ANCHOR IN THE STORM - Sarah Sundin - One Free Book, Plus Much More

Dear Readers, I interviewed Sarah on the BlogTalk radio show, Along Came a Writer. It was fun to touch base with her again. It’s been a while since I’ve attended the ACFW National Conference. When talking about the book, I realized that this is one book I do not want to miss. I’ve been busy with my own writing and haven’t read it yet. It did move to the top of my to-be-read pile after the show. Sarah took second place in the Golden Scroll award contest that my book took third place.

Bio: Sarah Sundin is the author of eight historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm. Her novel Through Waters Deep was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years,” and her novella I’ll Be Home for Christmas in Where Treetops Glisten was a finalist for the 2015 Carol Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. She also enjoys speaking for church, community, and writers’ groups.

Welcome back, Sarah. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Goodness, where would I start? Professionally, I wouldn’t have been published without my agent, my editor, and the entire team at Revell Books. Emotionally, I couldn’t do any of this without my family and friends supporting me, praying for me, and keeping me (somewhat) sane. Writing-wise, I’m indebted to my critique partners, plus countless writers who have taught and mentored and supported me. Research-wise, I received help from librarians in Ohio, the Director of Historic Parks in Boston, and my teen son who accompanied me on my research trip. It’s a shame only my name goes on the cover!

If you teach or speak, what’s coming up on your calendar?

I’ve had a busy spring—I was on the faculty at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, served as a keynote speaker for a women’s retreat, and spoke at a Chamber of Commerce event. In coming weeks, I’m speaking at two church women’s events and I’m signing books at a 1940s day at a historical society museum. I keep a list of upcoming events on my website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/speaking/upcoming-events/

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

Oh, the question I don’t want to answer. Our nest will be officially empty in July, and my husband is making noise about moving. However, I love our house, our neighborhood, our church, and our friends—and the thought of starting over again exhausts me. Talk to me again in five years.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Take a deep breath. I remember the feeling of adoring my first unedited book and being impatient for the world to see it. Since self-publishing really wasn’t an option back then, I was forced to wait. During those waiting years, I learned about the craft (enough to scrap my first two novels entirely!), the publishing industry, social media, publicity, and how to deal with rejection—a necessity in this business. More importantly, the Lord used my waiting years to teach me about His sovereignty, His love, and His timing. I wouldn’t give up those years for anything. My advice—slow down and let God do His work in your life and your writing.

Very good advice. Too many aspiring authors move ahead of Him. You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

Oh dear. I guarantee it would be a flop. I’m horrid at organizing events—it’s a miracle my own wedding came to pass. Also, I’ve never been on a cruise, and I’m not fond of the celebrity culture, so I wouldn’t even know where to start. As my kids would say… “Epic fail!”

You should try a cruise sometime. They’re a lot of fun with lots of time for relaxing, too. Tell us about the featured book.

For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg’s attentions only annoy—even if he is her brother’s best friend. During the darkest days of the war, Arch’s destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves—and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Vermilion, Ohio

Sunday, December 7, 1941

Lillian Avery’s dream couldn’t have come true at a worse time.

In the pale afternoon sun slanting through the kitchen window, Dad sat at the table building a model ship while humming “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,” and Mom gathered kitchen gadgets.

“Here. A flour sifter.” Mom added it to Lillian’s pile on the counter.

“Remember, Mary Stirling said I didn’t need to bring anything for the apartment in Boston.”

Mom rummaged through a cabinet. “But do they have a flour sifter? You’ll need one. And last Christmas Jim gave me a new one.” Her voice cracked.

Lillian’s heart clenched. At the table, Dad stopped humming and gave Lillian a look that said, “At a time like this, take the flour sifter.”

Mom already had reason to be anxious, with the United States tilting on the brink of war and the three oldest Avery boys serving as naval officers. But now? Two weeks after Jim’s destroyer—a neutral ship!—had been sunk by a U-boat? Two weeks of not knowing if he was alive or dead?

How could Lillian leave home at a time like this?

She squeezed the handle of the flour sifter so it made the “shugga-shugga” sound she loved. “Sure, Mom. But if you fill my trunk with gadgets, I won’t have room for clothing and I’ll have to walk around Boston naked.” She winked at Dad.

He smiled and resumed humming and tinkering.

