Authors Eva Marie Everson & Linda Evans Shepherd - THE SECRET'S IN THE SAUCE - Free Book

Since this book has co-authors, I'm going to talk to each one, with Eva Marie first, just because her name comes first alphabetically. Welcome, Eva Marie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Specifically on the Potluck books? Because women relate. If we, as writers, want to draw readers to our work we must first write books they will laugh with, cry with, and relate to all the way around. It never ceases to amaze me the number of comments I receive at “potluck book club” parties where I’m either a live guest or a phone-in guest; those that say, “I know this woman!” or “I am this woman!” or “Have you been visiting our women’s group???”

Linda and I both travel a lot and we both speak at women’s groups and we listen not only with our ears but with our hearts. What we have discovered in talking with each other is that not one single women’s group is truly different from another. The same women make up the groups. The same types of women. The same hurts. The same personality quirks. And the same love of and for God that binds them together.

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

I have more than one, quite honestly. There is no “happiest.” The day I got married I was so happy I was two hours late to the wedding (I stopped to talk to someone). The day I gave birth was a pretty happy day (except when I discovered I’d lost only 11 of the 50 pounds I’d gained). The day my husband and I gained legal and permanent guardianship of our little girl by the Florida courts was an exceptionally happy day. The day of our oldest daughter’s wedding was happy (except when my husband got lost on the way to the church and we were therefore late because…well…he’s a man, and….) Then there was the day of my first book being contracted. Very happy day. I remember dancing in the kitchen. And I’d have to say one of the single BEST days of my adult life was lived out last year in Israel. It began on the shores of the Galilee and ended climbing the Arbel Cliff. I threw out my arms as my friend Miriam snapped a photo of me, high above land, with the Sea of Galilee turning lovely shades of blue and pink in the background. Really, this is one photo that says it all.

How has being published changed your life?

I work harder than I ever have in my whole life. :-) But I get to travel a lot which I love! And I get to tell people about Jesus which I love even more! I’m excited to think that one day, as we are all dancing on streets of Gold, I’ll know so many more of Heaven’s citizens from the jump than, you know, having to meet them as we go along.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading several books right now. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane which is hands down one of the best books I have read in my LIFE. We finished it last night and I cried like a child. Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell. Always learning…always learning…and Bell is a masterful teacher. A Good Life by Robert Benson (a re-re-re-read) and a book I was given a few weeks ago by a fairly new Baker/Revell author, Julie Lessman, called A Passion Most Pure. I’m not a huge historical romance reader but the cover (and the author) caught my attention. I’m really enjoying it!

I just love Julie's books. What is your current work in progress?

I am currently working on a project with Baker/Revell titled This Fine Life about a young preacher who is called to the Work of God in the early 1960s. It’s told from the viewpoint of his wife, a young woman who struggles with who and what she wants to be when “she grows up” and with understanding her faith in God when laid next to her husband’s “save the world” mentality. When I’m done with writing it, Linda and I will write the final chapter (book) in the Potluck series. I’m both excited and sad. Anytime a series comes to an end, it’s a thrill to see where all the pieces will land but at the same time, it will then be a bygone era for us and for our work.

What would be your dream vacation?

See…I’m torn again. I’d return to Israel (again) in a New York minute. (Oh, and I love New York in December!) My first trip to the Holy Land was as a journalist and my second was to research for a(nother) book but I’d love to go just to be there, to shoot more photos, to learn more stuff, to drink in the presence of God. I also love the mountains. Linda and I hole up in her mountain cabin near Breckinridge, CO to do our writing for Potluck always in the winter months. I am like a wild child at Christmas when we’re up there. Linda has to force me to stop playing in the snow! But I also live near the sunny beaches of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico (I’m in Central Florida) and I think there is nothing more wonderful than being near the water. More than anything, right now, I’d like to go somewhere quiet for a week of reading, rest, and respite.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I don’t. They choose me. Recently I discovered I should be writing fiction set in the land I know best: the South. These are my people. This is my neck of the woods. So, I proposed to Baker/Revell a number of works all set in the South. I turned in the first one Things Left Unspoken in early January. The next one is tentatively titled This Fine Life.

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

Oh, you had to say “alive.” I’d love to spend one more evening with my daddy, who went to Glory in 2006. But…hmmm…alive, you say…okay. Me. I like being alone with myself. I’m comfortable with who I am (most of the time). I like quiet reading. Quiet opportunities to chat on the phone uninterrupted. Quiet cups of coffee while watching quiet TV or listening to quiet music. So….me.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

my new favorite hobby is biking. That and “Twittering.” (Come! Follow me!)

Oh, yes, I Twitter, but I can only spend a little time each day there. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

You know, when you have a family and a life it is often the “time issue.” Just about the time I find myself on a roll in the writing arena, someone wants dinner…or to be driven to ballet…or to get their clothes washed…or needs to chat on the phone…or some blog questions answered…. (Oh! Oops! :-) )

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Do you believe you are supposed to do this? Okay then do it. Be aware of the closed doors. Look for the open doors. Only walk through the open ones.

Very good advice. Tell us about the featured book.

Secret’s in the Sauce? Ohmygoodness….this book is so stinkin’ funny. These “potluck gals,” I have to tell ya…they are a hoot. And yet they have some of the most poignant issues in their lives. Secret’s in the Sauce has an important lesson from me. I won’t get into it but it should be suffice to say that everyone has had tremendous burdens in their lives and chosen to run anywhere and everywhere but to God with them, only to discover they’ve made a bigger mess than what they had before. I learned it the hard way. I’m just so happy I had friends (like our potluck gals) to love me through it.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Here’s my new thing. I love to Twitter (did I mention that?) Facebook and MySpace are good, too, and I can be “followed” at my website. Here are all my current locations:

Website: http://www.evamarieeverson.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/EvaMarieEverson

MySpace: www.MySpace.com/evamarieeverson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=713080294

Now, we're going to visit with Linda. Welcome, Linda. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I once got asked what it felt like to write ‘fluff.’

That question could only be asked by someone who had not read our series. The truth is Eva and I use the power of a great story, combined with the power of humor, to broach topics that most Christian authors won’t tackle. By using humorous stories, we’re able to bring healing and help as well as a few good laughs to our readers.

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

The day I brought my youngest child home from the hospital was probably my happiest day. For when I placed baby Jimmy into his sister’s arms, the excitement of the moment actually woke two-year-old Laura from a year-long coma that was the result of a car accident. What a moment!

Wow, sounds powerful! How has being published changed your life?

I’d probably be a lot more carefree if I weren’t living the disciplined life of a writer. But despite my long hours at the keyboard, writing has led me to a world of wonderful characters, creative friends and dear readers.

What are you reading right now?

All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt.

That's one of my favorite books. What is your current work in progress?

I’m currently working on my new book, tentatively titled Be Your Own Prayer Project, due out in January from Revell. That, and a screenplay about a historical character from Colorado’s past.
What would be your dream vacation?

I’ve vacationed in wonderful places around the world, but my favorite location is any place with a great book and a beach.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I live in Colorado and enjoy the beauty of the mountains. I wanted to turn that majesty into not just a cardboard backdrop, but a rich, intriguing force. So choosing the Colorado high country as our backdrop was a no-brainer.

