Be sure and check May 14

...for the list of winners.

TRUCK STOP JESUS - Buck Storm - One Free Book

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

The answer probably should be none—it’s all imagination, right? But truthfully I’m sure some of

me winds up in my characters. The good, bad, and ugly.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

This is a hard one. Musician, diver, traveler—I’ve lived a quirky life. Been around the world,

done so many things. As a starving young songwriter in Los Angeles I got a job as a singing

telegram guy for a couple weeks. That was definitely cringe worthy.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Probably about the same time I discovered I loved to read—loved story. Looking back over my

life I realize that I’ve never been a good sideline guy. I might start out as a watcher and admirer

but it doesn’t take long for me to have to be a doer. As a kid, half an inning into a baseball game

on TV I’d be out in the yard tossing up a ball to hit. I’d see Jacques Cousteau exploring the ocean and I’d have to become a diver (something I wound up making a living at for much of my life).

When I heard the radio and music I wanted to write songs (this eventually became my career).

So, for me, Louis L’Amour, J.D. Salinger, Mark Twain, C.S. Lewis—so many more—these guys

inspired me to want to do more than just read. I had to write.

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

I’m one of those people who will read the back of a cereal box if nothing else is around. I love

books, especially novels. I do love the classics but all kinds, really. I’m not picky or lofty with

my reading list. I leave yard sales with stacks of books (too many!). Old and new. I read for

enjoyment but also, these days, for expanding my knowledge of the craft.

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

In a word, Jesus. Remembering what is important—above success, sales, marketing, the next

project, etc. I truly find peace in the storm with God. He is safe harbor and all the matters.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Hmm. They usually come to my head with names so I don’t. Sometimes I’ll peruse the internet or ask my family for suggestions for side characters.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My wife and son and daughter—and now a new daughter-in-law—without a doubt.

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

A dolphin. I’d hang out in the waves all day and always have a smile on my face!

What is your favorite food?

Mexican

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

overcome it?

During my third novel I went through a real stretch of wrestling with storyline. I eventually

realized the problem was two-fold—I was putting time pressure on myself, and I was trying to

force my original storyline idea into the work when the book needed to go another direction. I

took a step back and remembered what was important and good. Family and faith! Books are just

books, why stress? Then the story flowed.

Tell us about the featured book.

TRUCK STOP JESUS is essentially a quirky road trip novel. A life collision between a

struggling, eccentric actress and a washed up professional baseball player. Some road trips take

you places you never expected!

Please give us the first page of the book.

East of the Sun, West of the Moon

Paradise Jones woke with a start, mouth stuffed with bitter cotton. She squinted an eye against the morning glare and looked around the room for the swarm of bees.

A dream? It must have been a dream.

Then why did she still hear them?

Reality wormed its way slowly into her sleep-addled brain. Not bees. Her cell phone vibrating. A glance told her it wasn’t on the nightstand. Where was the stupid thing? It stopped.

Peaceful silence filled the room. Paradise flopped back onto her pillow and pulled the sheet over

her head.

Bee-free bliss.

The bees kicked in again and she groaned. The cell had to be under the blanket somewhere. It took four vibrations but she peeled back layers until she found it. She tapped the screen with her thumb and pushed a tangle of blond hair out of her face. “Ash, this better be good. It’s the middle of the night. I’m asleep.”

The Boston tinged accent on the other end of the line shot back unapologetic. “It’s almost noon. Why can’t you wake up in the morning like normal people?”

“We played at Jack’s last night. I didn’t get home till after three. The guy from Virgin Records was there.”

“He say anything?”

“Yeah, right. He said I’m gonna be huge. Nah. I don’t think it was his cup of tea. He left before the last song.” Paradise pulled the sheet back over her head and the world shrunk to a manageable pink cocoon. A steady drone of street noise shoved its way through the bedroom

window. On the other side of the wall was Silverlake, Los Angeles, California, United States,

Planet Earth.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.buckstorm.com  - lots of other links there as well

Thank you, Buck, for sharing this book with us. I’m eager to read it.

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

Truck Stop Jesus - paperback
Truck Stop Jesus - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!!!!!

Trixi (OR) is the winner of Sprouts of Love by Valerie Comer.

Beverly C (TX), Connie (KY), and Vivian (MT) is the winner of Dawn Singer by Janalyn Voigt.

Edward (VA) is the winner of The Seeker by Terry Dodd.

Paula (MO) is the winner of Love and Harmony by Sally Bayless.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

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

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

When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

A Special Price for AUTUMN LOVE

The Thanksgiving novella collection is at a special price right now. $.99 on Kindle.  This is a collection written by four of my writing friends and me. Here's what it is about:

Lena Nelson Dooley
DIY THANKSGIVING LOVE - A misunderstanding brought Austin Hodges and Valerie Bradford together. The same misunderstanding eventually pushed them apart. Can a church youth campout help them to see each other through the eyes of truth?