“Lillian Avery! What am I going to do with you?” Mom extracted herself from the cabinet, her hazel eyes misty. “Rather, what am I going to do without you?”

“You’ll manage, same as you did when I was at Ohio State.”

“I know.” Mom tucked a graying lock of hair back into the roll at the nape of her neck. “But I do wish you’d found a job closer to home.”

Lillian suppressed a groan. Even excellent grades hadn’t shielded her from six months of unemployment. Thank goodness Jim had found her a position in Boston. Of course, she’d still have to prove herself. In the acceptance letter, Cyrus Dixon stated he didn’t want to hire a girl pharmacist but that the peacetime draft limited his choices. She could imagine how he felt about hiring a cripple.

“I’ll be fine, Mom.” In time, she’d win over crotchety Mr. Dixon. 

Where can we find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin

In a time of sacrifice, what price can one put on true love? Pharmacist Lillian Avery and Ensign Archer Vandenberg are about to find out in Sarah Sundin's new book, Anchor in the Storm. During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves—and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions Lillian has been filling? As the danger rises on both land and sea, the two must work together to answer that question. But can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Celebrate the release of Sarah's Anchor in the Storm by entering to win her All Hands on Deck Prize Pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A signed copy of Anchor in the Storm
• Nautical tote bag lined with anchor fabric
• Anchor necklace made from copper reclaimed from the USS Constitution in Boston during restoration
• 365 Devotions for Hope by Karen Whiting
• Shine: Nautical Inspirational Adult Coloring Book
• "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• Set of two nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 8th. The winner will be announced June 9th on Sarah's blog.

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this new book and the special giveaway with my readers.

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

Anchor in the Storm  - Christianbook.com

Anchor in the Storm (Waves of Freedom) - Amazon

Anchor in the Storm (Waves of Freedom Book #2): A Novel - 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

THROUGH WATERS DEEP - Sarah Sundin - One Free Book, Plus More

Dear Readers, Sarah Sundin is a favorite author of World War II novels. Her stories have won numerous awards. Last year, when my book took third place in the Golden Scroll Awards, hers took second. This one looks like another winner.

Welcome back, Sarah. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

So many! I have to start with my brainstorming buddies, Marcy Weydemuller and Cathleen Armstrong, who helped me flesh out the plot, especially the mystery component. Marcy is an experienced writing teacher and editor, and she helped me greatly as I learned to write mysteries.

Also, my husband and our youngest son, Matthew, indulged me as I tacked research on to our family vacation again. I stayed an extra week in Boston, and Matthew stayed with me. I assumed he stayed because he loves Boston and history and wanted a chance to visit the National Archives in Boston with me, which was a blast! On the trip, I found out the truth when he told my aunt, “I know what Mom’s like when she’s researching. I’m here to make sure she doesn’t get lost.” Ha! Nevertheless, I did feel better with a strapping teenage boy at my side!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I love teaching and speaking! I’ll be teaching a workshop on historical research at the ACFW conference in Dallas in September. In October, I’m teaching a workshop on character development for the Alameda Writers Group in Alameda, Calfornia. And next March, I’ll be on the faculty at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in California, leading a fiction mentoring track and teaching a workshop called “No Missed Deadlines”—about goal setting, calendars, charts, and organization. More details are on the speaking page on my website.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

With our nest emptying, my husband and I discuss this frequently. Our oldest son has a great engineering job in southern California. Our daughter got married this July, and she and her wonderful husband will be going to school in southern California. And our “baby” (see “strapping teenage son” above) is graduating from high school this year. So do we stay put in northern California until the dust settles? Move to Oregon as my husband has always dreamed? Go someplace else entirely? We shall see.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Slow down, relax, and learn. Everyone is in a hurry to get published. I was too, but that was before self-publishing became cheap, viable, and respectable, so I had no choice but to wait. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t have that choice. My rejection letter years forced me to keep learning my craft, even when I thought I was already “there.” Those years also taught me vital things about God and about myself—things I needed to know before I entered the strange and challenging world of being a published author. So I advise every aspiring novelist, whether seeking traditional publishing or self-publishing, to take a deep breath, take your time, and learn as much as you can about the writing craft, the publishing industry, and about publicity.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

Oh dear. I’m afraid I’ve never been a celebrity watcher. I’m too skeptical of people who are lauded for superficial traits like beauty and talent, and I truly admire those with strong character, who often work behind the scenes unnoticed. If I held a cruise, it’d be for the volunteers, the veterans, the exhausted moms and dads—those who put other people before themselves. And they could just relax and be pampered.