I love the Colorado Rockies, too. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I love to read John Grisham novels and I would be tickled pink to invite John and his wife to dinner.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I am the founder and CEO of a nonprofit ministry called Right to the Heart. Among other things we minister to the depressed and suicidal on the Internet, publish a weekly ezine called Right to the Heart of Women, conduct the women’s conference Stepping into Destiny and minister to the top Christian women who write and speak through our Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

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

I’m such a terrible speller that I sometimes refer to myself the Typo Queen. My secret weapons against misspelled words and other typos are spellcheck, editing my work till my eyeballs pop out, and of course having a wonderful writing partner who often sees what I miss. But actually, my forced attention to detail has helped me become a better writer.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

A. Read the classics so you will know how to recognize a good story.
B. Study the craft of writing a great story.
C. Ink your own great story to paper.
D. Send your great story to publishers.
E. While you wait for your first big break, write your next great story.

Tell us about the featured book.

Though the characters in our new series, The Potluck Catering Club, are the same characters as in the Potluck Club series, they have all new secrets. These very secrets have helped spread the rumor that The Potluck Catering Club The Secret’s in the Sauce is a bit of a page turner. This is rumor that I won’t deny, but if you want to know more, you’ll have to go to Summit View, Colorado, and visit our characters (six church ladies) so you can get to the bottom of this controversy. (You won’t believe what these dear friends are trying to hide.)

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Ha, the question is how can they not? I love creating webpages and have over 100 domain names. I create pages for all my new series or books, like http://www.potluckclub.com/.

You can link to many of my web pages at http://www.visitlinda.com/.

But my all time favorite webpage is http://www.godtest.com/.

Eve Marie and Linda, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers for your convenience, here's a link to order the book:

You can leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Just remember to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Author Anita Higman - ANOTHER HOUR TO KILL - Free Book

I loved your first Barbour mystery, and I can hardly wait to read this one. Welcome back, Anita. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Interesting question. I have an unusual answer. I’d written a gothic chick-lit novel, but it didn’t sell, so when I heard that Barbour Publishing was starting a line of mysteries, I took the little bit of mystery in my novel and expanded it. After a couple more rewrites my gothic chick-lit became a gothic mystery. Then I took that original concept and made it into three books. I wish I had a more glamorous story concerning my entrance into the mystery genre. Like maybe I was a relative of Agatha Christie, and it was in my blood, or my life was so full of mysteries that it naturally flowed into my writing. Truth is, I had to work hard to take a chick-lit and remake it into a trilogy of mysteries. I’m worn-out just thinking about it. But I’m hoping readers enjoy Another Hour to Kill. It’s the second book in the series, but I tried to write them so people could read them out of order or buy only one and still be fully satisfied. Of course, that was my goal. I’ll let the readers decide if that’s true.

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

Oh, holding my babies for the first time. Of course, I’d had C-sections and I was in a morphine haze, but I still remember those moments perfectly…playing with those velvety toes, and smelling that baby powdery hair, and kissing those darling little cheeks. Does life get any better?
How has being published changed your life?

Well, I have less time on my hands. There’s all that coming up with new ideas and characters. And well, writing and editing takes up a huge amount of time. And then there’s all that promotion too. Whew! I wish I could buy rolls and rolls of time at Target like I buy toilet paper.

Interesting thought. What are you reading right now?

Well, the book I was reading was so offensive, I gave it a new dwelling place—my trash bin. As readers we really do have the right to do that. I think it’s easy to get this idea from the secular world that once an author’s words are printed onto paper they become like sacred texts. Baloney. Sometimes books are profane and sleazy and not fit for human consumption. Sometimes novels can make me feel more assaulted than entertained or enlightened or inspired. This is America. We can disagree over a book, write essays about a book, or toss a book into the dumpster if we choose to. Maybe I should have just given a simpler answer. :-) Here’s a more cheerful response. Not too long ago I finished all of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. It was an amazing masterpiece, and his work humbles me as a writer.

What is your current work in progress?

For the moment, I’m in between projects. So, I’m spending some time telling people about the books that I already have out in the marketplace. But I will be back writing in a couple of weeks.

What would be your dream vacation?

Ahhh, now that’s a lovely question. I would go to Aspen and stay at the St. Regis Hotel. I would hike the Maroon Bells and then go back into town to eat something nice and fattening. I did that vacation, and I highly recommend it!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I like to keep the settings close to home if at all possible. Since I live in Texas I know the plant life, the people and their ways, the weather, etc., so I feel very comfortable having the setting here.

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

Josh Groban. I am a HUGE FAN. Anybody else out there a Grobanite? I listen to his music all the time. I never get tired of it. If you have never heard him sing, you are missing out on an awesome treat.

The man does have an fantastic voice. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love decorating my house. I know that sounds awfully girly, but it’s exciting to see the right drapes and the right colors and flooring and accessories all come together to make a pleasant room—a place where you want to spend time and a place you want to share with your family and friends.

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

I’ve always had the annoying problem of not being able to come up with enough plot and conflict, so in my latest novel, Love Finds You in Humble, Texas, I decided to give it some built-in trouble. In the Humble, Texas, book I have two sisters fall in love with the same man. I can assure you there is enough natural conflict there to create a tome!

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Don’t rush the process. Take your time. Read and learn about the craft, network, and attend conferences. Start a blog, and find your own unique voice. Be faithful to your stories and write every day. If you really have a passion for writing, you won’t find my suggestions as a punishment—but a pleasure.

Tell us about the featured book.

The novel today is Another Hour to Kill, which is the second book in the Volstead Manor series. All three novels in the series are cozy mysteries with a gothic tone. By the way, the name of my fictional mansion comes from Prohibition—The Volstead Act of 1919—and even though this series is contemporary, the dark history of the house is connected to that era. I suppose I’ve always been intrigued with that period of time in American history, but more than that, I’ve always been fascinated with really old houses and their secrets.

While writing Another Hour to Kill my favorite part was coming up with the character, Vlad, who was one of the suspects. Vlad has an interesting delusion that he lives with, and that internal mirage was fascinating and bizarre enough to keep me interested in the character all the way through. I hope readers are intrigued too. His full name is Vlad Tepes. Maybe that will give you a hint as to his delusion.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Here’s my new web site, http://www.anitahigman.com/. Please stop by and sign my guest book.
Lena, thanks so much for having me back. It’s been fun. You are a great hostess!

Thank you, Anita, for joining us. I love having you.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

Another Hour To Kill (HEARTSONG PRESENTS MYSTERIES)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy. Don't forget to check back in two weeks on Saturday to see if you wond the book.

Woo!!! Hoo!!! It's Winner Day!!!

Katie8407 is the winner of She's In a Better Place by Angela Hunt.

Sheila Deeth is the winner of The House On the Bluff by Elena Dorothy Bowman.

AmberS is the winner of Believing In Hope by Stephanie Perry Moore.

Patricia PacJac Carroll is the winner of The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander.

Congratulations! Now send me your mailing addres so we can get the books to you. Click on View Complete Profile to find the link to my email.

Author Tricia Goyer - EVERY SUNRISE - Free Book Here - And a Wonderful Contest

We're having one of our favorite authors back with an interesting blog tour. Welcome, Tricia. Love the picture of you.

About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of eighteen fiction and non-fiction books, including Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. Tricia writes magazine articles for publications like Today's Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia also enjoys speaking. She and her family make their home in Montana.

