THE SHERIFF'S SURRENDER - Susan Page Davis - Free Books

Love having Susan back with us. This new story looks interesting. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I try not to do that, but I suppose they are all influenced by my experiences.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Even when I was small, I liked to make up stories. But being a writer as an occupation wasn’t really within my horizon when I was a child.

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

I like mystery, suspense, and romantic comedy. I enjoy reading true history, biography, and survival stories. I have a collection of captivity narratives.

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

I’ve written about fifteen historical novels (eleven in print), and about fifteen suspense novels (seven have been published), two published novels for children/young adult, and three mysteries published with my daughter Megan. I’ve also done about ten contemporary romance, three of which are published so far.

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

Sometimes I have to walk away from the computer for a while. Usually when things go really insane, I realize I haven’t spent enough time in God’s Word and prayer, and I try to get back on track. I also think not watching the news every night helps.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

This is one of the hard parts, in my opinion. I tend to grab the same names over and over. And if I don’t like a name, I can only use it for a character I don’t like.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My family—with God’s grace, we have six wonderful young adult children, two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law, and six terrific grandchildren.

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

For a while I would like to be a dog and get lots of head-pats. But I’d probably get tired of that quickly, since I’m not a dog lover.

What is your favorite food?

Fruit.

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

Read a lot. Write every day. Network. Repeat.

Tell us about the story.

A murder in Fergus, Idaho, has the town’s women scared. But the men don’t seem able to stop the rash of thefts, assaults, and vandalism that follow. Half a dozen women band together to arm themselves against trouble. The gunsmith's plain sister, the emporium's owner, a couple of rancher's wives and saloon girls take their shooting lessons seriously. The men are skeptical at first and slightly amused. The new minister's wife shocks the town by joining the club, and other women follow her lead.

When they show no sign of letting up on their drill, the men beg the sheriff to disband the club and put their women back where they belong. Those are fighting words to the ladies. Domestic rebellion threatens until a new murder grabs everyone's attention. Will the sheriff and his men find the killer and put him away? Or will that honor belong to the Ladies' Shooting Club?

Sounds like a wonderful read. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Come visit me at http://www.susanpagedavis.com/
Readersm here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link, you will be helping uspport this blog.

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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

Winners!!! Winners!!! Winners!!!

HollyMag is the winner of Secrets and Lies by Rhonda McKnight.

Megan is the winner of Eye of the God by Ariel Allison.



Casey is the winner of The Fence My Father Built by Linda S. Clare.



Lee Smith is the winner of The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen.


Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:

Click on View My Complete Profile, then use the Email link.
Go to http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/  then click on Contact Me.

You have 6 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. It will help support this blog.

A LADY LIKE SARAH - Margaret Brownley - Free Book

I first met Margaret in Denver at the ACFW national conference. Then we sat next to each other at the large booksigning at the conference. Welcome, Margaret. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Are you asking if my beautiful, slender and witty heroines take after me? Of course they do! Seriously, I write strong female characters who are survivors. I think that sums me up.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Since I couldn’t think of anything, I asked my daughter who said that the quirkiest thing I do is cook. Okay, so we all know this isn’t my strong suit, but quirky? Hmm.

I guess that means you cook interesting and unusual things. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I was always a storyteller and was constantly in trouble as a child for making up stories. The writer part was harder to acknowledge, partly because English was my least favorite subject. My eighth grade teacher told me not to even think about being a writer. Diagram a sentence? Never! I’m like the musician who can’t read music. It’s hard to let go of the negative messages of childhood and I published close to a half dozen books before I could work up the nerve to call myself a writer.

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

As a historical writer, I have to read a lot of non-fiction. For fun I read historical and contemporary romance. I also like to read mysteries with an occasional thriller thrown in. I’m especially fond of quirky books with funny titles. I recently read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society because one simply must read a book with a title like that.

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

I’ve published 23 books and probably wrote close to 30 including the world’s worst romance. I’ve written for Harlequin, St.Martin’s Press, and Penguin. I was one of the 8 launch authors for the Topaz historical books. I do have a humorous mystery story I would love to see published one day. I also co-wrote a story for a daytime soap and have written something like 500 articles for magazines and newspapers. I simply can’t stop writing.

That's how we writers are wired. We have to write something. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Good question. Someone recently said that writing is 3% talent and 97% resisting the temptation of the Internet. There certainly seems to be more distractions today than when I first started writing.

I’m an early riser so I’m lucky. I can get most of the day’s writing done before the world awakes and the phone starts ringing. I’m really selfish about my writing time. Friends and family know not to bother me in the morning and I refuse to make doctor or hairdresser appointments during this time. We also get away frequently in our RV. I’m fortunate to live within an hour’s drive to the beach, country, desert or mountains, depending which direction we take.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Since I’m writing historical novels, the name has to be right for the times. For my male characters, I strive for a combination of one and two syllable names: Rick Armstrong. I aim for strong names with just a hint of softness to show that there’s more behind his rough exterior than meets the eye. Somewhere I read that the letter K is funny—don’t know why. Assuming this is true, I use it whenever possible to convey a humorous character. Anything goes for minor characters. One of my favorite minor characters was Miss Quackenbush.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My husband and I are most proud of raising children who are fine citizens and faithful Christians.

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

A monkey so I could make people laugh.

What is your favorite food?

Anything I don’t have to cook. Or maybe I should say anything my daughter or son-in-law will cook for me. Both are professional chefs. My daughter is known as Chef Robyn and you can find her on http://www.chefsline.com/ . Ask for her. Say her mom sent her and she may even give you a secret recipe or two.

She created a special desert for the first book in my Rocky Creek series, A Lady Like Sarah. It has a nutty (rocky) crust and creamy melt in your mouth chocolate. Email me through my website and I’ll send you the recipe. She also created a luscious raspberry delight for A Suitor for Jenny, the 2nd book in the series scheduled for publication September 2010.

I have a sign on the wall in my kitchen that says, My two favorite foods are going out to eat and whatever my husband cooks. However, he's stopped cooking now. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

The most difficult thing to overcome was lack of confidence. I began my career writing articles for newspapers and magazines. I sold a humorous piece to the Auto Club magazine and they sent me a check for a $100. I was stunned. Convinced no one would pay that much for something I wrote, I called them up to make sure it wasn’t a mistake. Failing 8th grade English definitely took its toll. I overcame my lack of confidence with pure determination. That’s how much I wanted to be a writer.