Tell us about the featured book.

In 1941, as America teeters on the brink of World War II, Mary Stirling works at the Boston Navy Yard and renews an old friendship with naval officer Ensign Jim Avery. Jim’s destroyer escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic, but problems on his ship point to a saboteur at the shipyard. As Mary works to find the culprit and Jim battles U-boats, could their friendship blossom into something more? Or could the dangers they face keep them apart?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Boston Navy Yard; Boston, Massachusetts

Tuesday, March 18, 1941

On a platform by the bow of the USS Ettinger, Mary Stirling prepared supplies no one would notice unless they were missing.

While nautical pennants snapped in the sea breeze and the band played “Anchors Aweigh” for the ship-launching ceremony, Mary set down a box containing rags, a towel, a whisk broom, and a first aid kit. Then she nestled a bottle of champagne in a silver bucket.

Something crinkled. Odd.

Mary picked up the bottle in its decorative tin shield that prevented shattering. Yesterday, she’d tied red, white, and blue ribbon around the neck. Now the ribbon didn’t lie flat, the bow was lopsided, and the foil around the cork seemed loose and wrinkled, as if someone had taken it off and replaced it.

Why? Scenarios zipped through her head, each more ludicrous than the one before. “Too much Nancy Drew in junior high,” she muttered. And too many spy and saboteur stories in the press lately. With the United States clinging to neutrality in the war in Europe, tensions between isolationists and interventionists had become sharper than the prow of the Ettinger.

Mary stroked the sleek red hull of the new destroyer, towering above her. “Into the wild Atlantic you go.”

“That is a bad year.”

Mary smiled at the French accent and faced her roommate and co-worker at the Boston Navy Yard, Yvette Lafontaine. “I doubt the Ettinger cares about the champagne’s vintage.”

“She should.” Yvette narrowed her golden-brown eyes at the ship, then lit up and grasped Mary’s shoulders. “But you look très magnifique.”

Mary knew better than to argue. “Thank you for helping me choose the hat. I love it.” The shape flattered her face, and the fawn color blended with her brown hair and the heavy tweed coat she wore. It would also go well with her spring coat—if winter ever ended.

Yvette fingered the puff of netting on the brim. “I still prefer the red one.”

“Not red.”

“Sometimes a woman needs to . . . to accent, not match.”

Sounds intriguing. Where can we find you on the Internet?

Website:         http://www.sarahsundin.com

Blog:               http://www.sarahsundin.com/blog

Facebook:       http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter:           http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

Pinterest:        http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin

Dive into Sarah Sundin's explosive new series, Waves of Freedom, with book one, Through Waters Deep. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them in the midst of their budding romance.

Join Sarah in celebrating the release of Through Waters Deep by entering to win an Anchors Aweigh prize pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Through Waters Deep
• A nautical tote bag
• A set of compass rose notecards
• A "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• A Boston Tea Party earl grey tea set
• A Through Waters Deep apron
• A set of nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. The winner will be announced August 25th on Sarah's blog.

That looks wonderful. I know my readers will want to enter.

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this new book with us. Many of my readers love World War II novels.

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

Through Waters Deep - Christianbook.com

Through Waters Deep: A Novel (Waves of Freedom) - Amazon

Through Waters Deep (Waves of Freedom Book #1): A Novel - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. 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

WHERE TREETOPS GLISTEN - Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin - One Free Book

Welcome, dear friends, to my blog. I’m thrilled to interview you together. How did your story for the collection come about?

Cara:  I’ve always loved Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, and it was perfect that the song became an instant hit in 1942, the year of my novella. I knew I wanted the heroine to work at the local candy store/soda fountain, and Sarah found out the puzzle company had been in business since long before WWII. But I needed a reason for my hero to work there and not in the war effort. So that got my thoughts spinning to a displaced farmer who suffered an illness as a child that keeps him out of the service. But what made him leave the farm? That legal issue became the pivot the story turned on.

Sarah: This story idea flew together so quickly that it’s hard to track. A sentimental Christmas song came on the radio, and it made me cry, and I hated that it made me cry. So being a writer, I analyzed why the song had such an emotional impact. A child in need…And suddenly little Linnie Kessler is looking in the department store window, hoping to see her daddy, her daddy who was killed in the war. Instead she sees Lt. Pete Turner, a fighter pilot running on empty. When Pete takes Linnie home, he’s captivated by the child’s widowed mother—who is not happy to see Pete. Her former bully.

