COWGIRL TRAIL - Susan Page Davis - Free Book

Welcome back, Susan. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of stories that I enjoy reading.

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

Probably my wedding day, when Jim and I started our life together. We’ve been blessed with 36 years so far.

How has being published changed your life?

I used to work part time from home for a newspaper. Now I work full time at home writing fiction. Being published has opened a lot of doors for me, but it has also limited my other activities. For instance, I don’t spend as much time with my grown children and my grandchildren as I would like. Most of them live a ways away, and it’s sometimes hard to get together.

What are you reading right now?

Mostly research books at the moment, but recently Sixteen Brides, by Stephanie Whitson, and The Long Trail Home, by Vickie McDonough.

I’ve read both of those and loved them. What is your current work in progress?

I just handed in my manuscript of a book in the Miracles of Marble Cove series (from Guideposts), and I’m gearing up to write another Texas book and a new mystery.

What would be your dream vacation?

Tahiti, maybe. My older son is headed to Yap this week, on a mission trip. I didn’t know where it was and had to look it up. (It’s in Micronesia, “sort of near” the Philippines.) Sounds good to me—I’ve never been to the tropics.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Sometimes they are chosen for me, but if not, I usually start with a story line and locate where it works best. Lately I’ve written books set in Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, Arizona, and Oregon.

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

My daughter Megan, and her husband, who live in England. Megan is co-author with me of a mystery series. She’s been over to the States twice since they married in 2008, but we haven’t been able to get over there yet, and I’d love the chance.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I enjoy needlework and logic puzzles. I used to do a lot of walk and horseback riding, but not so much anymore.

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

Carving out time to create new proposals has been a problem lately. I need to be planning next year’s books now.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read a lot, across genres. Write every day. And put some time in working on the writing craft—you never stop learning and growing in this field.

Tell us about the featured book.

I love this story, which is fifth in the Texas Trails series. These books are loosely connected through the Morgan family, but you don’t have to read them all in order. You can pick up any one of them and enjoy the story. Each of us three authors (Darlene Franklin, Vickie McDonough and me) focuses on a different branch of the family, so you won’t “miss something” if you skip around. Here’s a summary of Cowgirl Trail:

In 1884, Maggie Porter returns to the Rocking P Ranch. The sanatorium was not able to save her mother and now her father’s health is failing. When the cowboys walk off the job leaving no one to drive the cattle to market, ranch foreman Alex Bright cannot convince the men to stay. Maggie is desperate to save the ranch, and she turns to the town’s women for help. The new cowgirls must herd, rope, and drive the cattle to market. Unfortunately, some of the strikers resent their actions and want to liven up things on the cattle drive. Maggie can’t believe Alex, whom she always admired, would cause trouble for her family. Can she forgive him and accept his offer of help when trouble comes?

Please give us the first page of the book.

“The princess wants to ride this morning. Saddle up her horse.” Jack Hubble, the ranch foreman, clapped Alex on the shoulder and walked past him into the barn.

            Alex shot a glance toward the house, but the boss’s daughter hadn’t come out yet. “Uh. . .which horse?”

            “Duchess, of course. Come on, I’ll show you her gear.” Jack strode into the tack room, and Alex hurried after him.

            “That’s the chestnut mare out back?”

            “That’s right. Here’s Miss Maggie’s saddle.” Jack laid a hand on the horn of a fancy stock saddle with tooled flowers and scrollwork on the skirts.

            “She doesn’t ride sidesaddle?”

            “Nah. Maggie’s been riding like a boy since she was a little kid. Her father lets her get away with it, so don’t say anything.”

            Alex nodded. His own sisters rode astride around the home place, and no one thought a thing about it. Why should he expect the boss’s thirteen-year-old daughter to behave differently? But he had. Maggie Porter was a pretty girl, blond and blue-eyed. She’d looked like a china doll on Sunday morning, wearing a pink dress with gloves and a white straw bonnet when the family set out for church in the buckboard.

            “Here’s Duchess’s bridle.” Jack placed it in his hand.

            “Just saddle the mare and take it out to her?” Alex asked.

            “Get your horse ready, too.”

            Alex stared at him. “Me? You mean I’m going with her?” He’d been hired at the Rocking P less than two weeks earlier. Now wasn’t the time to argue with his foreman, but it seemed a little strange.

            Jack laughed. “You’re low man around here. Oh, the fellas don’t mind, but it gets kind of boring. It’s an easy morning for you. And Maggie’s a good kid. Let her go wherever she wants on Rocking P land, but make sure she doesn’t do anything dangerous. Where’s your gun?”

