Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 139
November 3, 2016
LEFT AT THE ALTAR - Margaret Brownley - One Free Book
Welcome back, Margaret. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?First, thank you for letting me visit today. It’s always a treat to be here. To answer your question, my books are normally set in the nineteenth century, but I just had a contemporary novella published. Right now, I’m contracted for a new three book historical series, but I may do more contemporaries in the future. We’ll see.What conferences will you be attending next year? Will you be a speaker at any of them? I haven’t really made up my mind as to which conferences, if any, I’ll attend. This year I attended the Romance Writers of America conference in San Diegoand it was great fun. I have a pretty tight writing schedule next year, so I may just stay close to home and write.
I’ve missed three years of attending conferences. Next year ACFW national conference is really near where I live. I plan to attend that one. If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why? It seems like the biggest challenge for writers right now is discovery. With so many distractions commanding a reader’s attention, it’s hard for a writer to stand out from the herd. I learned a lot about marketing by watching Debbie Macomber, so I would probably invite her to be on the panel. She has such a nice way of promoting her books, you don’t even realize what she’s doing. I’d also ask my agent to speak because she’s so knowledgeable about the industry and is always trying out new ideas.
How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations? I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not been active in a writing organization. I met some of my closest friends at national conferences. I also met my agent at one, and it’s basically where I learned my craft.
Where in the community or your church do you volunteer? I’m a Boy Scout merit badge counselor and that keeps me hopping.
Good for you. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how? The number one person would have to be my husband who, I’m sorry to say, passed away this year. He’s the one who encouraged me to keep writing through years of rejection. He was and always will be the wind beneath my wings. The next person on my list is my agent, Natasha Kern. She’s taken me to places I never thought I could go. And of course there are my children. Nothing changes a person or makes you feel more inadequate at times than motherhood. But the rewards are the greatest.
If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be? Are we there yet?
Love it! Tell us about the featured book.
Left at the Altar
is the first book in A Match Made in Texas series (books standalone)In the wild and untamed West, time is set by the local jeweler...but Two-Time Texas has two: two feuding jewelers and two wildly conflicting time zones. Meg Lockwood's marriage was supposed to unite the families and finally bring peace. But when she's left at the altar by her no-good fiancé, Meg's dreams of dragging her quarrelsome neighbors into a ceasefire are dashed.No wedding bells? No one-time town.
Hired to defend the groom against a breach of promise lawsuit, Grant Garrison quickly realizes that the only thing worse than small-town trouble is falling for the jilted bride. But there's something about Meg's sweet smile and determined grit that draws him in... even as the whole crazy town seems set on keeping them apart.
I want to read that one! Please share the first page with us. Two-Time, Texas—1880 “Fifty-four minutes.” Her father’s booming voice made Meg Lockwood want to scream. But airing her lungs in church wasn’t an option and, thanks to the whale-bone corset beneath her wedding gown, neither was breathing. “Mama, make him stop.” Her mother straightened the garland of daisies in Meg’s hair for perhaps the hundredth time so far that day before turning to her husband. “Henry, must you?” Papa kept his gaze glued to his gold pocket watch rather than answer, his wagging finger ready to drop the instant the minute hand moved. Not by any means a formal man, he'd battled with Mama over his wedding attire until, like a defeated general, he’d thrown up his arms in surrender. Unfortunately, the knee-length coat Mama had chosen emphasized Papa’s ungainly shape, which bore a striking resemblance to a pickle barrel. The finger came down. “He is now fifty-five minutes late.” Meg’s hands curled around the satin fabric of her skirt. Where was her bridegroom? She hated keeping the wedding guests waiting, but she honestly didn’t know what to do. Time meant nothing to her erstwhile fiancé, but he’d promised not to be late for their wedding. She’d trusted him to keep his word. Just you wait, Tommy Farrell! When he finally did show up, she wouldn’t be responsible for her actions. Tommy wasn’t the only reason for her ill temper. As if her too-tight corset wasn’t bad enough, the ruffled lace neckline of her gown made her skin itch, and the butterfly bustle hung like a brick at the small of her back. Worse, the torture chambers disguised as dainty white slippers were killing her feet. The church organ in the nearby sanctuary moaned louder, as if even the organist’s patience was spent. The somber chords now rattled the walls of the tiny anteroom, threatening the framed picture and forcing the glass beads on the kerosene lamp to jiggle in protest. “Fifty-six minutes late,” her father exclaimed, and Meg’s already taut nerves threatened to snap. Clenching her hands tight, she spun around to face him. “You never change!” “Change? Change!” Papa looked indignant as a self-righteous preacher. “Why would I? Someone has to maintain a healthy respect for time.” The door swung open. Thank goodness. Meg whirled about again, ready to give her errant fiancé a piece of her mind, but it was only her older sister. The worried frown on Josie’s face told Meg everything she needed to know, but still she had to ask. “Anything?”
Josie shook her head. At twenty-three, she was two years older than Meg, and at five foot ten, stood a good six inches taller. Today she wore a dusky rose gown that complemented her dark hair and gave her complexion a pretty pink glow. She took after Papa’s side in looks, but of the three Lockwood girls, she was most like Mama in calm disposition. “Ralph looked all over town.” Ralph was Josie’s husband, who owned the saddle shop at the end of Two-Time’s main street. “You don’t suppose something might have happened to Tommy, do you? An accident?” “It better have,” Meg muttered. Gasping, Mama looked up from straightening Meg's gown. “Of all things to say!”
“Sorry, Mama.” Hands balled at her side, Meg gritted her teeth. Her mother was right, of course. Such uncharitable thoughts didn’t belong in church. Neither did thoughts of murder.
I’ve loved all of your books, and I know this one is destined to be one of my favorites. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
Website: www.margaret-brownley.com
Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/timeline/?business_id=1570988766476777
Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretbrownly
Book links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Left-Altar-Match-Made-Texas/dp/1492608130/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466809552&sr=8-1&keywords=left+at+the+altar
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/left-at-the-altar-margaret-brownley/1123276729?ean=9781492608134
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/left-at-the-altar/id1128527793?mt=11
Thank you, Margaret, for sharing this new book with us today. I'm sure my readers are as eager to read it as I am.
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
November 1, 2016
WHO WANTS TO COME TO OUR PARTY!!!???
