NEED YOU NOW - Beth Wiseman - Free Book

As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

God lays the story upon my heart, and my family is involved in the birthing of every book through discussions, encouragement, love, and support. Need You Now tackles some tough contemporary issues, so in my effort to educate myself and others, I reached out to families who are dealing with some of these issues. To say more would be a spoiler!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I’m teaching a writing workshop in the small town where I live. It should be interesting. I’m structuring the class to meet the needs of the students, and I suspect we’ll have a wide range of writers—from those just starting out to maybe even a few published writers.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

Well, until a few months ago, my answer would have been Colorado. We love the mountains, have friends in Bailey, and we’ve traveled to Amish communities in the San Luis Valley for research. But anyone who is thinking about making a permanent move to Colorado should definitely spend some time there during the winter months, which we did. Now I’m not so sure this Texas girl could handle all the cold and snow.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

I believe that anyone can get published if you stick with it long enough. But being a great storyteller isn’t enough. Study the craft. Shrug off the rejections. And write the story that you feel called to write.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

Oh, my celebrity cruise would be all about the writing! And I’d invite all my author friends. I’d want to have Richard Paul Evans onboard because I love his books. Same goes for Nicholas Sparks. I’d want Karen Kingsbury, Sheila Walsh, and Beth Moore…just to name a few. And I would want Stephen King there because he is a master storyteller. Then workshops, classes, and fun in the sun! J Would you be onboard, Lena?

Tell us about the featured book?

This video, which was produced by my publisher Thomas Nelson, explains why I wrote Need You Now -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTS2agKvyGI

And here is the back cover copy:

“You may think you are familiar with Beth’s wonderful storytelling gift but this is something new! It’s a story of how God can redeem the seemingly unredeemable. It’s a message the world needs to hear.”

                                                                  --Sheila Walsh,

                                                                  Author of God Loves Broken People

When big-city life threatens the safety of one of their children, Brad and Darlene Henderson move with their teenagers from Houston to the tiny town of Round Top, Texas.

Adjusting to small-town life is difficult for the kids, especially fifteen-year-old Grace who is coping in a dangerous way.

Married life hasn’t always been bliss, but their strong faith has carried them through the difficult times. When Darlene takes a job outside the home for the first time in their marriage, the domestic tension rises.

While working with special needs children at her new job, the widowed father of one of Darlene’s students starts paying more attention to her than is appropriate. Problem is, she feels like someone is listening to her for the first time in a long time.

If Darlene ever needed God…it’s now.

Experience a family’s triumph over lies, betrayal, and loss while still clinging to the One who matters most.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Darlene’s chest tightened, and for a few seconds she couldn’t move. If ever there was a time to flee, it was now. She put a hand to her chest, held her breath, and eased backward, sliding one socked foot at a time across the wooden floor of her bedroom. She eyed the intruder, wondering why he wasn’t moving. Maybe he was dead.

Nearing the door, she stretched her arm behind her, searching for the knob. She turned it quickly, and at the click of the latch, her trespasser rushed toward her. In one movement, she jumped backward, across the threshold and into the den, slamming the door so hard the picture of the kids fell off the wall. She looked down at Chad, Ansley, and Grace staring up through broken glass, then hurried through the den to the kitchen. Her hand trembled as she unplugged her cell phone and pressed the button to call Brad. Please answer.

It was tax time, so every CPA at her husband’s office was working long hours, and for these last weeks before the April deadline, Brad was hard to reach. She knew she wouldn’t hear

from him until after eight o’clock tonight. And she couldn’t go back in her bedroom. What would she have to live without until then? She looked down. For starters, a shirt.

Where can we find you on the Internet?

I mostly hang out at “Fans of Beth Wiseman” on Facebook. My website just had an overhaul, and I love the new look – www.bethwiseman.com. And I also blog at http://blog.bethwiseman.net and www.amishhearts.com. And I’m on Twitter.

Thank you so much, Lena, for having me again! 


It's my great pleasure, Beth.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Need You Now - paperback
Need You Now - Kindle


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

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

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

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

THE DISCOVERY - Dan Walsh - Free Book

Tell us about your salvation experience.

I’d love to. I’m almost 55 and came to Christ in a radical way when I was 17 years old (a senior in high school). I was as lost as I could be. A long-haired beach bum with no ambition except to surf and goof off. I got drunk several times a week, went to parties and dated girls. But inside, I was dying and often depressed. There was a popular Smoky Robinson song on the radio back then, called “Tears of a Clown.” That was me, only my sadness wasn’t about losing the girl.