            “In the bunkhouse.”

            “You’ll want it today, just in case.”

            “In case of what?” Alex’s first thought was Comanche, but the tribes were now confined to reservations—his parents had followed the saga of the Numinu with special interest.

            “You never know, do you?” Jack said. “Snakes, wild hogs, drifters.”

            “All right. How long does she ride?”

            “As long as she wants, but get her home by noon. Her mother gets fretful if she’s late for dinner.” Jack looked him up and down. “Oh, there’s one other thing.”

            “What’s that?”

            “Maggie’s young, but she’s starting to notice you boys. Don’t do anything to give her ideas.”

I love it. Can’t wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Come visit me at my website: www.susanpagedavis.com . I also have a FaceBook page that my daughter Amy and my husband maintain for me.

Lena, thanks for inviting me over!


It's always a pleasure to have you, Susan.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Cowgirl Trail (The Texas Trail Series) - paperback
Cowgirl Trail (The Texas Trail 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

A BRIDE'S DILEMMA IN FRIENDSHIP, TENNESSEE - Diana Lesire Brandmeyer - Free Book

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

I’m not really sure, but I can say that I tend to pick (unconsciously) some part of my personality that is either needing to be fixed or I’m a bit strong on. For Heaven it was the need to trust in our God instead of herself.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

This is the hardest question for me! I’m predictable and cautious so doing something out of the ordinary seems to have been blocked from my memory. It might have been knocking on doors and asking people if they know Jesus when I was in high school.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Fourth grade when my teacher picked my Thanksgiving Day prayer to read as the best one. She was a tough teacher and having her give me that small honor was enough to give me courage to write more.

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

I’m all over the place, historical, mysteries, women’s fiction and odd things I find at booksales. I’m reading one now written by a woman who grew up in Soulard, a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s fascinating because it is close to where my mother grew up and in the same time period.

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

I don’t get out of bed. J  Actually this year I started reading my Bible on a read the Bible in a year plan. It’s help so much. I’ve also found peace in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

I love that devotional book. How do you choose your characters’ names?

That should be easy shouldn’t it? Find a phone book or a baby book and pick one. I find it hard. Sometimes it takes me a few chapters to settle on a name that I fell fits my character’s personality.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising three boys into amazing men.

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

A goat hands down. They can eat whatever they want!

What is your favorite food?

Cotton Candy. That’s a food right?

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

I have trouble staying on task when I start. It’s as if I’m afraid I’ll mess up. So I spend a lot of time looking at my computer, write a sentence, put in a load of laundry, go back to the computer—this continues until I get to some chore I hate, like cleaning the bathroom.  Suddenly I’m ready to write.

Tell us about the featured book.

Heaven’s Stolen His Heart

After witnessing the ravages of the Civil War, Travis Logan vowed to give up doctoring. But when fellow steamboat passenger Caleb Wharton collapses at his feet, Travis knows he must lend his aid. As the old man lies dying, he makes Travis promise to take care of his land and find Heaven. Travis can’t help but wonder what Heaven has to do with a real place, so he heads to Caleb’s farm to fulfill his promise.

Weeks of facing marauders and caring for her father’s home have finally taken their toll on Heaven Wharton. When an unknown young man charges the house, Heaven attempts to fire a warning shot but ends up shooting the man instead. Shocked, she and her sister, Angel, drag a semi-conscious Travis into the house and nurse him back to health.

As Travis and Heaven both struggle to control their destinies, will they learn that only a heart that follows God can ever find peace on earth?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Travis Logan leaned over the deck railing and watched the river swirl and froth as the steamboat shoved its way through the muddy Mississippi. An older gentleman stood next to him. Travis hadn’t seen him on board before. “Nice out here on the water.”

“Better than down below.” The man swayed.

“Are you feeling okay, sir?” Travis reached over and steadied him while he grasped the railing.

“Must be the motion. It’s the first trip I’ve taken on a big ship.” The man’s knuckles were white.

The man did look a bit green. Some people couldn’t handle the rhythm of the ship. “The fresh air should help.” Travis relaxed. Other than suggesting a piece of ginger to settle the man’s stomach, there was little he could do for seasickness as a doctor. And he’d left that life behind. Now a horse claimed his thoughts and his future. He walked a few paces away and then stopped.

He should offer the man some assistance, maybe collect a family member? He turned back to ask, “Can I get someone for you?”

