LOVE ON ASSIGNMENT - Cara Lynn James - Free Book

Welcome, Cara Lynn. I loved your first book in this series. Love on a Dime. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

As little as possible. I like my story people to be themselves and not reflect my ideas, tastes etc. Except I think they’re probably more like me than I think. If I’m not careful they react to situations like I would as an introvert. And that doesn’t work well for an extraverted character. I try hard to get into my characters’ minds so they don’t become me. So far I’ve never used my life experiences in my books and I don’t plan to. But who knows.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’m definitely not a quirky person. But I’ve done a couple of adventurous things, even though I’m not at all adventurous! The first thing was my girlfriend and I took a bus down the Dalmatian coast in Croatia in the middle of the night while the country (Yugoslavia) was still Communist. We were the only two Americans on board a bus full of drunken Yugoslavian soldiers and we were the only young women. Sounds like a dumb thing to do, doesn’t it? We were travelling from Italy to Split, Croatia, to meet the ship, the U.S. aircraft carrier our husbands were serving on. They were both Navy pilots. Going by bus seemed like the easiest way to get there, but certainly not the most relaxing.

The second adventure happened several years later. My husband and I travelled to Colombia to adopt a baby girl at the height of the drug wars. Planes were exploding midair, bombs were going off in airports and on the streets, but we went down there anyway. The State Department warned Americans to return home, but we travelled there instead. Fortunately, all went well, and our daughter is now a young adult.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was seven I wrote a book for my parents’ wedding anniversary. My story, based on the Bobbsey Twins, was twenty pages long. The covers were red construction paper and I bound it with pieces of light blue yarn. I loved reading and writing! I decided I’d become an authoress like Laura Lee Hope. My career got off to a great start, but then it stalled for several decades as the practicalities of life took over. Eventually I realized that if I wanted to be an author the time was now or never.

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

I love to read romance, women’s fiction, mysteries, suspense, thrillers, literary, non-fiction and occasionally children’s books. My favorites are historical, although I enjoy contemporary as well. If I live to be one hundred I’ll never finish all the books on my selves and on my computer. I could easily read all day without getting tired of it.

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

I pray for peace in my life because I can’t work well if I have problems to resolve or brush fires to put out. In order to write I have to focus. Unfortunately I can’t concentrate in the middle of noise or chaos, although if you saw my house (sometimes) you wouldn’t believe I need serenity to work well. When I have a deadline looming I have to work no matter what’s going on around me, so I ignore the chaos and lock myself in my bedroom to write. But give me peace and quiet and I’m a lot happier.

If I need to settle my mind I often pray, read the Bible or read a novel. Getting away from writing and all the commitments it involves, even for a short time, refreshes me. I don’t give in to pressure because I’m afraid it might lead to writer’s block. Another great stress reliever is taking a walk, but I’m allergic to any form of exercise. Only kidding—I do walk a lot, just not as often as I should. And I don’t enjoy it too much. I’m a couch potato at heart.

I try to keep organized, not over commit or let myself become overwhelmed. Getting enough sleep is important too. It’s crucial to keep my writing in perspective. It’s a career I love and appreciate, but it’s not worth ruining my health over. And family is the most important part of my life.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Mainly the character names just come to me. Sometimes I google baby names for 1880 or 1890. Many of the names popular during the Gilded Age are not too popular now, so I don’t use them for my heroine. A few might be Gladys or Gertrude or Bertha. I might use them for secondary characters. If I write about a Horace or Willard, he probably won’t be the hero. I give my heroes and heroines names that were popular back at the turn-of-the-century and also popular today--or at least pleasant sounding—Lilly and Jack, Charlotte and Daniel, Melinda and Nick.

Since I write about 19th century New York and Newport society, I try to use similar last names. Many of the people were on English or Dutch descent so those are the type names I look for.

Sometimes a name pops into my head. For example, I have a character named Elvira Plunkett who hasn’t made it into print yet. Her name came to me before the character herself. But it’s obvious to me she’s a middle aged southerner, probably a country woman, or a lady from a small town. Very colorful and very opinionated. Her name suggests a personality to me.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Finishing my first book. It began as Joanna’s Treasure (contemporary) and eventually was published as Love on Assignment (historical), the second book in the Ladies of Summerhill series. I tinkered with it for years changing the location from Vermont to West Virginia to Rhode Island. It took a long time to get the story right, but I kept at it. I’m so glad I did.

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

Definitely a cocker spaniel. When I was in my early twenties a little cocker spaniel named Holly owned me. She was a delight, at least to me. I’d love to be pampered like Holly. My husband would probably say I am pampered and he’s right.

What is your favorite food?

I couldn’t possibly narrow that to just one favorite food! I love sword fish with lemon, mashed potatoes and chocolate cake. If you’d like an essay on my favorite foods I could write one without any trouble. No writer’s block.

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

Over editing. I’d write a paragraph and revise it to death until I got it perfect. Sometimes I’d suck the life out of it. I’d never make any progress. When I joined a writers’ group I was amazed that authors actually finished their manuscripts. I couldn’t conceive of completing anything, not even a chapter. But I learned to buckle down and keep typing one word after the other without rereading and fixing. Yes, I still have a tendency to edit as I go, but I don’t let it stand in the way of progress. I try hard to write 1,000 words a day. Not a lot, I know, but those words do add up.

Tell us about the featured book.

My second book in the Ladies of Summerhill series is called Love on Assignment.

While Charlotte is focusing on uncovering sordid information on columnist Daniel Wilmot, her heart leads her into uncharted territory. During the summer of 1900 Charlotte Hale, a native Newporter and secretary for the Rhode Island Reporter, accepts an undercover assignment as temporary governess to Daniel Wilmont's children in order to secretly gather evidence against him. As he helps her rediscover God, Charlotte learns that Daniel is an honorable man. They unexpectedly fall in love despite their different backgrounds and social positions. Charlotte soon realizes she must defend Daniel against the forces set against him—a willful student with a romantic crush and the newspaper editor determined to destroy his reputation.

I'm going to like reading this one. Please give us the first page of the book.

July 1900

ONE

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

Charlotte Hale’s legs, hidden beneath her long serge skirt, wobbled like a newborn colt’s. But she pinned on a confident smile and gazed directly into her boss’s dark granite eyes.

“Please be seated, Miss Hale. We have something important to discuss.” He gave her a curt nod as he loomed behind his polished mahogany desk, an engraved nameplate resting on the edge. Arnold Phifer, Editor.

Dressed in his well-tailored navy suit and silk vest, he stared at her as if assessing her value. A cherrywood pipe protruded beneath a white handlebar mustache, waxed to stiff perfection.

She slid into the chair across from the middle-aged editor of the Rhode Island Reporter, stenography pad in hand. In the three years she’d worked at the newspaper, Mr. Phifer had never once summoned her to his private office which overlooked the bustling Thames Street, except for dictation.

