Winners!!!

Marianne (AZ) is the winner of The Discovery by Dan Walsh.
Ladonna (TX) is the winner of Need You Now by Beth Wiseman.
Diana (SC)  is the winner of A Wedding Transpired in Mackinac Island by Cara Putman. (I just finished reading this book. It's wonderful. You won't want to miss it.)
Kandra (TN) is the winner of The Key on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson.
Nancee (MI) is the winner of Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal by Kathleen E Kovach and Paula Moldenhauer.
Anne (NC) is the winner of Something New by Dianne Christner. 

If you won a book and you really like it, consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 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.

THE QUAKERS OF NEW GARDEN - Claire Sanders, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Ann Shrock, Suzette Williams - Free Book

Today I'm featuring a new Barbour novella collection, The Quakers of New Garden. Two of the authors are visiting with us today.

Welcome, Claire. How did your story for the collection come about?

I was invited to submit a proposal for a novella collection after my story Equally Yoked appeared in A Quaker Christmas (Barbour, 2011). I had to do quite a bit of research about Quakers and that led to a plethora of story ideas. I’m hoping the Quaker series really takes off at Barbour Books because that would mean the readers enjoyed the subject matter and want to see more of the same.

What are you reading right now?

I’ve been immersed in young adult books lately. I’m currently reading Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer. A lot of the young adult books I’ve read have a supernatural bent to them and Wolfsbane is no different. I’d like to get into the young adult market, but I’d like to write something more uplifting than a story about werewolves.

What other books have you had published?

My first story, Fresh Start, is a romance about a school teacher who’s been left at the altar. She wants to get as far away as possible, so she takes a job teaching at a one-room school in Montana. Fresh Start is not a Christian romance and readers should take that into account before buying it.

Equally Yoked is featured in the book A Quaker Christmas from Barbour Books. It is a Christian fiction book. My story involves a young woman who helps a runaway slave.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Equally Yoked was my first novella and I thoroughly enjoyed the format. Typically, when I finish the first draft of a novel, I’m about 30,000 words short of my goal. So writing a story that had to stay under 25,000 words was a relief.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

The best thing about collaborating with other authors was the many tips they gave me about marketing. I love writing and can easily lose myself in the story, but selling the book is a challenge. The other authors have more experience with the marketing end of the business and they’ve steered me in the right way.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

If it’s a sympathetic character, one I want the reader to like, I simply choose a name I like. I also keep a list of the names I’ve used in a story so I won’t reuse them in another story. Likewise, if it’s a character I don’t want the reader to like, then I choose a name I don’t like. Many times, especially if it’s a minor character, I simply pause and wait for a name to pop into my head.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

           

One theme I see in all of my stories is a girl who doesn’t know her true worth. In Fresh Start, the major character was rejected by her fiancé and misunderstood by her mother. She doubted her worth and her attractiveness. The same is true of Leah in New Garden’s Inspiration. Leah has been told she’s unattractive and no matter how hard she tried to help her uncle’s family, he made it clear that he thought her a burden. Leah only discovers her worth when a new family shows her how they feel about her.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

I am not yet a member of ACFW but I hope to join soon. I am an active member of Romance Writers of America and serve as an officer in the West Houston chapter.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Persevere. That’s a good piece of advice for many ventures, but it’s especially true for those who wish to publish. Expect to receive rejections and remember that rejections and negative critiques are about your product, not about you.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Please visit my web site - www.clairesandersbooks.com and visit me on Facebook.

About the book:

Join four Quaker women on a journey through the trials of faith and love.

Ruth Payne's bridegroom has cold feet. . .for the second time. Will their third try be the charm?

Things get complicated for Underground Railroad worker Deborah Wall when she meets a bounty hunter head-on. Will love have them seeing eye-to-eye?

Leah hopes to turn a marriage of convenience into a marriage of love. But will letters be a firm enough foundation?

Christian Jaidon Taylor wants to win the heart of Quaker Catherine Wall. But will religion make them as incompatible as night and day?

Welcome, Jennifer Hudson Taylor. What other books have you had published?

