Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 128
March 29, 2017
THE FABRIC OF HOPE - Susan G Mathis - One Free Book
Welcome, Susan. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.My goodness!
The Fabric of Hope
: An Irish Family Legacy is based on my family story—my great great grandmother, Margaret, and loosely based on my story as well. The hardest part about writing Maggie’s story was not holding too closely to my story!What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?When I went to Ireland last year, I took a “Flat Sally” (sister to Flat Stanley) with me. I took photos with her and made a storybook for my grandgirls about my trip—and wrote it completely in limerick!
When did you first discover you were a writer?My mother quips that I started my writing career when I signed my crayon drawings—on the foyer wall—with a great big “S”! Though I’m not sure that was the start I wanted, I can’t remember not writing.
My journey has been multi-faceted. I’ve taught Language Arts for nine years to 4-8 graders, had my own newspaper column, written missions curriculum, and have written just about anything God put in my path. As a Tyndale published author of two premarital books—The ReMarriage Adventure and Countdown for Couples, two children’s picture books—Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya: Love is Patient and Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure—and now a debut novelist— The Fabric of Hope : An Irish Family Legacy—my writing journey has been a diverse one.
I’m also published in several compilations as well as working as a freelance writer and editor, a writing coach, and a speaker, I’m simply passionate about working with words. And as the Former Editorial Director at Focus on the Family of 12 unique publications and Founding Editor of Thriving Family magazine, I’ve done a lot of writing. It’s been a really fun journey!
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I enjoy reading everything from children’s picture books to nonfiction to contemporary and historical fiction. But if I had to choose, I’d settle in with Christian historical fiction.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?It may sound like a pat answer, but taking time to pray, read the word, and worship keep me in balance. I especially enjoy worship music while doing mindless work such as cooking, cleaning, driving, etc.
How do you choose your characters’ names?The historical characters are the actual names of my ancestors. But the contemporary characters evolved during my writing process, and we have become good friends!
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Although I am so humbled to have accomplished such diverse published works, I’m most thrilled to have my family legacy in print. The Fabric of Hope : An Irish Family Legacy has been a work of the heart, mind, and emotions.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A butterfly. Because I’d experience the miracle of changing from a caterpillar to a free and beautiful butterfly and flit around my world, dancing on flowers and bringing joy to all who see.
What is your favorite food? Being Irish, I consider tea as my comfort drink, and with it, the Irish Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake sounds really good right now.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Switching from nonfiction to fiction was a steep learning curve. Coming from the succinct world of journalism and editing, spilling lots of description to “show vs tell” was my biggest challenge. But once I “got it,” I was a bird set free!
Tell us about the featured book.
The Fabric of Hope
: An Irish Family Legacy is a story of an 1850s Irish immigrant and a 21st-century single mother are connected by faith, family, and a quilt. After struggling to accept the changes forced upon her, Margaret Hawkins and her family take a perilous journey on an 1851 immigrant ship to the New World, bringing with her an Irish family quilt she is making. A hundred and sixty years later, her great granddaughter, Maggie, searches for the family quilt after her ex pawns it. But on their way to creating a family legacy, will these women find peace with the past and embrace hope for the future, or will they be imprisoned by fear and faithlessness?Please give us the first page of the book.September 1850Hilltown, Northern Ireland“No! I cannot take me family on a coffin ship!” Margaret Hawkins shook her head as she spoke her thoughts aloud to her eight-month-old baby. The drooling baby girl sat on the dirt floor, playing with a wooden spoon, unconcerned with her mum’s words. Margaret stabbed her needle into the quilt on her lap. “How could Father even suggest such a thing? Half the poor Irish people don’t even survive the trip to the New World. No!”
Margaret glanced down at baby Meg and tried to dismiss the unpleasant thoughts racing through her head. She felt much older than her thirty-two years and weary of all the troubles.
She resumed her work, holding up the partially finished quilt to survey the stitching before setting it back on her lap. She took off her spectacles and rubbed her aching eyes, but she was grateful to finally have a few moments to add a piece of her mum’s favorite dress to the quilt. Maybe she would get one of Father’s old shirts to add to it, too.
By the dim morning light of the calfskin-covered window, she sewed. From where she sat, she turned her ear toward the sounds of four of her six children, squealing and playing tag outside in the yard. She chuckled as she heard Susan, her eldest daughter, bossing the others around, as usual.
What a brood they be. Growing up too fast, that they are. I shall add a patch of cloth for each of them, and one day this quilt will tell our family history. Before it be done, it will be filled with fabrics from many of our dear family members who are now here, already in heaven, and one day, heaven bound.
How can readers find you on the Internet? I’m at www.SusanGMathis.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SusanGMathis/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@SusanGMathis, on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/susangmathisaut, on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6044608.Susan_G_Mathis, and on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/u/0/108568340293012416399
Readers, here are links to the book.The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy[image error] - paperback
The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy - Kindle[image error]
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
March 26, 2017
WINNERS!!!!
Barbara (LA) is the winner of
A Stolen Heart
by Amanda Cabot.
Kathy E (DE) is the winner of Home at Last by Deborah Raney.
Amanda J (FL) is the winner of Doctor's Dilemma by Richard Mabry, MD.
Carolyn (MN) is the winner of Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray.