What are you reading right now?

Tricia: I just finished The Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers. It reminded me how much I adore her writing so I started A Voice in the Wind. It’s been about fifteen years since I read Francine’s Mark of the Lion series and I’m enjoying it!

Cara: Currently I’m reading The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate and In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin…oh, and some really exciting statistics and project management textbooks.

What other books have you had published?

Sarah: This is my first novella, so it was a lot of fun! I have six novels published, all set in World War II. My most recent release is In Perfect Time.

Tricia: I’ve published a bit of everything. I have forty-five books published. Most of those are historical fiction novels, but I’ve also written many Amish novels. I’ve also written parenting and marriage books, and books for teens. So you can say a bit of everything. This fall I also have a novella releasing in the Amish collection An Amish Second Christmas.

Cara: This is my 19th book, so I’m somewhere betwixt and between Sarah and Tricia. One of those was the Complete Idiots Guide to Business Law. The rest have been novels. A mix of WWII historical romances and contemporary romantic mysteries. Readers can learn more about my books and read first chapters at www.caraputman.com.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Sarah: The hardest part was not “owning” all the characters. Both Abigail (Cara’s heroine) and Merry (Tricia’s heroine) appear in my story. It felt strange writing about Abigail and Merry—I wanted to capture them as Cara and Tricia had written them. We had a lot of email conversations along the lines of “What would Abigail be doing now?” “Would Pete really say that?” or “What is Merry feeling at this time?”

Cara: The coordination was a great challenge. Fortunately, Sarah is the spreadsheet queen, so she kept us on track. This is my third collection like this, and I love the collaborative aspects of working on collections.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Sarah: These ladies are high-energy idea generators. I’m a sloth, and I get one good story idea a year. Listening to them brainstorm taught me good lessons about letting ideas flow and change and shift directions.

Tricia: I was SO impressed by both of them. Sarah is so organized, and Cara is so fun and passionate. Honestly I’d work with them all the time if I could. It truly was a great team!

Cara: I’ve long admired Sarah and Tricia, so when I decided I wanted to explore writing a WWII Christmas collection, I knew I wanted to do it with them. I was THRILLED when they said yes. It was such fun to work together.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Sarah: Linnie’s name came attached to her—I have no idea where it came from! For Pete and Grace, I looked at names popular in the era. Pete has the strong, no-nonsense quality, and Grace has such quiet beauty—and ironically my heroine needs to learn to extend grace. Also, Grace was my grandmother’s name. She passed away in March, long after I’d finished this story, but it was fitting to dedicate this novella to her.

Tricia: I chose Meredith because I wanted to use the Christmas song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” I have a friend who was born on Christmas and her name is Merry, so I thought Merry could be short for Meredith. As for the other characters, I also looked for popular names from that time period. I had fun looking up Dutch names, too!

Cara: Abigail is my oldest’s name, and she wanted a book of her own. I also love the meaning of the name: Fountain of Joy. Abigail has a bit of that personality, though muted by a pain she has to overcome.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Sarah: That God alone can fill the empty places in our lives.

Tricia: That God can work all things out for good and our mourning can turn to joy!

Cara: That God will lead us through the pain in our past if we’ll let Him.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Sarah: Absolutely! I tell aspiring writers that ACFW is like having a mini-conference in your email inbox every day. The courses are excellent, the loop is a great way to connect, the genre loops are fantastic for research help, and the conference is top-notch!

Tricia: Yes, although I’m not as active as I wish I could be. I highly recommend ACFW to aspiring novelists. It’s an organization filled with amazing people!

Cara: Yes! I’m published because of what I learned at ACFW and the people I’ve met at the conferences. I’ve also been very active on the boards and in other positions since 2006. I love this organization and giving back!

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Tricia: The best advice I’ve received is to write from the highs and lows of your own life. The emotional themes I’ve written about are similar ones that I’ve experienced. This helps pack emotion into the story.

Cara: To be disciplined. Keep writing even when you don’t feel like it. If you do, you’ll have a book in a year. And be teachable. You can always learn more!

