SACRIFICE - Dennis Jernigan - One Free Book

Dear Readers, we have Dennis Jernigan back with book two in the Bren Chronicles.

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

There are several reasons I write the kind of books I do. I want to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren and all who follow me. My hope is that they would see beyond the allegorical nature of the writings and see the qualities by which I tried to live my life and then apply those same principles for living to their own lives. In addition, my desire is that all who read the books be challenged to realize and discover the reason for their existence - their purpose - their destiny. Above all, I want the reader to feel that good has triumphed over evil and that the same is possible in their own lives.

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

The happiest day of my life cannot be boiled down to one moment in time. My wedding day. The births of my nine children. The wonderful experience of getting to know my grandchildren and writing these books for them. The first time I realized people all over the world were singing my songs in worship to the Lord. Hearing from people who have read one of my books and how God used it to change their lives. Too many days to choose from!

How has being published changed your life?

Honestly, on one hand it hasn’t, as I try to live my life the same regardless of my success - or failure. Yet, it has changed in the fact that knowing others are watching my life from afar makes me want to be the best example of Jesus Christ I can be.

What are you reading right now?

I am currently reading through a novel I am working on, but the most recent books I have read are very different from one another. One is a book on leadership called Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro. Another is the journey out of homosexuality by author Rosario Butterfield and is called Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert. One I am reading in segments is called Learning to Tell Yourself the Truth by William Backus.

They all sound interesting. What is your current work in progress?

Currently, I am working on the first novel in a series for my grandchildren. The new series is an offshoot of my series The Chronicles of Bren. The new series is called The Bairn of Bren. Bairn is a Scottish word for children. In theses stories, my grandchildren are taking up the matters of their parents before them, fighting for the freedom and peace of Bren. My grandchildren are the heroes in these stories! In addition, I am working on music for Book Three in the Bren series. Each book has its own collection of songs for the journey that can be heard and downloaded at www.thechroniclesofbren.com .

What would be your dream vacation?

I have two dream vacations. One would be to tour Iceland and the Norse countries of Europe. Another would be to tour Europe’s castles and the Rhine River region and wind up with a scuba dive somewhere near Greece.

I’m one-half Scandanavian, so I’d love to visit that part of the world, too. How do you choose your settings for each book?

In many ways, the settings of my stories are inspired by the place where I live. When people hear that I live in Oklahoma they think “flat and boring.” Not so. We live among tree-covered hills near a flowing river. I have a large forest on my property that informs the country settings of my stories. In my studio, I have a statue of a dragon and a cardboard castle that I will place in front of me when I write there! I feel like a kid again when I write these stories…and I want children of all ages to enjoy the journeys.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

One of my hobbies involves creating a real land of Bren for my grandchildren. In one area of my forest I have cleared over 2 miles of trails. My plan is to fill the land with statues of fantasy creatures. I enjoy fishing for bass in my ponds and I thoroughly enjoy driving my grandchildren around the property on my John Deere Gator!

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

I have too many adventures and stories in my mind to ever write them all down. I believe our God is so massive that I will never lack for creativity. My goal? To try and see my life from God’s point of view - and I write accordingly.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Do not be afraid to color outside the lines…to take the reader on an adventure that has never been experienced before. Another would be this: the more you write, the better you will become at writing. Psalm 45:1 in the NASB says,

“My heart overflows with a good theme;

I address my verses to the King;

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”

I believe that if I walk relationally with Father God and am ready at all times to write down the words He inspires in my mind that He is more than willing to pour that inspiration our upon me. Believe you can hear Him and be ready to write down what He says…and watch the creativity flow!

Tell us about the featured book.

Book two in my fantasy series is called The Chronicles of Bren, Sacrifice. Our protagonist, Lee Jennings, is a couple of years older when he finds himself transported back to the land of Bren in a most unusual way (though seen before in The Wizard of Oz, the story of transport is based on a real-life episode from my life on the farm. You’ll have to read the end of the book to find out that I was not merely paying homage to The Wizard of Oz!). Once in Bren, he discovers that he is now in his early 50s and that he is now the high king of Bren. Wondering aloud as to how he got to that age and position, King Leonolis/Lee is met by a presence - the Voice - who takes him on a journey of re-living his life…and the discovery of all the sacrifice involved in getting him to the place of prestige and power he now finds himself. In Sacrifice, the reader gets to experience Leonolis falling in love, the saga of the dragon wars, the loss of a dear friend, the birth of his own children, and many other adventures along the way! Taking the lessons learned from his adventures in book one, Leonolis learns many new and valuable lessons along the way. As always, he faces many dangers and encounters with many fantastic beings. The ending of this book is my favorite simply because it really happened!

