HIDING FROM THE KIDS IN MY PRAYER CLOSET - Jessica Kastner - One Free Book

Welcome, Jessica. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?
I’m very laid back, because I’ve learned to not take life, or myself, too seriously. I can usually see the humor in most situations, even the stressful ones!

Tell us about your family.
I have three of the best boys in the world—Jack, Eli, and Kenai, and have been blessed with greatest, most supportive family, especially my mom, two sisters, and many cousins and friends all living in the same small town we all grew up in. I feel God has blessed me “extra” in this department, because he knew it’d take a village to help my nutty self get through life gracefully.

Have you written other nonfiction books?
Nope, this is the first one!

Do you have any other books in the works right now?
Yes, I have two more books in the works. The first is called Pretty Holy, which encourages women to find joy, even from the trenches, and the next is a funny book about what dating is like, from a Christian woman’s perspective. So fun to write!

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?
Writing is my number source of fun, but when my fingers cramp up, I love trail running, hiking, and doing anything outdoors with my boys. I also run my state chapter of Straight Ahead Ministries, leading weekly Bible studies within juvenile detention centers. Biggest adventure of my life!

Why did you write the featured book?
I wrote this as a source of therapy after having two babies within two years, haha! Seriously though, when I had my first, I remember feeling a bit alone, not quite fitting in with the moms around me, or even at church. I’ve more “un natural” for me—like I didn’t necessarily enjoy or succeed at the typical mom activities like arts and crafts time, or joining the local moms club. I remember wondering, is it just me, or is this a bit more lonely, rough, unrewarding than I thought it’d be, or that everyone around me makes it seem? Later in life I fortunately made great mom friends to share my trials and victories with, but not everyone finds that, so I wanted to write a true, no-holds barred, manifesto about what motherhood is really like for us “unmoms,” to encourage readers they’re not alone, and to chose laughter over defeat when motherhood “gets real.”

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?
Honestly I’d love for moms to feel a sense of relief, feeling like they’re reading things they’ve always felt, but never said aloud because they thought they were the only ones interpreting motherhood through such a crazy lens. I hope moms laugh their hearts out and also feel comfort and liberation because I believe there’s such freedom in sharing our struggles.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?
I always want to emphasize that although my brand is an #unmom (mothers who love their kids more than the daily acts of mothering) this isn’t a book casting a negative light on motherhood or any certain type of mother. Having kids has been, and always will be the single greatest blessing of my life, and has transformed my heart in ways nothing else could have. Motherhood takes sacrifice and hard work, but so do most experiences that are really worth it.

Please give us the first page or two from the book.

You can both read the first pages of the book and order a copy at this link:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2rPn1HV

How can my readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.jessicakastner.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorJessicakastner/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessKastner

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicakastner1/

Thank you, Jessica, for sharing this book with us. It sounds like a book I wish I’d read after my first child was born.

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 or country if outside North America. (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

GROUNDED HEARTS - Jeanne M Dickson - One Free Book

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

I’m in all my characters. I go deep inside my soul to that place of sorrow or longing or fear or whatever is needed, and I find my character’s humanity.                                

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I collected an assortment of Barbie and Ken dolls that I dress and place on my desk for every novel I write. It’s like having central casting right here in my office.

Sounds like fun to me. When did you first discover you were a writer?

Sixth grade. I was so mad at my older brothers that I decided I was going to kill them off in a murder mystery novel. Unfortunately, it only took one page. But it was satisfying.

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

I love clean romances, but I also enjoy a fast moving thriller. And I’ve never met a book on writing that I didn’t like. Or buy.

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

Humor for sure. And yoga classes. I also have a great husband who patiently listens to my rants, then calms me down and sets me straight.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

First names usually just come to me. For last names, I find them on my framed map of Ireland that has hundreds of clan names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My two beautiful daughters.

I have only two beautiful daughters, too. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d be a big, lazy, over-loved house cat with a jeweled collar because I’d be admired and treasured. And I’d let my humans pet me. Sometimes.

What is your favorite food?

Greek olives.

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

The craft of writing in general. I attended many workshops, read many craft books, and practice, practice, practice.

Tell us about the featured book.

Grounded Hearts is set in Ireland. In the midst of World War II, Ireland has declared herself neutral. Troops found on Irish soil must be reported and interned, no matter which side they are fighting for. When midwife Nan O’Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she’s taking a huge risk by letting him in. Not only is she a widow living alone, but if caught harboring a combatant, she’ll face imprisonment.

Still, something compels Nan to take in “flyboy” Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection—and an unbreakable bond.

But Nan has another secret, one that has racked her with guilt since her husband’s death and made her question ever loving again. As Nan and Dutch plan his escape, can he help restore her faith?

Please give us the first page of the book.

10 February 1941

Ballyhaven, County Clare, Ireland

Dutch Whitney hit the bog hard, tumbling forward to smack facedown into the muck. The taste of dirt and the searing pain in his knee and arm signaled that the Canadian RAF pilot was alive. He’d survived the jump from the bomber. He looked side to side at the moonlit marsh for any sign of his crew.

He saw nothing.

