WHEN THE REAL THING COMES ALONG - Faith Simone - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’m interviewing a debut novelist today.

Bio: Faith Simone is a poet, playwright, and novelist. She is also an active blogger, sharing her personal thoughts, book reviews, and tips for writers on her website FaithSimone.com. Simone is passionate about using her gift of writing as a tool to help promote humanity, understanding, and compassion.

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

Well, I think I stay pretty distant from my characters. But my close friends and family say that they see a lot of my main character, Jacelynn, in me. So I guess I’m a tad bit delusional. It seems to be a necessary character trait for most writers.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I do quirky things all the time: record YouTube videos about random subjects that I never upload, hold personal auditions for American Idol with myself, interview myself, and give my personal opinions of current events. I’m truly the most interesting person I know lol!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I was about 10 years old when I first decided I wanted to be a writer. I let practicality get in the way of pursuing it. Then I had a life changing event and decided that life is too short to not spend it the way you really want to.

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

I enjoy all kinds of books! From romance to chick lit to suspense (as long as it’s not too scary) to the classics to African American literature, romantic comedy, women’s fiction. I could go on and on …

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

Well, judging by my answers to the second question, I’d say I failed the sanity test a long time ago. But I try to take time to disconnect from technology, friends, and family and just sit with myself. It keeps me balanced. If I don’t I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Another thing I do it to practice the act of gratitude as much as possible. Being grateful has so many benefits, including helping you to slow down and appreciate the little things.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

It’s totally random. I just think about the character as a person and imagine what their name should be. Pretty easy and there’s no method to my madness on that one.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Being the kind of person who is always there for loved ones in a crisis. Those are the times when my love has the opportunity to shine the brightest.

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

I’d be a butterfly. They’re beautiful, they’ve been through a major transformation, and they fly!

What is your favorite food?

Anything sweet and baked. After that, pizza is close second.

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

Being easily distracted used to be a big problem for me. Not during the actual act of writing, but making time to slow down and actually make an effort was a problem. To overcome it, I simply channeled the bull dog determination I’m known for and committed that unless I died, I wouldn’t let anything stop me from writing. During the writing of When the Real Thing Comes Along, I made an impromptu move from Texas to Michigan to Tennessee, cared for a sick loved one, and found a new 9-5 job. Through it all, I was determined to finish and get that book out. Eventually, I did!

Tell us about the featured book.

When the Real Thing Comes Along is a mix of romance, coming of age, faith, and challenging choices. Readers who enjoy unpredictable character driven stories will love WTRTCA! Here’s the official blurb:

She loved and lost … Will faith give her the courage she needs to love again?

Jacelynn appears to have it all together: a great relationship with her boyfriend Jason who is truly a man after God’s own heart, a decent career and the love of family and friends. But when an unwelcome reminder from her past shows up, her previously uncomplicated world is turned upside down. Will she jeopardize what she has with Jason in an attempt to rewrite the mistakes of her past?

They say you never forget your first love, no matter how hard you try. So far, Jacelynn has done a pretty good job of forgetting Taylor, the boy who had her heart first. When Taylor returns several years later as a man requesting a second chance, what’s a girl to do … Especially when she already has a new man?

The hidden issues of Jacelynn’s heart come to light, and she’s forced take a hard look in the mirror while making choices that will change her future forever. Will she be able to reconcile who she was then, with who she is in Christ now?

Living and loving in faith isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. That’s what happens …

When the Real Thing Comes Along

Please give us the first page of the book.

At first Jacelynn actually thought that she was hallucinating. She figured that her mind must be playing tricks on her. One minute she was going through her normal church routine: making sure there were enough programs for the service, verbalizing assignments for the youth assistants, etc. The next minute she was struggling not to pass out at the sight of a blast from her past. Swaying slightly, Jacelynn leaned against the wall and signaled to one of the other ushers that she needed to be relieved from her post. Since the service hadn’t even started yet, Latonya, the little teenage girl that took her place, made it clear that she was being put out. Ten minutes later, after chugging a glass of ice water in the fellowship hall and holding her head between her knees, Jacelynn returned to her position at the rear entrance of the church.

She stood there, confident that the dim lighting in the sanctuary had caused her to see something, or rather someone, that wasn’t there. She tried to smile and greet people as they walked through the church doors but her nerves were so shaken that she gave up. Finally, she worked up the courage to look for him in the crowd of people already seated. She recognized him instantly. She would know the back of that head anywhere.

The minister of music fired up the organ and the praise leaders took their places at the front of the church. Jacelynn’s heart dropped and her lungs felt like they were about to collapse. This time she didn’t bother to signal Latonya. She simply walked over to the first pew she saw and sagged onto it.

Taking slow shallow breaths, she continued to sit there as people sung, shouted, fell out and recovered. All she could see was the back of that head in a sea of heads. An hour and forty-five minutes later she still hadn’t moved. But, she knew that she had to get out of there before that head turned around.

