THE GOLD DIGGER - Liz Tolsma - One Free Book

Welcome back, Liz. 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? First of all, Becky Germany, editor at Barbour Publishing, was the one who came up with the concept for the True Colors Crime series. She had the ideas for the first several books, and the series took off after that. Also, this book wouldn’t be what it is without the wonderful people at the LaPorte County Historical Society museum. They allowed me to wander their exhibits, read their material, and ask them questions on a very cold and snowy January day. As someone who loves research, it was a fabulous day, and they helped me so much. I also thank my cousins, Steve and Muriel, for letting me spend the night with them. They’re just down the road from the museum. Muriel cooked dinner, and we spent a delightful evening catching up. One of those nights you’ll remember with fondness for a long time.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar? With Covid, my teaching and speaking has been really curtailed. All I have right now is a virtual speech to the Maude Shunk Library in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, in April. That’s been the hardest part of this entire pandemic – not being able to get out and interact with my readers. I hope to be able to add some virtual book club visits soon.

They are fun. I’ve done a couple. If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why? As of right now, it would have to be Austin, Texas, where my son lives. I miss him! I’m looking forward to seeing where my kids end up living and how close we’ll be to them.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be? Find a mentor or an editor who can help you through the process. The publishing field is more competitive than ever, and having someone who can help you polish your work and who can help you secure an agent or a publisher is pure gold.

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]) What fun it would be to have a reader/author cruise! We could have readings, we could talk books, we could sit in the sun and read. Nothing could be better than that. I’d have to invite Kristy Cambron. She’s an amazing speaker. Jamie Wright is just plain old fun, so I’d invite her. All of my critique partners – Angie, Diana, Jenny, and Jen – would have to come too. Chautona Havig would be a hoot. Boy, we would have a great time together!

Tell us about The Gold Digger. In 1907, shy but loyal Ingrid Storset travels from Norway to support her grieving sister, Belle Gunness, who owns a farm in LaPorte, Indiana. Well-to-do widow Belle, who has lost two husbands and several children, provides Ingrid with enough money to start a small business. But Ingrid is confused by the string of men Belle claims to be interviewing for her next husband. When Nils Lindherud comes to town looking for his missing brother, who said he was going to marry Belle, Ingrid has a sinking feeling her sister is up to no good.

Please give us the first page of the book.

LaPorte, Indiana

Tuesday, October 1, 1907

“Where are you taking me?” Ingrid Storset held tight to her sister Belle’s hand. If only Belle hadn’t made her put on this ridiculous blindfold. By the noise of the people around her, the clomp of the sidewalk under her shoes, and the yeasty odor of bread from the bakery, it was obvious they were somewhere in the middle of town.

Behind her, Belle’s two daughters, Myrtle and Lucy, chatted and giggled the way eleven- and nine-year-olds do. Phillip most likely ran ahead of the group, a typical five-year-old boy. Jennie, Belle’s foster daughter, had stayed home today. Almost a grown woman, she likely wanted to steal a little time with Emil, the farmhand and her beau.

 “You’re going to love this.” From where Lucy’s voice came, sometimes ahead of Ingrid and sometimes behind, she must be skipping around. So typical of her.

“Yeah, you’re going to be shocked.”

Ingrid chuckled at Myrtle’s pronouncement. “I’m glad you are learning new Norwegian words. English is very hard for me to speak.” Though she had been in the country for five years, since she was just eighteen, Ingrid struggled from time to time with the strange new language.

 “Mostly I speak English, but right now, I want you to know what is happening. Because it’s a huge, huge surprise.” Myrtle grasped Ingrid’s other hand.

“I can’t wait until I can find out what it is.”

“Now, now. You must be patient. Soon you will see why I am making this such a surprise. I’m very excited to show you. We’re almost there.” Belle pulled Ingrid along.

They continued to weave around what Ingrid assumed was the crowd, sweet perfume and musky cologne filling the air, until Belle pulled her to a halt. Myrtle squeezed her hand.