After getting thoroughly smashed at a keg party one night, I drove home and got pulled over by a cop for swerving. I didn’t get a DUI (it was before breathalyzers, and with my surfing I somehow passed the balance tests). I still had to take a DUI traffic course with my ticket. God used that to begin to open my eyes. I saw all these people messed up from drugs and alcohol and realized this was the path I was on. Then some high school acquaintances were killed in a DUI accident. Around that time my parents came to Christ and, over a period of time, I saw them dramatically change. Also, God kept sending different people to witness to me. That Christmas, my parents gave me a New Testament, which I began to read constantly (but I had to sneak it, because I was “too cool.”).

As I read, the Lord opened my eyes to see Jesus for who He really is, and I understood for the first time why He died on cross. I gave Him my life in the spring of that year and haven’t looked back since.

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

Leif Enger (author of Peace Like a River), Nicholas Sparks (mega-bestselling love story author), Richard Paul Evans (bestselling Christmas book author) and Jim Rubart (bestselling speculative fiction author). The first three because they are amazing male authors who write in a similar genre and style that I do. Reading their books provokes me to become a better writer. I’d love to learn from them up close. Jim is also a great writer, but we write in different genres. But I really respect him, love being around him, and he’s a good friend. But the guy is crazy-busy, and he needs a retreat. So if I’m doing a fantasy retreat, Jim’s gotta be there.

You guys would have a great time. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

No so much just yet. But I’m slowly beginning to do this more. It’s something I want to do more, because I love public speaking (was a pastor for 25 years until 2010). It’s just I’ve been so busy writing (just finished my 8^th novel in 3 years).

But now I’m settling into a 2-book/year schedule, learning how to juggle things a little better. I could definitely start to accept more speaking invitations. I’ll be teaching a fiction track in November at the CLASS Christian Writers Conference in New Mexico. And I hope that my partnership with Dr. Gary Smalley might open up some doors to speak in the future. I’d love to do marriage retreats or men’s events, as well as speak to writing groups.

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

I had to ask my wife. Apparently I don’t do many embarrassing things anymore. She reminded me of an incident years ago when I was preaching. I had visited some of the children’s classrooms and somehow had gotten glitter on my nose. I preached the entire message with my schnoz glimmering under the bright lights. I probably worked 2 full days on that sermon. Do you think anyone said a single thing about it after?

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’d probably ask whether they intended (or hoped) to have this dream book published or were just doing it for fun. If they hoped to get published, I’d ask some questions to see if they had any idea how difficult the road ahead will be, and seek to tactfully adjust their expectations. If that didn’t spook them, and they were really set on pursuing this, I’d suggest a number of must-read craft books and recommend they join ACFW and Word Weavers, so they can begin to get mentored.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s what the back cover says:

When aspiring writer Michael Warner inherits his grandfather’s venerable Charleston estate, he settles in to write his first novel. But within the confines of the stately home, he discovers an unpublished manuscript that his grandfather, a literary giant whose novels sold in the millions, had kept hidden from everyone—but clearly intended Michael to find. As he delves deeper into the exciting tale about spies and sabotage, Michael discovers something that has the power to change not only his future but his past as well.

Laced with suspense and intrigue, The Discovery is a richly woven novel that explores the incredible sacrifices that must be made to forge the love of a lifetime. Author Dan Walsh delivers yet another unique and heartfelt story that will stick with readers long after they turn the last page.

You know that your first book placed you on my favorite author list, and you haven’t you’re your place. Please give us the first page of this book.

I remember…I was supposed to be sad that day.

Everyone was sad. It is always sad when a legend dies. Our family gathered in Charleston to read his will.

Gerard Warner’s novels sold in the millions. He’d won the Pulitzer Prize. Past presidents quoted his words in speeches. Several of his books had become blockbuster movies. I remember reading interviews with some of the celebrities who’d starred in those movies. Talked as if they were friends with my grandfather.

I knew instantly they were lying.

They didn’t know him. None of them did. He wouldn’t have let them.

To his adoring fans, Gerard Warner remained an enigmatic, elusive figure his entire career. He wouldn’t even allow his picture on his own book covers. Every time a new novel came out, TV producers and talk show hosts made their appeals―again―wanting to be the first to interview him. He only said yes to print interviews. Even then, no pictures. And absolutely no questions about his personal life allowed.

Still, Gerard Warner’s books flew off the shelves. They were that good.

I called him Gramps.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love interacting with folks on the Internet. I have a blog, an author page on Facebook and I Tweet on Twitter. Probably the easiest way to connect is to visit my website homepage. There are buttons there to link to the other places I hang out on the internet. They can reach me at www.danwalshbooks.com .


Thank you, Dan, for another wonderful interview.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Discovery, The: A Novel - paperback
Discovery, The - Kindle


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

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

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

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

Winners!!!

Liz R (AL) is the winner of 60 Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings.
Barbara Shelton (TX) is the winner of Redemption Ranch by Leann Harris.
Apple Blossom (ND)  is the winner of The Overcomers by Molly Noble Bull. 
Sandi Coughlin (TX) is the winner of Katie's Choice by Tracey Langford.
Carl P (CA) is the winner of Cooking the Books by Bonnie Calhoun.
Lynne (TN) is the winner of Because of Me by Fay Lamb. 

