TANDEM - Tracey Bateman - Free Book

I love having you on my blog, Tracey. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I write about taking off masks a lot. Being real and vulnerable. In Tandem, I discuss the issue of co-dependency. How God created us to walk together, but rather than lifting each other up, co-dependents tend to “suck” the life out of each other.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Next summer my second Love Finds You book comes out—written under the pen name, Tracey Cross. It’s Love Finds You in Dodge City, Kansas and I’m doing research on it right now.

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

Jodi Picoult. If we could talk in her writing office. Because I would love to share with her my gratitude for her amazing books. And if she was up for it, I’d ask her to take me through her writing process. She’s sort of my writing hero.

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

Abigail Adams (since I picked Harriett Beecher Stowe last time). Here’s why…because this woman stood behind a man who became one of the founding fathers and eventually president. She also raised a son who became president. I think about my short-term sacrifices with my husband on his second deployment in 6 years, and I’m humbled to realize she gave our country YEARS at a time without her husband so that he could help build the foundation of this nation. She amazes me. I think anyone who hasn’t read a biography of Abigail Adams should run out and grab one—post haste!! And pick up Tandem with it, maybe they’ll give you a discount :-)

Seriously, though I’m extremely patriotic and I love this country of ours. I believe we were built on the potential for honor and greatness and I believe this country has the potential to walk in honor again. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, dear friends!!

I agree with you on that. VOTE! My grandson is on his second deployment in three years. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Don’t fall into the devil’s trap of discouragement. God gives us gifts to be shared. Not just with Him, but with others as well—so keep taking the steps. If one work is rejected by everyone on your list…start over with something new. But in the meantime, be diligent to work on craft, get to conferences and join ACFW or another network organization. God can’t open doors you’re not available to walk through and sometimes we have to allow ourselves to be positioned for the open door. God set me up to meet my hero, Tracie Peterson, when I first started out. She saw my worth and obeyed God and encouraged me to keep trying and finally it paid off with a contract with Heartsong. Networking is where you’ll meet the people who want to help you move to the next step. I think sometimes we don’t want to spend the money to join organizations or go to conferences, because it’s tight these days. But it’s worth making meals stretch or doing without a weekly date night that costs money (make him take you to the park and get McDonald’s dollar menu), save that money and make an investment in the dream God has placed on your heart. If you aren’t willing to invest in your own dream, why should a publisher spend tens of thousands of dollars on you?

And realize if you’re rejected over and over, it just means you need to grow a little more or the story isn’t right at this time. Trends change. Keep working at it and don’t hide and say you’re only going to write for God. If he’s given you a dream to publish, He doesn’t intend for you to bury your talent. :-)


Another thing I agree with. Tell us about the featured book.

Tandem picks up a few months after Thirsty ended. It is not a sequel, but there are common elements, including the town of Abbey Hills, vampires, of course, and a couple of characters return. Lauryn McBride is dealing with her dad’s early onset Alzheimer’s and trying to save her family’s auction house. She is hired to oversee the estate of the late Markus Chisom, who was a character in the first book. She gets the attention of a very old vampire from New Orleans with ties to Markus and finds herself in the middle of something she never dreamed existed. Also, her old flame returns to town with a child and they have to decide whether or not to resume their friendship. If I hadn’t written this book, I’d still buy it. :-)

Please give us the first page of the book.

There is a sneak peak at Random House that will give you a couple of chapters. Please go over there and read the two chapters and if you enjoy them leave a comment! Also feel free to email me at author4god@gmail.com

Here’s the link:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/2010/04/15/sneak-peek-tandem-by-tracey-bateman/

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Traceybateman.com

Also on facebook and I’m working on trying to get back on twitter. I had some issues with tweetdeck and gave up. But I shall prevail!! (says with fist shaking furiously at the tweetdeck demons who have given me such trouble)

I had a lot of trouble with Tweetdeck, so I deleted it and downloaded Seesmic Deck for Twitter. I like it better and haven't had any trouble with it. Just Goggle it. Thanks for another great interview, Tracey.

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