THE CHRISTMAS EDITION - JOURNEY TO PARADISE - Robin Shope - Free Movie or Book

As a little departure from our usual interview, I'm hosting my friend Robin Shope. She's living the dream of almost every author I know. A movie was made of her book. In this picture, Robin is in the middle. Welcome, Robin. Tell us about your journey.

The Christmas Edition, Journey to Paradise, romance novel, inspired the movie Journey to Paradise!

It was Christmastime three years ago when nostalgic thoughts of returning to my hometown of Delavan, Wisconsin overwhelmed me. If only I could sleep in my childhood bed one more time, or sit at the breakfast table and tease my little brother while Mom made pancakes and Dad sang songs. Of course, that was impossible. My parents were gone. My brother lived on the other side of the country.

Yet, there was still one way back home, and that was through my memories. So, I revisited the lake, frozen in silence as the deep snow drifts filled the streets. I walked up to my childhood house and entered, welcomed by the sight of the Douglas fir standing tall, filled from top to bottom with glittering ornaments. There was Dad, struggling to untangle the lights as mother poured hot chocolate for us all.

It was those recollections of my childhood, rekindled decades later, that moved me to start writing about Christmastime in a small Wisconsin town. It became a passion. My imagination connected directly to my fingertips on the computer keyboard and a months later The Christmas Edition was completed, and I had a book contract with White Rose Publishing. By the following Christmas, startled and awed, I had signed a movie contract with producer/director Steve Zambo of Salty Earth Pictures. He felt the book was a perfect fit for his studio.

Today, it’s Christmas again. My book has been transformed into a movie, Journey to Paradise, and has been given The Dove Foundation’s Seal of Approval for family entertainment.

The process between contract and the premier has been exhausting and fabulous. The filming took place in idyllic Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, while I remained at my job in Texas. Over the past year, along with thousands of others, I followed the movie making steps reported on FaceBook (be sure to visit my Facebook wall for a glimpse of the stills and the two movie trailers.)

On the weekend of November 12th, my two grown children and I flew to Wisconsin for the movie premier. Unbelievably, my college roommate, blessed friends from my former church, a Facebook/eBay friend, and dear middle school and high school friends also attended.

There actually was a red carpet, and I walked it!

Salty Earth’s studio was beautifully decorated for the gala with the wholly appropriate Christmas theme. Hundreds of strangers shook my hand and offered compliments on my writing; they became new friends. After finishing off a couple of plates of food from the huge buffet, it was time! The lights flashed and the crowd entered the theater where a row of seats, bearing my name, had been reserved. After a few introductions, Steve and Beth Zambo presented me with a plaque with my name and picture on it, as well as a star for their Walk of Fame. Two others received the same honor.

The lights went dark and the black screen soon filled with falling snow. The title of the movie appeared, “Journey to Paradise,” followed by “Based on the book The Christmas Edition by Robin Shope.”

Frozen in my seat with my mouth open and eyes opened wide, I watched my book characters come to life on screen; walking, talking, and breathing. Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn’t help it. The characters were almost just as I had imagined them. Steve had shared my vision.

 In transformation from book to screen, there were expected changes. When I signed the contract I knew of that inevitability. There were many reasons to make perfectly good book characters, scenes and actions more screen friendly. I made a special promise to myself to be accepting of changes to my book. Steve did a wonderful job painlessly (for me) shepherding my story to the screen.

The hero’s (Joe) editorial piece was moving. He sounded lyrical in a way, with a depth of feeling and expression which was more than I imagined. I penned him to write with heart…because that was what the heroine (Lucy) was yearning for. Anything less and he wouldn’t deserve the job. That meant Joe had to identify with a human need and make it both emotional and compassionate. I searched newspapers for human interest stories and found one about a landmark store that was closing its doors after fifty years in business. Bingo. I had my story. I approached it as a man on the street type editorial and it worked.

Joe’s relationship with God was an amazing feature of the book and in the movie. As we get to know Joe, we learn how tormented he is, and we make many assumptions as to why he is haunted. I think the movie flashbacks were able to more powerfully present the reasons for his angst than I could muster in the book. It was an important part of the book that the movie executed well.

The story began as everyone else’s Christmas spirit reopened the wounds of Lucy’s lost love. Then enters Joe, a man who she has no reason to trust. What about this character would make her fall in love when so many other men had failed to win her heart? I had to make Joe more than a nice guy. I decided to make Joe a man of several mysteries! I wanted him to be a good guy with a haunting past and present actions that were subject to various interpretations. I had to walk a fine line because this is a Christmas book filled with romance and hope …so I couldn't go too dark. It wouldn’t work if I did. Yep, Joe was fun to write. He was who he was meant to be when he was with Lucy…but when he was left alone with his thoughts the inner terror began. The movie conveyed this powerfully.

I am honored beyond my dreams that with all the fabulous, anointed, and inspired books in the marketplace that it was my Inspirational Christmas romance novel that Steve chose to produce. This Christmas, as I look out my window and watch the sparrows, I remember the Bible verse where Jesus speaks about the extreme value of a sparrow. It reminds me that all we do in the Lord’s name has value.

I hope that you read The Christmas Edition and that you will discover a new favorite author in me as a result. Please email your thoughts to me. I do care and they means a lot to me. I will respond. Promise!

And, I hope that you order the movie from Salty Earth pictures. Perhaps watching it will become a Christmas family tradition.

To find my blog, The Serial Writings of Robin Shope --
http://write2robinshope.blogspot.com/

And to read more about Salty Earth Pictures -- http://www.saltyearthpictures.org/

Thank you, Robin, for sharing your joy with us.

Readers, eave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book or the movie. 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 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/

LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUN VALLEY, IDAHO - Angela Ruth - Free Book

Welcome to my blog, Angela. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

My characters are usually people I would like to be. They are me—only smarter, funnier, prettier, more athletic, and more talented. But usually facing some kind of problem that I am so glad I don’t have to live through.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I once rode on the shoulders of a unicyclist wearing a balloon helmet. And hey, guess what. I made one of the characters in Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho a unicyclist too.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

My mom was a writer, which I thought was the coolest thing in the world—especially when she wrote about me and I got my picture in Women’s World. But it was 4th grade when I really started embracing my creative writing assignments, and by embracing I mean reading them to the kids in the carpool on the way home and then pretending that I lost the assignment so I had to write another one…and another one. I got a lot of pleasure out of the process.