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Tricia Goyer

www.triciagoyer.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/authortriciagoyer

Twitter www.twitter.com/triciagoyer

Pinterest www.pinterest.com/triciagoyer

Cara Putman

www.caraputman.com

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Sarah Sundin

www.sarahsundin.com

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Thank you, ladies, for sharing this Christmas novella collection with us.

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

Where Treetops Glisten - Christianbook.com
Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II - Amazon
Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II - 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

IN PERFECT TIME - Sarah Sundin - One Free Book

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

The idea for the Wings of the Nightingale series came about when I was researching nursing in World War II and read about the flight nurses. Their stories were so fascinating and exciting, and I needed a series to tell them all. In Perfect Time is the final novel in the series, but it stands alone. Since the nurses flew from airfield to airfield, I imagined a nurse who had a boyfriend in every airport.

About that same time, I was listening to a family from our church that sings a cappella. Every single member of that family has an exceptional singing voice. Since I have a horrible singing voice, I imagined what it would be like to be born into a family like that. Now, the family from my church is so loving, it wouldn’t matter. But what if the family saw a lovely singing voice as a sign of God’s blessing? What if they judged this little tone-deaf girl? Treated her like an unrepentant sinner? Hmm. So my wounded, tone-deaf girl grew into a bold and flirtatious nurse. I couldn’t wait to tell her story and lead her to healing and joy.

Sounds wonderful, Sarah. I have an aunt who was a US army nurse in Germany during World War II. She’s shared many memories and pictures with me. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Time. Being a published author is a full-time plus job. Working from home is a challenge with kids in and out, carpooling, and doing all the mom/wife stuff. At times, I long for an office where I could work from nine to five, then come home and leave work behind. But that doesn’t happen. With the internet, it’s go, go, go. I love writing, but I still struggle to manage my time.

Tell us about the featured book.

World War II flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, but C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper seems immune to her charms. Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer. Can they confront the fears and misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Over the Mediterranean

March 25, 1944

For Lt. Kay Jobson, flight nursing meant more than physical care. It meant reconnecting a broken soldier with the shards of his humanity.

Kay assessed her planeload of patients en route from Italy to Tunisia. A restless lot, downhearted. That wouldn’t do.

She headed to the front of the C-47 cargo plane, past six men confined to litters and eleven in seats along the sides of the fuselage. The soldiers had been wounded on the battered beachhead at Anzio or in one of the many bloody failed attempts to take Cassino. “Say, fellows, what do you think about the ’44 baseball season? Starts soon, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, it does.” Seated to her left, Sergeant Logan gave her a don’t-worry-your-pretty-little-head look.

She knelt beside the patient and took his wrist to measure his pulse. What was more fun—showing off what lay inside her pretty little head or shocking people? “Do you think the Cardinals can come back from their World Series loss?”

“Um, sure.” One bushy eyebrow sprang high. “But I’m a Tigers fan myself.”

Kay rolled her eyes. “Hal Newhouser might be a great pitcher, but the Cards have Stan Musial, and he batted .357 last season. Mark my words, they’ll take the whole shebang this year.”

Logan’s mouth opened and closed around nonexistent words.

Kay tapped him under the chin. “I don’t just follow the game, I play it. If I weren’t a nurse, I’d be the star of one of those girls’ teams.”

“Well, I’ll be.”

Swishing her hair over her shoulder, Kay turned to the rest of the patients. “So, boys, who do you like this year?”

Over the roar of the twin engines, the men called out their favorite teams and players and stats, and Kay smiled, her goal accomplished.

She loved everything about this job—the glamour of flight, the challenge of nursing, and the game of lifting spirits. Now she just needed to sweet-talk chief nurse Lt. Cora Lambert into recommending her for the Army Air Forces’ chief nurse training program.

If only she could have an in-flight emergency to highlight her skills.

I must read this book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love connecting with readers! Come say hi!

Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com

Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.com/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
In Perfect Time - Christianbook.com
In Perfect Time: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) - Amazon
In Perfect Time (Wings of the Nightingale Book #3): A Novel - 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.)

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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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ON DISTANT SHORES - Sarah Sundin - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio:
Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter and the Wings of Glory series. In 2011, A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards, and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic), in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Tell us about your salvation experience.

Mine isn’t terribly dramatic. I was raised by a loving, church-attending family. When I was ten, we attended a concert by a church high school choir. Those kids glowed with the love of Jesus, and I wanted what they had. Suddenly all the Bible stories and verses made complete sense, and I prayed to accept Christ.

