THE NEXT TARGET - Nikki Arana - One Free Book

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

I write “transformational fiction” and the spiritual theme is central to the structure of the novel. The spiritual theme in The Next Target is that Christ’s love is stronger than death. That truth is in play on many levels. The prologue opens with a scene set in “the expanse between space and time.” The reader finds Love there and he is dispatched to the hearts of the believers on earth. Then chapter one opens and the story begins. The reader learns it is love that motivates the heroine and as the story progresses the reader will find Christ’s love being stronger than death illustrated over and over in different ways.

Other spiritual themes that always draw me are forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit at work in our lives prospering what God has ordained.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

This was a two book contract, so my next book will come out next year. It is a stand alone book about a woman who helps a Muslim who has converted to Christianity escape from Iraq. God has a call on his life, and Satan is determined to stop her from answering that call. That takes the heroine on a journey she is not prepared for. The spiritual theme is the faithfulness of God to His people.

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

I would love to spend the evening with a Muslim who has converted to Christianity and is hiding underground in an area of radical Islamists in Africa. I have a ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted. I help persecuted Christians who are under the threat of death. But I do it from here in the safety of my world by providing resources to them to keep them alive. I know everything they face and all the satanic forces that are at play to kill them. I witness their faith in Christ that keeps them alive. And time after time, I see Christ move on their behalf in the most supernatural ways. Warning them of danger, hiding them in plain sight, providing food and money when there is no possible way to do it.

Jesus Christ has chosen to make me a witness to his power and authority. In the summer of 2010 I asked Him why. Why me? He answered me directly through Isaiah 43: ¹⁰ “You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.”  

When I tell you what I have seen, I make you a witness. I believe that is why He is giving me these experiences, to make others witnesses so they will know, believe and understand that He is God. To spend time with a Muslim Background Believer as He walks in the spirit through the valley of the shadow of death would be a privilege and an honor. And perhaps it is in my future, maybe even right here in America. 

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? 

Jeanne Guyon. I am fascinated by this woman who lived in the 1600s. She taught that spiritual perfection can be attained when self is lost in the contemplation of God. This was her life experience, but unfortunately it was completely against the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church in the 17th century. She was put in prison for her faith in a Christ that desired intimacy with His followers. She taught others how to pray to establish intimacy with Him. I have her book on that and have used it in my prayer time. I would love to visit her in prison and hear about her union with God.

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

That is such a difficult but important question. Authors need encouragement. And not just the ones who only get rejection notices.  I went through a very difficult time with The Next Target, because the subject was evangelizing Muslims. The topic engendered fear in some and disdain in others. In some cases, publishers offered a contract if I would write something else. But I knew the Lord had called me to write about the need for safe houses in America for Muslims who convert to Christianity. As the months passed, I fought writers block, and yes, even despair. Always coming back to the one thing that could sustain me if only I was sure—was I truly called to write this book? Finally, through prayer and a willingness to be broken, the Lord led me to the truth. 

I was not called to write this book or any book. I was called to intimacy with Him. It is about letting your dreams die and being willing to live out His dreams for you. It is about spiritual growth that has nothing to do with the writing itself. It has to do with the journey. It has to do with sanctification, being set apart for His purposes, realizing that you are not meant to serve God, you are meant for God to serve man through you. If He chooses writing for you, He will proper what He ordains.

I no longer wonder if He has called me to write. I know He hasn't. He hasn't called me to do anything in my own strength. He has called me to intimacy with Him. Everything else is just the fruit of that relationship. It was the dawning of this life-giving truth that finally assured me about my writing, about God, His purpose, and His timing.

I encourage you to write the book you’re given and release the outcome to Him.

Tell us about the featured book.

Many people are interested in how I came to write The Next Target, which was just released. It was inspired by my ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted. I help persecuted Christians who are under the threat of death ...  here in America! That is code for Muslims who convert to Christianity. Working with Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) has changed my life. I feel a burden to tell their stories. To introduce American Christians who have a fear of Muslims to characters who are patterned after Muslims and MBBs I have met. They live and work among us. We can reach out to them, model the love of Christ, and then with the leading of the Holy Spirit, give them what Islam can never give!