The door to her freedom was about sixty feet away. If she moved quickly she could easily make it out of the church and into the sanctuary of her car in one minute flat. Her heart beat fast against her rib cage as Pastor Greer finished up the benediction, “In the precious name of your holy Son … ” Jacelynn grabbed her purse and took a shallow breath. By the time “amen” drifted from the lips of fellow worshipers she was pushing the plexiglass doors open while disgracefully sprinting across the parking lot.

With shaking hands she turned the ignition of her 2011 Honda Civic. She exited the parking lot with little regard for oncoming traffic, barely noticing the screeching brakes that echoed in her wake. On autopilot Jacelynn mashed the gas pedal and merged onto the 91 Freeway. She ignored the indignant honks and focused on trying to regulate her breathing as she deftly changed lanes in the light Sunday afternoon traffic. Ten minutes later, she jerked her car into the underground garage of her apartment, threw the gear shift into park, and ran through the courtyard. She was completely oblivious to the snickers from the teenage boys admiring the sight of her behind bouncing slightly as she bounded up the stairs. Once she was safely inside, she locked the door and closed her curtains to the blinding Southern California sun. Slumping onto the couch she kicked off her stilettos.

He’d finally found her. Not that she’d been hiding; he simply hadn’t been looking in the right places.

Until now.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m everywhere! I love hearing from readers, so don’t hesitate to contact me.

Website:

FaithSimone.com

http://www.faithsimone.com

Facebook:

Author Faith Simone

http://facebook.com/AuthorFaithSimone

Twitter:

@FaithSimone2011

https://twitter.com/FaithSimone2011

Goodreads

Faith Simone

http://goodreads.com/FaithSimone

Google+

Google.com/+FaithSimone

https://www.google.com/+FaithSimone

Amazon Author Page

Faith Simone

http://www.amazon.com/author/faithsimone

Thank you, Faith, for sharing your new book with us. I know my readers will love it. I can hardly wait to read it myself.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
When the Real Thing Comes Along - Paperback
When the Real Thing Comes Along - 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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 Six-Book Series From the Past - Colleen Coble - 2 Free Books

Bio: USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Her romantic suspense novels including Tidewater Inn, Rosemary Cottage, and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series.

Welcome back. I’ve loved reading your books, Colleen. This series is something you and your publisher are doing. Tell us what is different about these six books and why they are being published right now.

My first two novels were Heartsongs, published back in 1998. They have always been special to me because that series was part of the grieving I went through when my brother Randy was killed in a freak lightning accident. That tragedy pushed me into writing. My publisher and I have taken the first two books and broken them into a serialization. I’ve rewritten them and created cliffhangers at the end of each part to draw in the reader. I’m very excited to share these stories with a new group of readers!

My readers love to get to know the authors I feature. Please tell us something that probably no one knows about you.

I’m terrified of spiders. J I can pick up snakes with no problem, but I run screaming from spiders the size of pinheads.

I don’t do the snake thing, but if the spider is small, I will squash one. Why did you become an author?

I wanted to write from the time I was in the first grade. My dream was to have a book in the library. Writing is how I make sense of the world. It’s how I work through the struggles I see around me and experience myself. I’ve been a big reader all my life, and to be able to create characters myself is such a joy!

I know you’re multi-published, but how has being published changed your life?

Oh, it’s changed me in so many ways! I love helping others get started in their journeys, and being published has given me more confidence as well. It’s brought fulfillment in so many ways.

Do you have any hobbies besides writing and reading?

I love to travel! In 2013 we went to Cambodia, and that was life-changing. We support a missionary there who ministers to orphans and starts churches in the villages. We so love the people there, and we are returning in July. I used to crochet and quilt, but both those hobbies have fallen by the wayside as my writing took off.

My crafts have fallen by the wayside, too. Can you tell us a little about the stories themselves?

They are set on western forts. I was a huge John Wayne and old westerns fan, and it seemed natural to write those settings as I began my career. I happened to read a journal written by Custer’s wife, and until I read it, I hadn’t realized there were women on the western forts with the Sioux rampaging all around. My imagination was hooked, and I knew I had to write about it!

Please give us a peek into the first book. Maybe the first page.

Wabash, Indiana, October 1865

Autumn’s chill matched Sarah Montgomery’s heart. The Civil War had taken so much from her, and it seemed impossible for life to ever get to a hopeful place. The scent of turning leaves lingered in the air as she sat on a porch rocking chair beside her father who was huddled in a blanket. Her bustle bunched under her uncomfortably, but she wanted to be close to her ill father for as long as possible before Ben arrived.

The sun lingered on the horizon, casting rays of gold and red across the Indiana sky. In the distance, she could see the silhouettes of the workers in the field as they tossed the last of the ears of corn into the wagon behind the horses.

“Bed sounds better than a party.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m getting tired of dances every night, though I can’t begrudge everyone’s revelry.” The Union was preserved, but the price had been so high. Scarcely a family in the county had been spared the loss of a loved one.

