AMONG THE FAIR MAGNOLIAS - Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, Elizabeth Musser - 3 Free Books

Dear Readers, we have a special treat today. A collection from a special group of authors that I really love their books.

Welcome to my blog. How did your story for the collection come about?

Tamera:  Savannah Darby is a character we first meet in To Win Her Favor, a Belle Meade Plantation novel. And I knew when writing that novel that Savannah had a deeper story to tell, and I’m grateful for the chance to tell her entire story in To Mend a Dream, my novella in the Among the Fair Magnolias collection.

Elizabeth: I was actually doing research for a novel that takes place both in modern day and during the late 1800s and had studied a lot about Reconstruction in Georgia.  When I was asked to contribute to Among the Fair Magnolias, inspired by my previous research, I wrote Love Beyond Limits, a story about a young Southern white woman whose courage and convictions lead her to fight for the rights of the freedmen.

Dorothy:   I fell in love with Pawleys Island and the South Carolina Lowcountry while writing Carolina Gold. I'm  fascinated by the history of the old rice plantations and by the lives of 19th century women who managed to accomplish so much despite the restrictions placed on them. My novella, A Heart So True, explores both the beauty of the Lowcountry and the difficult choice my character Abby Clayton faces in determining her own future, and it gives readers of Carolina Gold and The Bracelet a glimpse of their favorite characters from those books.

Shelley: Russell Champion, the hero in An Outlaw's Heart, was featured in a series of westerns I wrote a few years ago for Abingdon Press. I jumped at the chance to finish his story.  

Are these stories connected in some way? If so, how?

They’re connected by the Southern locale and the time period (1860-1878). And that we’re all writers passionate about sharing history and the true love and hope found only in Christ.

What are you reading right now?

Tamera: I’m reading The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech by Kristen Powers; Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology by Arnold G Fruchtenbaum (in prep for an upcoming Revelations study); and Prayers that Changed History by Tricia Goyer

Elizabeth: Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell; Prayer by Tim Keller; Saving Amelie by Cathy Golhke  

Dorothy: The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love.

Shelley: I'm reading Eric Larson's Isaac's Storm and Soaring by Kristen Ashley

How many other books have you had published?

Tamera: Among the Fair Magnolias is my twelfth publication. I’ve written eleven novels to date, and one novella.

Elizabeth: I have published nine novels and one other novella.

Dorothy: Fair Magnolias is my nineteenth publication. Seventeen novels and two novellas.

Shelley: I think I'm at 53 books. (Insert Tamera gasping here! Tamera says, I had no clue! Shelley, babe, you’re ah-mazing.)

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

Tamera:  Honestly, it was a pleasure all around. I love how the four stories (and themes) blend with each other and show the ever changing life in the South over those two decades. 

Elizabeth: Well, I tend to write LONG novels, so I was a bit concerned that I would not do well with a novella, but I actually really enjoyed the experience and found, to my surprise and delight, that when needed, I can be succinct!  I echo Tammy—really felt thankful and privileged to contribute to this collection.

Dorothy: Since we weren't required to mesh the stories, writing the novella was easy. I published a novella, A Proper Marriage at Thomas Nelson last year and  enjoyed writing a complete story in a much smaller space.  So I jumped at the chance to write a second novella. It's a nice break from the intense work of researching and writing a 95,000 word novel.

Shelley: I have to echo what Tamera said. I was so honored to be asked to write one of the novellas in this collection. Though I'd long been a fan of Tamera's, Elizabeth's, and Dorothy's work, I never had the chance to get to work with them. Since writers usually spend lots of time alone, it was wonderful to have “book friends.” 

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Tamera:  I’ve known Dorothy and Elizabeth for a while now—both women are such blessings.  And I enjoyed the chance to work with Shelley which was a real honor for me. Love all these women.

Elizabeth: It was a lot of fun.  I had the privilege of doing a book tour with Tammy last year, and she is priceless, and I so enjoyed corresponding with Dorothy and finally meeting her last November.  I’ve only “met” Shelley through email and Skype, but hope to meet in person in the future.  I felt a lot of reassurance and complicity working with these women, all such talented authors.  It’s been a real pleasure to put our heads together for some fun blog and interview opportunities, too, like the video Tammy mentioned.