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

A Mighty Rushing Wind

Lee had gone out early that day to rake the hay his father had mowed the day before. As always, he tended to get lost in his own thoughts, daydreaming and daydreaming for hours on end. More often than not, his dreams ventured off into long forgotten memories of a land far, far away. His memories of the land of Bren, for all intents and purposes, were like quickly vanishing wisps of smoke that lingered briefly around his head throughout the day, never quite lighting for long in his mind’s eye. Such days spent trying to recall those memories was like trying to speak a well-known word but having a lapse of mental capacity to actually commit the words to speech. He never quite got there, but it wasn’t for lack of trying!

The days spent in search of those almost remembered adventures went by far too quickly for Lee. On one hand, the monotony of going round and round those hay fields was not monotonous at all, but on the other hand, he often came away mentally exhausted from trying to recall what could not be recalled.

Lee was a year older since returning from Bren. Everyone could see the change. No one could understand how such a formerly weak, fearful boy could suddenly be transformed, as if overnight, into a confident, strong-of-character young man. Respected by his peers for standing up to the bullies that day and equally respected by his elders because of his work ethic and strong, manly way he looked everyone in the eye, Lee was growing into his manhood. Growing into it well.

Still, if only people knew the inner turmoil he faced. Even though he had the respect of the other boys, the teasing continued. He just no longer gave the tormentors the satisfaction of a response other than to shrug his shoulders and walk away. Mostly his turmoil was a cacophony of messages bombarding his brain. His body was changing from that of a boy to a man—and when he had tried to talk with his dad about it, his dad had seemed more embarrassed than Lee, walking awkwardly away from the conversation. Lee had just assumed that this subject was off-limits—which made him feel ungrounded in his identity, even if he did carry himself more confidently on the outside.

Coupling those thoughts with the struggle to remember all he had experienced in Bren—at least he thought the land had been called Bren—left him mentally exhausted more often than not, but

even this served him well. He figured that he spent too much time trying to figure things out if it tuckered him out that much. Even as a young man, he attained the wisdom to enjoy the journey and to live his life as an adventure. Trying to figure things out, he rightly asserted to himself, would work out in the proper time. Crazy as it may sound, he felt like he had some special purpose in life—like a kingly calling he told himself. Funny, but that thought seemed right to him.

As his thoughts were once again drifting back to a horse he had once known somewhere in his dreams, his mind was suddenly jolted back into the present. He had been so enthralled in his daydreams that he hadn’t even felt the wind come up or sensed the dark clouds that had drifted over the farm. As the first drops of rain began to pour, Lee stopped the tractor and began to turn the handles that would lift the rake teeth high enough above the ground so as to not drag as he high-tailed it home. Disengaging the rake’s gears so the teeth would no longer rotate, he jumped back into the tractor seat and at that very moment, lightning struck so close to him that he froze in fear, his skin growing as pale as the light seemed to be growing around him.

Lightning. Bad news for anyone trapped in an open field. He knew what his dad had taught him. “At the first sign of lightning, get off the tractor and get inside.” This warning had been indelibly burned into his senses the day he saw that old milk cow get hit by a bolt from the blue. One moment the cow had been peacefully grazing and the next she laid dead where she stood only a second before.

And that day there had been no rain and no wind, just one single bolt from the clouds to the ground! But this was different! Lightning was now dancing all around him in the sky and, as if in some crazed choreography, stepping around the field amid deafening claps of thunder. Lee knew this was bad. How could he have been so foolish as to never see it coming?

That really draws my interest to find out what happens next. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.dennisjernigan.com

www.thechroniclesofbren.com

https://m.facebook.com/official.dennisjernigan/

Other Books by Dennis Jernigan

A Mystery of Majesty (Angel Award Winner)

This Is My Destiny

Help Me To Remember

What Every Boy Should Know...What Every Man Wishes His Dad Had Told Him

Giant Killers

A Worshiper’s Guid to Creativity, Song Writing, and Ministry

Victim to Victor

A Worshiper’s Guide to the Holy Land

Daily Devotions For Kingdom Seekers - Vol. I

Sing Over Me - Autobiography

The Chronicles of Bren: Book One: Captured

The Chronicles of Bren: Book Two: Sacrifice

The Chronicles of Bren: Book Three: Generations

The Christmas Dream

Daddy’s Song

A Thread of Hope

How To Write A Book

The Bairn of Bren - under construction 

Thank you, Dennis, for sharing this book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Chronicles of Bren: Sacrifice: Book Two - paperback
The Chronicles of Bren: Sacrifice: Book Two - Kindle

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

TO HEAL A COWBOY'S HEART - Janet Lee Barton - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, I'm sorry to be so late posting this. I slept late this morning after a Father's Day filled with church and fun activities. James and I went to two different celebrations with parts of our family. The first one had to happen earlier, because our younger grandson had to go to work before the celebration at his sister's house.

As I’ve told you before, Janet is a good friend of mine. I don’t see her as often as I’d like to, because she lives in Oklahoma and I live in Texas, but my husband and I love spending time with her and her husband. Her recent books have been historical romances. This one is a contemporary, and there’s a cowboy involved. What’s not to love?