Her father coughed and tugged the blanket higher on his chest. “I’m glad you’re beginning to enjoy life again. Rand wouldn’t want you to grieve.”

“No. No, he wouldn’t.” But what no one seemed to understand was that her fiancé’s death in the war had left a hole that couldn’t be filled. Not ever.

His cold hand clamped down on her wrist. “I need to see you settled before I die, Sarah.”

She flinched. “Don’t talk like that, Papa.” She couldn’t bear to lose him—not when she’d already lost so much.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I love to connect with readers!

My website is www.colleencoble.com, and I answer every email. I’m also on Facebook at colleencoblebooks and twitter @colleencoble.

Thanks for having me, Lena!

Thank you, Colleen, for spending this time with us. I just love reading all your books.

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

A Heart's Disguise:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0529103419?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0529103419&linkCode=xm2&tag=lenneldoochaw-20

A Heart's Obsession:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0718031652?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0718031652&linkCode=xm2&tag=lenneldoochaw-20

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of both books. 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

BROKEN SILENCE - Annslee Urban - One Free Book

BIO: Annslee Urban grew up watching old-time romance movies, which she attributes to her passion for sweet romance, true love, and happy endings. A daydreamer at heart, she began her writing journey when the youngest of her five children started school. For several years she worked as a freelance writer for newspapers in her community and has written for magazines and online publications.

Raised in the foothills of Arizona, she survived temperature shock when she moved to Western Pennsylvania, before setting in North Carolina with her husband and children. Aside from writing, Annslee works part-time as a Registered Nurse in the Behavioral Health field. She is a member of ACFW and has served as on the board of Carolina Christian Writers. She currently has 4 published novels. Her current book, Broken Silence, Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, released March 1.

When she isn’t writing, Annslee enjoys cooking, traveling to faraway places, playing with grandbabies and all things chocolate!

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

 My prayer is that I will continue to write for the Lord to allow me to witness to others through my writing.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’ve been married for thirty-five years and have five children. We had three biological kids and then adopted a daughter from Peru and a son from Russia. Three of our children are married, and we are blessed to have six grandkiddos! Three grandsons and three granddaughters, ages four and under. Our family is very close. We love to get together often and go on yearly family vacations which often includes my siblings and their children. Family is a priceless gift J

That is so true. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I rarely read non-fiction these days, concentrating instead on reading Inspirational Romantic Suspense since that’s what I’m currently writing.

What are you working on right now?

I have a new Inspirational Romantic Suspense in the works. It is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

I want to feature that one on my blog when it is published, too. What outside interests do you have?

I love to cook. I collect recipes and enjoy cuisine from around the world. I also love to travel. I’m always looking for fun spots to visit for our next vacation. J Church activities, spending time with family and friends are also at the top of my list.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Honestly, whatever feels right with the story I’m writing. My last few books have been set in the South, North Carolina and Georgia. There’s a lot of quaint small towns that seem to work well with my stories.

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

Corey Ten Boom. I loved her book, The Hiding Place and have heard a taped message she gave. She endured so much, losing her family, being in a concentration camp and through it all she held onto a strong trust in God. Her courage, faith, and forgiveness is an inspiration, and I’d love to spend an evening with her, sipping tea and hearing her story.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 

― Corrie ten Boom

“In darkness God's truth shines most clear.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

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

I guess, I wish I knew more about the publishing business. I didn’t realize there was so much competition and how the process worked.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

To pray. Throughout the day. About everything. My pastor said something that really hit a cord with me, “If it’s worth worrying about, it’s worth praying about.” I’ve always prayed, but sometimes life can be distracting and situations discouraging. Giving the concerns of my heart to Lord allows me peace, and praising Him for His constant blessings keeps everything my life in perspective. Romans 12:12 says, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Amen J

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

Read the genre you write.

Write what you are passionate about.

Pray for the Lord’s direction and guidance.

Tell us about the featured book.

Broken Silence is a Harlequin, Love Inspired Suspense. A story about lost love reunited: Here’s a little blurb.

SHE'S HIDING A DEADLY SECRET…and someone wants to make sure Amber Talbot never reveals it. When she becomes the target of a car bomb and a home invasion, she gets the message loud and clear. If she tells anyone her secret, she will die. The person charged with protecting her is police detective Patrick Wiley—the fiancé she walked away from but never forgot. The same man she never wanted to tell about the attack that left her for dead. Back then Patrick couldn't save her. Now he must. Because the attacker has returned to finish what he started. Except this time he's got them both in his sights.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The distant toll of the Chatham County, Georgia, clock tower rang twelve noon as Amber Talbot left the Safe Harbor Counseling Center and headed down River Street to her car.

The forecast had called for late afternoon thunderstorms here in Savannah, but already dark clouds hovered low in the sky. A rising breeze swept the tree-lined streets, rustling spring foliage and delivering a sudden chill to the air. Turning up her collar, Amber eyed the murky waves that boomed against wooden docks. Boats tied to their posts bobbed like corks in the water. Curling whitecaps crashed over their bows.