Highland Blessings and Highland Sanctuary, as well as another novella collection entitled. Highland Crossings.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

I found it to be refreshing and interesting. The only thing I worried about is if I could afford to take the time away from writing my full-length manuscripts, but in both cases of my novellas, all moved forward smoothly.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

My mother’s family was the Wall family of Guilford County, NC. We still hold our Wall family reunions at one of the Quaker churches, Marlborough Friends Meeting. As the first novella story, I chose this surname from my grandmother, Mary Vada Wall.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

That things are not always as they seem and with a little faith in what God can do with our loved ones, God can perform miracles.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes, it’s been a wonderful organization and full of encouragement to me. I’m not sure I would be published right now if not for ACFW. This is how I met my agent.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Blog: www.jenniferhudsontaylor.com

FB: www.facebook.com/JenniferHudsonTaylor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jt4novels

Thank you, Claire and Jennifer, for stopping by to introduce us to your new book.

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

The Quakers of New Garden (Romancing America) - paperback
The Quakers of New Garden - Kindle


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 4 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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WEDDING BELLES - Janice Hanna - Free Book

Janice is one of my most favorite people in the world. Welcome, Janice. How did this book come about?

I received a call from editor Susan Downs, who shared an idea she had for a series of books titled Belles and Whistles. The books in this series, she explained, must be historical, set in the west, with funny, quirky female characters. Because I write romantic comedy, she thought I would be perfect. I quickly put together a proposal for six books and two were picked up right away: Wedding Belles and Sleigh Belles. I was commissioned to write Wedding Belles first and had a blast doing so! The basic premise for the book was developed before I started writing, but something significant happened along the way to change my plans drastically. I needed a sneaky reason for Lottie Sanders (my heroine) to bring a group of women to Estes Park Colorado as potential brides for the town’s men. About a week after I got the contract for this book, I went to a local restaurant that happened to be hosting a melodrama during the dinner hour. As I watched the drama take place, I realized this was my answer! Lottie would write and direct a melodrama to raise funds for Parker Lodge (owned by the young man she secretly loves). Out of that came the rest of this fun, melodramatic tale!

Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique.

Because Lottie is a tomboy, she’s not much for dresses. She wears pants most of the time. The men in Estes Park make it their mission to get Lottie “gussied up and lookin’ like a lady” as the story progresses. Of course, she’s still pretty attached to her cowgirl boots, so giving those up isn’t an option.

Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book.

I drove to Estes Park while working on this book. Even though I had been many times before, I needed to see the area again so that I could envision it through Lottie’s eyes. The wonderful people at the Estes Park Museum spent a great deal of time with me, talking about the history of the area and pointing me to just the right research books to write. So, I would like to think I’ve got most of the historical elements right. I added the Stanley Hotel, of course, and the Stanley Steamer. But the setting for my story is Parker Lodge (which is completely fictional).

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

As I mentioned above, I drove to Colorado to learn all I could about the area. Because I’m passionate about photography, I took dozens of pictures of the area. I particularly enjoy my trek up into Rocky Mountain National Park, where I did my best to absorb all I could about the scenery.

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 a lot about the health benefits of living in Colorado! Did you know that Freelan Stanley (the man who designed/built the Stanley Hotel) came to Colorado at his doctor’s recommendation because he had tuberculosis? His health improved dramatically while in Estes Park.

What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book?

I was directly inspired by the team of actors and actresses (here in Texas) who performed the melodrama. That little “spark” of inspiration completely changed the layout of my story and allowed me to tap into one of my strengths: directing. Many people don’t know that I spend part of my time working as a director at a local Christian theater and I love anything and everything about putting on shows.

What do you hope the reader takes away from the story?

Two things: I hope they see Lottie as the precious girl she is. I also hope they learn that perceptions are just that. . .perceptions. They’re not fact. Sometimes we look at situations and think we’ve got them figured out. When we give them a second look (and a third) we realize we were dead wrong.

What is the next project you’re working on?

I’m just wrapping up a novel titled Queen of the Waves (about the Titanic).

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

I spend time with my grandbabies. I have six darling grandbabies with number seven on the way.

Please give us the first page of the book.

A Reckoning in the Rockies

Estes Park, prepare to be razzle-dazzled! Parker Lodge, located on the beautiful Fall River, continues to offer the best entertainment in town. This month’s event is certainly no exception. Join us this coming Friday evening, April 27, for a rousing performance by local musician Jeb Otis, who will play several well-known ballads and folk tunes on his saw. Otis, who hails from the Estes Valley region, will be appearing at the lodge for one night only, performing before a packed house. C’mon out and share in an evening of fine food, rousing entertainment, and heartfelt fellowship. Front-row seating for the first ten guests to arrive. —Your friends at Parker Lodge

Estes Park, Colorado, 1912

“Jeb Otis says he’s going to jump off Longs Peak and end it all.”