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

Kids books have to be my favorite. That’s what I originally started writing, and I have a middle grade novel titled The Water Fight Professional releasing summer of 2012. I also love women’s fiction and non-fiction. An element of romance is good, though it needs to be unpredictable. I like anything that is light-hearted and life-changing.

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

I run, run, run until I trip and fall. Then I have to stay down there on my knees for a while. I probably should have figured out a better system than this by now, but I’m just glad that God meets me where I’m at.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I absolutely love naming characters. Often times I use a baby name book, though sometimes a name will just stick with me until I meet the character in my mind. Or I’ll have an inside joke about why I give a character a certain name. For example a character that talks a lot will be named Brooke—Babbling Brook.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m a dreamer so I live in the future. My favorite book is always my next one.

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

I would be a dolphin. Dolphins are the happiest animals.

What is your favorite food?

I love homemade bread. It is my weakness. Like Kryptonite for Superman.

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

I am bad at writing description—probably because when I read a book I skip over the description. As a reader I want to imagine the stories the way I want to imagine them. Plus description just slows things down. So I use a lot of analogy. I try to make it fun while evoking imagery. Laura Ingalls Wilder I am not.

Tell us about the featured book.

It’s a silly romance. Nothing really outstanding about the storyline itself, but the characters will suck you in. They steal the show. I want to write sequels just so I can hang out with them some more.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Tapping the brakes to turn off the cruise control in her rented Ford Escape, Emily squinted to read another historical marker located along the barren mountains of Hwy 75. Should she stop?


When growing up, Dad had always refused to take her to Sun Valley, Idaho. Said he’d rather avoid the snobs that visited such resorts. Of course he was referring to the rich and famous, the actors and actresses. Which ironically she now was. An actress anyway. Never a snob.

Too late. Lost in her memories, she hadn’t made the effort to pull over in time. Which was just as well. She could always visit the landmark later. For now she needed to get to the lodge. Thank goodness she’d have one night to rest before the flurry of filming swept her downstream—literally. She needed her rest after spending a week with Mom in her hometown of Boise, Idaho.

She also needed a bathroom and a hot meal. Spying a rustic restaurant snuggled next to a bend in the river, she pressed harder on the brakes before swinging onto the gravel side road leading to The Point. The log building looked as if it were in need of some sprucing up, but by the number of cars parked out front, the food must make up for any lack of elegance.

Emily pulled the compact SUV into what might be considered a parking space and leaned over the passenger’s side to pull her purse from underneath a sweatshirt. Since it was July, she’d only brought summer clothes, but Mom had pretended to be practical for a moment and insisted she take the ugly orange Boise State hoodie. Of course, it was always good to be prepared.
I know what you mean. I miss the characters I just finished writing about, but they'll be back in book three of my series. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.angelameuser.com/  (Started my website before I chose my pen name Angela Ruth. Gotta do something about that soon.)

Thank you, Angela, for the delightful interview.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

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


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


The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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LOVE FINDS YOU IN HOPE, KANSAS - Pamela Griffin - Free Book

Pamela is the first author I ever mentored, and I'm so happy to welcome her to the blog. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

It depends on the character, though a little of myself goes into every book. Things I’ve experienced, lessons I’ve learned, feelings I’ve had in getting there, etc.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

There are so many. lol Going back to question #1 – right now I can think of only one “oops moment” I put in a story novella and don’t mind sharing. My heroine goes out onto the apt. balcony and the toddler she’s babysitting closes the sliding door which locks. She finds herself locked out with baby on other side of glass, and no way to get down from balcony. It happened to me, with my eldest who was then a toddler, and close to midnight, when no one was around and sharp cactus stood outside the downstairs apt. picket fence below. To complicate matters even more, I had no shoes on. I’m a night owl, and a huge, beautiful cross was lit up with white lights on a hill in the distance, in Nevada, where we then lived, but could only be seen while standing on the balcony. I loved to go out there late at night, when all was quiet, and felt closer to God while looking at it and communing with Him. My son woke up and accidentally shut the door which I’d kept open a few inches (the handle was broken. I had been waiting for days for a handyman to come fix it). Sure enough, the lock slipped and locked me out. My son cried almost the entire time I was trying to figure a way back inside, also trying to reassure him through a thick pane of glass – what amounted to hours. Besides my toddler, I also had an infant son who thankfully slept through all of it. I called down to some strangers finally passing by. They located the handyman, who tried not to laugh the entire time he opened my locked apartment and freed me from my balcony prison. That was many years ago, and I altered it into a more humorous experience for my story – though looking back, I can laugh now too. Since that night, I’ve learned it helps to laugh at and through my problems.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was a freshman in high school and very much a wild child (unsaved)- I wrote a suspense ghost story for my literature class. The teacher was so blown away by it she asked my permission to send it to a short story contest. I told her I didn’t care either way. I was also a rebellious brat. (It wasn’t considered cool by the bad crowd I hung with to be too smart.) Thank God that He’s in the habit of transforming warped vessels of rotting clay into worthier vessels made of stronger stuff and fit for good use. :)

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

All genres of fiction – Romance, suspense, mystery, cozy, humorous, historical – from American to European to any part of the world, really. My favorite historical stories tend to be Scottish or Irish based and set in those countries. Also England. I love medieval - the Victorian era. There are only a couple of genres I don’t like.

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

Sanity? What’s that?

I have a dry wit and have found as I mentioned before that it helps to laugh and laugh at oneself and problems. Not in a non-caring way, but in a “Oh, well. God’ll fix it – and since I can’t do anything about it, I’m not going to worry” kind of way. Although sometimes I have to remind myself of that resolve. Or my sons do it for me when I forget. My 17 year old (the sleeping infant when I was on the balcony) has a wonderful gift for impersonations and for making people laugh. He often pulls me from my stressed-out mode with his good cheer, and I soon find myself giggling helplessly or laughing so hard until tears are rolling from my eyes. Did you know it’s been scientifically proven that daily laughter can improve health, decrease sickness, and even reduce weight? I am laughing my way into longevity and a smaller size … but then, the Bible does say that laughter doeth good, like medicine. :)

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Often it has a lot to do with the meaning of the name. I look into the definition of each one (from a baby name book I have), and try to find one of the thousands inside that fits who my character is – because I believe there’s a lot of importance in a name… God considered it important enough (changing Abram to Abraham, just to show one example), and there is significance to the reason a name was given by Him to each person. So when I create my fictional characters, besides keeping in mind their origin, etc, I often do the same with their names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising my two sons in a godly manner as a single mom, despite a lot of flack from some close relations (not my parents) who put me down for my Christianity and my decisions, mainly the desire to train my boys to know, love, and serve the Lord. My parents have only ever been a help and strong blessing to me, and I am so grateful for their generous support through the years.

