PEARL GIRLS - Margaret McSweeney

Today's blog is a little different. Introducing a book compiled by Margaret McSweeney with stories by well-known authors. Many of the authors are my friends or write some of my favorite books.

Meet Margaret!

MARGARET McSWEENEY lives with her husband, David and two teenage daughters in the Chicago suburbs. After earning a master's degree in international business from the University of South Carolina, Margaret moved to New York City to work at a large bank where she met David. She became a vice president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there from 1986-1993. Margaret is the editor of Pearl Girls, author of A Mother's Heart Knows and co-author of Go Back and Be Happy. Charity and community involvement are very important to Margaret. She has served on the board of directors for WINGS (Women in Need Growing Stronger) for over six years.

Margaret has been featured on Greg Wheatly's "Prime Time America," TLN's "Aspiring Women," and LeSea's "The Harvest Show." Margaret writes freelance articles for The Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. Notable interviews include Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Kinkade, Susan Branch and Dr. John Gottman.

For more information please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Pearl Girls:

Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace

After experiencing the death of both parents, Margaret McSweeney recognized the importance of community like never before. Through these difficult times in her life, she learned how God uses the gritty circumstances to conform us to the stunning image of Christ.

McSweeney also realized that she was not at all alone. It is for this reason that she decided to compile essays into an inspiring book: Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit Experiencing Grace. Through this collection, readers will be encouraged by the heartfelt writings that deal with loss and hardship in a real and honest way. Respected authors such as Shaunti Feldhahn, Melody Carlson, Debbie Macomber, Robin Jones Gunn and others help remind every woman they are not alone and that no circumstance is beyond the grace of God.

McSweeney uses the metaphor of a pearl in order to better describe the situations that ail us all. When an oyster takes in a peice of sand in order to create its coveted masterpeice, it is initially painful to the soft flesh of the creature. But after the pain, appears a clean, white symbol of simplicity, purity, and endurance that any woman would be proud to wear. McSweeney believes that each woman is a pearl and together, form a necklace of great worth. In this book, readers will discover community and encouragement: women are alone in neither their pain nor victories in life.

To find out more about Margaret, Pearl Girls, or her books check out her website at http://www.pearlgirls.info/ or her blog at http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/

Stay informed about new Pearl Girl projects and books -- sign up for the Pearl Girls Newsletter here.

Here's a link where you can order Pearl Girls:

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

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A GIFT OF GRACE - Amy Clipston - Free Book

This is Amy's first time on this blog. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

That’s a tough one. Jessica, the teenage niece who has trouble fitting into the Amish community, is close to my heart since I remember the feeling of not fitting in during my school days.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’ve been known to be a bit of a goof. I guess it would be when I hopped up on one of those carousels in front of a Kmart to ride it along with my oldest son, who must’ve been two at the time. I was wearing a little backpack purse, and it was scraped along the concrete wall, causing it to tear. My son thought I was cool, and my mom and I had a good laugh about that. And yes, I replaced that purse.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote silly stories and shared them with a friend in elementary school and then got into writing fan fiction that included my favorite television characters and athletes in junior high through college. Those “books” I only revealed to a few close friends. I began calling myself a writer after college when I finally joined a writer’s group and decided to pursue a career.

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

I love a variety. On my bookshelf, you’ll find everything from Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum and Motor Mouth series, NASCAR romance by Pamela Britton, inspirational novels by Robin Lee Hatcher and Karen Kingsbury, and many Amish inspirational books.

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

Some days my life is utter chaos. Aside from writing, I work full-time. I have two awesome little boys and a dear, sweet husband on dialysis and awaiting a second kidney transplant. Beyond that, I’m a volunteer with the National Kidney Foundation. Writing is my stress reliever. Once the boys are in bed, I relax and power-up my laptop while my hubby tinkers in the garage with his latest car project.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

For my first book, I compiled a list of common Amish names and picked my favorites. Also, a couple of my characters, including Rebecca and Lindsay, are named after characters in the very first novel I ever finished.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My husband’s kidney failure has taught me a lot about what’s truly important in life, and I’m an advocate for organ and blood donation. I’m proud of being a blood donor and for signing up as an organ donor. I’m not a match for my husband, and, if we’re unsuccessful in finding him a match, I’m on board to give a kidney through the paired donor program in order to get a kidney for him.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Hands down, a spoiled house cat. I have three -- Molly, Ashlee, and Jet. They have the most pampered lives! Their only stress occurs when the bowls are empty.

What is your favorite food?

Popcorn and Diet Coke!

Tell us a little about your journey to publication.

I was writing romances and signed with my fabulous agent, Mary Sue Seymour, in 2005. After writing seven of those novels (yes, I said seven!), through my deep faith, I felt a calling to move to inspirational. I’m half-German, and my father immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings in 1929. He once told me that the Amish speak the same dialect as our relatives, so I feel a connection to them. I’ve always had a great respect and fascination with their faith and simple lives. I began reading other Amish authors, and I was moved to create my own series. Mary Sue sent out my proposal, and Zondervan picked me up two months later.

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

While working on book #2 in my Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, I contracted a horrific case of Writer’s Block after quickly banging out 100 pages. I commiserated to Becky Philpott, my fantastic development editor, and she sent me a detailed spreadsheet, outlining the chapter number, scene number, point of view, date, time, setting, and event. While I’m not usually that detailed with my outline or synopsis, the spreadsheet forced me to map out the book, scene-by-scene. That exercise forced my muse to return from her vacation, and I plotted the remainder of the book. The spreadsheet was a living document, meaning it changed as the book unfolded, but it kept me on track and focused.

What advice would you give to others who are trying to get their first book published?

Surround yourself with other writers. Join a group, such as American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, attend local chapter meetings and sign up for on-line discussion loops. You’ll learn more than you can imagine from other writers, both published and unpublished. Also, it may sound cliché, but don’t give up. Rejection is heart breaking, but you’ll become a stronger writer every time to send out a query.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Kauffman Amish Bakery Series centers on the fictional Older Amish Kauffman family, who live in Lancaster County, PA. In book one, A Gift of Grace, Rebecca Kauffman's tranquil Old Order Amish life is transformed when she suddenly has custody of her two teenage nieces after her "Englisch" sister and brother-in-law are killed in an automobile accident. Instant motherhood, after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child of her own, is both a joy and a heartache. Rebecca struggles to give the teenage girls the guidance they need as well as fulfill her duties to Daniel as an Amish wife.