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.
Kathy E (DE) is the winner of Home at Last by Deborah Raney.
Amanda J (FL) is the winner of Doctor's Dilemma by Richard Mabry, MD.
Carolyn (MN) is the winner of Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray.
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.
March 25, 2017
MOVIE: THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE preview with a movie gift card giveway
Dear Readers, I’m excited to share a preview of a movie that will release very soon. The Zookeeper’s Wife starring Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help) and Daniel Brühl (Captain America: Civil War). Based on a true story, The Zookeeper’s Wife portrays Antonina and Jan Żabiński, a Christian couple and zookeepers in Warsaw, Poland. The film is a testament to the power of compassion, faith, and courage within us all.
The film focuses on courage and doing what is right in the face of danger. The true story also shows us an incredibly strong protagonist that Jessica Chastain portrays. Tell us about a courageous woman in your life who faced obstacles and found a way to overcome them. How has she helped and inspired you rise above and tackle some of life’s hardest issues.
THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE - Synopsis In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care.
When their country is invaded by the Germans, Jan and Antonina are stunned and forced to report to the Reich's newly appointed chief zoologist. To fight back on their own terms, the Żabińskis covertly begin working with the Resistance and put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.
Please leave a comment to be in the drawing for a $25 Fandango gift card so you can see the movie free when it comes to your area.
March 24, 2017
ONE LINERS FROM GOD - Patsy Moore - One Free Book
Dear Readers, Patsy is in a Ladies’ Life Group that I visited earlier this year. When I found out about her book, it really caught my interest. I knew I had to tell y’all about it.
Welcome, Patsy. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?I love to have fun, play games, eat good food, spend time with family and friends, and team up with God.
Tell us about your family.I met my husband, Mike, when I was attending college at Tulane University. We’ve been married for 46 years now—hard to believer—and have three amazing children. When my children married, our family expanded to 6 children, because I consider my new in-law children to be as amazing as my biological ones. We have 6 grandchildren—2 boys and 4 girls. With the oldest being 7, they are truly inspiring, unique, and challenging!
Have you written other nonfiction books?No. This is the maiden voyage.
Do you have any other books in the works right now?I’m thinking about it. God continues to give me these one-liners, and so far I’ve compiled almost enough for another book. I am very open to the idea of another book and to blogging.
Good. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?I love to landscape, remodel, build, decorate, cook, and travel.
Why did you write the featured book?Well, Lena, I never set out to be a writer. I was an art major and then got my Masters in education administration. Life brings challenges, and I was desperate for answers. I didn’t have to be a brain surgeon to realize that God knew more than I did, and He had all the answers, so I started asking Him questions. My Mom always encouraged me and my siblings to ask questions and to speak up. Well, I started getting these one-liners because I guess God knows that I’m a bullet-type of person—a bottom-liner. With these revelations from God, my life changed and became rich and full. As I would share them with others, I would always see their eyes light up, and then their lives started to change for the better. I got a lot of encouragement from friends who kept telling me that I needed to write these in a book. I knew that I needed to share them with a larger audience, and voila! The book!
God will use other people to nudge us to do what He wants us to. What do you want the reader to take away from the book? I want them to know how personal God is, and how much He loves each and every one of us. He wants to be our friend, to talk with us and us with Him, to walk with us through life, to give us peace and joy, purpose and destiny. These One Liners from God helped me in that process and on my journey. I know they can help others in their process and on their journey.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?Yes, read the bo
Please give us the first page or two from the book.Employment with Benefits
Times were tough for our family of 5 in the 1980’s. We not only didn’t have an abundance of money, but we were in a cash flow crunch as well. I remember having to put two weekly paychecks together to make our house payment of approximately $425.00. The $300.00 my husband brought home every Friday was his gross salary. No income taxes and no social security were deducted. During the week (from one Friday to the next Friday) we could spend no money other than use our gas credit card if we needed to fill up the cars. Health insurance? What was health insurance? We didn’t even know we needed health insurance!
It seemed that there was always something that the kids just wanted to get when we went out shopping. I remember dreading the inevitable “lane of death.” That would be the section of the grocery store that surrounds you and pulls the very life out of mothers as they wait in line to check out. The zone where the imaginations of children run wild with the expected tastes of candy, the latest cheap toy that falls apart when you look at it, and the pencils and pens with “Cinderella, Bugs Bunny, or The Incredible Hulk” on top, all brightly colored and embellished with feathers and “gems.” I would always tell them that we “couldn’t afford it.” To sum it up, I had a fear of lack, and I was afraid to dole out one penny that we didn’t need to spend.
Years dragged on with not a lot of change in sight. Thank God that my husband was the one who decided to faithfully tithe. We held onto the fact of “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:37-39). We may not have had carpet in our house for awhile, but all the kids in the neighborhood enjoyed skating on our cement floors, and we never missed a meal or a mortgage payment. God was faithful, but the true sense of God’s richness and prosperity I had not yet experienced.
The Lord in His wisdom began to show me that my fear of lack was like a net that caught the blessings that were continually coming from heaven, to be diverted from me. He also began to show me that it was the Provider, and not the provision that was important, and as the years went by, there was a change in my life from knowing “about God” to really beginning to know Him as a person and my best friend. My focus became one of connection with Him instead of the manifestation of His provision. I started to diligently seek to be one with the Lord and to live in the moment with Him.