His parachute floated down around him, the thin material in the moonlight. He unlatched the chute and batted the silk away, but it fell on top of him like a giant spiderweb.

Don’t panic, he told himself. Otherwise, he’d end up drowning in the bog like those RAF pilots in France.

Wind howled across the marsh, billowing the parachute. There. An opening in the material. Crawling on his elbows with his belly dragging through the mire, he managed to free himself. Icy mud and water sank into his boots, through his pants, and down inside his flight jacket. His old football injury, sustained in his days at McGill University, sent stabbing throbs through his knee. The shrapnel cut on his left arm burned with every movement, but he had to get out of the bog, find his crew, and then figure out where exactly in Ireland he’d landed.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

website - http://www.jeannemdickson.com/

FB - https://www.facebook.com/Jeanne-M-Dickson-660226910801814/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jmdickson1

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannedickson/

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

Grounded Hearts - Christianbook.com
Grounded Hearts - Amazon paperback
Grounded Hearts - Kindle
Grounded Hearts - Audio book

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 or country if outside North America. (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

MERMAID'S SONG - Darlene Franklin - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, we’re celebrating something very special. The release of my friend Darlene Franklin’s 50^th unique, stand-alone title. We’re glad you joined us today.

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

As you know, Mermaid’s Song is my fiftieth unique, stand-alone title. I am so excited and thrilled that God has brought me to this milestone.

The immediate horizon is bright but a little unclear. I have three more novellas coming out this year, and I’m committed to write three more next year. I recently signed up with an agent (for the first time in several years) and we have several projects in mind. One editor has already requested a proposal, so I am very excited, but it’s not time yet to share any details. I’ll just say it would take me in a different direction. 

Tell us a little about your family.

My family is small but much-loved. My son lives only a couple of miles away from me. I’m blessed to see him every week. He loves the Lord and has followed in his mother’s steps, teaching children at church. He and his wife have two lovely adult daughters (by her first marriage), Savannah and Shannon. 8 ½ year old Jordan is a mini-me, with a talent for music and a love for telling stories, snapping brown eyes and dark, dark, hair. (The way mine used to be.) My lone grandson, Isaiah, brings up the caboose at six. He just finished kindergarten, and trains are his passion.

Recently I’ve also heard from my cousins. What a treat!

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

My reading habits have changed some. Lately I’ve read very little, which is a shame. I read more widely. I definitely read more romance than I did before, I try some of the bestsellers, and enjoy a good memoir, but mysteries continue to be my default preference.

What are you working on right now?

I just finished writing prayers to go with Barbour’s 12 Months to Better Prayer Guide for Women, due for publication next February. I’m also writing this year’s Christmas novella, The Christmas Child, which will be part of Forget-Me-Not Romances Christmas Masquerade collection.

For fun I’m working on a story about a horse for my granddaughter, and I’m listing all of God’s questions in the Bible for a possible devotional book someday.

What outside interests do you have?

I love to color pictures. I play piano for the church group that worships here on Sunday and Wednesday. I’m active with my local branch of American Christian Fiction Writers, which is OCFW. I’m not sure what the letters stand for—Oklahoma City Fiction Writers? Oklahoma Christian Fiction Writers?

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Sometimes the setting is dictated by the collection I’m in. Other times it’s a marketing decision. If a publisher is looking for certain settings, or state collections, I will consider that in preparing a proposal. I try to choose a setting I either know personally, or that is similar to one I know.

In the case of Mermaid’s Song, the story had to take place somewhere—anywhere—along America’s coastline. My mermaid would be shipwrecked. So I chose Maine, my beloved home state.

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

Oh, that’s always tough. I would love to meet one of those difference makers. What made them take that one bold step—Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, Rosa Parks’ seat on the bus?

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

I’ve thought about this for a time, and I can’t think of anything. I might say, how hard it would be, how long it would take, that writing is just plain hard work. Writing isn’t for faint of heart!

Perhaps I would say, to trust my voice more. To believe in myself and not to ask for so much validation. When I was starting out, those external validations were important. Winning contests and getting positive reviews from paid critiques told me I was on my way to being a good writer. But even after I mastered the craft, I continued to seek validation.

We all need validation. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

A new-old lesson: dealing with adversity. Do I respond to the people who are serving me, whether poorly or well, with respect and gratitude, or do I react with anger? Is the appropriate response to stay and fight—or to seek other accommodations? If I choose to move, do I trust God to go before me, lining up the people and connections I need? I have relished the regular, twice-a-week ministry of a local church. “What if” I don’t find that if I move?

Times like this show me as the weakling I am, with my hornest’s nest with murmurings and unforgiveness and a lack of trust that God will lead me to a better place.

I am writing about some of this in my column “The View Through my Door” in the August issue of Book Fun Magazine.

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

Here I’m speaking to authors who have, to some degree, mastered the craft of writing and want to make a career of it:

Be flexible. If I refused to leave my pigeonhole, I wouldn’t have made it to 50 books. I might have run out of any publishing options a number of times over the years.

Study the market. If I am choosing between two ideas—say, a mail order bride story set in Wyoming or a regency romance—it helps to know that the mail order bride story will probably sell better.