The man released the rail and dropped to the steamboat deck with a thud.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: www.dianabrandmeyer.com

My blog: www.pencildancer.com

Twitter: @DianaBrandmeyer

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/DianaLesireBrandmeyerAuthor


Thank you, Diana, for the interesting interview. I've read this book and loved it.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee - paperback
A Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee - 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 HOMESTEADER'S SWEETHEART - Lacy Williams - Free Book

Welcome, Lacy. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I love romance. I love the idea and execution of creating characters and watching them fall in love regardless of the impossible obstacles I put in their way. I love watching them become better because they are part of a matched pair. And I LOVE writing the ending of the story and giving them their happily ever afters.

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

It is probably a toss up between the day I married my husband and the days my children were born. Right now I’m at a time in my life where my children bring so much joy, every day. The Little Prince (7 months) said “ma ma” for the first time earlier this week and my heart just expanded! And the Little Princess (2 years) is growing and she is such a little encourager! She will tell you “good job” or that you are beautiful (even when I’m in my mommy uniform of gym shorts and a t-shirt). They bring me such joy!

How has being published changed your life?

I’m a lot busier and I have to schedule my writing time carefully. Because my kids are small and I don’t want to miss any of the moments of them growing up (way too fast!), I try to spend most of their waking hours just focusing on them. That means my writing time is limited to naptimes (IF I can get them down at the same time!) and after bedtime. Which means when I sit down at the computer I have to GO: write quickly and know where the plot of the story is going. But I love being a mommy and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What are you reading right now?

On my Kindle right now: Mission: Out of Control by Susan May Warren (reading it a second time!), Out of Control by Mary Connealy, and too much more to name. :)

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a proposal featuring one of the sons of the hero in THE HOMESTEADER’S SWEETHEART. Oscar is a horseman who can tame any horse, but he can’t woo the schoolmarm without making a fool of himself.

What would be your dream vacation?

I would really love to travel to Australia. I’ve got some stories in mind for Aussie cowboys and I’d love to visit and see the country (it is so unique!), and also do all the touristy things like the beach and snorkeling, etc.

I’d love to go to Australia, too. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I have always loved reading westerns and so it was natural for me to set my stories in Wyoming. For my first book, I chose the area and town according to the needs of the story (needed mountains, ranch, canyons, and a small town). Then once I got to know the characters in that book, some of them needed to tell their own stories and so it worked for me to continue setting the stories there.

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

My husband is a huge NBA basketball fan, and he’s got me hooked on our local team, the OKC Thunder. I am a huge Kevin Durant fan and would love to meet him someday. I know you can’t tell a lot from what you see just on TV, but he seems to have a good head on his shoulders. He kisses his mama after the games—how can you not like a guy like that??

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love my dogs. We have three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I’ve really enjoying doing obedience training with them. I like walking them and being outdoors. One of them is a trained Therapy Dog and we do visits, especially with the local library in a Kids Reading to Dogs program that is a lot of fun. With two little kids, that’s about all I have time for. :)

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

Not getting distracted by other stories/characters. I seem to get a lot of inspiration and there’s just never enough time to put all the stories to paper. I’ve got bulging files of story ideas and I’ve found that the best thing for me is to write down as much of the idea as I can and save it, and keep writing on my WIP (or I’ll never finish it!).

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Find a mentor. Ask someone to have coffee with you to talk about your writing. Don’t be annoying, but make connections online until you find someone who is further on in their career than you are and is willing to give you advice and guidance.

Tell us about the featured book.

The HOMESTEADER’S SWEETHEART is a fun story about a wealthy banker’s daughter (Penny) who needs to get out of town. She goes to her grandfather’s small homestead and meets his neighbor (Jonas), who has eight kids. She quickly finds herself falling for Jonas and his family but questions whether she could be happy in such reduced circumstances since she has been pretty pampered her whole life.

Just the kind of book I like to read. Please give us the first page of the book.

Wyoming Territory, summer 1890

Hadn't he promised himself not to get into a situation like this again?

Jonas White stood on the dusty street in his Sunday suit, letter clutched in his hand, gazing up at the fine house. It seemed too much of a coincidence that his neighbor and closest friend--although they were two generations apart in age--was related to a wealthy banker when Jonas desperately needed a loan. And the letter Jonas had promised to deliver for his friend would grant him access to the banker he'd been trying to see all day.

But Jonas had stopped questioning the Lord's hand in things once he'd met his neighbors, the Nelsons, just over five years ago.

