A HEART DECEIVED - Michelle Griep - One Free Book

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

Because more often than not, life is messy. Times get hard. I write about characters facing tough situations and show how God uses those dark seasons of the soul for refinement.

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

Seriously? I only get to choose one other day? Yikes! I foresee a whole lot of angry friends and relatives for not choosing an event with them. Disclaimer aside, I pick the day I held my first newborn son in my arms.

How has being published changed your life?

Well, I bought myself a new laptop so I no longer write with G3 pens and notebooks. Emotionally, I feel validated. That this wasn’t just a freak hobby I’d hopefully give up one day in favor of stamp collecting.

What are you reading right now?

I am always in the middle of at least three books. Currently those three are: Captive by Jill Williamson, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, and Madeline’s Protector by Vanessa Riley.

What is your current work in progress?

A trilogy based on the exploits of a few fictional officers of the very real Bow Street Runners—which was a fledgling police force in London starting in the mid-eighteenth century.

What would be your dream vacation?

Staying in a for-real castle in England, not some sissified, remodeled wannabe. The staff would all be historical re-enactors, and I would be the princess. Naturally there’d have to be big beefy knights and a dashing prince. And since I’m dreaming, I’d be thirty years younger and twenty pounds lighter.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

There’s nothing magical about my process. Anywhere in England suits me just fine, so I usually just pick a place and then give it a made-up name.

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

Only one? Wowzer. Other than my family members, I’d like to hang out with Pastor Doug Wilson. I love his blog, Blog and Mablog. He’s a snarky, God loving, wise, and creative fella who would be a hoot to share a few hours with.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to rollerblade, play the hammered dulcimer (though I stink at it), and gardening is a huge favorite of mine.

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

Finding the time to write. Like many others, family duties consume a huge portion of my time. My solution is to set aside one night a week to run away and write.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

At the risk of raining on countless parades, I’d have to say expect to not become an overnight success. The writing journey is a long, hard climb and you’ll get a lot of scrapes and bruises. Just suck it up and stick with it, because if writing is in your blood, you won’t find satisfaction in other pursuits.

Tell us about the featured book.

Miri Brayden teeters on a razor's edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he'll be committed to an asylum—and she'll be sent to the poorhouse.

Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life—from family, from the law ... from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverend John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity—an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder.

When Ethan shows up on Miri's doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit—fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Deverell Downs Bedfordshire, England, 1795

Sunlight slanted a direct route from heaven through the sanctuary windows. Were the dust motes riding that beam sturdy enough to carry her weight, Miri Brayden would mount up and fly out of there in a heartbeat.

In the pulpit, her brother droned on—and on. And on. Probably something about brimstone or eternal wrath. Who knew? Her mind floated from speck to speck as she zigzagged her eyes up to the glass panes. Beyond, a few small clouds roamed free. What would it feel like to drift away on one of those? A lot softer than the wicked pew that numbed her backside, to be sure.

Half a rebellious smile twitched her lips, then disappeared. If God singled her out for her lack of attentiveness and incinerated her on the spot, she shouldn’t be a bit surprised. Not that she didn’t deserve it.

But that would be too easy an out.

She forced her gaze back to Roland, who aimed his finger like a weapon of God, firing musket balls of scripture into the congregation. Stifling a yawn, she blew out a long breath instead. Several other sighs chorused around her. From behind, a suspicious snort-snort might have been a snore, but she resisted the urge to turn and confirm it. If Roland didn’t end Sunday morning prayers soon, the whole of Deverell Downs Church would meet with a fireball of judgment for dozing off.

Or maybe Roland was their judgment.

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Websites: www.writerofftheleash.blogspot.com

                www.mmgriep.com

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

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mmgriep/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleGriep

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2754194.Michelle_Griep

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=47743174&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Tumblr: http://michellegriep.tumblr.com/

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your new book with us.

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

A Heart Deceived - Christianbook.com
A Heart Deceived - Amazon.com
A Heart Deceived: 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

13 WINNERS!!!!!

Vera G (NC) is the winner of Talon by Ronie Kendig. 

Chris G (OR), Jo (AZ), Beth (IA), Marissa (CO), Judy C (LA), Abigail (NC), Janet E (FL), Kristie (OH), Jasmine (MT) and Katie J (FL) the winners of two books by Darlene Franklin. 

Angela (KY) is the winner of Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer.

Rebekah G (TN) is the winner of Gracie's Pictures by Cindy Thomson. 