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

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Outliers, the Story of Success, he writes about the 10,000 hour rule. No matter what field you want to succeed in, you have to put in your 10,000 hours. That’s the first step. I wrote four books before I sold my first. So you gotta write like you’ve never written before.

The second step is to show up. Woody Allen said that 80% of success is just showing up and this is SO true. I heard a disturbing statistic at a recent writing conference: only 10% of the writers asked to submit chapters or proposal to an agent or editor actually bother to do so.

Write and submit. Write and submit. Babe Ruth said it best, “You can’t beat persistence.”

Tell us about the featured book?

A Lady Like Sarah takes place in 1879. Preacher Justin Wells leaves Boston in disgrace, and encounters a wounded marshal on a dusty road in Missouri. Justin promises the dying lawman to take his handcuffed prisoner to Texas. This proves harder than he thought, for the prisoner is a woman, and she’s determined to miss the hanging party waiting for her.

The story was inspired by the escapades of Pearl Hart. Desperate to help her seriously-ill mother, she stopped a stage and, with the help of a loaded pistol, convinced its passengers to help pay her poor mama’s medical bills. (Bet you didn’t know that health care was highway robbery even back in the old west.)

Please give us the first page of the book.

1879
Missouri

Vultures signaled trouble ahead.

“Whoa, boy.” Reverend Justin Wells tugged on the reins of his horse, bringing his brown gelding to a standstill.

Adjusting the brim of his dusty felt hat, he narrowed his eyes against the bright afternoon sun and peered across the wide, arid plains. Trees grew directly ahead of him, the first he’d seen since leaving St. Louis five days prior. The graceful, tall sycamores suggested the welcome presence of water, perhaps a stream.

He mopped his damp brow with a kerchief, then lifted his eyes upward. They were vultures, all right. No question about it. The scavengers circled overhead on broad, outstretched wings, scanning the ground in waiting silence.

Something or someone was dying. An animal no doubt. He’d passed his share of buffalo skulls and cattle carcasses in recent days, and each had made him ruminate on dying and the meaning of life.

Born and raised in Boston, he never planned to travel across country, never really had a hankering for adventure. Not like most men he knew. Certainly he never expected to leave his hometown in disgrace.

He reached for his canteen, every muscle in his body protesting. He wasn’t just saddle sore; his back ached from the restless nights spent on the hard, unyielding ground. Sleep, if it came at all, had been fleeting at best and offered little respite from his troubled thoughts.

He pulled off the cork top of his tin canteen and lifted it to his parched lips. Never one to question God’s will in the past, it disturbed him that he questioned it now.

Texas!

What possible reason could God have for sending him to a rough, untamed town in Texas?

I'm hooked. I can hardly wait for my book to come. How can readers find you on the Internet?

A good place to start is with my homestead (aka website): http://www.margaretbrownley.com/

Also check out Stagecoach Etiquette: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prY2q9Oasp4

Thank you, Margaret, for letting us have a peek into your life.

Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of the book. By ordering using this link, you'll help support this blog.

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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

THE UNFINISHED GIFT - Dan Walsh - Free Book

I'm happy to introduce you to this debut author and his book. I read and reviewed it in my November Newsletter - http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com/ . Welcome, Dan. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I actually don’t set out to write myself into any of my characters, but I’m sure I still show up from time to time. My wife knows me better than anyone (we’re married 33 years). She catches glimpses of me every now and then. What I try to do is immerse myself in my characters’ situation, which is funny, because it’s a situation I put them in. I want to see what they’re seeing, feel what they’re feeling. I start writing when I get there. I’ve heard actors describe “getting into character,” and I thought, that’s what I’m trying to do.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

The quirkiest things were probably done before I came to Christ in high school (some went beyond quirky to downright harmful and illegal). But here’s one that might fit. I’m a pastor. Years ago, we threw a big anniversary party for some friends in the church who were teens in the Elvis years. I got talked into showing up at the end of the party, and did an Elvis impersonation…the old Elvis, after he’d lost all his moves.

The Worship pastor at my former church did a very good Elvis impersonation whent he choir had a sixties themed party. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

By the end of 11th Grade. I took a composition class, and we did all kinds of creative writing. I loved it, and my teacher seemed to love what I wrote and told me so often. The desire to write was born then and has never left.

I'm glad you pursued publication now. As you know, I loved this book. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love anything historical that is well written. By that, I mean it puts me right there. I love suspense thrillers, sometimes. But I also love relational dramas, especially ones that get me choked up.

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

Revell picked up my second novel, The Homecoming, which is the follow-up book to The Unfinished Gift. They plan to release it by the summer of 2010. Some years ago, I wrote a suspense thriller, a totally different genre than my two published works. That one may yet see the light of day. But right now I’m hard at work on my third novel, a relational drama set in 1857, involving a newlywed couple and a shipwreck.

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

By endeavoring to express, as my first thoughts of the day, my total need and dependence on God. I think there’s a conveyor belt that runs right under my bed, called anxious thoughts. I’m not careful, I will step on that thing and not get off all day. So I quickly get to my quiet place to meet with Jesus, through prayer and reading the Word. At some point, my wife brings me the best coffee. I don’t run through a checklist. I’m there because I need to receive, to reflect on the wonderful truths of the Gospel, and have my mind and heart renewed by the Holy Spirit. This anchors my day better than anything else I’ve tried.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Some of them have just popped into my head. I see the character, and the name is right there. For others, I’m searching the internet, trying names on like shoes. Because I’m writing in history, my name choices narrow by the available names in that period of time or the character’s nationality. It’s not uncommon for me to start with a name, and two chapters later say, “That’s not who you are.” Then I’m trying on shoes again.

I know what you mean. One minor character in the book I just sent to my publisher had three different names. He finally told me what it was near the end of the book. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

When I was twenty, I could have come up with a dozen things in five minutes. I’ve spent the latter part of my life growing in my awareness that I really haven’t done anything well without a lot of help. Asking what I’m most grateful for, would get closer to the way I think. That my wife and I are still in love is very big. That my grown kids love me and enjoy my company is huge. Finding out that my first novel would actually be published, a very good day.

James and I are more in love than ever as we entered our 46th year in November. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Something that spends half its time with the other animals, and the other half in solitude and, because it’s an animal, no one thinks it strange.

What is your favorite food?

You mean, after pizza? A very good steak with garlic mashed potatoes. Any one of a half-dozen pasta dishes just flashed through my mind.

