CHRISTMAS CHARITY - Susan G Mathis - One Free Book

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

Christmas Charity is loosely based on my family story—my great grandparents, Susan and Patrick, although naughty little Lizzy is a creation of my imagination. Ten-year-old Susan from my debut novel, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, is twenty-three and unexpectedly marries Patrick, a forty-nine year old widower. So yes, not only is Patrick’s kind personality similar to my husband’s, but also my family story and traits are woven into the story.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My husband and I went to Wolfe Island, Canada, the partial setting for both The Fabric of Hope and Christmas Charity where we met several cousins we didn’t know I had and heard stories that made both of these books extra special.

I love stories based on actual lives, even fictionalized. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

My journey has been multi-faceted. I’ve taught Language Arts for nine years to 4-8 graders, had my own newspaper column, wrote missions curriculum, and have written just about anything God put in my path. As a Tyndale published author of two premarital books—The ReMarriage Adventure and Countdown for Couples, two children’s picture books—Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya: Love is Patient and Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure—and I’m focusing on historical fiction set in my childhood stomping ground, the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate New York, so my writing life has been a diverse one.

My first novel, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, my Thousand Islands Gilded Age series, and my novellas take readers to a time and place few have gone. But before I jumped into the fiction world, I served as the founding editor of Thriving Family magazine and the former editor/editorial director of twelve Focus on the Family publications. Moreover, I’m published in various book compilations including three Chicken Soup for the Soul books, Ready to Wed, Supporting Families Through Meaningful Ministry, The Christian Leadership Experience, and Spiritual Mentoring of Teens. I’ve also written hundreds of magazine and newsletter articles, so yup, writing is in my blood.

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

I enjoy reading everything from children’s picture books to nonfiction to contemporary and historical fiction. But if I had to choose, I’d settle in with Christian historical romance and that’s what I’m writing from now on. Smiles.

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

It may sound like a pat answer, but taking time to pray, read the word, and worship keep me in balance. I especially enjoy worship music while doing mindless work such as cooking, cleaning, driving, etc.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

The characters are the actual names of my ancestors, except Lizzy.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Although I am so humbled to have accomplished such diverse published works, I’m most thrilled to have my family legacy in print. The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy has been a work of the heart, mind, and emotions.

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

A butterfly. Because I’d experience the miracle of changing from a caterpillar to a free and beautiful butterfly and flit around my world, dancing on flowers and bringing joy to all who see.

What is your favorite food?

Being Irish, I consider tea as my comfort drink, and with it, the Irish Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake sounds really good right now.  

Sounds to me, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Switching from nonfiction to fiction was a steep learning curve. Coming from the succinct world of journalism and editing, spilling lots of description to “show vs tell” was my biggest challenge. But once I “got it,” I was a bird set free!

Tell us about the featured book.

Susan Hawkins and Patrick O’Neill find that an arranged marriage is much harder than they think, especially when they emigrate from Wolfe Island, Canada, to Cape Vincent, New York, in 1864, just a week after they marry—with Patrick’s ten-year-old daughter, Lizzy, in tow. Can twenty-three-year-old Susan Hawkins learn to love her forty-nine-year-old husband and find charity for her angry stepdaughter?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Monday, December 2, 1864

Wolfe Island, Canada

Susan Hawkins swung her teaching satchel as she held wee Elizabeth’s hand with her free one. Walking home with five of her siblings—who were also her students—always put a smile on her face and a spring in her step. She could simply be the twenty-three-year-old big sister, not their teacher, and on this sunny December afternoon her walk home with them felt nothing short of heavenly. She glanced out at the mighty St. Lawrence River still flowing freely past her beloved island home and turned to her eight-year-old sister, Cecelia. “The river hasn’t frozen over yet. Amazing.”

Cecelia pouted. “I don’t like it when it’s all frozen and no one can come to the island.”

“I know, but we’ve learned how to get by, haven’t we?” Susan let go of Elizabeth’s hand to pat Cecelia’s unruly red hair. I do hope her hair deepens to a nice auburn, like mine has. Six-year-old Elizabeth gazed up at Susan with big, teary eyes. “Teacher, Daniel says I’m a stupid baby. I'm not. I’m six and know my letters and numbers and can write my name.”

Susan’s eyes narrowed as she fairly growled. She whipped around to see Daniel, Robert, and James tossing rocks at a tree. So much for a heavenly walk.