Who's ready to PARTY???We're going to have a great one on Thursday evening, ON FACEBOOK, and you're invited!!What a great way to add to your list of new favorite authors!Come join us for a bounty of newly released romance books.Prizes to be won. Fun to be had. You can enjoy the party from the comfort of your home. PJ's optional. Let us know you want to attend and you'll be sent a reminder before we begin.
Just click into this event from 7pm to 9pm, central time zone, on Thursday, November 3rd.
Here's the list of Authors and their time slots:
Lena Nelson Dooley:http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ (7pm)
Karen Jurgens: https://karenjurgens.com/ (7:15pm)
Jackie Castle: http://www.jackiecastle.com/ (7:30pm)
Janice Olson: http://www.janiceolson.com/ (7:45 pm)
Carol J. Post: http://caroljpost.com/ (8:00pm)
Marji Laine: http://www.marjilaine.com/ (8:15pm)
Fay Lamb: http://faylamb.com/ (8:30pm)
Wrap up and winner announments: 8:45pm
Party concludes at 9pm, but feel free to stick around and chat.www.facebook.com/events/356173024722863/permalink/357249204615245/
I will be giving away 3 copies of The Gold Digger, which released this summer:1 audio edition
1 Kindle edition
1 print bookThe giveaways are at the event, not on this blog.
My latest novella releases: Rescuing Christmas (Christmas Mail-Order Angels #12) Oh, Fudge! (A Sweet Noel)
My next two releases this month:DIY Thanksgiving Love (Autumn Love) a novellaA Heart's Gift (a novel)
In the comments, please let us know if you'll be joining us.
October 31, 2016
THE CHRISTMAS GIFT - Izzy James - One Free Book
Welcome, Izzy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.It's a hard thing to quantify, but I would say less than five percent. My character's personalities are a blend of my knowledge of people based on what I've read and folks I have known. I show up in the ways that I have seen God at work in my life, in the lives of the people around me, and in His Word. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I am not really a quirky person, so this one is hard for me. Probably the closest thing is something I would usually describe as eccentric: I love Christmas. Any time during the year, you can find Christmas decorations in my house. This year, I kept our Advent wreath out on the table in the living room with a fat battery candle in the center. :-) Oh, and I LOVE Christmas earrings. I purchase new ones every year. I start to wear them on Thanksgiving Day and wear them until after New Year. I don't have enough pairs to wear a different set everyday yet, but I'm close!
I love Christmas, too, and I start playing Christmas CDs the day after Thanksgiving and play them until New Years Day. When did you first discover you were a writer?In elementary school. The first thing I ever wrote was an adaptation of the Christmas story for a play for my fourth-grade classroom Christmas party. I have been writing ever since.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love a good story, so I read just about anything. Romance contemporary and historical, historical fiction, literary fiction, non-fiction of all types, mysteries of all types although I am partial to cozies. I am not a great fan of science fiction/fantasy but I have read a bit.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Even when running non-stop I have discovered that there are unfilled spaces of time during the day, like when I'm driving to the grocery store or waiting for the gas tank to fill at the pump. I make use of these quiet spaces to breathe and pray.
How do you choose your characters’ names?This is always fun. I use name lists. For contemporaries, I will use baby name lists found online. For my historical, I used marriage records from my time period. I search for names that I think fit the personality of the character who needs a name at the time.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I am most proud of my three children. Our oldest daughter is out making her way in the world and our twins are both doing well in college. All three know the Lord, what more can I ask for really? I am truly blessed in them. In my writing life, I am very proud of my recent Maggie Award. It is the first award I have won with my writing, and I'm afraid I'm still glowing.
You go right ahead and bask in that achievement. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A horse. They are strong, useful, and they can run like the wind.
What is your favorite food?Potatoes. I love them raw and any way they can be made. I'm allergic to milk, so no cheese please!
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Gee, I'm not sure I've overcome any of them. It seems like I fight them with each manuscript, I've just gotten a little better at noticing and correcting my errors with practice. My current struggle is with finding enough time to make my word count everyday. I still work full time at something other than writing, that plus family obligations make it tough.
Tell us about the featured book.First in a series of Christmas novellas, the theme of the
The Christmas Gift
is that with God there is no such thing as too late. It's never too late to find love, and it can show up in the most unexpected places.Fifty-five year old Jack Callahan has been alone, by choice, for five years.
Forty-five year old Erica Thomas has never had a serious relationship and believes that love and marriage is not God's plan for her.
Can a chance meeting in an airport and an impetuous photo change their destinies and prove that it's never too late to fall in love?
I’m eager to read this story. Please give us the first page of the book."Attention all passengers on Diamond Airlines Flight 3924 to Richmonddeparting from Gate C15. Our plane is inbound, and as soon as it has landed and we have deplaned, cleaned, and serviced it, we will begin boarding. We expect a thirty-five minute delay."
Jack Callahan stretched the kinks out of his back, let out a deep sigh, picked up his backpack, and stood up. He'd been still for too long. Sitting in libraries, standing in museums. His very cells were tired of the inactivity. He was sure he had most of the information he needed for his next book, and he knew where to look for answers as the inevitable detail questions came up. His mind was full. It was time to percolate. As soon as he got home, he would head out down the trails and start writing. When he was done, he would do a little painting.
He sat back down in the pleather chair once again waiting as the sun began to set. Its rose-gold light shot through the window and kissed the hair of the woman sitting opposite him. Her hair was the color of wheat. He could capture it with a blend of raw umber and white maybe, but the rose color and the metallic way it reflected, that would be harder. He stared knowing that the sun was moving fast through its setting. He would have only seconds to capture that particular look. He felt for his phone.
He shifted his gaze down to her face.
"Take a picture. It will last longer."
Before she could protest, he snapped the picture and said what he had never said to anyone. "I'm sorry. I'm a painter, and I was captured by the light as it touched your hair."
"Right." Her eyebrows shot up, lips thinned to a frown, eyes darted to the side. She turned ninety degrees to the right to dismiss him, which gave him a further view of her wheat colored hair in the sunlight. It was probably creepy, but he snapped another photo.
Thirty minutes later, he was in his window seat on the plane looking out at the tarmac fading in the dusk.
"I hope you've turned your phone off for takeoff."
He snapped around at the sound of her voice. There she was checking her seat number with the label of the seat next to him.