Staring at the light spilling from the glass-paned windows onto the large, well-kept yard reminded Jonas of another place and time, and how as a child he'd often looked in on some of Philadelphia's wealthy families. Like those stately town houses, this house was ostentatious. Two-story and much larger than the other homes on the street. Or in the whole town of Calvin, Wyoming, for that matter.

Jonas resolutely pushed the painful memories to the back of his mind. His daughter needed him to do this, and he couldn't fail her.

I know I will love it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Right now I’m doing a special promotion for this book and to celebrate my birthday in May. Readers can find info on that at www.megamaybirthdaybash.com.

I can also be found at www.lacywilliams.net, facebook.com/lacywilliamsbooks and twitter @lacy_williams

Thank you, Lacy, for sharing with us today.

Readers, I’m participating in Lacy’s Birthday Bash. Come by and see what all you can win.


Here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Homesteader's Sweetheart (Love Inspired Historical) - paperback
The Homesteader's Sweetheart (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

BEYOND HOPE'S VALLEY - Tricia Goyer - Free Book + More

Win a Custom Amish Prize Pack from @TriciaGoyer in her Beyond Hope's Valley Giveaway! RSVP for All Things Amish Party {5/21}! Celebrate with Tricia and enter to win a custom-made Amish Wall hanging in the colors of your choice ... and much more!

One fortunate winner will receive: 

•  Custom Amish Wall Hanging {You choose the colors!} 
• An Amish Doll {Sweet.} 
• Amish-made basket {It’s picnic season!} 
• Doilies, potholder and an Amish cookbook {All items form Bird-in-Hand, PA!} 
• Three book Big Sky Amish series {Be swept away by this captivating series.} 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 20th. Winner will be announced at "All Things Amish" Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/21. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and more! 

So grab your copy of Beyond Hope's Valley and join Tricia on the evening of the May 21st for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Amish?) and lots of giveaways. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

 

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 21st!

Readers, in addition to this, one of you who leave a comment on this blog will 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 Baroness by Susan May Warren.
Diana Gardner (VA) is the winner of The Soul Saver by Dineen Miller.
Anna W (GA)  is the winner of the book bag from Sharon Hinck. 
Krista (OR) is the winner of Homefront Hero by Allie Pleiter.
Jo (AZ) is the winner of The Marshal's Promise by Rhonda Gibson.
Marianne (Canada) is the winner of Shattered Identity by K Dawn Byrd. 

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.

Lacy Williams's Birthday Bash - Free Gifts

Author Lacy Williams is celebrating her birthday and the release of a new book this month, and she is giving away birthday gifts to readers, including free ebooks, bonus scenes, extended excerpts and free books from some of your favorite authors! And I'm giving away a copy of my May release Mary's Blessing at her party.

Participating authors include:
Regina Jennings
Camy Tang
Jordyn Redwood
Angela Breidenbach
Margaret Daley
Lena Nelson Dooley
Myra Johnson
MaryLu Tyndall
Vickie McDonough

Visit www.megamaybirthdaybash.com for details and to get your gifts now!

MY STUBBORN HEART - Becky Wade - Free Book

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

Quite a bit! They may not look like me (especially the heroes) but they have the same wry viewpoint that I do and they have my heart... my joys, worries, loves, insecurities.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I lived in the Caribbean for three years. Just a few months after we were married, my husband agreed to work as the tennis pro at Cap Juluca Resort on the island of Anguilla. Anguilla is tiny! Just 35 square miles. We lived in a little house on a hill overlooking turquoise water and the neighboring island of St. Martin. No dishwasher. No washing machine. And maybe hardest for us Texans to believe - no air conditioning. But it turned out to be an idyllic time in our lives. We enjoyed the slow pace, the lack of stress, the natural beauty of the place, the people. We still go back for one week of every year to help with a tennis camp for the local kids.

This is us, back when we were young and perky, on the beach just a short walk down the road from our Anguillan home.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

While living on Anguilla. I wasn't allowed to hold a job there, because they were so protective of the jobs for their local people. So I volunteered, took up tennis and cross-stitching, watched “Days of our Lives.” On one fateful day, I set aside a romance novel and thought, I think I could do this better. Back then, of course, I didn't know how much I didn't know. I had NO inkling of how incredibly difficult it would be to write a novel and even more - to write a saleable novel. I didn't have a clue, but I did have a computer, an imagination, and time. So I simply sat down and began. I wrote an extremely long historical romance for the ABA set in Norway. (I can hear you all snickering.) Not surprisingly, no agent wanted to represent the book and no publisher wanted to buy it. But I loved it. And it was my great love for the work that led me to the realization that I was a writer. It took the publishing industry, of course, far, far longer to agree.