He pulled the pipe from his mouth and placed it in an ashtray beside a ceramic jar of tobacco. “Miss Hale”—his bushy brows drew together across his pink forehead—“I’m impressed with your work.”

I'm intrigued. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m at caralynnjames.com and at seekerville.blogspot.com

Thank you, Cara Lynn, for the delightful interview.
 
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HARBOR HOPES - Lynn Coleman - Free Book

I'm thrilled to feature Lynn Coleman. Ten years ago, God gave her the vision for the organization that has become American Christian Fiction Writers, the premier organization for Christian writers of fiction. Welcome, Lynn. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I believe there is a piece of yourself in every character you develop. With that said I’d like to add that not one character I’ve written is me. Characters are simply that, characters. You take bits and pieces of people, places, events and meld them into a unique personality for each novel. But you can’t get away from the fact that some of you is in each and every character you create.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I don’t know that this is the quirkiest but while researching and writing Photo Op, I purchased the same camera my character Dena Russell began her photography career with. This gave me a feel for the instrument and woke up my interest in digital photography. After all the years of working with this hobby I’ve probably spent more on my photography hobby than I earned from that book.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Originally I wrote a couple of books for Homeschooler about the Internet. I did it primarily as a help aid to other homeschooling parents. The Internet was fairly new at the time. In fact, this new thing called the World Wide Web was just starting, along with this wonderful new place called Yahoo. It was after I finished the second book for homeschoolers that a scene popped into my head. So, I went to my office, sat down at the computer, and three days later had a 45,000 word story. Three months later, I had had six stories and a belief that God was calling me to become a fiction writer for Him.

And I'm glad for that. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love having poetry read to me, I don’t however enjoy reading it myself, except for A.A. Milne’s work. I love C.S. Lewis Narnia series and have read them several times. I love historicals, contemporary, action adventure, mystery and suspense. I enjoy watching sci-fi but haven’t read in that genre. I also love reading reference books about a variety of subjects but primarily about historical times and events.

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

LOL, sanity what’s that? Seriously, I enjoy closing my eyes and meditating on the Lord. Or going out by some running water and relaxing. I guess that’s why I had a waterfall put in our fish pond. I love sitting on the rock bridge, watching the water, the fish and letting my imagination run wild.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

That’s an interesting question, primarily it is by the meaning of the names but not always. In one of my stories, The Shoemaker’s Daughter, I choose Cameron which means bent or crooked nose. The heroine was Marissa which means of the sea. This gave me the great idea for how the hero & heroine would meet. She broke his nose with her surfboard, of course.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My family. Professionally it would be starting American Christian Fiction Writers.

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

My dog, Corky, he’s got a great life and he’s thoroughly loved and cherished as well as giving us a great deal of love.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate is there any other choice?

A larger percentage of writers choose chocolate, me among them. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Grammar, punctuation have never been my strong suit. My husband helps me a great deal with this but I have learned a lot more than when I first started writing. I still have a lot to learn. I only dangle my participles in conversation of my characters now. I suppose I do that just to get a rise out of my husband. It’s actually a long running joke between us.

Tell us about the featured book.

Harbor Hopes is a repack collection of three of my novels set in the fictional town of Squabbin Bay, Maine. Photo Op, the novel I mentioned earlier, is the first in the series. Dena is a photo journalist and is 52. Wayne the hero is 42. I choose to write an older couple because of the fact that not all who fall in love are young. Trespassed Hearts follows when Dena hires a photographer, Jordan Lamont, to work for her so she can spend more time with her family. Miranda (Randi) Blake is a friend of Wayne’s daughter who works in the local seaside restaurant and owns her own computer business. Jordon & Randi meet when she spills lobster bisque all over him. Wayne and Dena meet when Wayne opens a door and the cream pie Dena has in her hand lands on her face. So for the third story, Jess (Wayne’s daughter) meets Krispin Black by accidentally running over his canoe with her dad’s lobster boat. The third book was hardest because Krispin wasn’t a Christian in the first part of the book. In reality Krispin is not a pleasant or likeable character when you first meet him.

These stories all sound interesting. Please give us the first page of the book.

Dena glanced into the rearview mirror and touched up her lipstick. Grabbing her fully loaded cameras and backpack from the passenger seat, she ran into the church.

“Hey Mom, didn’t think you were going to make it.” Jason wiped his hands on a semi-white apron. “Get in late last night?” He kissed her cheek.

Dena returned the affection and stepped back. “Yeah, I was busy developing some pictures and lost track of time.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “I’m not that late.”

“No problem. Your booth is outside. The teens set up a few lobster pots and buoys. I think they did a real good job. But you’ll probably want to rearrange things.”

“Probably.” Dena chuckled.

Jason knew her all to well. Since she had been professional photographer since he was a teen, he had seen her work many photo shoots. Asking her to donate a full day of work wasn’t too unusual. She’d do anything for her son. Plus, the money raised would help support the youth ministries at Jason’s new pastorate.

Billy and Susie ran into the church kitchen. “Grandma!”

Dena’s joy spread from her heart to her open arms. She knelt to meet them. Billy, eight, thrust his arms around her. Susie followed with equal enthusiasm, and Dena reached down to catch herself from landing on her backside. “How are grandma’s little ones this morning?”

“Okay.” Billy kissed her on the cheek. “There’s so many booths, Grandma. And lots of food.” Any more enthusiasm and I’d need to wear earplugs, she mused.

Dena stood up, straddling Susie on her hip. “And what about you, pumpkin?”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My Web page http://www.lynncoleman.com/
19th Century Historical Tidbits Blog http://www.historicaltidbits.blogspot.com/
I’m on Facebook as well, simply search for Lynn Coleman

Thank you, Lynn, for this peek into your life and book.
 
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THE SEARCH - Suzanne Woods Fisher - Free Book

Your new book really intrigues me, Suzanne. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I have a theory that all of life is “material”…so I’m constantly collecting character types, or funny remarks, or odd circumstances to use in a novel. I probably make people nervous! As for how much of me is in the characters…there are probably parts of every character that I relate to in some way. There’s a little bit of me as a teen in Bess, and one of my great aunt’s was an inspiration for Bertha.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Gosh, Lena…this is so hard to admit publicly…but I’m a closet birder. LOVE bird watching! Birds fascinate me—their migration is just miraculous. That’s one thing I’ve enjoyed learning about with the Amish—many are crackerjack birders, and all Amish farms are bird-friendly. Feeders, birdhouses are everywhere! Nature’s insect-control!

You'd really like my husband. He feeds all kinds of birds in our yards and loves to watch them. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I have loved to write for as long as I remember. I don’t think I was particularly good at it—I honestly don’t remember any teacher noting that I was talented as a writer. Ever! In college, it became a strength for me—but that had to do with the fact that I loved it. I have writer friends who can write circles around me. They can make a trip to the mailbox sound poetic!