About the Home to Heather Creek series: Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside down when her daughter, Denise, dies in a tragic car accident. She ran away at eighteen and Charlotte has never forgiven herself. Now, Denise's children, abandoned by their father, are coming from California to live on Heather Creek Farm in Bedford, Nebraska.

Charlotte is uncertain about her ability to care for three grandchildren who are not thrilled to give up the beach and sunshine for snow and farm chores! But she sees a chance to make amends and will do whatever it takes to keep her fragile family together. Feel the courage, strength and commitment of this family as their lives unfold in the Home to Heather Creek series.

About Every Sunrise: The bleak winter days make February on Heather Creek Farm a test of endurance, and as winter wears on, Sam becomes more and more withdrawn and unhappy. Bob is busy planning a surprise for Charlotte, and Christopher is excited about a local writing competition, while a Valentine’s Day flower from a secret source lifts Emily’s spirits. But when Sam disappears from the farm one night, chasing a memory of the father who abandoned them all, Charlotte and Bob need all the help—and prayer—they can get to bring him home safely. This broken family needs God’s help like never before, but their trials remind them all that every sunrise brings a new beginning.

Link to buy book: http://www.guideposts.org/heathercreek/linked_pages/book7.html The books come in a series and you can order those at the link. However, if you just want to order Every Sunrise you must call the customer service number (1-800-431-2344).

Contest: Okay…this book is loaded with yummy food: strawberry cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, baked chicken with cornbread, chocolate cake, pancakes with homemade syrup, French onion soup, parmesan crusted chicken…well you get the idea! So the contest for this tour will be the EVERY FOODIE contest!  She’ll choose the one that most tantalizes her taste buds to receive an entire set of the Home to Heather Creek series (books 1-7)! Five runner’s up will win a copy of Every Sunrise (or another Tricia Goyer book of their choice). Let the mouth-watering commence!

Thank you, Tricia, for letting us be a part of this wonderful tour and contest.

Readers, check out the contest page and leave a comment there for a chance to win the contest.

Leave a comment here for a chance to win a free copy of Every Sunrise. Don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Author Michelle Stimpson - TROUBLE IN MY WAY - Free Book

Michelle is one of the authors God brought to the critique group that meets in my home. I've learned to really love her and her writing. Welcome, Michelle. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I enjoy writing realistic fiction that causes people to think and re-think their relationships, mostly their relationship with Christ.

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

Hmmm…this is a tough one! The happiest day was probably the day I got the call from a major publisher expressing interest in my work. I remember running through the house and just praising God! Although that deal didn’t actually come to fruition, the editor gave me a great deal of confidence.

I know about that running through the house praising God. How has being published changed your life?

It has made me a very faithful, optimistic person. The funniest thing, however, is how the really important things haven’t changed – my family, my friends. One day when I was really kind of excited about something pertaining to one of my books, I called home and began telling my 7-year-old daughter what a big deal it was. She said, “Okay, but we need some milk.” Talk about keeping me grounded!

My family is like that, too. To them, I'm just Mom or Grandma. I just happen to write books. What are you reading right now?

I’m reading My Lobotomy by Howard Dully. I know it sounds gross, but I’ve always been fascinated by the lobotomy and medical oddities, so I started reading it. The silence of the 50’s and 60’s is always interesting to me, too. The whole idea of hiding family secrets and keeping up pretenses intrigues me.

I grew up in that "secret" society. To move from that mindset was freeing. What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a couple of things. One is a collection of short stories for high school students. I’ll self-publish this set. Another is I Met Him in the Ladies’ Room – a novel about a young woman who accepted Christ so she could get a job at a church.

And this book is really funny and poignant. What would be your dream vacation?

I’d like to visit Hawaii – sit in the breeze, view the ocean. But I’m not a big fan of the outdoors (the bugs, you know) so I wouldn’t be out all day!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I’m kind of lazy when it comes to settings. I write contemporary realistic fiction, so I pretty much put people in places I know well.

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

I’d like to spend some time with Joyce Meyer. I could use a good talkin’ to.

James and I really enjoy Joyce, too. We've been in James Robison's studio a couple of times when they were recording an interview with her for Life Today. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

When I get the chance, I like to watch medical mystery TV shows. Outside of that, I spend time involved in my kids’ activities – ROTC, basketball, track and such. Movies are also fun when I get the chance.

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

My biggest difficulty is sticking to one project. I have this “system” of sorts – when I get tired of one book, I sometimes go write a short story. Then I go back to the book. This works fine so long as I’m not under a deadline. But when the deadline approaches, I’m all business. Some would call me a procrastinator – but I believe I work best under pressure.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

You don’t have to like every single word you write – just get it out there and then you can fix it later.

Tell us about the featured book?

I had so much fun writing this book! The main character, Karis, is 16 years old. She is the daughter of a single mom who was only 16 when she gave birth to Karis. Now, however, her mother is a minister who uses her life to glorify God. Karis is caught in the middle of her relationship with God and her relationship with her mother, who seems to be clamping down on Karis’s social life for fear that Karis will repeat the mistakes of the past. All the while, Karis has LOTS Of drama with friends, boys, and her father’s girlfriend. I went back to my old journals to write this one. I look forward to the opportunity to minister to young girls through this novel.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Dear Me,

Derrick is cute -- NOT! I can't believe I risked my life by having Tamisha take me over to his house instead of the football game. Seriously, if my mom found out, I would be writing my eulogy instead of writing this journal entry. And for what? Some boy who does not have one single real DVD in his famed DVD collection! I swear, every single movie he had was bootleg. I think his whole room was bootleg. His whole game is bootleg, when I think about it! He acts like one thing in the beginning, but when you look closely, you realize it's not exactly as good as the real thing.

Okay, here's what happened: Tamisha took me over to his house -- we synchronized our watches -- she was to pick me up in EXACTLY forty-five minutes. There was no one except Derrick at his house, so I knew I didn't want to be over there too long. Anyway, we started watching a movie on the floor in his bedroom. Everything was fine at first. I mean, so long as I didn't stare at him right in the face, it was okay. I just kept trying to think about all the wonderful things we'd talked about on the phone because he was NOT as cute as I remember him. So, there we were watching the movie to the best of my ability since it was a little blurry. I was just getting beyond the fact that I had to ignore the line running through the middle of the screen, and the next thing I know, Derrick is trying to kiss and hug and all that.

I was like, "Hold up! Wait a minute!" and he was like, "What's wrong, baby?" like this is some kind of bad music video. I could not believe how he was trying to turn our movie-watching into some kinda romantic rondayvu (spelling??). When we're on the phone, he's an innocent little boy, but when we were together, he was a grown octopus! I'm not saying I wasn't feeling his kisses -- I'm just saying, I wasn't trying to do all that. See, I know how and when to draw the line. I know when enough is enough. Thank God, Tamisha came right on time! I was outta there so quick! I know Derrick is nice and all, but he is not the one for me. Maybe we should just be friends because #1, he is not that cute, and #2 he is having some issues right now that I cannot help him out with. I think I'll leave him alone until his hormones settle down.
-- Karis Laying-Low Reed

I don't know which is more stupid -- me going over to Derrick's house, or me writing about it in my journal knowing how straight-up nosey my mother is. I mean, I know that a momma's gotta do what a momma's gotta do. But does a momma have to read my journal and get all up in my personal business? What about my American rights? My Texas rights? My basic human need for privacy? First my journal -- next thing you know, she'll be following me into the bathroom.