Over time things began to change. Our marriage began to be enriched, our children began to get established in their lives and their own relationships with God, and the monetary provision just kind of crept in on the coattails. It was through experiencing God Himself that our lives became rich in all areas. After all, where God is, there will also be the true riches of life which are embodied in Christ (Ephesians 3:8).
And so I found myself driving back home from Houstonafter helping a dear friend with her daughter’s wedding. I didn’t just think it would be nice to help; I was compelled to make the trip to assist her. I knew that’s where God was, and what He was doing. We (God and I) were one in this—a team so to speak. Noticing that I was low on gas, I pulled into the service station and prepared to fill the tank. As I swiped the credit card at the pump not thinking about the money that it took to make the purchase, I remembered the times that we could barely make ends meet monetarily. At that moment I was so overwhelmed with the goodness of God, and His faithfulness, for He had indeed blessed us beyond measure.
“Oh Lord,” I said, “thank you so much for providing the money for the gas so that I could make this trip to help with the wedding!”
Immediately I heard this response,
“I always pay my employees’ expenses!”
I love that, Patsy. Where on the Internet can the readers find you?They can find me at http://patsymathieumoore.com/
Thank you, Patsy, for sharing this with us. I’m looking forward to reading the whole book. I have it, but I’ve had a couple of really busy weeks. Things are settling down now, and I’ll start it tomorrow.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.One Liners From God: Almighty Quips that Changed My Life[image error]One Liners From God: Almighty Quips that Changed My Life[image error]
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
Welcome, Patsy. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?I love to have fun, play games, eat good food, spend time with family and friends, and team up with God.Tell us about your family.I met my husband, Mike, when I was attending college at Tulane University. We’ve been married for 46 years now—hard to believer—and have three amazing children. When my children married, our family expanded to 6 children, because I consider my new in-law children to be as amazing as my biological ones. We have 6 grandchildren—2 boys and 4 girls. With the oldest being 7, they are truly inspiring, unique, and challenging!
Have you written other nonfiction books?No. This is the maiden voyage.
Do you have any other books in the works right now?I’m thinking about it. God continues to give me these one-liners, and so far I’ve compiled almost enough for another book. I am very open to the idea of another book and to blogging.
Good. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?I love to landscape, remodel, build, decorate, cook, and travel.
Why did you write the featured book?Well, Lena, I never set out to be a writer. I was an art major and then got my Masters in education administration. Life brings challenges, and I was desperate for answers. I didn’t have to be a brain surgeon to realize that God knew more than I did, and He had all the answers, so I started asking Him questions. My Mom always encouraged me and my siblings to ask questions and to speak up. Well, I started getting these one-liners because I guess God knows that I’m a bullet-type of person—a bottom-liner. With these revelations from God, my life changed and became rich and full. As I would share them with others, I would always see their eyes light up, and then their lives started to change for the better. I got a lot of encouragement from friends who kept telling me that I needed to write these in a book. I knew that I needed to share them with a larger audience, and voila! The book!
God will use other people to nudge us to do what He wants us to. What do you want the reader to take away from the book? I want them to know how personal God is, and how much He loves each and every one of us. He wants to be our friend, to talk with us and us with Him, to walk with us through life, to give us peace and joy, purpose and destiny. These One Liners from God helped me in that process and on my journey. I know they can help others in their process and on their journey.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?Yes, read the bo
Please give us the first page or two from the book.Employment with BenefitsTimes were tough for our family of 5 in the 1980’s. We not only didn’t have an abundance of money, but we were in a cash flow crunch as well. I remember having to put two weekly paychecks together to make our house payment of approximately $425.00. The $300.00 my husband brought home every Friday was his gross salary. No income taxes and no social security were deducted. During the week (from one Friday to the next Friday) we could spend no money other than use our gas credit card if we needed to fill up the cars. Health insurance? What was health insurance? We didn’t even know we needed health insurance!
It seemed that there was always something that the kids just wanted to get when we went out shopping. I remember dreading the inevitable “lane of death.” That would be the section of the grocery store that surrounds you and pulls the very life out of mothers as they wait in line to check out. The zone where the imaginations of children run wild with the expected tastes of candy, the latest cheap toy that falls apart when you look at it, and the pencils and pens with “Cinderella, Bugs Bunny, or The Incredible Hulk” on top, all brightly colored and embellished with feathers and “gems.” I would always tell them that we “couldn’t afford it.” To sum it up, I had a fear of lack, and I was afraid to dole out one penny that we didn’t need to spend.
Years dragged on with not a lot of change in sight. Thank God that my husband was the one who decided to faithfully tithe. We held onto the fact of “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:37-39). We may not have had carpet in our house for awhile, but all the kids in the neighborhood enjoyed skating on our cement floors, and we never missed a meal or a mortgage payment. God was faithful, but the true sense of God’s richness and prosperity I had not yet experienced.
The Lord in His wisdom began to show me that my fear of lack was like a net that caught the blessings that were continually coming from heaven, to be diverted from me. He also began to show me that it was the Provider, and not the provision that was important, and as the years went by, there was a change in my life from knowing “about God” to really beginning to know Him as a person and my best friend. My focus became one of connection with Him instead of the manifestation of His provision. I started to diligently seek to be one with the Lord and to live in the moment with Him.