Lisa Crane
THANK HEAVEN FOR LITTLE GIRLS - Charley Jane Roberts is a tomboy through and through. Jake Waters is a bit of a ladies man. They’re also best friends, and Jake is Charley’s boss. Unfortunately, Charley is also in love with Jake. He, however, sees her still as the tag-along little sister of his friend and one of the guys. One minor accident at work changes everything. But will the two of them figure everything out, in spite of meddling friends and misunderstandings?

Anne Greene
RECIPE FOR A HUSBAND, set in Maine in1942. Nessie McDonald, daughter of a recently deceased lighthouse keeper seeks a husband by Thanksgiving to share the responsibility of warning sailors off the rugged Maine coast. She advertises for a husband and cooks gourmet dinners for each would-be husband’s interview. Kyle Cameron, the injured seaman she rescues from the sea, won’t do because he must return to Australia and his father’s shipping business. Yet Kyle, lying on a cot in the kitchen with a broken leg, points out each aspiring husband’s unsuitability by reading aloud from Nessie’s heirloom cookbook’s spiritual advice. When Kyle must return home, Nessie realizes too late she’s fallen in love with the spiritual Australian. But Kyle surprises her by cooking up a recipe of his own.

Kathy Wall
NEVER AGAIN - Wounded by a woman’s dishonesty, Tanner Phillips vows never to trust women ever again. When he meets Rusti Moore, he recognizes a person in emotional pain carrying a heavy burden.
Her open honesty impresses him. Can he overcome his personal injuries to help her heal? Does he have the insight to support her without damaging her? Will helping her destroy him?

Marilyn Eudaly
TURKEY TROT - Radio personality Trudy Moore fears Thanksgiving will mark the end of her relationship with the “Big Boss of the Hot Sauce,” Gunnar Stone.
Gunnar pushes for them to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Connecticut. Trudy’s parents invite them to Arkansas. She may have to work the Turkey Trot Marathon in Dallas, Texas. Gunnar develops two very different plans to solve their holiday dilemma. One involves trotting around the country. The other he keeps secret from the woman he hopes to make his wife.
The miles and the rungs on the corporate ladder challenge their love as they do a Turkey Trot to find happy forever after.

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Autumn+Love+

COMING HOME, a Tiny House Collection - Michael Ehret, and others - One Free Book

Dear Readers, tiny houses are a new concept. They’re featured on a TV show, and there’s a lot of buzz about them. Now this tiny house romance collection is available. And Mike Ehret’s novella is his debut book. So I’m interviewing him about the book and introducing you to him. I've known Mike a long time and worked with him on the ACFW Journal.

Bio: Michael Ehret has accepted God's invitation and is a freelance editor at WritingOnTheFineLine.com. In addition, he's worked as editor-in-chief of the ACFW Journal for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). He pays the bills as a marketing communications writer and sharpened his writing and editing skills as a reporter for The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star.

How did your story for the collection come about?  

How did I come up with the idea? You’re asking a Seat Of The Pants (SOTP) writer how he came up with the idea? I sat down at the computer, opened a Word document, and started writing. Okay, so there’s a little more to it than that.

When we knew we wanted to do this novella collection idea centered around tiny houses, my wife and I had just finished touring the Tiny House Road Show when it stopped here in Indianapolis. On a subsequent weekend trip to Cincinnati, we brainstormed a couple ideas about how it could be approached.

What if? What if the man in the story was a writer for an architectural journal who thought himself too sophisticated to do a story on tiny houses? What if the woman was the president of a company building tiny houses with the idea to use the proceeds to battle homelessness (and who also provides tiny houses, at cost, to those who need a place to live off the streets)? Then, what if both of these people had experienced homelessness in different forms and it had drastically affected their lives, but in different, opposite ways?

But I still couldn’t seem to get the story started in a way that fired my imagination. Then one day, I’m driving around the Northside of Indianapolis (where my place of work is located) and I spot a street sign for Timberly Drive and the voice of my female character just pops into my mind and starts talking.

I’m just going to put it out there. My name’s Timberley. Yeah, Timberley. Get over it; I did long ago, okay? What can a girl say? My father the dealmaker cut what he called a “win-win” with my mother. Trouble is, there were three people in the deal and only two of them “won-won.”

From there the story began to unfold.

Homelessness expanded her world and constricted his. Now she needs his help, but he only remembers the pain. Can they find big love in a tiny house?

Are these stories connected in some way? If so, how?

The only thing they have in common is that all involve a tiny house in some way.

What are you reading right now?

James L. Rubart’s The Long Journey to Jake Palmer.

I loved that book. How many other books have you had published?

This is my first.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a collection?

Truthfully, finding the time to write is the hardest thing. My job is very demanding, and I have other commitments that are important to me. But when God personally invites you into “a new season of writing” it’s hard to say no.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

It was interesting. Particularly being the only male in the collection. My story definitely fits in the collection, but it is also definitely different. One great thing about the collaboration is that all of the other authors are great encouragers—and good friends.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Two things. Don’t let the world define your life. Don’t find your identity in the things of this world. Second, the importance of personal integrity.

Please give us a peek into your story.