Amber pulled in a breath of humid air and picked up her pace. Perfect weather to snuggle up with a good book. Exactly what she needed. After weeks of being bogged down at work, she was treating herself to a restful weekend.

With those thoughts echoing in her head, Amber jogged up a short flight of steps to the parking lot. Lengthening her strides, she dug out her key fob and unlocked her car with a click.

“Ma’am, did you drop this?”

Amber spun in the direction of the male voice and found an older gentleman waving a manila envelope with her name sprawled across it.

She glanced at her open messenger bag, crammed full with her purse, client files and notes for her fund-raiser. How careless, she chastised herself, for forgetting to zip it closed.

Tucking the bag under her arm, she started toward the man. “Thank you, sir―”

A deafening blast filled the air.

Amber flew backward, landed hard on the pavement. Black smoke plumed in front of her. The ground shook as glass and metal rained down like a hailstorm. Scrambling to her knees, she hurled her arms over her head to protect it from the shower of stinging objects. A whoosh sounded, then she heard crackling as heat blanketed her. She willed herself to move but couldn’t.

I’m going to die!

“Lady, are you okay?” The man’s distant shriek filled her ears. “You need to get away from the flames!”

Amber’s body pulsed with pain. Smoke raked across her eyes like claws. She squeezed them shut, as coughs wracked her lungs. She pulled herself forward, crawling in the direction of the man’s voice. Shrapnel bit into her palms and knees, but adrenaline kept her moving, until the man grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet.

“I called 9-1-1. Help’s on the way,” the older man screeched between hacks. “Was that your car?”

Amber’s lungs burned. She worked to breathe. On shaky legs she managed to turn.

The smoke had subsided some, but the car was engulfed in flames. Panic grew, her mind spun with shock.

“Yes,” she said, disbelieving. “That was my car.”

Wow! I can’t wait to read the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

annsleeurban@gmail.com

www.Annsleeurban.com

http://Annsleeurban.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/mary.a.urban.9

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008HRODHE

Thank you for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait for my copy to arrive.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Broken Silence - Christianbook.com
Broken Silence (Love Inspired Suspense) - Amazon
Broken Silence (Love Inspired Suspense) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

WIND IN THE WIRES - Janet Chester Bly - One Free Book

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

The theme of all our fiction is to prepare the hearts of readers to receive God’s truth. But whether fiction or nonfiction, Bly books deal with relationship issues and encouraging readers to trust God more deeply in the tough hassles of life. Writing westerns was my late hubby Stephen’s genre. That grew out of his love of Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey fiction, his lifestyle growing up on a farm and later working on a ranch, and his knowledge gained of historical details of the era.

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

The day in February 2006 when Stephen and I celebrated my birthday in Paris at the Eiffel Tower and it was gently snowing. So fun. And romantic. I’d love to have that event to live over again.

How has being published changed your life?

Being published confirmed for me my God-given task, my main ministry. I know where to invest my time, strength, and gifts. Also, this has been an avenue for gaining so many acquaintances and friendships that never otherwise would have been possible. I’m thinking of readers and other writers, as well as various folks in the publishing field.

What are you reading right now?

I have started re-reading all of my Anne Perry mystery novels. The Thomas Pitt and William Monk Series were some of her Victorian mysteries. I also have appreciated her World War II Series. She intrigued me so much as a writer that I did some research, was privileged to make personal contact with her via mail, and wrote an article on her work and her life. During the process I discovered a shocking truth about her personally. If you’re interested, you can find it out here: http://www.blybooks.com/2015/02/anne-perry-mysteries/

What is your current work in progress?

I am working on three different projects in succession this Spring.

a.) Stephen’s first published book was entitled Radical Discipleship. With a bit of edit and adaptation, it is being re-released as 9 different eBooklets in The Following Jesus Series. Find the first two, The Way-Paver Society and The Pallet Carriers Union here: http://www.blybooks.com/ebooks-estories/

b.) Most of our novel series for kids are out of print. I am re-releasing them one at a time, starting with a fiction for boys 8-14 years old, The Nathan T. Riggins Series. Check out what’s available so far here: http://www.blybooks.com/genre/books-for-kids/.

c.) I’m aiming by the first of May to begin working on Book 2 of the Trails of Reba Cahill Series. Hope to have that book ready in the Fall.

What would be your dream vacation?

These days a Reading Retreat sounds wonderful with nothing on the agenda except to read and look at beautiful scenery. In fact, have such a vacay scheduled sometime the next month in northern Idaho with a friend. Other vacations I love are anywhere I can include research for a story idea in the mix.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

First of all, they have to be in one of the western states. That narrows it down a bit. Second, it has to be somewhere I/we spent some time or will be headed to. On location research is important. The beginning scenes in Wind in the Wires happen in a fictional town just like the one I live in, so that makes it so much easier. But then one of the characters insists on taking a long journey in a Model T to Goldfield, Nevada. That required a lot more work. Gets me out of the house on the road. Delightful part of my job.