Over time things began to change. Our marriage began to be enriched, our children began to get established in their lives and their own relationships with God, and the monetary provision just kind of crept in on the coattails. It was through experiencing God Himself that our lives became rich in all areas. After all, where God is, there will also be the true riches of life which are embodied in Christ (Ephesians 3:8).
And so I found myself driving back home from Houstonafter helping a dear friend with her daughter’s wedding. I didn’t just think it would be nice to help; I was compelled to make the trip to assist her. I knew that’s where God was, and what He was doing. We (God and I) were one in this—a team so to speak. Noticing that I was low on gas, I pulled into the service station and prepared to fill the tank. As I swiped the credit card at the pump not thinking about the money that it took to make the purchase, I remembered the times that we could barely make ends meet monetarily. At that moment I was so overwhelmed with the goodness of God, and His faithfulness, for He had indeed blessed us beyond measure.
“Oh Lord,” I said, “thank you so much for providing the money for the gas so that I could make this trip to help with the wedding!”
Immediately I heard this response,
“I always pay my employees’ expenses!”
I love that, Patsy. Where on the Internet can the readers find you?They can find me at http://patsymathieumoore.com/
Thank you, Patsy, for sharing this with us. I’m looking forward to reading the whole book. I have it, but I’ve had a couple of really busy weeks. Things are settling down now, and I’ll start it tomorrow.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.One Liners From God: Almighty Quips that Changed My Life[image error]One Liners From God: Almighty Quips that Changed My Life[image error]
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
March 23, 2017
A ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROMANCE - Misty M Beller - One Free Book, Plus Much More
Bio: Misty M. Beller writes Christian historical romance and is the author of the bestselling Mountain Dreams Series and the Texas Rancher Trilogy.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. While she was growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty's heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God's abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.
Writing is a dream come true for Misty. Her family—both immediate and extended—is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream.
Welcome back, Misty. Tell us about your salvation experience.I still remember it clearly, although I was only four years old at the time. I’d been watching a children’s show called Gospel Bill about a Christian cowboy. At the end of the show, he talked about how to invite Jesus in your heart and led viewers in a prayer. I was raised in a Christian family, so the concept of Jesus living in your heart wasn’t new to me, but I remember praying that prayer. Afterward, the first person I told was my grandmother, and she still remains as one of the most godly influences on my life.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why? That’s a tough one! I’d be torn between spending time with my author “heroes,” and inviting dear writer friends and critique partners to join in the special time. Are you sure I can’t invite more than four? J
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.I don’t consider it as formal as the term Speaking Ministry, but I do speak occasionally to audiences. Sometimes at book signings or church events, and I usually teach at book conferences several times per year. As nervous as this introverted writer gets at the thought of being in front of a crowd, I love the opportunity to connect with fellow writers and book lovers! And if I can share something that will bring value to someone else, it’s all worth it!
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?Oh, no! I tend to try to block out the more painfully embarrassing moments, so nothing springs immediately to mind. In general, when I humiliate myself at any level, I apologize, turn beet red, and retreat as quickly as possible!
People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?Don’t wait! It will always be a dream until you take that first step. When you’re ready, get books on writing craft from the library and dive in. Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell is an excellent choice! Find a writer’s group to join—either online or in person. You’ll learn so much from seasoned authors and having the support of writers who ‘understand’ will be invaluable through your journey. And most of all, pray for God’s guidance and blessing on each word!
Tell us about the featured book.
I’d love to! This is the second book in the Wyoming Mountain Tales series.
The Wyomingmountain country seems like the perfect place for Zeche Reid to find himself. When a blizzard sends him scrambling for cover, he stumbles upon a lady and her professor father holed up in a remote cabin. His protective instincts won't let him desert them to continue his travels, especially when the father’s haunting memories from the War of Secession put his daughter’s safety at risk.
Fighting her own nightmares after the war, Greta Michelly is trying to settle into this rugged mountain land, but her bad memories are nothing compared to the demons that haunt her father. The haven they’ve found in these Rocky Mountains seems to be the solace he needs to find peace—until a mysterious sojourner appears on their cabin doorstep. She can’t help but be drawn to the wild aura that surrounds the man, but that strength seems to be that very thing that intensifies her father’s struggles.
As Zeche is torn between his craving to protect Gretta and the awful realization that he’s the one putting her in more danger, he’s forced to make a difficult choice. But when a run-in with an elk changes his plans and Gretta is faced with a danger Zeche is powerless to control, Zeche has to find a way to protect her at any cost. Even at the cost of his heart.
I’m intrigued. Please give us the first page of the book.Near South Pass City, Wyoming TerritoryOctober, 1866This storm had the power to ruin his journey.
The ashen snow clouds hung thick in the sky, which meant Zeche Reid wouldn’t have much time before the blizzard hit. Icy dampness seemed to hover in the air as it captured his breath, and even his exhales hung like leaden clouds, harbingers of the coming threat. Chipmunks had been scurrying all morning, hopping from pine to spruce to cedar, searching for the last remaining acorns. All the signs bespoke snow. A lot of it.