(This is a bit from the middle that’s part of my favorite scene. To set it up just a little, Rafe and Berly are about to have their second “date”. They are still feeling each other out and looking for common ground. There is attraction, but they’ve only just met so there’s also tension.)

Rafe saw Berly pull into the parking lot. Honda Accord, newer model. It looked like the Touring version, so a confident V6. He rose, trashed his cup, grabbed the notebook, and headed for the door. He didn’t want her and Carl coming into contact. Carl’s too chatty. Though he had seemed rather intimidated by his encounter with Berly and her determination.

Still, better to not risk it.

Ah, but Berly’s no-holds-barred confidence was a primary driver of his own interest. After the curly auburn hair, fair skin, blue eyes, and that laugh—the one that started in her eyes and ended in his heart.

He had to make this work.

He popped down his shades as he exited the shop. The sun was bright—plus he was feeling a little exposed.

“Nice car,” he said as Berly stepped out of the vehicle and closed the door.

“Oh, you startled me!”

His laugh must have amused her, because she looked at him sideways for a moment, as if measuring him. It seemed her glance lingered briefly on the notebook. “Thanks, it’s the touring model.”

“V6?”

“Of course.”

Rafe nodded and walked around the car, checking her tire choice, running his hand over the hood. Trying to think of how to start.

“It’s not for sale,” she said.

“I’m not in the market … for a car.”

Was that a step too far? Maybe, but he didn’t think so.

“Some days I live in that thing, traveling from site to site,” she said, choosing to ignore the line.

Rafe nodded. “I’ve found you can tell a lot about people by the cars they choose to own. This one tells me you’re safe, reliable. Close to staid, but not quite. Not with the six. You have your lead foot moments.”

Her hands on her waist issued a challenge of their own. “And yours?

”

“Black Beemer.” He tilted his head to her left.

“Ah. Well, to me that screams, Ostentatious. Overrated. Overpriced.” And after a brief pause, “Compensating.”

Rafe fought down a laugh and forced a frown. “You didn’t even look, Ms. Charles.”

I love that scene, too. What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

It came from Allen Arnold: He taught me the importance of writing with God and not for him. His class on this was a turning point for my writing.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I have a rather inactive site for my freelance editing business that I now need to revamp. You can look for me there (https://writingonthefineline.com/). Alternately, I’m really active on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/michael.l.ehret.7) and fairly active on Twitter (@WritingFineLine).

Thank you, Mike, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

CINDERELLA'S BOOT/RUNAWAY BRIDES - Darlene Franklin - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I just finished reading this book by Darlene. It’s a fun read. You’ll love it.

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

I don’t intentionally write myself into my characters—others often see more of me than I’m aware of myself. In Cinderella’s Boot, I believe in second chances. Every day is a chance to begin anew, by God’s grace, and my heroine has to believe that after she left her fiancé at the altar.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

One of the more unusual things I’ve done: I traveled all the way from Mexico City to Maine by bus. After a summer’s immersion in Mexican culture and Spanish, I felt like I had entered a foreign country when we crossed the border into Texas and a three-year-old began speaking English with a heavy Southern accent.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I began writing seriously, after my divorce in 1991. I wrote about God’s promises in the midst of a difficult situation. After I finished that book, I started writing fiction and never stopped, although my first book wasn’t published for fourteen years.

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

My favorite genre is mystery—all kinds, suspense, cozy, hard-boiled, you name it. I also love reading the genre I write, romance, especially historical. Good sci-fi/fantasy draws me, but I’d rather not read a series (sorry, writers!) For nonfiction, I read memoirs, creative nonfiction, and spiritual living books. Recently I finished Jesus, the Obedient Son by Michael Phillips. Now I’m reading My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me by Jennifer Teege. It’s a biography of Amon Goeth’s black granddaughter. In case you need reminding (I did), Goeth was the concentration camp commander in Schindler’s List.

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

Good question. Prayer and scripture memorization/meditation help. Right now I’m blessed to have a weekly counseling session. Talking with friends can help. Ongoing physical therapy helps, when I get it. (I live in a nursing home)

How do you choose your characters’ names?

For Cinderella’s Boot, I brainstormed names that could be condensed to “Cinderella” and came up with “Cynthia Ellen,” my heroine’s name. Her family teasingly calls her “Cinders,” her friends call her “Cyn”—but only her (former) fiancé calls her Cynthia.

I chose Keith for the hero, just because I liked the name. All the other characters, including a few animals, were given names of Facebook friends who asked to have a character named after them. People love seeing their names in print! I intend to ask for names whenever I write a contemporary book—which isn’t very often, as you know, Lena.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am as proud of my son and grandchildren as most parents are, but I feel I have little right to take credit for how they turned out.

Do I dare say proud? I am thankful that my faith has stayed strong through a life with many challenges. And I’m proud of having nearly fifty unique titles in print, plus reprints and new collections. (Cinderella’s Boot is book #48. I expect to see book #50 published in July.)

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

A cat, of course. Because they are queens and beautiful and friendly.

What is your favorite food?