 “Are you ready?” Even her usually somber sister’s voice held more cheer.

 “More than ready.” Ingrid couldn’t help but raise herself on her tiptoes.

Belle fiddled with the knot on the blindfold, pulling at Ingrid’s Gibson girl hairstyle as she did so. If her sister was going to mess up her coif, this had better be worth it. She sucked in a breath and held it.

 “All right, children, on the count of three. One. Two. Three.” Belle yanked away the blindfold, and Ingrid blinked in the bright light.

She stood in front of an empty brick building, the glass of the store-front window rather dirty, the blue paint on the door peeling. What could this be? How was this a surprise? She passed this place almost every week when she came into town from Belle’s farm to shop. “I don’t understand.” With a furrowed brow, she turned to her sister.

 “This is for you, silly.” Belle’s work-worn face almost glowed. “Your dream.”

Where can we find you on the Internet? Please visit Liz’s website at www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.

Thank you, Liz, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I was particularly interested in this one, because I wrote a book titled The Gold Digger several years ago. I’m eager to read the rest of yours.

Readers, here are links to the book. 

https://amzn.to/2NRNK7z - Paperback

https://amzn.to/2MDJZSe - 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 or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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 

THE GOLD DIGGER - Lena Nelson Dooley - Special Print and Audio Book giveaways

Have you wanted a chance to read my book The Gold Digger and haven’t yet? Today could be your lucky day. This is my “Heroine in peril, mail-order-bride, gone awry” story.  Here’s a peek into the book:

Early spring, 1890

Golden, New Mexico

"Are you plumb crazy?" Jeremiah Dennison's loud retort bounced around the main room of the adobe house and returned to mock him. "Where did you get such a harebrained idea?"

Trying to control his anger, he shoved his clenched fists into his denim trousers' pockets, paced to the window, and stared out, paying scant attention to the piñon trees bending in the wind. He loved Philip Smith like a father, but the man could vex the weather. And this latest idea was the most farfetched yet.

Philip gave a snort. "Harebrained?" He put his rocking chair into motion that sent out a rhythmic squeaking. "Why'd ya say that? It's worked fer other men."

Jeremiah tried to calm down. He wanted to measure his words, season them with wisdom that would awaken his elderly friend to all the pitfalls he would face. "What would you do with a mail-order bride?"

The old miner stilled the chair and stared at Jeremiah, obsidian eyes piercing under his bushy white brows. "Somethin"—he smothered a hacking cough with his fist, then swiped a clean handkerchief across his face—"has a deadly grip on me."

"I know you're sick. I take care of you, don't I?" Jeremiah resented the fact that what he'd done wasn't enough. Otherwise, Philip wouldn't even consider such a preposterous proposition.

His old friend reached up to scratch the scraggly beard he'd worn all the years he was a miner, but it no longer covered his clean-shaven chin. Old habits died hard. "Jerry, I don't wanna be a burden on ya."

"You'd rather be a burden to a woman you don't even know?" Jeremiah regretted his cynical tone the moment the words flew from his lips. He softened his tone. "I've never considered you a burden any more than you thought I was a burden when I came to the gold fields as a greenhorn."

Philip clutched the arms of the rocking chair and slowly rose. He took a moment to steady himself before he ambled toward Jeremiah. "I ain't come to this decision easy." He squinted up into Jeremiah's face. "I done studied on it fer a while."

Jeremiah straightened the fingers he'd gripped into fists and relaxed his stiff spine. "What do you mean, 'studied'?"

"Well, I figure a woman who'd answer them ads in the newspaper must be purty needy, maybe even desperate to get out of a particular bad situation." He gave a vigorous nod that riffled his snowy hair. "Made me a fortune when I sold my mine. More money than any man can spend in his lifetime. What good is a fortune to an old-timer like me? Won't never have a family of my own. Maybe I'll git me a woman with children. She can take care a me, and my money can take care a her." Another nod punctuated his last statement. "And her young'uns, if she has any."