If you won a book and you really like it, consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

If you didn't win and you plan to order the book, please use the link provided on the individual interview. By using that link when you order, you will help support this blog.

THE WEDDING DRESS - Rachel Hauck - Free Book Here Plus Much More

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle, and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, The Songbird Novels.

She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets.

Rachel earned a degree in Journalism form Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor. Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to reader her blog, and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Welcome, Rachel. I love the cover of this book. How did you come up with the idea for this story?
RH: This idea came from a girls’ weekend. We were talking about our friend’s daughter getting married and the idea of finding the perfect dress. Something in the conversation tripped my creative switch and I was lost in storyland dreaming of what could come from 100 year old gown.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
RH: Only six? Not fair! But, I’ll start with my brainstorming buddy, Susan May Warren. Then Jenny B. Jones, Lisa Wingate, Marybeth Whalen, Beth Vogt and Lisa Jordan.

I hang with these women via My Book Therapy and Southern Belle View and they inspire me. Love them. But I have to add three more: Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter and Susan Meissner because they are inspirations to me and I love their work.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
RH: Siri Mitchell because I think she’s brilliant. I’d hang with buddies Tamera Alexander, Robin Lee Hatcher because they are funny. Then there’s Liz Curtis Higgs who is an all around inspiration and true woman of God and laughter. Add to that Tracy Higley who writes as T.L. Higly. Finally, Julie Klassen because I could learn from her.

Wow, if we combined those two parties, it would really be rocking. I’d have to hide in a corner and watch. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?
RH: I’m in a good place. I try to stay in a good place. By that, I keep my hand and heart open to whatever the Lord has for me regarding writing. I try not to set goals too far ahead – meaning I’m not planning my 20^th or 30^th book.

I take each book and each contract as it comes. But I do set goals and reach higher with each book.

I’m like you. Trusting God as you go along is best. Tell us about the featured book.
RH: The Wedding Dress is about a 100 year old gown worn by 4 women over the course of a century. The story is told in two parts: Charlotte in 2012 and Emily in 1912. But we also meet the ’39 and ’68 bride. Each has her own story to tell. It’s also a book about how the Lord connects us in ways we never imagine.

Sounds wonderful. Please give us the first page of the book.
RH: Here’s the link to the whole first chapter! http://www.rachelhauck.com/pdf_downloads/chapters/wedding_dress.pdf

How can readers find you on the Internet?

 RH: I love to interact with readers. Find me at www.rachelhauck.com

www.twitter.com/rachelhauck

www.facebook.com/rachelhauck

Thanks so much for having me!!


My pleasure and great blessing.


What is "true" beauty? Join the conversation at Rachel's Author Chat Party Event Page. On the eventing of 4/19 we'll gather to talk about inner and outer beauty and share moments of beauty in our lives.

In the meantime, celebrate with Rachel by entering her True Beauty Giveaway!

One "beautiful" winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)
• The Wedding Dress (by Rachel Hauck)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/18/12. Winner will be announced at Rachel's "True Beauty" Author Chat Facebook Party on 4/19. Rachel will be hosting an evening of beauty (inner/outer) chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Rachel via Skype.)

So grab a few of your friends and your copy of The Wedding Dress and join Rachel on the evening of April 19th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19th!



Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Wedding Dress - paperback
The Wedding Dress - Kindle

To win a copy on this blog, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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

INJUSTICE FOR ALL - Robin Caroll - Free Book

Welcome back, Robin. You have a lot of books out now. What is your favorite setting to use in your books?

I love using Louisiana because that’s home for me…it’s in my heart. Louisiana is like a foreign country within the United States…the Cajun language and food, a totally different mindset, if you will.

What do you look for when you’re shopping for a book to buy for yourself?

I’m an author-buyer. If it’s by an author I know and trust, their new releases are for me. I also like to find new favorite authors in suspense and the subgenres, so I like reading reviews on Amazon, B&N, CBD.COM, Fictionfinder.com and also what my friends recommend. I want a story that demands I stay up all night to finish reading it! J

Give us a little tour of the setting for this book.

Injustice For All is centrally located in a fictional town, Hopewell, Louisiana. Of course, the bayou is the backdrop for all the murder and mayhem!

What other books do you have coming out soon?

The next book in the Justice Seekers is TO WRITE A WRONG and it releases in September 2012, then the final book in the series, STRAND OF DECEPTION will release in February 2013. I’m also very excited about a new writing adventure. My mentor and friend and uber-talented author, Colleen Coble, and I are co-writing a couple of YA books featuring the kids from her best-selling Rock Harbor series. The first one is slated for an April 2013 release and a second in fall 2013.