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

Romance novels are my absolute favorite kind of book and have been ever since I discovered them as a teenager. I really adore the old 1980's historical romances. Remember them, ladies? They were long, rambling, flowery, dramatic. To this very day, when I'm in the mood for one my longsuffering library will track it down and have it transferred in. I try to read the women's fiction books that all my friends talk about like The Help and Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Society. I enjoy a mystery now and then. And I like paranormal fiction about such things as vampires and people who can shape shift into dragons.

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

What sanity? In addition to my work as a writer, I'm the mother of an 11, 8, and 3 year old. So between trying (and failing) to keep on top of my housekeeping, driving my kids from place to place, cooking (not my fave), writing (my fave), chasing/hoisting/wrestling my toddler all day long, and doing homework with my big kids at night, I hold onto my sanity by a very thin and frayed thread. Ironically, I'm someone who recharges via solitude and quiet. Ha! Bubble baths after the kids go to sleep help me greatly. As do TV time and movies with my husband. Playing tennis twice a week. Gym workouts (only possible for me because of the onsite childcare). Occasional pedicures. Reading.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Back when I first started writing I christened my characters with elaborate names like Natalia, Rennick, and Cassiopeia. (Yep, that's right, Cassiopeia.) Later I comprehended that these names were difficult for my reader to relate to, and also unwieldy to the eye. Nowadays, it's important to me that my character's names suit the person's personality, age, place of birth, and upbringing. I give her characters names we're all familiar and comfortable with. Typically the first names of my hero and heroine jump into my head when I'm just beginning to imagine the character. Last names and names of minor characters take more effort. I use the Social Security Administration website to investigate which names were popular in my character's birth year. I also flip through directories (for my neighborhood, my kid's school, church, etc.) to get ideas for last names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Mothering my three kids. It's been the hardest and the best thing I've ever done.

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

I'd be my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Sam. Sam rides along on carpool, snuggles with my kids, sits in my writing chair, attends kid's sporting events, goes for walks in my neighborhood, plays in the backyard. In fact, Sam does many of the things I do - except without any of the worries or responsibilities and with a LOT more naps.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate. I'm a shocking chocoholic. It's terrible! My sweet tooth demands dessert after both lunch and dinner. And, okay, sometimes first thing in the morning, too. At the moment, I'm loving Lindt dark chocolate bars with sea salt. But my all time, most adored chocolate is See's.

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

After publishing three historical romance novels for the ABA (in '99, '00, '01) I had my first baby and, at nearly the same time, submitted a proposal for a new book to my publisher. My ABA publisher decided not to offer me a new contract. I was crushed. I heard my publisher's decision as a "no" from God to the secular novels I'd been writing. Also, I felt Him calling me in that season to concentrate fully on raising my baby. I didn't write a word for seven years. And in fact, I grew fairly certain that I'd never write novels again. But God, in His way, in His time, rekindled within me a desire to write, this time for Him and His glory. As we all know, He can redeem anything, even the broken-down and abandoned careers of authors. I rolled up my sleeves and started writing My Stubborn Heart for the CBA. I kept telling God that I'd fail unless He was in it. And He kept telling me that he was in it and that my job was to write it and then He'd handle the rest. To my awe, He did just that.

Tell us about the featured book.

My Stubborn Heart is the emotional, humorous, and contemporary love story of Kate (a determined Christian single girl) and Matt (a gorgeous, ex-pro hockey player with a broken heart). Both Kate and Matt are committed to renovate the same old house. But when Kate meet Matt, she realizes that the guy needs a lot more help than the house, and sets her sights on bringing him out of the darkness and back into the light.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

            There once was a girl who'd been praying for a husband since the fourth grade. Over the years she'd prayed for his health, his happiness, his protection, and -- okay -- sometimes for his good looks. She'd prayed that she would meet him when she was meant to.

           

            Except that she hadn't.

            She'd been avidly expecting and watching for him all this time, from the fourth grade straight up to the age of thirty-one. And though she tried hard to be positive, the truth was that she'd grown tired of waiting. Tired of dating. Tired of breaking off just two bananas from the bunch at the grocery store. Tired of the singles group at church. Tired of living alone.

            Worse, she was beginning to doubt that her nameless, faceless husband existed at all. Maybe, late at night in her kid bed, her college bed, her adult single woman bed, she'd been praying for someone who wasn't coming. Ever.

