Winners!!!! Winners!!!!

Amee is the winner of The House in Grosvenor's Square by Linore Rose Burkard.

Megan is the winner of Sunset Beach by Trish Perry.

Carmen 7351 is the winner of Scent of murder by Virginia Smith.

Sherry K is the winner of Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts.

Congratulations. To receive your book, you must send me your mailing address. You can do it by clicking on View My Complete Profile in the sidebar. You'll find a link to my email address. Or you can contact me through my web site: www.lenanelsondooley.com

We still have several winners from the last few weeks who haven't contacted me. Are you one of them?

NOSEY IN NEBRASKA - Mary Connealy - Free Book

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


I like themes of trusting in God and living courageously for God. In fact, in an upcoming book, not this one, my main theme is "whom shall I fear." This is a man who is newly Christian and he keeps feeling like a coward so he recites this like a mantra ‘whom shall I fear’ to remind himself that God is in control.

In Nosy in Nebraska my heroine in the first book is terrified of mice. Every time she jumps and screams the first rational thought that comes to her mind is "Forgive me." Because she believes being afraid of mice is a sin because it’s so stupid. Her hero doesn’t ever teach her to get over the phobia, but he does help her accept it as part of who she is and not a sin.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Nosy in Nebraska just released.

I’ve got a July released which is the first of a new series. The series is Montana Marriages, the book is called Montana Rose.

Then I’ve got a Cowboy Christmas coming in November.

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

Tricky question, Lena. I wonder who it would be WISE to spend the evening with.
Most of my celebrity like heroes, I suspect wouldn’t be as much fun as I’d hope. I think I’ll keep the rose colored glasses on them.

I had a great lunch with Stephanie Grace Whitson a while back. So wonderful to spend time with someone this excited about writing and the Lord. Wonderful combination.

How about you, Lena. Even at conferences we don’t spend that much time together. I’ll pick you.
I'd love to spend time with you, Mary. Maybe we can at conference in Colorado. How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Well, I look back now and see writing all through my life. My children’s baby books are covered with writing, more than pictures. So I think of myself as a writer. It’s more than something I do. It’s what I am.

I started seriously writing a book, with the hope of publication, when my youngest daughter went to Kindergarten. She’s twenty now.

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

I think, get tough or get out. That’s about all I can say. The writing life is full of rejection. If it hurts too much, get away from it, because you have to endure it in order to be a published author.

HOWEVER---
If you’re like me and can’t really stop, then you’re kind of trapped. You have to write and you hate the pain of rejection, then I’d find a way to either get tough, or start focusing on a type of writing that will earn you so acceptance. Get a job at a newspaper. Start a blog and pour your love of writing into that. Write for your church newsletter. These different forms of writing can also be a stepping stone to publishing a book. So they aren’t even a detour, they can be part of the journey.

What I’ve started to realize is that having a book out there in the world is so laden with emotion. Highs and lows. I’m really great. I stink. It’s a roller coaster ride and the best you can do is try not to let it make you crazy. Don’t let the lows destroy you, and don’t get full of yourself during the highs.

Tell us about the featured book.

Nosy in Nebraska is an anthology of three cozy mysteries.

OF MICE...AND MURDER

Being named in Great-grandma’s will was like hitting bankrupt on Wheel of Fortune. The whole family held their breath while the wheel ticked around and around, or rather while the lawyer opened the envelope. Then they all heaved a sigh of relief when the wheel stopped on Carrie’s name. Carrie the heiress. Great. Clean up the house. Clean up the yard. Clean up Great-grandma’s rap sheet.

Carrie hates mice and loves the big city. So why is she living in a huge mouse infested house in her dinky hometown? The dead guy in her pantry closet is the most interesting thing that's happened since she came home. Of course the carpenter who's helping her trap her mice and solve the crime is pretty interesting, too.

PRIDE AND PESTILENCE

Joe Manning comes to town to finally meet his deadbeat dad, only to find his father has been murdered.

Bonnie is attacked while she's at work in the Melnik Historical Society Museum, proud home of Maxie the World's Largest Field Mouse. Only her attacker now claims it was an accident, and he claims he's never seen the guy before who's dead in Bonnie's store room.

Bonnie wants to be suspicious but once he stopped attacking her he turns out to be pretty sweet. And lots of people had a motive to kill Sven Gunderson - including Bonnie herself. Gunderson, the true owner of Maxie, wanted his mouse back.

In Melnik, that means war!


THE MICEMAN COMETH

Tyler Simpson is opening a new law office and he's home to stay.

The very British Dr. Madeline Stuart is writing an anthropology doctoral thesis about a small town that worships an oversized rodent. Success with her project should lead to her dream job, a full professorship at Oxford... even better, a guest shot on Oprah.

When a body falls out of a cupboard in Tyler's law office, clutching Maddy's necklace in his cold, dead fingers, Maddy gets arrested and Tyler is appointed her attorney.

But once Tyler finds out Maddy's here to betray his beloved Melnik, he isn't giving her his best effort.

And someone out there thinks blaming the murder on Maddy would be a perfect solution to his own problems. And Maddy's more likely to cooperate with being framed - if she's dead.
Maxie the World's Largest Field Mouse must come through one more time to thwart the criminal in his peaceful, if someone mouse-obsessed, hometown.

I can hardly wait to read the series. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.maryconnealy.com/

http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/
http://seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

Mary, thank you for this wonderful interview.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the featured book. Notice: the only notification will be the winners announcement post on this blog. So check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave a comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

NOTHING BUT TROUBLE - Susan May Warren - Free Book

I always love having Susan May Warren on my blog. Welcome, Susan. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I grew up in the church, and was saved at a young age (let’s say seven) and then baptized at 12. However, in my teenage years I went through some questioning about my faith, and I’m sad to say I walked away from the Lord in my early college years. I realized how empty my life was without him pretty quickly, however, and I rededicated my life to Christ in July 1987. I also dedicated my life to missions, or full time ministry if He wanted at that time. Obviously, at that moment, Christ took the reins of my life and my heart and I’ve never been the same since. Yay!
　
How did you and your husband meet?

I worked as a program director at a wilderness camp; he worked as a trail guide at a local outfitter’s place. My place had no indoor plumbing or electricity – his place was a cake walk with HOT showers and a television! So, every weekend I went down and took a shower and ate hot pizza. We met during training week – or rather, he remembers meeting me during training week; I don’t’ remember meeting him until the end of the summer when our crew came to help their crew tear down a building. I was assigned to his tear down crew, and my first words to him were, "Can I borrow your hammer?" We "hit" it off, and were engaged 2 ½ months later!
　
I love romantic stories like that. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Hmmm….well, I love the plotting and deep thinking of James Scott Bell; the spiritual depth of Rachel Hauck; the literary voice of Mary DeMuth, and the free-spirited fun of Karen Ball. (Can’t I have more? I have SO many more!!)

If you have a singing and speaking ministry. Tell us about that.