That is so cool. Is this novel part of a series or a stand-alone book?

This is the first book in the JUSTICE SEEKERS series.

Tell us about the story.

A federal judge is killed by the least expected suspect coupled with the most unexpected witness. This causes the witness to run from one of the most protective employer's an individual could be employed...the FBI. The utter fear a witness could entail is being tracked by an agency that she knows all to well. Their tactics, resources, devices, and determination could only spell disaster for anyone who tried to run. Her only chance to survive is to use all her cunning, imagination and experience with the Bureau to keep them off balance and off her trail.

I’m hooked. Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

“The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways I go to die, and you to live. Which is the better, God only knows.”

Socrates

Cha-chk.

Every muscle in my body stiffened, and my mouth went spitless. Chambering a round was a distinct sound, unmistakable.

My hand gripped the railing as questions swarmed my mind. A gun? In Daniel’s house? He’d been opposed to firearms ever since my father was murdered.

I took a step off the second-story landing. My palm itched to grip my own handgun at the moment, but knowing how Daniel felt, I’d never bring it over. Even when I spent the night.

“Put that gun away.” My godfather’s voice held a tremble as it drifted up to me. Never, ever, had I heard Daniel’s voice be anything but commanding.

My heart pounded harder than before—my ribs felt the punishment. My knees weakened.

“Not hardly. You just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you, Daniel?”

I broke out into a cold sweat, recognizing that voice. And the angry tone. I should have—sure had heard it enough times. Was this real? Not him. I had to be mistaken. Because if he’s the one with the gun…

I descended, my feet making no sound on the plush stair runner. Reaching the first floor, I glanced at the alarm system control panel by the front door. No indicator lights ablaze. My throat and gut flipped places. Why have the security feature if Daniel wouldn’t use it? I padded across the cold marble floor of the darkened foyer and activated the silent alarm. The gated community security would arrive.

Would it be soon enough?

Bring it on!! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Easy… www.robincaroll.com    

or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/robincaroll

Thank you, Robin, for another interesting interview.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Injustice For All: A Justice Seekers Novel - paperback
Injustice For All: A Justice Seekers Novel - Kindle


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

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

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

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

SANCTUARY FOR A LADY - Naomi Rawlings - Free Book

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

I don’t, at least not consciously. I enjoy creating stories based on nearly impossible historical situations. My characters arise from me asking myself questions like “What kind of person would be able to see her family killed during the French Revolution and still find a way to escape France for England?”

The answer is a strong, determined one who isn’t afraid to fight for what she wants. And that’s how I arrived at Isabelle, the heroine in my debut novel. Her determination and spirit get her into trouble at times, and Naomi Rawlings wouldn’t have much in common with Isabelle de La Rouchecauld. That’s for sure.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Gone ice fishing for half a day in 6 degree weather. It was freezing!!! So why did I do it? Hubby wanted to take me on a date. It took him about a half hour to figure out I would have been a lot happier if the outing hadn’t involved single digits and slimy bait.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

At some point when I was writing my first novel, which was horrible and never made it off my computer. I can’t pinpoint a specific time. I’d always done well with writing assignments in high school and college, where I earned a degree in English Education. Plus I’d always loved to read. But I never put my knowledge of English and love for stories together into a thought that went: “I’m a writer.”

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

Everything Romance. I occasionally try a bestselling title from another genre, but one book is about all I can take before I head for another romance.

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

LOL. I don’t! With two little boys to raise and a busy pastor for a husband, I get up early in the morning and write before the rest of the household wakes up. I’m not sure that helps me keep my sanity, as I’m normally exhausted by seven at night, but it does help me separate writing from family and gives me time for both. I actually write about this on my blog, where I offer tips and encouragement and crazy stories about working from home and raising kids. (makinghomeworkblog.blogspot.com)

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Since I’ve only written two novels so far, and haven’t had much trouble coming up with names. Most of my names have been from the Bible: Michel (French variation of Michael), Luke, and Elizabeth. Isabelle is my only non-Bible name for a main character. I like the Bible names because they don’t sound outdated to the modern reader, and it’s a sure bet the name was around in the period I’m writing.  I haven’t figured out what happens when I run out of Bible names. And French male names give me a little bit of trouble, because most of them sound a bit more feminine than I’d prefer.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

On a professional level, getting published. On a personal level, bringing my two boys into the world. I tend to compartmentalize family and writing, what might be a milestone career-wise may have no effect on my family, and a milestone for my family has little effect on my writing.

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

A Teacup Poodle. Someone else would fix my meals and take me to a professional to do my nails and hair. I wouldn’t have to clean, and I could sleep in as late as I wanted.

What is your favorite food?