Yes, give me more. How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find me at my website: http://www.echull.com and on Facebook-@IzzyJamesAuthor
Thank you, Izzy, for sharing this new book with us.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.The Christmas Gift[image error]
Conversation starter questions: Do you like to read Christmas stories? Do you prefer contemporary stories, historical storied, or love both equally?
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
October 30, 2016
WINNERS!!!!!
Becky (MI) is the winner of
Rebel Horse Rescue
by Miralee Ferrell.
Lourdes (NY) is the winner of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole by Rebecca Adler.
Beth Ann (WI) is the winner of the ebook Rescuing Christmas by Lena Nelson Dooley.
Abigail (VA), is the winner of From Antiquity to Eternity by Velda Stearns.
Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Alabama Irish by James Russell Lingerfelt.
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.
Lourdes (NY) is the winner of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole by Rebecca Adler.
Beth Ann (WI) is the winner of the ebook Rescuing Christmas by Lena Nelson Dooley.
Abigail (VA), is the winner of From Antiquity to Eternity by Velda Stearns.
Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Alabama Irish by James Russell Lingerfelt.
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.
October 28, 2016
THE BROKEN TRAIL - Christa MacDonald - One Free Book
Welcome, Christa. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Sometimes my sense of humor comes through, but most of the time my characters are a combination of people I’ve known over the years or wholly drawn from the ether.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Oh my, I’m not quirky at all. I do wear my hair in pigtails sometimes so that qualifies…I think.
When did you first discover you were a writer?Not long after I started reading I knew I wanted to write the sort of stories that create a world you can fall right into.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Cozy mysteries, fantasy, and romance are the genres I read most often. I love the classics, and consider myself a Holmesian.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I don’t watch broadcast TV. We canceled cable to save a few pennies, but found an unintended side effect was that we have more peaceful evenings and weekends. We consciously choose whatever content we want so it’s a different pace.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I have a baby names book and use the internet for last names. Sometimes I poll readers for suggestions.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Tough one. I’m so tough on myself I honestly rarely have “yay me” moments when I accomplish something. I’m probably proudest of my kids, but they aren’t accomplishments.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A hawk. I’d love the ability to fly while also being a wee bit fearsome.
What is your favorite food?Any combination of cheese, tomatoes, and bread; pizza, bruschetta, you name it.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Self-doubt. I sought out critique partners who were honest about my work, and it helped me distinguish between the passages in my writing that truly needed work and my internal doubt.
Tell us about the featured book.
The Broken Trail
is the story of a woman who has everything, but peace. She takes on a job in a small town and ends up butting heads with the local police captain who can’t seem to leave her alone. Katherine lets her heart harden after some pretty significant trauma. Please give us the first page of the book.Katherine Grant glanced out at the pine trees whipping past on the far side of the highway and then out the passenger window at the wall of rock on the other side. “This is looking downright uncivilized, Henry,” she said, half-expecting her 9-year-old red BMW to answer. She knew that Sweet River, Maine, was a remote hill-town, but it was starting to look more desolate than remote. The last sign of life had been ‘Mike’s Bait ‘N’ Ammo’, and that was over an hour ago. She hit the call button on the steering wheel, the ring of the phone sounding only once over the car speakers before her assistant answered.
“You rang?”
“Heather, remind me again. Why am I doing this?”
“Because Helena, the Washingtonkingmaker, asked you to consider it, and nobody says no to Helena?”
“Nope. Try again.”
“Because you take contracts in school districts where you can do the most good, not where you can get the most notoriety.”
“Makes me sound noble, but I don’t think that’s it.”
“Because you need a vacation, and a tiny Christian school in a resort town in the middle of the woods sounded restful?”
“That’s the one, but I’m seriously concerned about how remote this is. I’ve lost cell service twice, and the last thing I passed was a roadside shack advertising bait and ammo.” She paused then added, “Bait and ammo, Heather.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?My web site: http://www.christamacdonald.com
Thank you, Christa, for sharing this book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Broken Trail (Sweet River Redemption) (Volume 1)[image error] - paperback
The Broken Trail (Sweet River Redemption Book 1) - 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[image error]
THE BROKEN TRAIL - Christa Macdonald - One Free Book
Welcome, Christa. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Sometimes my sense of humor comes through, but most of the time my characters are a combination of people I’ve known over the years or wholly drawn from the ether.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Oh my, I’m not quirky at all. I do wear my hair in pigtails sometimes so that qualifies…I think.
When did you first discover you were a writer?Not long after I started reading I knew I wanted to write the sort of stories that create a world you can fall right into.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Cozy mysteries, fantasy, and romance are the genres I read most often. I love the classics, and consider myself a Holmesian.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I don’t watch broadcast TV. We canceled cable to save a few pennies, but found an unintended side effect was that we have more peaceful evenings and weekends. We consciously choose whatever content we want so it’s a different pace.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I have a baby names book and use the internet for last names. Sometimes I poll readers for suggestions.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Tough one. I’m so tough on myself I honestly rarely have “yay me” moments when I accomplish something. I’m probably proudest of my kids, but they aren’t accomplishments.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A hawk. I’d love the ability to fly while also being a wee bit fearsome.
What is your favorite food?Any combination of cheese, tomatoes, and bread; pizza, bruschetta, you name it.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Self-doubt. I sought out critique partners who were honest about my work, and it helped me distinguish between the passages in my writing that truly needed work and my internal doubt.
Tell us about the featured book.
The Broken Trail
is the story of a woman who has everything, but peace. She takes on a job in a small town and ends up butting heads with the local police captain who can’t seem to leave her alone. Katherine lets her heart harden after some pretty significant trauma. Please give us the first page of the book.Katherine Grant glanced out at the pine trees whipping past on the far side of the highway and then out the passenger window at the wall of rock on the other side. “This is looking downright uncivilized, Henry,” she said, half-expecting her 9-year-old red BMW to answer. She knew that Sweet River, Maine, was a remote hill-town, but it was starting to look more desolate than remote. The last sign of life had been ‘Mike’s Bait ‘N’ Ammo’, and that was over an hour ago. She hit the call button on the steering wheel, the ring of the phone sounding only once over the car speakers before her assistant answered.
“You rang?”
“Heather, remind me again. Why am I doing this?”
“Because Helena, the Washingtonkingmaker, asked you to consider it, and nobody says no to Helena?”
“Nope. Try again.”
“Because you take contracts in school districts where you can do the most good, not where you can get the most notoriety.”