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

Never thought about that. lol Something in the cat family I guess - I love cats. They are so graceful, beautiful, independent to a point, and take no flack from anyone. Yet they can also be loving, giving and warm. Perhaps a lioness…

Perhaps protecting her cubs. What is your favorite food?

Does dark chocolate count as food? :) No? Oh, well…

For a meal: any seafood – shrimp especially, lobster, crab, any shellfish, also catfish…I also love fresh veggies and salad and fruits. For a snack: medium salsa mixed with nonfat yogurt (vanilla or plain) used as a dip for plain tortilla chips. Yum! :)

Actually, lots of authors say that chocolate is their favorite food. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I honestly can’t think of any offhand. I love to write, have the Internet and a plethora of books and a good critiquer friend who is dedicated to research and highly intelligent, so no problem there. If I can’t find something, I ask her and within minutes she sends me an email filled with reliable links. I created the time to write by giving up TV (though there are a couple of shows I record and watch as I want, and now and then I watch movies with my boys for a family night). And doors have opened to me that I never expected. My wait to get published wasn’t very long, perhaps a little over a year. The stories come to me fast – I often work on more than one at a time, so if I’m ever “blocked” in one, I move to another and often in doing so, it frees up the earlier blockage. I think I would have to say any roadblock consists of not enough hours in the day to write all that I want to write. Can’t overcome that unless I can bend or stop time. lol ;-)

Tell us about the featured book.

I enjoy all my stories, and this one was especially fun to write. Love Finds You in Hope, Kansas, is set in 1889. Five little impish darlings decide their pa needs a wife, and they want another ma. Only their pa, Rafe, has lost all hope, still grieving over their ma’s death that took place over a year ago. Alison Stripling has sworn off men, spurned because she is “nameless” – an orphan left on the doorstep of an orphanage as a baby. She gladly leaves the posh parlors of Boston for the prairie wilds of Kansas after receiving a letter asking for help with the children. She believes the letter came from her brother-in-law, Rafe, and hopes it is the answer to her prayers – but it was really written by the children, as a ploy to get their pa hitched to Auntie Alison and secure them a ma. In an effort to get his stubborn brood to see reason, Rafe and Alison secretly band forces utilizing their own plan that goes haywire from the start – and more than once – with often comical, at times heart-wrenching results…in a town called Hope, will one unforgettable family at last come to find it?

Sounds like a very good read. Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One
Hope, Kansas
Midsummer 1889

“Don’t just stand there with your mouth hangin’ open like a fish. Do you want a new ma or don’t you?” Andy directed the tense question to their little sister, Maggie, who hovered outside the stable door in clear indecision about whether to join them.

“Yeth,” she whistled through the space of her two missing front teeth.

“Where’s Baby Lynn?” Sam wanted to know. She hoped their little sister hadn’t been left unattended.

“I finally got her to thleep. Thee was awful futhy.”

“It’s a good thing she’s napping and not nosing around.” Andy clasped one hand over the wrist hooked around his bent knees. “She’s too young to keep secrets. Now get in here, Mags, and shut that door. If Pa sees you lurking outside and gets wind of what we’re doing, we’re all as good as doomed.”

Maggie did as ordered, moving across the barn to join them. The young schemers sat in a semicircle around a glowing lantern, its flame steady enough to cut through the dark interior. Patches of blue sky shone through the cracks of walls and roof. Usually the barn doors remained open during the day so the children could tend to their chores, but now they stood closed in deep secrecy.

Intriguing. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is: http://pamela-griffin.com/

My email for readers is: words_of_honey@juno.com  (I answer all mail, and if ever I don’t, it likely went into spam because of subject title and the lack of a reply wasn’t intentional.)

Also, please note - if you visit my website before I can get the guest book taken down, it is no longer operable. The company quit last month. If you leave a note there (as has happened a few times since then) I cannot see it to read it. I need to find a new guest book company that meets my needs … perhaps even start a weekly blog … my dad takes care of my web page, and that is a project we’ve been discussing – what to do with it next. Any suggestions of what you would like to see or have me do are welcome and will be considered. And a big thank you to all my readers through the years. :) Postage rates now what they are, I can no longer afford to respond personally to each of the hundreds of letters and tear sheets I have received in the last year or so, but many of you have been a source of encouragement to me and I didn’t want to let this go without thanking you guys from the bottom of my heart. Here’s hoping all of you have a wonderful holiday season and a blessed 2011!

Thank you, Pamela, for spending this time with us.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 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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LETTERS IN THE ATTIC - DeAnna Julie Dodson - Free Book

Welcome to my blog, DeAnna. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

The more I write, the less I end up in my stories. I started my first book, In Honor Bound, when I was nineteen, and it has a lot of youthful angst in it. But people who know me well still probably couldn’t pick out which bits of which of those characters are really me and which are other people who were in my life at the time and which I created just to make the story work. I think that’s because there isn’t a specific character who completely represents me, but several of them reflect something about me. As time has gone on and I continue to explore different themes, there are fewer and fewer of my own personal issues involved in my stories. I think as a writer and as a wannabe actress, it’s my job to imagine how people who aren’t me would feel and react to situations I’ve never had to deal with personally.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I guess I get craziest when hockey is involved. I’m a huge fan of the Dallas Stars, and their divisional rivals are the Anaheim Ducks, the Los Angeles Kings, the Phoenix Coyotes and the San Jose Sharks. So I keep a rubber duck, a toy Burger King king and a stuffed shark on the shelf in my office, all with their eyes X-ed out because, obviously, they’re dead. I still haven’t found a plush Wyle E. Coyote to deface.

My grandson is one of the official bloggers for the Stars. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I wrote a long time before I ever considered myself to be an author. I’ve always loved books and dramas, so I started writing when I was in high school and college to amuse myself when I was bored. The habit got to be more and more of an intense interest after college, but I still didn’t even consider the idea of trying to get published. Finally a friend of mine suggested that I should take all my writings and make them into a chronological story and then try to get it published. That’s how I got In Honor Bound and some of its sequel, By Love Redeemed.

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

I enjoy a good story, no matter what it’s about or where it’s set, but I gravitate toward historicals, especially if they have a romantic side to them. I especially love medieval, regency, and American Civil War stories, but my current passion is the classic mysteries of the 1920s and 1930s. I want to write like Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Margery Allingham when I grow up.