This book is about an ordinary woman, Austia Donatelli, a young widow with an underground evangelistic ministry to Muslims., discovers a friend, someone close to her heart whom she recently led to Christ, has been murdered. She realizes immediately it was an honor killing. The brutal practice of families killing one of their own for converting to Christianity. Suddenly, Austia, her ministry, and everyone she cares about are thrust in the crosshairs of a terrorist organization. As the extremists zero in, she must unravel the deception surrounding her and protect innocent lives, including her own.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

Sabirah’s heart pounded as she felt the bottom of her purse for her car keys. Finally, locating the blade of the ignition key, she took them in hand. Her grip on them tightened. “Oh Jesus, protect me.” Then she slipped out the employee exit of the restaurant, pulling the door shut behind her.

A crescent moon provided the only light as she scanned the parking lot. She’d been careful that her family didn’t know where she lived or where she’d found work. Still ...

Seeing no one, she felt her heartbeat slow. She took a deep breath and raised her eyes heavenward. There was nothing to be afraid of.

A gentle breeze kicked up, teasing her with the scent of ocean air and turning her thoughts to the church picnic planned for Saturday. David was meeting her there. She felt heat rise in her cheeks at the thought of the handsome young man who led the singles group. She lowered her eyes. The idea of dating was still new to her. And ... well ... she just didn’t know what to expect. Her arm dropped to her side and a smile touched her lips as she made her way to her car. She’d decided to bring baklava, the sweet Middle Eastern pastry that Americans seemed to love. She was making it from scratch so it would be fresh. Pastor John had said she could use the church kitchen since ... The hairs on the back of her neck rose as an almost tangible malevolent energy manifested in the air around her.

A shadow fell across her shoulder.

“Sabirah.”

Way to hook us, Nikki. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.nikkiarana.com

www.nikkiarana.com/blog

www.facebook.com/nikkiaranaauthor
Twitter: @nikkiarana
I have author pages on Goodreads and Amazon too!


Thank you, Nikki, for the interesting interview today.


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

DEATH IN DELONEGA - Deborah Malone - One Free Book

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

In my Trixie Montgomery series I wrote a lot of myself into Trixie’s character. Those who know me well said they could see me when they were reading Death in Dahlonega. Trixie’s best friend Dee Dee is a combination of two of my friends – with their blessings. Some of the things they did when they were in Dahlonega actually happened when we were there – not the murder thoughJ

                         

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Hummmm, I’ll have to think about this one. I’m not sure what constitutes as quirky – I’m sure I’ve done some but can’t think of a particular one. I do have a funny story that goes with my book. When I was doing research on Death in Dahlonega I went to Dahlonega, Georgia, to the Gold Museum where the murder takes place in the book. When I told the Ranger I wanted to do research for a murder that takes place in the museum she told me to wait a few minutes. She came back and had called her supervisor and said they did not want me to write about their security system. Ugh – I didn’t know about their security system. Anyway, I thought it was pretty funny.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve always loved to write, but first real break was when I entered a contest for Guidepost and the editor wrote me and said I had been a finalist. That gave me the encouragement to continue working. Several years later I submitted an article to Georgia Backroads a historical magazine and it was published. I’ve been writing for them for ten years now.

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

This is a great question. I used to only read mysteries and mostly cozies. That is still my favorite genre, but when I started reviewing books for my blog I discovered that I love all genres of books. I am so happy that I have been able to experience other genres. I would ask that readers try to read something new every now and then. I think they will be happily surprised.

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

I’d have to know your definition of sane first. LOL

How do you choose your characters’ names?

One thing I consider is what region they are from. I have used phone books in the area to see what names are listed. I’ve used the internet to look up names. In the book I’m working on now one of the characters is from England so I went to a web site and looked up English names. I came up with Georgia Knight.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

In my writing it would be having my book published.

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

Oh, this is a hard one. If I was a dog or a cat I could live in the house and be fed. If I was a bird I could fly high in the sky.

What is your favorite food?

Let’s see – I like chicken, potatoes, and salads. That’s not one, but I couldn’t list just one.

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

Learning all of the rules in writing was probably number one. As writers we don’t write like we talk and that is very hard. The more I write the more I understand them. Another problem was finding the time to write while taking care of my disabled daughter, Niki. But I’ve discovered if you want to write bad enough you can write through all kinds of things.

Tell us about the featured book.