Rebellious Jessica is resistant to Amish ways and constantly in trouble with the community. Younger sister Lindsay is caught in the middle, and the strain between Rebecca and Daniel mounts as Jessica's rebellion escalates. Instead of the beautiful family life she dreamed of creating for her nieces, Rebecca feels as if her world is being torn apart by two different cultures, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community, her marriage, and her faith in God.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Rebecca Fisher Kauffman’s pulse fluttered as the large SUV rumbled down the narrow rural road past the rolling farmland and green pastures dotted by heifers. The cows chewed their cud and nodded their greeting as if welcoming her back. The serenity of the lush, open fields intersected only by clusters of white farmhouses filled her soul with a peace she hadn’t felt since she’d left last month.

Pushing the cool metal button on the door, she cracked the passenger window open and breathed in the sweet, warm, moist air, free of exhaust from overcrowded city roads. The SUV negotiated a sharp bend, and Rebecca’s heart skipped a beat when the three-story farmhouse came into view. A smile crept across her lips.

Home.

The whitewashed, three-story, clapboard house stood humbly near the entrance to her family’s forty acres. The newly painted white picket fence was a stark contrast to the house’s green tin roof, speckled with brown rust that told of its age. The green window shades were halfway up, and the windows were cracked open to allow the springtime air to cool the house naturally.

A sweeping porch welcomed visitors entering the front, and a white barn, almost the size of the house, sat behind it.

How can the readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at: www.amyclipston.com, http://www.amyclipston.blogspot.com/, and
http://www.amishhearts.com/. You can also find me on Facebook.

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

Readers, here's a link where you can buy A Gift of Grace:

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

I Love Announcing Winners!!!

NeedANap2 is the winner of Deadly Intent by Camy Tang.

Winter is the winner of Bluegrass Blessing by Allie Pleiter.

Embrace_ThirtyOne is the winner of Return to Love by Betsy St. Amant.

Debbie Cavitt is the winner of Cranberry Hearts from Lena Nelson Dooley (me).

Please contact me with your mailing address. You can click View My Complete Profile to find a link to my email, or you can go to my web site - www.lenanelsondooley.com - to Contact Me.

If you're on Facebook, I invite you to come to my Official Fan Page and become a Fan.

http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts

CRITICAL CARE - Candace Calvert - Free Book

I'm thrilled to be featuring so many debut authors this year. Welcome, Candace. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

You’ll probably find a bit of my DNA there. I was an ER nurse for three decades, so writing CRITICAL CARE was like re-entering a world of sirens, stat pages, coffee and adrenalin highs, pressure-relieving humor, baggy scrubs . . . and heart-wrenching tragedy. Only this time I sent heroine Claire Avery in my place. But I also let her drink my favorite coffee, dance the country western Two Step, and fall in love with a great guy. So that’s fair, right?
　
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hmm, my middle name is Quirky. It may be a three-way tie between skydiving, swimming with stingrays, and dancing the limbo aboard a jet-powered catamaran. Or maybe climbing onto that camel at the pyramids, singing with the Newfoundland country band . . .
　
You sound like a very fun person to be around. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote plays for kids in the neighborhood, then discovered diaries and fell in love with journaling. I have scrawled versions of everything from JFK’s assassination to the 1969 moonwalk, to dozens of broken hearts . . . and happy endings. In school I was that kid who thought essay assignments were a reward.
　
I always loved essay questions on tests. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

In fiction, I enjoy mystery, suspense, humor, women’s fiction--a wide range, from authors like John Grisham to Anne Rivers Siddons and so many in between. Sara Gruen completely draws me in. I want highly textured prose, well-developed characters, and terrific dialogue, fast-pacing . . . an overall story of hope. In non-fiction, I love Beth Moore’s humor, warmth and honesty. Her energy floors me.

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

Falling Forward was the book-of-my-heart first novel--valuable in many ways, but gathering dust; probably the best place for it. A romantic comedy, Cruise Control, garnered awards and editorial interest but has not been published. My three ABA quirky cruise mysteries, the Darcy Cavanaugh series, are still available. Those titles are Dressed to Keel, Aye Do or Die, and Mai Tai to Murder. Yes, I had fun with nautical terms.
　
Yes, you did. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I start each day with a centering quiet time that includes Bible study and other devotional reading. I also believe in the health (and sanity) benefits of exercise and deep belly laughs. And after all those hectic years in ER, I seek childish delight in small blessings.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I choose names by sound and how they "fit" with a certain character. Occasionally I’ll honor a friend by using a derivative of his/her name. I once auctioned off a "cameo appearance" in one of my cruise mysteries for local charities, welcoming generous neighbors "onboard" as passengers. But I didn’t kill them of course.
　
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m most proud of my children, who’ve grown in character, compassion, and faith despite some daunting struggles; and of my long career as an ER nurse. Touching the lives of so many people was an incredible honor, and it’s my dream to continue that service through my CBA writing career.
　
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A horse, absolutely. My big bay mare, Winter Winds. No creature had a bigger heart, a softer eye . . . or was more thoroughly spoiled. I wallpapered her barn. Seriously. Ralph Lauren, the polo print.
　
What is your favorite food?

Appetizers. I love little bites of gorgeous food: bleu cheese, crab, smoked salmon, fresh pears, strawberries. But popcorn’s good too--movie theatre stale and dripping with butter.

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

Haven’t overcome it, but would be living a well-rounded life despite writing demands: time for exercise, play, my marriage, family, and spiritual journey. It’s tough because I’m a bit obsessive and goal oriented. Think: "Monk."
　
What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Read a few good motivational and writing structure books (I love Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird and Bill Johnson’s A Story is a Promise); join groups like Faith Hope & Love (RWA) and ACFW for support, networking, instruction. Read the kinds of books you want to write. Then make writing a daily discipline. Most of all: enjoy the journey; that’s the biggest reward.
　
What would you like to tell us about the featured book?
　
My Tyndale publicist tags CRITICAL CARE "medical hope opera," and I think it fits perfectly with this generous quote from bestselling author Harry Kraus, MD: "Finally, a reason to turn off ER and Grey's Anatomy. Here is a realistic medical drama with heart. Candace Calvert gets it right with page-turning prose, a heart-warming love story, and hope."

Based in part upon my own experience as a peer counselor for Critical Incident Stress, CRITICAL CARE offers readers a chance to "scrub in" on the exciting world of emergency medicine, along with charismatic characters, pulse-pounding action, tender romance, humor, suspense--and a soul soothing prescription for hope.

From the back cover:
　
"Lord . . . heal my heart, move me forward."