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

Mostly I make a conscious decision that I just won’t run. Yes, there’s a certain amount of hecticness inherent in merely making a living, but I refuse to needlessly add to that. I choose not to be constantly on the phone or texting or Twittering or instant messaging. I don’t have to watch every new reality show. I don’t care who is or isn’t voted off in Survivor or what the Smoke Monster in Lost is supposed to be. Yes, that makes me hopelessly outdated regarding pop culture, but that’s why I write historicals.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Names for main characters are extremely important to me. They need to fit the time period without being off-putting to modern readers. Ideally they ought to indicate something about the character as well. For minor characters, I tend to glance around my office and swipe authors’ names off of books, though not the same first and last name together. That keeps things fresh.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

In my writing career, I’d have to say getting my first book published is my proudest moment. That was when I felt I was a real author.

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

I would definitely be a cat. A house cat in a loving home has the greatest life ever. As they say, dogs have family, cats have staff. Dogs come when you call, cats take a message and consider getting back to you later.

What is your favorite food?

Just one? I guess my ultra-favorite, only-on-special-occasions treat is grilled lobster tail. Dessert wise, give me German chocolate cake or banana pudding.

All three are favorites of mine. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Prioritizing seems to be a big one with me. It’s easy to let family concerns or the day job or other interests push writing onto the back burner of the day. There’s no cure for it except self discipline. Sit in your chair and write. Set yourself some achievable, measurable goals and don’t get up until you’ve met them.

Tell us about the featured book.

Letters in the Attic is my frist book for DRG, though it is Book Four in the Annie’s Attic Mystery series. Annie is a fairly young widow who moves from Texas to Maine in order to empty out and sell her deceased grandmother’s old Victorian house. Up in the attic, she finds various items related to the local mysteries she solves. In my book, she finds a packet of letters from a childhood friend and decides to find out where she is now. The problem is that nobody knows what happened to the friend, or at least they’re not saying.

Letters is my very first contemporary novel, though it’s not my first mystery. I’m working on the second book in my series of Drew Farthering Mysteries set in 1930s England. All my Christie and Sayers and Allingham reading has certainly come in handy for this kind of writing.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Annie Dawson stood on the front porch of Grey Gables, forgetting for the moment the bags of groceries she carried in each arm. The light dusting of early-October snow had melted, and now the day was crisp and clear, the brilliant reds and yellows of the maple trees and the rich green of the white pines vibrant against the aqua sky. Maybe these were exactly the colors she needed for her next crochet project.

The colors of Maine in autumn.

The ladies at the Hook and Needle Club had told her weeks ago that she ought to make herself a nice sweater for the cool weather to come.

“Maine’s not like Texas where it stays hot until November sometimes,” Mary Beth had told her.

Annie smiled to think of that now. Just yesterday, her daughter, LeeAnn, had mentioned that the temperature was up to eighty-five in Dallas. But a few weeks ago, back when Mary Beth had made her comment, Annie hadn’t decided if she would still be here in Stony Point when the cold weather came, if she would even need a sweater warm enough for a chilly fall evening in Maine. Now it was October, and she still hadn’t really decided. But she hadn’t left either.

There was too much yet to be done here at Grey Gables. Gram had left her the old house and an attic full of memories and mysteries, too, treasured handwork and precious remembrances from a long life well and thoroughly lived. Having those things properly cared for, seeing them sold or given to those who would truly appreciate them, was a task Gram had entrusted to Annie. As much as she missed her daughter and her twin grandchildren, Annie couldn’t go back to Texas quite yet.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Mine’s easy: http://www.deannajuliedodson.com/. Besides information on my published and upcoming books, the site has features on my four spoiled cats, my favorite hockey team, my quilting and cross-stitch projects and more.

Thank you, DeAnna, for spending this time with us.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 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!!!

Robyn is the winner of The Topkapi Secret by Terry Kelhawk.
Judylynn is the winner of Just For the Moment by Deanna K Klingel.

CindyW is the winner of Yuletide Defender by Sandra Robbins.

SusanM is the winner of Nor Iron Bars a Cage by Caprice Hokstad.

Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:

Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
You have 6 weeks to claim your book.

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ALPHA REDEMPTION - P A Baines - Free Book

Welcome to my blog, Paul. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Probably too much, but I once read some advice which said to "write what you know" and I know myself quite well. I think it comes down to the fact that you will always draw on your own experiences when writing a character, so there is bound to be something of you somewhere in every character you create. Then again, the amount varies. Sometimes I will look at a character and recognize myself. Other times I will catch just the faintest of glimpses.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I once sang the opening lines of "Climb Every Mountain" (from The Sound of Music) at full volume, by myself, in front of my school. It was part of a school play that was a spoof of Star Wars. I played "Chewing Tobacco" (Chewbacca). Oh, and I can't sing.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

It was about twelve years ago. A story came to mind and I had this overpowering urge to tell it. I started writing and have been occupied with writing in some form or other ever since.

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

I like anything with a good story and a compelling voice. The writer needs to pull me in and keep me there. Stephen King is my favorite author, but I only enjoy a few of his books. I also enjoy Jonathan Safran Foer, Iain M. Banks, Khaled Hosseini, Cormac McCarthy, and Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I enjoy Philip K. Dick's stories but I am not a fan of his writing style.

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

The Wire - My first book, about a computer game that traps people inside.
Hardly - A boy and his dog save the Earth from a tyrannical alien king.
Village of the Dammed - A mysterious stranger returns to collect the soul of a young girl who drowned during the flooding of a dam.
Hour - A new planet is discovered on the other side of the Sun.

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

Prayer, exercise, and cheesecake.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I choose them at random until one strikes me as being something their parents might choose for them. If the story is set in the past, I cross-check the names against online lists of popular names for that time period. If the story is set in the future, I don't worry as long as the name "feels" right.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Apart from finally handing my life over to God, it would have to be raising two children who are firmly grounded in Christ.

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

Definitely a bear. I like to keep to myself and can be grumpy sometimes. Otherwise, I'm really cuddly (or so my wife tells me).

What is your favorite food?

Does cheesecake count as food? I discovered it at age nineteen after avoiding it like the plague because I felt the words "cheese" and "cake" did not belong on the same page, never mind within the same word.

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

Motivation after receiving the umpteenth rejection letter. I always wanted to be published because I felt it would be proof that I had reached a certain standard. I overcame it by remembering exactly why I was writing. I felt that if I quit I would not just be letting myself down, but also God.