Death in Dahlonega

Trixie Montgomery has gone through a rough divorce. She has moved back to her home town of Vans Valley, Georgia, where she moved in next door to her mother and great-aunt Nana. Trixie goes to work to supplement her income. She writes for Georgia by the Way a historical magazine. Her best friend Dee Dee accompanies her on a trip to Dahlonega, Georgia, where Trixie is working on an article about Gold Rush Days – an arts and crafts festival. They are watching a film on the actual gold rush days when Dee Dee excuses herself to go tinkle. While she’s gone she decides to snoop around and she stumbles upon a dead body. Not thinking she automatically pulls out the pickaxe and is found holding the bloody murder weapon. The victim, John Tatum, happens to be a man that Dee Dee had a run in with earlier that day. She rises to the top of the suspects list and when the town sheriff doesn’t seem to be looking for anyone else, Trixie decides to help her best friend. Together they must find the real killer to keep Dee Dee out of the slammer! This is a short, easy read and I hope it will be something my readers can sit down and read for pure enjoyment after a hard, stressful day. I hope Trixie, Dee Dee, and Nana’s antics will give you a laugh-out-loud moment.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

“Dahlonega, here we come!” I cheered, triumphant at the 10 miles to go sign. My knee ached from three hours in the car, my palms slick on the wheel from the harrowing twist of road.

“Here. Have some before I eat it all.” My passenger, and oldest friend, Dee Dee, shoved the bag of trail mix under my nose.

I dug through, finding only nuts, and pushed it back. “You ate all the chocolate pieces!”

She muffled an unapologetic sounding apology, then continued singing along as Alan shifted to Clint Black.

My Jeep Cherokee bumped over a rut in the road as a semi sped downhill a trifle too fast. My grip tightened on the vibrating steering wheel as we rounded another curve on the mountain road.

I one-hand-gripped the wheel, and cooled a sweaty palm on the air vent, thinking how this trip would propel my career from probationary to full-fledged reporter. This was my big chance to prove to my editor that I, Trixie Montgomery, could write an article with substance and flair, despite the rather routine subject matter. Who says you can’t start a career after forty?

After all, “Gold Rush Days” in the North Georgia Mountains was hardly Pulitzer Prize material. Even the best had to start somewhere. Besides, what girl in her right mind could turn down an opportunity to take a little vacation and get paid at the same time?

I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Thanks for coming, Dee Dee.” I couldn’t wait for a little antiquing, sightseeing, and plenty of good country cooking. What could possibly go wrong?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.deborah-malone.com

www.deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com              

www.sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com

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


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Death in Dahlonega - paperback
Death in Dahlonega - 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!!!!!

Marianne (Alberta) is the winner of Love in Disguise by Carol Cox. (I just finished reading this. You'll love it.)
Diana Gardner (VA) is the winner of Liberty Belle by Patricia PacJac Carroll.
Rubynreba (IL)  is the winner of End of the Trail from Vickie McDonough. 
Liz R (AL) is the winner of Winning the Widow's Heart by Sherri Shackleford.
Shirley T (IL) is the winner of The Midwife's Legacy by Rhonda Gibson.
Pam K (KS) is the winner of Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T Bergren. (I just started reading this on my Kindle.)

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.

NURTURED IN PURPLE - Jude Urbanski - One Free Ebook

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

I write in the Christian genre (in both fiction and nonfiction) because of being a Christian and because when I decided to seriously tackle writing, I made the deliberate choice to be in this genre.

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

There have been many, but I’d have to say when my children were born.

How has being published changed your life?

It has fulfilled a long-held dream for me, but also, it has opened my life to a whole set of new friends and information.

What are you reading right now?

A biography of Martin Luther King, and always a Max Lucado book, but just finished Girls of Riyadh, which was fascinating and fun to read.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a short story for submission for a potential anthology. I have a third novel completed that I’m shopping. I’m also continuing to write my column for Maximum Living, a magazine for women’s health and spirituality.

What would be your dream vacation?

One of my “impossible dreams” is to go to Siberia. I know, I know, not most people’s dream vacation, but a place I want to see.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The setting for my Chronicles of Chanute Crossing Series is Pickett County, TN, and this is where my ancestors were from and writing these books with that setting are sort of a completion of work begun by my mother in the 1930’s. She wrote sweet love stories with the same setting. My newest novel, Then Comes Hope, also begins in TN, but continues in Jamaica. Jamaica is just a place of interest for me, plus beautiful.

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

Wow, Lena, this is hard. Besides my husband, whom I always enjoy spending time with, I’d say Max Lucado or Billy Graham or the Dali Llama. Why? They have influenced me spiritually and it would be fun to ask some “what if” questions of them and just listen to their wisdom.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Paint, as on a canvas, genealogy, gardening, volunteering at church and for our local Housing Authority.

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

To give myself “permission” to give it the amount of time it requires. I overcome this by trying to be efficient (LOL), work when my husband is gone (He’s never gone!) and saying no to things I’ve no business doing.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

If you know you “must” write, just do it and continue doing it. Have the hide of an elephant and the patience of Job!