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

Oh dear. I’m afraid I can’t pick. I’ve made so many dear friends in the writing community and I’m horrible at playing favorites.

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

I do. I speak to various church and community groups and for writers. Since I started by teaching women’s Bible studies, I love to help women overcome fear, shame, pride—whatever holds them back from loving and serving God completely. For community groups, I present on historical topics, such as “Lessons from the 1940s Woman.” There’s a list of speaking topics on my blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com/p/speaking.html

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

So, so many to choose from. This contributes to my insomnia. One of my “favorites” occurred when I was a pharmacy resident. Since the hospital I was serving at closed during my residency (earthquake standards), the six of us residents were farmed out to hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, but we met once a week and shared what we were learning. One pharmacy I worked at had an incredibly antiquated system, and I railed about it at one of these meetings. I was on a roll, getting lots of laughs, but the pharmacy director and his assistant were just giving me these odd smiles. When I finally ran out of steam, the assistant director asked me, “Sarah, who do you think started that program?” It was my boss. He’d started that program about fifteen years earlier. All the systems I’d mocked—he’d designed. Oy. I actually stood up and walked to the corner of the room. He was so gracious though! He used that as a teaching point—the same systems that were revolutionary fifteen years earlier had become antiquated because the current management refused to change. I was off the hook, but I learned several valuable lessons.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I always tell them the same thing: “Write it.” My grandmother was an amazingly eloquent woman and a gifted writer. She always said she should write a book. She never did. I didn’t want to get to the end of my life and say, “I should have written a book.” Write it. Good or bad, write it. Then you’ll have no regrets.

Tell us about the featured book.

On Distant Shores is the second book in the Wings of the Nightingale series, which follows three World War II flight nurses in the Mediterranean area, but the book stands alone. Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie’s cozy life gets more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson. Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they’ve made?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

Over French Morocco

July 7, 1943

If only the plane would keep flying over the Atlantic and straight back to Virginia where Georgie belonged.

Flight nurse Lt. Georgiana Taylor spun her gaze from the khaki landscape below to the interior of the C-47 cargo plane. More khaki. And olive drab. And aluminum.

Six canvas litters suspended on aluminum racks. Twelve canvas seats. Eighteen patients in khaki and olive drab. This plane needed a little magenta or tangerine or violet.

Georgie strolled to the front of the plane. She might be the only color in the lives of these poor wounded soldiers, so she’d shine as brightly as possible.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I hope you’re enjoying your flight.” She looked into each patient’s face long enough to make him feel cared for, but not long enough to give him the wrong idea about her. “We’ll land in Casablanca in an hour. Sergeant Jacoby and I will make one last round. If y’all need anything, please let us know.”

A corporal raised his hand and a mischievous smile. “I need Ingrid Bergman to meet me at the airport in Casablanca and kiss me hello like she kissed Bogart good-bye.”

The men hooted and hollered.

Georgie cocked her head. “Sorry, honey. She’s off fighting Nazis with her husband, remember?”

The corporal flapped a hand at her. “Ah, you’re spoiling my fun.”

“All in a day’s work.”

I like the humorous tone of this page. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to connect with readers! You can find me at…

Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com

Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin

Sarah Sundin is celebrating the release of her latest novel, On Distant Shores, with a Romantic Weekend Getaway giveaway!

  One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (good for a perfect couple's getaway)
• With Every Letter and On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 2nd. Winner will be announced September 3rd at the "On Distant Shores" Author Chat Party on Facebook. During the party Sarah will be hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills, announcing the winner of the Weekend Getaway, and giving away a ton of books, gift certificates, and more. Oh, and she'll also be giving party goers an exclusive look at the next book in the Wings of the Nightingale series.

So grab your copy of On Distant Shores and join Sarah on the evening of September 3rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; RSVP TODAY. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 3rd!

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this new book and giveaway with us.