“Daniel. Come here at once!” Susan put on her most professional scolding-face and gave her ten-year-old brother a thorough tongue-lashing. By the time they got home, the boy’s shoulders hung limp, his boyish bravado dutifully quenched.

When the six of them tumbled through the door, their hard-working mama smiled and wiped her flour-dusted hands on her apron. She brushed a strand of her thin, sandy hair from her face, leaving a dusting of white on her forehead. “I’m glad you be home. We have company for dinner and much to do before they come. Laddies, go and do your chores.”

Susan quirked an eyebrow. “It’s Monday. Who comes for dinner on a Monday?” Mama gave her a bit of scowl and cleared her throat. “Father invited his friend, Patrick O’Neill, and his daughter. The men have important things to discuss. I need all of you lassies to help me prepare for tonight.”

Cecelia wrinkled her freckled nose, so much like Susan’s. “That Lizzy is such a spoiled child. She thinks she’s better than everyone else. All nastiness and prickles.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m at www.SusanGMathis.com,

on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SusanGMathis/,

on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@SusanGMathis,

on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/susangmathisaut,

on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6044608.Susan_G_Mathis,

and on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/u/0/108568340293012416399

Thank you, Susan, for sharing this new book with me and my blog readers. I’m eager to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Christmas Charity - Paperback
Christmas Charity (Irish Brides 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:

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LOVE'S BEACON (The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides) - Carrie Fancett Pagels - One Free Book.

Dear Readers, here’s another author of one of the novellas in The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides novella collection. Her novella is Love’s Beacon.

Bio: Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of fifteen Christian historical romances, including ECPA bestsellers. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't “cure” her overactive imagination! A self-professed “history geek,” she resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia but grew up as a “Yooper,” in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time! You can connect with her at www.CarrieFancettPagels.com.

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

Yes, God had kept me busy working on some stories. Although I am disabled from my Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease, I’m grateful for the chance to do something for the Lord. I received a contract for another novella collection with Barbour Books. This one is a school teachers romance four-in-one with slightly longer novellas (25,000 to 30,000 words each). My story is set on Mackinac Island, where many of my stories are set, including my Maggie Award 2018 novel My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring.

Congratulations. I’m expecting another contract from them, too. Tell us a little about your family.

We have a 29-year-old electrical engineer daughter who lives the next town over and we’re so grateful to see her regularly. We also have a 16-year-old son who is a high school student taking advanced classes and who shares my love of writing. My husband is a marine mechanical engineer and he is also my “Handsome Chauffeur” for my writing events, driving me and my “Beast of Burden” carrying my stuff in and out! We have two grand-dogs, a 120 pound Black lab-Shepherd mix lap dog who lives with our daughter and a 50 pound two-year-old Aussie Kelpie who lives here with us and his master, Clark.

My husband is my chauffeur, and he also brings in my stuff and sets it up for me. It’s such a blessing to have a husband who completely supports the plans God has for us. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Yes. I used to read more like a typical Christian-fiction reader – as I found an author I’d get their books and read from the back list on. Now I read new releases that are “comparables” usually – books that are comparable to my own subgenre.

What are you working on right now?

I have a Women’s Fiction novel proposal that I’ve sort of set aside to begin work on the novella, which has a deadline of March 1st.  My story is set in 1894 on Mackinac Island and is in the same time frame and story world of a bunch of my other publications, which is super fun. Characters who have appeared in my other stories may show up in this one, particularly little Jack Welling, who was a fan favorite. The school teacher in my story is male and my heroine, Maggie Hadley, named after my college roommate, is posing as one of her brothers as a dray driver on the island. Because of my physical limitations I will need to continue to work on it as I feel well enough, a little at a time. I have wonderful critique partners, authors Kathleen L. Maher and Debbie Lynne Costello.

What outside interests do you have?

I bead, but mostly simple things now because of my hand pain. We attend church regularly and I enjoy reading the Bible and spending time in prayer. My husband and I enjoy watching mysteries, especially British shows. I like to bake, bead, read, and travel. We take dance classes (when my foot is cooperating.) I’m very grateful to be walking again after a five year period of time when I could barely walk without extreme pain. So my son and I walk our dog regularly now.

I’m so glad you’re back on your feet again. How do you choose your settings for each book?