The bathroom; that's a good place to go right about now.

I wait until my mother turns her back and takes a breather between the yelling spells. I'm doing my best to rise from the couch without making a sound. Her head whips around instantly.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To the bathroom," I reply, throwing in a bit of whine for effect.

"Sidown," she hisses.

I bounce on the balls of my feet, faking the biological emergency. "But I've really gotta go."

She throws her hands up in the air and they land on her hips as she half-laughs, "That's what you should have been saying when Tamisha dropped you off at your little man-ish boyfriend's house when you were supposed to be at a football game: 'I've really gotta go.' But noooo, you couldn't say it then, so don't be sayin' it now. You ain't really gotta go nowhere. Okay?"

I've already slipped back onto the couch, and I mumble, "Yes, ma'am."

My mother does a cha-cha slide over to me and pushes hot words onto my face. "I can't hear you!"

I look her in the eyes and answer again, "Yes, ma'am."

Then she takes a few steps back toward the center of our living room and reaches down to the coffee table, picking up my beloved pink-heart journal again. I still cannot believe she read it.

"And what is this?" she traces over the entry until her pearl-tipped fingernail lands on what she's looking for. She wags her head as she mocks me, "'When we're on the phone, he's an innocent little boy, but when we were together, he was a grown octopus.' What's that supposed to mean, huh?"

Mrs. Clawson, my pre-Advanced Placement English teacher, would have appreciated my fine use of figurative language. "It's just a metaphor, Mom."

"A meta-four!" She slams my journal shut, and the resulting puff of air makes her soft brown bangs do the wave. "According to this diary, it would have had a meta-five and a meta-six, given a few more minutes. Tell me, Karis, what would you have done if Tamisha hadn't come back to pick you up when she did, huh? What if Tamisha hadn't been on time? What if you had started 'feeling' your little boyfriend's kisses? Then what?"

I want to tell her that, first of all, Derrick is not my boyfriend. But somehow I think that might damage my case, so I keep that bit of information to myself. The second thing I wish I could tell her is that there was no way I would have done anything stupid with Derrick. I want to tell her that I timed things precisely to protect myself from crossing the line. I also want to tell her that Derrick and I talk on the phone for hours at a time and I have intense feelings for him. Next to Tamisha and Sydney, Derrick is my best friend, kind of. Well, I used to trust him until he turned into that eight-legged marine creature. Besides, he is really only a six on the face and body scale. When I saw him on the basketball court, he looked like Bow Wow. But when I saw him up close at his house, he looked like maybe he could be Bow Wow's half brother. Plus one of his front teeth was longer than the other. Believe me, my mother does not ever have to worry about me sneaking off to Derrick's house again.

Nonetheless, my mother would not understand these things. She's a minister. Need I say more? So in response to her question about what I would have done, I default to my standard answer, which turns out to be the stupidest thing I can say. "I don't know."

"You don't know? What you mean, you don't know? I betcha Derrick knows. I betcha Tamisha knows. I know what would have happened, 'cause it happened to me and that's how I ended up pregnant with you when I was your age. You think I don't know what boys and girls your age do when they're together for hours unsupervised? And, really, it don't take hours. It only takes a few minutes to do something that can change your life forever!"

She stands there for a minute, towering over me. I jump a little when, out of the corner of my eye, I see her right hand approaching my face. It's moving too slowly for a slap, so I calm down a bit as she puts her forefinger and thumb on either side of my chin, raises my face, and makes me look at her.

Her light brown almond-shaped eyes are a mirror of mine. We've both got the same eyes, the same light brown skin, the same dark brown hair and roughly the same skinny shape. Right now, my mom is about three inches taller than me. But if it weren't for her pudgy stomach and her wider hips (which she, of course, blames on me), we could probably trade jeans. Everybody says we look more like sisters than mother and daughter. She thinks it's a compliment. I don't. Who wants to look like her mother? But these eyes, they are both mine and hers. And just when I see a pool of tears forming in them, she points me toward the hallway and says, "I can't stand to look at you right now."

I wish she'd make up her mind. Does she want me to look at her or not?

Minutes later, we start with the all-too-familiar routine. She comes into my room to collect my cell phone and my modem. I can keep the computer for the sake of school. I can go on the internet in the den, but only for academic purposes. There goes my social life.

"Where's the iPod?" she asks.

This is a new one. "That, too?" I protest. "Daddy gave it to me!"

She raises her eyebrows. "And?"

I cannot believe my mother is this mean! This is straight boo-dee, but I can't say so without getting into more trouble -- not that that's possible at this point. Slowly, I reach into my Louis Vuitton drawstring bag and pull out the hot pink iPod, a gift my father gave me only two weeks ago to celebrate my sixteenth birthday. Unlike the other items she's taking away, this one hurts. I try real hard, but I can't stop the tears from falling down my cheeks. It feels like she's taking my daddy away from me. Again.

That's all she ever does is take, take, take. She takes my freedom, she takes my friends, my family, everything! I think she wants to take my life because she didn't have hers. She missed the homecoming games because she couldn't find a babysitter, she missed her senior prom because I had pneumonia, and she didn't graduate with her class because she had to sit out a semester. Basically, she lost her teen years when she got pregnant with me at sixteen -- but how is that my problem? Why do I have to pay for her mistakes? I'm not my mom, and she's not me! The more I think about it, the madder I get.

My mother takes the iPod in hand and wraps the headphone cord around the rectangular box as she walks toward my bedroom door. I want to scream something from one of those poor little rich girl movies -- something like "I wish I was never born!" -- but there is always the possibility that my mother will do her best to make my wish come true by killing me now. The safest thing I think I can get away with while she's still in the room is crossing my arms on my chest. I'm pushing it.

Somehow, my mother sees me and says under her breath, "Keep on and you won't be getting a car for Christmas."

I know she did not just threaten me with the car my daddy has already promised me for Christmas when I pass my driver's test! "What's the point? It'll just be one more thing for you to take away from me." Who said that? I hold my breath and wait to see what my momma will bop me with. She's got a cell phone, a modem, and an iPod in hand. Those shouldn't hurt too badly.

She keeps her back to me as she grabs hold of the doorknob. She stops and takes a deep breath. I feel like I'm in a movie theater, waiting for the bad guy to jump out of the closet and attack the innocent victim. But instead, my mother says in a calm, even tone, "For your sake and mine, I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that because I don't believe that God has called me into the prison ministry."

When my mother shuts the door behind her, I bury my face in my pillow and scream as loud as I can without letting her hear me. That's when the door opens again and my journal comes flying across the room, barely missing my head. I grab the journal and, for a moment, consider ripping each page to shreds. I still don't understand what gives her the right to read my stuff. In that whole forty-five-minute lecture she gave me, she never once mentioned the violation of my privacy. Where is the justice?