How could Jeremiah deny his mentor's request? Philip never asked for much. If he didn't do this, the stubborn old man would look for help from someone else. A lesser friend might have a wagging tongue and spread the story all around Golden. Philip didn't need people gossiping about him sending for a bride. And other miners might try to nab her for themselves when she arrived. If Jeremiah had his way, it would be fine with him if they did, but his friend would be too disappointed. He didn't want to break Philip's heart, just talk him out of making this mistake.

"Jerry, ya ain't mad 'cause I'm plannin' to give my money to someone else, are ya?"

The words stabbed Jeremiah's heart. How could Philip believe that about him? "I don't need your money. I have more than enough of my own, thanks to selling my own mine and starting the ranch like you told me to."

The hoary head nodded. "That's what I figured."

"Where you going to send the ad?" Jeremiah couldn't believe he was considering being a part of this crazy scheme. But what else could he do?

Philip limped toward the sturdy pine dining table where a stack of newspapers was piled haphazardly beside blank paper, an inkwell, and a pen. "I read all these, and I think I'll send it to the Boston Globe." He picked up the top newspaper and shoved the rumpled pages toward Jeremiah.

Taking the newsprint, Jeremiah glanced at the headlines on the front page. An unusually hard winter had left many people out in the cold. "Why Boston?"

"Don't want jist anybody. Wanna help a lady in distress." Philip folded his scrawny arms across his bony chest. "Figure most a the women in Boston are ladies. My aunt Charlotte come from Boston, and she was a lady." He stopped and cleared his throat, then wheezed out a slow breath. "You do the writin', 'cause mine looks like hen scratchin'."

Judging from the stubborn tilt to the older man's chin, Jeremiah knew Philip's mind was made up. He dropped the newspaper back on the stack and pulled out the chair beside the stationery. "What do you want to say?"

He picked up the pen with the golden nib—another of the things the old miner had bought after he'd sold the mine. It had never been dipped into the inkwell until now.

Philip leaned both hands on the table, puffed out his chest, and wrinkled his forehead in concentration. "How about, Wanted, a . . . No. Makes it sound like she's an outlaw, or somethin'. Do it this way. A Christian man in Golden, New Mexico, is seekin' . . ." He waited for Jeremiah to finish writing the phrase. "Sound all right so far?"

Wanting to laugh, Jeremiah kept his eyes trained on the words before him. Philip was so serious. "What are you seeking?"

The old miner scratched his head. "I want a lady. Done already told ya that."

"Maybe we could say, a Christian lady. That should cover it."

Jeremiah dipped the pen in the inkwell. When he held it poised over the paper, waiting for Philip to agree with his suggestion, a small drop fell and quickly spread into an unsightly blob. "I've messed up this sheet. Do you have a pencil? I could use it while we figure out the wording. Then I'll copy it in ink."

Philip made his way to the sideboard against the back wall of the large open room and pulled out a drawer. He shuffled through the contents before holding up the stub of a pencil. "Here's the onliest one I got."

"It'll do." Jeremiah reached for the pencil and continued, "A Christian man in Golden, New Mexico, seeks a Christian lady . . . where do we go now?"

Once again, Philip was deep in thought. ". . . who needs a chance at a new life."

Jeremiah nodded and added the words. "I like it. Do you want to say anything else, or should I just put your name and address?"

"That's enough, but put General Delivery as my address." A smile crept across the older man's face, bringing a twinkle to his rheumy eyes.

He returned to his rocking chair while Jeremiah copied the words with ink, folded the message, inserted the paper in an envelope, and wrote the address for the Boston Globe on the front.

If you want to know what happens, please leave a comment. I’m going to do something different this time. For every 10 reader comments, I’ll give 1 free print and 1 free audio book copy to 2 of the commenters. Tell your friends and post it on your social media. The more comments, the more free books.