Not singing – unless you count Karaoke, and if you ever heard me sing, you’d know I have a voice fit only for heaven (as in, it needs to be transformed). But I do love speaking – I do a lot of women’s ministry speaking, at retreats, luncheons, teas, etc. I love getting to know women on a personal level, and sharing so many of the stories that God has used to teach me. (I’m a storyteller, not a Bible expositor).

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

I brought the wrong kid to summer camp! Sadly, our camp was six hours away (one way), and they had flipped the regular schedule, so I THOUGHT I was supposed to bring my son – but I should have brought my daughter. I was rescued by a great friend who picked her up and drove her ½ way. We were still able to get her to camp by the lights out bell! I always double check now…

What is your favourite Bible verse and what does it mean to you?

My current favourite is: Hebrew 4:16, “Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” It means that even when I come crawling, my face to the floor, He won’t reject me. I pull it out whenever I blow it, or feel inadequate, or when someone hurts me, or...when I hurt someone else. Basically whenever I feel like I’m Trouble, I remember that God won’t turn away. In fact, He may even do what I do to my children – turn me to face Him, despite my puffy red face, wipe off my tears and pull me into His arms.

How did I come to be a writer?

I’ve always been amazed at the journey God has taken me on. I always loved to write, but being a missionary in Russia, I never dreamed about being an author. I just tried to do the best with what God had entrusted to me, and for me that meant writing missionary newsletters. I honed my skills through my newsletter, and then, after a number of years, began to write devotionals and magazine articles. Although I tried my hand at writing novels (I wrote 4 before I ever had one published), I never thought I would get anything published. But I diligently studied craft and analyzed books, even though I was hidden away in Siberia. I’ll always be grateful that Tyndale took a chance on me! I’m still learning, and still trying to be a good steward of the gift and task I’ve been given to write books that draw people closer to God.

Where did the idea for PJ Sugar come from?

Every author dreams of a moment where someone says something, or they see something on the news, or in a newspaper and it springs out at them, nearly shouting – STORY IDEA! This happened to me a number of years ago while talking to friends about their daycare situation, and how one of the parents ended up being a murder suspect! Scary! But an interesting idea. About that time, I was a mom who wore many hats – homeschooling mom, writing teacher, speaker, children’s church leader, -- and it occurred to me that a mother really has to be a sort of PI. Not only taking on different roles, but sleuthing out daily household mysteries like, who ate the last of the peanut butter (and put it back in the cupboard?) and whose socks are laying in the middle of the floor, and finally…(in our house), who let the dog (and her muddy feet!) in the house! PJ is the alter-ego in every mom, that super-hero inside of us that allows us to have esp (I know you’re not really done with your homework!), or have “eyes in the back of our head,” (stop poking your sister!) or even figure out how to whip together an award-winning science project the night before the fair. PJ just applies all those skills to bad guys and figuring out the truth.

PJ Sugar is also a woman who wants to be all things to all people. She wants to be her nephew’s champion and her sister’s best friend, and her mother’s favorite daughter, and Boone’s special girl, and the hero of her hometown. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Maybe…because God wants her to be His girl, and satisfied in who He made her to be. And that is a journey for all of us PJ Sugars.

About the book: PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:

After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that’s become her life, she needs a fresh start.

The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister’s wedding is Boone—her former flame and the reason she left town.

Her best friend’s husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg, Minnesota, has seen in more than a decade.

What PJ doesn’t know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she’ll uncover much more than she bargained for—a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she’s been longing for.

It's not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her hometown, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend's husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder--who also happens to be PJ's former flame--is convinced it's an open-and-shut case, PJ's not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend's husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

Read the first chapter: http://gotsugar.susanmaywarren.com/

About Susan: Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

A note from Susan May Warren

Sometimes, do you feel like you just don’t fit in? You look around you and if anyone knew how difficult it was just to put yourself together, to smile when you feel completely overwhelmed, to even figure out what you were making for supper, they’d know what a mess you were. Maybe you totally relate to those words in 1 Peter – God’s elect, strangers and aliens in the world. Do you feel like when you look in the rear view mirror, all you see are your mistakes?

Maybe not. But if so, then PJ is your gal. I wanted to write a story about the person in so many of us who just wants to get it right…but can’t seem to stay out of trouble. My friend and I have what we call the “stupid mouth” club…and we report our weekly foibles (usually on Monday, after Sunday church!). PJ is our charter member. She’s the girl that changes her mind, always hopes for the best, is always discovering that she is just a little different than everyone else. PJ is us.

And that’s good news. Because God loves PJ. He loves her messiness, and her impulsiveness, her heart bent toward others, the hope that fuels her actions. And He has a plan for PJ – one that includes her weaknesses as well as her strengths.

Yep, I need to hear that – need to hear that I don’t have to be perfect for God to love me, use me, sing over me. Need to hear that although I don’t fit in, well, I’m not supposed to…in fact, I’m supposed to be a little…alien.

I wrote PJ for everyone who feels just a little messy, just a little like they can’t quite get it right. And who needs to hear that God loves them. Period. Full stop. Hallelujah.

CONTEST!!!!
The celebration for Susan May Warren's first release in her new PJ Sugar collection, Nothing But Trouble, is a month long Sugar Party!

The fun Kick-off with a SUGAR BOMB was on Friday May 15th. The party will continue all month with a blog tour and chances to win copies of Nothing But Trouble from the blog tourists! Schedule posted below.

The Sugar party will conclude in a day of celebration on Friday June 19th with a day long ONLINE Sugar Book Club Party. Susan will be giving away prizes, answering questions, hosting a live chat, and generally getting herself into some "Trouble". Check it out at: www.susanmaywarren.com/contest

Thank you for spending this time with us, Susan.

Readers, here's a link where you can buy Nothing But Trouble:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Notice: the only notification you'll have is the winners announcement post on this blog.

If you're reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave a comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

Déjà vu Bride - Debra Ullrick - Free Book

Debra, welcome back. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

To be honest, at first it was to take the place of a bad habit in my life. Then it became about the money. And now, it’s to glorify the Lord. To lift Him up. I want my stories to minister to those who are hurting. To those who need to hear the good news of the gospel. Many times, I picked up a Christian romance novel so that I could be transported from the harsh realities of life. And many times, God took the beautiful messages in them and set me free in an area I’d been struggling with. Knowing how they transformed my life, and knowing that most people won’t pick up a "how-to" book, but they will pick up a romance novel, the hunger to help others like I was helped burned inside of me. So, I write stories to give people hope. To lead them to the only One who can give them that hope. The only One who can transform their lives. That’s why I write the books I do.
　
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

My wedding day. I got to marry the man who exceeded all of my dreams and all of my expectations. He truly is my real life hero. Even after thirty-four years of marriage. I know you only asked for one, but my next happiest day was when my daughter was born, and the next time after that was when I held my first published book, The Bride Wore Coverall, in my hands.
　
How has being published changed your life?