Dorothy: Tammy has encouraged and blessed me in so many ways since my arrival in this market and it was such an honor to coauthor with a writer whose work I absolutely love (insert Tamera’s grateful tears here). I first met Elizabeth in the pages of her wonderful novels, The Swan House and The Sweetest Thing and when my publisher was looking for another author for Among the Fair Magnolias, I requested Elizabeth. We were able to connect in Nashville last fall and she is every bit as lovely as her books. Though Shelley lives in Ohio now, she is a Texas girl like me.  We were introduced by a mutual friend at a writers' conference several years ago. I enjoyed Secrets of Sloane House so much, and was thrilled to have Shelley as a coauthor for Among the Fair Magnolias.

Shelley: I've honestly learned a lot. We each approach our novels in different ways. These other authors are so talented! I should also mention that the team at Harper Collins Christian Publishing have been so great to work with. 

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

Tamera: Gain a deeper appreciation for Southern history, for a start, as well as come away encouraged in your faith as you’ve been swept away into another  time and place. 

Elizabeth: I want the reader to become more aware of the challenges that faced the South after the Civil War, and especially see the courage of the freedmen and those who supported them.  I pray we’ll be reminded again that all men are truly equal in God’s sight.

Dorothy: My hope for all my stories is that they will act as windows and  mirrors. Windows that allow readers to peer into another time and place, and mirrors that reflect  a universal truth about ourselves.

Shelley: I always simply hope that readers will feel that it was time well spent. There are a lot of books to choose from, so it means a lot when someone gives one of my stories a try. 

Please give us a peek into your story.

We have a treat for you! We got together and made a VIDEO introducing our novella collection. 

Tamera:

To Mend a Dream

Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.

Elizabeth:

Love Beyond Limits

Emily Derracott loves her childhood friend Thomas McGinnis, but she cannot marry a man who doesn’t share her strong convictions about the freedmen. Besides, she harbors a secret love for someone else. But the prospect of becoming his wife is not improbable. It is completely impossible.

Dorothy:

A Heart So True
Abigail Clayton knows what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles Kittridge and take her place in society. But despite his many business successes, Charles is not the man her father thinks he is. Besides, her  heart belongs to Dr. Wade Bennett, a brilliant young physician engaged in developing new medicines. When her father unexpectedly announces her engagement to Charles during the Clayton's annual barbecue on Pawleys Island, Abby must decide whether to honor her father's wishes or to  follow her heart.

Shelley:

An Outlaw’s Heart
Russell Champion returns to his small Texas hometown after seven years. He had been sent away when he was just fifteen and suffered greatly. He returns to only give himself closure. Instead he discovers his mother wants to make amends and Nora, the woman he once risked everything for, is in need of him again.

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

Tamera: Don’t write for the market. Write the story God has placed on your heart, the story you’re most passionate about. Because passion bleeds through on the page. Unfortunately, boredom does too. So if you’re not passionate about your characters and story, the reader will sense it and they won’t be either. 

Elizabeth: As a writer, you’ll need to create AND edit, but be sure that when you to separate the two.  When you are creating, just get the ideas down on your laptop.  Later, you can move into
editing mode” and polish up.  It doesn’t work to create and edit at the same time.

Dorothy: When I was starting out, people told me to "write what you know." But after seventeen books, I have come to believe it's more important to write about the things that move you to anger or to compassion or to love. To write what you are most curious about. Today it's easy to find out whatever you need to know.   Don't limit yourself to writing what you know.

Shelley: To listen to advice. Many, many editors have helped me learn to be a better writer. I'm thankful for them. 