Instead of destroying my journal, I grab a pen from my desk and write:

Dear Me,
Mom just read my journal. Here is what I'm thinking:
#1 -- Nothing happened at Derrick's house, so I don't know what the big deal is.
#2 -- I can take care of myself, which was actually proven in the journal!
#3 -- What gives my mother the right to just go in my room and pick up my journal and read it?
#4 -- If my mom keeps me from getting the car that my daddy promised me, I will leave this house!
#5 -- Derrick does not look like Bow Wow. Do not ever fall for a guy that you have only seen from the 9th row up in the stands at a basketball game.
Maybe I should stop writing all of my personal stuff down. But if I do that, who will I tell all my problems? I mean, I have my friends, but they don't understand me like this journal does. No, I can't give up the journal. I will just have to find a good hiding place for it.
-- Karis I've-Been-Wronged Reed

Now I'm searching all over my room for a journal hideout spot. I've got to hide it in a place where it's so out of place no one would ever look there. There again, I have a problem. My mother might have the voice to be a minister, but she's got a nose that could outsniff a hound dog. She can smell trouble all over me. When I was little and I got a bad note from school, I could barely get off the bus before she'd say, "Something's wrong with you. What happened at school today?" And since I've never been a good liar (at least not to my mother, anyway), I'd have to break down and tell her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I'm searching through the closet now for a place big enough to hold a journal but small enough to be inconspicuous, and that's when I decide to forget it. Deep down inside, the truth is: I don't want to hide things from my mother. Once again, the tears start to sting my eyes. It bothers me that she read my journal. My mother and I have been living in this house alone for the last five years. When she and my father divorced, she got the house and me. She's always talking about how we only have each other and God. Always talking about how levelheaded I am, what a blessing it is to have a daughter who is so self-reliant. So what made her think that she had to read my journal? What happened to the trust? In a way, I feel like she deserves whatever she got for reading it.

I figure the best thing I can do is stop writing in the journal until I'm eighteen, at which point I can do and write whatever because I will be grown. You hear me -- grown! I cannot wait for that day! Go where I want to go, do what I want to do, answer to nobody but myself. And God, I suppose, but that shouldn't be too hard, since He already knows everything.

I close my journal and put it where I have always put it -- in my top drawer. If I can't have my privacy and if my mother can't trust me, then...whatever. That's on her, except right now it's on me because I'm the one who's grounded. There's something seriously wrong with this picture.

That teaser should really whet readers' appetites for the book. Now Michelle, how can readers find you on the Internet?

My main website is: http://www.michellestimpson.com/.

I post articles at http://www.womengrowinginchrist.com/, and I tour with 6 other Christian fiction authors – our tour information is at http://www.anointedauthorsontour.com/.

Thank you for spending this time with us, Michelle.

Readers, for your convenience, here's a link where you can order Trouble In My Way:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Author Jonathan Adam DeCoteau - THE NAKED EARTH - Free Book

Our author today took a different tack in writing than what we usually see on this blog. Welcome to the blog, Jonathan. What inspired you to write The Naked Earth?

One haunting image started the process: witnessing the televised beheadings of innocent Americans by terrorist captors. I began to ask myself: how can anyone come to such a depraved state of existence? How can anyone believe that such action is even remotely justifiable?

The image reappeared in my mind as my classes were reading Simon Wiesenthal’s The Sunflower, which told a similar tale of Nazi-based atrocity. Arguably the most famous part of the work, a single SS officer, Karl, commits an atrocity so great he must seek the forgiveness of the protagonist before he dies. The question of how such evil forms is central to that work, allowing me to draw parallels to Iraq. This question led to other questions: for example, whether Karl’s remorse is deeply sincere or an epiphany motivated by his nearness to death raised the question of what would’ve happened if Karl lived? How would he live within his skin knowing what he’d done?

I thought a great deal about this and about the heroic efforts of Marla Ruzicka and other relief workers who did the opposite in the face of war.

The fusion of those three stark Muses became the character of Evan “Sindbad” Al-Mohummad and the writing took over from there.

What are the book's themes or messages?

There are as many themes as there are readers. Even larger messages or patterns in the text will have subtle variations between readers of diverse backgrounds, genders, and ages. If I had to choose the dominant theme painted across the novel’s pages, I’d say man’s potential for redemption factors in heavily. The novel takes a man with a questionable, but working, conscience, puts him in a situation that causes him to lose his moral compass, and then wrestles with whether or not man has the ability to rise above his greatest sins or whether human history will always be defined by its greatest evils. If readers get one driving message from the work, I hope it will be to rise to their potential and help in some way, even with charities for returning wounded (Freedom Is Not Free) or for Iraqi civilians (CIVIC).

Please describe the political context for The Naked Earth. Do you see it as an anti-war text, or is its content more philosophical/literary?

Reading over the book, it definitely carries a strong anti-war sentiment, but it’s a mistake to simply pigeonhole it as an anti-war novel. The work clearly examines how the tragedy of war brings out the best and worst of the human spirit, studied through the extremes of one character, Evan Al-Mohummad.
His rise, fall, and redemption, along with the civilian relief workers, a range of soldiers, some corrupt, some dedicated professionals, raises the general question of the nature of war. For that reason, I don’t see a division between philosophy and theme; the novel presents multiple sides of the war experience in an attempt to understand a complex and irresolvable issue.

The Naked Earth takes place in the ancient city of Al-Basrah, Iraq. What kind of research did you do to create the backdrop for the novel?

Most of the research came to me rather than the other way around. The backdrop suggested itself when I recalled One Thousand and One Nights while selecting a setting for the story. The mythical “Sindbad” (or “Sinbad”) started his journey there. Given the news releases relating to gang violence in the area, it suggested itself as a logical starting point for my protagonist to go on his own spiritual journey. While CNN reports relating to the area provided additional info, travel books and web forums (including one on, believe it or not, the flowers of the region) helped fill in the gaps I faced in creating the setting.

How would you describe the main character, Sindbad? What are his flaws and the motivations for his actions in the book?

Sindbad is the archetypal anti-hero. He’s divided between ethnicities (some characters refer to him as white in the book, others as brown), between lands (the US and Iraq), between cultures, and between moral polarities. Given these inner fissures, it was easy for his flaws (his anger and judgmental nature) and virtues (his integrity) to be magnified and his motivations (to find some for of peace) to become clear.

Some readers will make the connection between The Naked Earth's Sindbad and the legendary character from the "Seven Voyages of Sinbad" in One Thousand and One Nights. What parallels do you see between the two characters?

I deliberately used "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad" as a frame for the novel. Both deal with heroics and loss, discovery, adventure, and tragedy in a patriarchal construct, and both are part of larger stories that are vast and (perhaps because they depend on diverse perspectives) ultimately unknowable. The mythical Sinbad is ironically juxtaposed against the less than heroic protagonist I created, however. They share parallels, but they’re hardly the same character.

Who are your favorite authors, and why do you admire their work?

My tastes are diverse, as I admire good writing in all its forms. Classical authors as diverse as Melville, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and Wharton enthrall me, as do supposedly pop writers like Hebert or Shaw. Contemporary novelists that I admire include William Henry Lewis, David Guterson, and Rick Spier, whose O’Sullivan’s Odyssey deserves a wider readership. If there’s one element of craft I continually gravitate toward, it’s style. I love language, and I hope that shows in The Naked Earth.

Can you describe your writing process for our readers?

I feel that if I could, that writing process would be dead. What I mean by that is that while I earnestly try to write a bit each night, writing is more than sitting at a computer. Thoughts, inspirations, motivations come at all hours of the day and night, often from music. No matter how regulated I try to be, my writing isn’t always cooperative. It leads me rather than the other way around; whenever I start to type, I never know what the end of the next line will be and the more adventurous part of me likes it that way.

What will your next book be about?

