LOOKING GLASS LIES - Varina Denman - One Free Book

Dear Readers, when I first heard of Varina, I read her first series one right after the other. Her writing, characters, and setting grabbed me right away. That’s why I knew I had to feature her with this new book. I’m reading it right now, and the subject matter is one that I’ve understood as needed by every woman who has ever compared herself to glamorous women. Looking Glass Lies deals with this subject with deep emotions and insight. You won’t want to miss this book.

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

In each of my books, I include an element of spiritual or emotional healing. In Looking Glass Lies, Cecily Ross must overcome her dangerously low self-esteem, and when she does, she discovers there’s a whole world out there that needs her.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

My next book is still in the depths of my brain. I’m doing research right now and getting very excited to sit down at the keyboard and get started. The book will tell the story of a woman who is grieving the accidental death of her two-year-old daughter.

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

Beth Moore. She’s so incredibly talented and knowledgeable. I’d like to simply sit with her and listen to her talk about … whatever. And I’d like to get her advice on writing, speaking, and ministry.

I loved the Beth Moore study I took, and I’ve really enjoyed watching her on Life Today with James and Betty Robison. James and I have been a part of the studio audience. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Jane Austen. Her books always take me back to a different time and place, and then they hold me captive until the end. It would be fun to chat and get to know the real Jane Austen.

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

That’s just part of it, and it hurts. Almost all writers go through the waiting period, and it can feel like a trial by fire. ☹ But there are many things you can do while you’re waiting for your day, mainly do everything in your power to improve your writing. Read craft books, attend conferences, get feedback from critique groups. All these things make a huge difference in your craft, and in so doing, you’re proving to yourself and to future publishers that you will work hard to get your work where it needs to be.

Tell us about the featured book.

Looking Glass Lies tells the story of Cecily Ross, a young woman who struggles with low self-esteem after her divorce from an emotionally abusive husband. She returns to her childhood home on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon (beautiful!) hoping to heal from her pain. With help from her father, a support group, and an old friend who guides her to see her own strengths, Cecily may have a shot at overcoming her insecurities and learning to love again.

Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.

I woke up in the middle of the night in our cavernous walk-in closet. Again. For a moment, I enjoyed the wispy memory of a not-yet-forgotten dream, but then I realized the plush carpet had become solid rock while I slept, its gritty fibers pressing against me as though I were wedged into a sandstone crevice instead of willingly tucked against the back wall beneath my hanging clothes.

Good grief. You have to stop this, Cecily. I told myself the same thing every blasted time, but so far I hadn’t been able to do it. Even now, I didn’t move so much as a pinkie finger, didn’t open my eyes against the harsh fluorescent light, didn’t crawl past Brett’s shoe rack where I could see myself in the floor-length mirror. Not a chance. Because that would have broken the spell and sent me back to the real world, and—no, thanks—I preferred the fairy tale where high school sweethearts lived happily ever after.

My husband slept soundly in our pillow-top king, just on the other side of the closet door. The phrase sleeping like a baby crossed my mind, and I snickered softly because Brett’s snoring was anything but childlike, and his seemingly undefiled slumber had been brought on by over-the-counter sleeping pills rather than the serenity of innocence.

Besides, Brett wasn’t the one who was childish. He never scrutinized his reflection in the mirror late at night. He never beat his fists against his thighs until he had bruises, hoping a tantrum would somehow change things. He never bawled uncontrollably, wishing he could mold his body into what it ought to be—like Play-Doh—kneading and pressing until the flesh became aesthetically balanced.

He never once cried himself to sleep in the closet.

I uncurled my stiff legs, wiggling my toes and stretching while the shirts hanging above me caressed my skin like an old friend. The back of my hand bumped against solid wood: the leg of the chair where Brett sat every morning, tying his shoes like Mr. Rogers. Smiling.

For seven years it had been the same. On mornings when he found me asleep on the floor, he’d nudge me with his socked toe, wag his finger, and laugh. “Cecily, you silly girl. Get in bed where you’ll be comfortable.” Then he’d pat me on the butt as he slipped his cell phone in his pocket.

I hated that phone. Despised it. It was full of videos Brett didn’t want me to see, websites he claimed he hadn’t visited, pictures he made certain I never had access to. But his temptations didn’t end there. When he left the house, there were billboards and magazine covers and posters in shop windows. There were advertisements and mannequins and sultry radio voices, and there were women, everywhere, in low-cut blouses, short skirts, and thick makeup.

I couldn’t compete with all that. Evidently.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: https://varinadenman.com

Blog: https://shameonshanty.com

http://facebook.com/varina.denman

http://instagram.com/varina.denman.author

http://twitter.com/varinadenman

http://pinterest.com/varinadenman

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

Looking Glass Lies - Christianbook.com paperback
Looking Glass Lies - Amazon.com paperback
Looking Glass Lies - Kindle
Looking Glass Lies - Audio

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

JILTED - Varina Denman - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio: Varina Denman writes stories about the unique struggles women face. A native Texan who spent her high school years in a small Texas town, Varina now lives near Fort Worth with her husband and five mostly grown children. Her passion is helping others make peace with their life situations. Varina’s Mended Hearts series is a compelling blend of women’s fiction and inspirational romance.