“What?” Lottie Sanders looked up from the rippling waters of Fall River into her boss’s worried eyes. “He’s going to end it all? Why-ever would he do that?”

“Oh, you know how he is.” Gilbert Parker plopped down next to her and sighed. “Melodramatic. Always wanting attention. Just like the other men in this town. He’s frustrated because the Widow Baker won’t give him the time of day, so I guess this is how he plans to remedy the problem.”

“He’s going to remedy the problem by taking his life?” Lottie swallowed hard. “Won’t that defeat the purpose?”

“Who knows?” Gilbert offered a little shrug, and a hint of a smile turned up the edges of his lips. “But if it’s any consolation, I reminded him that he’s got a concert coming up this Friday evening, so maybe he’ll wait till after then to do himself in.”

“One can hope.” Lottie thought about the many times Jeb and the other fellas who frequented the lodge had posed such ludicrous threats. How weary she’d grown of their antics. “What’s it going to take to convince Jeb that he and Althea Baker are as different as night from day, anyway?” she asked. “They would make a terrible match. I’m surprised he can’t see that for himself.”

“True.” Gilbert released a sigh. “But I guess it’s true what they say—love is blind.”

“Mm-hmm.” It’s blind, all right.

I’m going to love this book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: www.janicehannathompson.com

Facebook: Janice Hanna Thompson

Twitter: booksbyjanice

My online courses: www.freelancewritingcourses.com

Thank you, Janice, for visiting with us today. I love your new photo and your cover.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
WEDDING BELLES - paperback
Wedding Belles - Kindle


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 4 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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

ALWAYS THE DESIGNER NEVER THE BRIDE - Sandra D Bricker - Free Book

Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?        

I got a little tingle when I read that! “…published regularly…” Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Thanks for that! I’ve recently signed with a new publisher, a division of Moody Publishers called River North Fiction. I’ll write at least two books for them – maybe more, if the series takes off. They’re contemporary romantic comedies based (very loosely) on fairy tales. The first one, If the Shoe Fits, is a Cinderella-inspired story, and the second one, Rise & Shine, runs with the tale of Sleeping Beauty. In addition to that, I’m working on at least one book for the Quilts of Love series just launching from Abingdon Press, and we’ll see if there are more to follow. There are a few other things in the works, and I’ll tell you about them when they solidify.

Keep me in the loop. I love your books. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?

I don’t think I’ll be attending any conferences this year. Last year was pretty scary, and I spent about six months of it in/out of hospitals. I’m doing much better at last, but six months with no income can make for a very lean travel budget! So I’ll be sticking close to home for most of the year and devoting my time to writing really fun books.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?      

That’s a really great question! Several topics spring to mind, but I think the first one I’d love to put together is one of those “What No One Ever Told Me” discussions for aspiring authors. I’d have a range of writers there, from someone new to just burst on the scene all the way to today’s heavier-hitters, like Susie May Warren, Tracie Peterson, and Karen Kingsbury. I’d sprinkle in a couple of editors who have a wide range of experience that reaches from editorial to marketing, like Julie Gwinn from B&H; a couple of agents experienced in (and with a heart for) building Big Picture careers, like Rachelle Gardner from Books & Such and Barbara Scott from Wordserve Literary. Then I’d probably add a mentor or two, like you, Lena. And we would all give a realistic and detailed look at what the world of publishing is really like because, frankly, I came into it like a big blind monkey with way more confidence than smarts about what I thought I wanted to do. Of course, we’d have to take frequent breaks and give the attendees cold compresses and Tylenol because sometimes the truth is a little hard to take. J

That’s true, but I’m kind of glad I didn’t know at the first. I personally might have given up, and I wouldn’t want to have missed the benefits this writing life brings you. One of the greatest is the wealth of friendships with author across genre lines. Knowing people like you would never have happened for me. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?   

Very important. I think it not only keeps you current and delivers a lot of inspiration (such as reminding you that you’re not the only one going through the maze), but more importantly it’s a way of giving back to the people coming up behind and beside you. I’m a judge for several writing contests like The Frasiers, and I also devote time to speaking to writing and reader groups as well as mentoring certain writers who have reached out to me. Writing is such a solitary business that it’s really important to become part of the community whenever you can.