“Makes me sound noble, but I don’t think that’s it.”
“Because you need a vacation, and a tiny Christian school in a resort town in the middle of the woods sounded restful?”
“That’s the one, but I’m seriously concerned about how remote this is. I’ve lost cell service twice, and the last thing I passed was a roadside shack advertising bait and ammo.” She paused then added, “Bait and ammo, Heather.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?My web site: http://www.christamacdonald.com
Thank you, Christa, for sharing this book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Broken Trail (Sweet River Redemption) (Volume 1)[image error] - paperback
The Broken Trail (Sweet River Redemption Book 1) - 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[image error]
October 27, 2016
CHRISTIAN'S HOPE - Ervin R Stutzman - One Free Book
Welcome, Irvin. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I may have projected the most of myself into the lightly-fictionalized story of my father in Tobias of the Amish. Since an auto accident snatched him away from our family when I was only three years old, I have no memories of him. I told the story of his life based on research and communal memories shared by his peers. But I imagine that if someone else had written the story based on those same interviews, my father might have looked less like me.On reflection, I’m sure that I write far more of myself into my fictional characters than I realize. Without giving it much conscious thought, I draw on my Christian worldview and aging white male perspective in all of my stories, even when I’m writing the POV of an Amish woman or a Native American. I couldn’t divorce myself from those influences regardless how hard I tried.
Nevertheless, I love the challenge of putting myself into someone else’s shoes, and telling the story from their perspective. My favorite compliment regarding my recent Return to Northkill series was from a Native American Delaware descendant, who told me that the spirit of his ancestors were living in me. He was excited about the way I had captured the thoughts and feelings of the Native American tribe, including those of a widowed woman who adopted a captured Amish boy.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’ve always been very curious about how mechanical things work and love to tinker with or repair broken gadgets. As a young adult, I owned a 1940 Chevrolet coupe which I “converted” into a street rod. To improve the safety and ride, I cut off the frame near the firewall and “grafted” on a frame assembly from the front of a 1972 mid-size Chevrolet. Pronto! Now my old car had coil suspension, power steering, and disk brakes.
And just for the fun of it, I adapted the power window mechanisms from a wrecked Cadillac to open and close my front windows. There’s a lot more I could say about the mental value of tinkering, but no one has said it more eloquently than philosopher/mechanic Matthew R. Crawford in his book, Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I learned the basics of writing in a demanding high school English class, from a teacher who drilled us on the parts of speech via the discipline of diagramming sentences. I first experienced the satisfaction of creative writing in a college composition class, where I was taught that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” I started to claim that power by writing articles as a twenty-something, and published my first book (a study guide) when I was thirty-two.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember, with shifting interests over the years. As an adolescent, I read lot of sports and adventure books, as well as biographies of well-known people. As I grew to adulthood, I became a bibliophile, purchasing volumes for my growing library via book clubs and visits to various bookstores. I browsed the stacks in a bookstore as eagerly as a kid in a candy shop. I even enjoyed the obligatory texts and companion volumes on the curricular journey from a small Bible institute to a doctorate in rhetoric from a major university.
Later, as an ordained minister and the dean of a seminary, I read books on theology, Biblical studies, church history, rhetorical theory, and leadership studies. More recently, I enjoy reading historical fiction, memoirs, and biographies, as well as history.
In recent years, I tend to buy books, including fiction, after hearing the author speak, reading a positive review, or receiving a recommendation from a friend. A few months ago, I forced myself to weed several hundred books out of my bulging library. It was a painful parting with old friends; I felt I owed some of them a eulogy.
I totally understand. I’ve always had a hard time parting with books. But now I have a ministry of giving books I’ve finished with to people who haven’t learned about the author’s writing. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I follow a rather disciplined “rhythm and rule” of life which includes a daily walk and other physical exercise, along with devotional reading. This rhythm is like a gyroscope to keep me balanced in the face of a heavy travel schedule and demands on the administrative front. Sabbath is essential too, along with monthly retreats for prayer and planning, lest my priorities get swept away by a flood of opportunities.
How do you choose your characters’ names? In my recent series of historical novels, nearly all of my main characters are named after the people they represent in real life. In Christian’s Hope , I made two exceptions in order to avoid duplicate names. I dubbed one of my substitutes with the Biblical name Hannah. But just days before I sent the manuscript to the publisher, a friend suggested that “Hannah” sounded too much like “Anna,” one of my two POV characters. So I searched for a different name in the index of a genealogical family tome, searching for another common eighteenth-century woman’s name. I narrowed it down to three and then consulted my wife about it. She liked “Orpha” best, since she had an aunt by that name. So I did a “search and replace,” and Hannah became Orpha just minutes before I submitted my manuscript to the publisher.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?This may seem a little strange, but the thing which makes me most proud is when a self-identified “non-reader” tells me about reading one of my books. One 64-year-old man phoned me to say that Tobias of the Amish is the only book he had read since high school. A middle-age woman told me that she was “fighting” with her husband, a non-reader, over reading time for one of my books. I felt like shouting “Yeah!”
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I think I’d be a Golden Retriever, since I’m at home in the water as well as on land. I’d be a friendly dog, romping with children and canine companions. I’d probably chase cats and entertain my owner with antics that would reward me with favorite doggie snacks.
What is your favorite food?I love ice cream topped with crumbles of homemade cookies made of peanut butter and oatmeal. This preference is but partly based on taste, and mostly on the pleasant at-home memories it evokes in me. As a child, I cranked the ice cream freezer, which meant that I got the first taste when it was finished.
Oh, yes, getting to eat the ice cream off the paddle was such a treat. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?I suppose my biggest barrier to writing fiction has been to convincingly portray the emotions of my female characters. I’ve benefitted immensely from the candid feedback of two women in my monthly writers group. I’ve also learned a great deal from a fiction writing coach and an editor, both excellent female writers. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned a lot from reading good fiction written by women.
Tell us about the featured book.
Christian’s Hope
is the story of Christian Hochstetler, a young man who is forced by a British treaty to return home to his Amish community after eight years of living in an Indian village following his capture as a child. He struggles to fit back into a community where many things have changed, including his own sense of identity with the Shawnee captors who taught him to love their Native ways. He resists his father’s well-intentioned efforts to make him a part of the family farm, preferring to hunt and fish in the woods. However, a visit to his Native village brings more disappointment than joy, forcing him to face the prospect that he may not fit into either the world of the Amish or the Natives. A growing relationship with his stepmother, along with the guidance of a Dunker preacher and a friend named Orpha, eventually help him discover hope and a third way.