Toss up between pizza and ice cream. Can you tell health and eating right are a top priority for me? J

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

Having sustainable character motivation throughout the novel. One of my strengths is that I can write really great scenes, full of conflict and leaving the reader aching to see what happens next. The downside is I tend to make my characters do things that I know will cause conflict in a certain scene because it makes the moment good. But I do this without stopping to figure out whether the character’s motivations for acting in such a manner make sense in light of the entire story. I can’t tell you how many scenes I’ve had to rewrite because I had glaring character motivation problems.

As far as overcoming it, the more I write, the better I get at working through character motivations. The Moral Premise by Stanley D. Williams really helped me understand underlying motivations and principles for the entire story. I strongly suggest all writers work through the second section of his book before starting a new novel. Last and most important, a writer needs a good critique partner who’s not afraid to send something back and say “I wanted to throw this chapter across the room. What were you thinking? Character X would never behave that way, and here’s why. . .” At which point I grudgingly go back to my computer and rewrite.

Tell us about the featured book.

Running to freedom, she found love . . .

The injured young woman that Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat, and in the midst of France’s bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.

                 

Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La Rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke’s daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land. Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be . . .

Text Copyright: 2012 by Naomi Mason

Cover Art Copyright: 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. Trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Silence surrounded her, an eerie music more haunting than that of any chamber players. It soaked into her pores and chilled her blood. Isabelle surveyed the shadowed trees of northern France, so different from the wide fields she’d grown up with in Burgundy. The woods lay still, most animals caught in winter’s slumber. Her breathing and the crunch of her shoes against the road formed the only human sounds amid acres of forest and earth and animals—or the only human sounds of which she knew.

She clutched her cloak and glanced behind her. Did someone follow?

Her feet stumbled over the hard dirt road, her body trembled with cold, her gloved fingers stiffened until they nearly lost their grip on her valise and her vision blurred. Fatigue washed through her like waves lapping higher and higher on a shore. The long periods of dark through which she had traveled stretched into one another until the ninth night seemed no different from the first but for the growing blisters on her feet and cramps in her arms. One more day.

She was close, so terribly close. If she could just survive tonight.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at my website www.naomirawlings.com . Or you can find me at my blog, Making Home Work (makinghomeworkblog.blogspot.com), where I give advice on (or talk about my failures at) raising kids and working from home.


Thank you, Naomi, for sharing about your life and you book.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Sanctuary for a Lady (Love Inspired Historical) - paperback
Sanctuary for a Lady (Love Inspired Historical) - Kindle


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

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

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

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

THE WEDDING JOURNEY - Cheryl St John - Free Book

I'm thrilled to introduce a long-time writing friend to you. Welcome, Cheryl. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

A friend recently told me my heroine in The Wedding Journey “lived and breathed her faith.” My faith is so much a part of me, undoubtedly it shows up in characters. In a worrisome situation, I’m not one to wring my hands. The first thing out of my mouth tends to be a prayer or the name of Jesus. I think my characters react that way, too.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I don’t consider myself quirky. More like spontaneous. I got the idea a while back that I’d like to try my hand at a booth at the local antique mall, so with everything else I have to do, I moved into a booth and am now a dealer.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote when I was a kid, creating stories and illustrating them. Then I’d draw the cover and staple them into little books. My first rejection came at the age of fourteen when I submitted something to Redbook Magazine. I loved books so much, writing simply became an extension of that love.

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

I have always enjoyed Stephen King and Dean Koontz, and I like true stories, not necessarily crime, but stories by people who’ve overcome real-life situations. I read contemporary and of course my favorite is historical romance.

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

My husband and I have lunch together every Thursday, and spend the afternoon doing something we want to do. It’s our time away from the busy week and without our wonderful family. J

Friday evenings is when my critique group meets. We manage to hold a lot of special events, like birthday celebrations and rejoicing over contracts and milestones. It’s a let-your-hair-down atmosphere, with a supportive and wise group of women.

When I start to feel overwhelmed, I shut down the computer and spend a day not thinking about the book. I garden, shop, or go to a movie.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Character names are critical to even putting the first words on the page of a story. If the names aren’t right, the story doesn’t flow, so I put a lot of work into names in the planning stages. Of course I have ten name books, including The Writer’s Digest Character naming Sourcebook and The Everything Baby Names Book. But my best names often come from other sources.

I have folders I’ve created over the years, lists I’ve compiled myself. Often I watch movies for study, with a pen and notebook in hand. I watch credits for interesting names. I always have a tablet in the car and I note names at cemeteries. In my folders are lists I’ve printed, like The Last Word on First Names, Modern Eccentric Names, Favorite Utah Names, Classic Conservative Names. Ship’s logs, wedding license records and cemetery records are among my favorite resources. I also picked up an old New York Times Personal Name Index somewhere along the way. I love combining a first and last name, so it sounds like a real person.