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

Whoever is reading this blog right now. Would love to sit with you and listen to your stories, and empathize with your troubles. I’d like to find out who you are and what you’ve done and what your plans are for the future. I love meeting new people and finding out interesting things about them. There are always pleasant surprises. And who knows? You could be the inspiration for a character in a novel sometime.

Good answer, Janet. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I used to have all sorts of hobbies, such as making wreaths, pottery, and embroidery. But all of those fell to the wayside when I started writing. Besides, I overdid it on all those activities. I made so many for friends and family and myself, there was no point in continuing.

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

My husband was my partner and helpmeet in everything. We were so prolific because we had learned how to work together, support each other, and divided up all our various duties. As a widow, my main obstacle is the stuff of everyday life. I have to do it all myself now. There are so many details I once shared or didn’t have to do at all that now require my full attention. It’s unrelenting and saps my creative energy at times. One way I overcome being overwhelmed by it all is to remind myself it will never be completely finished. I will leave this world with undone tasks. Stephen did. So will I. That relieves the pressure that somehow I’m supposed to get everything done right now. I focus on one thing at a time. Also, I have found a tremendous power in taking time at the end of the day to enjoy and appreciate each project that does get done. I thank God for all He helped me do. That helps me cope and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Pray through every step of the process of your journey. Make the writing from the very start about your relationship with God. Keep Him front and center. Also, when life happens, don’t consider it as intrusions on your writing. Realize that nothing is ever wasted. The good and the bad, the joys and the ugly, they’re all grist for what you’ll communicate to your world of readers.

Tell us about the featured book.

A cowgirl searches for love and family. An old man seeks justice for two cold case murders. Their

journey together exposes lies and betrayal. Will the truth be too hard for either to bear?

    

It’s 1991. Reba Cahill loves ranching with Grandma Pearl in north central Idaho. But there’s a lot of work and only two of them. Reba wants a husband to come alongside. But she finds few prospects in the small town of Road’s End (pop. 400).   

Reba is also missing something else: her mother. Deserted by her at three years old and never knowing her dad, she feels a sense of longing and loss. And bitterness. 

When elderly, quirky Road’s End citizen Maidie Fortress dies, she’s given an expensive piece of jewelry that turns Reba’s world upside down. She’s led down unexpected paths and toward unsuspected admirers. Will the facts also ruin all hope for romance?                  

Please give us the first page of the book.

May 1991, Road’s End, Idaho

She must find the runaway heifer. And get to Maidie’s funeral on time.

Reba Mae Cahill urged her black quarter horse to trudge through the spring green, muddy terrain. Recent rains and snowmelt gummed the pine-dotted, wild flower sprayed, high mountain prairie. Puddles and small ponds, tall grass and shadows made search tedious.

Johnny Poe stalled.

“Come on, boy, Don said he saw her near here. Got to find that cow before Champ Runcie does. And return home quick.”

They rode the moss-covered wood post and barbed wire fence line as she checked the steel stays. A strong whoosh of wind made a ringing sound in the wires. She scanned the long length of Runcie Ranch fencing. Her glance caught at a break in the fence next to stacked tires filled with large rocks supposed to hold the fence in place. Certainly enough space for a moon-eyed, red bovine stray to escape. She peered closer and spied a cut at all five lines, now splayed on the ground.

Why would anyone do that?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.BlyBooks.com   

https://www.facebook.com/janetchesterbly

https://www.facebook.com/BlyBooks

https://twitter.com/blybooks/

https://www.pinterest.com/janetcbly/

https://www.goodreads.com/janetchesterbly  

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Thank you, Janet, for sharing this new western with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Wind in the Wires: A Trails of Reba Cahill Novel

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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!!!!!

Melanie (TX) is the winner of How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck.

Apple Blossom (ND) is the winner of Miss Brenda and the Loveladies by Brenda Spahn.

Angela (FL) is the winner of Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar by Carol Guthrie Heilman.

J C (IN) is the winner of Salt Covenants by Sylvia Bambola.

Barb (NJ) is the winner of Writer Off the Leash by Michelle Griep.

If you won a book and you 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. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

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.

LAUREL - Susan F Craft - One Free Book

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

I don’t see or feel a lot of me in my characters, so if readers see me, it’s unintentional.

Except for not being able to find my way out of the woods, I identify most with my main character in my novel Laurel. Lilyan Xanthakos relies on her faith in God to get her through the dangerous and tragic happenings in her life, as do I.

There’s a pirate in my novel, Cassia, which is being released this September. His name is Captain Galeo (which means shark in Greek) and he is pure evil and the nastiest character I’ve ever written. It’s humbling and a little more than unsettling to realize that he lives inside me … I created him. Scary, right?