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

Time is a big one. I’m a full-time pastor. I write in the moments in-between. Sometimes when I have time, nothing flows. Other times, the perfect piece of dialog or the best way to refine a scene jumps in my head, and I’m hours away from doing anything about it. How did I overcome this? I haven’t. I’m just grateful that I get to do something in my downtime that I genuinely love. My wife has helped me the most, to find some normalcy and routine in my writing schedule.

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

Writing is a craft with many facets. They all matter and they all take time to develop and mature. Those who finally do get published know well they haven’t “made it.” They’ve just reached an important place. But they must keep growing and honing this craft. Write as often as you can; when it flows and when it won’t. Read good books on writing well. Read well-written books. Get sucked in, then go back and read as a learner. Connect with at least a handful of people who love reading and hate flattery. They could be writers also, but I’ve heard some of the best editors have never written a book. Listen to what they say, not what you think. I heard an old saying, “If you see a turtle sitting atop a fencepost, you know he had a little help.”

Tell us about the featured book?

It is a few weeks before Christmas, 1943. Little Patrick Collins is being driven across town to stay with a grandfather he’s never met. His mother recently died in a car accident. The Army is trying to locate his father, a B-17 bomber pilot, stationed somewhere in England. At first, Patrick just tries to cope with the magnitude of his tragedy, but soon realizes he must find a way to melt the ice surrounding his grandfather’s heart. He is helped along the way by a caring but frustrated social worker, a kindly Italian widow who lives next door, and a poor black man with a courageous and generous heart.

THE UNFINISHED GIFT explores how God can use simple and sometimes surprising things to affect powerful changes in our hearts. Like a little boy’s reactions to a tragedy, a shoebox full of love letters, even an old wooden soldier, tossed away and forgotten in a dusty attic.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Here’s a link to the first chapter on my website (it’s pretty short):
www.danwalshbooks.com/The_Unfinished_Gift_Chapter_One.pdf

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I have a website at http://www.danwalshbooks.com/ . I want to thank you and your readers for your time and hope you enjoy my new book.

Thank you for spending time with us, Dan. I can hardly wait for the next book.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. By using this link, you'll be supporting this blog.

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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

SEEING THINGS - Patti Hill - Free book

I'm happy to welcome Patti Hill back to the blog. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write the kind of books I love to read—relational, winsome, and authentic. When I read a great book, I’m left with questions to ponder and friends to remember.

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

Marrying my husband, Dennis, followed closely by giving birth to Geoff and Matt. I’m blessed to have wonderful men around me. I also have a lovey-pie dog named Tillie.

How has being published changed your life?

Oh boy! I’ve gained relationships with amazingly creative people all over the world; I’ve wrestled with ideas and beliefs that may have gone unattended had I not been forced to face them in the writing process; and best of all, the circle between writer and reader has become more intimate. I love hearing from readers. I consider their e-mails replies to my books. What an honor to meet so many wonderful people.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Sharon Souza’s Lying on Sunday, a truly wonderful book. Now, it’s on to Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas for my fiction read. In the nonfiction category, I’m reading The PAPA Prayer by Larry Crabb. This is NOT just another book on prayer. I’m back in prayer kindergarten and loving it. I also keep a writing related book percolating. I’m reading Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle, a true classic and quite inspirational.

What would be your dream vacation?

Early February. Southern hemisphere. Tahiti. Snorkeling. Eating. Napping. And more napping.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I make the setting of each book a character, so I must immerse myself in the climate, geography, culture, and history of a place. That usually means I pick a place within driving distance that will provide subplots for my story. The Queen of Sleepy Eye is set in the North Fork Valley of Colorado, just over an hour from where I live. Traditionally an orchard and ranching community, the mid-seventies brought new players to the valley—back-to-the-land types or hippies. Along with the coalminers, the place literally sparked interesting possibilities, besides being a beautiful place to visit. The people there are lovely, so eager to share their stories. I loved spending time there. I’m trying to convince my husband that my next story must take place in Ireland, which would mean an extended stay on the Emerald Isle. And just think, no snakes!

Seriously, I just penned a dream list—a bucket list of sorts—and I want to do some short mission trips. Our pastor just got back from Thailand and Japan. I’m game. Here I am, Lord, send me!

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

This is a tough question because there’s not a smarter man or better companion than my husband, so I would have to say: Give me a lonely child to bathe and clothe and feed and cuddle.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

My husband and I love to try out new recipes and invite folks over to share the outcome. So far, we haven’t made anyone sick. I love hiking in the high country in aspen and spruce forests during the summer and snowshoeing in the winter. Travel to almost anywhere is on my list as long as I’m not rushed. I want to meet people and spend time with the locals. Also, I have lots of flowers in my garden, so I enjoy early-morning puttering to weed and tidy. Mostly, I spend non-writing time maintaining relationships with people God has graciously gifted me as friend and family.

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

Writing is definitely brain work, and when my brain gets taxed, it’s likely to wander. I check the mail, clean out a drawer, round up dust bunnies, bake a loaf of bread, call a friend…anything but write! If I give myself a reasonable daily goal, then I’m more likely to meet that goal, so I can go play. There’s nothing like sorting through an underwear drawer! Remember: Writers need recess, too.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Be prepared! Take the time to learn the basics of stellar storytelling. Don’t hurry. You’re writing for the King. If he’s given you the gift, you owe it to him to wield it to his glory. Also, pray a lot and dive into Scripture. Get to know the heart of God. You’ll be representing him in your stories to one extent or the other.

Tell us about the featured book.

Birdie Wainwright isn’t concerned about seeing things others can’t. As a woman with macular degeneration, she considers the clarity and color of her visions a gift from God.


A splash of purple flowers on the sidewalk or mountainsides of edelweiss are welcomed diversions from the fog that covers her central vision. Besides, she has mountains to climb and tangos to dance—until a tumble down the stairs breaks her ankle.

Anxious to reconnect with her son and grandson, she accepts her son’s invitation to convalesce in Denver, miles and worlds away from her mountain home. And then, Huckleberry Finn comes to call. The line between reality and whimsy turns brittle. Faith is tested. And hope is reborn.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Yes, come and visit me! I love hearing from readers.