Potato chips and ice cream

I’m sure the sweet and salty go together well. I have a recipe for Potato Chip Cookies that are like that. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Oh, Lena, I’ve had a lot of roadblocks over the years. Perhaps the biggest problem at the beginning was the lack of validation. I felt compelled to write but no one wanted to publish what I had written. S-l-o-w-l-y that changed.  I published maybe one item a year and won a few awards. My first book was published fourteen years after I started writing!

How did I overcome it? I just kept writing. I even won the perseverance award at Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Editors certainly knew I was serious about learning my craft.

Tell us about the featured book?

Contemporary romance novella from the Runaway Brides collection.

Cynthia Ellen Cooper—known affectionately as “Cinderella”—left her wedding boot in the dust when she ran away from her wedding to work on a sheep station in Australia.

Four years later, she’s back home—and so is her ex-fiancé, now a DVM from Oklahoma State University. They reach a truce and work side by side in his father’s animal clinic.

Cyn soon discovers she wants more—but she has to battle bad history and a demanding pet owner for Keith’s attention.

How can Cinderella find a second chance at love?

Please give us the first page for my readers.

Cynthia Ellen Cooper—Cyn to her friends, Cinderella to her family—had dreamed of her wedding day all her life. The day dawned as if delivered to order from heaven. Early May in Oklahoma hit the perfect balance between the heavy spring tornado season and the blasting heat of summer. Not a rain cloud or rainbow marred the horizon, naught but sunshine and puffy white clouds and blue sky.

Grass, kept to an even six-inch height, comfy to foot and hoof, stretched around her family’s homestead, inviting her to ride to her wedding in style on the back of her favorite mare. The flowers of the field matched the wildflower bouquets lining the chairs set up for the ceremony to be held beneath a rose arch. Her wedding ensemble was designed to match the surroundings: a short gown and veil in ivory satin and lace paired with white heeled boots for her wedding slippers.

In all, Cinderella had a fairy tale ending to a fairy tale romance for the cowgirl more at home on the back of her beloved mare Moonstar than on foot.

Enjoy it, Cyn reminded herself. After today, she’d exchange ranch chores for office duties. She’d work at the registrar’s office at the Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine in Stillwater for four years while her prince charming earned his DVM.

Four years trapped inside an office felt like an eternity to a girl who spent every spare minute outdoors. After their imprisonment, Keith would receive his degree and they would return to Mistletoe Springs.

Was she exchanging her dreams for the security of marriage? Any marriage involved compromise. But if she could know for certain that Keith would wait for her, she wouldn’t get married today.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website and blog

Facebook

Amazon author page

Twitter: @darlenefranklin

Purchase Links:

Cinderella's Boot

Runaway Brides

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!

Brenda W (TN) is the winner of Love's Compass/Pride's Fall by Darlene Franklin.

Ginnette (CO) is the winner of An Unlikely Hero/Pony Express Romance by Mary Davis.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

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

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

When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

LOVE AND HARMONY - Sally Bayless - One Free Book

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

I write Christian fiction because I enjoy reading it and because I see my writing as a ministry. I hope that each book will encourage someone in their faith walk.

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

That has to be three-way tie between my wedding day, the day my son was born, and the day my daughter was born.

How has being published changed your life?

Being published is wonderful because it lets me get feedback from readers. I’m especially grateful to readers who leave reviews and to my wonderful street team members, who read my books before they are published and help promote them. (Information about joining my street team is available on my website.)

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading A Year of Weddings Collection. It’s twelve contemporary Christian romance novellas, one for each month. I’m currently in A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on Book 2 in The Abundance Series, which features Abby, the widowed antique-store owner who appeared in both Books 1 and 1.5, Love at Sunset Lake and Love and Harmony.

What would be your dream vacation?

Any warm beach by the ocean. I love seeing and listening to the waves.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My books are all set in small towns because I’m a small-town girl. The current series is set in Missouri, where I grew up. I’m in the early stages of planning a series that will take place in Appalachian Ohio, where I now live.

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

I guess it would sound really sappy to say my husband, since I spend almost every evening with him, but he’s the person who first came to mind. Hmm, next choice…Beth Moore. I love her Bible studies and her spunk.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I like birdwatching, kayaking, swimming, baking, shoe shopping, and watching BBC mysteries. I’ve been trying running, just a tiny bit at a time, but that one’s still up for debate.

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

My biggest obstacle is turning the messy first draft into a second draft that makes sense. I overcome it by giving myself little goals and plowing through them, checking them off one by one. There might also be some moaning and small amounts of chocolate involved.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read about a hundred books in the genre you want to write. Then read more, inside and outside that genre. Read the book Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. Join a critique group. Enter contests to get unbiased feedback. Do something like National Novel Writing Month, where you get encouragement to finish a first draft. Subscribe to Writer’s Digest, a magazine that costs about $20 a year. And know without a doubt that even multi-published, amazing authors struggle. (This was an eye-opener for me. I thought it was easy for them.)

Tell us about the featured book.

Love and Harmony is a contemporary Christian romance about the reunion of a couple that first fell in love as teenagers at church camp. The back of the book says:

The first boy she ever kissed just walked back into her life—and crashed into her plans.