This is going to be a strange answer, but it is the truth. I truly thought once I got published that I would feel better about myself. That I would now be worthy. That I would have some value as a human being. After all, I was a published author now. You see, I’d always looked up to people whose books I’d read for years, and I envied their abilities to write such beautiful stories. Well, now that I’m published, I’ve learned that being published doesn’t validate me as a person. Only God can do that. And He has. He has used writing to draw me closer to Him. I pray more. I trust Him more. And I only want what He wants for me. I’m no longer looking to the money, to the "feel good about me thing," or the worthiness thing. I’m only looking to take the steps that He is asking me to take, when He asks me to take them. And I now know that I’m worthy because of Who He is and what He’s done. Not in who I am and what I do.
　
What are you reading right now?

A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman. The series is so romantic and totally excellent.
　
What is your current work in progress?

I’ve got several projects going. I’m working on, Powder Puff Bride; the sequel to, Déjà vu Bride. I’m editing, You Ordered What, my first historical. And I’m reworking the first few chapters of my romantic suspense, Forewarned.
　
What would be your dream vacation?

I’m fascinated with the underwater sea life and the various species of brilliant colored fish. So my dream vacation would be just me and my husband on a tropical, private island someplace where the water is crystal clear. I would spend hours with him watching the sea life, swimming, boating, water skiing, basking on the beach together in the hot sun, listening to the water lapping against the shore. We’d take our time hiking through the lush green foliage, stopping long enough to enjoy the menagerie of bright, intricately made flowers, and tropical birds. Hopefully we’d end up at a waterfall where we would take a long, leisurely swim. No rush, no people, only us and God.
　
How do you choose your settings for each book?

Most of the time my settings are places I’d love to visit; like the south. I tend to set a lot of my stories there. For me, writing about them and doing the research is like going there without actually leaving my home. Some of the settings are places where I’ve lived or lived near. But most of the time, they’re places I’d love to visit.
　
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Staci Stallings. She’s an amazingly gifted writer who has taught me more about trusting the Holy Spirit and His guidance than any other person. She doesn’t just talk it either, she lives it. She truly loves Jesus and it shows through her actions, words, and deeds.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Wow, the list is long. Going to classic car auto shows, collecting classic car and monster truck models, hot rod and mud-bog racing, drawing western art, visiting museums, watching Jane Austen movies, (every version ever made), PBS documentaries like: 1900’s House, Manor House, and Frontier House, and watching and feeding wild birds.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Being told that my stories are unbelievable. I’ve overcome this by finally realizing that just because it might be unbelievable to someone who has never experienced it, doesn’t mean it’s unbelievable to everyone. In fact, a lot of things that I’ve written are things I’ve gone through, or something similar to what I’ve gone through, or I’ve witnessed personally. I had one person tell me that there was no way the plane crash scene in, Déjà vu Bride, could ever happen. Well, it did. I just changed the names and the setting. I’m learning to write my stories the way God is asking me to write them. I now take the advice I’m given and ask God if there is any truth in what they’re saying and go from there. Plus, I try to put myself in the reader’s shoes. Just because "I" think or know it happened, I want to write something that will justify or convince my reader that it did indeed happened. Being told it was unbelievable made me stop and look at how someone else views it. It makes me ask myself, what can I do to convince the reader that it can actually happen?

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

To follow your heart and write the stories that God lays on your heart. So many times we’re told we can’t write this and can’t write that, only to see that same thing that we were told not to write about in another book. I truly believe that God has a plan for each one of our lives. So therefore, write the stories that God is asking YOU to write. Take the steps that He’s asking YOU to take, and leave the results in His hands. Ask God to send you someone who understands your unique writing voice and style and who doesn’t try to change it or you. Also, take what people say to you to the Lord and weigh their advice out prayerfully. Step back and look at the advice objectively. At first we tend to be crushed, but when you ask God and yourself if there is any truth in what they’re saying, it gives you a whole new perspective on things.

Tell us about the featured book.

Déjà vu Bride is the sequel to, The Bride Wore Coveralls. It’s a story that shows just how deeply God loves each and everyone of us and the measures He takes to sweep us up into his loving and protective arms. Olivia Roseman is a young woman who’s suffered much tragedy, including the loss of several loved ones. She feels abandoned by God and even questions His very existence. When she lands the job of her dreams, airbrush painting monster trucks, Olivia leaves her old life behind in hopes of making a clean break and a fresh new start. One without God; and one without love.

Only problem is, she ends up working for the handsome Erik Cole, whose kindness and compassion makes not falling in love a challenge. Restlessness, and God’s prompting led Erik Cole to move from Swamper City, Alabama, to Charity, West Virginia. Missing his family, he questions the sanity of his moving. That is, until he hires the beautiful airbrush designer and painter, Olivia Roseman, who he’s immediately drawn to.

When Erik senses she’s a gal who’s down on her luck, he decides he’s going to do everything within his power to change that. Only problem is, the little beauty creates more challenges than one; especially with her animosity toward God. Things change, however, when Erik puts his life in danger to protect Olivia.

Déjà vu Bride is one example of what the enemy meant for evil against Olivia, God turned it into something good. Just like in the story of Joseph, (Genesis 50: 20) God took what the enemy meant for evil against Joseph and turned it into something good.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at http://www.debraullrick.com/, www.christianromancewriter.blogspot.com/,

http://www.shoutlife.com/ChristianRMwriter,

or they can email me at christianromancewriter@gmail.com

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Deja-Vu-Bride-Debra-Ullrick/dp/061525201X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239747313&sr=1-4

And here's a link to the Kindle version of the book:

http://www.amazon.com/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0-Bride-Sequel-Coveralls-ebook/dp/B00200KCSS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239747313&sr=1-3

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Déjà vu Bride. The only notification you'll have will be the winner post on this blog, so be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you're the winner.

If you're reading this in Feedblitz or on Facebook or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave a comment. Here's the link:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

HER LAST CHANCE - Terri Reed - Free Book

Welcome, Terri. I just love reading these series by Love Inspired Suspense. What is the name of the series this book is in, and where in the series does it occur?

The 2009 Love Inspired Suspense continuity series is titled Without A Trace. My book is the last installment of the six book series, titled HER LAST CHANCE.

Who came up with the idea for the series?

Continuities are developed by the editors. Each author then takes the information provided and develops their own story using all of the elements that tie the books together. That way each story reflects the author’s voice.

How much research did you have to do to make your story authentic?

This series is set in the Deep South. I’ve never been to that part of the country so I had to immerse myself in the culture and as much geographic information as possible to get the feel for Louisiana.

Would you like to be part of another series of Love Inspired Suspense books?

Of course. I really enjoy writing for Love Inspired Suspense and Love Inspired Romance. The continuities are both challenging and rewarding. And being a part of a series is a special time of bonding for the authors involved.

I agree. I have a collection out right now that contains a series by three different authors with the stories tied together. I loved working on that series. What book are you working on right now?