Welcome back, Janet. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I can’t remember when I didn’t believe in the Lord. I was raised in the church and I became a Christian when I was twelve years old when my cousin and I were baptized on the same day. So very thankful for God’s plan for our salvation through His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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

Oh, Lena, I know so many wonderful authors I would love to spend time with. I can’t name just four. J

I know what you mean. I’d have a hard time answering this question myself. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I don’t have a speaking ministry, but I love talking about the Lord, and about how blessed we are to have salvation and the hope and promise of having a home in Heaven through Jesus Christ.

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

Lol. Happened when I was around fourteen, and it’s still too embarrassing to tell. Really.

Now you’ve really piqued my curiosity. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I tell them to go for it. But to learn all they can about writing and to develop a good writing habit. To go to conferences so that they can learn from professionals, meet other writers, agents, and editors. And to keep the joy in it.

That’s all good advice, but that last phrase is essential. Tell us about the featured book.

After her aunt suffers a stroke, Sierra Ramsey comes home to stay in Golden Creek, determined to stay but dreading to run into the man she’d once loved and then walked out on—without telling him why. Even though she thought she was doing the right thing for his sake, she’s lived to regret it. But the reasons why haven’t changed, and she can’t see how things would ever have worked for them.

When she finds he’s now a widower with a child, by a chance meeting with his mother-in-law, her heart breaks once more that he’d made a life for himself fairly soon after she left. But when her aunt tells her all the family has gone through and then Clint’s mother-in-law telephones that evening and offers her a job she needs as badly as they need help, compassion and common sense win out, and Sierra finds herself accepting against her better judgment.

When Clint finds out his mother-in-law has hired Sierra as a nanny to his daughter, he’s livid and is determined to find a way to let Sierra go. That is, until his young daughter takes to her in a way she’s never taken to anyone else and his in-laws accept her with open arms. For the sake of the family he loves, he tries to accept that the Lord has sent Sierra to help them in a time of need and prays she doesn’t run out and leave his little girl—or anyone else heartbroken.

It doesn’t take long until the two realize that they never stopped loving one another, but can they face the past and find a way back to what they once were, or will there be hearts left broken once more?

Please give us the first page of the book.

The moment Sierra Ramsey walked into Myers Drugstore with her aunt, it seemed as if the last three and a half years of her life faded away and she’d never left her home town. The medicinal smell, mixed with the sweet aroma of the perfume a woman was trying on at the cosmetics counter, took her back to her high school days. She and her friends would come in on weekends and sample the newest fragrances before their dates that night. She’d spent many an hour at the old fashioned soda fountain, and it pleased her to see that there were still fourteen stools along the bar and seven booths across from them. At least a few things had stayed the same.

     

Memories of sharing a sundae with Clint at one of those booths suddenly surfaced. They’d      been to a movie and come in afterward. They were laughing and talking about the movie when he reached across the booth and wiped some chocolate off her bottom lip. She could almost feel his touch, see the look in his eyes—

No. Sierra shook her head. She couldn’t let herself start thinking of him just because she was home again. She pulled her thoughts back to the present and concentrated on getting her aunt to the pharmacy counter at the back of the store.

You really hooked my interest with this page. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at  www.janetleebarton.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetleebartonbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetLeeBarton

Thank you, Janet, for sharing this new ebook with us. 

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

To Heal a Cowboy's Heart (Golden Creek Book 2)

Comments question: Do you like cowboy novels? Which is your favorite -- historical or contemporary?

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!!!!

Readers, sorry I'm late getting these posted. We had a wonderful service this morning. Then this afternoon/evening, we had two separate Father's Day celebrations with family members. What a wonderful day.

Wendy (FL) is the winner of A Nanny for Keeps by Janet Lee Barton.

Abigail (NC) is the winner of Medical Judgment by Richard Mabry, MD.

Becky (MO) is the winner of Captured by Dennis Jernigan.

Amanda J (FL) is the winner of No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer.

Laurie B (WI) is the winner of Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E Ladd.

If you won a book and you like it, please 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 an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

COLORING THE SCRIPTURES - Michelle Stimpson - One Free Coloring Book

Dear Readers, my friend, Michelle Stimpson, has created a scriptures coloring book. I know you’ve enjoyed her books I’ve featured. Just before I had my second knee-replacement surgery was Adult Coloring Week. Some coloring pages were online for people to print.

I’ve always loved coloring. I colored with my children and grandchildren. Then it became hard to find coloring books with pretty pictures in them. I printed up the pages and bought markers and crayons. I had artist’s coloring pencils. I put all this in my bag to go to rehab when I did. You only do rehab about two hours a day, and I knew I’d want something to keep me busy when I felt a little better.

Since then, I’ve acquired several coloring books for adults. This will be a good addition to my collection.

Welcome back, Michelle. You’ve spent most of your career writing Christian novels and novellas. Why a coloring book now?