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

Be prepared for a lot of work and no reward. Write because you love it, but also aim for publication because that way you will try to improve your skills. Don't take it personally if a publisher or agent turns you down. And don't get upset when you see those celebrity book deals. They are about money, and have nothing to do with literature.

Tell us about the featured book.

Alpha Redemption is basically a human drama set in space. It is the story of a man, Brett Denton, who has lost everything. In an attempt to escape his misery he volunteers to take part in a risky prototype mission to Alpha Centauri. His only companion is a learning-capable computer called Jay. At first Brett finds Jay's constant questions annoying but, over time, they become friends. With Jay's help, Brett slowly begins to heal. It is as story about journeys. Everyone and everything in the book is moving towards something. And ultimately it is about Brett's redemption.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The ship loomed overhead, its shadow engulfing them. Its smooth white skin filled the window, slowly obscuring their view of the Earth as the elevator rose. It stopped, and pneumatic seals hissed and whirred into place. Brett followed the technician through the airlock, pausing only to get a final glimpse of the planet he would not see again for almost a decade. He craned his neck to get a look but the ship's hull now blocked his view. All he could see was a sliver of atmosphere and a handful of stars.


It was his first time inside The Comet, but he knew it intimately from months of training. They were in the cockpit but there were no instruments: no joystick or control console, or even a windscreen--at least not in the usual sense of the word. There was nothing for him to do other than get into the hyper-sleep chamber that crouched in the middle of the floor like a grotesque, mutated iron-lung. He climbed the steps, turning to look towards the open airlock while the technician helped him connect the hoses, checking and double-checking the seal around his mouth. His initial discomfort at having something attached to his face faded as he relaxed the way they had taught him in the swimming pool, focusing on breathing slowly and deeply.

He slid into the chamber and his legs, hips, torso and chest became weightless in the clinging embrace of the syrupy goo. It covered his head and he opened his eyes, blinking uncomfortably into the yellow haze. He knew it was vital to immerse the eyes; they had stressed that many times. Remember to open them wide and have a good look around.

He could see the airlock from here, and the technician, now an amorphous blob, moving around the front of the bath, back and forth, back and forth. Brett felt a shudder as the lid closed and sealed over his head. A vague fear surfaced in the deepest recesses of his mind—what if. . .? then vanished again like a puff of breath on a chilly autumn morning.

The technician disappeared through the airlock, leaving Brett alone in his bath, breathing filtered air through a hose, listening to the muted sounds of the ship as it prepared to launch him towards an impossibly distant point of light.

In his dream-like cocoon, Brett could sense very little. Everything seemed muted and far away. He heard distant hisses, cavernous booms, and the ghostly shriek of metal on metal. Vibrations passed through the liquid and nudged at his body as if to alert him to some impending danger.

He could see the hoses drifting. His legs floated like odd-shaped creatures in a yellow sea. Then the vibrations stopped and there was no sound other than his heart beating softly in his ears. The taste of the air being fed to him through his mouthpiece changed. It reminded him of something. Was it watermelon? He could not remember the last time he had eaten a watermelon. He could not remember the last time he had seen a watermelon. Maybe they were extinct. Like dinosaurs. Hit by an asteroid; drowning in the mud; arms too short to take out the seeds. . .

Brett became aware that he was no longer thinking clearly, but that was fine. He watched his thoughts tumbling along like pretty little shards of plastic in a kaleidoscope, tumbling, tumbling, ever changing, never the same picture twice.

And at some point--he did not know exactly when--his thoughts faded as darkness washed over him and he slipped into hyper-sleep.

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

http://www.pabaines.com/ (personal site)
http://newauthors.wordpress.com/p-a-baines/ (joint blog)

Thank you for spending this time with us, Paul.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 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/

REMEMBER WHY YOU PLAY - David Thomas - Free Book

When I first heard about this book, I knew I had to feature it on my blog. Not only was it written by a local sports writer, about a local team, the amazing event helped change lives. Welcome David. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?


I love life. I have a wonderful family, and we live in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. I am a sports humor columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and started writing for newspapers at age 13. Writing has been a major part of my life. I love reading and writing good stories.

One of my grandsons is a blog sports writer for several of the local teams. Tell us about your family.

My wife, Sally, is Office Manager for a financial planner. With as shaky as the newspaper industry has been the past few years, we joke that she has the secure job in the family. We have a daughter who is 12 and a son who is 10. Our daughter plays sports -- she’s playing select volleyball at the moment -- and is a cheerleader. Our son plays whatever sport is in season, plus a few that are out of season. He always has some type of ball within reach. We spend a good deal of time at games and practices, but we believe sports when done the right way can teach valuable lessons for all aspects of life.

My mom and my brother and his family are nearby. My dad passed away in August. In the hospital before he passed, he was able to hold a copy of the book. That was a special moment because he was the one who set things up for me to start writing for the local newspaper when I was in junior high.

Have you written other nonfiction books?

No, Remember Why You Play is my first.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes, I just signed on to ghostwrite a memoir. There’s not much I can say about the book at this stage in the process, but it will be inspirational and high impact like Remember Why You Play. This one, however, is not sports-related.

Be sure and contact me when there is a pub date. I'd love to feature it on the blog. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Our kids’ sports take up a heavy chunk of our leisure time. I’ve always played all sports. I recently retired from softball -- more so I can be at my kids’ activities than because of my age or ability, I would like to add -- so golf is about the only sport I play now. Of course, I read quite a bit. I’m also a Sunday school teacher, so I enjoy Bible studies.

Why did you write the featured book?

I believe we tend to take sports too seriously at times, but I still feel there is much we can gain from sports. I came across a high school football program that does things the right way, and I wanted to write a Friday Night Lights for Christians, if you will. The school is Faith Christian School in Grapevine, Texas, and it made national news a couple of years ago when it treated a team from a prison school as the home team for a game. It is a very touching story.

I had already followed the Faith football program around for an entire season when that game occurred. I also happened to be at that now-famous game and wrote about it for our newspaper. The story spread from there, went global because of the Internet, and is being made into a major motion picture called One Heart for release late in 2011.

When the game received so much publicity, one of the questions often asked was, “How did they come up with this idea?” Well, I was already working on that answer in the book I was writing. All I had to do was add in this inspirational game as an example of the way they use sports to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Remember Why You Play demonstrates not only what kind of platform football offers, but also goes far beyond football and demonstrates the power of compassion, the impact one kind deed can make, and just how much good God can unleash when one person is obedient to what God places in his heart.