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
Tamera:

www.TameraAlexander.com

www.facebook.com/TameraAlexander

Elizabeth:                 

www.elizabethmusser.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Musser/149546181768451?fref=ts

Dorothy:
www.DorothyLoveBooks.com 

www.facebook.com/dorothylovebooks

Shelley: 

www.shelleyshepardgray.com

www.facebook.com/shelleyshepardgray

Twitter@ShelleySGray

Thank you, ladies, for sharing this new book with my readers. I can hardly wait to read it, and I know my blog readers feel the same way.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Among the Fair Magnolias - Christianbook.com
Among the Fair Magnolias: Four Southern Love Stories - Amazon
(The paperback is on a special sale today on Amazon. I don't know how long that will last.)
Among the Fair Magnolias: Four Southern Love Stories - 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 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

TO WIN HER FAVOR - Tamera Alexander - One Free Book, Plus More

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

The spiritual themes in my book are never planned. While I know the characters in a novel when I begin writing, along with their basic journey, I rarely have the spiritual theme in view. That comes in the writing, in seeing the story revealed as the characters grow and change. One of the most prevalent spiritual themes in my writing (as a reader recently pointed out to me) is the truth of seeing who we are without Christ. Because seeing who we are (and would be) without the power of Christ living in us, changing us, brings a far deeper gratitude for His presence.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Coming in July is a Belle Meade Plantation novella—To Mend a Dream. To Mend a Dream continues the story of a secondary character we meet in To Win Her Favor, Savannah Darby. Savannah is Maggie’s closest friend and while we learn about Savannah’s struggles in To Win Her Favor, the culmination of her story is told in To Mend a Dream, a novella in a Southern novella collection entitled, Among the Fair Magnolias. I’m excited to share this novella collection with friends and fellow authors Shelley Shepard Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser. Their stories are marvelous! And each story is accompanied by a luscious Southern recipe and discussion questions. Perfect for reading groups.

Sounds wonderful. I’d love to feature that collection on my blog. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I’d love to spend an evening with Carol Burnett. I’ve long admired her comedic wit and personal warmth and, of course, grew up watching her show. A book of poems she published years ago, when I was just a girl—I still have my copy—really made an impact on me and helped me through an especially difficult time. So, Carol, if you’re out there and listening, “Dinner’s on me, babe!”

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

Moses. I’ve just finished studying the Life of Moses (Exodus - Deuteronomy) in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF.com) for the past year, and I’ve come to admire Moses—his faith, his trust in God, his very human side, and his love for the Israelites—more than ever before. And how touching that God buried Moses. Scripture is so rich, truly “living and active” as the Word says.

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

I received several rejections on the first novel I wrote, so I stuck that novel in my drawer and decided to start fresh. I wrote my next novel and got my first three-book contract. Rekindled was my first published novel, but it wasn’t the first book I ever wrote. Remember the story tucked away in my desk drawer for almost seven years? After a complete rewrite, that manuscript became The Inheritance, which has now sold over 100,000 copies. So never give up. Never throw away a manuscript. Keep pushing forward toward your goal. Because every “No” along the way is really just part of God’s final “Yes!” when His perfect timing is reached.

Tell us about the featured book.

I’m so excited about To Win Her Favor’s release. For a year or more, I live with these characters inside me, growing and discovering their journeys. So it’s beyond thrilling when a book releases and readers begin to embrace and love these characters like I do.

To Win Her Favor is the second standalone novel in the Belle Meade Plantation series and it follows the story of Maggie Linden and rugged Irishman Cullen McGrath. This marriage of convenience story explores questions of race, faith, and loyalty and offers perspective on how Reconstruction affected racial relations, social status and economic fortunes in the post-war South — and has a passionate love story at its very heart.

Maggie Linden lost nearly everything in the Civil War — including most of her family. She’s about to lose her stables and land at Linden Downs, and her racing hopes as well. A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie is determined that her mare, Bourbon Belle, will become a champion. And her only hope of saving Linden Downs is if the horse takes the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. To give his daughter a chance, Maggie’s wily father makes a barter. But his agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail: Maggie must marry a man she’s never met — a man she never would have chosen for herself.

It’s okay if readers haven’t read the first book in the series, To Whisper Her Name (USA Today bestseller). The Belle Meade novels can be read and enjoyed individually.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Nashville, Tennessee

May 4, 1869

Steady, girl,” Maggie whispered, peering down from the bluff, leather reins held taut. The thrum of spectators on the field below rose on the cool morning breeze, and she leaned forward to stroke the thoroughbred’s neck. “Wait,” she gently coaxed, anticipation sparking the air. “It’s coming . . .” But even as she said it, her own pulse edged up a notch.