Tell us about the featured book.

I resisted writing this sequel until my publisher “sort of” suggested it. I thought I was tired of all these characters in book one and needed a break from them! Was I the one to be surprised. I fell in love with the scoundrel Willard and loosened my heart to the she-devil Elizabeth. I saw myself, I saw every other human, in these two flawed people. But I loved who they became with help of God and Seth and Kate, heroes of book one.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Here goes!

Chapter One

Chill, Willard, chill.

I have to act cool if I want to bump Seth Orbin out of this big sale and I do. Oh, yes I do.

He transferred the phone receiver to his other ear. This conversation was heating up.

''Well, you see, Hansford, in my opinion, the wood from Orbin Sawmills is inferior and will not meet your expectations, by any means. I don't sell wood, but in my career as a paper salesman, I've seen a lot of wood, if I do say so. I know you're used to the best wood available."

He paused and paced around his desk.

''Now, there is this mill in Burkesville I think you'd like and I know a man who can get you the very best deal there is. Want me to talk to him?"

Willard waited, wiped sweat from his brow, and ran his fingers around the neck of his collar.

''You do?" He hesitated just slightly. "Great." A silent sigh of relief shuddered through him, but a smile crawled up his face. ''I'll get right on it and call you back."

Maybe a few more sweet deals like this will make ole' Seth hurt.

He laughed and began dialing.

Willard Wittenberg had a vendetta to settle with Seth Orbin. His fiancée Elizabeth Koger had a vendetta to settle with Kate, Seth's pregnant wife.

*****

Kate tucked a stray, red curl behind her ear and placed her hand under her bulging abdomen, giving it a little hoist upward as the baby gave a hard kick. She touched what had to be a foot sticking out making a firm lump.

Seth walked into the sunny kitchen.

''Katalina, hate it, but I'll be late for dinner tonight. Remember I'm meeting again with Ninville about that big order? I'm sorry, dear." He placed arms around her swelling body in time to receive the next kick. ''Oh, gymnastics this morning, huh?" He nibbled at her ear and placed a soft kiss on her neck. ''Are you all right?"

''Seth, I'm fine, honey. Just tired. Your baby is sure strong willed. Oh, remember, I see Doctor Bertram for a checkup today? Right after I take Benji to preschool."

''Be sure to call me after your appointment and let me know how it went. Goodbye, love." He brushed her lips softly, but then took her in his arms and lowered his mouth to hers for a long kiss.

''Hey, there, husband, I will see you later. Remember?" Kate laughed. She touched fingers to his lips and locked with his pewter colored eyes. Eyes she had always loved.

''That's just to help me remember better. See you." He laughed and walked to the door.

Benji ran into the room. ''Bye, Daddy, bye! I know I already said goodbye, but wanted to say it again." A big grin hitched up his mouth from side to side.

Seth turned, bent on one knee, looked his little stepson in the eyes and tousled his hair. ''Bye again, Benji. Have a good day, will you?"

''I will."

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.judeurbanski.com

judeurbanski.blogspot.com

http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com

https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/books?ie=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0

Thanks, beautiful woman! Jude Urbanski


Thank you, Jude, for stopping by today.


Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
The Chronicles Chanute Crossing Book Two: Nurtured in Purple

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

SHORT-STRAW BRIDE - Karen Witemeyer - One Free Book

Bio:Two-time RITA® Finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion, CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Readers, I’m reading this book right now. You’re going to love it. Now welcome, Karen. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

My spiritual themes tend to be influenced by my own struggles. In my newest release, Short-Straw Bride, my hero and his brothers have isolated themselves from the rest of their community. This originated from necessity since they were orphaned as young boys and had to fight to stay together and protect their land. But when the need for isolation passed, their habits had become so ingrained that the Archer brothers failed to reintegrate. Until Meredith Hayes breaches their solitude.

I tend to be introverted and love to hide myself away. However, the Bible calls us to live a life of community, of hospitality, of ministering to our neighbors and carrying each other's burdens. I can't do this if I barricade myself away. By tackling this spiritual theme in my novel, I was forced to face it myself. I tend to step on my own toes most of all when I write.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I only write one book a year, so Short-Straw Bride is the only one arriving in 2012. However, I recently learned that my 2011 release, To Win Her Heart, won the 2012 HOLT Medallion for Best Long Inspirational Romance, so I guess I'll brag on that one a bit. It is also a finalist for the RITA and the National Reader's Choice Award. Those results will be announced at the end of July at the RWA national conference.