I’ve written two manuscript drafts awaiting placement with publishers. Both are with an agent and both are diverse in comparison to The Naked Earth. I guess what the next book will be about will depend on whether or not any of those two are ultimately placed for publication. So buy The Naked Earth and/or help a worthwhile cause today!

Thank you, Jonathan, for spending time with us today.

Readers, I've included this link for your convenience:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Author Kim Vogel Sawyer - A PROMISE FOR SPRING - Free Book

Kim Vogel Sawyer has become a very popular author. I'm proud to call her a friend. Welcome back to my blog, Kim. Why did you become an author?

I’m not sure I chose “authoring” as much as it chose me. :o) I seemed to have been born with the bent to write. I submitted my first manuscript at the tender age of 11 (to Grossett & Dunlap in New York), and the dream of writing always lingered in the back of my heart. Being a full-time author truly is a life-long dream fulfilled.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

Well, I was an elementary schoolteacher prior to writing full-time, and I would cheerfully return to that occupation. I still miss the kids… *sigh*

Yes, we often have to choose between two good things, don't we? If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

I believe I would enjoy visiting the Depression era. I didn’t have the privilege of grandmothers while growing up because my grandmas both died when my parents were children. If I returned to the 1920-1930’s, I might have the chance to meet my grandmothers. That would be pretty neat.

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

Does it count if I zinged through it? I recently had the opportunity to flit through the New England states. I got just enough of a taste to want more. I’d love to return there and explore at my leisure.

They are beautiful, aren't they? How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I definitely want to visit Germany and Russia someday. My family history is steeped in those countries, and I dream of taking my parents on a lengthy vacation.

I have German ancestry on my mother's side. What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

“Praise Me anyway.” Sometimes, when things are rough, it’s hard to lift your voice in praise. But God inhabits praise, so when I turn my eyes from life’s hardship and look at who He is to me—remember who I am to Him—suddenly my heart lifts and burdens are more bearable. After all, I’m not facing any trial alone. So I’ve been choosing to praise Him in the midst of the storm. Makes a huge difference.

I remember when my husband and I had to learn that lesson. One of the most valuable. Tell us about the featured book.

A Promise for Spring is probably the strongest “romance” I’ve written thus far. It features two English immigrants, separated when the man came to America to establish a sheep ranch in Northwest Kansas. Geoffrey Garrett hadn’t intended to wait more than a year to send for his betrothed, but things proved more challenging than he envisioned, and five years slipped by. In the meantime, the flame of Emmaline’s youthful love flickered and died. She is appalled by the primitive conditions on the sheep ranch, and she desires to return to England immediately. Geoffrey extends a promise: If she will stay until Spring and give him a chance to recapture her heart, at that time he will let her choose to either remain in Kansas with him as his bride or return to England. So the question becomes will she stay, or won’t she?

Sounds intriguing. I can hardly wait until my copy comes. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Just go to http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/. I always welcome visitors!

Thank you, Kim, for spending this time with us.

Readers, for your convenience, I'm including a link where you can order the book.

If you want to take part in the giveaway, leave a comment. Don't forget to check back in two weeks on Saturday to see if you won. Of course you can sign up for FeedBlitz, in the right column, to make sure you receive notification.

March Blew In 4 New Winners!!!

Darbyscloset is the winner of The Red Siren by M. L. Tyndall.

BeckyC is the winner of Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth.

Sherrinda is the winner of A Constant Heart by Siri Mitchell.

Rebornbutterfly is the winner of Wind of the Spirit by J. M. Hochstetler.

Each winner must email me their mailing address to claim the book. Click on View Complete Profile in the right column. You'll find a link to my email.

Author Tamera Alexander - THE INHERITANCE - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Tamera Alexander back to the blog. It's been a while since she was here. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I was recently on a “book club conference call” and one of the gals mentioned a theme in one of my books (the selection the group had just read) that had really spoken to her. She started to describe the pinnacle scene that captured that specific theme, and I quickly realized she was mistaken about which book that theme was in. It wasn’t in the book they’d just read but was in another one of my books. I thought, “Bless her heart, she has the themes in the books confused.” But um…no. It was me who was a tad confused. Well, not confused really, but mistaken about her being mistaken (grin). The theme she was referring to is about how we can’t truly love others—and ourselves—like God intended for us to love without first seeing ourselves as we are completely and totally without Him. Without the righteousness that God gives us because of Jesus’ sacrifice. I realized then as the women and I continued talking that that’s a theme that runs throughout my books. Some more prominently than others, but it’s always there.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Beyond This Moment, the second book in the Timber Ridge Reflections series releases this month (March 2009). All I’ve been doing in recent months is writing, can you tell? Then this fall, the third book—Within My Heart—in the Timber Ridge Reflections series will release. I’m writing that book right now.In Summer 2010, the first book of a brand new six-book series (all historical fiction/romance) with Bethany House will release.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

Hmmmm….right now, in this moment, I’d love to spend an evening with Wynonna Judd. I read her book (Coming Home to Myself) recently and was touched by her authenticity and grace. I remember first seeing her and her mom in concert back in the early 80s and I’ve loved her music ever since. Her recent album “Sing” is marvelous! My husband never knows what he’s going to get music-wise when he gets into my car. It could be Pavarotti or James Taylor or Little Big Town or Amy Grant or Wynonna, Styx, Boston, or Little River Band. My music tastes vary widely. But an evening with Wynonna, now that would be most enjoyable. I even know where I’d like to eat. Right here in Franklin at Dotson’s Café.

Can I come? How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

Novel writing isn’t something I ever thought I’d undertake. I wasn’t one of those girls who held a book and dreamed of writing one. But I certainly was one of those girls who held a book and dreamed of being the heroine. Which really, is what a novelist is, I guess. We become our characters as we write, so my love of story and the yearning to be “swept away” to another time and place serves my current occupation quite well. I have no idea how long I’ll write novels. The natural response would be to say, “As long as a publisher will give me a contract.” But something Francine Rivers said to me years ago has stuck with me. She said (and I’m paraphrasing), “I want to be centered in the middle of God’s will for my life, whatever that is. So I may write these next (X-number of) books I’m contracted for and that may be it. But whatever I do, I want to be doing what God wants me to do.” Ditto!

What can you tell authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Keep those rejected manuscripts (more on that below). Keep honing your craft. Attend writer’s conferences and network. Read and reread those novels that touch you. Dissect them. Pick them to pieces. I teach a conference course on dissecting novels. That’s largely how I learned to write—dissecting my favorite novels.

The Inheritance is actually my first novel that was rejected…ahem…several times. After receiving numerous rejections, I put the novel away and spent the subsequent two years learning how to write. Then I started on a brand new story. But when Thomas Nelson approached me about writing the first historical for Women of Faith Fiction, I immediately thought of this novel, still tucked away in my drawer and within me.

The Inheritance is a complete rewrite of that original manuscript. I literally chunked the old manuscript (it had way too many issues) and told the story again through where I was at that current point in my life and in where I was at that point skill-wise. I added new subplots and new characters, but the hero and heroine remained much the same. It was wonderful to revisit these characters—Wyatt and McKenna—and to see their story finally come to life. And to the printed page.

So if you’ve gotten rejected manuscripts stuffed in desk drawers, don’t lose heart. And don’t toss them. It could be that that rejection isn’t God saying “Never.” But rather, “Just not right now.”