I wrote a nasty pirate in Pirate’s Prize. I had fun writing him. I want to feature Cassia, on this blog, if you’ll let me. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When I was younger, I was a very active person. But at age 66 I have become sedentary. So it’s quirky for me that in the past few years I parasailed and I went whitewater rafting. I hope to ride in a hot air balloon and take a mule ride through the Grand Canyon.

You go, girl! When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote my first book (10 handwritten pages) when I was eight. I bound it using two pieces of cardboard box sewn together with dental floss. I titled it, The Secret of the Whistling Cave. I was into mysteries, having read every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on.

I kept my writing to myself in my teen years, and then went to college where I earned a BA in Journalism. My first job was as a writer for educational television. From there, I was an assistant director of communications at a South Carolina state agency, then a continuing education planner for the SC College of Pharmacy, and ended my 41-year career as a proofreader for the SC Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Some of it was, I told myself at the time, not what I really wanted to be writing—articles for agency publications, informational materials, speeches for the agency director. It was “my day job” that I couldn’t quit because I couldn’t get anyone interested in my novels.

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

I have a lot of author friends, so my reading runs the gamut. Right now, I have 10 books on my Kindle waiting for me— mysteries, an 1890s suspense, a young adult fantasy, a Victorian era romance, a devotional for busy women.

I’m partial to historical romance, especially the Colonial American era.

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

I recently retired after working fulltime for 41 years. I liked working and made some dear friends among my coworkers, so I’m going through a transition.

When I was younger I felt like one of those spinning plate jugglers with a husband who traveled, two children, and an ailing mother to care for. My faith, singing in the choir, and painting helped me keep my sanity.

It’s taken me three months to decompress, and it’s only in the past couple of weeks that I’ve started to discover how freeing retirement is. I want to take some painting and pottery classes and maybe learn Tai Chi. I have to be careful, though, not to get too busy again.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I often find names in my research. For example, for my novel The Chamomile, I found a roster of almost 200 prisoners aboard one of three British prison ships anchored in the Charlestown (Charleston), South Carolina, harbor in 1781.

We have some very old cemeteries in South Carolina, going back to the 1600s. I’ve found names of people and their stories on tombstones.

Many of my characters are Scottish, and I found names in a book I have about the clans, their history, mottos, battle cries, and tartans.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m most proud of my 45-year marriage and the loving relationship and friendship my husband and I have maintained and nurtured. It hasn’t been easy. Like many people we’ve had good and bad times, times of plenty and times of leanness, good health and sickness, and lots of give and take.

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

I would be a horse, probably a mustang, maybe the head mare of a herd racing across the Western plains. Wild or not, horses are creatures of habit and love to maintain the same pattern. Horses make sturdy, honorable, and reliable friends. (The only thing bad about being a mare is their gestation period is 335-340 days!)

What is your favorite food?

Chicken divan with an extra dash of curry powder.

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

Working fulltime and caring for a family was my greatest roadblock because I couldn’t settle down to write until 11 p.m. and wrote until 2-3 a.m. I overcame it by ruminating on entire scenes and conversations and retaining them until I could find the opportunity to write my thoughts down. This meant learning to create while stalled in traffic, in doctors’ waiting rooms, and in grocery lines.

Tell us about the featured book.

Desperate to rescue their kidnapped daughter, Lilyan and Nicholas Xanthakos trek two hundred miles through South Carolina mountains and backcountry wilderness, fighting outlaws, hunger, sleeplessness, and despair. When the trail grows cold, the couple battles guilt and personal shame; Lilyan for letting Laurel out of her sight, and Nicholas for failing to keep his family safe.

They track Laurel to the port of Charleston as post-Revolutionary War passions reach fever pitch. There, Lilyan, a former patriot spy, is charged for the murder of a British officer. She is thrown into the Exchange Building dungeon and chained alongside prostitutes, thieves, and murderers. Separated from her husband, she digs deep inside to re-ignite the courage and faith that helped her survive the war. Determined to free his wife at any cost, Nicholas finds himself forced back into a life of violence he thought he’d left behind.

Following a rumor that Laurel may be aboard a freighter bound for Baltimore, Lilyan and Nicholas secure passage on a departing schooner, but two days into the voyage, a storm blows their ship aground on Diamond Shoals. As the ship founders, both are swept overboard.

Will their love for each other and their faith sustain them as they await word of their missing child? Or is Laurel lost to them forever?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

May 1783

Inching forward on a ladder-back chair, Lilyan Xanthakos propped her elbows on her worktable and pressed a walnut shell into the pliant skin of a clay pot. Her face tight with concentration, she gingerly pulled out the shell and admired the pattern left behind.

“Finished.”

Once again, her anxious gaze was drawn from her task to the road that meandered through the valley and wound its way up to the cabin.

What’s keeping them?

She turned the pot toward the old man who sat beside her on the porch. “What do you think?”

Callum, his body wizened from years of hard living, hunting, and long-forgotten battles, stilled his rocking chair. He studied Lilyan’s handiwork. “It’s a fine pot, lassie. Like you. Beautiful, strong, dependable.”