Be prepared to promote yourself. Even the most established publishing houses expect their authors to do what they can to promote their books. If you self-publish, or work for a small independent publishing company like Forget Me Not Romances, it’s absolutely essential. People aren’t going to just stumble on your books. It’s more time consuming than difficult, but blogs, newsletters, social media, videos, so on and so on and so on.

Tell us about the featured book.

At last, the much anticipated 50th book by Darlene Franklin!

Noble Prescott is drawn to the scene of a shipwreck by a sweet song sung in a language he didn’t understand. The songstress is barely alive, holding onto a piece of the ship’s railing. Her dress wraps around her legs like a mermaid’s tail.

Thus begins this imaginative retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale.

Justine Battineaux, an Acadian forced from her homeland on Cape Breton Island by British decree, finds herself adrift in the Maine colony. She doesn’t know the language and is distrusted as a foreigner.

Noble lives up to his name, providing shelter for Justine—and protection, as distrust turns into danger. For himself, his family—and the woman he comes to love.

How will Justine and Noble overcome the evil woman’s schemes to find their own love everlasting?

I’m eager to read it. Please give us the first page of the book.

Justine Battineaux huddled next to her maman and her sister in the belly of the ship. The walls tilted and water spread across the floor.

“Will this storm never end? So many are sick.” A storm had raged since the previous evening. The three of them experienced only mild discomfort but many others suffered. After a brief rest, Justine moved among the passengers.

The English didn’t intend death for the Acadians. In fact, they had left them in peace for forty years after the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It was only after the renewal of hostilities between the two countries that the British had demanded they show their loyalty to the crown by taking up arms against the French. The price of their refusal? Their homes had been burned and their lands confiscated. Justine was blessed that her family and village were left together. Others had been separated. No one knew where they were headed, except to some place totally loyal to the British. Until the storm arose, their final destination had dominated the passengers’ conversation.

Justine offered water to those who would take it until she ran out. Storm or no storm, she would ask for more. The door was locked, the guard gone. She knocked until her hands hurt from the effort before she sank to her knees. God, intervene. Protect and defend us, both English and Acadian.

The door creaked open. Theo Adams, a sailor who spoke passable French, stood on the other side.

“We need water,” Justine said.

He peered inside, taking in the many sick, before he shook his head. “The captain has ordered everyone on deck. The ship’s breaking up.”

She froze, struck to silence by his words.

“Hurry or die.” He brushed past her into the cramped, moldy quarters of the hold. Justine followed him as he went from passenger to passenger, many too weak to leave their pallets.

The ship bells rang. Adams grabbed Justine’s arm. “Anyone who is able must go. Now.”

Justine strained to see behind her, to get away from his grip. “Maman, you must come.” She couldn’t see if her mother had heard or was following. She tried again to yank away, but Theo held her fast. “You must go. I will get the others if I can.” He pushed her onto the deck.

At least two dozen Acadians had made their way topside, as well as the ship’s crew.

Cold sea water reached her knees. Portions of the railing had been torn from the side of the ship. The mainmast was broken. The ship was sinking.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website and blog

Facebook

Amazon author page

Twitter: @darlenefranklin

Thank you, Darlene, for allowing me and my readers to participate in your special celebration.

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

Mermaid's Song (Love Everlasting Book 4)

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 or country if outside North America. (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!!!!!

Connie (KY) is the winner of Sanctuary by T M Brown.

Paula (MO) is the winner of Who Killed My Husband? by Michelle Stimpson.

Vivian (CO) is the winner of Rescue Me by Sandy Nadeau.

Caryl K (TX) is the winner of 50 Hours by Loree Lough.

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.

THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER - Jennifer Delamere - One Free Book

Welcome, Jennifer, tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

There are of elements of me in all my characters; I think that’s unavoidable. But I also enjoy exploring personality traits that are not in my personal arsenal. For example, Rosalyn in The Captain’s Daughter is a lot like me in that she is an earnest individual with a generally positive outlook on life (even though in the book she gets dealt some hard knocks). On the other hand, Julia, the heroine of my next book, The Heart’s Appeal, is a take-charge person who doesn’t hesitate to jump into any situation, even dangerous ones. I’d say that is a trait I admire rather than fully own.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

There was a 1920s-themed restaurant in my town, and a friend of mine and I decided to have dinner there dressed in 1920s clothes. Our dates were bemused, but they played along. We got plenty of friendly comments from the other diners, too. It was a lot of fun to toss my boa over my shoulder while enjoying a cocktail called the “sidecar.” And it wasn’t even Halloween!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote my first short story when I was around 12 years old. It wasn’t that great, but my mother encouraged me to keep at it. She was a journalist, so I think she enjoyed seeing her love for writing passed along to her daughter.

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

I love nonfiction, especially history books. I’m sure that’s why I write historical fiction. The “research” part of it is just pure fun for me. I also enjoy historical fiction set in a wide variety of eras and countries. In general, I gravitate toward stories that are not flat-out depressing. I’ve read some contemporary fiction too, and I find the most enjoyment in those that have a lot of good-natured humor in them.