Welcome, Varina. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

As little as possible and as much as it takes. With every heroine I create, I tell myself she’s going to be her own person and not at all like me, but I’ve discovered that’s quite impossible. Each of my girls shares a few characteristics of my own, and usually these are revealed during the quiet times of the book. Whenever the main character is reflecting on her feelings or emotions, I draw on my own experiences to fuel her spirit.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’ve been told some of my mothering skills are quirky. When my children were young, I let them crawl in and out the kitchen window instead of using the back door. My friends thought I was nuts, but honestly, it was pure selfishness. The kids kept themselves busy … which left me with more quiet time … to read.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I didn’t consider writing until I was forty years old, and I didn’t actually try it for a few years after that. And even THEN, I doubted the possibility. It wasn’t until I completed my first novel and found my agent that I actually believed I might be able to pull it off.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

My faves are mainstream literary fiction that crossover into women’s fiction, but I also enjoy young adult, inspirational romance, and the occasional dystopian.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

This is a challenge for me because I LOVE to work. It makes me happy. However, it also wears me out and drags me away from family and friends, and I have to force myself to slow down and breathe. I take long baths, watch movies, and play games with the family, but what helps the most is prayer and quiet time so I can reflect on the important things in life.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Some characters automatically have a name as soon as I consider their personality. The name just pops into my head. Other characters require more thought. Sometimes I’ll search baby name websites, taking the meaning of the name into consideration, and I’ve also been known to put it to my readers, taking an online survey after giving a brief description of the character. That’s always fun!

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m proud that I’ve managed to keep my Christianity in spite of the crazy world we live in. I’m proud that I’ve stayed married for twenty-nine years, even though marriage is ridiculously hard. I’m proud that my kids seem to be turning out all right, in spite of having me as a mother. As far as my writing is concerned … I think I’m most proud of the messages my books give to readers, and I’m glad I’ve been brave enough to step out of my comfort zone and encourage others.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

The kind that stays in their den most of the time, rarely seen by humans, but believed to be friendly and nonaggressive.

What is your favorite food?

I’m addicted to fruit smoothies, and I have one for breakfast every morning. My favorite is banana-strawberry-chocolate-peanut butter, and I throw in a scoop of vanilla protein powder so I can call it a meal instead of a dessert.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Probably the greatest roadblock was the way I wrote my rough drafts. They were ALL OVER THE PLACE, and it took me months to clean them up into a manageable storyline. I read several craft books on plotting and structure, and now I build a solid outline before I ever begin drafting.

Tell us about the featured book.

A heartbroken woman desires to move beyond old memories, but will her past give way to hope?

Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago, yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life in which the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, of a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and of a town that must—once and for all—leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.

Please give us the first page of the book.

My daughter, Ruthie, always called me a glass-is-half-empty kind of person, but she was wrong. Not only was my glass half empty, but a tiny crack shot diagonally from a chip on the rim, and something bread-like hovered in the murky liquid. But I was in the process of tossing that damaged tumbler and getting a brand-new one. Even though I would never be a Susie Sunshine, I was determined to stop hiding inside myself. But it wasn’t proving easy.

Today I sat in my hatchback on the side of Highway 84, sizzling like bacon in the afternoon sunshine. I did this a lot. Sometimes I turned off at the lake and stared at the rippling water, but most times, like today, I drove all the way to the wind fields to gaze at the turbines—white needles against a blue sky. I reached across the seat and cranked down the window on the passenger side to allow a breeze in. Ninety-four degrees in September, but it could have been worse. Last week we were still in triple digits.

As a pickup truck sped past, my little silver car rocked gently and I almost ducked, but it was only Old Man Guthrie. His index finger made a slow salute in greeting, but I did nothing in response. My typical hello. My friend Clyde Felton called me distant, but really I was just tired. Tired of waving. Tired of pretending. Tired of trying.

I focused my gaze on the jagged pastureland beyond the pavement and hoped nobody else would interrupt my thoughts. Then again, I sometimes wished God had provided an on/off switch so we women could shut down our brains when the memories started echoing.

For me, those memories were men. Ruthie may have insisted that my glass was half empty, but I liked to think it was filled up fine until the men in my life started throwing rocks at it for sport. Over the years I had gradually trained myself to shy away from males, other than the men in my family. And Clyde. Even Old Man Guthrie knew better than to stop and check on me, thank goodness. If he had, I would’ve been forced to explain why a grown woman was sitting in her car on the side of the highway, staring at the wind turbines. I smiled.

Those windmills, marching across the Caprock like evenly spaced tin soldiers, stretched for miles south of town and settled my nerves like a dose of Valium. Not that I’d had any Valium lately, but one doesn’t quickly forget.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Connect with Varina through her website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest.

Lena, thank you for hosting me on your blog today. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you and your readers!

 https://promosimple.com/ps/9ca0

Thank you, Varina, for sharing this book with us. I love the cover with the wind farm in the background. That is so true in many parts of Texas. I live here, too.

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

Jilted - Christianbook.com
Jilted: A Novel (Mended Hearts Series) - Amazon
Jilted: A Novel (Mended Hearts Series) - Kindle

Comment question: Have you ever been jilted?

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