Once I have names in place, the story can commence.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

That would have to be my family. A long, long marriage takes two people, so I only get half the credit. And my kids are great people. We brought them into the world, but they make it a better place because of who they are. My grandkids are beautiful, talented, and loving. I’m extremely proud of each one.

What is your favorite food?

I’m crazy about pasta. And salad. And chocolate. Now there’s a perfect meal.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Wedding Journey
Love Inspired Historical
ISBN: 978-0-373-82911-8

The mysterious inheritance is the answer to a prayer. Now Irish lass Maeve Murphy and her sisters can come to America. She's sure happiness awaits her, even if it won't--can't--come from widowed ship doctor Flynn Gallagher. Yes, he made her his assistant, but she's not foolish enough to fall for the man all the eligible, wealthy female passengers admire.

Flynn Gallagher may have his pick of ladies, but only one cares as he does for the sick and poor. Flynn vowed never to marry another woman who would break his heart. With Maeve, has his heart found safe harbor at last?

And readers can enjoy the prequel Donnelly’s Promise FREE here:

http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/p/free-story-donnellys-promise.html

Sounds like just the kind of book I love to read. Please give us the first page of the book.

June 1850, Castleville, Ireland

Lilting over the roar of the ocean, the haunting notes of a flute raised goose bumps on Maeve's arms. There were no men in the Murphy family to carry the plain wooden box holding the remains of their father on their shoulders, so she and her two older sisters followed behind as the men of the village proceeded from the small stone church up a grassy incline to the cemetery.

The gathering reached the crest. Here the sound of thundering waves far below the cliffs grew to a crescendo, nature's hymn as familiar as the expansive sky and the salty tang of the ocean.

Beside Maeve, her sister Bridget wept into her handkerchief. She'd worn a somber secondhand brown bonnet, fashionable some ten years ago, yet still serviceable. "What's going to become of us without Da?"

Maeve comforted Bridget with an arm around her shoulders. "Shush now, ma milis," she said, calling her sister my sweet in their native Gaelic tongue.

"We'll come up with a plan." The eldest of the three, Nora, always had a plan. The sisters were stair steps in height and age, Nora being tall, Bridget in between and Maeve petite.

Most of the simple graves were marked with stones, others with weathered wooden crosses. Goat's-beard grew in thick patches throughout the grass, the yellow blooms a cheerful contrast to the mood. A hole had been dug in the rich black soil, and Maeve had only to glance about the crowd to note which of the young men's hair was damp from exertion. She spotted two familiar heads of curly red hair. She would thank the Donnelly brothers later.

Reverend Larkin had prayed over members from every household represented at the graveside today. The famine that had taken its toll on their countrymen had spared no family. Hunger, sickness and poverty were all these people knew, but the believers of Castleville clung to their faith. Now the reverend stretched his hand toward the pine box as six farmers dressed in their Sunday clothing lowered it by ropes down into the earth.

"Jack Murphy, your daughters long for one more day spent at your side. When we lose someone we love, it seems that time stands still. What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch."

The ache in Maeve's chest threatened to cut off her breath. Security had been whipped out from beneath her with the death of her father. The pain of never seeing him again, of never hearing his thick brogue, was almost more than she could bear. She worked to hold back the grief and fear bearing down on her--and to steady Bridget, who swayed on her feet.

Their female friends and neighbors wept softly into their handkerchiefs and shawls. The men stared at the ground and worried the brims of their hats as a red-billed chough flew in a lazy circle overhead.

"We may not understand why you left this earth so soon," the reverend continued. "Or why you left before we were ready to say goodbye, but little by little we shall begin to remember not just that you died, but all the days that you lived. We will see you again some day, in a heavenly place where there is no hunger or sickness. No rocks in the fields. Now, Lord, bless the daughters of Jack Murphy. Keep them safe from harm and provide for them by Your bounteous grace and mercy."

Reverend Larkin turned and nodded at Nora. "You first, dear."

Maeve's oldest sister seemed taller than her already admirable height while she kept her back straight and stepped forward.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Visit me on the web: http://www.cherylstjohn.net/
From the Heart: http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherylStJ

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/_CherylStJohn_

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cheryl_stjohn/

The Wedding Journey Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U5qPfCnCeM&feature=g-upl&context=G2d424bdAUAAAAAAAAAA

Thank you for stopping by, Cheryl. I love your cover.

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

The Wedding Journey (Love Inspired Historical) - paperback
The Wedding Journey (Love Inspired Historical) - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. A winner in the US will receive a print book. If the winner is outside the US, the book will be an ebook. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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

TO SEE THE SUN - Peggy Blann Phifer - Free Book

Peggy Blann Phifer is an author and columnist, book reviewer,  and author interviewer, whose work has appeared on various Web sites and writer periodicals both in print and online. She is also an avid reader who loves to escape by diving between the covers of a good book. Peg enjoys handcrafts of all kinds and her home shows off some of her work, though most end up as gifts for friends and family. A retired executive assistant, Peg now makes her home in southern Nevada with husband Jim.