Please give us the first page of the book.August 1, 1765Christian reluctantly forced one foot ahead of the other as he walked the road toward the Hochstetler farm—his childhood home. He shifted his bag on his shoulder and smoothed his scalp lock.
The fields of wheat, spelt, and rye were mostly stubble on the rolling hills of northern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The sound of the soft ripple of the Northkill Creek flowing over the rocks permeated the air. He reached down to adjust the tomahawk dangling from the belt that secured his breechcloth at the waist. This hardly looked like the place he’d left many moons ago.
At long last, Christian knew that his father was alive. Sir William Johnson, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, had told him so when he arrived at Johnson Hall in Johnstown, New York, with other captives who were being returned. Even though the British had signed peace treaties with the French and Indians, the war still raged in his heart and soul. Against his wishes, he would now be expected to live on land that had been taken from the Shawnees, the people he had come to love. He would be forced to live with the people of his childhood, who thought of the Shawneesas uncivilized heathen.
On most of the trip to BerksCounty from Johnstown, he’d been escorted by Esquire Samuel Weiser, who lived a half day’s walk from the Hochstetler farm. Weiser had lived among the Indians as a child and understood their ways. He said he trusted Christian to walk the final leg to his home by himself. Despite his unwillingness to leave the Shawnees, his eagerness to see his father after eight years of separation kept him walking homeward.
How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find information about me and my books at http://www.ervinstutzman.com/. You can see a sample of blogs or interviews at https://themennonite.org/?s=ervin+stutzman
Thank you, Irvin, 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. - paperback
Christian's Hope (Return to Northkill) - 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[image error]
CHRISTIAN'S HOPE - Irvin R Stutsman - One Free Book
Welcome, Irvin. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I may have projected the most of myself into the lightly-fictionalized story of my father in Tobias of the Amish. Since an auto accident snatched him away from our family when I was only three years old, I have no memories of him. I told the story of his life based on research and communal memories shared by his peers. But I imagine that if someone else had written the story based on those same interviews, my father might have looked less like me.On reflection, I’m sure that I write far more of myself into my fictional characters than I realize. Without giving it much conscious thought, I draw on my Christian worldview and aging white male perspective in all of my stories, even when I’m writing the POV of an Amish woman or a Native American. I couldn’t divorce myself from those influences regardless how hard I tried.
Nevertheless, I love the challenge of putting myself into someone else’s shoes, and telling the story from their perspective. My favorite compliment regarding my recent Return to Northkill series was from a Native American Delaware descendant, who told me that the spirit of his ancestors were living in me. He was excited about the way I had captured the thoughts and feelings of the Native American tribe, including those of a widowed woman who adopted a captured Amish boy.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’ve always been very curious about how mechanical things work and love to tinker with or repair broken gadgets. As a young adult, I owned a 1940 Chevrolet coupe which I “converted” into a street rod. To improve the safety and ride, I cut off the frame near the firewall and “grafted” on a frame assembly from the front of a 1972 mid-size Chevrolet. Pronto! Now my old car had coil suspension, power steering, and disk brakes.
And just for the fun of it, I adapted the power window mechanisms from a wrecked Cadillac to open and close my front windows. There’s a lot more I could say about the mental value of tinkering, but no one has said it more eloquently than philosopher/mechanic Matthew R. Crawford in his book, Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I learned the basics of writing in a demanding high school English class, from a teacher who drilled us on the parts of speech via the discipline of diagramming sentences. I first experienced the satisfaction of creative writing in a college composition class, where I was taught that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” I started to claim that power by writing articles as a twenty-something, and published my first book (a study guide) when I was thirty-two.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember, with shifting interests over the years. As an adolescent, I read lot of sports and adventure books, as well as biographies of well-known people. As I grew to adulthood, I became a bibliophile, purchasing volumes for my growing library via book clubs and visits to various bookstores. I browsed the stacks in a bookstore as eagerly as a kid in a candy shop. I even enjoyed the obligatory texts and companion volumes on the curricular journey from a small Bible institute to a doctorate in rhetoric from a major university.
Later, as an ordained minister and the dean of a seminary, I read books on theology, Biblical studies, church history, rhetorical theory, and leadership studies. More recently, I enjoy reading historical fiction, memoirs, and biographies, as well as history.
In recent years, I tend to buy books, including fiction, after hearing the author speak, reading a positive review, or receiving a recommendation from a friend. A few months ago, I forced myself to weed several hundred books out of my bulging library. It was a painful parting with old friends; I felt I owed some of them a eulogy.
I totally understand. I’ve always had a hard time parting with books. But now I have a ministry of giving books I’ve finished with to people who haven’t learned about the author’s writing. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I follow a rather disciplined “rhythm and rule” of life which includes a daily walk and other physical exercise, along with devotional reading. This rhythm is like a gyroscope to keep me balanced in the face of a heavy travel schedule and demands on the administrative front. Sabbath is essential too, along with monthly retreats for prayer and planning, lest my priorities get swept away by a flood of opportunities.
How do you choose your characters’ names? In my recent series of historical novels, nearly all of my main characters are named after the people they represent in real life. In Christian’s Hope , I made two exceptions in order to avoid duplicate names. I dubbed one of my substitutes with the Biblical name Hannah. But just days before I sent the manuscript to the publisher, a friend suggested that “Hannah” sounded too much like “Anna,” one of my two POV characters. So I searched for a different name in the index of a genealogical family tome, searching for another common eighteenth-century woman’s name. I narrowed it down to three and then consulted my wife about it. She liked “Orpha” best, since she had an aunt by that name. So I did a “search and replace,” and Hannah became Orpha just minutes before I submitted my manuscript to the publisher.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?This may seem a little strange, but the thing which makes me most proud is when a self-identified “non-reader” tells me about reading one of my books. One 64-year-old man phoned me to say that Tobias of the Amish is the only book he had read since high school. A middle-age woman told me that she was “fighting” with her husband, a non-reader, over reading time for one of my books. I felt like shouting “Yeah!”
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I think I’d be a Golden Retriever, since I’m at home in the water as well as on land. I’d be a friendly dog, romping with children and canine companions. I’d probably chase cats and entertain my owner with antics that would reward me with favorite doggie snacks.
