipped the tube into its compartment inside her purse, the buzzer sounded.

“That will be your car,” Kat announced. “But before you go…” Kat grabbed Audrey’s hand and placed a compact little cell phone into it, closing her fingers around it. “Now this is the simplest cellular phone available.”

“Kat, I do not want one of these. I told you that.”

“I know. But you have to.”

Audrey stared at the strange thing on her palm. “What do I do?”

“If it jingles, you open it. Like this.” Kat demonstrated. “It will either be a phone call, in which case you press the blinking green button. If it’s a text, it will come up automatically.”

“Ah, maaan…”

“I know. But it’s the best way to keep in contact. You want to keep in contact with me, don’t you?”

Audrey groaned. “Yes.”

“So put this in your purse.”

Audrey reluctantly tossed the thing into her bag as Kat pressed buttons on her own much more complicated-looking cell phone. An instant later, Audrey’s purse began to…sing.

“It sounds like a harp.”

“That’s your cue to pull it out and open it.” Kat stared at her for a moment before nodding at Audrey’s purse. “Go on. Answer it.”

“I already know who it is.”

I can’t wait to read this one. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I have a Web site at www.SandraDBricker.com .

I also write a weekly blog that I hope your readers will come and follow: http://sandradbricker.blogspot.com .

I host a reader page on Facebook that they can “Like”:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-of-Author-Sandra-D-Bricker/211512887374

They can follow me on Twitter: SandieBricker

And they can sign up for the weekly Living It Out Bible studies from CedarCreek Church to be sent to their inbox every day:

http://livingitout.tv

Thank you, Sandie, for another fun interview. By the way, I love your new head shot!


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Always the Designer, Never the Bride (Emma Rae Creation) - paperback
Always the Designer, Never the Bride (Another Emma Rae Creation) - Kindle


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

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT ... DECAF IS NOT - Sandra D Bricker, Loree Lough, Trish Perry, Cynthia Ruchti - Free Book

This month, Summerside Press releases the third volume of a unique series of devotionals geared specifically toward women on the go. I am so thrilled to feature these four women, who are all dear friend of mine. You really should read their novels as well.

Meet the authors of His Grace is Sufficient… Decaf is Not:

·         Sandra D. Bricker is a best-selling, award-winning author of laugh-out-loud fiction for the inspirational market.

·         Loree Lough has won awards for nearly all of her 80+ books, and she has millions of novels in print.

·         Trish Perry’s motto is “True Love. Real Laughs. Pure Fiction.” And her award-winning novels live up to the promise.

·         Cynthia Ruchti is a radio personality and critically-acclaimed novelist with a penchant for writing stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark.

HOW DID YOU ALL BECOME INVOLVED IN WRITING THIS DEVOTIONAL TOGETHER?

LOREE: After I was invited by my dear friend, Sandie (who'd asked me to participate in Be Still…and Let Your Nail Polish Dry), how could I say no!

TRISH: Sandie had invited me to work on an earlier devotional, Delight Yourself in the Lord…Even on Bad Hair Days, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was thrilled when she asked me if I wanted to contribute to Decaf !

SANDIE: I knew a good thing when I experienced it! The same with Loree. We worked on the first one, Be Still…and Let Your Nail Polish Dry, and I was excited to bring her and Trish both back into the fold. Cynthia is the newcomer to the group, and she rounded us out perfectly.

CYNTHIA:  Sandie and I met at a writers’ conference a few years ago and felt an instant heart connection, the kind that has the Lord’s imprint on it. I don’t know about Sandie, but from that moment sitting at the dinner table with her, I had a desire to serve on a writing project with her someday.

WITH FOUR AUTHORS INVOLVED, WHAT WAS YOUR WRITING PROCESS?

SANDIE: Summerside asked me to serve as a sort of team leader on these books, so the creative process is always preceded by a season of organizing. We chose our scripture verses, had a big conference call where we met with the editors, the representatives at OCRF (Ovarian Cancer Research Fund) and a marketing professional. Once we were all on the same page, it was a pretty smooth process to stay on theme and write our individual devos.

CYNTHIA: Sandie knows the importance of blending a detailed organizational system with the leading and/or redirection of the Spirit. She made sure we each knew our responsibilities and deadlines, when to flex and when to hunker down, despite challenging schedule obstacles.

TRISH: Once we each choose our verses and make sure we don’t overlap each other—and it’s very cool that we never have—I take each verse on its own and read the entire chapter within which it nestles. Sometimes that reading provokes some inspiration, some application, but at the very least, it gives me a much better feel for the context and intent of the verse.