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

By taking time every morning to pray. I lift my plans, challenges, and burdens to God. There is a favorite poem of mine that ends, “I had so much to accomplish, / that I had to take time to pray.” (I recommend checking out the whole poem; it is easily found via internet search.) The world does try to run you around in circles, but it doesn’t have to succeed. It’s important to take time every day to “unplug.” Something else I do is get out in nature whenever possible, even if it’s just a short walk at a nearby park. Nature can be a wonderful balm to the soul.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Since my books are set in England, I use a lot of names typical to the U.K. There is plenty of variety there, because English surnames reflect the many different people who have come to the British Isles over the centuries—the Saxons, Norman French, Norse, and more. I also use names I find in books written during the nineteenth century.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am thrilled to have recently completed my fifth contracted novel. When I started the writing journey in earnest, I never thought I could even get this far. But now I feel as though I am just beginning.

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

Probably a cat, especially if I was in a good home. They are smart, independent, and can be very affectionate—if, perhaps a bit prone to mischief every now and then. The drawback to being any animal, though, would be not being able to read! That would be sad indeed.

I so agree. What is your favorite food?

I’m a huge fan of foods from around the world—especially Indian, Mexican, and Greek. But the one thing I would be incredibly sad to live without is cheddar cheese. Hmm….maybe that’s why I’m such an Anglophile!

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

My greatest problem was—and still is—gauging the time I need to write. I must balance writing with a “day job,” and also, it generally takes me longer to do a task than I expect. (I think that’s the perfectionist in me.) So I’m learning to take any estimate I make and double it! Organizing time is a challenge that I still struggle with, but I am working hard to get better at it.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Captain’s Daughter is the first in the London Beginnings series. It will follow the lives of three sisters who each come to London independently in order to find a new life. The series explores many fascinating aspects of London life in the 1880s, including the theater, the burgeoning art scene, and expanding career opportunities for women.

When a series of circumstances beyond her control leave Rosalyn Bernay alone and penniless in London, she chances upon a job backstage at a theater that is presenting the most popular show in London. A talented musician and singer, she feels immediately at home and soon becomes enthralled with the idea of pursuing a career on the stage.

A hand injury during a skirmish in India has forced Nate Moran out of the army until he recovers. Filling his time at a stable of horses for hire in London, he has also spent the past two months working nights as a stagehand, filling in for his injured brother. Although he’s glad he can help his family through a tough time, he is counting the days until he can rejoin his regiment. London holds bitter memories for him that he is anxious to escape. But then he meets the beautiful woman who has found a new lease on life in the very place Nate can’t wait to leave behind.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Rosalyn crouched as low as her sturdy walking gown would allow, hiding behind the hedgerow. When she’d left the orphanage to begin her life as an adult, she’d anticipated some hard times. But never could she have imagined herself in the predicament she faced now.

She held her breath, although she knew it was impossible for him to hear her. The thunder of his approaching carriage, its wheels rattling through the ruts frozen into the road after a week of rain followed by frost, was deafening.

No, it was the sight of her that would bring the carriage to a stop. What would happen then, if he took her back to Russet Hall to face wrongful accusations of theft—or worse, what she would have to do to buy his silence—she could not allow herself to imagine. Not if she wanted to keep her courage.

Overhead a crow screamed. Startling at the sound, she nearly fell over into the prickly hedgerow. Worried that any nearby sound would draw attention in her direction, she crouched even lower. The crow flew away, the noise of its call replaced by the blood rushing to her ears as her heart rate increased with every turn of those swiftly approaching carriage wheels.

In seconds the carriage would pass her hiding spot. Shivering from both cold and fear, Rosalyn reminded herself that despite how it might look, she now she had an advantage of sorts. Mr. Huffman had assumed she was headed for Bainshaw, which had the closest and busiest railway station. However, once his carriage had passed out of sight, she could backtrack to the crossroads and head south toward Linden.

She’d fled the house in the dark gloom just before dawn. It had taken her four hours to reach this point, carrying all she owned in a carpetbag that had grown heavier with each step she’d taken. She’d counted on putting in a good distance before she was discovered missing, thinking no one would look for her before breakfast, but it appeared she’d miscalculated.

With unrelenting speed, the carriage approached. The pounding of hooves and the rattle of the wheels drowned out every other sound. Somehow Rosalyn was able to scrunch down even lower, squeezing her eyes shut—as though by some childish logic he would not see her if she couldn’t see him.

The carriage rolled past, not even slowing down. Rosalyn nearly cried out with relief, then clapped a hand over her mouth. She stayed crouched behind the hedgerow for several long, agonizing minutes, listening as the sounds of the carriage gradually receded.

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My webpage:  www.jenniferdelamere.com

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

Twitter:  @JenDelamere 

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/jendelamere/

Thank you for having me on your blog today!

And thank you, Jennifer, for sharing this new book with me and my readers.