He stared out across the rocky peaks of the Wyoming mountains. Snow blanketed most of the pinnacles, but others stored the white only in nooks and crags. In the valley beneath him, patches of brown grass peeked out from the frozen covering. The plants would be buried soon enough.Which meant he needed to find a place to hole up.
He'd been hoping for a cave, but he may have to settle for that rock overhang just visible on the side of the mountain opposite him. Nudging Biscuit forward, he shifted with the gelding’s unsteady gait as they maneuvered the winding deer trail around the rocky cliff side. A lone flake almost the size of his thumbprint drifted down in front of them.
He’d covered a lot of ground these past weeks since leaving the icy chill of the Sweetwater River. But there was still so much to see and explore in these mountains. Now that his sister, Mara, and her husband had taken on most of the horses and training from their family ranch, he no longer bore that responsibility. And his youngest brother, Ezra, could handle the stage stop on his own, especially as things slowed down through the winter months.
There was almost nothing holding Zeche back. No one who needed him.
The chance he’d been waiting for had finally come. An opportunity to strike out on his own and explore as far into these Rocky Mountains as he and Biscuit could go before spring. Unfortunately, the going had proved slower than he’d expected, especially with several snowfalls making the trails slick. But slower travel gave him more time to take in the views. More time for the majesty of this mountain wilderness to sneak into his chest and take hold.
New snowflakes followed the first, falling in steady procession as he rounded the crest of the mountain and the trail descended more steeply. Something below caught his eye, and he reined in.
A cabin.
With smoke curling from a rock chimney attached to the side of the wooden structure, it looked as out of place in this desolate land as a glass storefront. Yet, the structure seemed to snuggle into the trees around it as if it had always been there.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I love to connect at my website, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Bookbub, and Pinterest.
Book links: · Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQYOL58· Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-rocky-mountain-romance-misty-m-beller/1125377388?ean=2940154177594· iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-rocky-mountain-romance/id1189324980?mt=11
· Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-rocky-mountain-romance
GIVEAWAY:
Enter to win Misty Beller’s readers-only gift basket! This book end chest is filled with sweet treats and coffee, perfect for reading time. The chest is filled with …· Cashew Roca Toffee chocolates· Chamberry Raspberry Truffles· Chocolate Covered Almonds· Java Bon Coffee Caramels· 3 Assorted gourmet coffee's· 2 Fudge Brownies· $15 Barnes and Noble gift card
Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you, Misty, for sharing this new book with me and my readers. You know I’ve loved every one of your books that I’ve read, and I’ve only missed one or two.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. 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
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. While she was growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty's heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God's abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.
Writing is a dream come true for Misty. Her family—both immediate and extended—is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream.
Welcome back, Misty. Tell us about your salvation experience.I still remember it clearly, although I was only four years old at the time. I’d been watching a children’s show called Gospel Bill about a Christian cowboy. At the end of the show, he talked about how to invite Jesus in your heart and led viewers in a prayer. I was raised in a Christian family, so the concept of Jesus living in your heart wasn’t new to me, but I remember praying that prayer. Afterward, the first person I told was my grandmother, and she still remains as one of the most godly influences on my life. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why? That’s a tough one! I’d be torn between spending time with my author “heroes,” and inviting dear writer friends and critique partners to join in the special time. Are you sure I can’t invite more than four? J
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.I don’t consider it as formal as the term Speaking Ministry, but I do speak occasionally to audiences. Sometimes at book signings or church events, and I usually teach at book conferences several times per year. As nervous as this introverted writer gets at the thought of being in front of a crowd, I love the opportunity to connect with fellow writers and book lovers! And if I can share something that will bring value to someone else, it’s all worth it!
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?Oh, no! I tend to try to block out the more painfully embarrassing moments, so nothing springs immediately to mind. In general, when I humiliate myself at any level, I apologize, turn beet red, and retreat as quickly as possible!
People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?Don’t wait! It will always be a dream until you take that first step. When you’re ready, get books on writing craft from the library and dive in. Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell is an excellent choice! Find a writer’s group to join—either online or in person. You’ll learn so much from seasoned authors and having the support of writers who ‘understand’ will be invaluable through your journey. And most of all, pray for God’s guidance and blessing on each word!
Tell us about the featured book.
I’d love to! This is the second book in the Wyoming Mountain Tales series. The Wyomingmountain country seems like the perfect place for Zeche Reid to find himself. When a blizzard sends him scrambling for cover, he stumbles upon a lady and her professor father holed up in a remote cabin. His protective instincts won't let him desert them to continue his travels, especially when the father’s haunting memories from the War of Secession put his daughter’s safety at risk.
Fighting her own nightmares after the war, Greta Michelly is trying to settle into this rugged mountain land, but her bad memories are nothing compared to the demons that haunt her father. The haven they’ve found in these Rocky Mountains seems to be the solace he needs to find peace—until a mysterious sojourner appears on their cabin doorstep. She can’t help but be drawn to the wild aura that surrounds the man, but that strength seems to be that very thing that intensifies her father’s struggles.
As Zeche is torn between his craving to protect Gretta and the awful realization that he’s the one putting her in more danger, he’s forced to make a difficult choice. But when a run-in with an elk changes his plans and Gretta is faced with a danger Zeche is powerless to control, Zeche has to find a way to protect her at any cost. Even at the cost of his heart.