What is your favorite food?I love ice cream topped with crumbles of homemade cookies made of peanut butter and oatmeal. This preference is but partly based on taste, and mostly on the pleasant at-home memories it evokes in me. As a child, I cranked the ice cream freezer, which meant that I got the first taste when it was finished.
Oh, yes, getting to eat the ice cream off the paddle was such a treat. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?I suppose my biggest barrier to writing fiction has been to convincingly portray the emotions of my female characters. I’ve benefitted immensely from the candid feedback of two women in my monthly writers group. I’ve also learned a great deal from a fiction writing coach and an editor, both excellent female writers. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned a lot from reading good fiction written by women.
Tell us about the featured book.
Christian’s Hope
is the story of Christian Hochstetler, a young man who is forced by a British treaty to return home to his Amish community after eight years of living in an Indian village following his capture as a child. He struggles to fit back into a community where many things have changed, including his own sense of identity with the Shawnee captors who taught him to love their Native ways. He resists his father’s well-intentioned efforts to make him a part of the family farm, preferring to hunt and fish in the woods. However, a visit to his Native village brings more disappointment than joy, forcing him to face the prospect that he may not fit into either the world of the Amish or the Natives. A growing relationship with his stepmother, along with the guidance of a Dunker preacher and a friend named Orpha, eventually help him discover hope and a third way.
Please give us the first page of the book.August 1, 1765Christian reluctantly forced one foot ahead of the other as he walked the road toward the Hochstetler farm—his childhood home. He shifted his bag on his shoulder and smoothed his scalp lock.
The fields of wheat, spelt, and rye were mostly stubble on the rolling hills of northern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The sound of the soft ripple of the Northkill Creek flowing over the rocks permeated the air. He reached down to adjust the tomahawk dangling from the belt that secured his breechcloth at the waist. This hardly looked like the place he’d left many moons ago.
At long last, Christian knew that his father was alive. Sir William Johnson, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, had told him so when he arrived at Johnson Hall in Johnstown, New York, with other captives who were being returned. Even though the British had signed peace treaties with the French and Indians, the war still raged in his heart and soul. Against his wishes, he would now be expected to live on land that had been taken from the Shawnees, the people he had come to love. He would be forced to live with the people of his childhood, who thought of the Shawneesas uncivilized heathen.
On most of the trip to BerksCounty from Johnstown, he’d been escorted by Esquire Samuel Weiser, who lived a half day’s walk from the Hochstetler farm. Weiser had lived among the Indians as a child and understood their ways. He said he trusted Christian to walk the final leg to his home by himself. Despite his unwillingness to leave the Shawnees, his eagerness to see his father after eight years of separation kept him walking homeward.
How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find information about me and my books at http://www.ervinstutzman.com/. You can see a sample of blogs or interviews at https://themennonite.org/?s=ervin+stutzman
Thank you, Irvin, 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. - paperback
Christian's Hope (Return to Northkill) - 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[image error]
October 26, 2016
COUNTER POINT - Marji Laine - One Free Book
Bio: Schooled by experts such as Perry Mason, Jessica Fletcher, and Dr. Mark Sloan, Marji Laine writes the mysteries she craves with a touch of romance and a thread of faith. Her series are made up of stand-alone stories with satisfying endings where justice prevails. She sets most of her books in and around the Dallasarea, where she has lived all of her life, or in the small towns of East Texas that she adores.
A homeschooling mom of four, she loves to discuss possible book scenarios with her daughters. Their conversations have even been known to alarm waiters and store clerks. At which point, one of her girls will roll her eyes and say, “My mom's an author.” That pretty much explains the way her mind works.Dear Readers, Marji Laine is a dear, dear friend. I’m thrilled to share her first full-length novel with you. She’s a member of the critique group that meets in my home, and we were privileged to critique most of this book. YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT!!
Welcome back, Marji. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I write a lot of my faith into my characters. My heroine’s tend to pray as they think things through. I do the same thing, inviting the Lord into my day and staying aware that He’s there. Cat and I also share a fondness for Diet Pepsi and legacy. She doesn’t think she’s the right person to fill her father’s shoes. Boy, can I appreciate that feeling and the self-doubts that go along with it!
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I talk for my dog and the trouble is, he’s a lot funnier than I am. Probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done was in college. One summer, the high-rise dorm was empty and my soon-to-be hubby’s roommates were the night security guards. So on Friday nights, we’d get a huge group together and play a stone-age version of laser tag, with water guns. Some outlandish things happened with that, I can tell you!
You just reminded me of what probably was my craziest, and most dangerous, thing I ever did. And it was in college. On our campus undeveloped land, which was in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, there was some kind of pipe that stretched from one hill to another over a deep small valley. It had to be over seventy feet in the air. The pipe was less than 12 inches in diameter. I walked across that thing one time. If I’d have fallen, it would have killed me. (grimace) When did you first discover that you were a writer?I’ve always loved writing. Co-wrote my first screen play at the age of seven, with my best friend who was eight. But I realized God’s call on my life to this career almost six years ago. My mom asked me: if money and time weren’t issues what would I want to be doing. I answered, “Write!” I surprised myself, but not my mom. She’d always seen it.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.That has really opened up with my new role at Write Integrity Press. If I’m simply selecting a book for free time (That is still a thing, right?) I’ll lean toward the romantic suspense novels or funny cozy mysteries. But I also enjoy a great historical romance, like mail-order bride series, and I have a few fantasy authors who write some of my favorite books! And then there are the straight romance novels. Those are pretty standard! In fact, I guess the only genre in the Christian realm of books that doesn’t really interest me is thriller. Wow, I like a lot of books!
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I laugh a LOT! In fact, I posted a joke the other day after I’d spent at least five hours (No, I’m not exaggerating!) in my car, spread over the course of the daylight, transporting teenagers to jobs, classes, and various activities. I posted the definition of a mother of teenager’s life = I do run-run-run. I do run-run! (Only folks who remember the 70’s will appreciate that quote.) Stress can break anyone, so I try to always do my best and not sweat the times when my best isn’t enough.