Yeah. Other writers are the only people who can really understand our quirks. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer? 

I am active in raising funds and awareness for ovarian cancer and Parkinson’s research, and I’m an advocate for dogs through my devotion to various animal rescues. Ialso lead one of the writing teams at my church that converts the pastor’s Sunday messages into a daily Bible study throughout the week called Living It Out.

Cool. Last year, and now this year, I’m taking part in author Brenda Novak’s auction to raise funding for diabetes research. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how? 

Wow, you ask some good questions, Lena!

1. Marian Miller. I’ve known her since we were in high school and, even though we’ve spent a lot of our lives moving around, we are solid BFFs. Marian is a beautiful Christian woman, and I’ve taken such joy in watching the development of her faith over the years.

2. Barbara Scott. She was the senior editor at Abingdon Press who bought my first book for them (The Big 5-OH!), and who had the idea of turning Always the Baker Never the Bride into a series because she saw the potential in those characters and setting. She’s since moved on from editing and is an agent now, but she is still one of my most fervent cheerleaders, both in my career and in my personal life. Even though she lives two states away, when I was so sick last year and didn’t have any family to take on the intense care that I needed, Barbara packed a bag, got on a plane and gave me SIX WEEKS out of her life to provide medical care and advocacy. There is NO ONE like her. (I knew that, and I prayed for both of you.)

3. Rachelle Gardner. Rachelle has been my agent for several years now, and she initiated the concept of developing Team Sandie, which is surrounding yourself with a group of loyal, capable people who are on the same page. She’s one of the few people I’ve ever met who can keep me in line without making me feel like she’s doing it. When I’m worked up, she hears me out. When I’m confused, we talk it through. We don’t always agree, but I do know that she has my interests at heart. How many writers can say that about their agent (and mean it)? (I have an agent like that. It’s a priceless treasure.)

4. Jemelle Tola. I met her within my first week of leaving L.A. and coming to Florida. We have almost nothing in common, from our beliefs to our backgrounds. She is stunningly beautiful, one of the coolest people I know, and one of the most honest. Even though it drives me out of my mind at times, she will NEVER tell me what I want to hear. She lays it right out there and makes no apologies for it. And she’s almost always right, which also drives me a little crazy. I think of Jemelle like a stunning piece of candy. She has a tough exterior with a sweet, gushy center.

5. David Page. I also met David soon after arriving in Florida, and I was a mess. Somehow, he saw through it, and we got to know one another. I fell in love with him pretty early on, then fell out of love a couple of years later; we got mad, got glad, got happy, got sad, got confused, felt abused…You know. Like real-life. I can tell David ANYTHING. And (the poor guy) I usually do. He is hands-down the funniest, smartest person I’ve ever met, and – Bonus! – he truly believes I’m fabulous, talented and destined for great things. You really don’t find someone like David very often in life. He’s one of my most essential and valuable relationships.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?           

“She changed lives, never gave up, always believed, nursed instead of wounded. And she was SO FUNNY. Did you know she was funny?  If only she’d have learned to look before she leapt off that cliff.”

Tell us about the featured book.     

Borrowing from CBD.com’s description of the book:  “No matter how busy she is, dress designer Audrey Regan can't say no to her friend Carly when she asks her to be maid of honor---and create the perfect wedding dress. Carly's nuptials promise to be the event of the year. Then the groom's best man---tattooed biker J.R. Hunt---walks in and turns Audrey's world upside down!”

I have loved all the books in this series. Please share the first page with us.       

CHAPTER ONE

“Audrey, the car will be here any minute. You’re going to miss your plane.”

“Shh. I just need another minute.”

She leaned down over her sketch pad, nibbling the corner of her lip as she put the finishing touches on the train of an elaborate A-line wedding dress.

“Oh, Audrey! That’s beautiful. Is it for Kim?”

She didn’t reply for another moment or two; not until she felt perfectly secure in the fact that she could lay down her pencil and be done with it.

“There are two others in the leather portfolio in my closet. The messenger will be here at three o’clock to pick them up and get them into Manhattan by four.” She handed her assistant the finished product, pausing for an instant to admire the drawing. “Be very careful about it, but put this one with the others, and be sure to zip it all the way around so they aren’t wrinkled. Just give him the whole case, and call Kim once he’s on his way to give her a heads up that they’ll be delivered to the penthouse.”