Web site: http://www.pattihillauthor.com/
e-mail: patti@pattihillauthor.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/home
And my newest and grandest presence yet: http://novelmatters.blogspot.com/

I will be blogging with seven other amazing writers with powerful and gentle voices. We’ll blog on a rotating basis on all things that make books irresistible. Writers can hone their crafts. Readers will gain an inside look. This blog went live on January 1, 2009. Come see Jennifer Valent (starred PW review for her first novel), Sharon K. Souza, Latayne Scott, Debbie Fuller Thomas, Bonnie Grove, eh?, Kathleen Popa, and little ol’ me. From our conference calls, we can guarantee no dull moments.

Lena, thanks for your hospitality. It’s been an absolute honor to spend time with your readers.

He reigns,
Patti

Patty, my readers and I thank you for spending this time with us.
Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, it will help support this blog.

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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

CHRISTMAS PERIL - Margaret Daley - Free Book

I'm always glad to welcome Margaret Daley back to the blog. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I often write about forgiveness and trust (especially in the Lord). I find I keep returning to those themes because it governs so much of what we do in life.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

In March 2010 I have out the third book in the Love Inspired Suspense continuity series (about the Witness Protection Program). My book is Cowboy Protector. I love that title. Then in April I have my first book in my home schooling series coming out called Love Lessons. The second one in the series will be out in July called Heart of a Cowboy. Also in March, Steeple Hill is reissuing Gold in the Fire/Light in the Storm as a Love Inspired Classic. Both books are part of my Ladies of Sweetwater Lake series.

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 meet James Rollins because he is my favorite writer.

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

Since my late twenties—I’ve always been a storyteller but not a writer. I used to make up stories for my dolls when I was a little girl.

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

I had successfully published over twenty books when I hit a dry spell. The market was changing. My most recent publisher stopped publishing romances. I didn’t sell anything for eight years. If I had given up I wouldn’t have gone on to sell over forty more books—most of those in the Christian fiction market.

Tell us about the featured book?

I have of an analogy with Debby Giusti with a Christmas theme. The book is called Christmas Peril and my story is Merry Mayhem. When single mom Annie Coleman unexpectedly arrives in Christmas, Oklahoma, police chief Caleb Jackson suspects she’s hiding secrets. He’ll be watching her closely And his protection is just what Annie and her daughter need, as danger has followed them to their new home.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The opening paragraph reads: Annie Coleman almost dropped the phone at her ex-boyfriend’s words, but she couldn’t. She had to keep it together for her daughter. Jayden played nearby, oblivious to the sheer terror Anne was feeling at hearing Bryan’s gasping warning. “Run. Disappear…Don’t trust anyone, especially the police.”

I reviewed the book in my December Newsletter: http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com/ How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at:
http://www.margaretdaley.com/
http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/
http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/
http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/
http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com/
http://twitter.com/margaretdaley

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, it will help support this blog.

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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

First December Winners - 5

Hope is the winner of The Pallium Project by E. R. Webb.

Collettakay is the winner of Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss.

The winners of An Amish Gathering by Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron, and Beth Wiseman are:
The Herd
Nancye

Lastnerve is the winner of The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin.

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THE SILENT GOVERNESS - Julie Klassen - Free Book

I've been wanting to feature this author on the blog for a while. Welcome, Julie. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I intentionally try not to write about myself. I don’t want all my characters to sound and think like me. That would make for a boring book, believe me! An occasional anecdote from my childhood might sneak in from time to time and, of course, I hope my faith shows up as well.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

That I will admit to? Hmm. Maybe…completed a 3-day dance marathon? Played “Clarence the angel” from It’s a Wonderful Life at a company Christmas party?

It's a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite movies. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I began writing stories and poems at a young age. My mom saved my 2nd grade report card that says something like, “Julie’s stories show great potential.” But you have to keep in mind that the teacher’s name was (no joke) Miss Balogna.

My second grade teacher was Mrs. Hater, no kidding. I loved her. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I enjoy contemporary or historical fiction with strong romantic elements. I also find myself reading more non-fiction than ever before--travel books and research books about life, medicine, and education in the 1800s.

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

I have two other published historical novels: Lady of Milkweed Manor and The Apothecary’s Daughter. I have also written one contemporary novel, which is still cowering on a low shelf after painful rejection.

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

Sunday after-church naps, camping with the family, and reading with my sons.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Surnames often come from historical census data from wherever my novel is set. I also use lists of popular first names from the time period. Occasionally I slip in names of people I know, as a small way of honoring them. For example, in The Silent Governess, I named a much-loved governess after the teacher who first introduced me to Jane Eyre.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

While I am proud of having written four novels, I find deeper satisfaction in having gone on short term missions trips to Ukraine and having a small part in building a church there.

I love missions trips. I've been on several to Mexico and one to Guatamala. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A cat. I’m a night person, like to nap in puddles of sunshine, like affection, but need plenty of solitude, too.

What is your favorite food?

I have an untamed sweet tooth and am far too fond of candy, cookies, and ice-cream.

I love sweets, too, so this season is hard for me. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I tend to procrastinate, but the “Book in a Week” techniques (set daily word count goals, turn off internet, write without going back to edit or research until goal met) help me overcome this problem. And whenever I am struggling to come up with scene ideas, I take a walk or drive somewhere. There’s something about motion that spurs creative thinking.

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

You’ve heard the saying, Write what you know? I say, Write what you love—what you personally love to read. What is the genre you most often read for pure enjoyment? That is probably the genre you should be writing. I would also encourage new writers to study the basics (point of view, plotting, characterization, formatting) and to have well-read friends or a critique group read the manuscript and revise based on their feedback before submitting it to an agent or editor. Make the best first impression you can!

Tell us about the featured book?

The Silent Governess is a stand-alone, historical romance set in “Jane Austen era” England. Here’s the premise: When Olivia Keene overhears a dangerous secret, Lord Bradley gives her a post and confines her to his estate, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard. With secrets of her own to hide, Olivia complies. Keeping an eye on Olivia as she cares for the children, Lord Bradley finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction. The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1
November 1, 1815

Heart pounding with fear and regret, Olivia Keene ran as though hellhounds were on her heels. As though her very life depended upon her escape.

Fleeing the village, she ran across a meadow, bolted over the sheep gate, caught her skirt, and went sprawling in the mire. The bundle in her cape pocket jabbed against her hip bone. Ignoring it, she picked herself up and ran on, looking behind to make sure no one followed. Ahead lay Chedworth Wood.