Bourbon Belle pawed the dirt, and Maggie sensed the mare’s restraint growing thinner by the—

The gunshot sounded. The horses on the racetrack below bolted from their marks, as did Bourbon Belle, and exhilaration fired through Maggie’s veins.

Belle surged to life and Maggie gave the horse her head, allowing the mare to surrender to every instinct the animal’s sleek-muscled body commanded. To run.

Belle’s hooves pounded the smooth dirt path, and Maggie imagined that this was what Willie experienced when he raced Belle around the track below. Except the boy was less than half Maggie’s weight, so he and Belle all but flew, just as she expected the pair to do again at the heat later this week.

One and a quarter miles, barely a two-minute race. But the thud of Maggie’s heart marked the time as Belle rounded the familiar curve in the path, the mare’s powerful stride devouring the distance.

Crouching forward, as she’d trained Willie to do, Maggie felt the wind whipping the pins from her hair, and she relished the freedom that only this kind of riding could bring. And though she knew the peace was temporary at best, she embraced it.

You can read the first three chapters on my website! http://www.tameraalexander.com/cmsdocuments/Chs1-3ToWinHerFavor.pdf

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website:         www.TameraAlexander.com

Facebook:       www.facebook.com/tameraalexander

Twitter:           www.twitter.com/tameraalexander

Pinterest:        www.pinterest.com/TameraAuthor

Blog:               www.TameraAlexander.blogspot.com

View vignettes filmed on location at Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of To Whisper Her Name and To Win Her Favor, on the Belle Meade Plantation novels page on Tamera’s website.

Can Maggie prove that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America? Find out in Tamera Alexander's To Win Her Favor. To give her that chance—and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder—Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

Celebrate the release of To Win Her Favor with a Kindle Fire and book giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• A copy of To Win Her Favor

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced May 11th on Tamera's blog. Plus stay tuned for more opportunities to win after May 11 with a special Pinterest contest—more details coming soon!

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

Thank you, Tamera, for allowing us to be part of the release of this new book. I know my readers will love it.

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

To Win Her Favor - Christianbook.com
To Win Her Favor (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel) - Amazon
To Win Her Favor (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel Book 2) - 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

TO WHISPER HER NAME - Tamera Alexander - One Free Book

From her debut novel on, I have loved Tamera's books. Welcome, Tamera. How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Growing up in Atlanta and visiting antebellum mansions, I developed an early appreciation for the post-bellum era of our nation’s history. Through the years, that appreciation matured into a deeper love and respect for the people and events of that time. While the stories in the Belle Meade Plantation series are largely fiction, certain threads of each story (the people, events, and settings) are straight from the pages of history.

When I stepped foot on Belle Meade and learned about the people, the history… I knew I wanted to write books with Belle Meade as a setting.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
Oh gracious, only six?! You didn’t say whether living or deceased so I’m going to give the question “scope.” Isn’t that what writers are supposed to do anyway?

I’d love to have conversation time with Frank Peretti, Calvin Miller, Catherine Marshall, to name three. I’ve been so incredibly blessed by their words. Then I’d have to say three of my closest writing buddies…Robin Lee Hatcher, Sunni Jeffers and Deborah Raney, who are all currently (as I write this) sitting on my screened-in deck (they’re here for a mini writing retreat this week). Love these women (and their writing) dearly.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
Francine Rivers. Love her work. Really admire her faith. Lynn Austin. What a fabulous lady. Julie Klassen. I was actually just with her (and Lynn Austin) two weeks ago speaking at a Book Festival, such fun!!). Sandra Dallas (author of True Sisters, which I’m reading and really enjoying. Love Sandra’s writing and voice. Julie Quinn is another author whose work I really enjoy, plus she seems like a fun personality. And last but not least (I’d let her sit at the head of the table), would be Judith Miller. A wonderful writer and an absolute treasure of a woman.