If you won a book and you 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. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
If you won the ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.
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.

THE WELL - Stephanie Landsem - One Free Book

Readers, don't forget to follow the instructions at the end of the post to be included in the drawing for the free book. Today, I'm interviewing a debut author.

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

Too much. I sometimes find that in my first draft, I slip into myself. It’s clear when I do a read-through what I’ve done. So I go back to my character notes and get into my character’s head. Then I dive in, changing her dialogue, thoughts, or actions into what she would say, think, and do. That always serves to make her a more compelling character. I always want my characters to be more interesting than I am!

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When I was young and not as smart as I am now, I was traveling in Spain with a friend and we had this great idea to go to Morocco. It probably wasn’t the best idea we’d ever had. We managed (just barely) to stay out of trouble, and we did do some amazing things. We bought Morroccan carpets, ate goat meat kabobs, learned to belly dance from the locals, and ended the trip by riding camels on a deserted beach. My friend and I still look back on the weekend and laugh about it, but have decided we’d never let our own daughters do something like that.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I think it dawned on my slowly over a period of years. I started writing The Well about five years ago. Three years ago I finaled in the ACFW Genesis contest and started to wonder if maybe I really could be a writer. About six months later, I got a book contract. When The Well released just a few weeks ago, I guess it really hit home for me and I finally believed that I was a writer J

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

Although my first choice in fiction is historical, I read a wide range of genres—mostly thanks to my children. I read Terry Pratchett with my oldest daughter, Walt Whitman poetry with my 17-year-old son, and zombie apocalypse stories with my 14-year-old boy. My youngest daughter likes action and adventure stories, which I think helps me keep my own plots fast paced. When I want to relax, I read Jane Austen or a good Dean Koontz thriller.

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

I’m a very distracted person. Four kids, a husband, housework, yard work, and writing — my daily to-do list is endless. But my church has a small chapel that’s always open and always silent, with beautiful stained glass windows. When I go there, I feel like I can leave everything else behind and just be with Jesus, no distractions. Sometimes I pray for family and friends, many times I just sit and breathe. I try to go every day and I really miss it when I can’t be there.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

One of the reasons that I love to write Biblical fiction is that the names are so beautiful and have compelling meanings. When I first started thinking about writing the story of the daughter of the Samaritan woman at the Well, her name came to me: Mara, which means bitter. I knew that Mara’s story, a bittersweet story, was what I wanted to write. When I am developing a story, I look at Biblical names and their meanings and it helps me develop the character and his or her back story.

The first thing I wrote after God told me to become a professional writer was a dramatic monologue of the Woman at the Well. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

They are easy to name: Rachel, Andy, Joe, Anna, and 23 years of marriage to Bruce. Writing a book or three is a wonderful accomplishment, but my children and husband are my vocation and greatest joy.

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

Probably a cat. I often envy my cats. Especially when they are asleep on a sunny patch of carpet and I’m donning a parka and snow boots to go shovel the driveway on a snowy Minnesota morning.

My daddy grew up in Minnesota, and I have a large number of relatives there, but I haven’t been there in winter. What is your favorite food?

Cheese. Pretty much any kind of cheese, from Wisconsin cheddar to stinky French cheese. It’s my go-to comfort food.

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

Time management. I get caught up in research and can spend a whole morning tracking down differing viewpoints on some minor detail. It really can cut down on your word count and wreak havoc with deadlines. I have to find a place where I can reasonably say “enough research,” and get down to writing the story.

Tell us about the featured book.

For the women of the Samaritan village of Sychar, the well is a place of blessing—the place where they gather to draw their water and share their lives—but not for Mara. Shunned for the many sins of her mother, Nava, Mara struggles against the constant threats of starvation or exile.

Mara and Nava’s lives are forever changed with the arrival of two men: Shem, a mysterious young man from Caesarea, and Jesus, a Jewish teacher. Nava is transformed by Jesus, but his teachings come too late, and she is stoned by the unforgiving villagers. Desperate to save her dying mother, Mara and Shem embark on a journey to seek Jesus’ help—a journey that brings unexpected love and unimaginable heartbreak.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Dread coiled like an asp in Mara’s belly as the watery light of dawn seeped through the chinks in the roof of the clay house.