            Perhaps her husband had run in front of a bus as a child. What did God do in that situation? Swap in an understudy? Or maybe she'd missed her husband during the bustle of her college years, never knowing that the shy guy from physics class was the one. Or perhaps, right from the start, God had never intended for her to marry.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website (which I almost drove myself crazy creating and launching myself) is at: www.beckywade.com I post a few times a week via facebook (search for Becky Wade Author) and I check in at Goodreads often. I'd love to connect with readers through any of those vehicles!


Thank you, Becky, for this peek into your life and book.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
My Stubborn Heart - paperback
My Stubborn Heart - 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

WHEN SHADOWS FALL - Tina Pinson - Free Book

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

I have been known to write a bit of myself. My book Touched by Mercy deals with some thing that happened in my past. When the female character is a klutz that's usually because of me. But I have four sisters and three sons and of course my hubby to draw from too.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Can't really think of anything quirky. But I did fall in an open manhole once, because if waving at a friend across the street.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I started writing in elementary school. I tell people it was good that I started writing because I had quite the imagination and got in trouble for lying a lot. Writing fiction let me use my imagination without getting in trouble.

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

I like reading a lot styles. I just finished the Hunger Games and Sequels. And a book called Divergent. Both deal with Dystopian Societies. I found them interesting, but I have read several historical and mystery and sci-fi and more. As long as the story holds my interest, I'll read.

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

Who said I kept it? LOL. Last year, in the midst of losing our business and being forced to move, along with my mother being sick and a family member having marital problems, I was certain I would go insane and never recover. But the Lord carried me through. Even when it didn't feel like it. I pray and seek God, that keeps me somewhat sane.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I choose from their meanings, from names I've heard, and sometimes from the obituaries.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Beyond being married 32+ years, raising three wonderful sons and having 5 g-kids, I would say finishing my first novel. It took me a while to get back to it after I first started it.

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

I wanted to say a horse, or an eagle majestic, free, but I would have to say a dog. Loyal, friendly, committed.

What is your favorite food?

I love cheesecake, add lemon and it's perfect.

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

Probably discouragement, getting irritated because I thought I'd never be a good enough writer for anyone. I suppose I got over it when I remembered that I'm not meant to be please everyone. I'm meant to write for the Lord.

Tell us about the featured book.

When Shadows Fall … the Shadow Series is what I lovingly call my OreGone with the Wind Series. It follows Rebekah St. James through the horrors and loss of war, and follows her as she travels on the Oregon Trail looking for New Eden. Hoping for a new life.

Please give us the first page of the book.

July 22, 1862

Washington, D.C.

Stay open. Rebekah held her eyes wide, but after a ten-day wagon trip with her friends, Harland and Martha Graves, with little rest, her mind couldn't keep them propped -- even amidst the commotion. She hoped the White House staff would call her before they found her strung out between two chairs.

A child darted past, brushing Rebekah's skirt, catching her attention. Her head lifted on a rubbery neck as her gaze trailed the boy around the room in a dizzying manner. He trotted around, weaving through the chairs and ducked beneath one.

It seemed everyone wanted to see the president. How many of the women had come for the same reason as she? She eyed the door and thought about leaving so as not to burden him. Where else could she go?

Stifling a yawn, she got up to walk. Straightening her gray skirt and her bonnet, she went to look out the window.

Paved streets and traffic-laden thoroughfares -- how different from home. She envisioned the Washington she knew as a child, remembering little. The landmarks were hazy. New buildings filled the skyline, and so many people lined the walks. Had there been so many when she was young?

They all seemed to be at the White House today -- in the East Room, waiting for an audience with the president.

She removed her bonnet and fanned herself. Were summers here always so hot? Her clothes soaked up the heat and held it. Only an idiot wore wool in the dead of summer. Idiot. Leaning against the wall, she studied the scenery outside, the opulence inside. Despite her best effort, her eyelids grew heavy.

She went in search of a chair.

“Miss. Miss.” The sound buzzed in her head, followed by a firm shake. She came to, blinking to focus and found the steward over her. He straightened. “It's time.”

She gave her grainy eyes a thorough rub.

“The president will see you.”

She covered another yawn, licked her teeth and lips, ran her knuckles along her eyes, and took the steward's hand. He pulled her from the chair. Snatching her bonnet, she pressed it on her head, fighting to get it over her loose, rebellious chignon. Forfeiting, she flopped the bonnet on the chair and concentrated on her hair. Once satisfied with the way it lay, she bent to retrieve her bag. A shock of blond curls escaped, tumbled into her face. She battled to right it in a dignified manner and realized she had an audience. At the far end of the room, a man with a full beard and hat low on his head, watched with interest.