“Will do.”

“My plane lands in Atlanta at five-something, and it will take me an hour or so to get out to Roswell where this hotel is located. You’ve shipped—”

“And confirmed. Carly’s dress is safe and sound at The Tanglewood Inn, awaiting your arrival.”

Audrey sighed as she cast a quick glance toward the door where Kat had lined up her pink plaid luggage. One oversized rectangular case and one large round one, both on wheels, both packed to full capacity.

Audrey applied a glaze of Cherry Bliss to her lips while Kat added the final sketch to the leather case. She paused with the wand in mid-air until she heard the vvhht of the zipper. As she slipped the tube into its compartment inside her purse, the buzzer sounded.

“That will be your car,” Kat announced. “But before you go…” Kat grabbed Audrey’s hand and placed a compact little cell phone into it, closing her fingers around it. “Now this is the simplest cellular phone available.”

“Kat, I do not want one of these. I told you that.”

“I know. But you have to.”

Audrey stared at the strange thing on her palm. “What do I do?”

“If it jingles, you open it. Like this.” Kat demonstrated. “It will either be a phone call, in which case you press the blinking green button. If it’s a text, it will come up automatically.”

“Ah, maaan…”

“I know. But it’s the best way to keep in contact. You want to keep in contact with me, don’t you?”

Audrey groaned. “Yes.”

“So put this in your purse.”

Audrey reluctantly tossed the thing into her bag as Kat pressed buttons on her own much more complicated-looking cell phone. An instant later, Audrey’s purse began to…sing.

“It sounds like a harp.”

“That’s your cue to pull it out and open it.” Kat stared at her for a moment before nodding at Audrey’s purse. “Go on. Answer it.”

“I already know who it is.”

I can’t wait to read this one. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I have a Web site at www.SandraDBricker.com .

I also write a weekly blog that I hope your readers will come and follow: http://sandradbricker.blogspot.com .

I host a reader page on Facebook that they can “Like”:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-of-Author-Sandra-D-Bricker/211512887374

They can follow me on Twitter: SandieBricker

And they can sign up for the weekly Living It Out Bible studies from CedarCreek Church to be sent to their inbox every day:

http://livingitout.tv

Thank you, Sandie, for another fun interview. By the way, I love your new head shot!


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Always the Designer, Never the Bride (Emma Rae Creation) - paperback
Always the Designer, Never the Bride (Another Emma Rae Creation) - Kindle


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 4 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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE FALL - Chana Keefer - Free Book

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

It depends on the character. In my first novel, the heroine was TOTALLY me circa college days—journalism student, mediocre print model, frizzy hair, God-lovin’ & raised in the country—a good first novel character to cut my teeth on. All my characters, though, have something of me in them just because I need to understand their motivation to write them well. Did I mention that Lucifer is one of the main characters in THE FALL??

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When my husband and I first started dating, we were so bratty and had so much pent-up emotion (we had been great friends for a year and a half) we ended up spending one entire night in a continuous pillow-fight. My roommate the next day said every now and then during the night she would wake up and hear this mysterious “poof-poof” and laughter.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I have always enjoyed expressing myself through the written word and even majored in broadcast journalism in college. However, the passion/addiction/first-love-giddiness of getting lost in writing a novel happened six years ago as I worked on my first, Rock Star. I was getting maybe three to four hours of sleep a night and feeling fantastic. It really was a bit like falling into first love.

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

I have a large range—classic Jane Austen to modern sci-fi—but I don’t enjoy anything gratuitous as far as sex, language, or violence. If the characters are interesting, there’s a worthwhile, page-turning story, a bit of a love interest, and so on I can get hooked. Shoot, if a cookbook is well-written and the author is passionate about their craft it’s a nice escape.

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

Is that a requirement? Seriously, writing helps me maintain sanity. It makes my jumbled thoughts come out in single-file and the creative process is very cathartic—take a trip and never leave the farm!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Interesting question. Every character’s name—at least so far—has just seemed to drop into my head. Actually, I found it much easier than naming our children, perhaps because so much of the time I almost feel that I’m taking dictation. I pray hard then go write.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I find the publishing of my first novel to be the most unbelievable, but the accomplishment I’m most proud of would be my marriage of twenty-two years. He’s still my best friend, the person I enjoy the most, and we’re still crazy about each other. I longed for and dreamed of a great marriage but really had a hard time believing it was possible.