To See the Sun is her debut novel.

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

Not a lot of “me” as much as my experiences. My main female character, Erin, is nothing like me. And, thinking about it, there’s very little of me in any of the other characters, either. Maybe that’s weird, I don’t know. Maybe a little wishful thinking, huh? Like, I wish I WAS more like Erin. Or Magie, or Racine.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Maybe not quirky, more like hare-brained. As a young mother living on Milwaukee’s southeast side, my dad was sick and Mom had to work. My husband had just gone through the same thing, so I knew how miserable Daddy was. I didn’t want to leave him alone. So, I bundled up my two-year-old son and my two-month-old daughter, took a city bus to the stop where I could catch a commuter bus out to New Berlin, where my parents lived. It was early February, as I recall. The crazy thing is that I had to leave the commuter bus and walk over a mile to the house, carrying the baby and holding tight to my son’s hand all the way. I used to walk that mile both ways every day to work before I got married, in high heels, so I didn’t think much about it until I began that long walk that day. Daddy was glad to see me but I got a royal scolding from him, as well as my husband. The children suffered no ill effects and I never once regretted doing what I did. But I never tried it again!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was a little girl I suffered from severe childhood asthma and there was little they could do about it in those days. I was limited to low-to-no strenuous activity, usually kept inside, often in bed. During the school year, if I had an attack, my teachers would send my schoolwork home with my sister, along with a selection of books from the school library. I devoured everything. And soon found myself re-writing some of them. It took most of my life until I was 40 to realize what I should have known back then. I was a writer.

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

Oh, my. It covers a broad area. Everything from the classics to Exodus (one of my all-time favorites.) I read, and still have, all the early James Bond books. I’ve read War and Peace—twice. I even indulged in the bodice-rippers for a few rebellious years. My current “passion” is suspense/thrillers, because that’s what I’m writing. Love James Scott Bell and Brandilyn Collins, Ronie Kendig and Steven James, to name a few. But my writing is not as much “thriller” as it is romantic suspense.

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

Honestly? Not very well. There are days I’d give anything to run outside and scream my head off. Or run away and hide. It seems every time I want to close myself off and do a good, long stint of writing, life happens. Or, more to the point, one husband, one dog, and seven cats. They don’t get it that, like Garbo, I just want to be alone.

Just before Christmas, I saw a Tweet from James Scott Bell with a picture of a door hanging “writer at work” made by his daughter using “ransom note” style, i.e. letters cut from newspapers and magazines. I thought, hey, I can do that. So I made one and have it hanging on my door. I have yet to use it. Something tells me it’s not going to stop the interruptions. But I’m going to give it a try one of those “I wanna scream” days.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I really don’t have a method. Maybe I’ll come across a name in something I’ve read, or heard a name that found its way into my head. Or I’ll see a picture in a magazine or online and a name pops into my head for her or him. That’s how I finally named Erin. In the book’s early form, I named her character Tori, short for Victoria. But it wasn’t working. Every time I wrote her name I cringed. Just didn’t sound right for the character I was building. Then one day I was thumbing through a women’s clothing catalog—Chadwick’s, I think—and this same young woman kept appearing in different garments and poses. She fit my mental picture of my heroine to a T. Unruly, tousled silver/blond hair with an impish grin in a pixie face. One pose shows her in a pensive mood. As soon as I saw that, the name Erin wrote itself above her head. Whimsical? I guess. But once I had the right name, she started talking to me. The same thing happened with all the other characters. My mind “saw” them and their name followed. Maybe I’m just wired wrong.

We’re all wired differently, but none of them are wrong. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Besides just getting my book published? Sticking it out to the end, I guess, despite all the rejections, contest losses with hard critiques, a disastrous one-on-one meeting with an editor at a conference where my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and I couldn’t say a thing. I finally just stuffed my one-sheet in front of her. Humiliating.

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

That should be a given. A cat. I envy the way they stretch. I love their aloofness, their “I can’t be bothered right now” attitude. They don’t need the “Writer at Work” sign.

What is your favorite food?

Mexican.

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

See #5 and #7. LOL Actually my nemesis is time management. It is, and always has been, the most difficult thing for me. I was once told, through a time-management class presented by my employer, that I have a tendency to let the Urgent crowd out the Important. I’ve found that to be true. On the plus side, I’m tenacious. If I want to accomplish something, I will. Sooner or later.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Pregnant and widowed hadn’t been part of her “happily ever after” dream. And now, someone was trying to kill her . . . 

Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother in the same year, anymore than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone calls, and a strange homeless man who seems to know all about her. The thought of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.