I know what you mean. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I read constantly—usually have two or three books going at the same time. If I find an author whom I really enjoy, I’ll read everything they write until I get a sense of who that writer is. The only kind of books that I avoid are dark books, ones that study the underbelly of humanity. Sadly—most of the bestsellers in the ABA are just that—very dark. Admittedly, great writing! But a dismal, godless theme.

That's why I've almost completely given up reading ABA books. I so miss the spiritual thread. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

One tool-to-slow-life-down is my daily dog walks. Getting outside, breathing fresh air, getting sunlight on my face, noticing nature’s gifts. I raise puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Am on my 9th puppy! You just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I study Amish names and try to find ones that are credible and regional—there are only about 50 Amish surnames, and ones that are distinctly Ohioan or Pennsylvanian, etc. Writing Amish fiction has many boundaries—and names are one of them. I’ll usually pick a name for a character, and let it settle for a day or two, to make sure it feels right for that personality.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

On a personal note, I am so proud of my children as young adults. Awesome individuals, making wonderful choices with their lives, and each one (I have four) has a genuine love for God. My husband and I do not take this issue lightly—we know that parents can do their very best and things don’t always turn out the way they would hope for their kids. I attribute much of my children’s maturity and wisdom to the weekly prayer groups I’ve been a part of (Moms in Touch). Wherever I’ve lived (even in Hong Kong!), I’ve joined or started a Moms in Touch group. God has blessed my children in so many ways, and that prayer ministry has been a big part of it. Raised ‘em with a wing and a prayer!

Professionally…the last two years have been such a wonderful experience for me. Two huge highlights: Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World was a finalist for the ECPA 2010 Book of the Year…and The Waiting hit the CBA and ECPA Top 50 fiction and non-fiction bestseller list. What incredible moments! I feel so very grateful.

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

Golden retriever or lab. Preferably a guide dog, because those pups have awesome lives. They get to go everywhere! They’re cherished dogs with full, happy lives.

That's so true. What is your favorite food?

Just one?! I think I could survive on fresh fruit. (I live in California—close to the source.) But chips and guacamole is a close second! :-)


I love guacamole, too, but I have to make my own, because I can't eat raw onions. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Confidence. If you met me, you probably wouldn’t realize how much I’ve struggle with confidence…but I do! This is an industry that is not only not looking for you, but it tries to determine why your book (or article) shouldn’t be published. And then…if a writer is fortunate enough to have a book published, he/she is really exposed! I think of it as being in front of the world in your underwear (eek!). Reviews, opinions…they came at you! Most are positive, but not all. For me, giving my lack of confidence to God has been a step in spiritual growth. Whenever I am speaking to a group or doing a book event, I have to relinquish this all over again and trust in God for the outcome.

 Tell us about the featured book.

The Search is set in Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania, and is the third in the Lancaster County Secrets series. The story begins on a summer day, as fifteen-year-old Bess Riehl is heading to her grandmother’s rose farm. Bess isn’t very enthusiastic about the immediate future, until she meets a young woman, Lainey O’Toole, who is working at the Sweet Tooth bakery. The warm friendship between Bess and Lainey seems to be coincidental…but it isn’t long before Bess’ grandmother reveals a few secrets that turn the summer upside down.

Please give us the first page of the book.

 It was a June morning, hazy with summer’s heat, and Billy Lapp was already bone tired. Only one person on earth could wear out an eighteen-year-old farm boy, and Billy happened to be her hired hand. For over two weeks now, Bertha Riehl had met him at the barn door of Rose Hill Farm with a to-do list that seemed to grow longer with each passing hour. Bertha’s granddaughter, Bess, was coming for a summer visit, and Bertha wanted the farm so spic-and-span clean a body could eat off the barn floor. Which, Billy knew, meant he would be the one scrubbing that barn floor until it shone.

He didn’t know why Bertha felt her farm needed sprucing up. So sauwer wie gschleckt. It was as clean as a whistle. The vegetable garden ran neat and tidy from the kitchen steps down to the greenhouse, beside the yard where she stretched her clothesline. Why, hardly a rose petal dared to wilt without Bertha flying out to the fields with a pair of pruning shears in her big hands. And besides that, folks visited each other all the time. But then Billy remembered that something was not quite right between Bertha and Jonah, her son, Bess’s father. He had left years before. Billy didn’t know what had caused the rift, but he knew enough not to ask. Bertha could be private like that, keeping her business to herself.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be found online at http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/
Also, I’m addicted to Facebook and Twitter.
I’m also on www.toginet.com/shows/Amishwisdom with my weekly radio program (“Amish Wisdom”—such a great show with wonderful guests! Check it out!) and keep up a blog: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for hosting me today, Lena!

And thank you, Suzanne for this glimpse into your life and work.
 
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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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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More Winners!!

Katrina (FL) is the winner of Second Chance Ranch by Leann Harris.
Judylynn (TN) is the winner of Softly and Tenderly by Rachel Hauck and Sara Evans.

Cindy Adams (KY) is the winner of Seek Me With All Your Heart by Beth Wiseman.

Diane (SC) is the winner of Caroline's Choice by Martha Rogers.

Kristen (WA) is the winner of America Under Attack by Jeff Kildow.
Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:

Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
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THE FIRE IN EMBER - DiAnn Mills - Free Book

DiAnn Mills Bio


Award-winning author DiAnn Mills launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has fifty books in print and has sold over 1.5 million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

Six of her titles have appeared on the CBA Bestseller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2008, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008 and a Christy Award winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman Mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Website: http://www.diannmills.com/

Welcome, my friend. You have a lot of books out now. What is your favorite setting to use in your books?


That’s a tough question!

I love my Texas, from the piney woods to the hill country to the western mountains. The Colorado Rockies are a close second—majestic, challenging, beautiful. This is the setting for The Fire in Ember.

What do you look for when you’re shopping for a book to buy for yourself?

The author, cover, title, back blurb, and the first sentence. In that order. :)

Give us a little tour of the setting for this book.

The time period is 1888. Colorado had acquired statehood in 1876, and the state buzzed with growth and development. I pictured the Timmons ranch near Lyons, Colorado, which is not far from the Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s summer and the countryside is filled with color.

What other books do you have coming out soon?

Summerside will release a historical during the summer of 2011 titled Under a Desert Sky, and Tyndale will release a romance suspense in October. I’m excited!

I am, too. I must feature these on the blog. Please give us a glimpse inside your home.

What an interesting question! I live in a two story brick home in Houston, TX. It’s a traditional home and decorated in that style. I have a large kitchen, which I love. The formals are down, including a work out room for yours truly. Upstairs is a Texas themed game room, a guest bedroom, and two offices—for my husband and me. Oh, and we have bathrooms too. :) My office looks like me, lots of books, pictures of grandbabies, and room to work without distraction.

Sounds lovely. Is this novel part of a series or a stand-alone book?

The Fire in Ember is marketed as a stand alone. However, many of the characters are from A Woman Called Sage. If you read this novel, you’ll remember John Timmons, a young man who attempted to bring in a gang of outlaws suspected of murdering his father. He grew a lot in that book, but nothing prepared him for Ember.