Because I write in character, I like to place my stories somewhere that I would enjoy being and in a time frame in which I am interested. Since I love the Straits of Mackinac area in Michigan, that’s often my go-to choice. I live in Virginia and have a number of stories set here, too, such as my Holt medallion finalist The Steeplechase.

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

I think you mean besides Jesus. Who wouldn’t want an evening with Him? So besides the Lord, I’d say James Madison. https://www.montpelier.org We’ve visited at Montpelier and from what we heard and what I’ve read about him, I believe he also suffered with arthritis yet he overcame so much. Hopefully I’d also get to meet his fascinating man servant and also Dolly!

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

Hmm, I was fortunate to have been given a lot of good advice from numerous authors as I began my career. But since I actually started writing novels decades earlier, but set them aside, I’d say probably that the craft work has to be done. Most writers can’t simply write a novel. Most of us need lots of craft work and that’s fine!

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

His timing. His writing ministry through me. His way.

We all need to remember that. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Listen to the Lord and stay anchored in your faith.

Tell us about the featured book.

In The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides my novella, Love’s Beacon is set at the Round Island lighthouse, which marks the entrance into Mackinac Island and is in the Straits of Mackinac. This lighthouse opened in 1895 and a huge restoration project was initiated when I was working on the island as a dessert maker at Little Bob’s Restaurant in 1974. I actually contributed to that cause (I think $1.00!) and there have been subsequent restorations since that time. In my story, Valerie Fillman is the daughter of the lighthouse keepers – or is she? When Valerie’s entire family perishes at the lighthouse due to illness, her whole life takes a dramatic turn. I write in character and so I wanted this story to have a more positive “feel” to it than it could have had. So there is a strong mystery component as well as romance. The new lighthouse keeper, Paul Sholtus, has longed to leave his farming roots. But with a young daughter to raise, managing a lighthouse becomes a tricky proposition. I had a lot of fun writing this story and my readers will also see characters from my novella The Sugarplum Ladies in The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection (Barbour, 2018) and from some of my other Michigan-set stories!

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

Prologue

Mackinac Island September 1897

Standing alone in the Island Pharmacy, Valerie’s hands shook as she removed the scrap of paper from her reticule. How strange to be here alone. If Ma and Pa weren’t so desperately ill, they’d never have allowed her to travel by herself from Round Island. She’d pleaded with them only days earlier to allow her to get medicine, fearing the worst for Mary and Tim. They’d refused.

“May I help you, miss?” The young man behind the counter gazed at her, concern reflecting from his dark eyes.

Niggling anxiety nipped at her as she thrust out the list. The scent of camphor mingled with beeswax and a hint of bay rum. Alone here, her senses seemed heightened. The jingling of the doorbells startled her. She pressed a hand over her hammering heart as the clerk turned and went to the back to have the pharmacist fill her order.

A pretty blond woman entered, holding tight to a toddler’s arm. The child looked up, hazel eyes shining. Attired in a fashionable bonnet and matching coat, the young mother smiled at Val, and she realized she’d been staring. Val averted her gaze.

The clerk returned. “Mrs. Swaine, good to see you. I’ve got something for little Robbie’s sniffle.” After pushing his black sleeve garters higher, the young man bent and retrieved a paper-wrapped parcel from behind the counter.

“Thank you.” No payment was exchanged, which seemed odd. Perhaps the woman had an account.

The mother turned and faced Val, her blue eyes darkening. “Don’t I know you?”

“My father is the lighthouse keeper, ma’am.” Val cast her eyes downward, as her mother had drilled into her.

The toddler looked up at Val and held out his hands. Something in her longed to have someone reach for her like this. Just as Val was about to pick him up, the child’s mother lifted him onto her hip.

“I have never met Mr. Fillman. But I know I’ve seen your face somewhere.” For a brief instant, Val again met the beautiful young mother’s gaze. “We do come on occasion to the island.” The very rare occasion, and never unaccompanied.

The toddler sneezed. “Oh my!” His mother leaned away. “Bless you.” Val pulled a handkerchief from her reticule. “This is clean.” She wiped the child’s nose.

“Thank you.” Arms full, the young mother headed out as a tall man entered, holding the door ajar for her.

The pharmacist stepped to the back again and returned with several brown bottles. He quickly wrapped them in paper and then placed them gently in a bag before tying the parcel with twine.