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?
Accepting and embracing the truth that every book gets exponentially harder. You’d think the opposite would be true but it’s not. You always want to give your best, and you want to make “your best” better than it was before. Writing well takes a team, and I feel incredibly blessed to have a fabulous writing team that encourages me, challenges me, keeps me accountable. And above all, prays me home on these writing journeys.

Tell us about the featured book.
To Whisper Her Name is the first in the three-book Belle Meade Plantation series, and it released October 23. After writing numerous novels set in the Colorado Territory, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to write Southern historicals. I'm a daughter of the South, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, so the stories in the Belle Meade Plantation series––the people, history, events, and settings––are extra special to me. The three novels in the Belle Meade Plantation series will be stand-alones, meaning that while the stories are loosely woven together, each is a complete story in itself and the books can be read independent of each other.

And a hint for readers… You might just catch a glimpse of someone from the Belmont books in the Belle Meade books (or visa versa), as well as glimpse a character from a past novel of mine in To Whisper Her Name.

Please give us the first page of the book.
I’ll do better than that. I’ll give you the first three chapters!
http://media.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/9780310291060_samptxt.pdf

How can readers find you on the Internet?
I enjoy keeping in touch with my readers and connecting with them. We can do that through my website, Twitter, Facebook, and blog. I also host monthly giveaways on my website as my way of saying thanks!

Connect with Tamera here:
www.tameraalexander.com
www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/tameraalexander
www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander
http://pinterest.com/tameraauthor
Watch video vignettes filmed on location at Belle Meade:
http://www.tameraalexander.com/bellemeadeplantationnovels.html

Thank you, Tamera, for sharing this story with us. I just love your cover.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
To Whisper Her Name (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel) - paperback
To Whisper Her Name (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel) - 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

A LASTING IMPRESSION - Tamera Alexander - Free Book + Much More

The post today will be a little different from usual.

About Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier.

Tell us about your walk with Christ.

I came to Christ as a teenager and asked him to be not only my Savior, but Lord of my life. I didn’t begin to understand the true cost of discipleship and what “taking up your cross daily and following me” meant until later in life, and I’m still learning. I’m so grateful that Jesus never changes––not yesterday, or today, or tomorrow. He’s always the same. Rock solid. Dependable. Trustworthy. Lavish in grace. But that grace isn’t cheap. He loves me far too much to leave me where I am. The roads that God chooses for me are rarely the ones I’d choose for myself, but with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and by following in Christ’s steps, I trust him to lead me every step of the way. And something I’ve learned…every step changes the view!

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

C. S. Lewis…because his perspective and writings on this life and the next have long captivated me. Laura Ingalls Wilder…so I could thank her for first igniting my love for story and for the hours I spent with her family on the prairie. Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet…for first opening my eyes to the immense beauty and artistry of words (and my thanks to my seventh grade teacher, Debra Ackey, for the gift of that book). Finally, I’d invite Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts in the Bible, because I’m currently in Bible Study Fellowship and we’re reading one of “Luke’s books!” I’d love to know the “behind the scenes details” of some of the events he recorded, and thank him for faithfully penning the historical account of the early church.

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

I used to speak publicly far more than I do now. I’m currently contracted for several books and they all have back-to-back deadlines, so I’ve had to greatly limit my number of speaking engagements. But I do love to talk and visit with readers. In fact, just tonight I Skyped with a book club in Atlanta and we had such fun! For more information on virtual book club meetings, visit www.tameraalexander.com.

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

I’m not sure it’s the most embarrassing thing but right now––as I’m typing this––I’m still feeling sick to my stomach over something that happened earlier today. I forgot a luncheon I was supposed to attend. Flat forgot it. It was on my iCal, plain as day, but I failed to set a reminder alarm with the event and this morning I got bogged down in planning details for upcoming projects, emails were flying back and forth, and I totally spaced the appointment.

Cringe.

The woman who invited me (and who paid for my ticket) very kindly emailed afterward to make sure I was all right, and when I read her note on my laptop, my heart dropped like a stone. I hadn’t forgotten something like that in a long time. How embarrassing. I immediately called and apologized, profusely. She was very gracious and understanding. But oh…embarrassing just doesn’t describe it.