Tell us about the story.

John Timmons' life is planned and orderly. He cares for his mother and four younger brothers, and their future depends on him to keep their Colorado ranch profitable. Ember Farrar (Bert) has run away from her lawbreaking family in search of a new life. But, when she attempts to return a horse that her brother had stolen, ranch hands believe she is a thief and a boy and they plan to hang her. John, who is also a deputy marshal, breaks up the hanging. After paying for the stolen horse, he takes the boy home to work off the debt. Later he learns Bert is a girl who refuses to tell him who she is and why she possessed a stolen horse. When ranchers report stolen cattle, Bert is a natural suspect. John is touched by Bert's sweet spirit and natural gift of music. Surely she's not a cattle thief. Bert fears for their lives when she is forced to either help her brothers steal or put the Timmons in danger. When John thinks Bert has betrayed him, he ignores God and turns revengeful. Will John learn who Bert truly is? Will their lives ever return back to normal?

Oooo, I like it. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1
1888 Colorado
June

A hanging is no place for a woman.

Bert cast a wary glance at the man who lifted a rope from his saddle horn and stomped her way. With her hands tied behind her back and a second man holding her shoulders, she had no hope of freeing herself.

“Horse thieves are hanged.” The man they called Leon gazed up into the branches of a cottonwood and pointed. “That limb looks sturdy enough to carry the likes of you. If it breaks, we’ll find another one.” He tied the noose around her neck.

“But he’s just a boy,” an old man said. “I’m not up to hangin’ a kid.”

“Billy the Kid started his murderin’ ways at fourteen.” Leon walked toward Bert. His breath reeked of liquid courage, and the swagger in his step meant she couldn’t reason with him. “He won’t even tell us his name. That means this ain’t the first time he’s broke the law.” He sneered, revealing a mouthful of black and broken teeth. “But it’ll be the last time.”

“Maybe he’s too scared to talk. You hit him hard,” the old man said.

Bert touched her tongue to the stinging side of her mouth where blood dripped down her chin. That had been Leon’s first punch. She glanced his way again through one eye. The other one had already swollen shut, and it throbbed in time to her pounding heart.

“In case you’ve forgotten, the boss’s been lookin’ for that horse nigh onto six months.” Leon tossed the rope over a branch. “This here’s his prize mare all right, and she’s wearing the Wide O brand.”

“All I’m sayin’ is you’ve taught the boy a good lesson. One he ain’t likely to forget. Let’s send him on his way and take the boss his horse.” The man held the bridle of the sleek mare she’d been riding.

Bert stared into the face of the haggard man who was attempting to reason with her executor. His lined face and bushlike silver beard showed his age. He couldn’t help her with three men determined to hang her.

I knew I'd want to read this book! How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.diannmills.com/ Please sign up for my e-newsletter!

Facebook author page: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1389911001

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



Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

MAVERICK HEART - Loree Lough - Free Book

Welcome back, Loree. It's always a pleasure to spend time with you. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

First, I’d like to thank you, Lena, for the generous spirit that inspires you to showcase your author friends’ books. It’s a privilege to be here, and an honor to call you friend. Thank you so much for sharing your blog with me today!

In answer to your question, I find that trust issues make their way into most of my novels, and in most cases, they are a blend of things (mistrust, misunderstanding, misguided information, etc.) that are the result of characters’ past hurts and disappointments. In some cases, they blame God. In others, they blame a loved one, which separates them from Him.

Faith—or the lack of it—is something we’ve all dealt with, whether personally or through the difficulties of a loved one. We humans are frail and weak without the Lord to hold us up, and I like to throw my “fallen-away” characters into situations that test their mettle, bring them to their knees, and force them to acknowledge God’s saving grace.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

In May, Love Inspired will re-release An Accidental Mom and An Accidental Hero to help announce the June release of An Accidental Family (#3 in the “Accidental Blessings” series). Also in June, Unbridled Love (#3 the “Lone Star Legends” series from Whitaker), and soon afterward, Summerside’s Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina. August will see From Ashes to Honor (#1 in my “First Responders” series from Abingdon) on the shelves, and this release is deliberately timed to coordinate with the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.

Wow! That's a wonderful lineup for this year. And we'll feature most of them on this blog. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I’d love to sit and chat with Tracy Trost, the hard-working young producer-director who has dedicated himself to movies like A Christmas Snow. Tracy’s determination to put wholesome family entertainment out there is something to admire, especially in a age when the decision-makers in Hollyweird seem driven to shock the viewing public with anything that isn’t decent and spiritual.

James and I are so tired of having a hard time finding a decent movie to attend. We like to have movie dates, but many times, there's nothing we want to see. Kudos to Tracy. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Thomas Jefferson, because he was a great orator, writer, and inventor. I think it’d be fascinating to hear him relay a non-distorted view about the Founding Fathers’ intentions when they drafted the Constitution.

I agree. I fear our country has wandered far from those intentions. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

One thing I like to do is show them my own first novel. It’s positively riddled with every error a new writer can make! Once they’ve read a few paragraphs of that big mess, it’s a whole lot more believable when I say, “If I could improve on that and get published, so can you!”

Tell us about the featured book.

Maverick Heart, like Beautiful Bandit, transports readers to the year 1888 and Eagle Pass, Texas, where wild mavericks run free on the prairie and longhorns graze contentedly along the verdant banks of the Rio Grande. At least…they’re free and content until rustlers, bandits and Apache raiding parties slip into the peaceful valleys!

It was the time when new-fangled gadgets like motorcars and motorcycles set men’s tongues to wagging in the barbershop, and when women whispered their wishes of owning electric-powered sewing machines and telephones. Locomotives chugged into town, bringing an end to annual cattle drives. Many ranchers found themselves adding this so-called “progress” to the destruction wrought by weevils and tornadoes. Anthrax felled livestock, forcing them to let hundreds of acres go fallow for a generation, to ensure the deadly disease would run its course. Strange illnesses steamed into town on the steel wheels of the train, stealing life and calm and peace of mind.

But thanks to pluck and backbone and dint of their own hard-working ethics, these courageous men and women endured—and survived. And because of their will to succeed despite all odds, they built a legacy that lives on today.

Their strength of character, mind, and body inspired this series that’s set on the untamed grasslands of Texas. But long before I plotted my first story, they inspired some of television’s earliest and most popular shows, and I was one of thousands of children whose weekends didn’t feel complete without a hefty dose of rootin’ tootin’ ridin’ shootin’ Saturday morning Westerns, starring heroic cowboys who rescued damsels in distress, and whose best friends had names like Trigger and Silver, Topper and Champion. I fell in love with plaid shirts and Stetsons, and loved their horses, too.

One reader wrote to tell me that while reading Maverick Heart, she could taste the grit of the dry Texas wind. Another admired the pluck that inspired Levee to drive the chuck wagon on the Neville’s last cattle drive. A few rooted for the rugged wrangler Dan Neville (and some enjoyed reading about outlaw Black Jack Ketchum who, out of gratitude to Levee for patching up one of his men, joined the Nevilles in their fight against a pack of thievin’ rustlers.