After her brother dies in a trauma room, nurse Claire Avery can no longer face the ER. She’s determined to make a fresh start--new hospital, new career in nursing education--move forward, no turning back. But her plans fall apart when she’s called to offer stress counseling for medical staff after a heartbreaking day care center explosion. Worse, she’s forced back to the ER, where she clashes with Logan Caldwell, a doctor who believes touchy-feely counseling is a waste of time. He demands his staff be as tough as he is. Yet he finds himself drawn to this nurse educator . . . who just might teach him the true meaning of healing.
　
How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please visit my website @ http://www.candacecalvert.com/. I’m determined to give it the welcoming feel of a nurses’ lounge after a tough shift: cyber coffee, laughter, and heart-warming conversation. I’ll offer blog posts, medical tidbits, recipes, book excerpts and updates, research photos, contests, and more. Push aside that copy of Gray’s Anatomy and the discarded stethoscope, grab a cup of coffee, prop feet up your weary feet, and join me, please. We’re taking a break.

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order Critical Care:

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

BY DARKNESS HID - Jill Williamson - Free Book

We're talking to a debut author with her first book in her Blood of Kings series. Welcome, Jill. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Not much. If my character is experiencing something I’ve experienced, I may write in the emotions and thoughts I remember, but only if it’s natural for the character to behave that way.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I dressed up as Waldorf, my husband dressed up as Statler, and we hosted a teen variety show in the theme of the Muppet Show at our church to raise money for teen camps.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In 2004. I decided to write a book. I took it (only three quarters of the first draft done) to an ACW conference in Anaheim and pitched it to Steve Laube. I just knew it was the next Harry Potter. Steve was very kind, but I could tell from his response that I didn’t do a good job explaining what the story was about. (Because I hadn’t even finished it. Duh! I didn’t even know what the story was about.) It was a big eye opener that brought my overactive imagination back to earth. I knew I could quit or press on. Well, I’d never been much of a quitter. Plus, writing was the most rewarding and enjoyable activity I’d ever experienced. I loved it. So I kept going.

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

I particularly enjoy suspense, fantasy, mystery, and comedy. In no particular order, I love Jane Austen, Ted Dekker, Lisa Samson, Caroline Keene, C.S. Lewis, Frank Peretti, Jenny B. Jones, Brandilyn Collins, J.R.R Tolkien, Michael Crichton, Cathy Gohlke, Anthony Horowitz, Caroline Cooney, John Grisham, Megan Whalen Turner, Nicolas Sparks, Francine Rivers, Randy Ingermanson. The list goes on and on. I also like some non fiction. Literary fiction is my least favorite.

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

I’ve written the first two books (The New Recruit, and The Profile Match) in my spy series for young adults. I’ve written the first book (Jason Farms) in my Test Tube Nation series for young adults. I’ve written a stand alone young adult novel called The Truth About Seagulls, which is about a Native Alaskan girl who moves out of the Alaskan Bush to go to school in town. I’ve also written an all-reader children’s book tentatively called A Mango and a Mud Church that will release from Beacon Hill Press in 2010.

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

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming... :-)

Just kidding. I often lose my sanity, but thankfully when I do, I remember to stop and pray. Playing my guitar is also very relaxing.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I like to choose names that mean something. With my Blood of Kings series, I used a Hebrew dictionary. Each character’s name means something that describes that character. In my spy series, I picked names based on their meaning and how they related to my characters internal goals. But sometimes I just pick names I like.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My two children. I think they are pretty awesome.

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

A magpie. Once I get talking…

What is your favorite food?

Fettuccine Alfredo. Any pasta, really, but Alfredo is my ultimate fave.

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

I didn’t understand showing and telling. Once it dawned on me, I was so excited. I overcame it by learning to rewrite. As I learned what to trim and reword, I figured out the big mystery. I don’t drive myself crazy weeding it all out of my first draft. I write fast and get the book done. Then I go back and seek out all the problem areas and rework them. I love rewriting. That’s where the magic happens.

It took me until after I sold my second book to begin to understand showing and telling, and I learn more all the time. What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Just write. Get that first draft done. Don’t agonize over perfection until you’ve got a finished draft to agonize over. The beginning of the story could change once you know the end, so don’t waste time. Just get ’er done. Then write a different book.

And read. When you read, study what the author did. Look at their dialogue, action, punctuation, characters, plot, everything. Learn all you can. It will help you be a better writer and storyteller.

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

I originally wrote it for the young adult market—my characters are fifteen and seventeen—but sold it as an adult novel. Also, you don’t have to be a fantasy fan to enjoy it. It’s fast-paced and suspenseful.

Here is the premise:

Achan is a kitchen servant who hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. His owner learns of his training and forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince, more of a death sentence than an honor. As Achan struggles to serve the prince without being maimed, strange voices in his head cause him to fear he’s going mad. He travels with a procession escorting the prince to a council presentation. Along the way, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded, arrested, and escapes from prison only to be brought back before the rulers of the land. There he discovers a secret about himself he never believed possible.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m everywhere! My Web site is http://www.jillwilliamson.com/. I’m also on Shoutlife, Facebook, MySpace, Shelfari, GoodReads, Amazon…

On top of that, I run two Web sites. The first is Novel Teen Book Reviews at http://www.novelteen.wordpress.com/. It’s a website that reviews clean teen fiction. If you have a teen or know a teen or know someone who has a teen, this is a great resource to see what books are available in the Christian market for teens. We review books in these age ranges: 8-12, 12-16, 16 and up.

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order By Darkness Hid:

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THROUGH THE FIRE - Shawn Grady - Free Book

I first met Shawn Grady on Shoutlife. Welcome, Shawn. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Having written Through the Fire in first person, I’d say quite a bit with my protagonist Aidan O’Neill. I approach my writing similar to how a method actor would with a role.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

That’s a hard one. Once, as part of a church scavenger hunt about twelve years ago, I did dress up as a homeless man and sit on a bench in the middle of downtown with a cardboard sign that said "Impeach Nixon" in black marker.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was very young, but did not feel I was ready to write a novel until after I read A Moveable Feast by Hemingway about 7 years ago. Reading that made me realize that I didn’t need a stack of detailed 3x5 cards and a completed story arc and timeline all mapped out to be a writer. I just needed to start writing. So one night, at a coffee house with a pen and a napkin, that’s exactly what I started doing.

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

It’s a broad range and I enjoy all sorts of books that are well written. I am often drawn to literary fiction. It is usually the voice that makes me buy a book. I don’t like to read back cover copy. To me, it gives away too much. I look at the first sentence on the first page, and if I like that I’ll read more. If I like the voice on the first page I’ll usually pick up the book.