 Only a short span of dirt floor stretched between her mother’s corner of their one-room house to where Mara and her little brother lay pressed against its farthest wall. Mara’s worn cloak, pulled over their heads like a shield, had failed to block out the carnal whispers that had drifted through the confines of the dark room during the long night. Shame and fear had twined with tormented dreams until she prayed for dawn.

Now, as the murky beams of weak light puddled on the floor, Mara raised her head and strained to see through the gloom. Is Alexandros still here?

Relief trickled through her stiff limbs. Her mother slept alone in the corner. When had Alexandros left? And where did he go? How could Mama be so foolish? Please, Lord, let no one find out about him.

Mara’s bare arms, prickly with cold, were wrapped around Asher’s small warm body.

She slipped from under her cloak and eased herself away from her little brother. As she kissed his smooth cheek and tucked the tattered wool around his shoulders, he opened his sleep-clouded eyes.

“Shh, my sweet, go back to your dreams,” she whispered, rubbing his back. Asher garbled a few words, wedged his thumb in his mouth, and closed his eyes again. Mara stroked his back until his mouth went slack and his breath buzzed in a steady rhythm.

Silently, she crept past her sleeping mother. Nava lay crumpled in the corner like a pile of dirty rags. She would not stir until mid-morning. Then she would act as if nothing had happened, as if she’d done nothing wrong.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to hear from readers. And if they like Biblical fiction, they’ll enjoy the tidbits of Biblical history research that I post weekly on my blog. They can find me at:

www.Stephanielandsem.com

Or on these social media sites:

https://www.facebook.com/stephanielandsem

https://twitter.com/#!/stephlandsem

http://pinterest.com/slandsem/

Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your life and new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Well - Christianbook.com
The Well: A Novel - Amazon.com
The Well: 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

LOVE STAYS TRUE - Martha Rogers - One Free Book

Martha Rogers is both a long-time writing friend and a fellow Charisma/Realms author.

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

 I have a new series planned also set in Texas that will be about a quest for treasure left by a great-grandfather for three great-grandchildren to find who discover an even greater treasure of love.

What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?

I’ll be conducting two workshops at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in August here in Houston. Then I will attend the ACFW conference in Indianapolis in September.

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?

Several topics come to mind. If it’s for new writers, I would say a discussion of how to make manuscripts attractive to editors and how to pitch them. That panel would include authors and editors: Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, Ami McConnell, Kim Moore, Sue Brower, James Scott Bell, and Randy Ingermansson would be good have on the panel.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

To me it’s very important. Making contacts with other authors, feedback from others about your work, meeting and making new friends in the writing world, and attending workshops to learn more about the craft of writing are all good reasons for being a part of a writing group, whether local or national.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?

We’ve been members of Houston’s First Baptist church for over 50 years. I sing in the choir, co-lead a weekly First Place 4 Health class and I’m a group leader for a weekly Bible Study, Grace Walk.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?

My husband because he believed in me and my writing and supported me.

Marge Caldwell set an example of a life well-lived for Christ and gave me very good advice.

My paternal grandmother, Lella Whiteman who taught me the importance of having a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior.

DiAnn Mills because she took me under her wing and mentored me in the early days of my writing career, and she also introduced me to Kathleen Y’Barbo Turner and Janice Thompson who have become close friends of mine.

Tamela Hancock Murray, my agent, contracted me as an unknown and worked with me and believed in me all these years.

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

Martha Rogers:

1936 - ??

 She lived the “Dash” well.

Tell us about the featured book.

The featured book is a fictionalized account of my great-grandparents’ love story just after the close of the Civil War. He was a POW at Point Lookout, Maryland, and the story is of his journey home to his true love, Sallie, in Louisiana. Real names, places, and events are all a part of this historical novel.

Please share the first page with us.

Point Lookout, Maryland

Monday, April 10, 1865

Cold air chilled his arms and a sharp object poked at his cheek. Manfred Whiteman reached down to pull a ragged blanket up over his arms and brushed away the straw scratching his face. A few moments later a sudden brightness aroused him again. His lids opened to a slit. Slivers of sunlight peeked through the tiny windows and dispersed the shadows of the night.

He shut his eyes against the sun’s rays, but sleep would not return. He lay still in the quiet of the new morning and sensed a difference in the air that settled over him like a cloak of peace. Raising his head, he glanced around the room. The same familiar stench of wounds, dirty hay, unwashed bodies, and death permeated the air, but in it all, the difference vibrated. Something had happened, he could sense it, but nothing unusual appeared in the confines of the prison barracks.