Good advice. Before my children got their driver’s licenses, I saw a bumper sticker that I wanted. “If a woman’s place is in the home, why am I always in the car?” How do you choose your characters’ names?Sometimes, the characters come with names. Then there are a few characters that I dub victim, hero, best bud, or meanie face. There have been a few of those tags that have become names. And then, there are those that I’ve researched and examined. Googled and sought the meaning of to make sure they match the character. Those names aren’t really any better than the ones I’ve named after their character tags.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Proud isn’t exactly the word. I’m pleased to be releasing this, my debut novel, that has been almost six years in the making. I’m excited to learn what people think of this. (And terrified.) I’m giddy that it will finally be in people’s hands in just over a week!
It took eight years before my first book was published. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?This makes me think of an old saying that made the rounds as email was becoming more and more used. I wanna be a bear. They get to sleep half the year. They can do tricks like catching fish in their bare hands – bear claws. Getting fat is normal, expected, and attractive. Females have babies the size of a large peanut while they are sleeping, and the kids know better than to tick-off Mom. Yep, I’d choose a bear.
What is your favorite food?I don’t have a favorite. I really don’t. I love sugar free Hershey’s chocolates with caramel fillings, but other than that, I’m a fan of food. I like toffee cookies and snickerdoodles (sugar free), chicken enchiladas, queso, biscuits and gravy, filet mignon, fettucine alfredo, chicken parmesan, and chili with rice and Fritos. Does that narrow it down at all?
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?My biggest issue was that I thought I knew what I was doing. I had a teaching degree with an emphasis in English and knew when to use semi-colons. I was set, right? You and some of the other wonderful people from the DFW chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers gently informed me that I was a dunderhead. Lol! Not really, but you did an amazing job of training me through weekly critique groups. For more than a year, I attended two per week and learned as much from listening to critiques on other manuscripts as I did from the comments on my own.
Tell us about the featured book.This was one that you critiqued on, Lena! Finally coming in print. Squee! Here’s the short version:
Cat McPherson felt she’d lost everything when her father died, but as the target of a madman bent on revenge, she still has much to lose. Her former boyfriend, Ray Alexander, returns as a hero from his foreign mission, bringing back souvenirs in the form of death-threats. When several attempts are made on Cat’s life, she must find a way to trust Ray, the man who broke her heart.
Keeping Cat safe from a fallen cartel leader might prove impossible for Ray, but after seeing his mission destroyed and several godly people killed, he knows better than to ignore the man’s threats. Cat’s resistance to his protection and the stirring of his long-denied feelings for her complicate his intentions, placing them both in a fight for survival.
Please give us the first page of the book.Villa Montes, Chiapas, Mexico“A boy.” Sevilla clapped his hands. The smack echoed against the bare adobe dome. “He will be a fine boy.” He beat his boot heels on the marble floor. His black beard bounced against his white tunic. “Ha. Go upstairs, wife. Lie down. Rest.”
“I have plans for the afternoon.” Oleta took a step backward, putting the leather sofa between them. Her large eyes wary. But her middle already showed evidence of his child.
“You will do as I say.” He snapped in her direction and put his back to her. His child would be the heir to his business. His kingdom. He must be strong and healthy. “Go now and take care of my son.”
“He is my son, too.” The woman’s voice cracked. She pressed her back against the wall.She tested his good humor. His eyes hardened as he shot her a glare. His hands fisted at his side, prepared to take action on her insolence.
But this was supposed to be a joyful time. He relaxed his muscles and applied a measured smile under his black whiskers. “Be careful, Oleta. I cannot guarantee that my gratitude will last too far beyond my son’s birth.”
She stiffened. Good. She should be scared. She’d seen enough to know her fortunate circumstances and to be thankful for them.
Sidestepping out of his study, she scurried up the stairs. Her heels clicking like the little mouse she was. Popping in a hollow manner. The sounds grew louder. She gasped as glass broke, echoing in the entrance of his villa.
“Oleta?” He stepped toward the great hall.
“Señor Sevilla.” Two from his security. Good. He needed answers.
“Go, check on Oleta. Make sure my son is all right.”
Captain Ortega gestured to the other man. “We must get you to safety.”
“Another drill? These are getting tiresome.”
“They prepare your security team to keep you safe, sir.” Ortega ushered him through the thick hallway to his helicopter hanger.
The other man had seen to Oleta. “Make sure my wife comes.”
The captain touched his earpiece and issued the order.
Sevilla climbed aboard the revving bird and looked back.
Ortega grew pale. “We must go.” He climbed aboard.
“Not until Oleta arrives. She is carrying my son. My heir.” His humor returned. A young prince to carry on his legacy.
The angled roof sections lifted.
“Stop. I will not leave without her.”
“We have to go, Señor.” Ortega strapped a belt around Sevilla and shouted at the pilot.
“I will have your head.” Sevilla kicked at the man, willing him to fall out of the gaping side of the transport. No such luck.
I don’t remember this scene in the first draft. I love it. How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m pretty easy to find. I’m always around my website and blog, http://MarjiLaine.com, and I usually have Facebook open so I get notices when folks comment on my page, /MarjiLaine. I’m also on Twitter and Goodreads, but nowadays I also hang out at the Write Integrity Press website: http://WriteIntegrity.com. Anyone wanting to chat can email me from the contact page on either website.
Thank you, Marji, for sharing this new book with us. I absolutely love the cover.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Counter Point (Heath's Point Suspense Book 1)[image error]
Comments Conversation Starter Questions: Do you like reading suspense novels? Do you like novels that are partly set in a foreign country?
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
A homeschooling mom of four, she loves to discuss possible book scenarios with her daughters. Their conversations have even been known to alarm waiters and store clerks. At which point, one of her girls will roll her eyes and say, “My mom's an author.” That pretty much explains the way her mind works.Dear Readers, Marji Laine is a dear, dear friend. I’m thrilled to share her first full-length novel with you. She’s a member of the critique group that meets in my home, and we were privileged to critique most of this book. YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT!!
Welcome back, Marji. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I write a lot of my faith into my characters. My heroine’s tend to pray as they think things through. I do the same thing, inviting the Lord into my day and staying aware that He’s there. Cat and I also share a fondness for Diet Pepsi and legacy. She doesn’t think she’s the right person to fill her father’s shoes. Boy, can I appreciate that feeling and the self-doubts that go along with it!What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I talk for my dog and the trouble is, he’s a lot funnier than I am. Probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done was in college. One summer, the high-rise dorm was empty and my soon-to-be hubby’s roommates were the night security guards. So on Friday nights, we’d get a huge group together and play a stone-age version of laser tag, with water guns. Some outlandish things happened with that, I can tell you!