Adoration gleamed in his watery blue eyes, barely visible beneath their sagging lids.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.susanfcraft.com (my website)

http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com (my personal blog)

http://colonialquills.blogspot.com (post the fourth Monday of each month)

http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com (post once a month)

http://www.hhhistory.com (post on the 31st of months that have a 31st)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.craft.108

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/susanfc/

Twitter: @susanfcraft

Thank you, Susan, for sharing this book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Laurel - Paperback
Laurel - 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

HER NERDY COWBOY - Annette M Irby - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, I’ve known Annette for a long time. I’m pleased to share this new short book with you. Don’t you just love the title?

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

They say “write what you know,” and I find myself in my characters often. Who, besides God, knows us better than we know ourselves? I want readers to relate, so that means using my experience to inform my stories. But the level of how much of my own personality/life influences them varies by the character and by the plot of that particular story.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Great question. Back when my oldest daughters were in pre-school and kindergarten, I dropped them off for school on a foggy day. Then, just for fun, I went across the street to the park and swung on a swing for a long time. Folks out walking just stared, probably wondering how old the female on the swings in that weather was. But I liked how the fog swirled around me.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was four years old, I began writing songs—or rather, making them up in my head since I wasn’t writing yet. A little later, I recall spinning stories in my mind during family vacations. I’d get caught up in them, my imagination working hard. Later, I began to write them down. There was something so satisfying about having the tales on paper. Still love that feeling. In fact, I often print a late-stage manuscript just to read it on hard copy before submitting it, and because I like to see the physical evidence of all those hours of researching and writing.

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

I’m an inspirational romance reader above other genres. I occasionally read spec fiction or fantasy and some women’s fiction. But generally I stick with contemporary Christian romance. I find that a strong romantic thread keeps me reading, which is why some genres appeal more than others.

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

As one of those introverts who physically requires downtime away from folks, I find the best way to cope with this busy world is to take that time for myself. So, I’ll go for walks or work in my garden. I like container gardening with flowers. The reward is beautiful the entire season so that just looking at the finished pots of blooms is refreshing.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Generally by feel. I like to use names that are uncommon, and I often pull out a baby name book for inspiration. Sometimes I make them up, but then wonder if editors will feel they’re too unusual. I’ve also found names online at baby naming sites. On rare occasions, I have chosen a name based on its meaning and how it fit the story’s theme.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Another great question … I’ve been thinking a lot lately about humility and how we have nothing unless God gives it to us. I also believe that we partner with God to do His will (when we’re willing). So, can I take “credit” for an accomplishment? I guess not. But I am grateful to God for His grace to do anything worthwhile.

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

I’d like to be a hummingbird. They’re so lively. Hummingbirds live in our region and my youngest and I like finding them and pointing them out to each other.

My husband keeps a hummingbird feeder out all summer long. We love it when one comes to visit. What is your favorite food?

My all-time favorite is chicken souvlaki. Oh, the feta on a Greek salad!

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

For years and years I was a Seat-Of-The-Pants writer (pantster). I loved the rush of the words flowing as the story played out for me. Then, I felt led to learn to plot. Oh, outlining. I’ve been studying plot building for quite awhile. I usually know by instinct that something’s missing. But plotting and I still aren’t great buddies. The best of both is when the vague outline lends itself to inspiration and flowing words.

I, too, am most SOTP, but I do start with a timeline that I build on. Tell us about the featured book.

Her Nerdy Cowboy is a short inspirational romance—what Pelican Book Group calls a Dollar Download. It comes in e-book format and is 37 “pages” long. I wanted to write a cowboy story, but with a twist. I thought it would be fun to combine the romantic idea of a cowboy with the trendy “nerdy” character. Here’s the summary:

Whoever heard of a bookish cowboy? When Logan McDaniel’s brother-in-law dies, he steps in to help his beloved sister run her ranch. But what does a city boy know of herding cattle?

Claire Langley loved her cousin. After he dies, she agrees to serve as a temporary nanny for two heartbroken children. Claire and Logan find they share a love of books, and Claire can’t resist the nerdy uncle who is great with children and who reads to her of pirate romance, but Claire’s ailing mother needs her in Seattle. Can she break away? And if she does, can there ever be a future for Logan and her?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Logan McDaniels lugged his baggage through the airport. So many people wearing cowboy boots and hats. How in the world was he going to fit in here, what with his black-rimmed glasses and lean build? You never saw cowboys in glasses. Maybe they wore contacts. Now, that was a picture—cattle proddin’ macho dudes jabbing lenses into their eyes.

His sister Macy stepped forward, a baby on her hip. Where did that little tike come from? Last he knew she had only Cody, age eight, and Aubrey, age five. He hugged Macy with one arm, careful not to scare the kid. “What gives, sis? You have another one when I wasn’t looking?”