This is a good opportunity of the readers from other countries to win an audio book. I’ll send a code for a free book, and you can just download the book from Audiobooks.com.

I’ll be stopping by and interacting with y’all. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE GOLD DIGGER - Lena Nelson Dooley - 1 Free Book, 1 Free Audio Book

Dear Readers, I'm very excited to announce the release of the audio book of my latest release The Gold Digger. We will have 3 winners for this post.

The first edition of this story released in 2010 with the title Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. It was the first Christian romance to win the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Excellence in Western Media for fiction. The awards were presented at the National Cowboy Weekend at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas. In mid-July of 2011, it was very hot there.

When the committee chairman picked up my book and held it up, he said he had to apologize to the author. He was every bit a cowboy, wearing jeans, a plaid shirt, a white stetson, and a large silver belt buckle. The cover had a girl on the front standing in front of the mission in Golden, New Mexico. Her face was framed by a white, lacy parasol she was holding.

He said he hadn't wanted to read the book. He was going to let the rest of the committee judge it. Then he knew that because he was the chairman, he knew he should at least read the first chapter to see if the author could write well and if there was a good story.

"Darn good story." He sounded surprised. Then he added, "Darn good writing."

He decided to read the second chapter to see if it was as good as the first. Before long, he had reached the last page. He went on to praise the story.

That book is now out of print, and the publishing rights reverted to me. I knew there were people who hadn't been able to afford the book. The publisher didn't put it on sale very much. And I wanted to do an edition that is more affordable. Also, I did some revising, but not a lot.

So now we have The Gold Digger. In addition to the print and ebook editions of the book. I've had an audio edition made. It released just last week.

It's available on iTunes. Here's the buy link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-gold-digger-unabridged/id1138545945 

It's available on Amazon. Here's the buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/The-Gold-Digger/dp/B01J4912EK/ref=sr_1_1_twi_audd_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1470322416&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Gold+Digger+by+Lena+Nelson+Dooley

It's available on Audible.com. Here's the buy link:
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_mn_mt_ano_tseft__galileo?advsearchKeywords=The+Gold+Digger+%28Lena+Nelson+Dooley%29&x=22&y=20

Here are some reviews:

This is a very good book by Lena Nelson Dooley. I especially liked the tough life lessons in it.

I love stories about the Old West. In this book, the setting is primarily the Old West but part of the story occurs in New England. An old retired miner decides to get him a mail-order bride. The story of how he selects her and of the circumstances that prompt her to leave Boston to go to Golden, New Mexico is very interesting. However, that is only the beginning of the story. Intertwined with the suspense and romance are lessons about true forgiveness and selfless love. You may have been through some very difficult times and circumstances and feel there is no way you can ever forgive. Read and see how it works. Some may question if they can really learn important lessons about living the Christian life from a fiction story set in the Old West. I am one who believes it is entirely possible. The characters in the story are very believable. You may even know people in real life who have exemplified exactly what these characters portray. I encourage you to read this book. Besides the lessons that can be learned or reinforced, the story is a very interesting read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.  Reviewed by Edward Arrington.

A Rare and Beautiful Love Story
Once again, Ms. Dooley lives up to her by-line, "Characters who grip your heart." She writes as if she knows these people. And when I read her books, I know that either every detail has been carefully researched, or else she's about 200 years old and is just remembering how it was. Very few writers today balance characters and plot so well. "The Gold Digger" is a great story, full of emotion and surprises. The story stayed with me for a long time, and the characters even longer. An orphaned baby, a damsel in distress, a neat old codger who ordered a bride, and a recalcitrant miner cowboy. Oh, yes, and all that gold! This story will propel the reader straight into the McKenna's Daughters trilogy. Reviewed by Lee Carver

A sweet, safe, satisfying read
I love stories with memorable characters, and The Gold Digger made me smile. I wanted to jump into the page and hug old Philip; his interactions with the other two main characters always made me chuckle. Jeremiah's internal struggle felt very real, and Maddie is a strong woman. And I appreciate the story's illustration of integrity, forgiveness, and compassion. Reviewed by Julie Marx

Here is the first of the story:

Early spring, 1890

Golden, New Mexico

"Are you plumb crazy?" Jeremiah Dennison's loud retort bounced around the main room of the adobe house and returned to mock him. "Where did you get such a harebrained idea?"