The warnings of years echoed through her mind. “Don’t stray into the wood at night.” Wild dogs stalked that wood, and thieves and poachers camped there, with sharp knives and sharper eyes, looking for easy game. A woman of Olivia’s four-and-twenty years knew better than to venture into the wood alone. But her mother’s cries still pulsed in her ears, drowning out the old voice of caution. The danger behind her was more real than any imagined danger ahead.

Shivers of fear prickling over her skin, she hurled herself into the outstretched arms of the wood, already dim and shadowy on the chill autumn evening. Beneath her thin soles, dry leaves crackled. Branches grabbed at her like gnarled hands. She stumbled over fallen limbs and underbrush, every snapping twig reminding her that a pursuer might be just behind, just out of sight.

Olivia ran until her side ached. Breathing hard, she slowed her pace. She walked for what seemed like an hour or more and still hadn’t reached the other side of the wood. Was she traveling in a circle? The thought of spending the night in the quickly darkening wood made her pick up her pace once more.

She tripped on a tangle of roots and again went sprawling. She heard the crisp rip of fabric. A burning scratch seared her cheek. For a moment she lay as she was, trying to catch her breath.

The pain of the fall broke through the dam of shock, and the hot tears she had been holding back poured forth. She struggled up and sat against a tree, sobbing.

Almighty God, what have I done?

A branch snapped and an owl screeched a warning to his mate. Fear instantly stifled her sobs. Hairs prickling at the back of her neck, Olivia searched the moonlit dimness with wide eyes.

Eyes stared back.

Oh, give me more! I can hardly wait until I get my copy. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.julieklassen.com/ or at http://www.bethanyhouse.com/

Julie, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, you'll help support this blog.

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


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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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THE FENCE MY FATHER BUILT - Linda Clare - Free Book

Here's another of the wonderful Abingdon novels. Welcome, Linda. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think all writers use at least a part of themselves in understanding their characters. The biggest challenge is not to give too much of yourself away—you don’t want your character acting just as you would, because often our lives are not exciting or desperate enough to be fictional. Well, my life is sometimes desperate, but my characters don’t want to be like me.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Oh boy. I once compared my life to a pair of pantyhose that doesn’t fit right—you know when they’re too short and they inch down between your legs? Unfortunately, when I described the ill-fitting hose, I blurted out the word that rhymes with “scotch” on national Christian radio. Fortunately, the radio hosts were good sports and believed me when I said I didn’t do it on purpose.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In first grade I rewrote the lyrics to “The Farmer in the Dell,” so that the song was about Thanksgiving. The teacher loved it, I was a seven-year old super star. I had several more inspirational teachers, plus my mom would type up my stuff and submit to places like Highlights for Children. My first sale was a poem I wrote in high school about love being like a melted popsicle. The Denver Post paid me three dollars. I was hooked.

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

A sickly child, I read classics such as Alice in Wonderland and the Oz books. Later I tried to fix my life by reading nonfiction. These days I read a lot of memoir, a lot of Oprah Book Club-type fiction. I’m just starting to read Christian fiction. And I can’t get enough Young Adult fiction.

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

I was so determined to get a book out there that I finagled my way into coauthoring Lost Boys and the Moms Who Love Them (Waterbrook, 2002) with Melody Carlson and Heather Kopp. Then I did two more nonfiction titles with Kristen Johnson Ingram: Revealed: Spirituality in a Makeover World (Revell 2003) and Making Peace with a Dangerous God (Revell 2005). I’ve contributed to many short story and essay collections such as Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort. I’ve also written two more novels still looking for a home, a memoir of my experiences in a 1960s era Shriner’s Hospital, and two nonfiction books on Christian Living.

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

You think I’m sane? What a quaint idea. Actually, I’m a driven writer, so staying really busy is my idea of a good time. I also garden (great place to solve plot problems), play with my five cats and stay connected to God, Who saves me from the world and myself.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

One way I name characters is to read the obituaries. Sounds morbid, but I’ve come up with some good ones. I’ve also used newspaper ads, names of old classmates, and some of my four adult children’s odd-named friends. For instance, Aunt Lutie came from a magazine article about Hopi Indians that I saw in an old Arizona Highways.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

It’s close, but I’d have to say raising my four kids—I have a set of “surprise” twins who followed on the heels of my first two boys. I’m still getting over that one. Other than Mommying, I’m proud that I have been able to write about God in my life, despite the fact that people told me again and again that I’d be a great “ABA” secular novelist. God won and I’m glad.

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

I confess I’m nuts about cats. I have five of them presently. In the wild they’re meateaters, so I’d have to figure out a way not to kill anything.

What is your favorite food?

I’m a desert rat from Arizona, and I love good Mexican food—Sonoran style.

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

Did I mention the four kids? When I began to learn to write, I ran a full-time in-home daycare. Every afternoon, during rest time, I put my Selectric typewriter on the stovetop and typed standing up—easier to check on the kiddoes. You could say I wrote from Home on the Range. From the beginning, I wanted to write full-time, but like most writers, I had to earn money other ways. I no longer do daycare, but I teach, mentor and edit other writers.

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

First, read a copy of Marge Piercy’s poem, “For the Young Who Want To,” and then decide if you are willing to be the laughing stock of your family (who think your writing is a cute hobby, like knitting) while you are learning to write. If the answer is yes, then write, write, write. Spend ten thousand hours or write a million words. Get busy. And read, read, read. You might start out with, ahem, my book, The Fence My Father Built.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Fence My Father Built stems from my lifelong and burning need to reunite with my biological father, who left my life when I was three or four. In my story, librarian Muri Pond has the same desire, but when she finally locates her father, Joseph Pond, he’s just died. She inherits his remote property in central Oregon’s high desert, along with a troublesome neighbor and her father’s legacy—a fence built out of old oven doors. Along with Aunt Lutie and the Red Rock Tabernacle Ladies, Muri must rediscover the faith her alcoholic Native-American dad somehow never abandoned.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Joseph’s Journal

June, 1977

Sprawled across the bed, you slept face-down, wearing that red cowboy shirt and the velvet skirt you love. I stood by and watched your breathing. Your hair, so straight and black, reminded me of my people, our people, and I wondered what you dreamed. Years ago, the Nez Perce surrendered to broken treaties, broken dreams. I’m sorry, daughter, but I’m surrendering, too.

You’re only three, Muri, but you learn fast. In this Oregon desert, the sun beats down hot, and today our tan faces shone with sweat. We walked across the sagebrush and you held the corn snake we found. You held it gently, without fear. I felt proud as I ever have.