Writers need relaxation, too! I’m not a big television-watcher, so I’m kind of getting into this coloring thing during my down-time. I also wanted to combine my coloring time with meditation. What better way than to incorporate the scriptures? I dabble here and there in graphic design, so I decided to give it a try.

Do you use markers or colored pencils when you color?

I mostly use Crayola® markers because they don’t bleed through pages often. I’ve tried colored pencils, but I get tired of sharpening them, so that’s out. If I come across a coloring book where the markers bleed through, I just put a sheet of paper between the page I’m working on and the next page.

When the Inspire Bible, which has illustrated verses to color in it, released earlier this year, I bought one. While I’m coloring the picture, I’m memorizing the verse. I use gel pens for things I want highlighted in the verse. Why do you think so many adults are turning to coloring these days?

Well, this coloring craze began with the art therapy movement some time around the 1940s. But I think it goes back beyond this relatively new form of psychological intervention. Our Heavenly Father is very creative. He’s created so many beautiful things in the earth. We don’t have to look for in order to behold His majesty. As His children, we’re much like Him in our desire to create beauty. Coloring is simply one more way to express our creativity as well.

Did you create the designs in the book by hand?

Well, that depends on what you mean by “by hand.” I clicked “by hand” and purchased some of the backgrounds—LOL! But no, I’m not much for drawing. Everything was done by purchasing fonts and background designs, then manipulating them through graphics software.

Will you be making another coloring book?

I’m thinking about it. When I’m sitting at a booth selling books, people will buy a coloring book often before they’ll buy a chapter book. The coloring books are quite a novelty, so I’ll pray about it and see where it goes!

Can children enjoy this coloring book, too?

Certainly! While most of the designs would take hours for anyone to complete, the book does contain some less intricate designs that would be great for kids.

How can my readers find you on the Internet?

My contact info:

www.MichelleStimpson.com

stimpson.michelle@gmail.com

Link to the book on Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/Coloring-Scriptures-Verses-Bible-Color/dp/1943563047

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing this with my blog readers.

Comment question to answer: Have you tried adult coloring? What is your favorite type of pictures to color?

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com.

IN LOVE AND WAR - Trish Perry and others - One Free Book

Dear Readers, In Love and War is another collection you’ll love. I love the writing of each of these authors, but I’m only interviewing one of them.

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

I wanted to set More Than Meets the Eye in nearby Washington, D.C., but I didn't want to write the stereotypical Washington politically themed story. So I made sure there were plenty of ad agencies in Washington and made both of my protagonists designers—I liked the idea of them having an artistic bent. And because this would be a relatively short work, I made them old high school classmates so they'd already have some history when they met at the beginning of the novella.

Are these stories connected in some way? If so, how?

Yes, our overall theme is romantic rivals, so there's conflict between the hero and heroine in each novella.

What are you reading right now?

I'm reading Anne Tyler's contemporary novel, Breathing Lessons, as well as Jennifer Donnelly's The Winter Rose, set in 1900's England.

How many other books have you had published?

I've published 12 romances and four books of devotions (with fellow authors).

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

It really depends upon the collection. In this case, it was easy for us to adhere to the common theme, which was our sole parameter. But I've been involved in other collections in which the stories were connected by events, or history, or family lines. When that happens, the different authors have to be far more coordinated in their efforts, and they're restricted in how much control they have over their stories.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

This project has been a dream. Every author is seasoned and professional. Not a diva or brat in the bunch! So I've thoroughly enjoyed working with these fine authors (Debby Mayne, Miralee Ferrell, and Kimberly Rose Johnson) and would gladly do so again. I think we've written a fun group of stories here.

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

My story involves a young woman who remembers the hero from their high school years, when his behavior offended her and left a lasting, bad taste in her mouth. She's cautious and unforgiving toward him right from the start. I hope my readers will understand what she gets wrong and what she gets right and maybe identify with how they might be making the same mistakes. We all make assumptions and incorrect judgments in life—we're only human!

Please give us a peek into your story.

Jensy St. Martin is not pleased when she recognizes the latest ad man to join the Washington, D.C., agency she has long considered her professional home. Phil Quinn was a cocky, love-’em-and-leave-’em type when they attended the same high school ten years ago, and she senses he hasn’t changed much since then. When the two ad designers are forced to work together on a campaign, Jensy learns more than she wants to know about the man, and his growing attractiveness becomes the least of her worries.

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

If you insist on reading reviews of your work, take neither the most glowing nor the most glaring too much to heart.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.trishperry.com

www.facebook.com/TrishPerryAuthor

www.twitter.com/TrishPerryWrtr

Thank you, Trish, 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.
In Love and War - Paperback
In Love and War - Kindle

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIGHTED - Crystal L Barnes - One Free Book or Ebook

Dear Readers, when I first read Crystal Barnes’s debut novel, I told people that she is an author to watch. Her stories really grabbed my heart, and her writing is wonderful. I have to confess that I haven’t read this one yet, because my copy hasn’t arrived. The other two grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until I finished reading them. And she does her own covers, which I loved, too. So I asked her to design the cover for The Gold Digger. The cover wasn’t what I expected, but I loved it. When she told me she prayed about the cover and this was the design that came to her, I knew why.