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

On Distant Shores - Christianbook.com
On Distant Shores: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) - Amazon.com
On Distant Shores (Wings of the Nightingale Book #2): A Novel - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

WITH EVERY LETTER - Sarah Sundin - One Free Book

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

The spiritual themes in each story arise from the characters and whatever issues they face. Themes I’ve explored include trust, fear, shame, pride, obedience, and forgiveness. I think a lot of Christians allow fear or shame or a lack of trust to hold them back from what God wants them to do (I know I have!), and pride seems to be at the root of a great deal of sins we struggle with, so those issues do tend to pop up frequently in my characters’ lives too.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

My next novel, On Distant Shores, is coming out in June 2013, the second book in the Wings of the Nightingale series, and the third book in the series comes out in June 2014.

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

I think I’d like to meet Kay Arthur. With her heart for the Lord and for the Word, I know conversations would be delightful.

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

I’d like to meet Lucy Maud Montgomery. I love the Anne of Green Gables books and Montgomery’s humor and dreaminess and insight into humanity.

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

That’s an experience I know well. I had five years of rejection letters, which were difficult—but were also the years God used to teach me some powerful lessons about humility and trust and faith and obedience. For authors facing rejection now, my first bit of advice is to keep taking your dream to the Lord, offering it with wide-open hands for Him to do with as He pleases. If it’s clear He still wants you to write and submit, do so wholeheartedly. Keep praying, keep writing, keep submitting. God’s definition of success is very different from the world’s definition—He honors faithfulness and obedience.

Tell us about the featured book.

With Every Letter is the first book of the Wings of the Nightingale series, which follows three World War II flight nurses in the Mediterranean. Lt. Mellie Blake is looking forward to beginning her training as a flight nurse. She is not looking forward to writing a letter to a man she’s never met—even if it is anonymous and part of a morale-building program. Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer stationed in North Africa, welcomes the idea of an anonymous correspondence—he’s been trying to escape his infamous name for years. As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face-to-face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage by their pasts?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

Walter Reed General Hospital

Army Medical Center

Washington, D.C.

October 2, 1942

Lt. Philomela Blake believed mornings should start gently, with the nighttime melting into golden sunshine and birdsong luring to wakefulness.

Most nurses on the morning shift assaulted the patients with electric light and harsh voices, but not Mellie.

She pulled the cord of the blackout curtain and sang “At Last,” and the volume of her tune built with the intensity of light. Hurting and healing men deserved a soft hand.

On the nearest bed, Corporal Sloan shifted under the blankets. He’d undergone an appendectomy late last night. “Any dame . . .” He cleared his throat, his voice raspy from the ether. “Any dame with the voice of an angel must have a face to match.”

Mellie’s song and her hands stilled. How many soldiers dreamed of a beautiful nurse who might fall in love with him?

He rubbed his eyes, looked at her, and his smile flickered.

Papa called Mellie his exotic orchid, but American men seemed to prefer roses.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com

Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

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

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
With Every Letter: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) - papeback
With Every Letter: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) - 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

BLUE SKIES TOMORROW - Sarah Sundin - Free Book

Welcome back, Sarah. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

God is truly amazing. I’m still marveling at His perfect timing. I went through five years of rejection letters, convinced I was ready. I wasn’t. He knew that all along. As for the horizon, I’ve signed a contract for another three-book series, but only God Himself knows what He’ll do with that or after that!

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband and I just celebrated twenty-two years of marriage. Our oldest son is a sophomore at UCLA majoring in mechanical engineering, our daughter is a junior in high school, and our youngest son is in eighth grade. We have a skittish but adorable cat, and a yellow lab named Daisy, whose antics drive me crazy but keep my Facebook friends amused.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Absolutely. First of all, I read nonfiction books for research that I never would have glanced at a decade ago. Military history? The B-17 technical manual? Luftwaffe uniforms? My former self shakes her head at current self. Secondly, I’m reading more widely now. I’ve strayed past my old favorites of classics and women’s fiction to discover some fabulous voices in historical fiction and romance.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently doing the final polish on the first book in my next series, which is due to my publisher September 1 and will come out Fall 2012. I’m also plotting the second book. This new series follows three World War II 

flight nurses in the Mediterranean Theater.

What outside interests do you have?

Can you hear me laughing? With my kids’ outside interests, I live in my car. Thank goodness I find writing so relaxing and enjoyable. I used to do lots of sewing for myself, the home, and for my daughter when she was little and let me choose her clothes. Oddly, when I started writing, I lost my interest in sewing, as if the minuscule creative section of my brain could only handle one outlet at a time.

When my kids were in junior high, I had a t-shirt that said If woman's place is in the home, why am I always in my car? How do you choose your settings for each book?