After sunset, we sat on the hill and looked up at the stars. When you got cold I draped my old coat around you and told you all about angels. On the way home, you didn’t ask for your mother, not once. It’s wrong, I know, but I was pleased.

I had big plans to be your daddy. I was going to read to you every day, teach you the names of all the Civil War battles. I’d teach you how to fish. You’d learn how to listen to the wind and how to skip a stone. Most of all, I’d teach you how to pray.

None of that will happen now.

After your mom called, I broke down and cried and I couldn’t stop. I’ve lost. Your mother doesn’t know our ways but she has the white man’s courts on her side. They call it full custody. I cry because I won’t see you on your first day of school or when you get your driver’s license.

I'm intrigued. How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can catch up with me on my blog, godsonggrace.blogspot or on Facebook.

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, you'll be supporting this blog.

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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

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EYE OF THE GOD - Areil Allison - Free Book

I'm happy to introduce another of the wonderful Abingdon Press releases. Welcome Ariel. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I think every writer portrays themselves in their novels, whether consciously or not. There are bits and pieces of me in each character: hopes, dreams, struggles, sin, and fear. As creative people, writers mimic God in the way he created. To a certain extent, I think we all make our characters “in our own image.”

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

In life or writing? In life: jumping off a forty foot bridge into fifteen feet of water (not something I recommend unless you want to wake up on the bottom of Rio Grande). In writing: finishing the edits on my novel while holding my two-week old baby in one arm and a giant mug of coffee in the other (who needs sleep, right).

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I knew from the time I was five years old that there was no other career for me. This is what I’m supposed to do. Not that the journey has been easy by any stretch, but I’ve never wavered in my desire to tell stories and impact the world through the written word.

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

If you were to look at my bookshelf right now you might question my sanity. My C.S. Lewis collection sits next to my Harry Potter collection. George MacDonald and Agatha Christie are nestled on the top shelf. Tolkien, Dickens, and Dick Francis are scattered amongst books on parenting and writing. Bible commentaries, Christian living, suspense novels, the classics, and a handful of well-loved children’s books are peppered throughout. It’s a random, warm, and eyebrow raising shelf (and home) filled with books by people who love words. I like to think it’s a bit quirky but a good conversation starter – hopefully a bit like me.

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

The first book I wrote will never see the light of day and the world is a better place for it. The only good that came from that novel was proof that I could gut it out and finish one. My skill and my imagination improved a great deal once I got that disaster out of the way and I’ve gone on to publish several books. My first was called Daddy Do You Love Me: A Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2007), and was an examination of the father-daughter relationship, the brokenness that often occurs, and God’s redemption therein. Last year I co-wrote a book with Josh and Sean McDowell called Jesus: Dead or Alive (Regal, 2008). And over the next two years I will release three children’s book in my Justin Case (Harvest House) series. Eye of the God is my first novel.

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

My sanity aside (I have four boys ages six and under) I’m not the type to run, run, run. I like margin. I like having stretches of time during the day where I don’t have to be anywhere or do anything. Especially since my children are little, I limit our activities and our obligations as a family. We try to keep our world small. It doesn’t always work, but I find that my family thrives when we are not pulled in several directions at once.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Honestly? I usually pick names from among my friends and family and shuffle them up. A first name here, a last name there, and viola, I’ve got a character! For instance, the heroine in Eye of the God, is Abby – which is the name of one of my sisters. At one point in the novel I needed to name three security guards so I chose three of my husband’s friends. There are so many things to stress over while writing a novel that I try not to expend too much mental energy naming people. Quite often the name comes to me when I begin the story and if not I select one from my sphere of influence.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Writing books is fun, but I am most proud of my marriage. Not because it’s perfect, it’s most certainly not, but because it’s beautiful in a gloriously imperfect way. And it’s honest. And my husband and I have lived through some deep and hard stuff and we still love each other. More than ever, actually. Jesus is here in the midst of us and for that I am immensely grateful.

A close second would be the fact that I survived childbirth four times even though I was quite certain, each time, that it would be the death of me. Raising these kids, on the other hand, might easily do me in.

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

A polar bear hands down. They get to sleep for six months out of the year.

What is your favorite food?

That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. I love a good meal (especially when not prepared by me) like I love a good book or a good conversation. If I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a chef – or at least attempt. There’s nothing in the world so tasty as a good steak, or a ripe peach (when the juice drips down your chin). Strawberries in summer and roast potatoes in winter. Anything with feta cheese sprinkled on top. Bruschetta. Oh, and coffee. I know it doesn’t actually qualify as a food but it makes me happy and there’s something to be said for that.

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

Time. With four small children I am pressed on all sides to find the time to write my name, much less a novel. But we are each given twenty-four hours every day and I am learning how to make the most of the ones given to me. For a season I stayed up into the far reaches of the night, often crossing over into the next day just to get a few words on paper. And then there was the year that I got up hours before the sun ever considered making its appearance on the horizon. I finished Eye of the God that way, working until my family woke. Yet I find that I’m in a new season where neither of those options work for my tired bones. So our family has unplugged the television for the summer and I have found that the time I once thought to be so scarce makes itself plentiful in the silence now. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with fifteen minutes here and twenty minutes there.

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

Don’t worry about your words at first. Just finish the book. There is something about finishing that breathes life into the heart of a writer. I know from experience how easy it is to look back at half-baked words and want to meddle with them until they’re perfect. But a book is not birthed that way. Keep writing (insert notes in the text along the way for things you’d like to fix) and don’t stop until a complete manuscript sits before you. It may never see the light of day and that is ok. Once it’s done, step away, take a deep breath, and then repeat the process. The ability to finish is what sets a writer apart from an author.

Tell us about the featured book?

It has been said that all of history is in fact, His-Story, God’s story, and that we are just supporting actors. When viewed through that lens, the tale of the Hope Diamond takes on new meaning. But what if the story is much deeper, more intriguing, and significant than simply a diamond owned by some of the world’s most notorious figures? What if the mystery of the Hope Diamond is relevant to us, our culture, and our faith? That would make a story indeed.

The diamond, according to legend, was once the eye of a Hindu Idol named Rama Sita. Late in the 17th century, it was stolen, and Rama is said to have cursed all who would come in contact with the eye of the god. A quick glance at the lives of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Evalyn Walsh McLean give the appearance that there is indeed something to the tale. Yet the curse has only increased the value of the gem, and at auction could fetch well over $200 million. Today, the Hope Diamond sits proudly in the Smithsonian Institute, and has become the most viewed museum object in the world, boasting more visitors each year than the Mona Lisa.