My kind of book. Bring it on. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1
May 1888
Somewhere along the San Antonio Road

“Shut up, fool!” bellowed the rifle-toting robber. “Now we’ll hafta kill ’em, so’s they won’t be able to tell the Texas Rangers they was robbed by the Frank Michaels Gang!”

The Frank Michaels Gang? Why did that sound so familiar? Levee’s question was quickly extinguished by a sickening admission: in her twenty-two years of life, she’d never given a thought to how she might leave this earth. Until now.

“No need to get your dander up,” Mack drawled. “Y’all just keep right on helpin’ yourselves to everything we’ve got. Think of us as the three wise monkeys. We didn’t see a thing or hear a thing, and we won’t speak a thing, either.”

“That’s right.” Liam quickly agreed with their fellow passenger.

Levee looked up at her husband, unable to decide which surprised her more: the fact that he’d opened his mouth or that he’d opened the medical bag that held his Derringer. But in one beat of her hammering heart, his hand disappeared inside it. In the next, his puny revolver dangled from his fingertips. “I think you boys should—”

One shot rang out, and even before its echo fell silent, Liam slumped to the ground. “No-o-o!” Levee wailed, dropping to her knees. She cradled his head in her lap and, for the first time since graduating from the New England Hospital for Women, regretted her nursing degree. Because one look at the bloody wound in the middle of his chest told her that although he wasn’t dead yet, he soon would be.

“I—I wanted to—give them—the gun,” he sputtered, “to p-prove we—c-could be trusted—”

“Hush, now,” she whispered, finger-combing dark curls from his forehead. “Shh.”

Mack threw his Stetson to the ground and kicked it. “Of all the….” Arms whirling like a windmill, he kicked it again. “Did you hear what the man said? He’s from Boston, for the luvva Pete. He meant you no harm. Why, I doubt he could’ve hit the broad side of a barn with that pea shooter of his, even if he’d tried!”

“Looked to me like he was aimin’ to shoot,” one of the bandits insisted, “an’ nobody takes aim at Frank Michaels whilst I’m around.”

The rifleman cursed under his breath. “Thought I tol’ you to shut up, Tom.”

“All of you shut up,” Frank snarled.

But Levee paid him no mind. “Fight, Liam,” she urged him. “Stay with me! You promised that as soon as we were settled, we’d—”

His eyelids fluttered open, and an enormous, silvery tear leaked from the corner of one eye. “Aw, Levee,” he rasped, grabbing her hand. “S-sorry….”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Liam. You’re going to be fine.” Oh, please, God, let it be true! “Just fine! Do you hear me?” No sooner had the words passed her lips than his body shuddered once, and the fingers that had been squeezing hers went limp. A dribble of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth to his chin. Then, one grating, ragged breath later, he was gone.

She watched the thugs help themselves to Liam’s hard-earned savings. Watched them poke through her small suitcase as Frank Michaels tucked Grandpa O’Reilly’s gold pocket watch into his vest. He looked up, caught her staring, and touched a finger to his hat brim. “My apologies, ma’am,” he said, aiming a steely smile her way. “And to prove my sincerity, we aren’t going to kill you. You have my word on that.” A chuckle passed through the red and black fabric of his bandanna. “At least, not today.”

I'm sure all of my readers are planning to rush out to a bookstore or go online to order a copy of this book. We can't wait to read more. How can readers find you on the Internet?

It will be an honor to see them visit my web site (http://www.loreelough.com/) or blog (http://www.theloughdown.blogspot.com/). They can also read my monthly column (Loree’s Lough Down) at Christian Fiction Online Magazine, and of course, I’m available at Twitter, Facebook, and Shoutlife, too.

Thank you, Loree. This has really been fun.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.



Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.


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

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THE MAILBOX - Marybeth Whalen - Free Book

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

There are pieces of me in all of my characters—my sense of humor, my own memories, things I’ve seen or felt. I heard a quote a long time ago that there is no true fiction and I agree with that. However, that’s also the reason I love fiction—you don’t know what’s true and what I’ve made up. So it keeps people guessing!

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Have 6 children. Sometimes I still wonder what I and my husband were thinking. :-) There are days I don’t feel equipped to do this. (Most of them!) But I don’t ever regret it. And I’ve gotten to see God come through in amazing ways, providing abundantly (time, money, resources, information) in my lack.

You might think I am crazy, but I actually wanted to have 12 or 13. Of course, it didn't happen. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I have always processed life through writing. But it took me a long time to realize that just that one fact makes me a writer. I thought I had to have a certain number of published pieces to make me a “real” writer. Now I know a real writer is anyone who loves to write; who can’t help but write. That’s all you need.

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

I pretty much stick with contemporary women’s fiction—both CBA and ABA. As for nonfiction, I love to read writing books that help me learn more about the craft. I also like books that inspire me to a closer walk with God and to be a better wife, mother, and homemaker. But novels and writing books take up the majority of my reading time.

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

I spend time with God first thing every morning. I decided several years ago that I would not turn on my computer until I had first spent time with Him—really living my priorities and not just paying lipservice to them. I noticed that I was always making time for the computer, but not always making time for Him. This helps me focus and gets my mind in the right place for the day. I also try to go for a run, walk on the treadmill or do an exercise video every day. I think of LOTS of writing ideas while running!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I keep a running list of names that I’d like to use. I have found it’s a way to use up all those cool names for kids that my husband vetoed. :-)

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Staying married for 19 years. It’s been a struggle at times. But we hung in there, and I am so glad we did. We’ve grown up together and I often marvel at the people we’ve become. I am glad we didn’t throw in the towel when we were tempted to!

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

I guess I’d have to say an elephant—I never forget anything and I was pregnant forever.

What is your favorite food?

Pizza. And strawberry shortcake. And chocolate.

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

Lack of time. I never thought I’d have the time to write a novel. Finally one day I just got determined to write the novel I had on my heart no matter what. I started out thinking “I’ll never really finish this.” But the more I saw the word count go up, the more motivated I was to just keep going. I learned to write anywhere, anytime. I wrote in snatches. I wrote in noise. But I finished it. And then I sold it. After that, I didn’t look back!

Tell us about the featured book.

Centered on a real landmark on the coast of North Carolina, The Mailbox blends intriguing folklore and true faith with raw contemporary issues that affect every woman. When Lindsey Adams first visits the Kindred Spirit mailbox at Sunset Beach, North Carolina, she has no idea that twenty years later she will still be visiting the mailbox—still pouring out her heart in letters that summarize the best and worst parts of her life.

Returning to Sunset for her first vacation since her husband left her, Lindsey struggles to put her sorrow into words. Memories surface of her first love, Campbell—and the rejection that followed. When Campbell reappears in her life, Lindsey must decide whether to trust in love again or guard herself from greater pain. The Mailbox is a rich novel about loss, hope, and the beauty of second chances.