I’m intrigued. Please give us the first page of the book.Near South Pass City, Wyoming TerritoryOctober, 1866This storm had the power to ruin his journey.
The ashen snow clouds hung thick in the sky, which meant Zeche Reid wouldn’t have much time before the blizzard hit. Icy dampness seemed to hover in the air as it captured his breath, and even his exhales hung like leaden clouds, harbingers of the coming threat. Chipmunks had been scurrying all morning, hopping from pine to spruce to cedar, searching for the last remaining acorns. All the signs bespoke snow. A lot of it.
He stared out across the rocky peaks of the Wyoming mountains. Snow blanketed most of the pinnacles, but others stored the white only in nooks and crags. In the valley beneath him, patches of brown grass peeked out from the frozen covering. The plants would be buried soon enough.Which meant he needed to find a place to hole up.
He'd been hoping for a cave, but he may have to settle for that rock overhang just visible on the side of the mountain opposite him. Nudging Biscuit forward, he shifted with the gelding’s unsteady gait as they maneuvered the winding deer trail around the rocky cliff side. A lone flake almost the size of his thumbprint drifted down in front of them.
He’d covered a lot of ground these past weeks since leaving the icy chill of the Sweetwater River. But there was still so much to see and explore in these mountains. Now that his sister, Mara, and her husband had taken on most of the horses and training from their family ranch, he no longer bore that responsibility. And his youngest brother, Ezra, could handle the stage stop on his own, especially as things slowed down through the winter months.
There was almost nothing holding Zeche back. No one who needed him.
The chance he’d been waiting for had finally come. An opportunity to strike out on his own and explore as far into these Rocky Mountains as he and Biscuit could go before spring. Unfortunately, the going had proved slower than he’d expected, especially with several snowfalls making the trails slick. But slower travel gave him more time to take in the views. More time for the majesty of this mountain wilderness to sneak into his chest and take hold.
New snowflakes followed the first, falling in steady procession as he rounded the crest of the mountain and the trail descended more steeply. Something below caught his eye, and he reined in.
A cabin.
With smoke curling from a rock chimney attached to the side of the wooden structure, it looked as out of place in this desolate land as a glass storefront. Yet, the structure seemed to snuggle into the trees around it as if it had always been there.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I love to connect at my website, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Bookbub, and Pinterest.
Book links: · Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQYOL58· Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-rocky-mountain-romance-misty-m-beller/1125377388?ean=2940154177594· iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-rocky-mountain-romance/id1189324980?mt=11
· Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-rocky-mountain-romance
GIVEAWAY:
Enter to win Misty Beller’s readers-only gift basket! This book end chest is filled with sweet treats and coffee, perfect for reading time. The chest is filled with …· Cashew Roca Toffee chocolates· Chamberry Raspberry Truffles· Chocolate Covered Almonds· Java Bon Coffee Caramels· 3 Assorted gourmet coffee's· 2 Fudge Brownies· $15 Barnes and Noble gift card
Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you, Misty, for sharing this new book with me and my readers. You know I’ve loved every one of your books that I’ve read, and I’ve only missed one or two.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. 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
March 22, 2017
CROCODILE IN THE CLOSET - Jamie Bryant - One Free Book
Welcome back, Jamie. Are there any new surprises in this fourth book in the series?Yes, we introduce someone outside Denny’s immediate family; his friend, Kenny.You have a hidden heart in all of your books. What inspired you to do this? Many children love to look for objects and hidden things in books so I thought this would be a lot of fun. If they find it, they can e-mail me and be included in the monthly drawing for a free book of their choice.
Do you sit down and write your books all in one setting?The actual writing of the story is usually done in a day or even an evening. Of course that’s the first of many drafts. Also depending on the story I do a lot of research on the internet; especially if it’s about a specific animal.
While growing up, what did you do for fun?Okay, so I’ll just go ahead and date myself. My grandmother used to cut out paper dolls for me. I played outside a lot and we played tag, hide and go seek, king of the mountain, and on summer nights caught as many lightning bugs (fireflies) as we could.
On yes, I have fond memories of things like that. Any funny food stories?Yes. My husband and I both grew up in Virginia. A few years after we were married he joined the United States Air Force and our first official base was in California. One day after church, a couple invited us to go out to a Burrito Restaurant. We both looked at her and asked, “What was a burrito?” Of course, we love Mexican food now, but had in our short life only had a taco once or twice and that was a crunchy taco shell from a box.
When James and I visited my aunt in California, we discovered there are different kinds of Mexican food in the US. We’re used to TexMex here. MexiCali food is different in a lot of ways. What’s something you do every single day?Wake up, get a cup of coffee, and sit down to read my Bible.What would you like to tell us about the featured book?Crocodile in the Closet follows along with the other books in the series in that there will be a crocodile and four other animals in the closet and all animals will start with the letter “C.” Denny just wants to get his jacket out of the coat closet by the front door and keeps finding one surprise after another. You’ll have to get the book to get the full story.