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

My kids and I like to discuss this one rather often. I usually settle on a Bald Eagle since I think they’re such regal creatures and the idea of soaring high above The Grand Canyon or something sounds amazing—not to mention wings would be more reliable than a hang-glider.

What is your favorite food?

If I talk about it, I’m going to want to go bake: Hot, homemade chocolate chip cookies with cold milk for dipping. There’s gotta be chocolate in heaven, I just know it! And for a chaser—tons of TexMex straight from the Riverwalk of San Antonio, TX!

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

The hardest thing about writing has been unplugging from a crazy, creative session in order to do everyday tasks like fix breakfast and homeschool my kids. It’s not that I don’t love those activities, it’s just so hard to stop when I’m on a roll! The only way to overcome that problem was to embrace sleep-deprivation, get up early, pray, then head to my favorite Starbucks that opens most days at 5 a.m.

Tell us about the featured book.

THE FALL (Rapha Chronicles, Book 1) is a biblical retelling of ancient times through the eyes of an angel who was once best friends with Lucifer. It is beyond epic and, when the ideas first started coming, the task scared me to death. But, spoonful by daily spoonful, God helped me keep the intimidation monster at bay. I’m expecting to write at least three more installments for the Rapha series. He has a huge story to tell considering he knew Lucifer “back when” and gets to see the entire span of the age of men from beginning to end.

Please give us the first page of the book.

 CHAPTER ONE

 End of an Age 

There was a time they were best friends… a distant memory almost forgotten. Almost.

 It would be so much easier if he could forget.

            Peace, peace, but there is no peace… Rapha clutches his head in his hands oblivious to the rare trace of fresh air and woodland noises around him, too lost in fractured, tortured memories.

A child’s eyes, wide with fear; a woman’s ripe belly, torn; screams and cries of anguish splitting the darkness of night; innocence lost; purity destroyed; life swallowed in death. And weaving through every image, the sound of cruel laughter—feasting on mankind’s pain.

            That face. Rapha squeezes his head but the image burns clearer—a face bathed in shadows as fumes of death cast waves of beauty and horror, eyes of leeching evil. Those eyes suck him into darkness, willing him to join the nightmare.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

There’s my website: www.chanakeefer.com

Twitter: @chanakeefer

Facebook: The Rapha Chronicles, Book 1

Facebook: Chana Vowell Keefer
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/nf__m0CWtJU


Thank you, Chana, for the interesting interview. Please contact me before the next book releases.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Fall - paperback
The Fall - Kindle


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 4 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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE IRISH HEALER - Nancy Herriman - Free Book

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

I don’t attempt to write myself into my characters, but it’s inevitable that it happens. I think it would be impossible for my main characters, in whose heads I spend so much time, to not share at least some of my traits. At the very least, they tend to have my world view and, hopefully, some of my sense of humor.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I don’t know if it’s particularly quirky, but when I was in college, I sang in a number of bands. These days, my singing is restricted to church and community choirs.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

The first time I considered I might be was when an eighth-grade teacher, after reading a short story assignment, told me he could see me one day living in a Paris garret, writing novels! I spent many years employed as an engineer, however, before finally having an opportunity to pursue that dream of becoming an author. Although not in Paris.

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

My taste has always run toward books set in the past, so perhaps the range is pretty limited. I love historical mysteries as well as richly detailed historical fiction. I also enjoy reading the classics and am always seeking a new voice in historical Christian fiction.

I hope you’ll try some of mine. Yours is near the top of my to-be-read list. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I am fortunate to have a husband who can share so much of the burden of running a household with two high school aged children. But when I need to clear my head, I turn to a variety of methods: exercise, singing, reading a good book, getting together with friends and, of course, prayer.

I, too, am blessed to have that kind of husband. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I’m certain I use techniques many historical writers use, primarily utilizing census records and old city directories. Lately, though, I’ve taken to using the last names of friends and acquaintances. I think some folks will be surprised to find their names in my current WIP.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Although getting published has been a dream I have pursued for more than a decade, raising two wonderful children has been the greatest accomplishment of my life.

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

A cat, I suppose. Maybe I envy their independent attitude or their cleverness.

What is your favorite food?

What a difficult question! Prime rib? My mother’s sauerbraten? Sushi? Biscuits and gravy? I can hardly choose, since I love to eat just about anything, as long as it’s well prepared.