We have friends whose children have participated in sports at Faith Christian School. That's why the story caught my eye. What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

That every one of us has the ability to be a difference-maker, and that there are opportunities all around us every day if we can learn to view people the way that God views them.

One of the encouraging things to come from the early reviews is the number of non-sports fans and marginal sports fans who find takeaway value in the book. In fact, the very first e-mail I received was from a mother who read the book in one sitting and said she instantly began applying principles from the book to her parenting. That is exactly the type of reaction that the publisher (Tyndale House) and I hoped we would receive with a book that has a football field on the cover.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

The book’s web site is http://www.rememberwhyyouplay.com/. The Introduction and Chapter 1 are available there. Facebookers can find the book’s page by searching for Remember Why You Play. I have links to a variety of reviews there. I’m on Twitter @DavidThomas14. And for those who like sports humor, my columns are posted at www.star-telegram.com/300. Anyone with questions or comments about the book can e-mail me at RWYPbook@gmail.com. I enjoy receiving feedback and answering questions about the book.

Thank you, David, for spending this time with us.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

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


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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 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/

Michigan Brides - Amber Stockton - Free Book

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

For many years going through regular school, I tried hard to find something to enjoy about history class. There were moments and tidbits, but on the whole, the classes were rather boring. Nothing but facts, names, dates, events, etc. Nothing personal, and no connection to what happened or who lived during those times. So now, as a historical fiction author, I seek to create stories people will love while weaving history throughout the book. When readers finish one of my books, they’ve usually gotten a history lesson without realizing it. And that’s the highest testament someone can give me about my books.

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

That’s an easy one. The day I married the love of my life. He’s also an author, and we share the same birthday, only I’m one year older. Second to that would be the day I gave birth to our daughter and I became a mother for the first time. In just 5 months, I’ll become a mother again to our son. Those 3 days are hard to top!

How has being published changed your life?

Well, when it first happened, I felt a small bit of fear. What had I gotten myself into? And would I be able to sustain this writing as a career without disappointing my readers? I felt an enormous amount of pressure, but with prayer, a lot of that has subsided, and I write first and foremost for God. Letting Him take the reins has helped in so many ways. Beyond that, learning about my first contract led my husband to come visit me and that helped us realize our friendship had become so much more. Just 7 months after hearing the news of selling my first book, I was married. I’d say my life changed quite a bit!

Oh, yes, I remember it well. What fun! What are you reading right now?

I actually just finished Tamera Alexander’s latest novel, and I haven’t yet started another one. Thanksgiving sort of snuck in there and zapped a lot of time. But the next book on my TBR pile is Lorna Seilstad, Making Waves.

That's in my TBR pile, too. What is your current work in progress?

I just signed a contract for a new 3-book series set in the Brandywine Valley of Delaware during the Gilded Age and turn of the 20th Century. In all 3 books, an antique book brings each hero and heroine together in ways they never would have imagined, irrevocably intertwining their lives with each other. The first book is set to release in late summer 2011.

What would be your dream vacation?

That’s hard to say, since I live in such a gorgeous state of Colorado, full of amazing mountains, lakes, valleys, canyons, and high mountain meadows, as well as the plains to the east. But I’d also love to one day visit Alaska and Hawaii.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

A lot of times, the settings choose me. I brainstorm an idea, come up with at least 2-3 characters, and then determine where the story would best be set. I’m not sure I spend a lot of time on where, but for the books I’ve sold so far, my editor has chosen them for me. :)

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

First Lady Laura Bush, as she always struck me as a classy lady with a pure heart and genuine desire to help others. The time she spent in the White House and the work she’s done since then have been quite an inspiration to me.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I consider myself an amateur photographer, and I also love traveling, watching classic movies, and cooking/baking.

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

Description is usually my weakest skill, and I almost always end up going back in a second, third, or fourth draft to increase the details in my scenes. With the help of my critique partners and editors, though, you’d never know it when you read my books. Praise God for such an amazing team to help fill the holes where I lack.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Never give up. If you truly feel this is where God has called you to be, stick to it. Also, study the craft. Read as many books as you can in the genre you wish to write. You never stop learning, so maintain a teachable spirit, and you’ll do great.

Tell us about the featured book.

Michigan Brides is a collection of my second series of 3 books. All of them are set in Detroit, with some other locations in Michigan featured. Although this is a compilation book of three other novels, the inspiration for each one came as a result of my editor sending me a list of states for which she needed some proposals. I selected 3 states, did some research on the historical settings and events in each state, then developed some story ideas based on that research. Ever since I first saw the film, Somewhere in Time, I have loved Mackinac Island, located between the 2 parts of Michigan, so I included scenes on the island or references to the island in each book. The set in Michigan was the one my editor liked the best. So, that’s the three books I wrote.

Here is the publisher description: Within the industrial boom during the Turn of the Century, three Michigan women react differently to their rapidly changing worlds. Felicity does a very noble deed only to lead her to a romance that would be banned by her wealthy society. Annabelle’s interest in a potato picker is barred by the stigma society has placed on his ruined family. Shannon has seen too much about industry fail, prompting her to reject the suit of one of Henry Ford’s employees. Can each woman find the faith to push through the barriers so they can embrace love?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Felicity Chambers brushed sweat-soaked tendrils off Lucy Gibson's forehead. "Make sure you get some rest today, Mrs. Gibson. I don't want to return after work and find that you have overtaxed yourself."

The woman offered a weak smile, not even bothering to open her eyes. "I will."

The strain of a recent fever had taken its toll on the woman's frail body. Felicity's charity work involved delivering meals to the Gibson home, but when complications developed from Lucy's pregnancy at just four months and she was forced to quit work at the candle factory, how could Felicity turn a blind eye to the need?

To her left another girl a couple of years younger than her nineteen years managed to corral the youngest boy of five children and get him settled in his high chair for breakfast.

"Marianne," Felicity spoke over her shoulder, "Timothy has been told that if you should need anything at all today, you are to send him to the factory to find me." She smiled at the thought of Lucy's oldest, the scrappy, quick-witted lad who had secured a place in her heart at her first visit to this home.

"Yes, ma'am." The young girl bobbed her head, then turned her attention back to the toddler in her care.

Marianne lived two doors down and came to care for the home and children. With Lucy bedridden at the doctor's orders, Marianne was needed now more than ever. The other four children, ranging in age from three to eleven, scampered around the small house. Soft giggles and exclamations followed them. At least they showed respect for their mother's condition. Their shoes had holes and their clothes were a bit ragged, but they had a warm house and food in their bellies. With their mother unable to work, all of that would be taken away. Felicity couldn't let that happen.