LOREE: Like most Christians, my day begins with moments of prayer and thanksgiving, during which I petition the Lord on behalf of family and friends who are ill, struggling financially, having a hard time with a spouse or a child. While I was still in that "praying state of mind," I went to the computer and asked the Father how I might share my own definition of grace with those who'd read this devotional.

THE THEME OF THIS DEVO IS GRACE. WHAT DOES “GRACE” MEAN TO YOU?

CYNTHIA: It will take me “to infinity and beyond” to fully understand the subject. That’s one of the reasons this project appealed to me. Every day I sat with a word count deadline and the prayer, “Lord, help me see Your grace at work around me. Then help me express it in words.”

SANDIE: I often joke that I am the poster child for the concept of grace. It’s been an intimate conversation between me and God for the whole 25 years of my salvation, but I have to say that this last year in particular has been a huge lesson of grace in action. I was more ready to write on this subject this year than any other.

LOREE: We humans are a silly, self-centered lot, born in sin and raised to believe that we must earn what we get out of life… So it's strange, trying to understand this notion that grace—salvation, forgiveness, mercy, and love—is a gift from the Father…that we can't earn!

TRISH: Grace means deliverance from my frailties, from my sinfulness—not necessarily deliverance from the consequences of that sinfulness, but eternal deliverance that means He still loves and accepts me. And He always will. Whenever I feel guilt or shame start to crawl back over me for some mistake I’ve made in the past, I remember the amazing grace the Lord has promised me and demonstrated to me.

EVERY ONE OF THESE DEVOTIONALS HAS BENEFITED THE OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH FUND. WHY?

LOREE: Why OCRF, when there are so many worthwhile organizations to choose from? For one thing, ovarian cancer—"the copycat disease"—mimics a wide variety of physical maladies, and, because the symptoms are vague and rarely accompanied by pain, women don't know to tell their doctors to test for it. And since the test isn't a routine part of gynecological visits, it can go undetected…until it's too late for surgery or treatments to be effective.  Our beloved fellow author, Sandie Bricker, had stage three ovarian cancer that was discovered quite by accident while surgeons were performing another procedure. I thank the Lord daily for that happy accident, because Sandie is an ovarian cancer survivor.

CYNTHIA: It was through this series of devotionals that I first learned about the work of OCRF… Everything I’ve heard about them tells me it and its leadership have the heart, the diligence, and the passion to make a difference in the fight against this devastating disease and the families and friends it affects.

TRISH: I had an aunt who lost her life a mere month after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since then, I’ve met a number of other dear women who have survived but struggled so hard against it—or are still struggling. My friend, Diann Hunt, one of the authors of Bad Hair, is fighting it a second time now, and her attitude and grasp of faith in the midst of this onslaught are amazing and inspiring.

SANDIE: Diann is truly one of my greatest inspirations in life, too. For me, I can confidently say that ovarian cancer is one of the toughest competitors I’ve had in life. The people at OCRF understand that battle, and they’re committed to fighting for all of the other women who are facing down the same demons.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR EACH OF YOU NOW? WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON THESE DAYS?

LOREE: By the time this devotional is released, the novel I'm writing now will have joined it, and "The First Responders" series (all 9/11-centered stories for Abingdon Press) will be complete with From Ashes to Honor, Honor Redeemed, and A Man of Honor. At the same time, my third "Love Finds You" title (also for Summerside/Guideposts), Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina, will be available. And shortly after that, For Love of Eli, one of first books in Abingdon's "Quilts of Love" series, will join them.  

TRISH: Next to be released is a novella collection called The Midwife’s Legacy (Barbour Publishing), which includes my novella, Labor of Love. And I’m working on numerous projects after talking with editors from five different publishing houses over the past week. Exciting, mind-blowing times!

CYNTHIA: I’m working on the final months of a novel that’s tugging at me emotionally as I write it—When the Morning Glory Blooms. It releases in 2013 from Abingdon Press. Before that, in the spring of 2012, a new novella collection from the Door County Christmas team of authors (Eileen Key, Rachael Phillips, Becky Melby, and me) will release from Barbour Publishing—Cedar Creek Seasons.

SANDIE: I’m knee-deep in the Baker series. I’ve just turned in the third novel to my Abingdon editor, and I’m ready to start the last one, Always the Baker, Finally the Bride. So I get to give “Emma” and “Jackson” their happy ending before I move on to my “Quilts of Love” novel for Abingdon, Hearts of Teal, an ovarian cancer story that will be out in 2013.


What a fun interview. I'm actually second devotional book in this series for part of my devotions each morning. I'll move on to this one soon.


Thank you, girls, for the peek into your lives.


Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog. 
His Grace is Sufficient: Decaf is Not (A Devo for Women on the Go)



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