Readers, here are buy links to the book.
The Captain's Daughter - Christianbook.com
The Captain's Daughter (London Beginnings) - Amazon
The Captain's Daughter (London Beginnings Book 1) - 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 or country if outside North America. (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

AIMEE - Pam Watts Harris - One Free Book

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

Well, I am almost 5’8”, so I tend to make my heroines tall. I don’t know what it’s like to be short, although I always wanted to be, so it is easier for me to think of my heroine as tall. Some of my values creep in, but I am trying to get away from writing myself into fiction. Instead, my characters are usually a compilation of people I know and pure fiction.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Wow, this is tough. What’s normal to me might be quirky to someone else. I asked my husband, and I guess I seem pretty normal to him, too, because he couldn’t think of anything (or he just said that!). How about the most unusual thing that ever happened to me? When I was fifteen, my parents and I flew to California to see my brother and his family at Christmas. After being in the air for fifteen minutes, the pilot announced that they had received a bomb threat targeted to our plane. We had to make an emergency landing and to quote the pilot, “go to the nearest emergency exit, and run, don’t walk, away from the plane.” It was night, and we went out the rear exit. It was like a scene from Die Hard, with fire trucks, ambulances, bomb squad, and more. Two hours later, we boarded the plane and resumed our flight. We never found out if they found anything.

Wow, that sounds scary. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I first thought I wanted to be a writer when I was seven, and for years I wrote numerous short stories and “books” that I illustrated. I wrote for two newspapers as part-time jobs, but I never wrote a full book until 2011.

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

I love books that are biographical or autobiographical in nature, like The Glass Castle and Unbroken. I am a loyal John Grisham reader, and Jeffery Archer’s The Prodigal Daughter is one of my favorites. I also love historical fiction set in the south, and I love just about anything set in the west. I especially enjoy Christian fiction because of its lack of profanity and sexual content. My sons often say I’d be happy living in a Little House on the Prairie kind of world. Oh, I love those books too!

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

I teach and usually arrive at school around 7:00 A.M. I have learned that getting up fifteen minutes earlier to have my quiet devotional time while drinking my coffee clears my mind and prepares me for my day. At night, I like to unwind by reading in bed, but I usually can’t manage more than ten minutes before I’m falling asleep.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Sometimes there is a personal connection. Aimee, for instance, is named after my niece Amy. Sometimes I just think the name fits the character. Sometimes I choose names with a particular meaning related to the story or occupation.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Finishing and having published my first book, a mystery targeted to girls ages eight to twelve. When I was growing up, I loved Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, and as an adult, I wanted to write a similar book for modern-day girls.

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

A dog. What other animal is loved so well and treated like a member of the family?

What is your favorite food?

Chips and authentic Mexican salsa, not the stuff from a jar. And salads, except Caesar salad.

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

I am assuming you are talking about the process. If not, the greatest roadblock was finding an agent or publisher. However, if you mean the process, I would have to say that the greatest roadblock was looking at my work objectively and learning how to say what I wanted to say most effectively for the reader’s benefit. I can’t say I have completely overcome that, and I’m not sure I ever will, but it is an ongoing process. Whenever I edit my work, I always make changes. The editing could go on forever, but you have to stop somewhere.

The trick is learning how to recognize when you should stop the process. Tell us about the featured book.

It is 1895, a time when women on their own had few choices. Aimee Winters’ mother has passed away, and she has no husband, no job, and no home. Shocked to learn that the father she has always believed to be dead is actually alive and well in the Arizona territory, she accepts his invitation to leave Memphis and live with him in Strawberry and to teach at the local school for a year. Life in the wilderness brings challenges she never could have imagined, but the biggest challenge of all is what to do about her relationship with Levi Raines, the handsome yet unconventional rancher who eventually steals her heart. Will she stay in the territory to be with him, or will he choose to go back to Memphis with her? Or will they be forced to go their separate ways?

Please give us the first page of the book.

“Flagstaff, Arizona territory, just ahead!”

The porter’s bark barely rose above the squeal of the train’s wheels as it slowed its approach.

Aimee Winters clutched the handbag in her lap with one trembling hand as she bent forward to retrieve her valise from the floor with the other. The floral pattern swirled before her, and she took a deep breath. She couldn’t faint. Not here. Not now.

“I hope you like the territory.”

She raised her eyes to meet Mr. Donovan’s probing gaze.

“I do too.” She forced a smile and placed the valise on the seat between them. “Thank you.”

He adjusted his black bowler hat and brushed a piece of lint from the lapel of his pinstriped suit. “I will miss your company during the remainder of my trip. The hours until I reach San Francisco will crawl.”

“You flatter me. I am sure there are many interesting people to talk to on this train.” She shifted and glanced out of the window. Nothing but pine trees and distant mountains. No town in sight.

“None as genteel and as educated as you.” She turned back to face him, and he leaned toward her, dropping his voice almost to a whisper. “I would dare say most on board don’t know how to read. It has been refreshing to talk with someone of intelligence and beauty.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.authorpamwattsharris.com and “like” Pam Harris, author on Facebook

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

Aimee - Paperback
Aimee - 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 or country if outside North America. (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!!!

Be sure to check the June 25 winners, too.

Apple Blossom (ND) is the winner of Stepping on Cheerios by Betsy Singleton Snyder.

Elaine (WI) is the winner of The Man She Knew by Loree Lough.