I love second chances. Please give us the first page of the book.

I can do better than that—click on this link and you can read the first chapter!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/30661422/The-Mailbox-By-Marybeth-Whalen-Chapter-One

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.marybethwhalen.com/ and at http://www.shereads.org/ , which is the fiction division of Proverbs 31 Ministries—I am the director of that!

Thank you, Marybeth, for spending this time with us.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

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DIGITALIS - Ronie Kendig - Free Book

Special note to readers: Some of you aren't really reading the instructions at the end of the post. I only ask you for one thing to enter besides the comment and your name, and it isn't your email address.

I'm really pumped to be featuring my friend Ronie Kendig with her second book in the Discarded Heroes series. This is one woman who writes books that can be enjoyed by men and women equally. They fairly sing off the page and keep you breathless as you read. And Digitalis is no exception. Welcome, Ronie. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?



God’s absolutely amazing—He repeatedly blows me away with the unexpected and even the expected usually has a nice God-twist that brings a big smile to my face. I’m finishing up the Discarded Heroes series. It’s my hope to write another military-based series and eventually, I’d love to write a spy series, since I love intrigue.


And you write it so well. Tell us a little about your family.


My husband, Brian, and I have been married for twenty years. He truly is the hero I write about every day. Our eldest daughter is a senior, our youngest daughter is a freshman, and our twins are eleven years old. We homeschool and the boys are in Scouts.


I love your family, too. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?


I guess in a way, it made me a bit more particular about what I read. Since I’ve gone through the trials, the editing, the reviews, the critics. . .in a way I’m less critical about what I read (because now I see there are so many editors, etc. who have gone through a book) and try to be more encouraging and supportive (being an author is TOUGH—there are plenty of people who are willing to shred a book; I’d rather not be one of them).


I so agree with that, Ronie. What are you working on right now?


I’m working on Discarded Heroes #4, Firethorn. I’m really excited to plunge into this deadly game of intrigue and sabotage as Griffin hunts down the saboteur, while battling his own demons of mistrust and pride.


What outside interests do you have?


I love genealogy, cross-stitch, and decorating. Really, anything I can do with my hands, is an “interest” to me.


How do you choose your settings for each book?


The settings are generally chosen by the character and the story, meaning which location is the character from, or which location holds the haunting past or the daunting future for the story. I love to take my readers around the globe and introduce new elements, all the while keeping the focus on our great nation—America!


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


The first person who came to mind is Ronald Reagan—he was such a stalwart, so resolute in his beliefs. He led the country with faith, integrity and honor, and he had this gentle spirit about him. My husband and I admire him so much, we named one of our twins after him—Reagan.

James and I admired President Reagan, too. What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?


That signing with my “dream” agent and getting my first contract would not a success make. LOL Seriously, I had ambition and dogged determination, but I just don’t know that I realized what I was doing by pursuing publication. Don’t get my wrong, I’m very content to be an author and I know why I’m doing this now, but I am not really sure I knew why—at least not in an enduring way—I wanted to write besides the fact that I loved it. Also, I wish I’d been more aware that it would be a hard slog to the “finish” line, which is really the “beginning” line. Yet, on a positive note, I’ve gained some of the best friends—friends of the heart—that I have ever known, who have kept me encouraged and laughing.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?


That the negative people in my life only have the power I give them, that “happiness” is MY choice. I have to decide if I’m going to let something eat at me, or whether I’m going to move on without it. This might sound elementary, but I’ve had a really tough time, and being a people pleaser by nature, I’ve had to regroup my thoughts, goals, and priorities.


That's a very important lesson to learn. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?


Remember WHY you are writing—because God gave you a gift, and you honor him by writing (not by getting published, not by reaching others, but through the simple act of using that gift). Second, do your best. If you can send a book in and say “that’s my best,” (and I’m not talking about a perfect product, but that you gave it your all), then leave it alone. Because, third, the rest—the success, the accolades, or the non-presence of those—is up to God. Rest in peace with that. Trust Him and what He’s doing. Otherwise, you’re going to be torn up and burned out.


Now tell us about the featured book.


Colton Neeley left his military career to take care of his four-year old daughter. Although he’s firm in his faith now, the repercussions of his former life are still evident—namely in the form of his daughter and his debilitating flashbacks from combat-related trauma. Can he muster the courage to step out of his self-imposed isolation and embrace the new woman in his life?


Piper Blum is hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. Although smitten by Colton, she fears the day he discovers her secrets. Does their relationship, built on a foundation of lies, have a chance?


When an attempt on Piper’s life leads to another’s death, the black ops group Nightshade steps into the line of fire. Will Colton and Piper survive the mission with their love—and lives—intact? Will love cover their multitude of sins?


Okay, readers, that ought to grab your attention. Ronie, please give us the first page of the book.


Chapter One
Fifteen months later . . .

One shot. One kill.

The sniper’s motto streaked through Colton Neeley’s mind as he lay with his arm folded under the stock of his Remington 700. Dampness soaked into his sleeve, evidence of the swampy terrain. He eased his hand toward the trigger well. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple and slid past his eye pressed to the scope.


“Tangos en route and twenty yards,” whispered his spotter, Marshall “the Kid” Vaughn, from his four o’clock position.

“Roger that.” Synchronization between him and the Kid helped Colton focus on the mission. Peering past the crosshairs, he watched their team leader three-quarters of a mile away signaling a heads-up to the others.

Colton gently nudged his weapon, sighting the guerillas trekking north of the team. If all went well—which the elite team of former spec ops soldiers would ensure it did—they’d be on a C-130 back to the States and out of this mosquito-infested jungle by morning. He’d already spent thirty-six hours longer than he wanted in the vegetation. It’d rained for the first twenty, leaving him drenched and cold. But crawling in early gave them the advantage of locating the guerilla group and their objectives.


Once again, he verified the position of the team. Nothing would ruin a mission like friendly fire taking out one of their own. At his two, he sighted Frogman hunkered down next to a boulder. Greased up, Max Jacobs had the perpetual scowl that marked him as the man in charge—and a grump. Nobody minded. The former Navy SEAL had come through a lot.

Behind him slunk Canyon “Midas” Metcalfe, probably the sanest of the group, even if he was once a Green Beret. And they forgave him for that.

“Heads up, Frogman,” the Kid whispered into his coms, alerting the team. “Six headed your way for a party.”


Checking his nine gave Colton a close-up of Griffin Riddell, his Marine Special Operations Team buddy, as he took up point. Even from this distance, their movements felt silent, deadly. Nightshade had a phenomenal record, but nobody took that for granted. Each mission could be their last.

“Target,” called his spotter. “Sector B, TRP-1, right fifty, add fifty.”

Colton harnessed his energy and mind on the mission. He had an excellent shot-kill ratio, and he wanted to keep it that way. Mishaps exponentially increased the chances of being spotted and sniped back. In other words, dead.