She needs to redeem herself…

Music teacher Becky Hamlin is seeking harmony—both in the blended voices of her students and in her small hometown of Abundance, Missouri. But after last summer, when her bad judgment left the town vulnerable, things have felt off key. Becky hopes to make amends by holding a benefit concert for the local food pantry. If the event is a success, she might even have a shot at her dream job. And now that her former crush, Seth Williams, has moved to town, she could really have it all—a great concert to benefit the community, a more secure teaching position, and a chance at love.

He needs to prove himself…

Seth Williams has his hands full, raising his sixteen-year-old half-brother and starting a new job as an interim high school principal. When he realizes that the gorgeous local choir director is the girl he fell for at church camp years ago, he’s more determined than ever to convince the school board to make his position permanent. But the faith Seth once shared with Becky is no longer common ground.

The spark between them needs a second chance…

As the logistics of her concert cause problems with his job, will the discord make a relationship impossible or will their renewed love, along with God’s abundant grace, allow them to overcome every obstacle? 

Please give us the first page of the book.

With every new calendar year and every new school semester came a chance to begin again, to become the person you were meant to be. Or the person you once had been but somehow lost.

Yep. Seth Williams nodded. Today, January 7, was the first day of a new semester at a new high school, and it was time for Tony, his half-brother, to get back on track.

Seth was starting over as well. His new job as interim principal at Tony’s school meant big challenges, but they were challenges he was willing to face if it meant Tony might get his life straightened out. Stepping in mid-year—after the previous principal, his secretary, and the athletic director had been fired for misappropriating funds—would require flexibility, which was not Seth’s strongest suit.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.sallybayless.com. Readers can find excerpts from all my books there, can email me, and can sign up for my newsletter and my street team. Newsletter subscribers are the first to learn when I release a new book.

I’m on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorsallybayless/. Facebook is my favorite social media, so I check it often.

I’m also on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/sally_bayless/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/sally_bayless.

Thank you, Sally, for sharing this book with us. I know my readers are as eager to read it as I am.

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

Love and Harmony: The Abundance Series Book 1.5 - Paperback
Love and Harmony: The Abundance Series Book 1.5 - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE SEEKER - Terry Dodd - One Free Book

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

With a little analysis I realize I often write much of myself into certain characters and situations, but this is pretty much a subconscious thing. In other words, my conscious thoughts are not nearly as much in control as I presume.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

During basic training in the U.S. Army I volunteered to undergo hypnosis on stage. I ended up shadow boxing around a room with hundreds of soldiers in attendance for the hypnotist’s hilarious performance at my expense. Afterward, I denied having done any of that and more.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

As a senior in high school I copied verbatim my one-year previously graduated girlfriend’s English paper. This was for the same teacher who had given my girlfriend a grade of A. She gave me a D. Her comment, written in red ink read “This grade is better than you deserve, but you have the talent to write if you weren’t so lazy.” Three years later I married my girlfriend.

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

In the sixth grade I read every science-fiction book in my small Midwestern town’s public library. As an adult I enjoy reading biographies, non-horror thrillers, mysteries, and Christian Bible studies.

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

I don’t run in the fast lane. Most days I don’t turn on my flip phone. I certainly don’t text, and unless I recognize the area code I don’t answer my land line. I am a poor listener, but I fancy myself a keen observer.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

My main characters name themselves. Even the minor ones have something to say about how they are called.

What is the accomplishment of which you are most proud?

At the age of fifty-eight I accepted the concept of salvation by grace and justification by faith.

It’s never too late. Praise the Lord. If you were an animal, which one would you be? Why?

Recently, in an idle, fleeting moment I thought a songbird, but realization quickly crept in that any creation other than what God has made me to be would lead to a sorry end.

What is your favorite food?

Most things sweet. To be more precise, my most recent book (Fired with Enthusiasm) is an eclectic compilation of short stories, humorous comic illustrations, and pictorial recipes of my five favorite sweet treats, each accompanied by a relevant anecdote.

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

I have never had my writing road fully blocked, but anytime I hit a bump in the road I put myself into the shoes and mindset of my characters. They always take me down the path they would go.

Tell us about the featured book.

My protagonist, having divorced his way out of a miserably failed marriage, suddenly finds himself at odds with life in general. His ex-wife has moved away with their young son, his business is falling to pieces, and he has no spiritual relationship to which to turn for comfort. In desperation, he deceptively manages to meet a woman through a Christian dating service. She steals his heart on their first date, but refuses to see him again. In an effort to understand her description of him as a name-only Christian versus someone “walking with the Lord,” he enlists a remarkable counselor with an unlikely resource. In the midst of progress sudden tragedy compounds his burdens, dramatically testing both his original objective and his newly found faith.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“Sign here and the contract is sealed,” the attorney said with a rueful note to his voice. Peter Wysong and his soon-to-be ex-wife were sharing the same divorce attorney, but she was not present.