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

Besides Through the Fire, I have one other completed novel based around a paramedic. I’m reworking it for release as my second book with Bethany House Publishers in 2010.

I'll want to feature you again on the blog when that releases. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Funny you’d ask that. At the fire department when we respond to calls we call them runs. On my days off, my writing career seems to be increasingly demanding more time. My wife is an incredibly supportive partner in all this and we make it a point to not do writing on the weekends when I’m home and instead place extra focus on each other and our family.

Very wise. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Sometimes it is the actual meaning of the name. Like "Aidan" in Through the Fire means "fiery". Other times a name will just seem to me to fit a character.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Knowing and walking with the Lord. Then marrying my wife. After that being a loving father to my three children.
　
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I might want to be a Labrador because they get to go on hikes and swim and roll around on their backs and are pretty much happy and content with life and the world that God has made.

What is your favorite food?

Right now, I love vanilla yogurt with Grapenuts and blueberries.

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

Learning how to effectively structure a story is a big challenge that I have grown in with my craft. Attending writing conferences like Mount Hermon and ACFW and being shepherded by talented writers like James Scott Bell has strengthened me in that.

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

Write what is on your heart. Write what you know. Attend writing conferences and learn the industry and hone your craft. Network with other authors whose writing you respect.

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

Through the Fire is about Aidan O’Neill, an angst driven fireman with a gift- the fire speaks to him.

Already haunted by his father’s death in a warehouse fire five years prior, a near fatal experience leaves Aidan sensing flames that are out for him personally. When a serial arsonist surfaces in Reno, Aidan employs the help of young arson analyst Julianne Bordeaux. Together they’re thrust into an incendiary chase in which Aidan must come to terms with his mortality in order to find his father’s killer and attain a lasting peace.

Sounds really exciting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.shawngradybooks.com/
Or check out my pages on http://www.shoutlife.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/

Thank you, Shawn for spending this time with us.

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

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

MONTANA ROSE - Mary Connealy - Free Book

Today, I'm welcoming back one of my favorite authors, Mary Connealy, who is at ICRS right now. Mary, tell us about your salvation experience.

I accepted the Lord publicly at a Lowell Lundstrom Concert when I was about 16. But I remember sincerely believing the truth about Jesus Christ at a much younger age. I was raised in a wonderful Christian home and we were really raised up in the way we should go.
　
How did you and your husband meet?

My husband, Ivan and I were high school sweethearts. Our first date was a few weeks after my sixteenth birthday. We dated for nearly four years and married about six weeks after I graduated from college. The only reason I hesitated to go out with him was because he was one of my best friends and I was afraid dating wouldn’t work out and I’d lose my best friend.

Thirty-two years and four children later, I’d say I made the right choice by saying I’d go out on that first date.
　
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

You are such a brat, Lena. I’ve got about twenty friends I’d like at this retreat, and forty more acquaintances I’d love to have. And sixty more people I’d love to meet.

So how am I supposed to pick four?

I’ve got my Seeker buddies that I love and miss desperately. I’ve seen some of them just recently so maybe I should go for some of the ones I haven’t seen.

Ruthy Logan Herne, Cara Slaughter, Tina Russo, Sandra Leesmith, Glynna Kaye and Audra Harder. I know, that’s six, shut up!

I know you have a speaking ministry. Tell us about that.

Yes, I suppose you could say I have a speaking ministry. Despite my desperate attempts to avoid one. Public speaking is soooooo not my thing. But I’ve been trying to be brave in my attempts to market my book, so I’ve done a little speaking. Yeesh.

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

Oh, for heaven’s sake, Lena. Are you even going to use this on your blog? Or are you just looking for blackmail material? I once started laughing in front of the camera when I was doing the news during a college television broadcast. This was live. I couldn’t stop. The teacher went to a commercial and came and threw me off the set. Which I suspect he was right to do, but I still hated him for it. Awful experience.
　
People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I tell them to write. Don’t even think about being a writer until you’ve written one whole book. Then get back to me. We’ll work on revisions.

Good advice. Tell us about the featured book.

Montana Rose is something kind of different for me. I’ve had a grand old time writing heroines that are so strong they’d almost dangerous. So I wanted to go the other way, just to see if I could.

Montana Rose’s heroine is a damsel in distress. Cassie is a pregnant widow on the western frontier. At her tyrannical husband’s funeral every man (or so it seems to her) in Montana Territory shows up to try and marry her.

She finally says yes to one man just to escape from all the pressure. Expecting her new husband to be like her old, she quietly waits to obey his orders. Red married her to save her. He couldn’t stand by and let her be dragged off by any one of the men who wanted her. Now he’s married, and because he’s never seen Cassie or her husband darken the doorstep of his church (he fills in when the circuit rider is gone) he suspects he’s married an unbeliever. A terrible sin to his way of thinking.

Red soon learns that he can’t believe anything Cassie says, because she will only say what she thinks he wants to hear. Cassie needs to grow up and learn to respect herself and her opinions. Red needs to teach her how to be a western wife before she destroys his whole ranch.

They both need to believe that this sudden, ill-advised marriage, is all part of God’s plan.

Sounds wonderful. I just received my copy this week. I'm anxious to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.maryconnealy.com/
http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/
http://seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of Montana Rose:

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WInners!!! WInners!!! Winners!!!

Lastnerve is the winner of Cranberry Hearts from Elizabeth Goddard.

Julianna is the winner of Beloved Counterfeit by Kathleen Y'Barbo.

Carly Kendall is the winner of Love Thine Enemy by Louise M. Gouge.

Edwina is the winner of Cranberry Hearts from Lisa Harris.

Please contact me with your mailing address so we can get the books on their way to you.

You can find a link to my email if you click View My Complete Profile in the right hand column.

Or you can go to my web site www.lenanelsondooley.com and click on the Contact Me button.

CRANBERRY HEARTS - Lena Nelson Dooley - Free Book

This is the third, and final, interview with an author of Cranberry Hearts. Although it's hard to interview myself, here goes. What contribution did your story make to the collection?

My story, Who Am I?, is the first story in the book. It’s my first romantic suspense.

Did you enjoy working with the other authors in the collection?

Very much. Both Lisa and Beth were in the critique group that meets in my home before they moved away. I mentored them before they became published. And Beth’s story in this book was her first sale. Lisa and I worked hard to make it happen.

Did it take a lot of interaction?