Those awards are wonderful. My 2011 release recently won the Selah award for historical fiction. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

Now, I just confessed to being an introvert, and now you want me to meet up with a complete stranger? Ha! I guess I need to keep working on that hospitality thing. I'm going to pick Josh Groban. I love his voice, and if I could somehow convince him to let me sing a duet with him (no audience, of course), I think I would float around in a delighted haze for weeks.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Elizabeth Blackwell. I remember reading a book about the first woman doctor when I was in 5^th grade, and it made a huge impact on me. Plus, I would love to ask her a ton of questions about medical treatment in the 1800s for research purposes. I'm writing a scene right now where my hero has to remove a bullet from another character, and having her input would be a tremendous help.

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

Publishing with a traditional house can be a difficult journey that requires perseverance and tough skin. Rejections are a big part of it. I wrote for 6 years before signing a contract. And that contract came after the same publisher rejected my first manuscript. Thankfully, they saw enough potential in me that they asked me to submit again. Even after publication, rejection is still part of the game. The last time I was up for a new contract, my publisher rejected 2 out of 3 of the story ideas I proposed. I had to go back to the drawing board and start again.

Do your best to learn and master the craft of writing, read extensively in your genre, study the market, find critique partners or freelance editors to help you discover problem areas, enter contests and listen to the feedback you receive, attend workshops and conferences to meet and network with industry professionals, but most of all, just keep writing and submitting.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here's the official blurb:

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Anderson County, Texas - 1870

Ten-year-old Meredith Hayes balled her hands into fists as she faced her tormentor.

"Hiram Ellis! Give me back my lunch bucket this instant!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Meri. Did you want this?" His voice dripped sarcasm as he dangled the small pail in front of her.

She lunged for it, but her hands met only air as the older boy snatched it away then tossed it over her head to his snickering brother. Meredith ricocheted between the two, never quite fast enough to get more than a finger on the tin.

Why was she always the one to get picked on? Meredith stomped her foot in frustration. She thought she'd gotten enough of a lead today after school, but Hiram must have been watching for her. He'd had it out for her ever since her family moved to the area last spring. Probably because the land they bought used to belong to his best friend's family.

"Meri, Meri, quite contrary," Hiram sang in a ridiculously high pitched voice, skipping in a circle around her and swinging the lunch bucket back and forth. A group of girls came around the bend and stopped to giggle behind their hands. Meredith asked for help, but they just stood there smirking and whispering behind their schoolbooks. Even Anna Leigh, her desk mate, and the one girl Meredith thought a friend. Angry tears pooled in her eyes, but Meredith blinked them away. She'd not let Hiram win.

You can read the entire first two chapters on my website, here: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/excerpt_straw.html

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to connect with readers. The best place to do that is through my website: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com Here you can learn about my books, find deleted scenes, background on my characters, and a chance to enter my monthly giveaways.

I'm also fairly active on FaceBook. I'd love for you to send me a friend request.

I blog twice a month with a group of western romance authors over at Petticoats & Pistols. We have a lot of fun together, and if you enjoy rugged cowboy heroes, you'll fit right in. Come visit us here: http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

Thank you, Karen, for visiting with us today.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Short-Straw Bride - paperback
Short-Straw Bride - 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

PROOF - Jordyn Redwood - One Free Book

Short bio: Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net.

Welcome, Jordyn.

First, Lena, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog. It's an honor and pleasure to be here.

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

JR: I don't think I intentionally write a lot of myself into my characters. For me, I give my characters qualities that I aspire to have. Though, when my mother read Proof, she did say, "I can see a lot of you in this book."

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? 

JR: Well, there could be a lot to draw on here. When I was in high school, I was trying to figure out if I could handle trauma nursing and I thought the best way to do that was to ride around with the our local fire department to see if I could handle all the blood and gore. Those ride-a-longs gave me some interesting life experiences.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

JR: I don't know if I have a date and time per se. In elementary school, I began to write stories. I had a Disney themed pocket folder that had a picture of a few characters panning for gold and I remember writing a story based on that picture. Storytelling has always been a joy of mine.

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

JR: I have two broad categories that I like to read. I'm well read in suspense, the genre I love to write, and I have my favorite authors where I'll read everything they publish. I also read a lot of non-fiction as research for my fiction and the range of this can be very eclectic. For instance, for a trilogy I'm developing, I'll be doing a lot of reading on scientific evidence for the soul, near-death experiences, and prayer and how we can interpret these findings through a Christian worldview.