           

“I will,” Pete said, nodding his head as he took pen in hand. To that he added, “I hope this is the last time I ever say those two words.” His divorce from a marriage of seven difficult years had thus officially concluded. He was now thirty-four years old and had just yielded custody of his six-year old son. He and his wife had been separated for a full year, and still he had absolutely no clue as to how they had failed so miserably in their marriage.

           

It was ironic, he thought, that although he now equated his failed marriage with a significant failure in life, why had he not made more of an effort to avoid that defeat? He still believed the blame was largely hers. So what could he have done about that? It was the eighteenth of December and he would have plenty of time alone over the coming weeks to think about the how and why of his unhappiness.

           

“You know, Pete, the attorney volunteered, “if you ever do say those two words again in a matrimonial sense you would be wise to first say it to your Maker.”

“Oh? Is that my gift from the man whose Christmas I have just financed? I share the same view I once overheard a friend say to someone about Christian faith: ‘I don’t care what you believe. Just don’t try to ram it down my throat.’”

           

“I’m sorry. Let me try putting it more palatably. You’re discouraged, you’re wrung out, and at this moment you also claim to have no direction for the rest of your life. But whether or not you realize it you have been greatly blessed in life. Take it from me and a lot of other guys who have found themselves at the bottom of life’s barrel at one time or another. There is a way up and out of your funk.”

           

“And exactly what would that road look like?”

           

“The cross of Christ.”

           

“I figured that’s what you were going to say. And that would solve all my problems? Gosh, I didn’t realize it would be so easy. Look, we took that route. We were married in a church, but that didn’t keep our marriage together. Dannie was never anything but a nag; first it was about money, then about her parents, then about my business travel, and finally about how to raise our son. You know something? I think I’m better off with Manianity than Christianity.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My Web site is terrygdoddbooks.com. My books can be seen and are described there. They can be purchased directly from their various publishers, but the easiest route is Barnes & Noble or Amazon. For example, plug in “Books-The Seeker by Terry Dodd, Books-Fired with Enthusiasm by Terry Dodd, or similarly use the name of any of my twelve titles. My email address is dodd@bellsouth.net.

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

THE SEEKER

Thank you, Terry, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

HILLS OF NEVERMORE - Janalyn Voigt - 3 Free Copies of the ebook DAWNSINGER

Bio: Janalyn Voigt’s lifelong love of storytelling began in childhood when she dreamed up her own bedtime stories. She grew into a precocious reader, a pastime she credits with teaching her to write. Janalyn trained formally with Christian Writers Guild. Today she is a multi-genre author and literary judge. Janalyn is represented by Wordserve Literary.

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

I had to smile at this line from a Romantic Times review of Hills of Nevermore: “Voigt is a talented author who has weaved several genres into her novel, and has created a beautiful first story in her Montana Gold series.” The reviewer seemed to think I crossed genres on purpose. My novels always contain adventure, romance, history, and whimsy. This combination is my particular brand. I’ve been a storyteller ever since I put myself to sleep at night with bedtime tales of my own. For me, the writing process is always the same. Inspiration comes to roost in my mind. It develops into a fledgling story. I fuss over it, then send it off on a wing and a prayer.

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

It’s hard to choose between marrying my husband and giving birth to three children. Those all qualify as happiest days, although each of them contained stress. At my wedding, we’d misplaced the license and had to hunt it down at the last minute. Giving birth goes down as one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Each time, however, the joy of the occasion canceled out the pain. Maybe having to work at happiness is the key to appreciating it.

How has being published changed your life?

It helped me confess to others that I’m a writer. I kept that information close before then, and I’m still guarded about mentioning it. I go away from home more now. I take trips for research, promotion, retreats, workshops, and conferences. It’s a good thing that I and my family love travel.

What are you reading right now?

I’m facing stiff deadlines, so I’m not reading beyond the news. Once life settles down again, the next book in my to-be-read pile is Not a Sparrow Falls, a historical romance by Lynnette Bonner.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m writing Cheyenne Sunrise, the second book in the Montana Gold series. It’s about a wounded young Irish woman headed with her brother to his ranch in Montana Territory. Against her better judgment, Bry Brennan finds herself drawn to Nick Laramie, the half-Cheyenne guide for their wagon train. Nick is an outcast wherever he goes. He doesn’t fit in with his mother’s people or the settlers. While he’s attracted to Bry, he won’t wish his isolated lifestyle on a woman. To their mutual dismay, circumstances throw them together and force them to face their beliefs about themselves and God.

What would be your dream vacation?

I want to go to Scotland, land of my ancestors on the Campbell side. I’ve heard that the highlands are breathtaking, and I’m curious about the Isle of Skye, which was inhabited by the Campbells. I wonder if I’d feel a sense of homecoming.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Really, it’s whether a story tied to a particular place beckons to me. That’s what happened with Hills of Nevermore. My family drove through Virginia City, Montana, on vacation, and I picked up a tourist brochure that laid out a tale of road agents, stagecoach robberies, gold, and vigilante violence. I just had to write about it all.