Val accepted the medications and headed out to the docks for her return to Round Island. A stiff chill wind swirled her wool skirts even higher than their already short length. She swiped at the coarse fabric, pushing it down toward her ankles.

As she reached the mooring place for the lighthouse boat, she spied the light-house inspector, Mr. Dardanes, arguing with Jimmy, the boy who’d promised to help her sail back to the island.

As she neared them, she caught his words. “Miss Fillman can’t return and that’s settled.”

She took several steps closer, clutching the medications to her chest. “What’s going on?”

Thank you, Carrie, for sharing some of your life and your novella with my blog readers.

How can readers find you on the internet?

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Personal Page

Twitter

Pinterest

goodreads

LinkedIn

Amazon author page

Bookbub

Newsletter sign up

Instagram

Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38746255-the-victorian-christmas-brides-collection

Christian Book Distributors  https://www.christianbook.com/lighthouse-collection-historical-romances-beacon-hearts/lena-dooley/9781683227694/pd/227691?product_redirect=1&Ntt=227691&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Barnes & Noble  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-great-lakes-lighthouse-brides-collection-lena-nelson-dooley/1128090023?ean=9781683227694

Book Depository https://www.bookdepository.com/Great-Lakes-Lighthouse-Brides-Collection-Lena-Nelson-Dooley/9781683227694?ref=grid-view&qid=1533948293060&sr=1-1

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Great-Lakes-Lighthouse-Brides-Collection-ebook/dp/B07D8GNHBF/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1533930144&sr=1-1&keywords=great+lakes+lighthouse+brides

Barbour Books http://www.barbourbooks.com/product/Great-Lakes-Lighthouse-Brides-Collection,15088.aspx?Tab=Books&sj=0

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

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SAFE HAVEN (THE GREAT LAKES LIGHTHOUSE BRIDES) - Rebecca Jepson

Dear Readers, here another of the authors of a novella in The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides novella collection. Reviewers have often mentioned how the like the fact that all the stories are so different. I really loved her story.

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

I’ll often give my heroine a struggle that’s similar to something I’ve been through. If I learn anything from my mistakes or trials, I like to share those things in the hope of helping someone else. But subconsciously, I probably write lots of my day-to-day thoughts and feelings into my characters.  

Things like that are what make our stories more compelling. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When I was a teenager, I was running from our house to our van, hurrying so we wouldn’t be late to church. I was carrying a thermos of hot cocoa, which I managed to spill—and my family still marvels about this—on the back of my head. (I was holding my hood up over my head to protect my hairdo from the rain, and the hand that was holding the hood was also holding the thermos. I didn’t notice that the thermos was tilted, or that the hot cocoa was spilling down onto my hair. I didn’t notice it, in fact, until after we’d been at church for a while, and my poor friend Laura spent the church service in the nursery with me, trying to comb out the goo.)

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was a kid, I loved creating stories for my siblings and me to act out together, and people always told me I had a big imagination. Then when I was thirteen, a librarian gave me a brochure for a writing contest for kids, and I saw that the winners received a publishing contract. Suddenly, those two words, publishing contract, seemed like magic to me. I went to the library, found books by previous contest winners, and poured over them. I dreamed and dreamed of one day seeing my name on the cover of one of those books. I entered the contest several times, but never won. Thankfully, the writing dream refused to die. J

We readers are glad that it didn’t die. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

My current favorite genre is women’s fiction. I also love historical fiction, and I will read a mystery as long as it’s Agatha Christie . . . I guess that’s a pretty specific criteria for mysteries, isn’t it? J

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

I take long walks downtown along the river with my husband, or go on a drive with him at night, admiring the lights of the city. These peaceful times together give me a fresh perspective. I also like to escape the craziness with a good book (surprise, surprise!) or by watching a TV series that has an inspiring female lead. 

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I look online and find lists of the most popular names in America during whatever decade my character was born. Usually one of the names will fit the persona I have in my mind. 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am probably most proud of my three published works (two novellas and one novel), and of the time I spent working at a job I didn’t care for so I could help my husband through college.

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

I would be a goat, because they are so full of spunk, a trait I admire. (I know about the spunkiness of goats firsthand, because I grew up on a farm in northern Oregon and we had lots of goats.)

What is your favorite food?

Pizza, especially if it has black olives and mushrooms on it.