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

Umm…books. =D

Tell us a little about your family.

Ooo, what a question. We love playing games—board games, card games, etc. My parents both came from big families so get-togethers can be a bit chaotic. And loud. Quietness is not our strong suite. Maybe that’s ’cause we grew up playing outside in the sticks where noise didn’t matter so much. J There’s always loads of laughter, though when we get together.

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

Oh my, yes! I don’t get near as much reading time as I used to, but reading is still one of my definite ways to recharge those creative juices. I also know when I get a hold of a good book because I’ll stop wanting to pick it apart and get sucked into the story. Oh, the woes of an author. J

What are you working on right now?

Recovering from a book launch. J My novella Signed, Sealed, and Delighted has the special thrill of currently being included in the Texas Historical Romance collection titled Lone Star Love alongside four other great authors. We threw a week-long Facebook party to celebrate. Loads of fun!

I’m also working on my next story Hook, Line, & Suitor (Marriage & Mayhem series, book 3). Ideas for a future series are also swimming in my brain.

What outside interests do you have?

Outside as in outdoors? Or outside as in “not in my office”? LOL. I’m looking forward to a trip this summer. We hope to spend family time horseback riding, hiking, swimming, and maybe even finding a museum or two. OH, and how could I forget fishing! We hope to do that as well.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Well, I know Texas. I’ve lived here all my life and have been traveling all over it since I was a kiddo. So I work with what I know. Although all my places so far have been fictionalized, oft times loosely based on real places. I’ve also based some of the houses in my stories on homes that I’ve toured on some of my trips. I’ve got pictures of some of them up on my website (www.crystal-barnes.com).

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

Hmm…that’s a hard one. I talk to Jesus every day. He’s both past, present, and future. Other than Him, perhaps…hmm…I don’t know. Annie Oakley? Or maybe one of my ancestors who first came to Texas in the 1840s?

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

Oy, another hard one. Maybe…don’t rush the learning process. I know some of us have to learn the hard way, but taking the time to learn from others mistakes and successes is never a waste.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Trusting Him amidst the chaos. Being an author (a human), there are so many things that demand my time and focus. New things pop up often. If we listen too much to the “noise” around us, we get all jumbled up and may miss what He’s trying to tell us or teach us in that moment. I don’t want to miss anything He is saying or teaching me. I love Him and I want how I spend my time to reflect that. He knows what I need to get done and when it needs doing.

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

Pray.

Follow God’s leading.

Write to please Him. Not others. He’ll take it from there. J

Those are so true. Tell us about the featured book.

Signed, Sealed, and Delighted is an adapted version of one of the first stories I ever wrote, the first story that God really dropped into my heart and sealed my calling to write for Him. Originally released as the short story “Let's Make a Deal,” Signed, Sealed, and Delighted is more than double the length and packed with even more fun, faith, and friction than before. As I mentioned earlier, it’s currently being featured in the collection Lone Star Love with fellow authors Janice Thompson, Kathleen Y’Barbo, Vickie McDonough, and Marcia Gruver.

Here’s the blurb:

Her father's dying wish changes everything ... After years of working in the Cater Springs’ clinic, Sarah Asher never planned on marriage. However, she neglected to mention that to her pa. Determined to fulfill his dying wish, despite her well-informed fears, Sarah marries Joseph Matthews but only after a few signed and sealed promises. One in particular—he can kiss any dreams of sharing a room with her goodbye.

Joe has never had any luck with woman, and marriage doesn’t seem prone to change that. Sarah might be a handsome filly and his only ticket to inheriting the ranch promised him, but she’s pricklier than a barrel cactus and more temperamental than a Texas tornado. Keeping his distance from her should be easy. Only it isn’t. The beautiful woman attracts trouble and constantly requires saving, putting her well within arms’ reach.

Will signed promises seal their fate to a loveless marriage, or can Sarah move past her fears to find a love worth delighting in?

Please give us the first page of the book.

May 25th, 1877 – Wichita, Kansas

“Young man, this is normally when you say ‘I do.’”

Joseph Matthews shifted his focus from Sarah Asher to the silver-haired preacher who stood grinning at him. Swallowing, Joe resisted the urge to tug at his collar. He’d sealed his fate with those two words weeks ago just before digging her father’s grave, but today they threatened to crawl back down his throat and strangle him.

Allen Asher’s bloody but relieved face flashed through Joe’s mind. Shaking away the searing image, he wiped sweat from his forehead. That stampede had changed everything. That, and Allen’s dying wish. His mentor knew Joe had no luck with women. Why had he made such an outlandish request? Why did marrying Allen’s daughter have to be the only way to get the ranch he’d promised Joe, the ranch he’d put years of blood and sweat into?