I love the fact that your books are available on Kindle, too. Parents can help their children read them on tablets. That’s very handy. A way to keep them entertained without having to carry lots of things with them. How can readers find you on the internet?www.jamiebryantbooks.comTwitter@readjamiebryantFacebook@jamiebryantbooksInstagram@jamiebryantbooksEmail: authorjamiebryant@gmail.com
Thanks, LenaJamie
Thank you, Jamie, for sharing your wonderful preschool picture books with me and my readers.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Crocodile In The Closet (Denny's Surprise Day Series) (Volume 4)[image error] - Print
Crocodile In The Closet (Denny's Surprise Day Series Book 4) - Kindle[image error]
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
March 21, 2017
BOOK-SIGNING EVENT - Lena Nelson Dooley - Way to Get a Free Book
I'm so excited about my Book Event at Kindred Coffee Company, 8700 N Tarrant Pkwy, North Richland Hills, Texas 76182 tomorrow, March 22 from 6-8 pm.
Would love to see you there. Come get your picture taken with me. See my latest books (the last 5 print ones will be for sale).
Also have an opportunity to sign up for any or all of 5 2-hour writing workshops ($15 each)The workshops are all on Wednesday from 7pm - 9pm, and the dates for the workshops are:April 12 - The World of Publishing Today - Where Do You Fit?April 19 - Essential Preparation for Writing a BookApril 26 - Getting the Words Right May 3 - Layering PizazzMay 10 - Marketing Like an Expert
And especially for my blog readers, if you live close enough to drive to the Mid-Cities area of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, I will have a free copy of one of my back-list books for you. So come join the fun. And you'll love the atmosphere of this wonderful, unique coffee shop. One of the best in this area.
Would love to see you there. Come get your picture taken with me. See my latest books (the last 5 print ones will be for sale).
Also have an opportunity to sign up for any or all of 5 2-hour writing workshops ($15 each)The workshops are all on Wednesday from 7pm - 9pm, and the dates for the workshops are:April 12 - The World of Publishing Today - Where Do You Fit?April 19 - Essential Preparation for Writing a BookApril 26 - Getting the Words Right May 3 - Layering PizazzMay 10 - Marketing Like an Expert
And especially for my blog readers, if you live close enough to drive to the Mid-Cities area of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, I will have a free copy of one of my back-list books for you. So come join the fun. And you'll love the atmosphere of this wonderful, unique coffee shop. One of the best in this area.
March 20, 2017
THE LOST GENERATION - Erica Marie Hogan - One Free Book
Welcome, Erica. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I believe I put a lot of myself into my characters. They come directly from my heart onto the page, so while they’re different from me, they each have a piece of my personality and my faith.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’m not sure I’ve done it yet. ;) I suppose you could say the time I did an “I Love Lucy” skit for my church in which I ate pickles with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and gummy worms is pretty quirky …
Yuck, but probably very funny. When did you first discover you were a writer?When I was ten-years-old. It took a couple of people telling me I had something special to realize that my urge to write and create characters others could love might actually go somewhere. I’ve been writing ever since.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Anything from Historical Fiction to Speculative to Contemporary! All with a romance intertwined, of course, but I could read anything. J
I hope you’ll try out some of my historicals. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?It’s not easy! Sometimes a day catches up to me with work and writing. Days don’t always seem long enough. But, at the end of the day, I remember God has given us the gift of time and as long as I don’t waste it, everything will work out fine.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Ooh! One of my favorite parts of writing! Sometimes, I just know my characters’ names. They pop into my head instantly. Other times, because of their personality, I have a harder time. Most times, I end up looking up the most popular names of the time period I’m writing in and look over the lists until one name sounds right.
I do that, but always take the age of the character into the mix, going back to the year of the person’s birth. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?That would be my debut novel, The Lost Generation! I wrote The Lost Generation a few years ago and then I let it sit. However, when I finished it, I knew in my heart it would be the first of my works to be published. I was so thrilled to be right.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?If I were an animal, I’d probably be a dog. I like to think of myself as being loyal and protective of the people I love. J
What is your favorite food?Does chocolate count? ;) If not, definitely something Italian …
Of course, chocolate counts. It’s food for the body and emotional wellbeing. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?The “showing not telling” part of writing was the greatest problem for me. It took a long time to learn that and I still have some trouble with it today. But every day is a learning experience for me and I overcome the issues a little at a time.
That’s how we all do it. Tell us about the featured book.
The Lost Generation
is a set during World War One. We follow three couples from three different countries who come together because of this Great War. As these six people, who were so unlikely to meet, come together, they witness the tragedy and despair of a generation of men and women who were lost from the years 1914-1918. They fight, falter, and find faith amidst the most trying of circumstances.Please give us the first page of the book.PROLOGUE1918I’m standing in a puddle of blood.
Sweat, smoke, gas, and screams. All overwhelm my senses as I clutch bandages in my fists and try to figure out where to go. But there is no place to go. Because they’re everywhere; all around me, begging for me to help as they die slowly before my eyes. A hand tugs on my sleeve and I turn. I’m numb, dissolving in a puddle of my own grief, but I force myself to move forward. I once thought that being a nurse would be fulfilling, that it would give me a purpose here. That I could help. But that dream of healing the sick is fading faster than I could have imagined.
“Bandages! Nurse, I need those bandages!” a doctor bellows from across the room.