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

All the waiting. When I was younger, I waited to hear back from contests. Later, when I got really serious about writing, I waited to hear back from agents. Now I’m often waiting to hear back from publishers. Not to mention all the waiting on myself, since I have to write each book before I can even begin all the rest of the waiting! I’m not sure I’ve overcome this problem yet, but this quote from Elizabeth George has helped me. “Talent develops itself in secret.” All the time I’ve spent holed up in my office at home writing, with no accolades or fanfare—or for that matter, even readers, for many years—wasn’t wasted time. It’s about honing the craft, about constantly learning, about putting in the time it takes to create.

Tell us about the featured book.

Rose Miller takes over as lighthouse keeper when her grandfather, the former keeper, passes away. Just before he dies, he tells her he isn’t really her grandfather, but that he found her on the lighthouse steps when she was an infant. The only clues as to how she came to be there were child-sized footprints in the sand and a hair ribbon caught in the bushes. He warns her to keep all of this a secret, saying he always had a bad feeling about investigating too much into her past. But Rose desperately wants to know if she has a family out there somewhere, and decides to search for answers. It becomes hard to keep her quest a secret, especially from steamship captain Nathan Perry, a friend of her grandfather’s who insisted on staying in Mission Point to help her through her first winter.

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

Old Mission, Michigan, New Year’s Eve, 1892

Rose Miller tried to silence her grandfather’s warning, but it kept whispering in her mind, an echo that seemed to fill her wintery world with peril. It had been their tradition, watching the moonrise from the lighthouse tower on New Year’s Eve. The lake always shone silver, illuminated by the thousands of stars that twinkled in the northern night sky. Now those same celestial lights cast shadows that crept toward the shore like malevolent intruders.

   

Before she’d learned about the child-sized footprints in the sand, the hair ribbon caught in the bushes, her lakeside dwelling had been a sanctuary. Whether enveloped by nighttime shadows or sunbursts at dawn, she’d known nothing but wonder as she stood at her grandfather’s side and gazed through the decagonal windows at the sparkling lake below.

Only a few weeks ago, she’d watched as the government agent, sent by the US Lighthouse Board after receiving her telegram, buried her grandfather. Or rather, the man I thought was my grandfather. Her very kinship with this windswept shoreline, her sense of belonging, had suffered a blow that day. A fact that did nothing to lessen her longing for the security of his presence. He’d stood guard between her and . . . something.

A soft breeze ruffled the frost-covered bushes below. Rose craned her neck, as though if she looked hard enough, the footprints would appear. But that was absurd. Not only would they be buried under feet of snow, any traces of the past had long since been swept away by wind,

rain . . . time.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.rebeccajepson.com. There are links from there to my Facebook author page and Twitter.

Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing some of your life and your story with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection - Christianbook.com
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection: 7 Historical Romances Are a Beacon of Hope to Weary Hearts - Amazon.com

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection: 7 Historical Romances Are a Beacon of Hope to Weary Hearts - 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

BENEATH A MICHIGAN MOON (The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection) - Candice Sue Patterson - One Free Book

Dear Readers, here’s another author with a novella in The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides novella collection.

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

I started to answer this question with “not a lot,” but the more I thought about it the more I realized how much of myself I do put in there! For example, almost all of my stories contain sections of witty banter between the hero and heroine. That’s the relationship my husband and I have. We’re always jokingly sparring with each other and we laugh a lot. I slip in other pieces of my life in there too, but unless I reveal it online or you know me personally, you probably won’t catch what those things are. In my contemporary romance novel How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart, Emma (who’s four) gets a kitten and names him Baby Kitty. His name, description, and personality are from my furry friend of sixteen years. At least one of my characters always drinks coffee, because like most writers I’m addicted. I also like to slip in the names of people I know, so when they read the book they’re pleasantly surprised.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Quirky or crazy? J

I’m a go-big-or-go-home kind of person, so when I set my mind to something I go all-out. That’s probably more crazy than quirky. I once hiked all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I’ve always been a big fan of the 1980s versions of Anne of Green Gables, so when I was in my early twenties and I heard that director Kevin Sullivan and some cast members from Road to Avonlea were meeting fans in Toronto, Canada, I made an overnight decision to go, and my husband drove us up there. And after researching honeybees extensively for How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart, I decided to dive into the world of beekeeping and purchased my own beehive last spring.