After being captured in the Battle of Nashville in December, he, his younger brother Edwin, and other prisoners had made the long march from Nashville to Louisville, Kentucky. From there they were transferred to Camp Chase in Ohio. Then, in the first week of February, they had been loaded onto trains like cattle and sent to Point Lookout, Maryland, a prison housing nearly fifty thousand men. Upon their arrival, the captured soldiers had been stripped of everything personal, and as the days progressed, hundreds of men died. Manfred mourned the loss of friends, but thanked the Lord every day for sparing his life, as well as the life of his brother.

 Edwin lay sleeping on the pallet next to him, curled on his side as usual. Others still slept, their snores filling the air with sound. No use in trying to sleep now. Manfred’s stomach rumbled with hunger, but most likely the only breakfast would be hard tack or biscuit.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.marthawrogers.com

Thank you, Martha, for sharing this new book with us.

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

Love Stays True - Christianbook.com
Love Stays True (The Homeward Journey) - Amazon.com
Love Stays True (The Homeward Journey) - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

BLOWING ON DANDELIONS - Miralee Ferrell - One Free Book

Miralee Ferrell is a dear writing friend of mine. She allowed me the privilege to read Blowing on Dandelions for an endorsement, which you can read at the front of the book. My last four books are romances with strong issues like those found in women's fiction. So do Miralee's books. These characters will reach out and grip you so hard, you'll have trouble putting this book down.

Welcome, Miralee. Why did you become an author?

I know a lot of people talk about God nudging them to write, but that truly happened to me. I had no desire to write (other than personal memories/journals/letters). I was visiting a neighboring church to hear a special speaker. At the end of the service I responded to a call for prayer. The pastor/speaker prayed with me and stopped after a few moments. He shared that he felt God was saying that I should be writing … he didn’t know whether fiction or non-fiction, but that it was important it be published. I took that word home, prayed about it and counseled with my pastor, husband, and mother, who all urged me to take it seriously. Two-and-a-half years later (after 3 magazine articles were published) my first book, The Other Daughter, released. Since then I’ve had 7 books published and 6 more are under contract.

I had a book published with the title, The Other Brother. I remember hearing your title and knowing that I had to read it. It was wonderful, as are all of your books. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

Nothing!! Seriously, if I weren’t writing I’d spend as much time as I could with my grown kids, my mother, my new (2 month old) grandbaby, and my friends. At times I feel as though I shortchange them, although I do put family first 90% of the time and still manage to make my deadlines. But if I had to chose an actual paying job? It would be a Christian counselor with a doctorate. I’m a certified Christian counselor with the American Association of Christian Counselors now, but I wish I’d finished my degree and taken it to the next level. Although if I had, I doubt I’d have started writing, so God knew what He was doing from the beginning.

I’m sure all it took to gain that certification helps you as an author. Your characters are memorable. If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

That’s easy, the Old West during the 1870s to the late 1890s, and I would have lived on a working cattle/horse ranch. I’d be riding the ranges instead of working in the house or kitchen, if at all possible. Or at least, I would have been in my teens through my thirties. I suppose by now I’d be on a porch swing playing with my grandbabies!

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

I’ve never visited the Northeastern Seaboard, or any of the northeastern part of the United States. The richness of our country’s history in those places fascinates me, and I’d love to spend a few weeks browsing the museums as well as many of the sites of the Civil and Revolutionary War.     

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

That’s a little harder, as I have several, but definitely somewhere with castles and lots of history. Maybe Switzerland or Germany or Scotland, I’m not sure. I would love to spend days poking around historical sites that are a few hundred years old!

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

To trust Him, completely and totally, no matter what the circumstances look like. His word is true no matter what’s going on in my life and no matter how difficult the challenges.

Tell us about the featured book.

Blowing on Dandelions is a historical romance with a strong women’s fiction thread set in Baker City, Oregon, in 1880. It’s the first in a three-book series, and the reader will continue to see many of the same character in the ensuing books, although each book can stand alone (although there are ties and references to the previous books). Here’s a little bit about the story.

Do Dandelion Wishes Actually Come True?

Katherine Galloway knew this moment of calm wouldn’t last, blown away like the dandelion seeds she scattered as a girl. In 1880, three years after her husband’s death, she struggles to run an Oregon boardinghouse and raise two girls alone. Things don't get easier when her critical, domineering mother moves in. Katherine must make the situation work, but standing up for herself and her family while honoring her mother isn't easy. And with a daughter entering the teenage years, the pressure on Katherine becomes close to overwhelming. Then she crosses paths with Micah Jacobs, a widower who could reignite her heart, but she fears a relationship with him might send things over the edge. She must find the strength, wisdom, hope, and faith to remake her life, for everything is about to change.