She matched his stare. A broad grin lit his face. Their eyes locked. He looked almost familiar. Too familiar. But he couldn't be. And she didn't have time to find out why. After a couple of faltering steps, craning her head to study him, she followed the steward.

How can readers find you on the internet? 

My website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/

Twitter:@Tina_Pinson

Facebook-- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103

Purchase my books at:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.

Touched By Mercy - http://tiny.cc/0rgkm

In the Manor of the Ghost - http://tiny.cc/we4ul

When Shadow Fall - http://tinyurl.com/d93p77a

Amazon:

Touched By Mercy - http://tiny.cc/k5tgw

In the Manor of the Ghost - http://tiny.cc/doc8w

Barnes & Noble

Touched By Mercy - http://tinyurl.com/7ztzjno

In the Manor of the Ghost - http://tiny.cc/oh767

Christian Books Distributors

Touched By Mercy – http://tinyurl.com/72p4pml

In the Manor of the Ghost - http://tiny.cc/4u5h9



Readers, 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 LOOM - Shella Gillus - Free Book

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

I can find myself in all of my characters. Obviously, some more than others. There’s not a character I don’t like for that reason.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hmm…quirky? Let me think about that and get back to you J

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I discovered I was a writer when I refused to conform and draw pictures like my third grade classmates and opted to pen my first mystery chapter book instead. I wrote my first play in the sixth grade. The fever of the thing pulsed through me early on and I fell in love with the power to create.

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

From the historical writings of the Bible to urban culture, I enjoy books of many different genres. I have found the type of book is much less important than the writer’s style. A skilled writer can pull me in and take me anywhere.

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

I think of others. This consideration, a “getting out of my own self” usually results in prayer. Prayer centers me. It grounds me in the midst of chaos. Also reading has the ability to take me out of my present “busyness.”

How do you choose your characters’ names?

In The Loom, the majority of my character’s names were chosen because of their biblical meaning and/or reference to the man or woman in the Word with the same name.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

The half marathon I ran last December. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done because I’m not a runner but mostly because I have had 4 knee surgeries, two of them reconstructive. Nothing is impossible…

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

If I were an animal I would be a bird.  A bird is a petite yet powerful creature. Also, I love the idea of soaring. It’s a feeling I want to experience in every area of my life.

What is your favorite food?

I love Mexican food. I grew up in Arizona and along with Soul Food, it was mostly what my mother made.

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

Writer’s block, that frustrating time when the brain freezes and the creative thoughts stop flowing and you have nothing. I think the key is to keep writing even if you think it’s garbage. Most of the time you’re right, it is, but I found that if I keep writing, I can get back to that place where everything feels like magic again.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Loom is a suspenseful love story about a light-complexioned house slave who is torn between the love she has and the life she doesn’t.

Please give us the first page of the book.

PROLOGUE

Every push for life pulled her closer to death.

With tears, Lydia pressed her way forward through the black night, through the maze of oak and hickory, through the path of pines, over stubble, patches of worn blue grass, fallen twigs, moss. The beauty of the things that bred around her, these natural wonders she had first come to recognize as a child, now as familiar as her own scent, she could not see. Through the wiry thicket, she ran, her breath catching in her chest until it rose to her lips in a desperate pant.

With every step toward freedom, Lydia was bound. She knew it, even now, in the midst of her flight, she knew there would be no unleashing from all she left behind. Every mumbled rainbow wish, every broken branch she rose, stretched out over the creek she demanded to part, every Black-eyed Susan she plucked and bunched into a bouquet for a brown boy she longed to marry, for every dried, white crusted tear she’d rubbed clean from her eyes in the cold water of the river, shivering when she discovered not one dream of them would come true. Every crinkled brown sack hand she’d clung to, squeezed, soothed, Daddy’s right-cocked smile, Grandma Lou’s feathery touch, all would remain, reside in her until they smothered her to death.

Lydia swatted past oak limbs and evergreen branches, scratching her arms against them and the coarse wool of her cloak. Push! She pushed against the cool April air whistling in her ears until it chilled her, caused her to dip lower into the hood that slipped from her head when she whipped around every few feet. Sweat slipped down the nape of her neck, slithered down the bumpy road of her spine. Hot in this cold. She pushed for life.

Bondage could not hold her.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at www.shellagillus.com. Thanks!

And thank you, Shella, for sharing your book with us.