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

My greatest roadblock this past year has been dealing with serious health issues (I have breast cancer). I had to let myself slow down and not always write at the pace I would like. Any other approach was simply too stressful and didn’t help. I think if we writers give ourselves a chance to step back, once in awhile, it’s more conducive to getting the creative juices to flow rather than forcing ourselves to forge ahead.

I will pray for your recovery, and so will many of my readers. Tell us about the featured book.

Here is the blurb I have on my bookmarks, which should give you a good idea:

In 1832, London is rich with promise. And fraught with peril.

Rachel Dunne has always been a healer...until she’s accused of causing the death of an ill child.  Acquitted but shunned, she flees Ireland in search of a new life. So long as no one learns of her disgrace, or forces her to ever sit at another sickbed, she’ll be fine.

Physician James Edmunds has endured the loss of too many patients, the death of his wife the greatest blow of all. He decides to abandon his practice and run his family’s small farm. Alone. When he’s drawn to the intriguing Irish woman who’s recently joined his household, though, he begins to reconsider his well-laid plans.

Then cholera sweeps through London, and the life of James’s young daughter hangs in the balance. Can Rachel and James face their darkest fears? Or is it too late to learn that trust and love just might heal both their hearts?

Sounds like a book I’ll love. Please give us the first page.

                  “My name is Rachel Dunne.

       I am not a murderer.”

Rachel tightened her grip on the ship’s wooden rail, as if she might choke into silence the echo of her own voice. Better to focus on the receding sight of Ireland’s blue-green hills, seek to memorize every bounding stream, every wisp of misty fog, every rubble-walled farmer’s field, than to remember. For who knew how long—if ever—it would be before she saw her beloved homeland again?

“Oh, Mother,” she murmured over the slap of the paddle wheels and the hiss of the steam, the scree of persistent seagulls skimming the boat’s wake. “How did it come to this?”

This parting, this going. Deoraíocht. This exile.

Mother was not there to answer Rachel’s question; they could only afford ship’s passage for one, and Rachel was the one who had to leave. Mother and the rest had stayed behind in Carlow to mend the damage Rachel had never meant to cause. Restore the honor of the Dunne name in a town already prone to mislike them for their English ways. Once Rachel had been a healer, but she could not heal the scar upon her family. No more than she’d been able to heal poor Mary Ferguson, who had died so quickly and so quietly even Rachel had been at a loss to explain the how and the why.

I would never harm the ill. I am a banaltradh . . .

A healer. If the thought didn’t hurt so much, Rachel might laugh. She had vowed never to let herself be a healer again.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.nancyherriman.com . You can also ‘friend’ me on Facebook or ‘like’ my author page Nancy Herriman, Author. Also, I tweet at Nancy_Herriman.


Thank you, Nancy, for the interesting interview.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Irish Healer - paperback
The Irish Healer: A Novel - Kindle


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 4 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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS

Pamela J (CO) is the winner of To See the Sun by Peggy BLann Phifer.
Valri (OR) is the winner of The Wedding Journey by Cheryl St John.
Wildflower (MA)  is the winner of Sanctuary for a Lady by Naomi Rawlings. 
Rosie (FL) is the winner of Injustice for All by Robin Caroll.
Anne (VA) is the winner of The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck.

If you won a book and you really like it, consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 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.

SOMETHING NEW - Dianne Christner - Free Book

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

My writing has slowly evolved into what my agent and I have coined dramatic romantic comedy. It’s dramatic because characters struggle with real life issues and grow in Christian faith. The comedy is recognition of the human condition—not laughing at others but at ourselves. Love never goes smoothly. I slowly build dramatic climatic scenes then douse them with comedy. I believe humor brings an additional layer of reality to a story and its characters. This style naturally and perfectly expresses my personality, my worldview, and even the way I decorate my home.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I’m a gal who thinks more about where I’m headed than where I’ve been. So I’d say tomorrow could be my happiest day. Generally speaking, I’m a content person.

How has being published changed your life?

It’s forced me to live outside my comfort zone. Ouch! Speaking engagements really stretch me. On the positive side, the stretch takes me all the way up to heaven’s throne. Bless the Lord for his help.

                 

More specifically, the Plain City Bridesmaids series helped me re-evaluate and come to terms with my Mennonite upbringing. It’s been a wonderful, learning and healing experience for me.