Since I’ve already it, please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.                  

            This is the opening scene and not quite the full page, but I’d hate to leave your readers dangling in the middle of the next scene, so I’ll only share this little bit.

Baker City, Oregon

Late May 1880

Katherine Galloway’s soft exhale sent the dandelion fluff dancing on the warm current of air, but it didn’t bring the anticipated relief. Gripping the stem, she sat in the grassy field with her eyes closed and waited. Why didn’t it come? It had always appeared years ago when she needed it. How long had it been since her mind had drifted away to a place where nothing could hurt her? Fifteen years? Twenty?

She shook her head, and an errant curl tickled her cheek.

More. Many more. But always her memory returned to those times when the dandelion fluff had carried her away to a place where mothers were loving and kind, and little girls didn’t need to be afraid of cutting words or sharp voices.

Had she ever known a time like that, other than in her dreams? Katherine had thought she did, but now she knew: It was all an illusion, like the sunbeams glinting off the bits of white settling to the ground. Seeds—that’s all they were. Seeds that brought unwanted weeds when they matured. Just like her life.

Unwanted. Unwelcome. Unsung.

At least by the one person who had mattered the most while she was growing up.

Katherine pushed to her feet, letting the dandelion stem dangle from her fingers. There was no fantasy world where thirty-two-year-old women—or little girls for that matter—could ride the dandelion fluff and become someone they weren’t. No. It was time to put the past behind her. Mama was coming to stay at her house tomorrow, and somehow Katherine had to survive.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have several places you can find me and interact.

Web site:  www.miraleeferrell.com

Blog:   www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com

Facebook Author page:  www.facebook.com/miraleeferrell

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell

Thank you, Miralee, for sharing your life and this book with my blog readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Blowing on Dandelions - Christianbook.com
Blowing on Dandelions: A Novel (Love Blossoms in Oregon Series) - Amazon.com
Blowing on Dandelions: A Novel (Love Blossoms in Oregon Series) - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

TROUBLE IN STORE - Carol Cox - One Free Book

Carol Cox is a long-time writer friend, and I really enjoy reading her books. Trouble in Store is a wonderful read. The characters really leapt from the pages into my mind and heart. Their lives and trouble are often in my thoughts.

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

I’m very excited about this month’s release of Trouble in Store. This historical romantic suspense was so much fun to research and write! Arizona offers a wide panorama of settings to explore, and I love the opportunity to bring those fascinating places to life in my books.

A bit farther out on the horizon is a novella collection where I detoured from my Arizona settings and traveled to your part of the country. Mary Connealy, Karen Witemeyer, and Regina Jennings were the other authors, and working with them was such a delight! Look for A Match Made in Texas next January.

I want to feature that book on my blog. I love to read books by all four of you. Tell us a little about your family.

Dave and I celebrated our 39th anniversary earlier this month, and what an adventure it has been! He’s the pastor of two small churches. In addition to that, he owns and operates the Davis Leather Company, which means I have a handy resource available for information on guns and gun leather.

Our daughter will be a senior in high school this fall. One of her goals for this summer is learning to drive … with me as her teacher. If you sense a nudging to pray for the two of us, please feel free to act upon it!

Our son is in the Air Force, and I’m very proud of his service to our country. He and his wife have blessed us with three sweet grandchildren who light up our lives.

I have a grandson in the Army overseas now. And I know how much grandchildren add to your lives. We now have a great grandson with another on the way. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Between writing, making revisions, checking galleys, promoting the current release, and researching the next project, I simply don’t have the free time I used to be able to devote to reading. Much of the reading I do these days is for research, so I treasure the rare moments when I’m able to curl up with a book and read for sheer pleasure!

What are you working on right now?

I’m nearing completion of another story set in Arizona. This one features a heroine who inherits a newspaper, and I’m having a great time learning about the printing process in the late 19th century!

I’ll want to feature that book on the blog as well. What outside interests do you have?

As you might suspect, church activities take up a lot of my time. I play the piano at both our churches, teach children’s Sunday school, and lead a monthly women’s Bible study. And then there’s the youth group, which keeps us hopping! We’ve been blessed with two wonderful congregations, and I’m very grateful to be able to work with all these different age groups.