We all make mistakes, and as hard as we try not to, we all let others down from time to time. Still, you hate when it happens. I’ve found it’s best just to admit your mistake and ask for forgiveness. Then learn from your mistake and put measures into place to decrease the likelihood of it happening again. Then go eat a piece of Weight Watchers Peanut Butter Pie that you keep in the freezer for such moments as these.

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 try to encourage them and then also ask, “What are you willing to give up so you can accomplish that goal? What price are you willing to pay to learn the craft?” There’s a cost inherent in learning anything and especially in learning to do it well. Writing is no exception. I tell them about American Christian Fiction Writers (www.acfw.com). It’s THE single best resource for writers who aspire to write stories for the Christian market. Then I point them to my list of favorite writing resources:

•     The Moral Premise by Stan Williams 

•     Stein on Writing by Sol Stein

•     How to Grow a Novel by Sol Stein 

•     Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell

•     Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins

•     Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

•     Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan

•     Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave

•     Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Tell us about the featured book, A Lasting Impression, a Belmont Mansion novel.

When I first stepped foot across the threshold of the Belmont Mansion in Nashville, TN, and learned about Adelicia Acklen––the born-before-her-time woman who built Belmont––and her “tough as nails” personality and extraordinary life, I knew I wanted to write a story that included her, her magnificent home, and this crucial time in our nation’s history.

But when I “met” Sutton Monroe and Claire Laurent while visiting the mansion one afternoon, or more rightly, when they shoved their way into my imagination and met each other, I knew I had to write their story. And I knew exactly what the setting would be too. The historic Belmont Mansion. After over two years of research and writing, A Lasting Impression is the culmination of that “chance meeting.”

A Lasting Impression is about being authentic in one’s life and relationships, and in one’s faith. It’s a love story about a nation mending after war, ­­the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves––and each other––for who they really are.

Please give us the first page of the book.

A Lasting Impression

Chapter 1

Claire Laurent studied the finished canvas on the easel before her, and though masterpiece hardly described it, she knew the painting was her best yet. So why the disappointment inside her? The fiendish fraudulence trickling its way through her like tiny beads of sweat beneath layers of crinoline and lace. She ran a hand through her curls and dropped the soiled paintbrush into a cup of turpentine, full well knowing why. And knowing only deepened her guilt.

Her gaze fell to the lower right­hand corner of the canvas, the one reserved for the artist’s signature. She hadn’t yet been able to bring herself to sign this one. Not with that name. Because of all the landscapes and still lifes and portraits she’d painted, none had truly felt like hers . . .

Until this one.

A breeze, moist and swollen, heavy with the certainty of rain, wafted in through the open second­story window, and she peered from her bedroom over the town, breathing in the tang of salty air moving in from the gulf. She viewed the Vieux Carré below, the Old Square she’d painted so many times she could close her eyes and still see every detail—the rows of pastel­colored buildings clustered together and edging the narrow streets, their balconies of decorative black cast iron boasting hanging baskets that cascaded with late summer blooms. The combination lent a charm and beauty unique to this part of the city.

No wonder she’d fallen in love with New Orleans so quickly, despite the hardship of recent months.

The steady tick-tick-tick of the clock on the mantel marked the seconds, and she released her breath with practiced ease. She rose from her stool and stretched, paying the toll for retiring so late in recent evenings and for rising so early, but there was no avoiding it. This painting had taken longer to complete than she’d estimated.

Much longer, as her father kept reminding her.

Almost half past two, and she needed to “take leave of the gal­ lery no later than three,” as her father had insisted. She knew she shouldn’t allow his request to bother her. It wasn’t the first time he’d demanded she leave while he “conferred” with gallery patrons. And it wasn’t as if she didn’t know what he was doing during that time. What they did as a family business.

Read a full two chapter excerpt here:

http://www.tameraalexander.com/cmsdocuments/Alexander_LastingImpression_Ch1&2.pdf

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Author Website:        www.tameraalexander.com

Author Blog:             www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com

Author Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander

Author Twitter:         http://twitter.com/tameraalexander

Tamera and her publisher, Bethany House, are hosting A Lasting Impression Kindle Fire Giveaway a Southern-Style Facebook party with a TON of Giveaways!