What are you reading right now?

In nonfiction, The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel by Christie Craig and Faye Hughes.  In fiction, Smitten by Kristen Billerbeck, Colleen Coble,  Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter. I’ve preordered and am looking forward to reading Keli Gwyn’s        upcoming release,  A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado Colorado.

What is your current work in progress?

My heroine works at a Mennonite Retirement Center. In real life, I’ve experienced pain,    joy, and even laughter ministering to my elderly in-laws. The retirement setting is rich        and teeming with comedy and drama. After spending a decade in and out of care centers and rehab facilities, the story practically writes itself. It has a playful premise, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise.

What would be your dream vacation?

An entire summer at a beach house. A writing vacation.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Setting is the first thing I settle when I’m developing a new story idea. I chose Plain City for two reasons. I liked the sound of the place, and I was familiar with it. Plain City was where I met my husband. My real life romance.

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

I’d love to spend the evening with you, Lena. Would be thrilled and honored to talk writing with you.

That would really be fun, wouldn’t it? What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

If I had unlimited funds, it would be decorating. I like antiquing with my husband. We’re going this weekend to look for a candy dish for an upcoming Bunco party I’m hosting. Did I mention entertaining groups? Not real great with intimate dinners, but love hosting large parties. I love everything about the holidays. Since the weather’s usually nice in Phoenix, Jim and I enjoy hiking nearby mountain trails and watching the sunset from our patio.

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

One obstacle is getting sidetracked. The best way for me to keep ON track is having a plan that includes daily writing goals.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Find an agent. Create a website even if you aren’t yet published. Write consistently.

                       

Tell us about the featured book.

Something New’s about a Mennonite gal who feels stuck in life. Lil Landis has an adventuresome spirit, but her plain Jane life is stifling her dreams. She sets out to put her potluck genes to better advantage by becoming a head chef. But when her dad requests her help, she feels guilt ridden and returns to the farm she detests.

Lil literally collides with her hero. At the restaurant where she works, she backs her clunker into his boss’s expensive car. Fletch is a veterinarian intern who comes to the Landis farm to care for the sick livestock. But because of his past involvements with activists against animal cruelty, he ends up working undercover at Lil’s farm. From there the conflict escalates.

This is book two of the Plain City Bridesmaids series.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue – Lil’s vow – Ten years earlier (unedited version)

Ten year old Lillian Mae Landis inched her toes to the edge of the tiny square platform fifty feet above the ground. She ran clammy hands down her glittery red costume and poised them.  Her heart rose to her throat as she watched the trapeze swing through the air toward her. She counted, one, two, three, and then leapt forward.

Lil’s stomach somersaulted, and she exulted when her hands clasped the swinging bar with perfect timing. The crowd gasped. Her body jerked, but she held fast and tightened her tummy and leg muscles as she brought her body into perfect form. The air rushed across her face. The music came to a crescendo. Every eye was riveted on her performance.

A second trapeze carrying the teenager Rollo—a handsome boy with flowing blond hair—made its descent.  Rollo’s knees gripped his trapeze bar. Keeping silent count, Lil let loose of her bar at just the correct moment and Rollo’s sure, strong hands caught her arms. The crowd roared in delight. She basked in their admiration.

“Ouch! Stop it!”

Lil blinked, torn from her fantasy. She pulled her face from the open van’s window and looked sideways where her cousin Jake Byler was pulling Katy Yoder’s black pony tail. Lil tucked one foot under her home-made culottes and twisted so she could look him square in the eyes.

“What was your favorite part of the circus?” she asked.  Their families had attended the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus together when it had come to Columbus, Ohio, earlier that month.

“The tigers.” Jake growled in her friend Katy’s ear, then sank back in his seat and started tussling with his buddy Chad Penner.

Lil rolled her gaze heavenward. Then forgetting about Jake, she told Katy, “I liked the trapeze artists.” She had already described the circus to her two best friends—Katy Yoder and Megan Weaver—repeatedly, but she didn’t think they really understood how magical that experience had been for a girl whose normal day consisted of gathering brown eggs and snapping green beans. Lil lived on a farm.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.diannechristner.net

Blog: http://www.diannechristner.net/apps/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diannechristnerbooks



Thank you, Dianne, for the fun interview.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Something New (The Plain City Bridesmaids) - paperback
Something New (Plain City) - Kindle


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 4 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 if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com