Trying to control his anger, he shoved his clenched fists into his denim trousers' pockets, paced to the window, and stared out, paying scant attention to the piñon trees bending in the wind. He loved Philip Smith like a father, but the man could vex the weather. And this latest idea was the most farfetched yet.

Philip gave a snort. "Harebrained?" He put his rocking chair into motion that sent out a rhythmic squeaking. "Why'd ya say that? It's worked fer other men."

Jeremiah tried to calm down. He wanted to measure his words, season them with wisdom that would awaken his elderly friend to all the pitfalls he would face. "What would you do with a mail-order bride?"

The old miner stilled the chair and stared at Jeremiah, obsidian eyes piercing under his bushy white brows. "Somethin""—he smothered a hacking cough with his fist, then swiped a clean handkerchief across his face—"has a deadly grip on me."

"I know you're sick. I take care of you, don't I?" Jeremiah resented the fact that what he'd done wasn't enough. Otherwise, Philip wouldn't even consider such a preposterous proposition.

His old friend reached up to scratch the scraggly beard he'd worn all the years he was a miner, but it no longer covered his clean-shaven chin. Old habits died hard. "Jerry, I don't wanna be a burden on ya."

"You'd rather be a burden to a woman you don't even know?" Jeremiah regretted his cynical tone the moment the words flew from his lips. He softened his tone. "I've never considered you a burden any more than you thought I was a burden when I came to the gold fields as a greenhorn."

Philip clutched the arms of the rocking chair and slowly rose. He took a moment to steady himself before he ambled toward Jeremiah. "I ain't come to this decision easy." He squinted up into Jeremiah's face. "I done studied on it fer a while."

Jeremiah straightened the fingers he'd gripped into fists and relaxed his stiff spine. "What do you mean, 'studied'?"

"Well, I figure a woman who'd answer them ads in the newspaper must be purty needy, maybe even desperate to get out of a particular bad situation." He gave a vigorous nod that riffled his snowy hair. "Made me a fortune when I sold my mine. More money than any man can spend in his lifetime. What good is a fortune to an old-timer like me? Won't never have a family of my own. Maybe I'll git me a woman with children. She can take care a me, and my money can take care a her." Another nod punctuated his last statement. "And her young'uns, if she has any."

How could Jeremiah deny his mentor's request? Philip never asked for much. If he didn't do this, the stubborn old man would look for help from someone else. A lesser friend might have a wagging tongue and spread the story all around Golden. Philip didn't need people gossiping about him sending for a bride. And other miners might try to nab her for themselves when she arrived. If Jeremiah had his way, it would be fine with him if they did, but his friend would be too disappointed. He didn't want to break Philip's heart, just talk him out of making this mistake.

"Jerry, ya ain't mad 'cause I'm plannin' to give my money to someone else, are ya?"

The words stabbed Jeremiah's heart. How could Philip believe that about him? "I don't need your money. I have more than enough of my own, thanks to selling my own mine and starting the ranch like you told me to."

The hoary head nodded. "That's what I figured."

"Where you going to send the ad?" Jeremiah couldn't believe he was considering being a part of this crazy scheme. But what else could he do?

If you sign up for a free membership in Audible.com and my book is the first you download, I'll receive a bonus.

I'll be giving away a free print copy and an Audible.com audio copy.

Comments Question: Do you like old west stories? (With your comment, please say whether you'd like the print copy or the Audible.com copy.)

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com