When I do have some free time, I enjoy knitting and crocheting. And one of my favorite ways to beat stress is working in the garden.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

More often than not, I feel like the setting chooses me. Sometimes, all it takes is a visit to a location to start the creative juices flowing. What kind of people would have lived there? What problems did they face? How did they resolve them? When questions like that spring to mind—and when the answers start flowing—I know a new story idea may be on its way.

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

One of my favorite places to research Arizona history is the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott. Ranch woman, activist, lover of history—and a writer, to boot—Sharlot was fiercely independent, preferring to live life on her own terms, unencumbered by the constraints society placed on a married woman.

Her appointment as territorial historian in 1909 made her the first woman to hold office in the Arizona Territorial government. Her new post was a perfect fit for her passion to preserve history, and she conceived the idea of establishing a historical museum in the cabin that served as the Governor’s Mansion for the territory’s first governors. Eventually, the museum that now bears her name came into being, and her dream became a reality.

I can only imagine what a treat it would be to spend an evening with Sharlot, listening to the stories this remarkable woman could tell!

I’d love to be there with you when you talked to her. What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I always heard that writing is a solitary pursuit, so I expected a degree of isolation . . . but I was in for a wonderful surprise. I never dreamed of the enduring friendships I would make with other writers, and with my readers as well. Those connections have been unexpected blessings that have enriched my life immeasurably!

Yes, they make it all worth it. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Right now, the lessons are all about priorities. I can’t say this is a new topic for me, but it seems like the Lord sends a reminder every so often. And I’m so glad He does! With today’s hectic pace of life, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the urgent and let the most important priorities slip out of place without even being aware of it.

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

Here are the 3 B’s of Writing listed on my website’s “For Writers” page:

Be patient.

Like any career, writing requires preparation and training. The learning process takes time, so gear yourself mentally for a marathon rather than a sprint.

Be teachable.

The longer I write, the more I realize how much I still need to learn. There is always the joy of growing, of improving my skills, of learning to be a “workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (from 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV)

Be willing.

If we’re called to write for the Lord, we need to do this for His glory and not our own. Place your writing in God’s hands and be willing to give Him control as to what happens with it. He’s the one who sees the big picture and knows what’s best—both for us and for His plan.

Tell us about the featured book.

Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross muse embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he’s not about to let an obstinate woman with newfangled ideas ruin all he’s worked for. In hope of turning her interest elsewhere, he determines to get Melanie married off, and luckily, there are many single men in town quite willing to take her off his hands.

The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn’t want her to marry any of them. He’s drawn to her more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store offer unexpectedly positive results.

But someone doesn’t want the mercantile to succeed, and threatening words have escalated into destruction and danger. Will Melanie and Caleb’s business—and budding romance—survive the trouble that’s about to come their way?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Marietta, Ohio

April 1885

“Are the children ready, Miss Ross?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Melanie Ross bobbed her head, trying not to wince at her employer’s clipped tone. She shot a quick glance at Mrs. Deaver’s daughter and son to make sure nothing had happened to mar their appearance since her last inspection.

Five-year-old Olivia stood on Melanie’s left, long golden curls framing her cherubic face and cascading over the wide collar of the pink dropped-waist dress so carefully ironed by Melanie the night before. The little girl’s eyes glowed with anticipation, and the dimple in her round left cheek deepened when she offered her mother a bright smile.

Mrs. Deaver’s features softened enough to give her daughter a fleeting smile in return.

On Melanie’s right, Clarence Harrington Deaver Jr. dug the toe of his black patent-leather shoe into the Aubusson carpet, his dark scowl indicating the nine-year-old’s distaste for the blue velvet suit, complete with lace collar, designated as his attire for the afternoon.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to connect with readers online! Visit my website at:

www.AuthorCarolCox.com to learn more about me and my books.

Then there’s my Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/carol.cox.

I also blog at Writes of Passage on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month: http://www.writespassage.blogspot.com/

And I’m just getting started with Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorcarolcox/  I’m still very much a beginner there, so if any of you would like to share helpful hints, I’d love to hear them!

Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog again, Lena. It’s always a joy to spend time with you and your readers!

It's a pleasure to talk to you and help you introduce your new books to my readers.