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

JR: I really have to be organized to stay on schedule—particularly with working 24hrs/wk and having younger children in the home. I set monthly word count goals and try to write at least one blog post on my writing days. I try to stay ahead of the writing things I can control because it has surprised me that it's hard to anticipate publisher's demands at times. I know when the initial manuscript is due, but the different points of the editing phases are harder to plan around. I'll think the next month is smooth sailing, yet, get my manuscript from the publisher with a few weeks to turn it back around.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

JR: I don't delve too long into picking character names. I generally go with something I like with good beginning letter variability.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

JR: Finishing my novel and getting a publishing contract. There is something very gratifying by having "gate keepers" find value and entertainment in your writing enough to put their money behind it.

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

JR: A black panther. They're beautiful and stealth-like. You don't want to tangle with one. I admire their strength and don't-mess-with-me attitude. ER nurses tend to be like this, too.

What is your favorite food?

JR: Love a big plate of Nachos-- complete with fake cheese. Though, just the basics. Taco meat, nacho cheese, sour cream and black olives.

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

JR: One of the critiques I got of my early writing was that it was very stark emotionally. When I first wrote stories, I wanted the reader to infer their own emotions onto the characters versus me adding that emotional impact. What I learned was the author and reader function hand in hand but the reader needs to feel the emotions on the page to feel connected to the story. Overcoming it took a lot of work and I don't know that I'm there yet. I literally made a note card that said "add emotion" as a constant reminder to add that extra punch to engage the reader. I think the note card also said "Less i-n-g words".

Tell us about the featured book.

JR: Proof examines the real life possibility of DNA testing setting a guilty criminal free. Lilly Reeves is the fifth victim of a serial rapist and even though she correctly identifies her assailant to the police-- DNA testing sets him free. Convinced of his guilt, she sets on a path to unravel his DNA mystery.

Amazon Blurb: Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it's the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find--and punish--her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not? 

Please give us the first page of the book.

JR: How about the first five chapters? They can be found here: http://www.jordynredwood.net/resources/

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at www.jordynredwood.com .

Again, thank you so much for having me. It's been a real pleasure to be here.


I've loved having you, Jordyn.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Proof: A Novel (Bloodline Trilogy) - paperback
Proof: Bloodlines Triology 1 (Bloodline Trilogy) - 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

SHAKESPEARE'S LADY - Alexa Schnee - One Free Book

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

I try to write the character’s story more than my own, but I think it’s inevitable that a lot myself will be there. I think every character I’ve written has a little bit of me in them—for good or for bad I’m not quite sure.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

“Quirky” has been used to describe me a lot. It’s hard to say what the quirkiest thing I’ve ever done is, but I dressed up as Annie Hall for Halloween and play the ukulele on a regular basis. I can also quote The Princess Bride from beginning to end, but that might be more nerdy than quirky.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

For me, I think it’s kind of always been an innate thing. I’ve loved books ever since I was a kid and I used to write “stories” with squiggles before I could write words, so I think it’s always just been a part of who I am. I think I was in middle school when I really knew that was what I wanted to do.

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

I try to read almost everything I can get my hands on. Right now I’m reading Lie Down in Darkness by William Styron, which is totally out of my genre. I’m loving it, though, and I think it’s important for writers to read things they normally wouldn’t. I’ve recently been reading some poetry along with some 18^th century novels for school, as well.

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

It’s difficult. I’m going to school fulltime and it’s hard to do that and write sometimes. I journal a lot and make sure I read for fun and not just for school. I’ve also watched way too many episodes of Doctor Who. It’s a balance between work and pleasure, for sure.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

So far, I’ve been writing historical fiction based on real people and they come with a name so I don’t have to choose. When I’m writing short fiction for class or for fun, I might try out names until I find one that fits. It’s always a work in progress.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

The first thing that pops into my head is that I moved far away from where I had grown up my whole life. I recently packed my bags and moved from my small town in Montana to a school just outside New York City. I’m proud of my writing, but I feel it can always be improved—compared to doing something a bit unexpected and slightly crazy.

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

I’d like to say something ferocious and awesome, but I’m probably your typical housecat. I love curling up with a good book, making a cup of Earl Grey, and I can be a bit antisocial at times,

What is your favorite food?

Oh, man. I love breakfast. My mom makes these fabulous pumpkin waffles. I think I ate about twenty of them over Christmas break. That and a cappuccino and I’m in heaven.

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

Patience is something I just don’t have. I’ve been working really hard on it, but sometimes waiting for things to happen just about kills me. It was really a challenge publishing a book, because it is a slow process and it takes time to polish everything and make it something worth reading. I’ve learned to work on other projects while I’m waiting and keep busy. That has helped a lot.