“Roger,” he replied as shadows morphed into solid shapes of Cuban rebels and their exhausted captives. His objective was the leader. “Sector B, TRP-1, right fifty, add fifty.” The repetitive dialogue gave him an added measure of comfort.

“Dumb and bald soldier, M-16 in right hand, cigarette in left.”

Leave it to the Kid to give a snarky description. But he was right. The leader had taken the hostages into a jungle easy to maneuver and hide in, but also one easy to track. “Dumb and bald soldier, M-16 in right hand, cigarette in left.” Colton took a minute to assess the man behind the crosshairs. “Target identified.” He measured the marks on the vertical bar. “I have two mils crotch to head.”


“Roger, two mils crotch to head.” Leaves on their ghillie suits and the low-hanging branches rustled as the Kid made his calculations. Air crackled beneath the gentle urging of the wind. “Dial five hundred on the gun.”

Colton adjusted the optics. “Roger, five hundred on the gun. Indexed.”

“Wind right to left, six miles an hour, hold one-quarter mil right.”

“Roger, wind right to left six miles an hour, hold one-quarter mil right.”

“Take the shot.”


And the story races from there. How can readers find you on the Internet?


Main website: http://www.roniekendig.com/
Discarded Heroes website: http://www.discardedheroes.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ronie.kendig
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/roniekendig


Ronie, thank you for another wonderful interview.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.



Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

SHARPSHOOTER IN PETTICOATS - Mary Connealy - Free Book

Welcome back, Mary. How did this book come about?

Sharpshooter in Petticoats is the action-packed, mayhem-riddled, climatic ending to the Sophie's Daughters series. I've spend two books, Doctor in Petticoats and Wrangler in Petticoats getting Mandy McClellen into terrible trouble. Now it's time for me to fix that, and it ain't easy. I really had so much fun with this book. I hope people have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

I'm sure we will. Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique.

I asked Barbour to give me covers that juxtaposed (great word, huh?) the male and the female. I wanted beautiful, utterly female heroines who'd been raised to believe in themselves, follow their dreams, take care of their own problems and be tough, tough, tough. So we came up with the mix of the female and male in the title—which played off Petticoat Ranch at the same time. Because the heroines in the Sophie's Daughters Series are the little girls from Petticoat Ranch, all grown up. With the titles in place I completely knew what I wanted in the covers. In fact, when Barbour sent me the cover background sheet, which they use to do the covers, I just erased almost all their questions and wrote in WOMAN IN A PETTICOAT HOLDING A DOCTOR'S BAG/SPURS(or something manly)/RIFLE. We'd developed a style with my covers that had no faces, and Barbour wanted to stick with that, so what's the point of spending hours describing how the hero/heroine looked? And Barbour was all for it. So these are the simplest-to-decide covers we've ever done.

And I love them. Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book.

I spend a lot of time researching flora and fauna, figuring out what the land looks like. For Sharpshooter I spent a bit too much time (because I found it fascinating) researching guns. I had to search for Tom's horse and bulls. Were there Angus cattle in Montana at this time. Research is such a time sink, and that's mainly because I find it really engrossing and can lose two hours reading about the invention and progress of the Colt revolver, which then boils down to a line used about three times in a book.

I've also read a LOT about what exactly women were allowed to do in the west. Most women were certainly sheltered and treated with respect, even by cutthroats. But the woman who were out west were tough. Don't ever think they were sitting in their parlor drinking tea while their husbands tamed a wild land. Those women worked right alongside their husbands and, because things were so remote, I honestly believe a lot of those women were wearing pants and riding astride and roping and breaking horses with their husbands. Whatever was considered 'proper' was left behind when they primly rode their buckboard out of town. And there is enough history backing that up for me to believe women varied widely from the accepted behavior and dress of that time…in private at least.

How much research did you have to do for this book?

You know the most fun I had researching this book was hunting around for guns. I went to museums and found a Winchester 73. I found a woman whose husband owns a replica of it. I never got to touch it but she answered all my question. And we used a rifle my husband had at home to test the weight, try twirling it like I have Mandy do in the book, consider how to rig a strap to it to hang it over Mandy's shoulders and get it into action fast. Playing with that rifle with my husband was really interesting.

I'm glad there weren't any serious mistakes involved in the twirling, etc. What are some of the most interesting things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story?

I learned so much about different rifles, I could have gone on about that for a long time. I researched hidden and lost gold, so many myths and maybe-NOT-myths. I know a LOT about Angus cattle and when they came to America and why and their origins. And I learned about Herefords and longhorns, too. I could've made that book LONG. Boring, but long.

I did the cattle research for my novella, Charlsey's Accountant in Wild West Christnas. What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book?

What really surprised me was a few things I read about the concept of being 'born again' as we understand it today. There were revival meetings back then, but people didn't really feel the need to make a public profession of faith by going forward at church. Faith was so profound, simple acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice and holiness. It's hard to write salvation scenes without falling into modern language. "I accepted Jesus as my personal savior." People didn't really talk like that then. They DID it. They BELIEVED it, but they didn't use the modern words. So I want to show people of faith without resorting to jargon and a mindset that is contemporary. I found doing that inspiring because it made me ask deeper questions about how people put into words accepting Jesus as their savior back then.

And I did that in Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. What do you hope the reader takes away from the story?

I wanted to show Mandy demanding to be loved AS SHE WAS. Not as some man would have her be, some man's image of female. Mandy is just different. In her own way she's tougher than her husband and that's hard for a man to accept. But Tom is so centered. So sure of himself, it's not even a problem. Of course Mandy's quickness with that rifle was a huge problem for her first husband and he badgered her for her 'mannish' ways. But that's because her first husband, Sidney, was so twisted inside with his own image of himself. Because Sidney didn't believe in himself he couldn't accept his wife as she was. (wow, this is descending into psycho-babble, sorry) But Tom is so confident. His wife can be as strong as her spirit allows because Tom can handle it. There's a scene in the book, the first time Tom really sees Mandy in action with her rifle. I don't know if the reader will realize it but this scene is crucial. An absolute cornerstone of this book. Mandy's shooting saves them. She disables four men and neither she nor Tom are so much as scratched. And afterward, after their ice fades from her veins she's afraid Tom will hate what he saw. Hate that she did all the damage while he was shooting too, and he definitely helped but she saved them. The way Tom reacts to that scene defines that future they'll have together, though Mandy's too upset to realize it until later.

What is the next project you’re working on?

I've got a book releasing in May called Deep Trouble. It's a sequel to Cowboy Christmas. And…this is so cool…it's set in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I did so much research. I didn't get to GO to the Grand Canyon, though. But I loved learning the history of that place. Here's a little bit about Deep Trouble.

Gabe Lasley has left his ranch in Wyoming because of his strong feelings for a married woman. He finds Shannon Dysart stranded in a mountaintop cave and saves her. She is on a quest to prove her father’s research isn’t the work of a madman, that he really did find a treasure in the wild west.