Not really. There is a thread that ties the stories together, but it’s loose in the first two books. All the cousins come together in the last story to help with the cranberry harvest. But we did critique each other's novels.

Have you ever been to Massachusetts?

No, I haven’t, but I’d like to go there. All my research uncovered a lot of places I want to visit.

How was the setting chosen?

It was one of the states in the Heartsong Presents state series.

What do you like most about this collection?

That the stories are romantic suspense.

What book are you currently writing?

This week I finished a sample chapter for a requested submission, which I’m hoping the publisher will like and offer me a contract. Now I have to get back to my Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, book.

Tell us a little about your family.

Husband of almost 45 years, two daughters, two sons-in-law, two granddaughters, two grandsons, and one great grandson.

What is the first page of your story in the collection?

Chapter 1
Leiann Hambrick clutched her upper arms as if to hold herself together
while she stared through the sheer curtains that veiled the picture window.
Would she have to leave all this behind? She no longer saw the Hurst athletic complex, which had been built a few years earlier. In her mind’s eye she saw the thicket full of wild mustang grapevines that used to grow on that spot. Grapes she had picked so her mother could make her famous jelly. Jelly her father loved on his biscuits in the morning. She longed for that simpler time, when she knew who her father was. When she knew who she was.

Leiann swiped at the tears that streamed down her cheeks, ruining the makeup she had taken such pains to apply a few hours ago as she prepared for the reading of her mother’s will. How different her world had been this morning.

The Hambricks had moved to this house on Cimarron Trail in Hurst, Texas, when Leiann was in the fourth grade. Leiann had been excited when they moved to this ranch-style house on the quiet street. A lot of undeveloped property surrounded them. Besides the thicket across the road—and it had been a country road then, not a four-lane street as it was now—a creek ran along the back of the property. Leiann and her friends played there often, wading and hunting bullfrogs on hot summer evenings.

Leiann yearned to go back to that time when she knew what her life was all about. She wanted to hug her mother and have her daddy tell her that everything was all right because they were together. Of course, that was impossible. She didn’t think anything would ever be all right again.

Squeezing her eyes shut could not erase the pictures that danced through her mind. The lawyer’s office. The reading of the will. . .

“And to my daughter, I leave all my worldly goods.” The lawyer’s voice had droned on, listing the things that had belonged to her mother, which were now Leiann’s. Family heirlooms, bank accounts, furniture and household goods, jewelry. But not the house. Her mother hadn’t owned the house.

“Leiann?” From across the living room, the soft voice of her best friend brought Leiann out of her confused thoughts. When Leiann didn’t respond, Arlene came to stand beside her. “You really need to eat something.”

She turned, but she didn’t loosen the grip she held on her upper arms. If she did, she might fly apart. “I’m not really hungry.”

Where can the readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/
http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com/

I’m also on Shoutlife, Facebook, and Twitter.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Cranberry Hearts:

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

RETURN TO LOVE - Betsy St. Amant - Free Book

We're talking to a new author to my blog today. Welcome, Betsy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think most of my characters have snippets of my likes/dislikes, or have qualities I wish I had or wish I didn’t. For instance, in my July 2009 release RETURN TO LOVE, the heroine loves penguins and works at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Penguins have always been a collectible of mine and my favorite animal. So it’s fun to incorporate little things like that into my characters.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’m very much a Type A personality and stay quirky about my house. Everything must be clean and in its place, a quirk I have to really work on now that I have an infant! But I’m the girl who will walk into someone’s house or office and immediately straighten a crooked picture on the wall or restack a pile of magazines on the coffee table to look neater.
　
When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was about seven years old and my dad brought home our first computer. I pecked away at the keys and wrote short stories and attempted novels as a child and young teenager. I got serious about my writing when I was 18 and began attending conferences and learning the craft. But the other day, my mom showed me some homemade little books I had made when I was just a little girl that were absolutely hilarious! So maybe in a sense, I was born with the desire to write. =)
　
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

My favorites are romance and romantic suspense. But lately I’ve even been enjoying historicals and thrillers as well. I try to read a broad range to expand my horizons and grow as a writer. Sadly, I just can not get into sci-fi or fantasy novels, as much as I’ve tried.
　
What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I have a novel MIDNIGHT ANGEL available on Amazon, published through The Wild Rose Press. It was the first full length story I ever wrote. I also have two short story e-books available through The Wild Rose Press. Past that, I contribute articles to Crosswalk.com and have short non-fiction stories in two compilation books – LIFE SAVORS FOR WOMEN published through Tyndale and PRAISE REPORTS VOLUME II by Xulon Press and Crosswalk. My favorite story that is not yet published is a romantic suspense that I am praying gets placed soon. It’s about a cop, an orphan, and a cult leader targeting teenagers, called WHEN SHADOWS FALL.
　
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I’m a busy lady, for sure. I’m a wife, a new mom of a precious baby girl, an author, and I work a full time job. Plus you remember what I said about keeping a clean house! Haha! Things get hectic but I try to keep my relationship with God and my family first and it all works out.

Have you ever had those moments where it seemed literally impossible to get done all the things you needed to do in a single day, and you were tempted to skip your devotional time in order to get to work? Well I believe that in those times when we press on and keep God first, that God blesses our effort and our obedience and gives us "holy time warps" where it all somehow gets accomplished. =)

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Usually when I get my basic plot in mind, I will have the character’s name already chosen. They just sort of come to me. A few times I’ve had to view baby-naming websites to acquire new ideas but I’ve never had trouble naming my characters. I actually have more trouble naming side characters than I do my hero/heroine! =)
　
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Outside of my writing career, it would definitely be my daughter. She is so amazing! Inside my writing career, I am most proud of becoming a multi-published author with Steeple Hill. I know it is only by the grace of God and His will, nothing I could have ever done on my own!
　
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Probably a penguin. I definitely got the waddle thing down when I was pregnant. Haha. But I just think they’re cute and they’re always dressed up for a fancy occasion – sort of like me. I like to dress up and usually will be the one overdressed at an occasion rather than under.

What is your favorite food?

Mexican food, definitely. I’ll eat chips and salsa any day, any time. Even for breakfast! When I was pregnant, that was especially all I wanted.

I was that way with spaghetti when I was pregnant with my second child What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest problem regarding the actual craft of writing was, and still is at times, incorporating "high stakes". My stories tend to be more character driven and while I can easily invent a fun or interesting plot, I often have trouble getting those stakes in there! You know, the urgency, the "why this can’t happen to the poor character but why it must happen" type stuff. But I’m getting better! =)

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

KEEP WRITING. Don’t give up—rejections will always be hovering, even after you are published. If you quit, you’ll never know if an acceptance was right around the corner! So hang in there and take the good with the bad, the positive with the negative. And definitely attend those conferences and really learn the craft of writing.