Debbie (OK) is the winner of the audio book The Spinster and the Cowboy by Lena Nelson Dooley.

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.

50 HOURS - Loree Lough - One Free Book

Bio: Bestselling author Loree Lough once sang for her supper, performing across the U.S. and Canada. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two, but mostly, she writes novels that have earned hundreds of industry and "Readers' Choice" awards, 4- and 5-star reviews, and 7 book-to-movie options. Her 115th book, 50 Hours, is her most personal to date. Recently released, The Man She Knew, book #1 in her “By Way of the Lighthouse” series from Harlequin Heartwarming

Welcome back, Loree. I know you speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up in 2017?

First, I’d like to thank you, Lena, for allowing me to share news about this book. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

I’ve always enjoyed speaking at conferences and teaching at community colleges. This year, however, I’m staying close to home due to health reasons.

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

Women these days tend to overtax themselves… 9-5 jobs in addition to church, family, household responsibilities, caring for others (aging parents, ailing friends, grandchildren, etc.), social engagements, and so on. Given that this is the case far too often, I’d love to host a retreat called “Be Still…and Know…” Guest speakers would address all the issues that crowd our calendars, and provide easy how-to information to help attendees learn that it’s acceptable—and healthy—to put themselves first once in a while.

I so agree with you. I had a season when I had to learn that we must “Be Still … and Know …” It revolutionized my walk with the Lord. Who would you want as speakers and why?

Pastors, psychologists, and authors who are skilled in the areas of time management and self-care. Their expertise would provide credible lessons to women, and (hopefully) prevent burnout.

Where would you hold the retreat and why?

Larry and I have a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains. The beauty and serene setting would allow attendees to experience, first-hand, the true meaning of R and R (rest and relaxation). And while they’re enjoying the peace and quiet, they’ll be more receptive to learning methods that strengthen their spirits and ease their souls.

It sounds wonderful. I’d want to come. Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?

When traveling, I prefer ebooks, since they spare me having to pack and carry extra pounds. At home, however, I’ll take “a real book” every time. The heft of a book, the sound and scent of its pages is pleasing!

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

50 HOURS started as a screenplay, written by Kevin J. O’Neill. The skeletal storyline centered around 50 hours of community service, assigned to one of the two main characters. After reading Saving Alyssa (#3 in Harlequin Heartwarming’s “A Child to Love” series), Kevin called to ask if I’d be interested in “novelizing” his screenplay. In his endorsement of the book, he writes “Loree Lough is an exceptional author, and that’s why I approached her about writing the novel for my feature film, 50 Hours. But I had no idea how wonderful her novelization would be until I read it. Loree was able to dig so deep into my characters…and create secondary characters to further flesh out the story. She unearthed and richly developed those characters and gave them three dimensional lives. I am so happy with the book!

~ Kevin J. O’Neill, writer/director/actor/producer.

So what is the book about?

Franco Allessi is a broken, lonely man who wants nothing more than to outrun the ghosts of his past. For years, he’d tried to numb the pain of his wife's death with cheap beer and whiskey. Then he's convicted of drunk driving, and judge revokes his license and orders him to serve fifty hours of community service. Franco chooses Savannah Falls Hospice for no reason other than it's walking distance from his run-down house trailer. On his first day at the center, he meets Aubrey Brewer, a woman whose time on earth is quickly ticking to a stop. Their unusual connection teaches powerful, life-changing lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the importance of appreciating that precious treasure called Life.

Wow, sounds powerful. Please give us the first page of the book.

“Do you fully comprehend why you find yourself standing before me today, Mr. Allessi?”

           

Franco stared at the toes of his shoes. “Yes, Your Honor, I do.”

           

“And do you also realize that by getting behind the wheel in an inebriated state, you put others—not just yourself—in dire jeopardy?”

           

Truth be told, he’d put himself in jeopardy long before he got behind the wheel. His whole life these days seemed like a connect-the-dots game, with each dot representing a new risk. Take last night, for example, when instead of ignoring the taunts of “Get a load of this dude’s wingtips!” by unruly bikers at the Brew and Cue, he’d started a shoving match, and paid for it with a black eye, a chipped tooth, and bruised ribs.

           

Leroy Carlisle, his court-appointed attorney, elbowed him back to attention.

           

“Yes, Your Honor,” Franco repeated. He glanced up, but only far enough to read John Malloy, Sr., Judge, Superior Court on the big wooden nameplate. “You have my word, sir, it won’t happen again.”

           

Malloy exhaled a long-suffering sigh. “Oh, if only I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that . . . .” He frowned at Franco’s file, open on his bench. “Nevertheless, you scored 0.14 on the breathalyzer. And since this isn’t your first offense, I have no choice but to suspend your license . . .”

           

Carlisle warned him this might happen. Thirty days, the bespectacled kid had said, two months at most, providing Franco looked and sounded—how had he put it?—suitably contrite.

           

“ . . . for six months.”

Six months? Six months! “With all due respect, Your Honor, I drive a tow truck. Can’t do my job without a license.”