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

I’d love to get together with Miralee Ferrell and discuss books, authors, and the publishing industry. She is one of my mentors, my publisher for the Montana Gold series, and an award-winning western historical romance author in her own right.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I’ve already mentioned my love of gardening. I also sing, walk, and hike. I’m planning to get into bicycle touring.

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

Overbooking myself is my biggest problem. I insist on turning out novels written to a high standard, so I have to put in the time to make that happen, even when the schedule is tight. That can mean staying up past midnight or letting the housework go for a while. But boy do weeds in the garden bug me.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Allow yourself to be exactly where you are as an author. Too often, we writers are so eager to move on down the road we miss experiencing the journey.

And it’s all about the process or journey. Tell us about the featured book.

Hills of Nevermore is the story of a young widow hiding a secret shame and the Irish circuit preacher who wants to help her survive in a rough gold camp. Here’s the full description:

In an Idaho Territory boom town, America Liberty Reed overhears circuit preacher Shane Hayes try to persuade a hotel owner to close his saloon on Sunday. Shane lands face-down in the mud for his trouble, and there’s talk of shooting him. America intervenes and finds herself in an unexpectedly personal conversation with the blue-eyed preacher. Certain she has angered God in the past, she shies away from Shane.

Addie Martin, another widow, invites America to help in her cook tent in Virginia City, the new mining town. Even with Addie’s teenage son helping with America’s baby, life is hard. Shane urges America to depart for a more civilized location. Neither Shane’s persuasions nor road agents, murder, sickness, or vigilante violence can sway America. Loyalty and ambition hold her fast until dire circumstances force her to confront everything she believes about herself, Shane, and God.

Based on actual historical events during a time of unrest in America, Hills of Nevermore explores faith, love, and courage in the Wild West.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Idaho Territory, May 1863

America watched her wagon train shrink steadily in the distance, dust billowing in its wake. How could it have traveled so far in such a short time? Oh, why hadn’t she let someone know she’d needed to stop? Her friend Addie, taking a turn holding America’s baby, might not look for her unless Liberty woke and cried for her mother. Bill Baker, driving her oxen for a spell out of kindness, wouldn’t notice her absence for some time.

“I can’t have lost it!” Tears blurred the trail beneath America’s feet. She’d been a fool to wear the locket Kyle had given her. She should have kept it stashed away. When she’d felt her necklace’s chain break, she’d stopped walking at once. Why couldn’t she find it? If she didn’t come across the locket soon, she’d have to leave it behind. Catching up to the wagon train would take some doing even now, and every passing moment carried her baby, only three months old, farther away.

A meadowlark trilled, the song a sharp accent against the deeper thud of hooves.

A shiver ran down her spine. She jerked her gaze upward.

A spotted pony pranced on the path. The rider on the horse’s back watched her from dark eyes. Beneath the quillwork adorning the brave’s chest, his skin gleamed the color of robust tea. A black stripe of paint slashed across the bridge of his nose. Two tight braids fell to the sash that bound fringed leggings at the waist. Strips of cloth crisscrossed a wide forehead, and feathers fanned sideways behind his head.

A group of Indians on ponies clustered beside him. One of them called out, laughing.

The brave held up his hand for silence.

Wisps of hair escaped America’s bonnet, stinging her eyes. She clawed them away with a trembling hand. One thought crashed into another, beating to the rhythm of her wild pulse. Could she outrun them? No. What would they do to her once they caught her? Horrible.

I love the opening and want to read more. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Visit me at http://janalynvoigt.com.

Stop by to enter the giveaway drawing for an antique locket similar to the one America loses in the scene, above. For a limited time, purchasers of Hills of Nevermore will receive a free copy of Hearts Reunited, a western historical romance novella by the aforementioned awesome author, Miralee Ferrell.

I’m giving away three Kindle copies of DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven, book one) to readers of Lena’s blog. Comment with your email address to enter, telling where you would most like to go on a historical vacation.

DawnSinger,

Sometimes victory comes only through surrender.

The High Queen is dying… At the royal summons, Shae mounts a wingabeast and soars through the air to the high hold of Faeraven, where all is not as it seems. Visions warn her of danger, and a dark soul touches hers in the night. When she encounters an attractive but disturbing musician, her wayward heart awakens.

But then there is Kai, a guardian of Faeraven and of Shae. Secrets bind him to her, and her safety lies at the center of every decision he makes. On a desperate journey fraught with peril and the unknown, they battle warlike garns, waevens, ferocious raptors, and the wraiths of their own regrets. Yet, they must endure the campaign long enough to release the DawnKing—and the salvation he offers—into a divided land. To prevail, each must learn that sometimes victory comes only through surrender.

Thank you, Janalyn, for sharing this new series with us. I’m eager to read Hills of Nevermore, and I know my readers will be glad to win a copy of Dawnsinger.