I’m working on two books at the moment.

The first is titled CHASING DANGER, to release in spring 2010, about a female homicide detective who goes on vacation in Florida and finds herself embroiled with gun runners and an undercover ICE agent. This heroine also appears in my November 2009 release CHASING SHADOWS.

The second book is a continuity for Love Inspired Romance. The book is untitled at the moment but will be released August of 2010. This series is set in Alaska where a town is saved by romance amid a bit of intrigue and treasure hunting.

What would be your ideal vacation?

My ideal vacation is a few days at Disneyland or Disneyworld, sandwiched between days at the beach or lounging by the pool.

What is your favorite snack for when you are writing?

I like snacks that aren’t messy and that are small; usually, animal cookies, raisins, tea biscuits, or nuts. Maybe some chocolate pieces, too.

I agree with that no messy part. Who needs to clean up a mess when you're embroiled in a story? If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

I love living in Oregon so it’s hard to say where else I’d want to live. The only place that comes to mind would be Maui but I’d want to live up in the hills where it’s lush and cool, yet such an easy drive down to the beach for some sun and fun.

Tell us about the featured book.

The mysterious man at her door swears he recognizes her. She's Leah Farley. Mother, wife—and suspected murderer. But her amnesia has wiped away memories of her former life. When a shower of bullets follows the man's claims, Leah is forced to accept the truth. She's in danger. And unless she can make herself remember, there's no way to stay safe. With bounty hunter Roman Black's help, she must uncover her lost memories—before the killer succeeds in keeping Leah's past and future buried forever
　
Sounds intriguing. How can my readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com/
http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/

Terri, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll receive will be the winner announcement post on this blog. So be sure to check back in two weeks on Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

First June Winners - With 2 Extra Winners

Robyn is the winner of Latter-Day Cipher by Latayne C. Scott.

Debra Collins is the winner of A soldier's Reunion by Cheryl Wyatt.

Now for the 3 winners of the ARCs of The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner:

Amber S.
Judy49
Lindsey

Cathikin is the winner of Witness to Murder by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.

To claim your book, you must get your mailing address to me. There's a link to my email in the sidebar when you click View My Complete Profile.

Or you can contact me through my web site:

www.lenanelsondooley.com

SNOW MELTS IN SPRING - Deborah Vogts - Free Book

I've really been looking forward to this interview with debut author Deborah Vogts. I've known her a long time and rejoiced with her when she signed her first contract. Deborah, tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Actually, I think it’s the people around me who are written into my characters more than myself, or at least pieces of them—like a jigsaw puzzle.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’m not a very quirky person . . . um, I like to put catsup on my eggs. Not sure if that’s quirky or not, but it’s all I can think of. LOL.

I love catsup on fried egg sandwiches, but then I know I'm quirky. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I began writing my first Great American Novel when I was a sophomore in High School on an old electronic typewriter. From that moment on, I was hooked.

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

I enjoy historical Christian romance, and contemporary novels with a literary twist. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger comes to mind.

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

I am a stay-at-home mom with two girls at home (ages 12 & 17), so I’m fully aware of what a busy life is. However, we say no to a LOT of things—such as sports, or extracurricular activities (not a popular answer in today’s world, and it is frowned on a great deal, but it’s how we manage our household and keep our sanity.)

When my daughters were late elementary and junior high age, we did something similar. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Sometimes I have a name already in mind, but I’ve also used a baby naming book. I’ll thumb through it until I find the perfect name for each character, keeping in mind specific aspects already determined.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I cringe at the "P" word, but I am most thankful to have raised three lovely daughters and married a God-fearing Christian man, and these are not my accomplishments, but things God has allowed and blessed me with.

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

Wow, I’ve lived on a farm (or in the country) all my life and most of those animals end up on a plate somewhere. Not a good place to be unless you’re human—so I guess I’ll leave it at that. :-)

What is your favorite food?

Now THAT I can answer. I actually have three favorites—grilled Kansas City Strip steak, pizza and boiled shrimp. Chocolate is NOT a food—it’s more like a dietary supplement that you eat on a have-to basis.

Yes, my husband read yesterday that dark chocolate helps lower cholesterol. Another reason to take a dose or two a day. Tell us a little about your journey to publication.

As stated earlier, my love for writing began back in High School, but the real journey began in 2002 when I joined ACFW (then ACRW). I joined a critique group, attended conferences and began honing my craft and learning about the publishing business. In 2006, I acquired my first agent, who tried selling a contemporary series for me. This proved unsuccessful, and then I landed a second agent, Rachelle Gardner at WordServe Literary, who managed to sell the series to Zondervan, which brings me to where I am today. :-)

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

I think the devil throws roadblocks at us from all angles, depending on where we are in our life. For me, I’ve had to deal with time management and trusting that God has given me a talent he wants me to use. I’ve been able to overcome these arrows by staying in God’s word (throwing it at the devil at times) and getting down on my knees in prayer.

What advice would you give to others who are trying to get their first book published?

Never give up. Right before I landed my second agent, I almost gave up on my dreams, and I am so thankful I didn’t. Not that God would have let me. I searched and asked that he give me scripture answers that would lead me in the right direction. Some of those he gave were: Isaiah 41:13, Deuteronomy 31:8, Proverbs 3:5-6, and my favorite one that ministered to me and still does today, "Be Still and Know that I am God."

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

Snow Melts in Spring is a heart-warming contemporary romance set in the Flint Hills of Kansas where a female country veterinarian is called on to heal an injured horse but winds up nurturing the wounded relationship between a prodigal son and his ailing father, and is forced to choose between the man of her dreams or the land of her heart. Spanning the Seasons of the Tallgrass, each story in this series reveals the struggle of the people who live there and the dreams they have for the land until they come full-circle in a never-ending cycle, just as man comes full-circle in his understanding of God.

When an aged horse is severely injured on a gravel road in the Flint Hills of Kansas, country veterinarian Mattie Evans accepts the challenge to save him. But she finds herself in the middle of a longstanding feud between the horse’s owner, pro quarterback Gil McCray, and his ailing father—who is also her dear friend.
　
As the snow melts in spring, Gil’s return to his estranged father’s ranch brings a chance for new beginnings and reconciliation, but when he falls in love with Mattie, he must face the truths that haunt him or run from his past. Meanwhile, Mattie encourages Gil to return permanently to Kansas rather than retire in California. Their love collides when Mattie’s sister arrives on Gil’s doorstep, causing Gil to come to terms with the jealous acts leading up to his brother’s death and seek forgiveness from those he loves most. Can he accept God’s forgiveness, and will that be enough to make him stop running from his memories of home? In turn, if Mattie forgives, she’ll be forced to choose between the man of her dreams and the land she dearly loves.
　
Thanks for this opportunity to share with you and your readers. :-)

Thank you, Deborah, for sharing with us today.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Snow Melts in Spring:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification will be the winner announcement on this blog. So dont' froget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you've won.