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

RETURN TO LOVE is a really special story to me. It’s set in New Orleans, which is where my husband’s family is from and where he proposed to me in 2004. I really had fun writing this story and incorporating the Cajun culture into the setting. RETURN TO LOVE is about a man and woman who grew up in Louisiana as best friends, but were torn apart as young adults. This story shows their return to love and to each other. Plus, it’s got penguins in it—what could be more fun? =)

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can email me at betsystamant@yahoo.com
or visit my blog at http://www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com/
or my author site at http://www.betsystamant.com/.
They can also find me at http://www.shoutlife.com/betsystamant .

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order Return to Love:

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

BLUEGRASS BLESSINGS - Allie Pleiter - Free Book

I'm welcoming Allie Pleiter back to the blog. I just loved her last book. I'm sure I'll be as pleased with this one, too.

Bio: An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools, and finding new ways to avoid housework. She grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University, spent fifteen years in the field of professional fundraising, and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The “dare from a friend” to begin writing nine years ago has given rise to a career spanning two parenting books, six novels including the multi-nominated MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing.

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

Actually, despite being a huge plan-maker, I try never to look at the horizon book-wise. I’m always in awe of those authors who can see dozens of books into their future--I only seem to get mine one at a time. I crafted one trilogy by forcing myself, what became the Kentucky Corners series, but that felt like pulling my creative teeth. I’m hoping to begin a series in Charleston, SC because I’ve loved my past visit there, but that’s still way off.

Tell us a little about your family.

They deserve Olympic medals in the perseverance and put-up-with-the-crazy-lady-behind-the-laptop events. I have two teenagers (13 and 17), the world’s best husband, and the world’s most beloved dog.

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

We’re a very book-oriented family, and always have been avid readers. I’m always reading three books--one fiction, one non-fiction, and one audiobook. For fiction, I’ve been reading PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES (very funny), I’ve been pouring over San Francisco 1906 earthquake books (very instructional) for my non-fiction as I work on HIDDEN BY DAWN, the sequel to MASKED BY MOONLIGHT that will come out sometime next year; and my audiobook is THE OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA (very thought-provoking). Eclectic, don’t you think?

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on BLUEGRASS EASTER, a novella due out next February. It’s one more story based in Middleburg, the fictional town of all my "Kentucky Corners" series. After that, I’ll dig into figuring out what those Charleston books might be about. The next book I’ll have out is BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS for the holiday season.

What outside interests do you have?

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to knit. I even have a knitting blog where I can gab about my passions for the hobby, DestiKNITions. I run my church’s prayer shawl ministry, where we knit and pray over beautiful shawls to be given to those in need of comfort and healing. I knit all the time, and I do mean all the time.

I love to knit, too, but mostly not in the summer. Only if they are small things. It's too hot in Texas to have a large knitted thing in your lap How do you choose your settings for each book?

I’d love to say there’s some great formula to it, but it’s mostly "where do I want to go next?" It’s important for me to visit the cities my books are set in, because the location research is great fun for me and one of my favorite parts of the process.

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

I’d spend it with Eleanor Roosevelt. She seems to incredibly wise and strong.

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

How to write them (ha!)? Actually, I wish I’d known it would never get easier, but then I might never have started. I keep waiting for the point where I’ll feel sure of my skills and career, and even after a dozen books it hasn’t appeared. I don’t think it’s showing up any time soon.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

That I am right where I’m supposed to be. Just this morning I was reading the passages in Daniel where it talks about how God does as He pleases and no one can hold back His hand. That’s a sovereignty I can trust, even when it doesn’t look like it.

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

1) Write.

2) Learn your craft but don’t let yourself get tangled up in it.

3) Craft is good but storytelling is what matters most. We must be tellers of compelling stories above all else. I can forgive mediocre writing from a fabulous storyteller, but even sumptuous prose won’t hold me if the story doesn’t catch my heart. And, as far as I can tell, writing is the only way to learn to write. There are no shortcuts.

Tell us about the featured book.

BLUEGRASS BLESSINGS is one of the deepest stories I’ve told in the Kentucky Corners series. Stakes are really high for both characters, and the emotional level is life-changing for these two people God has really taken to the edge. Dinah, Middleburg’s baker, is a wild, artistic woman after my own heart--so of course I needed to give her a tightly wound New York City broker to fall for....I just love "opposites attract" stories!

Back cover copy:

Everyone in Middleburg, Kentucky lines up for baker Dinah Hopkins’s cinnamon rolls. Everyone except her handsome new landlord, Cameron Rollings. The jaded city man doesn’t like anything about small-town life--from the fresh air to her fresh-baked snickerdoodles. And he clearly considers Dinah as quirky as her eccentric oven. The way to Cameron’s heart is not through his toned stomach. But the Lord led him to Kentucky Corners for a reason. And Dinah plans to help him count his bluegrass blessings.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can visit my website at http://www.alliepleiter.com/, and my knitting blog at http://www.destiknitions.blogspot.com/.

Thank you, Allie, for coming back to talk with us.

Readers, you won't want to miss any of the books in this series. Here's a link where you can order Bluegrass Blessings:

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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

DEADLY INTENT - Camy Tang - Free Book

Welcome, Camy, I'm thrilled to have you on my blog. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I love reading romantic suspense, especially Love Inspired Suspense novels, which is why I’m thrilled to be releasing Deadly Intent with Steeple Hill. I don’t know what it says about me that I enjoy killing people in fiction. :)

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

Probably the day my husband proposed to me. He took me to a lovely seafood restaurant with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, and he proposed after dinner. I was completely surprised because I hadn’t expected him to propose for another couple years.

Sounds wonderfully romantic. How has being published changed your life?

I absolutely love my job. While I enjoyed being a biologist researcher, it was not as fulfilling as it is to write stories for a living. I am wonderfully satisfied and joyful each day about the work I do.
What are you reading right now?

Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts

What is your current work in progress?

I’m actually working on two things: the fourth book in my Sushi series, which I’ll be making available as a free ebook to my newsletter YahooGroup members in the fall, and my next book for Zondervan, which will be a humorous contemporary romance about a woman who does the Couch to 5K running program. The C25K is a training program where you go from a couch potato to running 3 miles in about 9 weeks. I just finished the C25K myself! Yay!