Eye of the God takes the fascinating history surrounding the Hope Diamond, and weaves it together with a modern day plot to steal the jewel from the Smithsonian. We follow Alex and Isaac Weld, the most lucrative thieves in the world, in their quest to steal the jewel for a mysterious art broker. The Weld brothers are the established choice for those dealing in stolen goods but are unprepared for the evil they bring upon themselves when they agree to steal the diamond. Ultimately it will claim the life of one brother, and change life irrevocably for the other.

Brilliant and ruthless, the Weld brothers are not prepared for Dr. Abigail Mitchell, the beautiful Smithsonian Director, who has her own connection to the Hope Diamond, and a deadly secret to keep. She has spent her entire career studying the jewel and learning the truth about the curse it carries. More so than anyone else alive she has reason to love and hate the diamond that has set her life on a collision course with betrayal. However, Abby committed long ago that she would not serve a god made with human hands, and the “eye of the god” is no exception. Her desire is not for wealth, but for wisdom. She seeks not power, but restoration. Abby holds the pieces to a complicated puzzle, and finds herself in the middle of a deadly game. It is in this context that her faith will be put to the ultimate test as she confronts the father that abandoned her, the betrayal of the only man she has ever loved, and the possibility that she may lose her life because of the legendary gem.

When all is said and done, and the dust has finally settled over the last great adventure of the Hope Diamond, we understand the “curse” that has haunted its legacy is nothing more than the greed of evil men who bring destruction upon themselves. No god chiseled from stone can direct the fates of men, nor can it change the course of His-story.

When I was a senior in high school, the seniors in our small school in Arkansas took our senior trip to Washington, DC. I've been to the Smithsonian and seen the Hope diamond. Please give us the first page of the book.

Golconda, India, 1653

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier winced as the soldier chopped off the man’s hand. The thief shrieked and dropped to the ground, clutching the bloodied stump to his chest.

Tavernier turned aside with a grimace and ordered the litter bearers beneath him to move faster. Four slaves,
dark from the sun, jostled between the crowded stalls of Golconda’s hectic bazaar and away from the public spectacle.

The agonized screams faded as they pressed farther into the crowd.

Dense heat settled over the marketplace, and Tavernier wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. Pungent smells assaulted his senses: sweat and urine, spiced curry and sweet chutney, burning incense and rotting vegetables. His litter bumped and rocked through the hustle and bustle of shoppers and merchants haggling over prices. Red and gold bridal wear and precious gold glittered in the stalls. Elephants carried the elite through the narrow streets while dirty children chased each other with sticks.

I can hardly wait to read the rest. How can readers find you on the Internet?

When I’m not immersed in a book, changing a diaper, or rescuing our dog from the death-grip of a toddler, you can find me loitering in my little corner of cyberspace: http://www.arielallison.com/ .

Thanks for having me by the way, it’s been a load of fun!

And thank you, Ariel, for sharing this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link, you will be supporting this blog.


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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

SECRETS AND LIES - Rhonda McKnight - Free Book

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

I actually think there’s very little of me in my characters. They’re a combination of different people I know, and my bad girl walked right out of my imagination. I had to dig deep to create her persona. But I will say there are elements of my life in the actual stories, more so in Secrets and Lies than my other projects, probably because it was my first novel.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Oh dear, I’m not too quirky, but I did perform Mariah Carey’s song “Hero” on a cruise boat during Karaoke. What was I thinking?

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

That’s an interesting question, and one without an answer. I read what I’ve written sometimes and ask myself the same thing I did after trying to sing “Hero,” what was I thinking? But I can definitely say, I began writing at age six when I crayola-ed my first story about a family of mice that lived under the boardwalk near the beach in my hometown. My high school teachers noticed a little something special about my writing and I was appointed to senior editor of the school paper, so maybe it was then. I really don’t know.

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

I’ll read just about anything with a lot of conflict. I love anticipating what’s next, even if I guess it before it happens. I’m a big suspense and mystery fan. I love women’s fiction, but it has to include a lot of good, juicy character-driven tension. Victoria Christopher Murray is my favorite author. She’s the queen of purposeful drama. I also don’t miss anything by Sherri Lewis, Pamela Samuels-Young, the writing team of Virginia Deberry & Donna Grant or James Scott Bell.

I love Sherri Lewis and James Scott Bell, too. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

My second novel, An Inconvenient Friend, which I completed this summer, will be released September 2010. My bad girl from Secrets and Lies gets her own book, and she’s so much worse. Prior to my first novel, I wrote nothing. I sold the first book I finished. Isn’t that something?

We'll have to feature you with your new book, too. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I talk to my mother every day. She’s my best friend. When I’m on the edge of losing it, hearing her voice relaxes me. I’m also really good at saying no, which I learned from my mom. When I’m really overrun, I get in my bed at night and I cry and pray, and cry some more and pray some more, and the next day it’s just better. Jesus works it out while I sleep.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

My main characters names come from the Holy Bible. I base their names on the attributes of characters or a theological principle. For example, in Secrets and Lies my main character’s name is Faith and she struggles with her name-sake daily.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Other than potty training my son, I’d have to say finishing and selling a book. It’s dog eat dog in publishing and actually selling is a lot to be proud of.

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

A gazelle, because it’s lean. I’ve never been lean. I’m sure I had queen size diapers.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate; cake, ice-cream, candy bars, drinks, you name it. I’m a choc-a-holic. See why I want to be a gazelle?

I love chocolate, too. When James and I went to the movies last weekend, I had Blue Bell Chocolate Covered Cherries ice cream. It's wonderful. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I’d love to say time was a roadblock, but I can’t. I was unmotivated for a long time. When I finished the last half of Secrets and Lies, I was working about 45 hours a week in an extremely demanding job, nursing a 6 month old baby, running my eldest son to physical therapy 3 times a week, and finishing graduate school. Even with all that going on I wrote 40,000 words in three months. I’m a living testament to the statement we do what we want to do (except sleep of course). I was unmotivated for years and then something happened. I turned 40. That was the year I sorted my life out, separated the chaff from the wheat. I decided it was time for me to walk in my purpose. I really want to hear the Lord say, “Well done.” I also wanted to be a living example to my sons of Proverbs 18:16, that their “gifts would make room for them.”