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SCENT OF MURDER - Virginia Smith - Free Book

We're featuring book three in Virginia's Classic Trio romantic suspense series. Welcome back to the blog. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I was raised going to church, and was aware of God’s love and His special plan for my life from a young age. But when I was twelve, my church held a special Sunday evening service to show a movie. It was called A Thief in the Night, and it was about the rapture. That movie brought home the fact that I’d never made a personal commitment to Jesus. So when we got home that evening, I told my mother I wanted to give my life to Christ. We knelt by the living room sofa and she led me in the prayer of salvation.

That's a wonderful experience for a mother, too. I was privileged to have one like that with my younger daughter. How did you and your husband meet?

We worked together for several years before we became romantically involved, both of us in the computer industry. He was a mainframe guy, and I was a PC gal. He used to tell me his computers were the real thing, and mine were just toys. I always replied, “That’s what the train people said to the airplane people.” We laugh about that now.

After we started dating, we didn’t tell anyone at work. But every Friday morning I arrived at work to find a bouquet of flowers on my desk. Rumors spread like crazy all over the office, with everybody trying to figure out who the mysterious guy was. We finally had to go public when he was offered a promotion and it was going to make him my boss, which was against company policy.

They fixed it, though. Rather than risk having one of us leave, they created a position for me in another department, and it was a manager position. So we both got a promotion out of the deal, and we ended up getting married!

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

Oh, that’s a tough one! I’ve learned so much from so many different writers, and I’d want to have them all. But if I could only select four, I’d go with people I’ve never met, but know only through their work. That way I could learn something new. Karen Kingsbury, so she could tell me how to be so proficient without sacrificing quality. Francine Rivers, so I could soak up some of her beautiful writing style. Lisa Samson, because I admire the way she packs so much impact into her stories. And Dean Koonz, because he’s an amazing writer and able to write the unbelievable so convincingly.

I know you have a singing and speaking ministry. Tell us about that.

Singing was my first passion, and the Lord has given me opportunities to use my voice for Him. I sang competitively when I was younger, and I’ve always sang in churches, mostly solo work. But then in the 90’s I sang with a traveling contemporary Christian group, and that was an amazing ministry to be associated with. We did several recordings, and traveled for half of each year to sing in churches and festivals in several states in the west. I also sang with a ladies trio for several years, and that was another amazing experience. I don’t do anything like that anymore, though I’m still available to do solo work for various events, like Christmas teas and luncheons and stuff like that.

As for speaking, that started back when I was still in the corporate world. I was trained in public speaking because I had to do quite a bit of it for my job. One time I was speaking to an audience of over a thousand people about how a large computer system we were implementing would change their lives. Apparently I was pretty good, because I got a standing ovation – at a corporate meeting! When I got into my car after the event, I told the Lord, “I would love to be able to do this for You, so I could talk about something that would really change people’s lives.” Well, He honored that request, and began opening doors for me to speak at churches, ladies’ retreats, conferences, even prisons. Let me tell you, it’s so much more rewarding to tell someone about Jesus than some old computer system.

One thing I’ve learned, though. I never sing and speak at the same event. I am absolutely at ease in front of a crowd doing either one, but if I have to do both, I develop a horrible case of nerves!

I used to sing and do a dramatic monologue at the same time. Wasn't easy. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

When my husband and I were dating, he took me to an extremely elegant restaurant. I was all dressed up in a backless dress, heels, the whole nine yards. The floors were highly polished, and as the maitre d’ led us to our table, I slipped. I landed flat on my rear end, right in the middle of the dining room. Of course you always hope nobody notices, but in this case, everybody did. A loud Gasp! went up from every table. My face burned as Ted and the maitre d’ helped me up.

I handled it by doing my best to brush it off. I went to our table and acted as though nothing had happened. I mean, what else can you do in a situation like that? If I could have thought of a joke, I would have cracked it. But I’ve never been good at joking on demand.

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’d say, “What are you waiting for? Get busy!” Many people have an idea burning in their souls, something the Lord has given them a passion to talk about. Even if that book is never published, at least that passion will have an outlet. And some people will read it – a spouse, children, grandchildren, friends. Their passion will be communicated to others through their writing. Besides, they might discover they like the act of writing, and decide they want to pursue it further.

Tell us about the featured book.

Scent of Murder is the third and final book in my Classical Trio romantic suspense series. The first two were A Taste of Murder and Murder at Eagle Summit. This time the trio is scheduled to play their music at an artist colony in the Blue Hills of Indiana. Caitlin, who is reeling from being dumped by her long-time boyfriend, has sworn off men for a full year to give herself time to heal. But that’s before she meets Chase Hollister, the handsome owner of a scented candle factory. Before she knows it, she and Chase are caught up in a haunting crime from his past – and pursued by a deadly killer in the present.

Romantic Times gave Scent of Murder a four and a half stars, making it my highest rating yet! The reviewer said, “Plenty of action and suspense, a fine mystery and the knowledge that the love of God is for everyone, no matter what they've done.”

Here’s an interesting tidbit about Scent of Murder. It was the toughest revision I’ve ever had. When I turned in the manuscript, my editor called to give me the bad news that she wanted me to rewrite over half of the book! Because the heroine and hero are separated for a huge part of the time, which apparently isn’t done in romantic suspense (I didn’t know that!), I had to really crank up the romantic tension in the other parts. There were some other elements that needed to be rewritten, too. I was pretty devastated, actually. In my eight previous books, my revisions have never been this significant. But when I’d finished, I saw that the finished product was much stronger than the initial version. And readers have agreed. I’ve had multiple emails from people saying, “This is your best mystery yet.” So even though it was painful, I learned a lot about the genre.

The first chapter is available online here: http://www.virginiasmith.org/cmsdocuments/Murder_at_Eagle_Summit_Excerpt.pdf

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.virginiasmith.org/. I’d love to have visitors drop by and read my Journal (which is really a blog, but since I’m a notoriously bad blogger, it masquerades as a Journal.) And while you’re there, check out the Reader Fun page, where I’m always giving away books – mine another people’s, too.

People can stay up to date on what I’m reading on GoodReads at www.goodreads.com/GinnyS.

And I’m on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Ginny-Smith/1557400143. I’d love to be your Friend. Just be warned that I use Facebook as a personal place, so if you become my Friend, you’ll hear about my family, my travels, and random thoughts that occupy my mind!

Lena, thanks so much for the opportunity to appear on your awesome blog. It’s always a pleasure to chat with you!