           

Sarcasm rang out loud in the older man’s voice: “With all due respect, Mr. Allessi, you should have considered that possibility before driving under the influence.” Malloy sat back and folded liver-spotted hands over his ponderous belly. “Under other circumstances, I might have granted you permission to drive to and from work.” He looked at the man at the prosecutor’s table. “But Detective Rowe, here, says you were so out of it when he pulled you over that he considered calling an ambulance.” His slow Georgia drawl quickened a bit as he added, “I cannot in good conscience risk that next time; you might run some young mama and her carload of little ones off the road.”

           

“You have my word. There won’t be a next time.”

           

Carlisle jabbed Franco again, this time squarely on one of his sore ribs. Franco drove a hand through his hair and weighed his options: take his medicine like a good little drunkard, or deck the bony-elbowed smart aleck to his left.

           

“I could sentence you to sixty days, but since you seem suitably contrite, I’ll lessen it to time served and fifty hours of community service. Your fresh-faced young lawyer here can help you choose an appropriate facility.” He raised a bushy eyebrow and aimed his steely gaze at Carlisle. “The name of which I expect to see on my desk by this time tomorrow. Understood, counselor?”

           

Carlisle nodded as the judge banged his gavel, and the bailiff stepped up to the bench.

“Next case,” Malloy bellowed as Carlisle stuffed his pen and yellow legal pad into a floppy black briefcase. He muttered something about signatures and paperwork, then crisscrossed the bag over his shoulder and headed for the door. Franco followed like a well-trained pup, hoping he could arrange a payment schedule, because his checking account was as bare as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/LoreeLough

Twitter -- https://twitter.com/LoreeLoughAutho

Pinterest -- https://www.pinterest.com/loreelough/

Web site – http://www.loreelough.com

I hope everyone will feel free to interact with me at any of those sites! Thanks again, Lena, for sharing your blog with me!

Loree, you’re a dear friend, and I love your writing. And I'm eager to read this one. It’s a great blessing to share you and your books with my readers.

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

50 Hours 50 Hours

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 or country if outside North America. (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

RESCUE ME - Sandy Nadeau - One Free Book

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

I hope to sell a new romantic suspense at the ACFW conference in September. Now that we’ve settled into our new life in Texas, I hope to keep on writing and getting books out there. I’m really excited about this next story.

Good. I hope to see you there. I’m going, too. Tell us a little about your family.

My favorite subject! I’ve been married 40 years to a man who became and remains my very best friend. We have one daughter who married her best friend. We were blessed when they adopted two babies thirteen months apart who are now 4 and 3. Then we were blessed again when our daughter gave birth to a baby boy. He’s now 10 months old. We moved from Colorado to Texas just last year so we could be a part of our grandkid’s lives. And we haven’t regretted it one minute. One other family tidbit: my mom just turned 90 years young a month ago. We all got to be in Wisconsin to celebrate with her.

That’s awesome. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I write contemporary, so I tend to read more to the genre I write. But I also love historicals, so one of those slips in from time to time. Always from the inspirational market.

I write a lot of historicals, but the book that release on Kindle later this week is a romantic collection, and my book is contemporary. What are you working on right now?

As I mentioned, I have a romantic suspense going. Many years ago, back in my small mountain town in Colorado, I wrote a community news column for the local paper. I did that for twelve years. When brainstorming with a friend on what new project to start, she suggested I glean from that position. So I have my poor heroine getting herself into all sorts of trouble due to her job of finding the facts and the bad guy. My working tag line for it is: She knows she’ll make her deadline, but what if it’s her own?

I tend to have a lot of ideas rolling, and I had also started one on a female woodworker. I really liked the way that story was going too, but I had to pick one to concentrate on.

What outside interests do you have?

My grandkids! They occupy most of my time and I love it. I am trying my hand at growing veggies here in TX, but that is a learning process. Maybe next year will go better. I also enjoy woodworking, crafts, crocheting (I just helped out with my church’s VBS crocheting different pieces of coral for the “coral reef” in the play. It turned out amazing! A lot of hands helped it come alive.) I LOVE to travel and we camp as often as we can.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

We spent thirty years living in Colorado. My husband and I loved to go four-wheeling and exploring, so we discovered a lot of places that most people don’t get to. Not a day went by that we didn’t appreciate where we lived. We never took it for granted. Since it is such a beautiful place, and adventure can be found at every turn, there’s no better setting when I include a lot of adventure in my books. There’s a lifetime of stories in those mountains.

My latest historical, which released in December—A Heart’s Gift—is set in Colorado. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

That’s a tough question. There’s so many. Several from the Bible, but I’ll probably meet most of them in heaven. So maybe, sticking to my adventure theme, I’d love to spend time with one of the explorers who took the chance on heading west to discover lands never seen before. I’d love to find out about their motivations, their hopes, and their fears at the time. The dangers they faced. The fun they had and their reactions to the amazing beauty they discovered along the way.

Imagine being the first person to see a mountain range.