Definitely more crazy than quirky. LOL

Years ago, there were hives on the property we rented. I love honey fresh out of the hive. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

My love for books and the written word started before I could even read, and I enjoyed writing my own stories on rainy days. The dream bit me hardest when I was around fifteen and that entire summer I read every Janette Oke book my local library had. That’s when I knew I wanted to write my own books, tell stories that make a difference, see my labor of love on bookstore and library shelves with other authors. At sixteen, I took a two-year writing course through the Institute of Children’s Literature, which I completed through correspondence while finishing my last two years of high school.

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

I rarely branch away from romance. I’ll read all genres of it, but I want the plot to hold at least some element of romance to it. I gave up on reading secular romance years ago because of content, so I’m always on the lookout for new authors who write clean romance while I still avidly devour Christian romance. 

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

I won’t claim to do it very well. J

My two oldest sons are in high school and both are very involved in sports, so I’m on the road a lot. I’m also an elementary librarian, a Sunday School teacher, and a board member for my local library on top of writing books and the everyday duties of wife and mother. I admit, I do get frazzled at times. I try to stay sane by planning dates with my husband, making myself shut everything else out and having a family-only night, reading my Bible, praying, and reading. I read every night before bed, which helps me wind down. Bubble baths help and, of course, chocolate.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I try to choose names that aren’t overly used, though that doesn’t always happen. If I get stuck and can’t come up with a good unique name on my own I usually shout out for help to my Facebook followers. They’re always good at helping out.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My children. That title means more to me than any other.

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

I would probably be a cat. I love naps!

I never took many naps as an adult, but this year, I’m doing more naps. What is your favorite food?

I honestly can’t narrow it down to just one. I love to eat. Fresh fruits and veggies are my favorite in the summer and comfort food is my favorite in the winter.

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

My greatest roadblock was giving my characters flaws to make them realistic yet making them likable at the same time. Huck Anderson in How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart is a great example of this. He’s not a believer, he comes from a broken home with child abuse in his past, and since he never had a fatherly example to teach him how to treat women with gentleness and respect, he doesn’t know how to do this as an adult. Giving him those flaws, yet still making him likable as the hero was tough. It took more revisions than I can count to get this balance. In the end, I realized I had to show his “good side” up front before I introduced all his flaws, and from there I had to make the reason for his flaws apparent to the reader so they’d sympathize with him, while he takes steps of growth throughout the story. 

Tell us about the featured book.

I normally write contemporary romance, so Beneath a Michigan Moon (part of The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection) is my first historical romance. Ava Ryan unexpectedly finds herself as lightkeeper of the New Presque Isle lighthouse on Lake Huron when her father passes away. She’s granted the position on a trial basis, and she’s doing everything she can to secure it permanently, as she has no family and nowhere else to go. She’s surviving, until logging foreman Benjamin Colfax arrives, wanting to climb the tower to determine his crew’s best cutting route. She denies him access. He suspects she’s holding a secret, or many, and he’s determined to not only use the tower but to discover what makes the attractive lightkeeper tick.

There’s a strong attraction between the characters from the start and plenty of witty banter to keep the story light. Beneath a Michigan Moon has been one of my favorite stories to write.

Please give us the first page of the book.

June 30, 1885—New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Lake Huron

Ava Ryan walked the shoreline of Lake Huron, enjoying the most beautiful day of the year—until she crossed paths with the devil. He was even more dashing than she remembered from their previous encounters.

Wicked dimples sunk the inner parts of his cheeks. She looked away from blue eyes as enchanting as the crystalline water, peeved by his presence, more peeved that she was wearing her plainest shirtwaist. But nothing else would do, as she was in mourning. And barefoot to boot. Pretending not to see him, Ava lowered onto a nearby boulder and tucked her feet beneath her skirt.

“Miss Ava Ryan.” Hands buried in the pockets of his brown trousers, he sidled up to her as casually as if they’d known each other their whole lives.

She glared at him, though with the angle of the sun peering over his shoulder and into her eyes, he’d think she was squinting. “Mr. Colfax. What brings you this close to the lighthouse? Again.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I interact with readers on my Facebook page, Candice Sue Patterson-Author. Readers can also keep up to date with my latest news on my website at www.candicesuepatterson.com. My website is also the best place to contact me through email. (I love hearing from readers!)

I can also be found on Goodreads and Pinterest.