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

Hills of Nevermore: An Inspirational Historical Romance (Montana Gold) (Volume 1)  - Paperback
Hills of Nevermore: Inspirational Historical Romance (Montana Gold Book 1) - Kindle

DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven) - Paperback
DawnSinger (Tales of Faeraven) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook Dawnsinger. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. And answer the author's question above. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

SPROUTS OF LOVE - Valerie Comer - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Valerie. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Sprouts of Love is part of Arcadia Valley Romance, a multi-author Christian contemporary romance series, so I definitely have to give a shout-out to Elizabeth Maddrey, Mary Jane Hathaway, Lee Tobin McClain, Danica Favorite, and Annalisa Daughety. We’ve been brainstorming for well over a year now as we planned out the over-arching series and then each author’s part within it.

We released Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley in January. It’s designed to be a permanent box set containing six novellas, each introducing one author’s three- book mini-series within the big series. From there, we’re releasing one book a month for eighteen months, rotating through the authors. Sprouts of Love is my first full-length novel to release in the AVR series.

Aside from my author group — and especially to Elizabeth Maddrey for daily encouragement and kicks in the backside as needed — I definitely need to give credit to my editor, who always brings out the best in my work.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

My husband will retire in about seven years, and we’re talking about this. Both of us love the ocean — Vancouver Island, in particular. The big question is whether we could handle living so far from our grandchildren! When we’re wandering along the Pacific shoreline, it’s easy to say, “What grandchildren? And besides, they’ll be teenagers by then and won’t care if we’re around. They’ll be busy with their own thing.”

And then we return home and feel small arms squishing our necks, and remember, “Oh, those grandchildren! How could we even think about moving away from them?”

Thankfully, we don’t have to make the decision any minute soon, and we can continue heading to the ocean for our ‘fix’ a couple of times a year in the meantime.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Plan for success. Or, really, plan at all! Don’t only think about the genres you’re interested in and what success would look like for you. Write down your dreams and goals… and what you think you might need to do to make that happen. You can always change your written plan, but it’s important to have one so you can see where you want to go and how you’ll get there.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

Wow, you know how to ask tough questions! Interestingly enough, the only thing that comes to mind would be a conference on the local food movement from a Christian worldview, along with gardening, food preservation, and cooking classes (since that is a passion of mine that comes out in my stories). That sort of thing. I’d invite speakers like Joel Salatin, Wendell Berry, and Matthew Sleeth. The problem is that I’m talking about a group who would consider cruises so environmentally unfriendly the conference would never take place!

Tell us about the featured book.

Single mom Evelyn Felton takes on a third part-time job managing a greenhouse and garden project for Grace Fellowship. Formerly homeless, she’s thrilled to offer truckloads of fresh produce to the Arcadia Valley food bank.

If only Ben Kujak weren’t running Corinna’s Cupboard singlehandedly, he’d be delighted to be on the receiving end. But Evelyn and her dynamo daughter, Maisie, won’t take no for an answer, even if it means restructuring Ben’s charity.

Soon Ben finds himself wishing they’d transform his personal life, too, but can true love sprout when their pasts collide with the present?

Please give us the first page of the book.

“You’re Evelyn Felton?”

Whatever that was all about. The man blocking the entrance to Corinna’s Cupboard couldn’t be a minute over twenty-five, but that didn’t stop him from acting like he owned the place. Eyebrows raised, he appraised her from steely blue eyes.

What had she ever done to him? Nothing. She’d never seen him before… had she? Evelyn stiffened her back and kept the smile in place. “Yes, I’m Evelyn, and I’m here to meet with Ben Kujak about donating garden-grown produce. Is he in?”

Silence reigned for several heartbeats.

Had she asked such a difficult question? The building this charity operated just north of Arcadia Valley’s Main Street wasn’t that big. If Mr. Kujak wasn’t stocking shelves or applying for grants, he likely wasn’t on the premises.

The upstart chewed his lip then nodded, stepping aside. “With a name like Evelyn, I was expecting someone older.”

He had to be kidding. Her name wasn’t Matilda or Ethel. Evelyn tightened her grip on her messenger bag and raised her eyebrows. “I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean. You haven’t answered my question. Is Mr. Kujak available? If not, when’s a good time to meet him?”

Muscles rippled the length of his arm as he stretched out his hand. “I’m Ben. Come on in.”

“I, um...” She blinked and shook his hand briskly. “Hi.” Nobody had told her the man who’d worked miracles starting a charity from nothing was little more than a kid. Scratch that. Definitely not a child, not with how attractive he looked in those cargo shorts and gray T-shirt. Not with his light brown hair matching the stubble that graced his cheeks and chin.

Evelyn shook her head and took a deep breath. “Like you, I thought I was meeting with someone older.”

Oh, I like that opening. Where can we find you on the Internet?

You can find me at http://valeriecomer.com. You’ll find links to my social media, my blog, as well as information about all my books and links to them on all platforms. It’s also a great place to sign up for my newsletter, which comes out twice a month and is chock-full of giveaways, cover reveals, information about upcoming releases, and other fun tidbits.

You can also find more information about the entire Arcadia Valley Romance project at http://arcadiavalleyromance.com. Covers, descriptions, buy links, background information, and more!

  

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

Sprouts of Love: Garden Grown Romance Book One (Arcadia Valley Romance 5)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com