A Lasting Impression Giveaways and Facebook Party!

Beginning November 4th, Tamera's celebrating the release of her novel with a KINDLE FIRE Giveaway. Then on November 15th she'll be wrapping up the release of A Lasting Impression with a lavish Southern-Style Author Chat Party on Facebook!

Kindle Fire Giveaway and Facebook Party from Tamera Alexander! While Tamera and her book,  A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually (with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle Fire Giveaway (11/4 - 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern Food Baskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don't miss a minute of the fun. Swoon!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
• A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan's Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about the 1860's?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!

Here's a link to the complete blog tour schedule: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13436980

In addition to that, one reader will receive a free copy of the book on this blog.


Thank you, Tamera, for the fun interview.

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

Lasting Impression, A (A Belmont Mansion Novel)

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

Author Tamera Alexander - THE INHERITANCE - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Tamera Alexander back to the blog. It's been a while since she was here. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I was recently on a “book club conference call” and one of the gals mentioned a theme in one of my books (the selection the group had just read) that had really spoken to her. She started to describe the pinnacle scene that captured that specific theme, and I quickly realized she was mistaken about which book that theme was in. It wasn’t in the book they’d just read but was in another one of my books. I thought, “Bless her heart, she has the themes in the books confused.” But um…no. It was me who was a tad confused. Well, not confused really, but mistaken about her being mistaken (grin). The theme she was referring to is about how we can’t truly love others—and ourselves—like God intended for us to love without first seeing ourselves as we are completely and totally without Him. Without the righteousness that God gives us because of Jesus’ sacrifice. I realized then as the women and I continued talking that that’s a theme that runs throughout my books. Some more prominently than others, but it’s always there.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Beyond This Moment, the second book in the Timber Ridge Reflections series releases this month (March 2009). All I’ve been doing in recent months is writing, can you tell? Then this fall, the third book—Within My Heart—in the Timber Ridge Reflections series will release. I’m writing that book right now.In Summer 2010, the first book of a brand new six-book series (all historical fiction/romance) with Bethany House will release.

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

Hmmmm….right now, in this moment, I’d love to spend an evening with Wynonna Judd. I read her book (Coming Home to Myself) recently and was touched by her authenticity and grace. I remember first seeing her and her mom in concert back in the early 80s and I’ve loved her music ever since. Her recent album “Sing” is marvelous! My husband never knows what he’s going to get music-wise when he gets into my car. It could be Pavarotti or James Taylor or Little Big Town or Amy Grant or Wynonna, Styx, Boston, or Little River Band. My music tastes vary widely. But an evening with Wynonna, now that would be most enjoyable. I even know where I’d like to eat. Right here in Franklin at Dotson’s Café.

Can I come? How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Novel writing isn’t something I ever thought I’d undertake. I wasn’t one of those girls who held a book and dreamed of writing one. But I certainly was one of those girls who held a book and dreamed of being the heroine. Which really, is what a novelist is, I guess. We become our characters as we write, so my love of story and the yearning to be “swept away” to another time and place serves my current occupation quite well. I have no idea how long I’ll write novels. The natural response would be to say, “As long as a publisher will give me a contract.” But something Francine Rivers said to me years ago has stuck with me. She said (and I’m paraphrasing), “I want to be centered in the middle of God’s will for my life, whatever that is. So I may write these next (X-number of) books I’m contracted for and that may be it. But whatever I do, I want to be doing what God wants me to do.” Ditto!

What can you tell authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Keep those rejected manuscripts (more on that below). Keep honing your craft. Attend writer’s conferences and network. Read and reread those novels that touch you. Dissect them. Pick them to pieces. I teach a conference course on dissecting novels. That’s largely how I learned to write—dissecting my favorite novels.

The Inheritance is actually my first novel that was rejected…ahem…several times. After receiving numerous rejections, I put the novel away and spent the subsequent two years learning how to write. Then I started on a brand new story. But when Thomas Nelson approached me about writing the first historical for Women of Faith Fiction, I immediately thought of this novel, still tucked away in my drawer and within me.