Thank you, Ginny, for spending this time with us. I always enjoy it.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification of the win will be the winner announcement post on this blog. So come back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this post on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

SUNSET BEACH - Trish Perry - Free Book

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

Yes, I’ve definitely learned that I can’t keep up with what God is doing in my life! I’m at the point where I just tackle what I can each day and trust He’ll keep everything in order. With regard to the horizon, I’m honestly not sure. I have proposals for six different books floating out there, and I’m overdue in getting another one together. I know the Lord is going settle the right story into my lap.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’m a single mom who is about a year away from being an empty nester. I don’t like that last part! My son and I have a great relationship—we make each other laugh all the time—and I’m cherishing this last year with him home. My beautiful daughter is my best friend. She blessed me with my hilarious grandson six years ago, and she’s getting remarried (in Jamaica!) in eight months. I’m amazed at how beautifully the Lord blessed me with my brilliant, funny, kind children.

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

I read more Christian fiction than I used to. I’ve always been fine with reading secular work, and I like just about every genre. I enjoy serious, literary work as much as I enjoy light, funny reads. But since getting further enmeshed in the Christian publishing industry, I’ve learned more about all of the excellent books out there written with a Christian worldview. I find it hard to keep up with all of the books I want to read, which I know is a common dilemma.

What are you working on right now?

As I mentioned above, I’ve been putting together proposals for a number of different books. Some of them are projects I’ve wanted to work on for a few years, and some of them are brand new, triggered by requests or ideas from publishing houses. So my writing has been focused on early chapters and book summaries. I’m itching to dive into one of these projects; I just need to know which (if any) will be required of me first!

What outside interests do you have?

Since becoming a single woman I’ve been amazed by all of the women in my church who are in the same position, either through widowhood or divorce. Both situations can be sad and lonely, but the Lord has blessed all of us by drawing us together. So, getting to know this group of Godly, funny women has become a new interest of mine.

I also love to sing, read, and watch films and some of the better television shows with my son.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I enjoy setting stories nearby (in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area), because there is so much going on here and because it makes my research simpler. But my two most recent books were set at a beach house in San Diego. That setting came about through necessity—the books are the third and fourth installments in a series initiated by Sally John. All of those books are set at the same beach house, with different characters and storylines for each.

The proposals I’ve been putting together are a mix of the above; three of them are set in Washington, D.C., one of them is set in a little town in North Carolina (to fit with the publisher’s needs), and three of them are set in an imaginary town (again, for the publisher).

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

I think an evening with author P.G. Woodhouse would be fantastic fun. His writing was clever, charming, and sometimes silly—all of the things the Brits can do so well. He had a firm grasp on how seriously the upper class tends to take itself, and he knew how to take the stuffing out of just about any situation.

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

I wish I had known how helpful groups like American Christian Fiction Writers could be. I have always had an invaluable critique group, but I considered groups like ACFW to be venues solely for published authors. Now I encourage anyone writing fiction to join ACFW because of the valuable education and moral support it offers. Even someone just starting out will benefit from the guidance available to every member, regardless of publication status.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

He seems to be impressing upon me the importance of leaning on Him for the next steps in life. I have many new life phases approaching me, including the empty nest I mentioned and my plan to go back to a day job, even if only part-time. My heart starts to pitter pat when I think about the future. When that happens I’m immediately reminded that He has my best interests in hand. He’s always protected me, and He always will.

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

a. Pray daily about your writing—ask for guidance and clear thoughts.
b. Try to write something daily, because that will affect how you absorb everything around you. Everyday events take on new significance.
c. Join American Christian Fiction Writers and read lots of novels and good books about writing.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s my short summary of Sunset Beach (Harvest House Publishers, June 2009):

Sonny Miller is tired of not knowing who she is. Soon she’ll begin graduate school to earn her masters in Psychology. But how can she counsel future clients about their identities when she isn’t even sure about her own? To that end she has cooked up a little meeting at a certain beach house in San Diego.

Sonny’s mother, classical soprano Teresa Miller, isn’t aware she’s about to be reunited at the beach house with her sister, Melanie Hines, after 25 years of estrangement. And Sonny isn’t aware her mother has invited a surprise guest of her own. Russian adoptee, Irina Petrova, finds herself dragged along on a trip so tumultuous she summons her handsome concert violinist brother for moral support.

The four women converge on the funky little beach house in San Diego, each with her own disappointments and hopes about family, identity, and love. For Sonny, the trip reveals all she expected and more than she ever dreamed.

I had a blast with these characters. There’s a romance in there, but there’s also plenty of fun conflict about family secrets.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Here are my links:

My web site: http://www.trishperry.com/
My monthly column: http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/berzerk_stranger.html
My Shoutlife page: http://www.shoutlife.com/profile_view.cfm?uid=12222
My Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1459576628&ref=profile
My Twitter page: twitter.com/TrishPerryBooks

Thanks, Lena.

It's always a pleasure to have you, Trish, and to learn more about you and your writing.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Sunset Beach:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll receive will be the winner announcement on this blog. So check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this post in FeedBlitz, Facebook, or Amazon, use this link and come to the blog to leave your comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

June Special Announcement

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THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE - Linore Rose Burkard - Free Book

Welcome back, Linore. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write books that I would enjoy as a reader. I love good romances that are clean, a bit of humor, a heroine I can respect, and a great happy ending. I also love “period” films, and I “see” my books as films when I'm writing them, so if I really enjoy my own book, I feel satisfied that readers will, too.

I see my stories as films in my head, too. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I think it would be the day I became a mother for the first time. I felt like Eve, as silly as that may sound! I was astounded, and never happier with myself—something along the lines of, "If I could produce this marvelous baby, well, then God must have made me right after all." It was like I'd entered this new secret world of “motherhood,” and I couldn't believe that I hadn't known, earlier, what a miraculous, wonderful world it was. The joy of motherhood had been hidden to me from an upbringing with seven siblings where each person was basically one more mouth to feed, not a gift from God.

How has being published changed your life?

It has certainly made me a great deal busier! I said somewhere that since getting published, it's like I'm attached to my pc at the hip. But the writing is actually the least time-consuming thing I do. When I'm hot and heavy into a book, I spend a lot of time at it, but once that passes, it's all networking and marketing, marketing, marketing.

What are you reading right now?

I'm just finishing up The Language of Cells. A book I thought would complement the use of the microscope in our home school, but had nothing to do with that. (I have a review of it on my Shelfari page) As for fiction, I recently read Julie Klassen's The Apothecary's Daughter, as I did some proof-reading (fact checking) for it, and Molly Noble Bull's Gatehaven. (We swapped manuscripts to critique for each other.)

What is your current work in progress?

When I finished The House in Grosvenor Square, I started throwing around ideas with my editor for the next book. I think I'm going to finish a novel I started called The Country-House Courtship next, but I have a few others that also need finishing. These are stand-alones so far, meaning, not part of a series, but that could change.

What would be your dream vacation?