Wish I could try that, but I can't. What would be your dream vacation?

Touring England! I want to go to Ireland and Scotland and London and Bath.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Usually, ideas for settings come to me at weird times, like when I’m showering or in the middle of the night. Almost always when I don’t have a paper and pencil handy.

I've left the shower many a time and gone straight for a piece of paper and pen to write something down the Lord showed me. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I want Emeril to cook dinner for me. Bam! Good food and an entertaining guest all at once.

That sounds like a fun evening. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Knitting! I love it! It helps me to de-stress and it also helps me think so that I can write.

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

Distraction. I think of all the things I need to do in the house rather than writing, like cleaning the toilet. Guilt is a terrible thing when your house is messy.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read up on as many writing articles as you can before you finish that first book. I learned SO much from just reading about the writing craft online, and it gave me a leg up because I found out which writing books to get and the basics of crafting a genre novel.

Tell us about the featured book?

Deadly Intent is my first romantic suspense. Here’s the back cover blurb:

SCENE OF THE CRIME
The Grant family’s exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! Then Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, and everything falls apart. The salon’s reputation is at stake...and so is Naomi’s freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim’s ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn...and whom can she trust?
　

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One
The man who walked into Naomi's father's day spa was striking enough to start a female riot.
Dark eyes swept the room, which happened to be filled with the Sonoma spa's staff at that moment. She felt his gaze glance over her like a tingling breeze. Naomi recognized him instantly. Dr. Devon Knightley.

For a wild moment, she thought, He's come to see me. And her heart twirled in a riotous dance.
But only for a moment. Sure, they'd talked amiably— actually, more than amiably—at the last Zoe International fund-raising dinner, but after an entire evening sitting next to her, he hadn't asked for her phone number, hadn't asked for any contact information at all. Wasn't that a clear sign he wasn't interested?

She quashed the memory and stepped forward in her official capacity as the spa owner's daughter and acting manager. "Dr. Knightley. Welcome."

He clasped her hand with one tanned so brown that it seemed to bring the heat of the July sun into the airy, air-conditioned entranceway. "Miss Naomi Grant." His voice had more than a shot of surprise, as did his looks as he took in her pale blue linen top and capris, the same uniform as the gaggle of spa staff members gathered behind her. "It's been a few months since I've seen you."

He still held her hand. She loved the feel of his palm— cool and warm at the same time, strong the way a surgeon's should be.

No, she had to stop this. Devon and his family were hard-core atheists, and nothing good would come out of giving in to her attraction. "What brings you here?"

"I need to speak to Jessica Ortiz."

An involuntary spasm seized her throat. Of course. Glamorous client Jessica Ortiz or plain massage therapist Naomi Grant—no comparison, really.

But something in his tone didn't quite have the velvety sheen of a lover. He sounded almost… dangerous. And danger didn't belong in the spa.
　
I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.camytang.com/ and I blog daily at http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/. I give away Christian fiction on my blog every week, and I also have a fantastic newsletter contest going on now for members of my newsletter YahooGroup. Join today: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Camys_Loft/join
Thanks for having me here, Lena!
Camy

It is totally my great blessing and pleasure.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Deadly Intent:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification will be the winner post on this blog. So don't forget to check back in two weeks on Saturday to see if you've won. Or sign up for Feedblitz in the sidebar.

If you're reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here's the link:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Happy Holiday Winners!!!

Sherry K. is the winner of Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio, by Lisa Harris.

Anna W. is the winner of The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo.

Gail Mundy is the winner of Blackmail by Robin Caroll.

Host is the winner of Lying on Sunday by Sharon K. Souza.

Congratulations! You each need to send me your snail mail address. You can click on View My Complete Profile to find the link to my email, or you can go to www.lenanelsondooley.com and click on the Contact Me link.

CRANBERRY HEARTS - Lisa Harris - Free Book

Lisa Harris is the second author we're interviewing with this release. Welcome, Lisa. What contribution did your story make to the collection?

A Matter of Trust was one of the first romances I wrote, and when Lena, Beth and I decided to submit a collection to Heartsong, I knew this was the story I wanted to use. But I also knew that it was going to take a lot of rewrites to make it sellable. Because I already loved the story, I really enjoyed going back, reworking the story, and fleshing out the characters the second time around.

Here’s the back cover blurb: A year ago Kayla Marceilo had it all - a great job in Boston and a handsome, successful fiance who loved the Lord...or so she thought. When Ty turned out to be a liar, Kayla's world was shattered. Moving back home seemed like a good way to try to pick up the pieces. Just when she feels like everything's falling into place, Ty reappears in her life, claiming to have changed. But has he?

Ty Lawrence is sorry for his past. Tragedy and heartache made him hit rock bottom and realize what truly matters. He's changed his ways and his hoping for a simpler, more meaningful life in Farrington...and another chance with Kayla. When Ty's past catches up with him and he's accused of defrauding his former company, can he ever earn Kayla's trust - and love - back?

Did you enjoy working with the other authors in the collection?

One of the blessings in writing for me has been the authors and readers who I’ve befriended throughout the years, and Lena and Beth are some of my closest writer friends. So yes, I definitely enjoyed it.

Did it take a lot of interaction?

This collection took little interaction. Beyond the setting, each story stands alone.

Have you ever been to Massachusetts?

While I’ve never been to Massachusetts, I’ve spent the past few years extensively researching the area. Besides my contribution to this contemporary collection, I was also privileged to write three historical romances for Heartsong set in Massachusetts in the late 1800’s. That collection is entitled Massachusetts Brides.

How was the setting chosen?

I believe originally, Beth had done a lot of research on cranberry farms which we all thought was a unique setting. Massachusetts proved to be the perfect location for the series.

What do you like most about this collection?

I enjoyed the setting and the fact that there is a thread of mystery, which I always love to add to my stories.

What book are you currently writing?

I’m currently brainstorming book two in my Mission Hope series for Zondervan. The first book in the series, Blood Ransom, will be released next March and is a fast-paced suspense novel.

“Deep in the heart of Africa, two American lives are about to change forever. Natalie Sinclair and

Dr. Chad Talcott want to make a difference in under-developed African villages … but they didn’t count on risking their lives in the process. Romance and adventure drive this powerful thriller about the modern-day slave trade and those who dare to challenge it.”

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband and I, along with our three children, moved to South Africa about six years ago to work with my husband’s aunt and uncle in leadership training and church planting. About a year ago, after six months learning Portuguese in Brazil, God called us to Mozambique where we are continuing our work for African Outreach Ministries. Life is always an adventure, but we feel blessed to be a part of the work here.