The Inheritance is a complete rewrite of that original manuscript. I literally chunked the old manuscript (it had way too many issues) and told the story again through where I was at that current point in my life and in where I was at that point skill-wise. I added new subplots and new characters, but the hero and heroine remained much the same. It was wonderful to revisit these characters—Wyatt and McKenna—and to see their story finally come to life. And to the printed page.

So if you’ve gotten rejected manuscripts stuffed in desk drawers, don’t lose heart. And don’t toss them. It could be that that rejection isn’t God saying “Never.” But rather, “Just not right now.”

Excellent advice. I have a manuscript I plan to revisit at sometime. Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s a peek at the back cover blurb:

An unexpected inheritance. An unknown future. An unending love.

Determined to tame her younger brother’s rebellious streak, McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin’s invitation to move west, and to begin again. But she quickly discovers that life in Copper Creek, Colorado, is far from what she expected. Shouldering burdens beyond her years, McKenna tries to be the parent Robert needs, instead of the older sister he resents. But an “untimely inheritance” challenges her resolve at every turn, while also offering a second chance to restore her sense of trust—and perhaps even her heart.

U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon is dedicated to bringing fugitives to justice, yet years of living on the trail have taken their toll. When his path intersects with that of McKenna Ashford, he comes face-to-face with a past he never wanted to relive—and the one woman who can help him find the future he’s been longing for.

As McKenna struggles to let go of her independence and Wyatt considers opening his heart again, they discover an inheritance beyond imagination. But it will come at a price.

Women of Faith has shared the message of hope and grace with millions of women across the country through conferences and resources. When you see the words "Women of Faith Fiction" on a novel, you're guaranteed a reading experience that will capture your imagination and inspire your faith.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Here’s the first page:

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander

Chapter 1

Copper Creek, Colorado, Rocky Mountains

Tuesday, June 5, 1877

McKenna Ashford climbed down from the wagon, holding firm to the belief that she’d made the right decision in coming West—as if her brother’s behavior back in Missouri had given her a choice. She surveyed the not-so-quaint-looking mountain town of Copper Creek and found it to be rougher than she’d envisioned from her cousin’s descriptions in her letters. The town was more rustic with its clapboard buildings, some slightly leaning and arthritic in appearance, their cracked windows staring out like dazed, bloodshot eyes on unsuspecting passersby. But the mountains . . .

Tilting back her head, McKenna traced a visual path across the craggy range that stood sentinel over Copper Creek. And lingering on their highest snowcapped peaks, feeling both awed and humbled, she knew Janie was right—a person couldn’t see these mountains and not be changed.

“So this is it? This is what we left home for?”

McKenna stared up at Robert, still seated on the wagon bench, and read familiar disdain in her brother’s smirk. Only fourteen—nine years her junior—Robert stood a head taller than her and sported muscles most men would be proud to claim.

“All I’m asking, Robert, is that you take the wagon and go on to Vince and Janie’s so they’ll know we’ve arrived.” Exhausted and hungry, she worked to keep the frustration from her tone, and failed. Again. “It’s only a half mile or so from town.”

She gestured to the envelope on the bench seat beside him, knowing the letter’s contents by heart. “The directions are in her letter. I’ll get a horse from the livery and meet you there shortly.”

Robert didn’t move. “I don’t see why I can’t go on with you to the livery.” He gave the letter a cursory glance. “I’ve never even met these people.”

“Yes, you have. I’ve told you before, they knew you when—” She caught herself, realizing it was no use, considering the stubborn set of his jaw.

Readers can read the entire first chapter here:http://www.tameraalexander.com/books.html

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.tameraalexander.com/
http://www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com/
http://www.writespassage.blogspot.com/

Contest site: http://www.tameraalexander.com/contest.html

We’re currently giving away copies of Beyond This Moment on the Contest Page of my website. Visit and enter your name in the drawing. Contest ends on March 31st.

Continued blessings and many thanks,

Tamera

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

Readers, for your convenience, here's a link where you can buy The Inheritance:

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

Don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.