Thank you, Candice, for sharing part of your life and this book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection - Christianbook.com
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection: 7 Historical Romances Are a Beacon of Hope to Weary Hearts - Amazon.com

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection: 7 Historical Romances Are a Beacon of Hope to Weary Hearts - 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

NORTH BY STARLIGHT - Diane and David Munson - One Free Boook

Bio: After writing ten suspense novels seasoned with romance, ExFeds, Diane and David Munson have completed their first Romantic Suspense. Responding to fans of their earlier thrillers, North By Starlight offers a romance seasoned with suspense where this spousal duo provides a glimpse into attorney Madison Stone’s exciting legal efforts to save Jordan Star’s Vermont resort from a mysterious and unknown relative, only to find herself entangled with a former as well as a future love interest. It’s been said of Diane and David Munson that “he nailed ‘em…and she jailed ‘em,” because David was an NCIS Special Agent and undercover DEA Special Agent and Diane was a Federal prosecutor. Now these authors of high velocity suspense novels, combine their exciting and dangerous cases into ‘factional fiction’ by changing the names and places. Fans of their earlier ten novels will be pleased with the return of Attorney Maddie Stone (Hero’s Ransom) and other favorite characters from the Munson’s family friendly, stand alone adventures. 

Welcome back, Diane and David. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?

Our first ten Christian suspense novels were inspired by our exciting and dangerous careers. They are realistic novels seasoned with touches of romance. In this, our eleventh novel, we launch out into what we describe as inspirational romantic suspense. North by Starlight is still suspenseful, and features attorney Maddie Stone who is assigned to rescue bachelor Jordan Star and his inheritance from a surprise mystery heir. Maddie Stone is the attorney in our fourth novel Hero’s Ransom, where she was so busy helping her client that the reader never learned of her love-starved commitment to the law. We are thrilled this all changes for Maddie in North by Starlight. So we hope readers will enjoy this lighthearted thriller and our foray into inspirational romantic suspense.

I am eager to read this new book. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?

This year we will not be attending any conferences as we will be promoting our new release at various churches and other speaking engagement. In the past we have attended and spoke/presented at:

Calvin College’s Festival of Faith and Writing, in Grand Rapids, MI

Breathe Christian Writer’s Conference, in Grand Rapids, MI

Evangelical Church Librarian Conference, in Wheaton, IL

Florida Southern Baptist Librarian Conference, Lakeland, FL

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

Christian books and authors are in a precarious position. As a result, we can’t help thinking the panel would take conferees on a tour of the Book Publishing Cemetery and examine the tombstones of Borders Book Stores, Family Christian Book Stores, STL Christian Book Distributors, and many more.

Panel members would include an unemployed book salesman, an unemployed acquisitions editor, and Coupon Connie who buys all her books on Amazon, but has to buy her Christian greeting cards at Walgreens because the only Christian Book store in her town has closed.

The last panelist would be a hybrid author who survived traditional publishing and is now hiring professional editors, cover and interior designers and publishing his/her own books using CreateSpace and Ingram POD and making four times the amount on each book sold, although not in B&N or Lifeway’s ever shrinking fictions section.

This may sound harsh, but we hear from authors of every stripe nearly every week wondering about the future of Christian publishing. We would want our panel to address innovative ways to reach readers of Christian fiction, using social media, community venues, and churches. Lynn Austin, Teri Blackstock, Brandilyn Collins, Dee Henderson, Joel Rosenberg, and Robert Whitlow would be featured, and we all look forward to hearing about their inspiring stories of their writing and how God is leading them on their future writing path.

Actually, Amazon is no longer publishing through Create Space. They’ve  made KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) with another focus as well. KDPP (Kindle Direct Publishing Print). How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

We both feel it is very important to be supportive and to have the support of Christian writers. Early in our writing careers, we both joined American Fiction Writers Conference (ACFW), where we benefited from writing courses. We have attended writing conferences to learn from published authors all that we could about writing. It was through submitting sample manuscripts to acquisition editors that we were encouraged to change our goal of writing historical fiction, to suspense. It was also through submitting our suspense manuscript for Facing Justice to an acquisition editor at a writing conference, that we received our first contract. Having said this, we caution aspiring writers to be sure they have supportive mentors and critique groups where their writing samples are being critiqued by other aspiring authors. We are aware of some aspiring writers who were discouraged from continuing to write. Seek God’s wisdom and direction above all!