A month in England, for sure. I'm hoping to do that this year, but I can't do a whole month. The thing is, I need to see London for its museums and Mayfair, of course; (Regency past); but I'd also love to do the whole Jane Austen thing; Bath, and her other places of residence, and if I could fit in a little Dickens and Shakespeare that would be fab. I have two friends to visit there, who will no doubt accompany me to some of these places, but we'll also need time just to chill and chat.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Since I'm concentrating on Regency romances right now, it's really quite simple. You can do a continent switch, of course, which could complicate it (and I have one started, as a matter of fact), but for the most part you know your setting is going to be England, and from there you just choose whether it's going to be London, Bath, or a country estate or village.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

When I can, I like to bake, decorate, garden, swim, do crossword puzzles and other mind stretchers, and watch period movies. I can't always find time to read a novel, but I can quickly do a crossword. When I feel like I'm getting burned out from too much of any activity, I'll pull a DVD of a favorite period flick from the shelf, and take a mini-vacation by watching it. I enjoy singing in the choir, and being with special friends and especially being with my family.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

At this point in my life, the most difficult thing is finding time to brainstorm and concentrate on a book. Once I know where I'm going with a plot or idea I can work on it despite all the interruptions in my day; but when I need to really think something through, it's difficult to find enough quiet time. I often just give myself to God, and have to trust that He'll take me in the right direction. On a more technical level, one of my challenges is that I get many ideas, and I don't always wait and ask myself if I've had the best one. I go with the first or second one, and later think, “Wow, I could have done this or that, (with a character, or scene, etc.).”

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Decide whether or not you've been called to write, and if you have been, then give it all you've got. Never put out anything except your best work, and keep in mind that ANYTHING you say online may be there forever. Seek feedback from a professional, but at the same time, learn to trust your instincts. Also, start a web presence as soon as you decide that you want to be published one day.

Tell us about the featured book.

The House in Grosvenor Square is a sequel to Before the Season Ends. Without giving spoilers, I'll say it's a great deal of fun, and has more action-driven movement than I usually write. I'm a character-driven writer, but once things get rolling in this book, the reader will have to hang on to their hat, so to speak, and take the ride to the last page. It's a satisfying deepening of characters from the first book and progress in their story.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is: http://www.linoreroseburkard.com/, and I have three blogs at this time: http://regencyyuletide.blogspot.com/
http://aregencyblog.blogspot.com/
and http://shesgotcharacter.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Lena!

And thank you, Linore for returning to visit with us again.

Readers, here's where you can order the featured book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll have is the winners announcement on this blog. So check back in two weeks on Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this interview on FeedBlitz, Facbook, or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave the comment:

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Last May Winners!!!

Peachykath is the winner of What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy.

Linda (desertrose) is the winner of The Taking of Carly Bradford by Ramona Richards.

Carlene (iluvreading) is the winner of Starfire by Stuart Vaughn Stockton.

Laura in Texas is the winner of Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney.

Congratulations. That will be some good summer reading. Now you must send me your mailing address. You can find a link to my email when you click on View Complete Profile in the sidebar. Or you can contact me through my web site: www.lenanelsondooley.com

Come back tomorrow for another interview.

Jill Elizabeth Nelson - WITNESS TO MURDER - Free Book

Welcome, Jill. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I came to Jesus with all my heart at summer Bible camp when I was about ten years old. But then my faith went dormant through some rather wild high school and college years. When I got out of college and was casting around for direction in my life, I realized I was tired of feeling lost and alone. I scooted right back into the arms of Father God, who was patient and faithful all along, even when I wasn’t.

How did you and your husband meet?

At a home Bible study. It wasn’t love at first sight, but almost. At about the third or fourth meeting, I looked across the room and knew that I knew that I knew he was the one for me. We were married within the year. Going on 29 years later, we’ve raised four children and are enjoying our precious first grandchild.

James and met three months and three days before we married, and we'll celebrate 45 years together later this year. Now Jill, you’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

I’ve been on a couple of writers retreats with fellow Minnesota authors, and they were so awesome, I would go with all of them again in a heartbeat. But that’s more than four. It might be fun to go again to the Denver area and meet up with my dear, gracious friend and awesome author, Donita K. Paul. We’d want to include her up-and-coming author daughter, Evangeline Denmark, and our mutual bud, Megan DiMaria. That’s only three, but I’m sure they could invite someone else along. I go to writers’ retreats to fellowship with like-minded, wacky writers so we can uplift and encourage one another. We share our hearts, as well as have an all around hilarious time.

Yes, I've only been on a few of these, but they are awesome. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I love, love, love to talk about my passion for Christian fiction. Most recently, I was invited to do a session at a librarians’ retreat in the Twin Cities. This was primarily a secular group, but the librarians had noticed how the “inspirational fiction” flew off the shelves, so they wanted to hear more about this phenomenon. Most were quite flabbergasted to see for themselves the quality and variety that Christian fiction has achieved. This branch of fiction is no longer limited to prairie romance and nothing like the sermonizing between book covers that they had assumed. It was awesome to be able to visit that epiphany on such an influential group in the book world.

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

I don’t know that this is the most embarrassing thing ever, but it’s the most recent embarrassing thing. My husband and I and another couple went camping at a nearby state park for Memorial Day weekend. So here we are all settled into our side-by-side campsites, just about ready to enjoy a meal of grilled chicken, when a monster-sized camper stops on the road beside our sites and a puzzled-looking man gets out. He approaches us and asks, “Are you sure you have the right camp sites? Our names are on the reservations tags.” Sure enough, we look at the green tags on the posts by the sites, and the names aren’t ours!

What happened? I made the reservations weeks in advance . . . the only trouble is, I made them for the weekend AFTER the holiday. Memorial Day fell early this year, so I got my dates mixed up. Oh, man, that was an uncomfortable situation!

What could I do but apologize to everyone concerned—my husband, our friends, the people whose sites we were squatting on. I’m thankful they were all so gracious about it. We had to pack up and move out, of course. The good news (and something of a miracle on a holiday weekend) is that the park manager got us a couple of sites on the other side of the campground. These sites had full water, sewer, and garbage hookups, but they rented them to us for the same price as the electric-only sites we had before. Praise the Lord!

The world is full of nice people, if we only look around us. 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?

First of all, get beyond the wishing phase and start. Second, persevere through the work of it. Third, finish the book. If an aspiring author can actually get that far, then there’s hope that maybe some years down the road, they’ll actually have something publishable. (Most folks never get past the wishing phase.)

That's a true, but sad fact. Tell us about the featured book?

I so enjoyed writing a multi-cultural adventure set in my home state of Minnesota. Multi-cultural, you say? Swedish and Norwegian perhaps? No, a bit more diverse than that. My heroine is half Norwegian, half Nigerian—a pretty interesting combo that plays quite large in the story.

Here’s the short blurb about the story:

Poised for an interview, TV reporter Hallie Berglund walks into a murder scene instead. The victim’s boyfriend stands over the body, murder weapon in hand. Hallie couldn’t stop the crime, but as the star witness, she’ll see the man brought to justice . . . right? Not according to her colleague Brody Jordan, who is convinced the police—and Hallie—are targeting the wrong man. To prove it, he’ll need Hallie’s help. The victim was wearing a bracelet handcrafted by Hallie’s long-dead mother. Now Hallie is the only one who can unearth the secrets of the past—and bring the sinister truth to light.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Channel Six television news reporter Hallie Berglund put her fight foot on the bottom step of the swaybacked porch, then stopped cold. The hairs on her arms prickled. What was that awful noise coming from inside the house? Some kind of music? This century-old Victorian was rented by four University of Minnesota coeds, but even if they liked punk rock, they wouldn’t listen to this. And why was the front door several inches ajar?