What is the first page of your story in the collection?

Ty Lawrence was running out of time. He drummed his fingers against the top of his polished mahogany desk that sat near the window of his office and tried to calm his staggered breathing.
One more minute, Lord. That’s all I need.

The computer whirred as it copied the files onto his flash drive. He might not have evidence to hand over to the police for an actual conviction, but he did have enough confidential files at his apartment to keep a government official busy for weeks if Abbott Financial Services was ever indicted. These last files, thanks to an unanticipated inside tip and his password, were the best corroboration he’d found so far in linking the CEO, Richard Abbott, to fraud.

And thirty years behind bars if Ty had his way.

Forty-five seconds left.

Ty stuck a dirty coffee mug and a half-eaten bag of peanuts from his desk drawer into the cardboard box he’d brought from home. The corner office with windows overlooking the city, the company Jag, and a yearly bonus that could pay off the debt of a small, third world country hadn’t been enough enticement to stay in the game. Not since the morning he’d awakened with a hangover and the front page of the Boston Times in his lap with pictures of five executives from
Orlando arrested for fraud and conspiracy charges.

It was a sobering thought, requiring little imagination to realize that was where he was headed if he didn’t get out before it was too late. The unexpected letter from an old friend offering him a job in Farrington, Massachusetts, had cinched the deal. Never mind the fact that he’d make a third of what he made now, drive his old car, and work from an office smaller than his bedroom closet.

He’d have a clean conscience, which was worth more than Richard Abbott could ever give him.
Ty glanced at the computer screen. Twenty seconds. His head throbbed. Once Abbott received the resignation letter with his morning correspondence, security would be sent up to escort Ty off the property.

Voices buzzed in the hallway, growing louder as they neared his office. Five seconds. . .

His office door slammed against the back wall as his boss crossed the threshold. Ty looked up from the potted plant he was setting in the cardboard box.

A real hook. Now, Lisa, where can the readers find you on the Internet?

I keep a blog on our life in Africa at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/ . Stop by and leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you! I also have a website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/ . Thanks so much for having me, Lena. It’s always a privilege to be here!

And I love having you, Lisa. Readers, you'll want to go to her blog and sign up for it. I love reading about her life in Africa, complete with pictures.

Here's a link where you can order Cranberry Hearts:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you will have will be the winners post on this blog, so be sure to come back to the blog a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here's the link:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

LOVE THINE ENEMY - Louise M. Gouge - Free Book

We haven't seen Louise on this blog for a long time. Welcome back, Louise. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

My favorite theme is God’s amazing grace. In all my stories, I try to bring out the eternal truth that God has completed all the work necessary for our salvation. When Jesus said on the Cross, "It is finished," He meant finished. We have only to believe in Him as the sacrifice for our sins, and we have eternal life with Him. Once we accept that salvation, we should to tap into that same grace of God to grow into the people He wants us to be. Those are the themes I love to write about. One of my favorite songs from childhood is, "I love to tell the story … of Jesus and His love." It’s a lifelong passion of mine.

A wonderful passion! What other books of yours are coming out soon?

The next book in my Revolutionary War series is The Captain’s Lady, a Love Inspired Historical due to be released in March 2010.

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

Oh, dear, this is a hard question. I’ve reached the point in my life where I feel a certain contentment and don’t ache to be in another place or with another person other than the ones around me. God has been so good to me. While we don’t have much materially, we do have each other. No doubt, my feelings come from my husband’s recent bout with cancer, his making it through surgery and treatment, my widowed daughter and grandchildren sharing our home, and our sons doing well in their careers. To me, this is what life is all about.

How long have you known that you wanted to be novelist?

I have always had an active imagination, creating stories very early in my childhood and writing term papers in the forms of plays and short stories. When my children were growing up, I invented bedtime stories and songs, and also wrote many church plays. Then, at the urging of a friend, I began my first novel, a contemporary romance. It was so much fun that I decided to keep writing. I’ve been writing since 1984. I sold that contemporary romance in the early 90s, and it came out in 1994. But before I tried to sell it, I went back to college and earned a creative writing degree so I wouldn’t embarrass myself when I submitted it to editors.

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

Writing is only partly about your dreams. Book publishing is a business. Editors know what they’re looking for, what will sell, and what their publishing house needs. Since I want to sell my stories, I need to hone my writing skills and then find out what’s working in the book market these days and aim my writing in that direction.

Tell us about the featured book?

Here’s the back cover blurb. It encapsulates everything about the characters and conflicts:

The tropics of colonial Florida are far removed from America’s Revolution. Still, Rachel Folger’s loyalties remain with Boston’s patriots. Handsome plantation owner Frederick Moberly’s faithfulness to the Crown is as certain as his admiration for Rachel—but for the sake of harmony, he’ll keep his sympathies hidden. After all, the war is too far distant to truly touch them...isn’t it?

A betrayal of Rachel’s trust divides the pair, leaving Frederick to question the true meaning of faith in God and in country. Inspired by Rachel to see life, liberty, and love through His eyes, Frederick must harness his faith and courage to claim the woman he loves before war tears them apart.

Love Thine Enemy, LIH July 2009, ISBN - 13: 978-0-373-82815-9
　
Please give us the first page of the book.

Through the window of her father’s store, Rachel watched the Englishmen ride their handsome steeds up the sandy street of St. Johns Settlement. Their well-cut coats and haughty bearing – as if they owned the world – made their identities unmistakable.

"Make them pass by, Lord," she whispered, "for surely I’ll not be able to speak a Christian word to them if they come in here." She glanced over her shoulder at Papa to see if he had heard her, but he was focusing his attention on a newly-opened crate of goods.

Rachel turned back to the window. To her dismay, the two young men dismounted right in front of the store. One snapped his fingers at a small black boy and motioned for him to care for the horses.

Her dismay turned to anger. How did they know the boy could take time to do the task? Did they care that the child might be beaten by his owner if he lingered in town?
　
I love the hook. I'll have to move that book up on my to-be-read-list. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.louisemgouge.com/

Thank you, Lena, for inviting me to be a guest on your blog!

And thank you, Louise, for spending this time with us. I really miss seeing you since you no longer come to this area to visit your daughter's family.

Readers, here's a link where you can order Love Thine Enemy:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification you'll have will be the winners post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. If you're afraid you'll forget, sign up for Feedblitz at the top of the sidebar. The posts will come to your Inbox.

If you're reading this in Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here's the link:

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