That’s very good advice. And it’s why I’ve hosted a writing critique group in my home for over 25 years. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?

We are active in our large church where we both sing in the choir, which puts on several large events each year, including a Broadway-type Christmas presentation. It is very time consuming and rewarding! Also, we serve in a Bible Fellowship class and in prayer ministry. We sing hymns at a local nursing home with others in our class, where our teacher brings the residents the Gospel message. Our church has a food bank to reach those in need, and we have helped there too. We strive to share the love of Jesus with those in our neighborhood too with different events.

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

To keep this answer from being too long as there are two of us, we both are inspired by our parents, all Christians. They raised us to follow Jesus, read the Bible, and to show love to our neighbors. And they instilled in us a love for reading! God blessed us with Godly parents.

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

“Here lies David Munson who dodged early death, by the believable lies he told (and by the grace of God).” David, as a Federal undercover agent, used false identities, supported by government issued documents as he met with and traveled internationally with criminal gangs, who would have killed him, to avoid prison, if they knew who he really was.

Diane’s tombstone: “Here lies Diane Munson, who ruined her knees praying that David’s lies were believable.”

In truth, we would both want ours to say, “Saved by the Grace of Jesus!”

Tell us about the featured book.

Similar to what you might see in a Hallmark Christmas movie, North by Starlight is the story of young, single, attorney Madison Stone who has recently ended a relationship with attorney Stewart Dunham, who was more interested in riches and travel than was she. Maddie’s boss sends her to Starlight, Vermont, to represent the estate of the late Maynard Star, who built much of the village of Starlight, it’s signature hotel, the Edelweiss Lodge and the ski resort on Star Mountain. Maynard’s only surviving grandson, Jordan Star grew up helping Maynard run the tourist destination, following the death of his parents. Maddie finds the sole heir and bachelor to be quite attractive. They are thrown together as Maddie is expected to ward off a claim by a here-to-fore unknown family member who expects to share the estate with Jordan.

Please share the first page with us.

Attorney Madison Stone’s spirits soared high as the judge announced the ruling in Maddie’s favor. Though she wanted to shout, “Hooray!” she kept her lips sealed tight. The long hours she’d spent advocating for this family had finally paid off.

Judge Cawley tapped a stout gavel against the wooden judicial bench and with authority intoned, “Court is adjourned.”

A winning smile crept across Maddie’s face, and she jumped to her feet so quickly one of her high heels wobbled beneath her. She grabbed the table edge to steady herself.

Relief washed over her. Though this was her ninetieth case, a milestone in her six-year legal career, it wasn’t the win making her feel giddy. Justice being accomplished for a family and their small foster child erased Maddie’s frustration at having to battle nonstop against opposing counsel for the past few months.

She started gathering the hodgepodge of papers spread across the courtroom table, when the foster mother of Maddie’s court-assigned infant client enveloped her in a bear hug.

 “Thank you!” Mrs. Wolsey chirped. “I can keep LeSwana in my home.”

           

Maddie was about to warn the foster mother about attempted visits from the imputed father when Judge Cawley interrupted, “Ms. Stone, I need a word with you.”

Alarm sizzled through Maddie. She sped to the elevated desk unsure what she’d done wrong. Had she made a misstep? It was rare for Judge Cawley to engage in chitchat with attorneys in her courtroom.

 “Your Honor,” Maddie said, setting both hands lightly on the bench. “I’m sure Mrs. Wolsey won’t let us down. She loves baby LeSwana.”

The judge leaned over. As if including Maddie in a conspiracy, she lowered her voice to a bare whisper and said, “When I assigned you to this case, I had no doubt you would pull another rabbit from your giant hat.”

           

“Your Honor, I need to correct the record.” Maddie’s face grew warm at the judge’s praise. “Harry Black is our private investigator. He is the one who found the imputed father’s earlier arrest for child abuse, despite his using an alias.”

“You were the one who asked him to search.” Judge Cawley treated her to a friendly smile. “I knew you wouldn’t quit digging.”            

She patted Maddie’s hand, telling her, “Good job.”

           

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

https://www.DianeAndDavidMunson.com

Thank you, Diane and David, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I love reading inspirational romantic suspense. So do they.

Readers, here are links to the book.

North by Starlight - Paperback
North by Starlight - 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