Tell us about the featured book.

Shakespeare’s Lady is about the “Dark Lady” of William Shakespeare’s sonnets. He dedicated a number of these works to a mysterious woman. No one really knows who she is, but I found a woman living during that time that would have been acquainted Shakespeare, Emilia Bassano Lanier. From there, the story kind of wrote itself.

The book is about their relationship, the societal values at the time, and history during Elizabeth I’s reign.  

Please give us the first page of the book.

            Any writer will tell you that brilliance does not come from the head. It comes from the heart.

I learned this from the greatest writer the world has ever known. He whispered it in my ear as I lay in his arms. He told me as he looked over my crossed-out lines and empty pages. I see its truth in the little book he gave me. But I never understood what he really meant until it was too late and he was already gone.

Yes, I loved William Shakespeare. Yes, he loved me. No, it did not end well. William and I would never grow old together. We would never build a life together. Love doesn’t always guarantee happiness.

He was so handsome. An actor. A writer. So passionate about his work that sometimes it seemed to be the only thing he could ever love. His words were my rival, and sometimes I felt I could never compete. But I loved William Shakespeare more than I loved anyone on this earth. I loved him more than Henry Carey, more than Alfonso, more than myself, even. He was my salvation from the life that had been chosen for me. He encouraged me to become more than what I had been destined to be.

Our love went against everything I believed in. A lifetime of doing what I believed was right was wiped away the moment he and I became lovers. I sinned against my queen, and I sinned against my God.

He wrote about me. He hadn’t even done that for his wife. He wrote incandescent words about a woman who was captivating, beautiful, and mysterious—all things he told me I was. No one knew the identity of the woman in his sonnets, but I knew. When I read them, I knew he loved me, even all those lonely years later.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.alexinksit.com,

or you can email me at alexinksit@hotmail.com .

You can also find me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/alexinksit  

and on facebook at www.facebook.com/alexinksit .

Thank you, Alexa, for spending this time with us today.

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

Shakespeare's Lady - paperback
Shakespeare's Lady - 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

DAUGHTER OF LIBERTY - J M Hochstetler - One Free Book

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

The Amish and Mennonites have a deep respect for Anabaptist history and their own genealogy, and they pass that interest down to their children. Growing up in the Mennonite church with parents who were raised Amish, I developed an interest in the stories of my ancestors, and that expanded to a fascination with related historical periods. When I began to read, I enjoyed historical fiction the most, so when I felt the calling to write, I naturally began writing the kinds of stories I loved to read—which I’m sure that’s typical of most authors.

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

My wedding day and the birth of each of my daughters are all equal on my happiness meter. The birth of each of my grandchildren is a very close second.

How has being published changed your life?

It’s enriched my life through all the wonderful people I’ve met and the new friends I’ve made in the business and along the way. And it’s added a lot of stress because of the constant need to promote yourself and your books while writing that next story, all on top of the usual day to day. I love what I do, but it’s a lot more demanding than non-writers really understand, and that includes our families. I keep trying to clue them in, but they’re resistant to the message!

What are you reading right now?

I’m always reading historical resources on the period I’m writing about, which right now include Saratoga by Richard M. Ketchum and The Philadelphia Campaign by Stephen R. Taaffe. I’ve also been reading George Bush’s Decision Points, which I’m finding quite interesting and insightful. But I live for story so I always have to have a novel or two on hand to give me that fix. Right now on my Kindle I’m reading Lauraine Snelling’s A Measure of Mercy, and next I want to finally get to Dan Walsh’s The Deepest Waters, which has been luring me for a while.

What is your current work in progress?

That would be book 4 of my American Patriot Series, Crucible of War. With this volume, I’m officially at the midpoint of the series. Only 3 more to go!

What would be your dream vacation?

More than anything I’d love to travel to Germany and Switzerland to the places where my ancestors lived, and also tour the sites in Europe where the Anabaptists suffered persecution and were forced to hide their faith and their worship. And then I’d follow it up with a side trip to Italy and the Grecian Isles! Greek and Roman history is another fascination of mine.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

With this series, it’s easy. I just consult my resources on the American Revolution and set the story wherever the main action is during the year I’m covering. Of course, it’s not that cut and dried with other my books. Generally I try to find a setting that fits the premise and needs of my story. In One Holy Night, which is set during the Vietnam War, I needed a location where a blizzard could believably happen at Christmastime, and the Minneapolis area fit. I have a Mennonite romance I keep tinkering with that’s set in the Kokomo, Indiana, area where I grew up. Because it’s loosely based on my parents’ love story (very loosely!), it takes place in 1945 at the end of WWII. I’m also working on a fictional treatment of the story of my ancestors’ massacre by a band of Indians during the French and Indian War, which is set in 1757 in the area of Pennsylvania where the attack took place.