“Son?” The old preacher shifted and placed a weathered hand on his Bible.

Twin lines formed between Sarah’s dark brows.

“Uh, sorry.” Joe rubbed at the tension building in his neck. “I do.”

With a tilt of her head, Sarah eyed him, then turned her attention to the preacher who was posing the same question to her.

Joe let his gaze slide the length of his soon-to-be wife. Maybe marrying Sarah might not be so bad. After all, she was a mighty handsome woman. Even bathed in trail dust. And wearing a Stetson. A smile tugged at his lips. Did she realize she still wore her hat? Doubtful. What female in her right mind got married in a cowboy hat? Then again, who would confuse Sarah for most women? If her raven locks didn’t set her apart, her mouth would the minute she opened it.

“I…” Deep green eyes wide with uncertainty sought his, then shifted back toward the preacher. “Excuse us a moment, Reverend?”

“Uh, of course.”

Joe looked at the minister in stunned astonishment a split second before Sarah grabbed his arm and tugged him down the aisle of the small, stuffy church to within a foot of the exit.

“What’s the matter?” The words hissed through his lips. “I thought this is what we’d agreed upon?”

Sarah peeked at the preacher, then answered in the same hushed volume. “There are a few things I need to make sure of first.”

“You couldn’t have mentioned that a day ago? Or maybe even an hour? The preacher’s waiting.”

“Do you want to keep your word to my father or not?”

Joe frowned. “You know I’m a man of my word. Now what’s this about?”

“First—”

“You mean there’s more than one?”

Readers, see what I mean. Doesn’t that make you want to run out and get her book right now? Crystal, how can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m so glad you asked. J Readers can connect with me at my website or on my blog, my Amazon Author page, Goodreads, Pinterest, Google+, or on my Facebook author page.

I look forward to “seeing” y’all!

Thanks so much, Lena, for having me as a guest on your blog!

It’s my great pleasure to feature you here, Crystal.

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

Signed, Sealed, and; Delighted: Prequel Novella (Marriage and; Mayhem Book 0)
Lone Star Love: Five Historical Romances Set in the Lone Star State

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the your choice of the books. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

MY FATHER'S HOUSE - Rose Chandler Johnson - One Free Book

Bio: Rose Chandler Johnson is the author of the award winning devotional God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments. My Father's House is her first novel. She happily makes her home near Augusta, Georgia.

Welcome, Rose. (Actually, Rose is my middle name.) Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Probably more than I realize. My protagonist , Lily Rose, and I share many of the same interests—the love of writing and the French language, gardening—and in many ways, our lives took similar paths.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

In the privacy of my own backyard, I have been known to hug an old oak tree.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

As a child, when I was no more than eight or nine, I wrote plays for my two sisters and brother and I to perform in a large back room of our house. I can’t imagine why they always listened to my directions. My stage name was always the most beautiful actress name I could think up at the time—Sandra Blake. Later, in high school, I dreamed of being a writer one day and started writing in college.

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

I read non-fiction more than fiction, and books on religion and spirituality, in particular. I like devotionals. I love Oswald Chambers and have read his complete works. The classics and the “must-reads” for college were foundational for me. But I love bestsellers sagas such as The Thorn Birds and A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I read novels by Daniel Silva and John Grisham, and occasionally a Stephen King novel. All the Light We Cannot See is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

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

My relationship with Jesus and my quiet time with God keeps me focused.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I do spend some time choosing names. But, basically, I go with what sounds suitable and fitting for the story and the heritage and personality of the character. Lily Rose could have only been a Southern girl named after the flowers in the spring. 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising my six children

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

I’d probably be a dog, maybe like the little terrier who takes up with Lily Rose on her trek to Wilcox Station.

What is your favorite food?

That’s hard to say; I’m not a picky eater and I come from a family of good cooks so I really enjoy eating. Favorite food? Let me say—crème brulee.

I love that, too, but I don’t eat it very often. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I’m still working on the greatest roadblock, which is managing my time to write. My family has always been my priority, so I have to work very hard to carve out time to write. Often I have to give myself permission to make writing time for me.

Tell us about the featured book.

One reviewer called it “a triumphant story of hope.” I think that describes it. It reminds me of the verse Psalms 27:13:

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

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

“Go on, Darling, and see about the colt,” I said. He stirred a cup of steaming coffee, and then handed it to me. When my hands wrapped around the warm ceramic mug, he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to my forehead. I closed my eyes, grateful for his touch.

“I love you,” he said, while taking me by the shoulders and gently pulling me into the circle of his arms. I laid my head against his chest and felt its rise and fall.

“Go,” I whispered. “I’m going to take a walk and look at the gardens.”

He rubbed my back in wide slow circles.

“I’m grateful she died in the spring,” I said.