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

The Loom - paperback
The Loom - 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

GYPSY'S GAME - Delia Latham - Free Book

Welcome back, Delia. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

Angels show up in my books quite often…more a God-thing than because I planned it. Trust also comes into play pretty often, as does forgiveness… accepting God's, and extending it to oneself. Sometimes forgiving ourselves for past mistakes is harder than extending pardon to others.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Gypsy's Game is the third and last book in my Solomon's Gate Series. I'm very excited about this one—it's been a long wait. J

I have a novella coming out in a Valentine anthology for next year, and a novelette that will be a Christmas follow-up to that collection.

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

Hmmm…that's a difficult question. I've never been a star chaser, never one to follow the tabloids or willing to spend hours and hours in line somewhere just to catch a glimpse of another human being, I don't care how famous they are. That said, there are obviously a lot of interesting people in this world. But since I should probably name someone most readers will recognize, I think I'd really like to meet Dolly Parton. LOL  I love her enthusiasm, her positivity, her personality—and the fact that she started out with nothing, and through pure hard work and determination, made an amazing life for herself—and she's kept that down-home flavor that makes it impossible not to love her. I'd like to ask her how she maintains that beautiful positivity, even when you know she's gone through some tough times. She's very much an inspiration.

I agree with you. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Mary, the mother of Jesus. What a special woman she must have been, for God to choose her as the mother of His only Son! I'd like to ask her what Jesus was like as a little boy. Was he funny? Did he laugh and joke and play pranks like all the other little boys, or was he like a serious, far-too-intelligent adult in a child's body? I like to think he was more the former than the latter, don't you?

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

My favorite quote, which I first heard from Og Mandino, although I'm not at all sure where it actually originated, is this: Never, never, never, never, never, never, NEVER give up! That's what I say to anyone who's striving for success and running into obstacles at every turn. Giving up absolutely guarantees failure. Your first acceptance letter could come tomorrow…but not if you stop submitting those manuscripts.

Tell us about the featured book.

As I mentioned, Gypsy's Game is Book 3 in the Solomon's Gate Series. It was the most difficult of the three to write, and I think that's probably because I wasn't ready to say good-bye to the Gate!

Here's a blurb:

Gypsy Lovell stands to inherit an enormous amount of money from a father who never gave her anything except a ridiculous name. Even now, he doesn’t make it easy. A stipulation in the man’s will demands that Gypsy be married in order to claim what is hers.

Desperate for the monetary windfall that could save her mother’s life, Gypsy visits a Christian dating agency, hoping to find a temporary husband—someone easy to handle for the required six months, and easy to get rid of when she no longer needs him.

What she doesn’t know is that Solomon’s Gate is a dating agency with a divine connection. What she finds there may save more than her mother’s life…it could very well change Gypsy’s heart and soul.

Please give us the first page of the book.

 …I will seek him whom my soul loveth.—Song of Solomon 3:2

Gypsy Lovell eyed the framed print hanging across the room. Daintily drawn letters spelled out what she assumed was part of a scripture. No scholar of holy things, she had still managed to absorb a few basic Bible facts in her twenty-nine-plus years, and after her move to Castle Creek, she’d met more religious people than she’d seen in her entire life.

Besides, it made perfect sense that the quote would be a scripture. She was sitting in the bright, airy visitor’s lounge of Solomon’s Gate, a Christian dating agency that had taken the conservative town by surprise—and by storm—some months ago. Sharing the bold red-and-white striped sofa with her was the agency’s gorgeous, auburn-haired owner, Destiny Gallagher, whose round tummy barely made an impression under her oh-so-chic maternity top.

For the past twenty minutes or so, Destiny had bombarded Gypsy with brochures and flyers and heartwarming testimonials, all touting the success rate of this fledgling business.

Gypsy already knew most of it. She’d done her homework. The fact that Solomon’s Gate was a Christian-based company had been part of what drew her here. Though she had never attended a church service, she’d sought this place precisely because she knew most of the clients were religious. That made marrying a stranger, even temporarily, feel a little safer. Men who wore Christianity out in the open like some kind of badge had to be honest to a fault…or complete wimps. Both of those traits suited her purposes just fine.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I'm not hard to find. Googling my name will bring up a variety of blog posts and guest spots. But these are my "homes" on the Web:

Website

Living the Write Life (Blog)

Facebook Reader Page

Thank you, Delia, for sharing this book with us.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Gypsy's Game - paperback
Gypsy's Game (Solomon's Gate) - 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