I sprint toward him, even as my mind drifts back in time to the place that brought me here. It was a simple place, a place that broached no harm and where I never would have expected to find the devastation that is now wrapped around my heart. It was a small place; a warm place where my neighbors gathered to spend a few minutes of peace, joy and socializing.
The post office. Where thousands of letters exchange hands every day. Where packages arrive to bring joy to their recipients. Where my heart was shattered into a thousand pieces.
When I was a child, I used to think telegrams were good things. But my mother feared them, more than she feared anything in her life. I didn’t understand that. I didn't understand the terror of little white notes with my name typed harshly in black ink across the front. Now I do. I know the terror they hold; I understand why my mother hated them.
“Nurse!”
Against my will I am brought back to reality. I am forced to move forward, my shoes splashing in puddles of blood and muck as I come to the doctor’s side. He gives me the strangest look which I ignore. My mind is still elsewhere. On that small room back home where my world came crashing down on top of me.
The post office. I used to love it there.
Very interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?I have an author page on Facebook! I’m also on Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram. I’m still working on creating an author website. J
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericamariehoganauthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricaHogan316Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14345233.Erica_Marie_Hogan
Thank you, Erica, for sharing this debut novel with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
The Lost Generation: A Novel of World War I - Kindle[image error]
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
March 19, 2017
WINNERS!!!
R Merr (ME) is the winner of
The Elusive Miss Ellison
by Carolyn Miller.
Pam (OH) is the winner of Angel Beneath My Wheels by KS Moore.
Jenna V (LA) is the winner of Trouble in Paradise by Debby Mayne.
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.
Pam (OH) is the winner of Angel Beneath My Wheels by KS Moore.
Jenna V (LA) is the winner of Trouble in Paradise by Debby Mayne.
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.
March 17, 2017
HER SECRET - Shelley Shepard Gray - One Free Book
Welcome back, Shelley. You have a lot of books out now. What is your favorite setting to use in your books?Although I really enjoy going on research trips and exploring new places, my favorite setting for my Amish novels has to be up in Holmes County, Ohio. That’s because I’m friends with several Amish ladies there, so when I set a novel in Sugarcreek, Charm, or Berlin, it feels like I’m writing about good friends. What do you look for when you’re shopping for a book to buy for yourself?I absolutely love to read. I usually read several books a week. I usually am attracted to two things when I pick a book. The first is that it’s different from anything I write and the second is characterization. If I don’t find the characters in the novel I’m reading either likable or well developed, I usually put the book down and pick up another on my To Be Read pile.
Give us a little tour of the setting for this book.Although Hart County, Kentucky, the setting for HER SECRET is not in Ohio, I really enjoyed all the research I did for it! HartCounty is located in the center of Kentucky, right where Mammoth Caveis located. One thing I learned from my visits to the area is that while Mammoth Caveis the largest cave in the region, it’s only one of many caves in the heart of Kentucky. Hart Countyis rural, populated by several scattered Amish communities, and is truly beautiful.
What other books do you have coming out soon?HER SECRET is the first of six novels set in Hart County! Three of the books will be released this year and then the series will finish up in 2018. Each novel is set in area but is meant to stand alone. The next book in the series is called HIS GUILT, and it will be released in July.
Please give us a glimpse inside your home.We live in southern Ohioin a walk-out ranch house that is next to a creek. Honestly, the best part about our house is the back yard. I love to watch all of the animals and birds visit. We have a blue heron that returns every summer, chipmunks, deer, a ground hog, and even a fox that lives in the woods. I love looking out the windows in the winter or sitting on the back porch in the summer. Tell us about the story.HER SECRET is the story of Hannah Hilty. She and her family move to Hart County because a stalker was taking pictures of her back in Ohio. At first she thinks that she’s safe and even allows herself to form a friendship with Isaac, her next door neighbor. But when strange little incidents start happening in her new town, Hannah fears that her stalker has found her again.
It was a lot of fun to write.
Please give us the first page of the book.Berlin, OhioApril 16“This just arrived for you, Hannah.”
Hannah Hilty looked up from the table she was clearing to see her manager by the reception desk at the Berlin Country Store. Blowing a wisp of hair off her brow, and wiping her hands on the dish towel tucked in the sash of her apron, Hannah hurried to take the brown envelope out of Kennedy Frazier’s hands.
“Danke,” she said politely. “I’m not sure why someone would have given you an envelope for me, though.”“Actually, someone slipped it through our mail slot. In any case, I was happy to hold on to it for you.” She winked. “I’m glad you were working today. Otherwise, I would have had to remember to hand it to you for your next shift.”
“Oh, you would have remembered . . . eventually.” If there was one thing Hannah had learned about her manager, it was that Kennedy sometimes bit off more than she could chew. BecausHow can readers find you on the Internet?I have a beautiful new website at www.shelleyshepardgray.com, I’m active on Facebook, and I’m also on Twitter at @ShelleySGray. I love to chat with readers, so I hope everyone will reach out and tell me what they thought of HER SECRET.
Thank you for hosting me, Lena!
My pleasure, Shelley. Thank you for sharing this new book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon Paperback
Her Secret: The Amish of Hart County - Kindle
[image error]Her Secret: The Amish of Hart County - Amazon - Audio [image error]
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