“Har har. No, she’s a neighbor’s daughter. I’m just watching her for a couple hours while her mom’s at an appointment. Another baby on the way.”

He sighed to himself, glad his sister and bro-in-law stopped at two. Especially now.

The threesome headed toward the airport exit. He glanced around. “What? No niece or nephew for me to pester?”

“Nope, they’re with the nanny. Lucy here wouldn’t stay with Nanny Claire.” Even now, the rug rat clung with white fists and wary eyes.

Wait a minute. Back this truck up. “Your nanny?” Since when could she afford one?

She clicked open the pickup with its crew cab—the ideal “family” vehicle for ranch owners. Then, she nodded toward the open truck bed and his luggage. “Just strap it down back there.”

He reached for a bungee cord and checked the sky. Not a cloud. Then the horizon. No hills, mountains, bodies of water … anything. When had he agreed to come to Oz?

Love that opening. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Twitter: @annettemirby

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annettemirby  

Website: www.annetteirby.com

Editing website: www.AMIediting.com

Writers’ blog: www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com

Book review blog: www.annetteirbyreviews.blogspot.com

Thanks for having me, Lena. It’s a pleasure!

I've loved having you here today, Annette.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Her Nerdy Cowboy

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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 POSTCARD - Laura V Hilton - One Free Book

Bio: Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard in April 2015, and The Birdhouse in September 2015. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

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

I love contemporary romance and the Amish. Writing the combination of this is a dream come true. A win-win.

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

Probably when I found out I was expecting my second child. The first was a shock, we were young and scared, newly-married and in college, and the second was an anticipated event that we were all excited about.

How has being published changed your life?

It has taken me way out of my comfort zone in many areas.

What are you reading right now?

Right now, I am starting Vannetta Chapman’s novella in An Amish Cradle.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m writing the first book of a new Amish series set in Jamesport, Missouri.

What would be your dream vacation?

Unlimited money, a travel trailer, and lots of time to go wherever I want.

When we were younger, James and I would have loved to have a travel trailer or motor home to travel around the United States. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I’m choosing real life Amish communities that I can research.

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

This is hard. There are so many important to me people … maybe my aunt. She lives a long ways away and I don’t get to see her much.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Spending time with my family, playing board games with them. Traveling to my favorite places.

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

Finding quiet time. I have learned to block out most “white” noise.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Put your bottom in a chair and write. And read a lot.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Postcard

David Lapp (from Promised to Another) survived a “code blue” when he was in a buggy/semi truck accident in Seymour, Missouri. Now after extensive therapy he has lingering mobility problems and is still struggling to find his place in the world. Lured away from Webster County by thoughts of closed buggies and a postcard friendship he’s developed with an Amish girl in Jamesport, he moves north, hoping for a fresh start. He finds work in the area tying flies and basket weaving, selling his products in the Amish markets in the Jamesport area.

Rachel Miller dreams of travel, but feels tied to her Amish life. She is being courted by Obadiah Graber, but wonders if there’s more to life. When she sees David’s name mentioned in The Budget, she strikes up a pen pal friendship with David while he’s in the hospital and in therapy, consoling him when he and his girlfriend part ways. She never dreams that David will come north and move into her community. David is still fearful in the buggy, especially in high traffic areas. Feeling he’s called by God to preach, David spends hours in the Bible, but the Amish discourage him, believing their ministers should be drawn by lot. Will David follow his call, even if it takes him out of the Amish church? Will Rachel realize her dream to travel?

Please give us the first page of the book.

The chimes on the door rang as it opened. She looked over her shoulder. An Amish man entered. No beard, so he wasn’t married. But she’d never seen him before. Odd, considering everyone made it to the Amish Country Store sooner or later. Not to mention, the unmarried ones usually attended Singings and frolics. Especially the ones where they could meet others from different districts. It expanded the dating pool considerably. That was how she’d met Obadiah two years ago, since he lived in a different district than she.

The stranger pulled off his straw hat, revealing light brown hair and dark brown eyes. He glanced at her and a slight smile formed as his gaze skimmed over her. Something inside her jumped to life. Her stomach fluttered.

Wait, she shouldn’t be so excited about a stranger. She was taken. But there was nothing wrong with appreciating a handsome man. Tall and handsome. Nice body. Strong looking. Except for his eyes, there was nothing dark about him.

His smile widened, and he slowed to a stop. It was then she noticed the wooden cane he carried, but didn’t use.

A cane. What happened to make him need one of those? An accident of some sort?

Rachel stared at it, then blinked. She was being rude. She looked away and resumed straightening the bottom shelf. But his presence loomed behind her, making her more aware than she wanted to be of him. She really shouldn’t fill her mind with romance if this was how it would affect her. Her imagination worked overtime.

The floor creaked behind her. “I’m looking for Rachel Miller. I was told she works here.” The stranger’s voice broke the silence.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/ 

twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Purchase my books:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton

Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX

Thank you, Laura, for sharing some of your life and this new book with us.

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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