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

Trouble in Store - Christianbook.com
Trouble in Store: A Novel - Amazon.com
Trouble in Store - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE PROMISE BOX - Tricia Goyer - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus Much More

Welcome back, Tricia. I know you speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up in 2013?

I've cut out most of my speaking in 2013 … but for a very good reason. We're in the process of adopting two little ones from the Foster Care system. They are ages 5 and 2 years old. I knew it would take time for everyone to adjust so I'm staying home as much as possible. That being said, I am excited to be speaking at the International MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) convention in Kansas City!

If you were planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it?

Living Inspired. That is the name of my radio show, and the theme for my life. The word “inspiration” means “Breath of God.” Our lives can be inspiring when we allow God to breathe into them. It doesn't matter what we can do. It matters what we allow Him to do through us!

Who would you want as speakers and why?

Oh, that's a hard question! A few of my friends:

Robin Jones Gunn, Courtney Joseph, Brooke McGlouthin, Stacey Thacker, Gina Smith, Kennisha Hill, Terri Lynn Underwood, Tracey Eyster, Crystal Paine … the list could go on!

Where would you hold the retreat and why?

I'd find someplace near the beach or mountains—someplace that would refresh a woman's soul.

Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?

Both!

That’s an interesting title. How did you come up with it?

The Promise Box is titled after the object in the book that changes everything. It's a box where a woman collected the promises that God had given to her, both Scripture promises in promises concerning her life.

So what is the book about.

Lydia Wise is a young Amish woman who returns to the small Amish community of West Kootenai, Montana, after her mother's death. It's then she discovers her mother's promise box, and she learns to trust in God's promises too … while at the same time opening her heart to an Amish bachelor.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Lydia Wyse shook rain from her red curls, wishing she could as easily shake memories of the last time she’d seen Mem’s lowered kapp and bowed head, praying for her daughter’s return. Return not only to West Kootenai, Montana, but to the Amish. Lydia was returning all right, but not in the way Mem had wished. Tomorrow was Mem’s funeral, and during the nine hours of driving—from Seattle to Montana—each minute had brought her closer to home. To heartache.

Lydia had stopped for gas in Eureka, about an hour from her parents’ house, and rain now drenched her long curls. Soaked, standing in line to pay, she spotted a few Amish women climbing from a white van and hurrying into the grocery store attached to the gas station. Seeing them, a twinge of familiarity—of longing—filled her heart, but she stuffed the emotions down.

“Are those Amish from West Kootenai?” she asked the gas station attendant who took her cash.

He shrugged. “Don’t know. Just Amish. Not really sure where they’re from.”

“Just Amish.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.TriciaGoyer.com

www.twitter.com/triciagoyer

www.Facebook.com/authortriciagoyer

www.pinterest.com/triciagoyer

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Thank you, Tricia, for sharing all of this with us today.

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

The Promise Box  - Christianbooks.com
The Promise Box (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors) - paperback
The Promise Box (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors) - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!!!!

Melissa O (NC) is the winner of Catch a Falling Star by Beth K Vogt. 
Sharon R (NC) is the winner of The Offering by Angela Hunt. 
Jo (AZ) is the winner of Afloat by Erin Healy.
Sharon M (CA) is the winner of Stolen Identity by Lisa Harris. 
Andi (AL) is the winner of Ray of Light by Shelley Shepard Gray.  

If you won a book and you 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. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
If you won the ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.
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.

GRACE'S PICTURES - Cindy Thomson - One Free Book

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

Not too much, I hope! There are some major differences between Grace and me. She had an abusive father, I had a loving one. I’ve never had to live in a workhouse or travel alone to a new country, so those emotions had to come from other experiences I’ve had (not as severe) when I’ve felt alone, unsure, and afraid. Owen desperately wants to fit in with the people in his neighborhood even though he is not an immigrant like they are. I think we’ve all wanted to fit in and be accepted at some point in our lives.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hmm…maybe stay the night at a monastery in Ireland run by French monks where silence is practiced. Come to think of it, maybe that was where I got the experience of trying to fit in.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I suppose when someone paid me for something I wrote. I got $25 for an article on a web site, and to think someone liked what I wrote enough to pay me for it really boosted my confidence. I kept on writing after that, sometimes even for free.

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

Wow. My reading taste is all over. I love historical fiction probably the most. I also love non-fiction history books and biographies, especially baseball biographies. But I read contemporary fiction sometimes as well. I sprinkle in some spiritual books (I really want to read more C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald) along with books on the writing craft. I’m drawn to some Celtic-themed books as well.