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

This may sound boring, but the truth is it would be my husband, Jay. He’s a transport driver for the RV industry, so he’s on the road a lot. Sometimes he’s out for a week or two, and I really look forward to when he gets home so we can hang out together.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to garden, do crafts, especially scrapbooking, go antiquing, and redecorate my home from time to time. What woman doesn’t? And, of course, read. And write.

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

The hardest thing for me is planning the story out in advance. I’m a confirmed seat-of-the-pants writer, but that can lead you down some rabbit trails, so I’m very slowly learning to develop an overall vision of the story before I get too far down the road. Doing a formal outline or chapter by chapter synopsis, however, is not in the range of possibility. The few times I’ve tried to get that organized, I gave up in frustration before I got a quarter of the way through it. I know from the outset that everything is going to change once the story gets in motion, so what’s the point?

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Never give up. Strive for excellence. Educate yourself on the craft and the business. Learn to promote yourself and your books. And did I mention, never give up?

Tell us about the featured book.

This volume focuses on 1777. There are battles, intrigue, and drama. Of course, there’s lots going on between my main characters, Elizabeth Howard and Jonathan Carleton, who are trying to make up for lost time now that they’re back together after being separated for a year and a half. Here’s a synopsis.

Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton rejoins General George Washington’s army to find the patriot cause on the verge of extinction. In a daring gamble, the small, ragged American force crosses the Delaware on Christmas night 1776, to defeat British outposts at Trenton and Princeton before vanishing into the mountain bastions around Morristown.

Back in New York City, Elizabeth Howard is drawn ever deeper into the intrigues that swirl around British General William Howe. With her Aunt Tess, she moves to Philadelphia in summer 1777 to gather intelligence while waiting for the British attack. Ambushed and almost captured as the Americans dig in at Brandywine Creek, Carleton is transferred to General Horatio Gates’s army in the upper Hudson Valley where British General John Burgoyne closes in on Saratoga. With decisive battles looming on every front, Elizabeth and Carleton face a crucible of war that tests their mettle, faith, and love for God and each other to the very limits.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

An hour earlier the level of misery had finally surpassed the worst Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton had suffered as a slave of the Seneca.

Things hadn’t improved since then.

“I’ve spent merrier Christmases,” Colonel Charles Andrews shouted, his voice barely audible above the wind’s blast.

Carleton directed a wry glance at the two Shawnee warriors who hunched on either side of him, silent and grim-faced beneath their heavy bearskins, with blankets hooded over their heads. Shifting from one foot to the other in the effort to restore a measure of circulation, he drawled, “Not to worry, Charles. Once we make the New Jersey shore we’ve but to march a mere nine miles to reach Trenton.”

“A cheery prospect, considering that, if anything, this infernal storm’s getting worse.”

Squinting through the Stygian gloom against a driving sleet that felt as though it would scour the skin from his face, Carleton assessed the faintly blacker line of the frozen New Jersey shore still some distance ahead. Their progress toward it was agonizingly slow, and at every moment the water’s surge drove jagged ice floes against their clumsy vessel, threatening to either stave it in or capsize it. Or both.

The rising nor’easter that had plagued the Continental Army all the way to McKonkey’s Ferry, increasing in intensity while they embarked on a fleet of heavy black Durham boats, ferries, and other sturdy craft, showed no signs of diminishing and every sign of worsening. Its shriek whipped away the creak of oars, the slap of water and thud of ice, the stamp of horses’ hooves against the ferry’s planks and the animals’ occasional agitated squeals when their footing lurched beneath them.

“At least we will not drown—as long as we manage to reach shore,” he returned in the Shawnee language.

“No,” Andrews grumbled in the same tongue. “We will freeze to death instead.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My websites are www.jmhochstetler.com  and www.theamericanpatriotseries.com .

My main blog is http://americanpatriotseries.blogspot.com  

You can also find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1293566725 And my fan page is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Patriot-Series-by-J-M-Hochstetler/158849110800898

Thank you, Joan, for sharing this life history and new book with us.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Daughter of Liberty (The American Patriot Series, Book 1) - paperback
Daughter of Liberty (The American Patriot 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