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

Grow a thick skin first, then you can roll with the punches of a very hard business.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

The ladies Bible study I attend is going through a guide about Nurturing a Heart of Humility by Elizabeth George. Of course, it’s mostly about Mary, the mother of Jesus, who had such a heart of humility. Yesterday, it really struck me that even back in the biblical days, people rejected Jesus. Especially in His home town. As we look at the world today, it’s a lot of the same thing. People rejecting Truth, rejecting Christ. With the daily news, social media, computers, the rejection is more known. It breaks my heart that so many turn their faces away from truth. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. It’s not saying we should be afraid of God, but saying that if we believe in Him and have a reverence (fear, respect) then He will reveal more and more to us. Knowledge. It leads to growth!

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

Grow that thick skin!

Join ACFW or another great writer’s group and learn. And network.

Write. Then write some more. Then write even more. Keep writing until you have it figured out. Which means, you will write forever! But love it.

Tell us about the featured book.

Rescue Me is a special story to me. My husband was a volunteer firefighter for over 4 years. He also became an EMT and served as the Director of Emergency Medical Services for our small town in Minnesota. (That was a lot of years ago.) In the story, the heroine lost her firefighter father in a bad fire as he tried to save another firefighter. Ronnie struggles through accepting that loss and understanding why God would take her dad while he was doing something so heroic. One of the problems she has is that she followed her dad into that line of work by becoming a rescue squad person. She had been dating Steve, a firefighter, until her dad died. Then she swore off dating firefighters to avoid the kind of loss her family suffered. But Steve isn’t ready to give up their relationship and he works to help her through her grief and anger at God. It’s filled with adventure and emergency calls all set in the Colorado foothills. And falling in love again.

Please give us the first page of the book.

It opens with Steve in a precarious situation where HE needs rescuing. Ronnie and the team have to come to his rescue. Here it is:

“I can’t believe this.” Steve McNeal reached down again to try to move the rock that trapped his foot. Pain shot through his entire leg and cold dots of perspiration chilled his forehead. He rested against the granite boulder trying to ignore his throbbing ankle and to slow his heartbeat. Of course this had to happen. How could he have been so stupid as to try to scramble between the boulders alone? How many times had he scaled this boulder field? A shortcut to the trail.

Brilliant idea.

Bracing both arms against the cold, rough granite on either side of him, he pushed with his free leg against a flatter area of one boulder, trying to get some relief from the pressure on his trapped foot. No doubt about it. This was a definite problem.

Steve scanned the sloping hillside that held the trail, which wound around the boulders that now held him hostage. The view was limited from his position, but at least he’d made his way down facing forward so he could look out instead of at the rock behind him.

Unbelievable. Ten feet from the ground, the trail right there, freedom so close and yet absolutely unattainable. Ow! He had to get his foot out. Or quit moving.

How could there be no one on the trail today? He twisted his upper body to look up at the boulders. “Anybody up there?” He quickly straightened. Ouch, OK that hurts. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone for the tenth time. Still no bars. What did he expect? Suddenly he’d have signal?

Cell towers were not a popular thing among the dwellers of the foothills southwest of Denver.

“Lord, a little help here?”

“Hey, Mister.”

It might as well have been a voice from heaven. Relief let some of the tension out of his shoulders. He strained to see the face that peered over the edge of the rocks above.

“What’cha doin’ down there?”

“Hey kid, I’m uh…stuck. Can you go get some help?” Steve’s arm slid against the granite and a little skin peeled off as he tried to look up at the boy. More pain burned a path through his leg, and he gritted his teeth to keep from moaning. His forehead tightly furrowed. He didn’t want to look like a sissy in front of the kid.

“Who are you talking to?” A female voice asked.

“There’s a guy down there.”

“Oh, my. Are you OK?”

Seriously? Do I look OK? “No ma’am. I appear to be trapped by a rock. Can you get a call out for help?” Steve couldn’t see much of her between his position and only her eyes peeking over the edge.

“I don’t have a signal. We’ll go where we can get one. Hang in there.”

Not much choice. “Thanks.”

The footsteps moved away. Back to the quiet of the woods. Steve tried to remember where the cell signals could be received in the park. He never really paid attention while out here. Making a call was the last thing he wanted to do while hiking. He hoped they wouldn’t have to go all the way to the parking lot. They’d have to wait for the crew, and then get back up here. That would add at least thirty or forty more minutes to his confinement than he cared to think about.

He dreaded which of his colleagues would be on duty today with rescue, not to mention the fire department. Was Ronnie on today? As the climbing expert on the department, it was likely she’d respond. He liked seeing her anytime, but not under these circumstances, given the choice. This ranked right up there as his most humiliating moment. Well, maybe not, but at the moment it felt that way. The fact that she wouldn’t want to see him didn’t help.

It’s a fun opening. There’s several light-hearted moments in the book. And I’d like to mention, Rescue Me was endorsed by Tracie Peterson, author of over one hundred much loved books. You can read her endorsement on Amazon.

Yes, I read the book and loved it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to hear from people. Check me out at:

www.SandyNadeau.com 

www.SandyNadeau.blogspot.com 

https://www.facebook.com/authorSandyNadeau/ 

Twitter: @sandynadeauCO 

Thank you, Sandy, for sharing this book with my readers.

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

Rescue Me - Paperback
Rescue Me - 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 or country if outside North America. (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