Excellent advice. I have a manuscript I plan to revisit at sometime. Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s a peek at the back cover blurb:

An unexpected inheritance. An unknown future. An unending love.

Determined to tame her younger brother’s rebellious streak, McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin’s invitation to move west, and to begin again. But she quickly discovers that life in Copper Creek, Colorado, is far from what she expected. Shouldering burdens beyond her years, McKenna tries to be the parent Robert needs, instead of the older sister he resents. But an “untimely inheritance” challenges her resolve at every turn, while also offering a second chance to restore her sense of trust—and perhaps even her heart.

U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon is dedicated to bringing fugitives to justice, yet years of living on the trail have taken their toll. When his path intersects with that of McKenna Ashford, he comes face-to-face with a past he never wanted to relive—and the one woman who can help him find the future he’s been longing for.

As McKenna struggles to let go of her independence and Wyatt considers opening his heart again, they discover an inheritance beyond imagination. But it will come at a price.

Women of Faith has shared the message of hope and grace with millions of women across the country through conferences and resources. When you see the words "Women of Faith Fiction" on a novel, you're guaranteed a reading experience that will capture your imagination and inspire your faith.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Here’s the first page:

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander

Chapter 1

Copper Creek, Colorado, Rocky Mountains

Tuesday, June 5, 1877

McKenna Ashford climbed down from the wagon, holding firm to the belief that she’d made the right decision in coming West—as if her brother’s behavior back in Missouri had given her a choice. She surveyed the not-so-quaint-looking mountain town of Copper Creek and found it to be rougher than she’d envisioned from her cousin’s descriptions in her letters. The town was more rustic with its clapboard buildings, some slightly leaning and arthritic in appearance, their cracked windows staring out like dazed, bloodshot eyes on unsuspecting passersby. But the mountains . . .

Tilting back her head, McKenna traced a visual path across the craggy range that stood sentinel over Copper Creek. And lingering on their highest snowcapped peaks, feeling both awed and humbled, she knew Janie was right—a person couldn’t see these mountains and not be changed.

“So this is it? This is what we left home for?”

McKenna stared up at Robert, still seated on the wagon bench, and read familiar disdain in her brother’s smirk. Only fourteen—nine years her junior—Robert stood a head taller than her and sported muscles most men would be proud to claim.

“All I’m asking, Robert, is that you take the wagon and go on to Vince and Janie’s so they’ll know we’ve arrived.” Exhausted and hungry, she worked to keep the frustration from her tone, and failed. Again. “It’s only a half mile or so from town.”

She gestured to the envelope on the bench seat beside him, knowing the letter’s contents by heart. “The directions are in her letter. I’ll get a horse from the livery and meet you there shortly.”

Robert didn’t move. “I don’t see why I can’t go on with you to the livery.” He gave the letter a cursory glance. “I’ve never even met these people.”

“Yes, you have. I’ve told you before, they knew you when—” She caught herself, realizing it was no use, considering the stubborn set of his jaw.

Readers can read the entire first chapter here:http://www.tameraalexander.com/books.html

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.tameraalexander.com/
http://www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com/
http://www.writespassage.blogspot.com/

Contest site: http://www.tameraalexander.com/contest.html

We’re currently giving away copies of Beyond This Moment on the Contest Page of my website. Visit and enter your name in the drawing. Contest ends on March 31st.

Continued blessings and many thanks,

Tamera

Thank you, Tamera, for spending this time with us.

Readers, for your convenience, here's a link where you can buy The Inheritance:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

Don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Author Stephanie Perry Moore - BELIEVING IN HOPE - Free Book

Welcome back to the blog, Stephanie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I love writing the books for young people. I like telling stories about school days. If I could go back there are so many things I’d be wiser about. To help kids come out of the tough years even more successfully. I pray my books help.

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

When I got married was the happiest day of my life. To know the Lord sent me someone to care about me unconditionally was such a blessing. And to be a bride just made me feel special. Almost fifteen years later I still reflect on that day and smile.

How has being published changed your life?

Knowing that my books touch people’s life is so fulfilling to me. As I writer I feel like excited to know that my work can help people figure out life.

What are you reading right now?

Currently I’m reading, It’s Possible by my husband Derrick Moore. The book is nonfiction and is motivating me to reach my goals. I love being inspired to reach higher heights. I’m also reading Mercy, by Vanessa Davis Griggs.

What is your current work in progress?

Currently, I’m fishing up the Yasmin peace Series and the Beta Gamma Pi books. It’s five in each new series and I’m so happy to be on the last book in both. What a blessing. Yet, I’ll be sad we’re they are over because I love both worlds.

What would be your dream vacation?

Taking my hubby and three children on a Disney Cruise would be my dream vacation. We love time together, but being on the sea and exploring new places in a fun environment would be a blast.

I love going on cruises. Of course, I've only been on two, and I based my book Never Say Never on the second one. How do you choose your settings for each book?

All of my YA settings are from the south. Since I’m a southern girl I just love highlighting the different states in my works.

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

I’d love to spend an evening with, our First Lady, Michelle Obama. I truly admire her as a wife and mother. I’d also love to tell her about my books and would love for her girls to check out my novels. I know she could give me a meaningful lesson in how to do it all better. I’m praying God keeps blessing her family.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Going to the movies with friends or alone is one of my favorite things to do in the world. Also, I am enjoying scrapbooking. To save memories for a later time and place is something I’m so in to.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Editing in my most difficult writing obstacle. I’m a creator, all the bells and whistles of touching it up isn’t my strength. But through prayer and editors help I’m getting much better.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

I’d say read a lot and write often. Also, I’d say don’t give up on your dream. Keep on listening to people. Some of my best ideas come from true life. I’d also say, look for the best in everyone. Every charter in a book has to be relatable.

Tell us about the featured book?

Book 2, in the Yasmin Peace series is about Yasmin understanding that hope comes from trusting God. Everyone has so much to be thankful for and Yasmin learns first hand, that even through tough trials, she is blessed.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’d love for readers to find me on the Internet. I can be reached at http://www.stephanieperrymoore.com/.

Stephanie, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, for your convenience, here's a link where you can order Believing in Hope:

For a chance to win a free copy, leave a comment. Don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

Author Elena Dorothy Bowman - THE HOUSE ON THE BLUFF - Free Book

Welcome to my blog, Elena. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Actually, I do not to write about myself in any my characters, I prefer to use a combination of people I know, have met, or have seen in one place or another.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Jumping off a moving train. Working as a secretary in the State House, a secretary and I were supposed to meet our boss and other secretaries on a train that was going out to another city to visit one of our sick employees. The thing was, we had the tickets for everyone, and as the train left the station, the others hadn't shown up. So as the train was moving out, we decided to do what our boss said and jump off the train to wait for the next one hoping the others would finally arrive by then. As the train pulled away we noticed that all the others had caught the end of the train and were moving forward to where we were supposed to be. They waved to us as we stood there on the railroad tracks watching them disappear from view. I should add that at the time we were both wearing dresses and high heels.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Probably when I was in Grammar School. I love to read books and go to the movies. It was the endings of stories and movies that inspired me to rewrite them so that they all ended happily. From that point on I continued to write short stories and short plays mostly for my own pleasure.