With trouble on their back trail from the villains who still want Shannon’s map, the dream of gold coloring every decision Shannon makes, and Gabe’s surprising need to protect her, they sets out to find a city of gold. Along the way they find that true treasure is rooted in love. And that was within their reach all along.

What do you do when you have to get away from the story for a while?

I read. I spend waaaaaay too much time online, checking emails. I really don't get away from my stories much. Writing is my first choice for fun, it's life I need to get away from.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Sharpshooter in Petticoats

Tom Linscott slid backward five feet before he caught a slender rock ledge and clawed at it to stop himself from plunging a hundred feet more.

The rock was nearly sheer. He felt blood flowing from his fingertips. His grip was tenuous already and now it was slippery. He clung to that ledge like a scared house cat, afraid to move, fighting to slow his slamming heart and steady his breathing. He'd been climbing a long time and he had a long way to fall if his grip didn't hold.

Then he did what any thinking man did when something scared him.

He got mad.

So, he clung to the side of that stupid mountain, gathered his strength to go the last twenty-five or so feet, and fumed. He was a rancher not a mountain goat. He should not have had to climb up here.

No woman should be this hard to get.

His handhold felt solid, his foot holds were all of three inches wide. He needed a minute of rest before he went on to a more precarious spot. And while he hung there, dangling over a dead drop that ended in jagged granite, he looked up and saw her.

The woman he'd come for.

Lady Gray.

She lived in a fortress, cut off from all the people she considered beneath her.

The rumors about her were legion and harrowing.

Ruthlessly dangerous, some said. Witched, others had called her. She'd put a curse on the land she ruled over.

Tom hadn't told anyone of his plans until just before he left home. But he'd listened for any whisper of her name, any passing reference to the legendary Lady Gray.

She was the most dangerous woman in the west some said. As fast and deadly with her rifle and any woman alive.

That last part, Tom suspected was true. The first, well, he hoped she wasn't dangerous to him, but he was minutes away from testing the theory.

I love it!! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Seekerville
Petticoats & Pistols
My Blog
My Website

Thank you, Mary, for this visit. I always enjoy having you here.

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

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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More 2011 Winners!!!

Readers, remember you MUST follow the instructions at the ends of the posts to be entered. Several people per post aren't following them completely.

Robyn (midwest) is the winner of Faith's Reward by Tammy Barley.
Bakersdozen (CA) is the winner of Stars Collide by Janice Thompson.
Rbooth43 (NC) is the winner of Destiny's Dream by Delia Latham.
Angelac (KY) is the winner of Unexpected Love by Andrea Boeshaar.
Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:

Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
You have 6 weeks to claim your book.
If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the individual interview. By using that link when you order, you will help support this blog.

AMERICA UNDER ATTACK - Jeff Kildow - Free Book

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

Sometimes a lot more than I intend to; while I was writing America Under Attack, I had to guard against giving the protagonist too many of my characteristics, but I suppose that some of them inevitably showed up. Not surprisingly, he and I share a number of likes and dislikes; like me, he is an engineer; unlike me, he fearlessly pursues adventure.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

As a college student, I edited a science fiction magazine; sales weren’t so good, so I made a sandwich board advertizing it and toured a very conservative engineering campus wearing it and looking like a fool, but sales picked up briskly!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In Junior High school, where I had my first exposure to stories like Red Badge of Courage and Moby Dick. I began to write paragraphs describing scenes and soon expanded them to short stories. I have written in one form or another ever since.

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

I love adventure stories, especially well written techno-thrillers, as well as science fiction. For non-fiction, I devour histories, especially those about WWII and the surrounding eras. For a change of pace, I like light poetry and biographies.

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

I am very active in my church, including being a co-leader in two Bible studies and singing in the choir. Being with my friends and fellow believers is a wonderful antidote to the crazy things going on in our world today. My three granddaughters are the best stress relievers God ever invented!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I collect names; I’m always on the lookout for interesting or unusual names and keep a 3x5 card in my shirt pocket to record them. I have found that using a book of names from other cultures and countries is very useful as well. For my WWII story, I researched lists of popular names given to babies 20-30 years prior, since names go in and out of favor – no Trevor’s or Traci’s here!

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I was able, by the Grace of God, to raise my two kids to become productive adults and mature Christians. Between them, my wife and I have been blessed with five grandchildren.

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

Interesting question! I suppose I would be a dog, because their faithful and protective natures appeal to me.

What is your favorite food?

Now I’m in trouble! My wife does a killer pot roast I always look forward to; pizza is a favorite and so is the occasional home cooked hamburger. Unfortunately for my waistline, I like a lot of different foods!

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

The fear of criticism and ridicule really held me back. I took writing classes I where everyone wrote something and then the whole class discussed it; I discovered I wasn’t much worse or any better than anyone else. Knowing that gave me the confidence to write more and encourage others to read it.

Tell us about the featured book.

America Under Attack is an alternative history of WWII based on the premise that Germany could have developed heavy long range bombers just like America and Great Britain. How Germany might have used such bombers is the crux of the story. New York City has long represented America to the world, and so becomes the initial target. The poor state of preparedness of the country and a nation still reeling from the aftermath of Pearl Harbor set the stage. The hero is an outstanding pilot who has been kept in the states as an instructor pilot despite his desire to fight in Europe; the villain in the piece is a vindictive pseudo-aristocrat Nazi out to destroy the hero specifically and America in general.

A real "What if" situation. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

13 June 1936
Templehof Airport, Berlin, Germany
1030 Hours
Air Show

Straight down; the gray-white runway rushing up at him. Heart pounding, stomach clenching. Bile in the throat. The deep roar of the engine now a banshee’s scream; the ground hurtling up at him. Time slowed.

Stick back. Careful. Watch altitude. Wings level.

The seat cushion pinched his leg as the G’s built.

Full throttle. Airspeed 350. Heat bumps from the runway. Level now, hold it, hold it; altitude 200 feet.

Spectators flashed by on the left, then the nose came up. More G’s.

Fifteen hundred feet, knife edge turn to the right. There!

Joel Knight took measured breaths, to slow down his heart. He grinned; this Curtiss P-36 Hawk fighter was a sweetheart. He completed the 180 degree turn.

Around now, roll to the left, runway in sight. Nose down, airspeed building.

“This has to be perfect,” he said out loud through gritted teeth, his gut a hard knot, eyes intensely focused, his left leg all but dancing with adrenalin, the control stick a live thing in his hand.

Airspeed – 170; good. Level wings.

He hurtled toward the grandstands from the opposite direction.

Careful; the aircraft was so low the propeller tips were clearing the runway by inches. Unseen by him, little tornados of dust blew back from the wings.

Right wing down – a great cascade of sparks arced into the air from the steel rod on the wing tip. Unheard by him, a ragged wave of gasps raced through the crowd.

Wings level. Left wing down, a second shower of sparks.

Kind of makes the reader breathless. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have a blog at whataboutalternativehistory.com and a page on Facebook

Thank you, Jeff, for a peek inside your ming.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/