“I won’t be long. I imagine I’ll find you sitting under the magnolia when I return.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’ll join you there,” he said.

I followed him out onto the porch and watched him walk to the truck, stop, and turn. He fixed his gaze on me, and I knew he didn’t want to leave. I smiled then, and he nodded before getting in and backing down the driveway. He waved, and something about his smile and the gentle blue of the sky strengthened my heart. I watched him disappear down the street before I turned and walked back inside.

Yesterday we buried the woman who raised me, tethering my heartstrings to both heaven and earth. Full of simple goodness, her love never let me go. She wanted to be buried next to her husband, and so she is, and before we lowered her body into the red Georgia clay, we read the 23rd Psalm. The words flowed like a soothing balm.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This morning the words are whispering to my soul, and I can’t help remembering.

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/217Bvib

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Blog: http://www.writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rechanjo

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rosecjohnson/boards/

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18188725-rose-chandler-johnson

Thank you, Rose, for sharing this book with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

A SILVER MEDALLION - James R Callan - One Free Book

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

A Silver Medallion releases this week. The horizon is filled with my least favorite activity - marketing. But this is an important book in that it highlights the plight of so many people who get trapped in an intolerable situation, with no way to get out, and the good people who try to help them. So I will market it to the best of my ability.

A very important topic. Tell us a little about your family.

My wife and I have four grown children and six grandchildren. Unfortunately, they are scattered across the U.S. from Pennsylvania to California. It does provide us with ample reasons to travel.

I’m really blessed to have all my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren live within 20 miles of us. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Yes, it has, mostly in three ways. My favorite genre to read is mystery. But when I am in the midst of writing a mystery, I do not read mysteries. Second, now I read more "women's fiction" to learn more about emotions. And as I meet more writers, I read their books, thus expanding my reading list.

What are you working on right now?

I have begun the third Father Frank mystery, which will follow Cleansed by Fire and Over My Dead Body. These are cozy mysteries where a minister must solve the crime.

What outside interests do you have?

My wife and I both love to travel and we do a good bit of that, both in the U.S. and abroad. In Texas, we live in the middle of a forest and when we are home, we spend a lot of time outdoors, working on the gardens, cutting dead trees, or just enjoying nature.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

All of my recent books have a Texas flavor. Beyond that, the major conflict often leads me to the location.

I’ve written books set all over the U.S., but now I’m trying to use Texas settings more often. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

I think it might be John F. Kennedy. He brought a spirit to America that was not here before and has not been here since. I’d want to ask him what could be done today to restore some of that spirit, that optimism, that patriotism back to the country.

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

How important and difficult marketing would be. Even with a publisher, today the author is expected to do most of the marketing. It is something I am ill-equipped to do. And it is very time consuming. But it is an important part of being an author in 2016.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Patience. And I seem to be a slow learner.

I’m thinking all authors have a hard time with that. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Write. Read. Market. First and foremost, you must write a lot—every day if possible. Second, you need to read a variety of good authors. Reading different authors gives you a balance. Reading only one author, even though he or she is good, does not provide a well-rounded background. And reading good authors puts good writing in your psyche. Reading bad writing does the opposite. Marketing is a reality. It should start early. Some say before the book starts. I’m not sure about that, but certainly early is better than later.

Tell us about the featured book.

In A Silver Medallion , young, unadventurous Crystal Moore meets a woman held slave in modern Dallas, Texas. She is not held by chains, but by threats to harm her two children left in Mexico if she should escape or even tell anyone of her situation.

Crystal would like to forget about this, but her conscience won’t let her. She finally realizes that the only resolution is to go to Mexico and try to rescue the two girls, for only when they are free and safe will the mother dare to escape.

In Mexico, she enlists the aid of mysterious Juan Grande. If she succeeds, the children and the mother will be free, but Crystal will have two powerful and ruthless men who will want her dead.                    

Please give us the first page of the book.

CRYSTAL Moore drove slowly along the sandy road that curved through the property she had roamed as a child. Her grandparents had christened it “The Park” when they purchased it over fifty years ago. To Crystal, they could have named it Serenity. The tall, stately Southern pines, the oak and hickory trees, the mirror-still lake, the peaceful quiet, all worked to cast a spell of tranquility over her.

Crystal’s maroon LeSabre crested the hill. Two hundred feet ahead, her grandmother stood under a maple tree, its autumn foliage creating a golden halo above her grey hair. Eula Moore was staring at the small storage shed about twenty feet behind her cedar-shake house. She aimed a double-barreled shotgun at the door of the building.

Fifty feet from Eula, Crystal switched off the ignition, eased out of the car, and moved forward, careful not to crack a twig or crunch a dried leaf. Now she saw her grandmother’s right index finger curled around the trigger. Whatever was going on, she did not want to distract her Nana.