When P.I. Clay Buchanan, stumbles upon Erin at her husband's gravesite, he’s totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous reaction at seeing him, however, was predictable. But Clay can’t let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not when he has evidence that proves Erin’s life is in danger.

With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay’s help . . . and it just might be her undoing.

Sounds like the kind of romantic suspense story I like to read. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One:

Friday, March 26, late afternoon

What a fantastic day. A bid won. A contract signed. The job of a lifetime that would put Stuart and Macintyre at the top of the construction heap, not just in Las Vegas, but all of southern Nevada.

Whistling, Justin Macintyre pressed the keyless remote of his Cadillac Escalade, tossed his briefcase across the console to the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel.

To top it all off, after seven long years, he and his wife, Erin, were going to have a baby. A baby! He laughed aloud at the overwhelming joy of it.

"Hey, world, I'm going to be a daddy!"

He shifted the SUV into gear and pulled out of the Mt. Charleston Lodge area onto Kyle Canyon Road and headed down the mountain to the Las Vegas Valley below. Despite the successful day, Justin couldn't banish his worry over a recent discovery of some irregularities in the company's finances. Nothing concrete, and his Uncle Sebastian, S and M's CFO, assured him everything was fine. Nevertheless, Justin's uneasiness had prompted him to send what little proof he had to his long-time friend, Clay Buchanan, a private investigator in Texas.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, he vaguely registered the yellow and black blind curve warning sign. Too late he saw the stalled car across the center line. No time to stop! He spun the wheel to the right.

I'm going too fast! God, help me . . .!

###

Seconds passed and silence settled once more over the mountainside. A shadow emerged from behind a Joshua tree and stepped to the edge of the ravine. After a moment, the form walked to the car in the road and drove away.

###

Erin Macintyre stretched her arms along the balcony's balustrade of her twenty-seventh-floor condo above the streets of Las Vegas. Beyond that, the lower edge of the setting sun kissed the still snowy peaks of the Spring Mountain Range and Mt. Charleston.

Justin would be home soon.

"Erin, where's the zester?"

Erin returned to the kitchen. "In the utility drawer."

"Which is the utility drawer?" Magie Gifford, Erin's dearest friend, pulled out drawer after drawer.

Erin giggled and reached across Magie's arm and slid out the utility drawer.

"You changed it." Magie snatched the zester and bumped the drawer shut with her hip. "That's not where it was last time."

Erin wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged. "No, Mags, I didn't change anything." She waited a beat. "Can I interest you in a memory enhancement program?"

"Very funny." Magie pushed Erin aside and proceeded to rub a lemon across the gadget and then whisked the zest into a frothy mixture of olive oil, Italian herbs, and balsamic vinegar. "Okay, just drizzle this over the salad and stick it in the fridge."

That done, Erin checked on the lasagna in the oven. The garlic toast waited on the foil-lined cookie sheet ready to pop under the broiler. Everything was ready.

Erin glanced at the kitchen clock. "He's late."

"Posh. You should know by now how those meetings can drag on."

"Yeah, I know. It's just—"

"Get over here, Erin. He'll be here when he gets here."

Erin joined her friend in the breakfast nook off the kitchen and adjacent to the balcony. She scooped up a dozing Siamese cat from her chair and sat, settling him back on her lap.

"You spoil that critter." Magie brushed off the chair cushion before sitting.

"Yeah, I do. But you love him, too. I saw you sneaking him some treats earlier." Erin smiled. "Not to mention the romp you had with him in the living room when you got here."

"Busted. But he's so much fun, aren't you, Kazimir?"

At the sound of his name, the cat uncoiled, left Erin's lap and jumped onto Magie's. She snorted. "So much for protecting my black slacks."

"Thanks for coming over to help with this meal. I wanted it to be special and I never know when the nausea will hit." She raised an eyebrow. "But you will leave as soon as Justin gets here."

"You think he'll get that bid?"

Erin tapped her heart and nodded. "I know he will."

The first five descending notes of Welcome to My World sang out in the condo's foyer. Justin! No, he wouldn't ring the doorbell. Puzzled, she stepped across the tiled floor and rose on tiptoes to peer through the peephole. She gasped and jumped back.

The doorbell chimed again.

Fingers trembling, Erin released the security lock and opened the door to two uniformed police officers.

"Mrs. Macintyre?"

Erin nodded as Magie moved to her side.

"What is it, officers?"

"I'm afraid there's been an accident, Mrs. Macintyre. Your husband . . ."

Yep. You’ve got me hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://peggyblannphifer.com

Blog: http://www.whispersinpurple.com

Twitter: twitter/com/pegphifer

Facebook: facebook.com/pegphifer

Thanks, Peg, for dropping by today.

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

To See the Sun: Desert Faith Series Book One - paperback
To See the Sun (Desert Faith Series) - Kindle

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

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

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

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