On impulse she had sought employment at the factory and promised to give Lucy her wages. Felicity had grown tired of the constraints of her life of luxury. Working at the factory afforded her the chance at adventure without Mother dictating what charity work to do and overseeing her every move. For the first time in her life, she had a feeling of independence. She had chosen this work, and it felt good. It had seemed like the perfect solution. But now she wasn't so sure.

Grabbing her lunch pail and shawl for warmth against the cool spring morning, Felicity stepped outside and pulled the creaky, splintering door closed behind her. She smoothed a hand down the coarse fabric of her borrowed clothes. So different from the fine silks and linens she normally wore.

Am I ready for this?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at my web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/, and there you’ll find links to my Facebook page, readers group, Linked in profile, blog, and much more. Come on by! I love to hear from my readers.

Thank you, Tiff, for this interesting discussion.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 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!!!

I apologize for being a day late with the winners. This weekend was busy with concerts, ballgames, etc. Thanks for allowing me to be a grandma as well as an author and blogger.

JanCline is the winner of Nightingale by Susan May Warren.

Miriam (Ohio) is the winner of Wounded Spirits by April Gardner.


Angela from KY is the winner of The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard.


Fredamans is the winner of Tales of the Dim Knight by Adam and Andrea Graham.
 
Congratulations, everyone. Send me your mailing address:

Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
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. By using that link when you order, you will help support this blog.

Don't miss out on the Online Book Signing Bash. (See November 26 blog.) 75 authors signing their books. What a wonderful idea for Christmas gifts for the avid readers on your gift list. . .or for yourself.

NOR IRON BARS A CAGE - Caprice Hokstad - Free Book

Welcome back, Caprice. By the way, I love your first name. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I have to be strongly pulled into a story to write it. I often wish I could get pulled toward more widely appealing subjects and write for larger audiences, but when I’ve tried to write when I’m not strongly invested emotionally, it hasn’t worked. It’s like writing without the mythical “muse.” So I write whatever weird thing pulls me in. So yes, I’ve written books about slavery where the slave isn’t interested in starting a rebellion or even gaining her own freedom and I’ve written books using characters from long-defunct TV shows.

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

Birth of my first child: March 27, 1987

How has being published changed your life?

It hasn’t changed it very much. I have to spend more time on marketing now. That’s not fun. But I think it does help my confidence factor to be able to say, “Yes, I have two published novels,” rather than just, “I’m a writer,” which almost anyone can say.

What are you reading right now?

War of Attrition by Frank Creed

What is your current work in progress?

I’m thinking about writing the third book in the trilogy, the sequel to Nor Iron Bars a Cage. I’m waiting to see if there’s an audience for it and dabbling in SeaQuest fanfiction in the meantime.

What would be your dream vacation?

A cruise in the South Pacific. The longer, the better. And I would love to stay at the Poseidon Resort underwater hotel in Fiji.

That sounds like fun. How do you choose your settings for each book?

For my first book, I modeled the country of Latoph on my native California. I know that setting and I love it here. The second book has a spy mission that takes place in another country which I envisioned as oppressive and poor, like Cuba twenty years ago, except with a monarch as dictator. I envisioned the climate like Arizona.

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

J.K. Rowling. To me, she is the very pinnacle of what I’d like to attain. I wouldn’t be pumping her for “give me tips on how to get noticed,” as much as just sitting back and listening to her talk, to try to get some kind of handle on how she thinks.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Sewing is about my only non-literary hobby. I’m pretty good at it and have done some very impressive projects like wedding gowns and Renaissance costumes. There’s a picture on my website of one of my book’s character’s costumes. (http://latoph.com/costume.html) I modified an Elizabethan dress to make it different enough that I hope it seems otherworldly.

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

Finding quiet time to write. Many times the only way to overcome it is to write in the middle of the night and give up sleep.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

If you can write short stories, do it. Do it a lot, submit a lot, and collect publishing credits, even if you make no money. This is one thing I was never good at and wish I was.

Tell us about the featured book.

In a last-ditch effort to find his kidnapped son, Duke Vahn sends his most trusted servant to pose as a runaway slave in the hostile country of Ganluc. Meanwhile, the challenge he faces at home is no less daunting. This beautiful story is full of images: servitude in leadership, ungrudging chivalry, and a love that endures through adversity.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Slices of suns’ light pierced the morning fog. Captain Zinto paced the dock; his white cotton shirt and loose knee-pants billowed in the salty breeze. Deck-seasoned feet made too little sound for his mood, so he stomped to remedy the annoying silence.

A tiny crab scurried across the weathered timbers. With a swift kick, Zinto launched the unfortunate creature to sea. The captain grumbled and swore under his breath, flailing his arms as he paced.

The sound of booted footsteps halted Zinto’s silent argument with the invisible.

An eight-foot-tall Elva in black silk shirt and kidskin breeches topped by a black velvet manteau emerged from the haze. Zinto’s bushy gray brows furrowed in irritation as he attempted to school his features into proper respect for royalty. A dutiful dip of his head was all he dared offer in his present state.

The young noble smiled and offered a slender hand. “Good morning, Captain Zinto.”

Zinto huffed, turned away, and resumed his pacing. “Forgive me for nay agreeing, your highness.”

“Not at all,” the younger replied. “Forgive me for assuming anyone could be as happy as I on this wonderful morning. Is there anything I might help with?”

“Nay a thing, unless ye can command the weather or find some sap to buy a cargo-hold o’ silk in the next hour.”

The nobleman arched a brow and studied Zinto. “Silk, eh? Why would you want to sell it so fast? Is there something wrong with The Spirit of Hamrid?” He looked up at the ship docked close by. Zinto’s proud vessel sat low in the water, all her masts and sails intact, her hull sound.

Zinto snorted softly, then quickly remembered with whom he spoke. “What’s wrong, M’lord Duke, is where your brother ordered her to sail.” The captain couldn’t resist rolling his eyes. “He wants a ride to Rilad.”

The duke shook his head. He maneuvered to the skipper’s side and placed a well-manicured hand on his shoulder. “If I can’t convince King Arx to find other passage, I’ll buy the silk myself.”

Zinto whirled around, blue eyes wide. His face, wrinkled by time and tanned by twin suns, peered at the duke in disbelief. His jaw dropped, revealing several missing teeth. “Y—Ye would? What’d ye do with all that silk?”