Eula Moore pointed the shotgun at the shed, her wrinkled hands as steady as those of an eye surgeon. “Don’t make no sudden moves. I got a nervous trigger finger. I might just blow your head off.”

Nothing moved.

“Now, very slowly, come on out in the open, and keep them hands over your head where I can see ‘em.”

Experience told Crystal her grandmother had heard the car, but Eula’s attention never left the shed. The elderly woman stooped down, gaze still fixed on the building, picked up a rock with her left hand and made a sweeping, underhanded throw. As the chunk of limestone arched skyward, Eula pulled the ancient shotgun up and once more trained it on the shed.

The rock struck the tin roof with a satisfying bang. No animal came bolting out the door. The noise echoed and died away. The birds stopped their chirping. All was quiet.

Crystal crept up beside her grandmother. “What’s in there, Nana?” she whispered.

“Animal. Person. Beats me. But I didn’t git to seventy-five being careless.”

Eula Moore, five feet two inches tall, ninety-five pounds with short-cropped grey hair, held a strategic position. No one could leave the shed without coming into her gun’s sight. And no one could see her without first revealing himself. Eula looked frail, but her voice was strong, her will stronger. “Better come out ‘fore I start shootin’.”

A slight breeze wiggled the leaves on a towering oak tree shading the area. A squirrel sat motionless. The scene was as peaceful as a painting of a country lane. Except for the shotgun.

A few moments passed. Then a single finger came into view. Gradually, it turned into a whole hand, waving in a small arc. “Por favor, no dispare.” The tiny brown hand fluttered again. The voice quavered slightly. “Please. No shoot. No shoot.”

           

Eula didn’t lower the gun or take her gaze off the shed. “Por favor? Spanish?” Eula said to Crystal. Then to the tiny hand, “Manos arriba.”

Now, two hands waved. But no body appeared.

“You need to work on your Spanish, Nana. He may not know what you’re saying.”

Eula snorted. “Pardon me. I didn’t go to S.M.U. Or Stanford. Maybe you can do better.”

Crystal turned toward the shed. “Salga con las manos arriba. Come out with your hands up.”

A foot materialized in the opening. “Hands up.” Then a body began to emerge. “Hands up.”

Was it a child? Little more than five feet tall and slender as broomcorn, she could have been a girl of fourteen. Her uncombed hair, nearly reaching her waist, appeared as black and shiny as obsidian. Pink and blue embroidery decorated the rough-woven, white dress hanging from her shoulders and stopping just short of her scratched knees. Well-worn leather sandals revealed feet accustomed to no shoes at all.

The small hands trembled slightly as the young Mexican edged forward, but she held her head high and her back ramrod straight.

Eula waggled the barrel of the shotgun at the girl. “Far enough. Hold it right there. Alto.” Eula focused on the girl, but spoke to Crystal. “Okay. So I don’t remember my Spanish good enough to find out what I got here. See what you can do. But don’t get in my line of fire.”

A cloud drifted away, allowing the sun to play fully on the girl’s face. This was not a child. Those large eyes could not develop such sadness, such pain, in such a short life.

“¿Como se llama?” Crystal asked.

The thin young woman maintained her focus on the gun. “Rosa. Rosa Bonita Lopez.”

“¿Habla Ingles? Do you speak English?”

“Un poco.”

“Hablo Español un poco. Vamos probando con Ingles. Let’s try English,” said Crystal. The young woman’s expression did not change, nor did her attention waiver from the shotgun.

“Okay. Your name is Rosa Bonita.”

“Si. Yes.”

“And what were you doing in the shed?”

The Mexican woman’s forehead wrinkled and she tilted her head slightly to one side. Is she puzzled by the English or by what kind of an answer to give? Crystal tried Spanish again. “¿Que hacias en el cobertizo?”

After several seconds, Rosa looked at Crystal. “Food.”

“You were looking for food?”

“Si.”

“Are you hungry?”

Eula made a small grunt. “Dumb question.”

“Si. Yes.”

“When did you eat last? ¿Cuándo comiste por última vez?"

“Ayer en la mañana.”

“Yesterday morning!” Crystal turned to her grandmother. “She’s probably starving. Let’s take her in and give her something to eat. Then we can find out why she’s here.”

Eula didn’t move or lower the shotgun but Crystal walked over, smiling, took the young woman’s hand and led her into the house.

I’m eager to read the rest. I’ll do that as soon as I finish the book I’m reading now. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Amazon Author's page:          http://amzn.to/1eeykvG

Website:                                 http://www.jamesrcallan.com

Blog:                                       http://www.jamesrcallan.com/blog

Facebook:                               https://www.facebook.com/james.callan.33865

GoodReads:                            http://bit.ly/13fCBdp

Thank you, James, for sharing this new book with us. My blog readers will find the story as fascinating as I do.

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

A Silver Medallion (Crystal Moore Suspense) (Volume 2) - Paperback
A Silver Medallion (A Crystal Moore Suspense Book 2) - Kindle

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com