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

Answer for Authors: Publishing is competitive, make sure to continue to do the things you did prior to being published to stay published. Continuing education is critical to your development. You always want to write a stronger book than the last one. Have some type of critique system in place. If you have a strong editor at your publishing house then it can be the editor, but we all know that’s not as common as it used to be. Find someone to look at your work. I know several authors who have no critique system, because they’re overconfident about their writing and it shows in the quality of what they’re publishing.

Answer for Aspiring Writers: Read a lot and then read some more. Write what you enjoy reading, otherwise it won’t be good. I’m a free-lance editor and I can always tell when someone is writing in a genre they don’t read. Invest in craft books. I have 28 of them and have probably borrowed at least another 15 from the library. Read them and learn from them. Apply the things you learn. Join a writer’s group. If you can’t find one, start one. There are bound to be other writers looking for a group also. If you build it, they will come. Lastly, don’t be thin skinned about criticism and critiques. Be teachable. Writing is a gift, but it’s also a craft that has to be learned.

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

Secrets and Lies is a great story that anyone would enjoy. Although my publisher is Urban Christian, there’s nothing gritty about it. I know sometimes people associate street-life with the word “urban,” but with respect to Secrets and Lies, nothing could be further from the truth. My folks are upper-middle class, and they live in the suburbs. Nothing gritty about them. Here’s a synopsis:

Faith Morgan is sick of begging her husband to spend time with her. Anonymous hang-ups on their home phone have her wondering if he’s sick of her, too. When she discovers he’s been keeping a secret from her around the same time his coworker accuses him of sexual harassment, Faith wonders if she can believe his side of the story.

Pediatric cardiologist, Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing, his work. The childhood death of his brother has intensified his desire to heal children, at any cost, including his family's plea to be more involved in their lives. When a nurse accuses him with of sexual harassment, Jonah finds himself at a crossroads. Will he continue to allow the memories from his childhood to haunt him or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

Sounds wonderful. I can hardly wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at my website http://www.rhondamcknight.net/  and on just about every social networking site known to man. They’re listed on my website. I also have a blog for the novel at http://www.secretsandliesthenovel.blogspot.com/  and a pretty popular blog at http://www.urbanchristianfictiontoday.com/  where I highlight African American Christian fiction.

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you use this link to order, it helps support this blog.

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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

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Last November Winners

Bonnie is the winner of The Case of the Mystified M.D. by A. K. Arenz.

PamelaJ is the winner of What I Saw in the Thorns ~n~ Thistles by Shirley Kiger Connolly.

Donald Lee is the winner of Gemini's Cross by E. R. Webb.

Stacie is the winner of The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom.
 

Send me your mailing address in one of two ways:


Click on View My Complete Profile, then use the Email link.

Go to http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ then click on Contact Me.

You have 6 weeks to claim your book.

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

THE PRAYERS OF AGNES SPARROW - Joyce Magnin - Free Book

We're introducing another of the Abingdon authors. Welcome, Joyce. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Um, interesting. Not much, I think. I'm sure people who read my novels will say they see a lot of me in certain characters but I don't see it. Unless you consider Agnes's love of M&Ms.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Okay, so the definition of quirky is peculiar or idiosyncratic so I suppose my quirkiest stuff is that I never eat everything on a plate. I always leave something. My mother says I've done that since I was a little kid. Oh and I will drive for miles out of way to avoid traffic jams, I holler at the TV while watching football, I hate mayonnaise and have been known to leave the table if someone is glopping particularly large dollops on the their sandwich, I've never seen an episode of Dancing With The Stars, and I will someday inherit an 85 year old onion plant from my extra-quirky mother and the thought scares me because I am not a plant person and it will probably die ten minutes after I take possession.

I guess I didn't know onion plants lived that long. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In the third grade. Everything else, math, geography became superfluous after that. You can read about it on my site.

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

Oh boy, well pretty much anything from Crime Noir to Literary. But I suppose I enjoy novels with some humor and quirkiness like Fannie Flagg, Joshilyn Jackson, Lisa Samson, Nancy Rue. Not a fan of vampire novels.

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

I wrote a coming-of-age novel I'd like to see published some day. And I have two or three middle grade fantasies floating around that I think would be great fun to publish. Maybe someday.

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

That assumes I have sanity to maintain. But I cross stitch, play video games, watch movies, sit in my son's tree house by myself and pretend I'm a nut.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Now that's a good question. But the simple truth is that they come to me already named. I never spend time thinking or researching names. And once named it is nearly impossible for me to change them. Is that weird?

No, I've given a character a name, and within three chapters that character changed it. Thank goodness for Find and Replace. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My children. Oh, and I recently flew in an airplane for first time in many, many years and I suppose you could count seeing my debut novel published.

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

Um, I've never considered this. But I suppose a strange, twisted hybrid of a bird and dog. Kind of a birddog because birds have a unique perspective on the world and tend to fly into things like clean windows and a dog because I like dogs, they're loyal and can play fetch.

What is your favorite food?

Ice cream.

I just had some Chocolate Covered Cherries Blue Bell at the movie theater, and now I can't find it in a store. It was awesome. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Worrying about every single word and whether it would ever be successful and I still haven't overcome that.

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

Be very certain you are a writer. Try NOT to write and see what happens and then keep going. Don't give up.

Tell us about the featured book?

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do—besides eat. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin.


The rural residents of Bright’s Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, “Welcome to Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.” This is something Agnes doesn’t want and sends Griselda to fight city hall. Griselda’s petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle and Agnes's feet of clay are exposed.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

If you get off the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Jack Frost Ski Resort exit, turn left and travel twenty-two and one quarter miles, you’ll see a sign that says: Bright’s Pond, Home of the World’s Largest Blueberry Pie.

While it is true that in 1961 Mabel Sewicky and the Society of Angelic Philanthropy, which did secret charitable acts, baked the biggest blueberry pie ever in Pennsylvania, most folks will tell you that the sign should read: Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.

October 12, 1965. That was the day my sister, Agnes Sparrow, made an incredible decision that changed history in our otherwise sleepy little mountain town and made her sign-worthy.

“I just can’t do it anymore, Griselda. I just can’t.”

That’s what Agnes said to me right before she flopped down on our red, velvet sofa. “It ain’t worth it to go outside anymore. It’s just too much trouble for you—” She took a deep breath and sighed it out. “—and heartache for me.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

joycemagnin.blogspot.com
Abingdonpress.com
Facebook
Twitter

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

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book. If you're planning to order the book, using this link helps support this blog.


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


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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/