“If you must take the king north, then you’ll have to lay anchor in Rilad for the storm season, correct?”

Zinto nodded.

“And the silk would be ruined before you could reach the garment maker’s guild in Dronak, right?”

Zinto nodded again. He was thankful Duke Vahn knew the sea and trade routes, so he didn’t have to explain the predicament King Arx had put him into. He couldn’t store delicate silk in a musty hold for a whole winter, especially in Rilad, where rains would be heavy.

“If I hear of a ship heading south in the next few days, I’ll hire it, of course.”

“Nay much chance o’ that. Ev’r’one headed south has already gone, and anyone headed in is prob’ly plannin’ to winter here.”

“I can store the silk in an empty tavern I recently acquired.”

Zinto nodded again and then arched a suspicious brow. The king hadn’t cared for his problems. Why should this tenderfoot duke care? Nothing was ever free. “Ye can’t have anything to gain by storing a load o’ silk. What d’ye expect in return?”

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?
http://www.latoph.com/ , http://www.underseaadventure.net/ , www.facebook.com/capricehokstad

Thank you for another fun interview, Caprice.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Nor Iron Bars a Cage

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

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YULETIDE DEFENDER - Sandra Robbins - Free Book

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

I think every writer must include a part of themselves in their characters, and I’m no different. I find my characters reacting the way I would in situations. Maybe I should clarify that. I don’t react the way my villains do, but my hero and heroine’s reactions are very much like mine.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I suppose the quirkiest thing I ever did was when I was on an antiquing trip with my best friend. We both collect blue and white stoneware, and we had heard of an antique mall that had many pieces for sale. We were in Ohio and were pleased when we saw the name of the town where the mall was located about 120 miles from where we were staying. So we took off in search of the mall. When we arrived in the town, though, we couldn’t find anyone who had ever heard of this antique mall that was supposed to be one of the largest in the country. We finally found one person who told us we had the name of the town right, but we were in the wrong state. We needed to be in Indiana. A quick search of a map revealed we were only about three hours away from the Indiana town, so we took off. Needless to say it was rather late when we returned to where we were staying that night, but we had acquired some wonderful blue stoneware pieces.

I have a friend, who would do that very thing. Road Trip! When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I had always wanted to write, but I think I first discovered I could write when I took a fiction writing class in college. I came up with a story idea during that semester that I have never quit thinking about. The story has never been written, but it may be someday.

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

I like suspense and mystery, romance both historical and contemporary, and women’s fiction. I don’t care for fantasy or science fiction.

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

I stay focused on what’s most important in my life—my faith in God, my family, and my writing. I try to remember that life is fleeting and that no one is irreplaceable, but I do want to make an impact on lives I touch. That’s why I pray that the words God gives to me will be like seeds that are scattered into the world. I don’t know where they will land, but I pray God will help them to find fertile soil in the heart of someone and will help that person understand the love that God has for him or her.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

For my hero I like to choose a one syllable name. I think that makes him sound like a stronger character. For my heroine I try to choose a name that has more than one syllable because I think it sounds more feminine. I search name lists on the internet until I find the right combination for my story. The hero and heroine in my latest book are named Matt and Rachel.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of the children my husband and I have raised. They are all grown now with families of their own, and they all have a faith in God that guides them in their daily lives. Nothing gives me more pleasure that spending time with our four children and my grandchildren.

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

I think I would be a Yorkshire terrier dog. Maybe I think that because my Yorkie passed away a year ago at fourteen years of age. She had all the characteristics that I admire in a person. She gave me unconditional love and was completely loyal. She enjoyed life to the fullest and was never too involved in what she was doing to come running to me if I called. She gave me encouragement in my writing because she lay at my feet the entire time I was on the computer. I still miss her so much.

What is your favorite food?

I have two favorites—hamburgers and chocolate chip cookies. I think I could live on those two foods. I get hungry just thinking about it.

Sounds good to me. Let's go get some for lunch. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Before I started writing, I was the principal of a school and supervised a staff of over 60 employees. I suppose I was used to being the final authority on decisions in the building, but I found that wasn’t true when I began to write. I was fortunate to find ACFW and get into a critique group through that organization. As I began to receive feedback from my critique partners, it was sometimes hard to accept. But God revealed to me that I was growing as a writer and that I needed to learn from those who had more experience than I did. I’m so glad I listened to God’s soft voice for now I realize He was preparing me for the editors and readers that I would encounter later on. Now I’m thankful for the help I was given by so many.

I know what you mean about that. Tell us about the featured book.

Yuletide Defender is a romantic suspense that is releasing December 7 from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. An anonymous source tells Rachel Long, a determined newspaper reporter, that he believes a vigilante is responsible for the deaths of gang members in their city. Rachel who needs a big story to advance her career decides to find out the truth. Matt Franklin, a police detective, is worried for the feisty reporter who keeps showing up in the wrong part of town and becomes her protector. The two of them find that a threatening gang war is propelling them to a showdown—just in time for Christmas.

I want to read that. Please give us the first page of the book.

Arriving at a murder scene before breakfast wasn’t Rachel Long’s idea of a good way to start the day.

She leaned against the lamp post at the corner of 9th and Perkins and pulled her coat tighter. The December wind that whistled around the deserted storefronts and rundown apartment buildings lining the street sent a shiver down her spine. Unlike other neighborhoods in Lake City, there were no holiday decorations anywhere in sight. In fact nothing about her surroundings gave a hint that Christmas was only a few weeks away.

A young man’s lifeless body sprawled twenty feet away spoke volumes about what life was like in this part of the city. Several uniformed policemen stood to the side as crime scene investigators gathered their evidence.

Her stomach rumbled, and she pressed her hand against her abdomen to suppress the hunger pains. Coffee would have to come later. As chief investigative reporter for the Lake City Daily Beacon, her job was to cover the news.

One of the policemen backed away, and Rachel caught sight of the victim’s leg twisted underneath him. She made a quick note in her journal of his white canvas tennis shoe with a five pointed star on the side—one of the identifying marks of the Vipers, the gang that boasted control of this neighborhood.

She pursed her lips and tried to mentally recall how many gang-related deaths she’d reported in the past two months. Four? No, five. This one made the sixth victim.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at my website http://sandrarobbins.net/ or at my blog at http://www.sandrarobb.blogspot.com/
I always enjoy hearing from my readers at Sandra@sandrarobbins.net

Sandra, thank you for the interesting visit.
 
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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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