For this series, I picked Home Front settings in towns I was familiar with, including my hometown, which made research convenient. I chose the English setting for two reasons—because the US Eighth Air Force was chockfull of fascinating stories (including my great-uncle’s—a B-17 pilot in the 94^th Bombardment Group), and because I love England and thought it would appeal to readers as well. My husband’s frequent flyer miles allowed us to visit England. I was able to stroll the streets of Bury St. Edmunds and imagine my characters doing likewise.

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

I don’t know how I could pick. In my research I’ve read so many stories of men and women, both famous and not, who modeled integrity and courage. My heart is drawn to spending an evening with my grandfather, Fred Stewart, who served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the US Navy during World War II. He loved to tell stories, but he passed away before I started writing. I’d love to be able to hear those stories all over again and ask him more questions.

What a heritage! What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Actually, I don’t wish I knew too much more than I did. If I knew how long it took the average writer to get published, I might have given up. If I knew how much research I’d have to do, I might not have written a historical novel. If I knew how much non-writing work I’d have to do as a writer, I might have stopped. I think the Lord let me have only as much information as I could handle at the time.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

He’s teaching me the importance of abiding in Him. This is a lifelong lesson for all of us, but He’s impressed it on me lately. John 15:5 is my theme verse right now: “’I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing’” (NASB). Everywhere I look, this concept and this verse keep popping up, a firm indication that the Lord wants to get my attention.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Oh, wait…you’re talking to me? I still feel like a bumbling novice. I think what’s helped me best navigate the strange world of publishing are being teachable, cooperative, and genuine.

Being teachable is vital. I want each book to be better than the last, so I keep learning and listening and pushing myself.

Cooperation has helped me deal with my publisher. I trust them as experienced and knowledgeable professionals. I’ve stood my ground when necessary, but they know way more about the industry than I do, so I let them do their thing.

Being genuine helps me relate to readers. Pedestals are very dangerous places, but every time I share something stupid I did or something inedible my dog ate, I blow up that pedestal.

Tell us about the featured book.

Blue Skies Tomorrow is the third book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II. Each book stands alone.

Lt. Raymond Novak prefers the pulpit to the cockpit, but at least his stateside job training B-17 pilots allows him the luxury of a personal life. As he courts Helen Carlisle, a young war widow and mother who conceals her pain under a frenzy of volunteer work, the sparks of their romance set a fire that flings them both into peril. After Ray leaves to fly a combat mission at the peak of the air war over Europe, Helen takes a job in a dangerous munitions yard and confronts an even graver menace in her own home. Will they find the courage to face their challenges? And can their young love survive until blue skies return?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Helen Carlisle strolled up G Street, careful to keep a pained expression. Some days the performance of grief was easier than others, but it was always necessary for her son’s sake.

She shifted two-year-old Jay-Jay higher on her hip and inhaled the Delta breeze, flowing fresh from the San Francisco Bay into the Sacramento River Delta, rain-scrubbed and scented by new grass on the hills.

With a bump of her hip, Helen opened the door of Della’s Dress Shop and set her notebooks on the table by the door.

From a picture frame on the table, Jim Carlisle smiled up at her—long, lean, and handsome in his Navy blues. The hometown hero. Was he wearing that uniform when a Japanese torpedo slammed into his destroyer off Guadalcanal?

She pressed her fingers to her lips and then to the cold glass over Jim’s cold face. But a scan of the shop revealed no sign of her in-laws. Footsteps came from the back room and the curtain swished open, so Helen repeated the performance, laid another kiss on the portrait, and lifted it for her son. “Give Daddy a kiss.”

Jay-Jay mashed his palm over his mouth, making a crunching sound, and passed the kiss to the father he couldn’t remember.

A crunching sound? Jay-Jay’s cheeks stretched rounder than usual. “Sweetie, what do you have in your mouth?”

He shook his blond curls, his mouth clamped shut.

“Let Mama see.” Helen dropped to her knees, pinned the boy on her lap, and pried open his mouth. He howled and flapped his arms at her.

“Please, sweetie?” Nausea billowed through her. Chunks of slimy gray shell lay in her son’s mouth. She’d set him down for a minute, only a minute while she hung the thermometer poster in the window of the Red Cross Branch Office to monitor the War Fund Campaign.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com

Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

Thank you, Sarah, for dropping by.



Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.


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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 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