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

It is crazy sometimes, isn’t it? I need alone time. If I skip my prayer time in the morning things inevitably do not go smoothly that day. I make family a priority. I think if you know you are firmly rooted you deal with stress so much better.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

For Grace’s Pictures, I chose Grace because it’s a name that appears in Irish history, like the pirate queen Grace O’Malley. I could say I chose it because she needed grace, but that would apply to us all. Owen is also an Irish name and I just liked it.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Having just seen my youngest son married to a wonderful girl he met at church, I suppose I’m most proud of raising three terrific young men. I had help, of course, my husband and lots of prayer.

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

No one ever asked me that before! Hmm … a bird, I think because it must be a wonderful feeling to be able to fly and experience absolute freedom.

What is your favorite food?

Pizza, although I can’t eat regular cheese. But even without it, pizza is the thing I miss the most once my husband started eating gluten-free. I love lots of veggies on mine.

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

Plotting. I was too much of a seat-of-the-pants writer and it caused me to do much more work than if I had properly outlined ahead of time. It’s difficult for me to outline. I like to write the story and figure out what’s going to happen and why as I go along but that has gotten me off track too many times. Brainstorming with other authors helped me a tremendous amount.

Tell us about the featured book.

Grace McCaffery hopes that the bustling streets of New York hold all the promise that the lush hills of Ireland did not. As her efforts to earn enough money to bring her mother to America fail, she wonders if her new Brownie camera could be the answer. But a casual stroll through a beautiful New York City park turns into a hostile run-in with local gangsters, who are convinced her camera holds the first and only photos of their elusive leader. A policeman with a personal commitment to help those less fortunate finds Grace attractive and longs to help her, but Grace believes such men cannot be trusted. Spread thin between her quest to rescue her mother, do well in a new nanny job, and avoid the gang intent on intimidating her, Grace must put her faith in unlikely sources to learn the true meaning of courage and forgiveness.

Please give us the first page of the book.

December 1900

“May I take your photograph, miss?”

Grace McCaffery spun around. She had passed through the inspections without a problem and was on her way downstairs, where she would meet the aid society worker. What now?

“A photograph?” A man stood smiling at her, next to a large camera. She’d only seen one of these machines before, and that was on the ship.

“Why?” She bit her lip. Was everything about to fall apart now?

“For prosperity. It’s your first day in America.” He handed her a small piece of paper. “My name and address, should you later wish to see it. It will only take a moment of your time and then you are free to continue on.”

Free sounded good. “What do I do?”

“Stand under that window—” He pointed toward one of the massive windows. “—and look this way.” Streams of late-afternoon sun shone in through the ornamental ironwork, tracing odd shapes on the tiled floor.

She did as he asked.

“Now look up, miss.” He snapped his fingers. “Look toward the camera.”

Her eyelids were iron weights, but she forced herself to look his way, wanting to get it over with.

After she heard a slight pop coming from the camera, he dismissed her. “Welcome to America!”

America! Ma should see Ellis Island and all the people milling about. Grace sat down on a bench just to the right of the stairs to collect the thoughts rambling around in her head like loose marbles. Imagine, a girl like her, now free in America. She would not have envisioned it herself a few weeks ago. Exhausted, she dropped her face to her hands as she relived what had led her here.

***

“Must go to the workhouse.” Huge hands snatched wee Grace from her bed. “Your da is dead. Behind in your rent and got no means.”

Grace kicked with all her might. “Ma!”

An elbow to her belly. Burning. She heaved.

“Blasted kid!” The policeman tossed her onto a wagon like garbage.

“Ma!”

“I’m here, Grace. Don’t cry.” Her mother cradled her as the wagon jolted forward. “Oh, my heart. You are special, wee one. So special to God.”

Heat emanated from the burning cottage, the temperature torturing Grace’s face. She hid against her mother’s shoulder.

Later, they were pulled apart and herded into a building.

A dark hallway. The sound of water dripping.

Stairs. Up the stairs. Following other children. So many children. Was her mother dead?

Interesting and intriguing. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: www.cindyswriting.com

My Twitter handle: @cindyswriting

My Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/cindyswriting

Thanks for having me, Lena!

It's my pleasure and great blessing, Cindy.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Grace's Pictures  - Christianbook.com
Grace's Pictures (Ellis Island) - Amazon
Grace's Pictures (Ellis Island) - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com