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

I love to read historical, mystery, romance, and science fiction novels. Nonfiction books about ancient civilizations, space travel, and the universe. I generally like well-written books that have a plot and a story to them.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

At present I have ten books published all as ebooks and Kindle books with three in print. I have two series presently published. One is a four-book science fiction series that is not yet in print, but is due to be released in print this year. The second series is a three-book mystery series all of which have been released in print. Three other books are stand alones. One is based on a true story, the other two are science fiction/mystery novels

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

Lately, things have been chaotic, with my youngest daughter moving back home, my oldest daughter just graduating from law school, and my husband and I dealing with the deaths of family members in other states. Other than that…the world is still turning, the planet is still in its orbit and the sun will shine again.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

That's the hard part. Sometimes I take the names of place and things, mix them all up and see what I come out with. Other times, certain names seem to be just the right ones for the characters in the stories.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I suppose as a mother I can only say the way my four children have turned out. What better accomplishment than to have four beautiful children, who are intelligent, talented, and creative. And a granddaughter as well who has the same attributes. As to my personal accomplishments — that I am a Software Engineer turned author and have ten published books to my credit as well as the love of a wonderful supportive husband. What more can one ask for?

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

I haven't the foggiest notion. Since I can't think of who I might be, then I guess I wouldn't exist…as an animal that is.

What is your favorite food?

I have lots of favorite foods. Among them are: Lasagna, meatballs, broiled zucchini, steak, stuffed squash, boiled potatoes mixed with olive oil and salt.

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

Time…time is always a problem. Getting time to myself to write uninterrupted is the greatest roadblock. I haven't really overcome it, I deal with it. When I sit down to write now, my family understands that they have to let me be until I stop for a break or for something to drink.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Be persistent. Talent alone won't make the grade. If you believe in your work, others will as well. Don't despair if you get rejection upon rejection. Keep at it until someone finally realizes what you have is worth publishing. Trying to get into the big traditional publishing houses is difficult. With a few exceptions, most of them want manuscripts submitted by an Agent, they don't want to have to go through a slush pile to find the next JK Rollins. There is always the small press publishing companies who are more easily accessible to new authors. But they too, only want the best.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

The House On The Bluff - ISBN# 1-59431-363-6 is published by Cambridge Books, an imprint of Write Words, Inc., Cambridge, MD, and is the first book in the Legacy Series. Books 2 and 3 in the series are entitled, The Gatekeeper's Realm and Adams Point respectively.

The House On The Bluff: Centuries before Leif, son of Eric the Red, roved the seas along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, the first White Man to set foot on the North American Continent, and…"Long before the Magna Carter was signed, or Columbus set sail, or the Mayflower left England the House On the Bluff existed waiting for its rightful owner. More than one intrepid soul had entered the house never to be seen again…"

The last voice heard from the house was an 18th Century ancestor's blood-curdling screams in the dark of night, but no one ever saw or heard from that person again. What was it about the "house" that made people tremble? Why had no one ventured near it since 1789; why had no one dared? Had it not been there for centuries, standing tall ... empty...beckoning?

Abigail Adams Pierce could not envision that the information she stumbled on would take her on a hair-raising journey she would never forget. A journey that once started would have no turning back, even at the risk of losing her life in the physical sense and being trapped within the spiritual realm, which had invaded the Pierce House. And nothing, in her wildest imagination, could have prepared her for the effect her discovery would have on her life from that moment on. This was her family's legacy - handed down from the 11th Century - to the descendant who dared to enter in spite of its warnings. To the day she entered her ancestral home, with its promise of terror or fulfillment, The House On The Bluff maintained its enchantment and its ageless elegance, standing as a silent sentinel waiting for the one long destined to enter who could shatter its secrets.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have two websites, http://elenadb.home.comcast.net/ and http://www.sarahslanding.com/
From there you can read excerpts and reviews of all my books and my email address. I also have a myspace address and a blog. My books are available from: http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.booksurge.com/, http://www.cambridgebooks.us/, http://www.ebooksonthe.net/, and at your favorite bookstore.

Thank you, Elena, for spending this time with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

Author Angela Hunt - SHE'S IN A BETTER PLACE - Free Book

I've heard of Angela Hunt for years, but the first time I met her was at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Minneapolis last fall. I just love her. Welcome, Angela. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

That all depends upon the character. I don’t consciously do this at all, but I have to write about things that interest me, so my characters are interested in these subjects by default. Nearly all of my protagonists are women, employed, and fairly independent. I am at least all of those things.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hard to say, as I live on the edge of quirkdom. My fascination with mastiffs is probably my most enduring quirk. Life isn’t exactly tidy with two 200-pound dogs (have you ever teased a slinger out of your hair?), but it’s always interesting.

When did you first discover you were a writer?

I don’t think “writerdom” is something innate—it’s something you do. I suppose it does come more easily to some people than others, but everyone struggles at one time or another. And everyone looks longingly out the window and wishes they could trade all those hours in a chair for a job that’s more secure.

Don't I know it? Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I read just about everything: a lot of New York Times bestsellers, historicals, suspense, high-concept, character stories, etc. I don’t read a lot of romance (though I enjoy books with romance in them), nor do I like anything that’s too predictable.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I don’t think we have the space here to list them all! I’ve written over 100 books, for adults and children, fiction and nonfiction. Before I wrote books, I wrote magazine articles, brochures, catalog copy, anything anyone would pay me to write. I consider myself a working writer, and that encompasses a lot of variety.

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

I opt out whenever possible. I realized long ago that I couldn’t do everything and do it well. So I would have to choose to focus on the things God called me to do. That means I pass up a lot of “good opportunities” in the name of obedience.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I choose my protagonists’ names carefully—I like names that are easy to pronounce, yet unique. For random characters I usually either use the names of my friends or pop open a telephone book.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I take a great deal of pleasure in knowing that at least one of my books exists as a film . . . and that starred PW review made me smile for about a week.

I'd be really happy with either of those things. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

My nature is more like a cat’s than a dog’s, so I’d want to be a cat and live in BJ Hoff’s house. Because she has a heart for dogs, cats, and books.

What is your favorite food?

I’m a youth pastor’s wife. Loving pizza is a job requirement.

Sometimes, I've worked with youth, too. I know what you mean about the pizza. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Don’t know that I’ve ever experienced a roadblock, but I did have an editor tell me that the manuscript I handed in was “unpublishable”—and this was long after I was an established writer. My brilliant idea wasn’t very readable, as it turns out. So I threw half the story away, opened a metaphorical vein, and started over again.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Get thee to a good writer’s conference, be flexible, take advice (like this) with a grain of salt, and don’t let anyone stifle your unique voice. Most beginning authors think there are certain rules and magic formulas and things they must do . . . well, a lot of those rules and formulas are simply silly. Spend most of your time learning how to write an irresistible, passionate story.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

SHE’S IN A BETTER PLACE is the final book in the three-book “Fairlawn” series. The first book, DOESN’T SHE LOOK NATURAL? features Jennifer Graham, a single parent who inherits a funeral home. The series follows her life as she adjusts to her new calling and learns that God has a unique ministry planned for her.

Sounds interesting. I can hardly wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.angelahuntbooks.com/. Or you could try Google.

Thank you, Angela, for spending this time with us.

Readers, for your convenience, here's a link to where you can order the book online, too:

For a chance to win a free copy, leave a comment on this blogger site. Don't forget to check back in two weeks to see if you won the book. If you're afraid you might forget, sign up for Feedblitz at the top of the blog.