Careful to keep the heels of her pumps from clacking against the wood, she walked up the remaining two steps, but angry creaks from the porch boards announced her arrival. Whoever—whatever—was inside gave no indication her approach had been heard. The noise progressed in decibels.

Hallie frowned. There had to be a logical explanation. On the telephone, Alicia Drayton had sounded eager, almost desperate, to do the interview as soon as possible. The part-time fashion model and full-time student had said her roommates would be out all afternoon—a perfect opportunity for the two of them to talk privately.

The sound continued—long, drawn out. Like something a person would hear on a dark and moonless night, not in the balmy afternoon of a cloudless June day. She doused the impulse to back away and wait for her cameraman to catch up with her. She was a reporter, and she needed to find out what was going on. Sooner rather than later.

That's a real hook. I can't wait until I receive my copy of the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My web site is http://www.jillelizabethnelsoncom/. I run a monthly contest for signed copies of my books and regularly give away other people’s books on my blog. Sign up for my newsletter for extra chances at freebies and to keep up on what’s next in the pipeline.

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

Readers, here's a link to order Witness to Murder:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll receive is the winners post on this blog. So check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

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Susan Meissner - THE SHAPE OF MERCY - 3 Free Books

I'm happy to have Susan on my blog with this book which won Publisher Weekly's Best Books of 2008 in fiction. And you readers will have the opportunity to win one of three Advanced Readers Copies of this book.
Susan, why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of books that I like most to read; a bit literary but not so deep and distant that they don’t seem real to life. I like books that have a faith thread that is subtle and deeply imbedded in the story’s theme such that a believer can hear the voice of God all over the pages and someone on the search for God will hear His whisper.

I like that description. That's how I perceive my spiritual threads, too. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

It is so hard to pick just one day that stands out over all the others. Each of the four days my children were born were indescribably wonderful, the day I married my soul-mate was perfect, and the day I got my first book contract was over-the-top splendid. I am amazed by God’s goodness to me.

How has being published changed your life?

Surprisingly, being published has taught me that that’s just one thing that can happen to you when you are a writer. It doesn’t define you as a writer and it doesn’t complete you as a writer. When your dream of being published is realized, it’s funny, you simply start dreaming a new dream. You create new goals for yourself. You hope for new things. You also find that you still struggle with envy and doubt and frustration – the same as you did before. Everything you brought to the table before you were published, you still have after. It’s all about perspective and trust, as is just about everything that happens to us outside our control.

What are you reading right now?

I am reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and it is phenomenal. It is about a white journalist and two African-American housekeepers - the help – in pre-Civil Rights Mississippi. It’s exceptionally well written.

What is your current work in progress?

I have just started Lady in Waiting, which is due to my editor later this summer and will release in fall 2010. It’s about a woman at a crossroads in her life and marriage who finds something that once belonged to Lady Jane Grey – the nine-day Queen of England back in the sixteenth century. I like blending stories of the current day with threads of the past. And I’ve always been intrigued by Jane Grey’s story. I can’t wait to really sink my teeth into this one. My next book, White Picket Fences, is just now headed to the printers for a Fall 09 release.

What would be your dream vacation?

A month-long stay in a villa overlooking the Amalfi Highway on Italy’s southern tip! Lots of books to read. No internet or email. Pasta and bread and fresh fruit and veggies all the time. My husband on the chaise next to me, making coffee in a French press. A big yellow dog at our feet. . . Mmmmm.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I let the story dictate the setting. After I’ve had a chance to get to know the characters’ personalities I ponder which locale will best let me draw on their quirks and habits and layers. It is often the last thing I choose.

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

I have always wanted to spend an evening talking with whoever is president of the United States. In this case, that would be Barack Obama. If I am going to have a conversation that matters it should be with someone who can make a difference. There is so much we need to address as a nation. I am not even sure where I would start. Maybe I would ask him first what kind of world he wants to see his daughters inherit from him and then see where his answer takes us.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to travel, spend time with my family, listen to music, play the piano, take long walks on the beach, fiddle with photography, mess about in the yard, cook Italian food.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

I struggle with confidence and doubt. Like any obstacle that involves self-introspection I have to turn to God and ask Him to help me tune out the noise and listen to what He thinks about me. If He gave me the gift and passion to write, then He means for me to be writing.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Spend every spare minute you have sharpening your skill. Read good books, read good books on writing, write every day – even it’s just random thoughts – surround yourself with other writers and learn from them, don’t give in to apathy or frustration. Keep at your gifting. You were meant to share it.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Shape of Mercy is the story of three women, two in contemporary time and one in the past: Lauren is a privileged college student; Abigail is an old woman with a boatload of regrets, and Mercy is a young victim of the Salem Witch Trials. When Abigail commissions Lauren to transcribe Mercy’s diary, Lauren learns the truth about how we rise to snap judgments about other people and how we allow fear and the crowd to dictate who we will love – and why.

Please give us the first page of the book.

I’ve heard the story countless times, how I grasped the delivering doctor’s scrubs as he guided me into the Durough family universe of opportunity and duty. My father likes to say I came out of my mother’s body insistent on being taken seriously, declaring to the doctor who held my slippery limbs that I was no helpless female unable to forge her way through the world of men. I’ve seen the video.

My father had the camcorder rolling when my mother pushed me into waiting hands. Dad’s aim was discreet, thank goodness, because he’ll sometimes show that video when he tells the story. He’s even downloaded it onto his iPod. I’ve seen my open, squalling mouth, heard my mother’s throaty cries and a nearby nurse’s words: “It’s a girl.”

My infant body is a glistening, angry shade of pink, and I am indeed grappling for the doctor’s clothes as if prepared to wrestle him to the floor. My father loves that.

Whispered conversations over the years — which I wasn’t meant to hear — have suggested my father enjoys retelling this story because he needs to reassure himself it’s not the end of the world that God didn’t bless him with a son. Neither was I supposed to hear that my clutching at the doctor’s clothes could just as easily have been a cry of, “Help! I’m falling!” rather than, “Stand aside! I’ve arrived!”

I’ve long wondered if the whispering people are right. About both.

I can hardly wait to read the rest. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I am on the web at http://www.susanmeissner.com/
and at http://susanmeissner.blogspot.com/
and I have a character blog for The Shape of Mercy at http://theshapeofmercy.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for having me, Lena!

It's my pleasure, Susan.

Readers, if you're not one of the fortunate ones who win a free copy of the ARC, here's a link where you can order the book:

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