You just reminded me of what probably was my craziest, and most dangerous, thing I ever did. And it was in college. On our campus undeveloped land, which was in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, there was some kind of pipe that stretched from one hill to another over a deep small valley. It had to be over seventy feet in the air. The pipe was less than 12 inches in diameter. I walked across that thing one time. If I’d have fallen, it would have killed me. (grimace) When did you first discover that you were a writer?I’ve always loved writing. Co-wrote my first screen play at the age of seven, with my best friend who was eight. But I realized God’s call on my life to this career almost six years ago. My mom asked me: if money and time weren’t issues what would I want to be doing. I answered, “Write!” I surprised myself, but not my mom. She’d always seen it.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.That has really opened up with my new role at Write Integrity Press. If I’m simply selecting a book for free time (That is still a thing, right?) I’ll lean toward the romantic suspense novels or funny cozy mysteries. But I also enjoy a great historical romance, like mail-order bride series, and I have a few fantasy authors who write some of my favorite books! And then there are the straight romance novels. Those are pretty standard! In fact, I guess the only genre in the Christian realm of books that doesn’t really interest me is thriller. Wow, I like a lot of books!
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I laugh a LOT! In fact, I posted a joke the other day after I’d spent at least five hours (No, I’m not exaggerating!) in my car, spread over the course of the daylight, transporting teenagers to jobs, classes, and various activities. I posted the definition of a mother of teenager’s life = I do run-run-run. I do run-run! (Only folks who remember the 70’s will appreciate that quote.) Stress can break anyone, so I try to always do my best and not sweat the times when my best isn’t enough.
Good advice. Before my children got their driver’s licenses, I saw a bumper sticker that I wanted. “If a woman’s place is in the home, why am I always in the car?” How do you choose your characters’ names?Sometimes, the characters come with names. Then there are a few characters that I dub victim, hero, best bud, or meanie face. There have been a few of those tags that have become names. And then, there are those that I’ve researched and examined. Googled and sought the meaning of to make sure they match the character. Those names aren’t really any better than the ones I’ve named after their character tags.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Proud isn’t exactly the word. I’m pleased to be releasing this, my debut novel, that has been almost six years in the making. I’m excited to learn what people think of this. (And terrified.) I’m giddy that it will finally be in people’s hands in just over a week!
It took eight years before my first book was published. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?This makes me think of an old saying that made the rounds as email was becoming more and more used. I wanna be a bear. They get to sleep half the year. They can do tricks like catching fish in their bare hands – bear claws. Getting fat is normal, expected, and attractive. Females have babies the size of a large peanut while they are sleeping, and the kids know better than to tick-off Mom. Yep, I’d choose a bear.
What is your favorite food?I don’t have a favorite. I really don’t. I love sugar free Hershey’s chocolates with caramel fillings, but other than that, I’m a fan of food. I like toffee cookies and snickerdoodles (sugar free), chicken enchiladas, queso, biscuits and gravy, filet mignon, fettucine alfredo, chicken parmesan, and chili with rice and Fritos. Does that narrow it down at all?
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?My biggest issue was that I thought I knew what I was doing. I had a teaching degree with an emphasis in English and knew when to use semi-colons. I was set, right? You and some of the other wonderful people from the DFW chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers gently informed me that I was a dunderhead. Lol! Not really, but you did an amazing job of training me through weekly critique groups. For more than a year, I attended two per week and learned as much from listening to critiques on other manuscripts as I did from the comments on my own.
Tell us about the featured book.This was one that you critiqued on, Lena! Finally coming in print. Squee! Here’s the short version: Cat McPherson felt she’d lost everything when her father died, but as the target of a madman bent on revenge, she still has much to lose. Her former boyfriend, Ray Alexander, returns as a hero from his foreign mission, bringing back souvenirs in the form of death-threats. When several attempts are made on Cat’s life, she must find a way to trust Ray, the man who broke her heart.
Keeping Cat safe from a fallen cartel leader might prove impossible for Ray, but after seeing his mission destroyed and several godly people killed, he knows better than to ignore the man’s threats. Cat’s resistance to his protection and the stirring of his long-denied feelings for her complicate his intentions, placing them both in a fight for survival.
Please give us the first page of the book.Villa Montes, Chiapas, Mexico“A boy.” Sevilla clapped his hands. The smack echoed against the bare adobe dome. “He will be a fine boy.” He beat his boot heels on the marble floor. His black beard bounced against his white tunic. “Ha. Go upstairs, wife. Lie down. Rest.”
“I have plans for the afternoon.” Oleta took a step backward, putting the leather sofa between them. Her large eyes wary. But her middle already showed evidence of his child.
“You will do as I say.” He snapped in her direction and put his back to her. His child would be the heir to his business. His kingdom. He must be strong and healthy. “Go now and take care of my son.”
“He is my son, too.” The woman’s voice cracked. She pressed her back against the wall.She tested his good humor. His eyes hardened as he shot her a glare. His hands fisted at his side, prepared to take action on her insolence.
But this was supposed to be a joyful time. He relaxed his muscles and applied a measured smile under his black whiskers. “Be careful, Oleta. I cannot guarantee that my gratitude will last too far beyond my son’s birth.”
She stiffened. Good. She should be scared. She’d seen enough to know her fortunate circumstances and to be thankful for them.
Sidestepping out of his study, she scurried up the stairs. Her heels clicking like the little mouse she was. Popping in a hollow manner. The sounds grew louder. She gasped as glass broke, echoing in the entrance of his villa.
“Oleta?” He stepped toward the great hall.
“Señor Sevilla.” Two from his security. Good. He needed answers.
“Go, check on Oleta. Make sure my son is all right.”
Captain Ortega gestured to the other man. “We must get you to safety.”
“Another drill? These are getting tiresome.”
“They prepare your security team to keep you safe, sir.” Ortega ushered him through the thick hallway to his helicopter hanger.
The other man had seen to Oleta. “Make sure my wife comes.”
The captain touched his earpiece and issued the order.
Sevilla climbed aboard the revving bird and looked back.
Ortega grew pale. “We must go.” He climbed aboard.
“Not until Oleta arrives. She is carrying my son. My heir.” His humor returned. A young prince to carry on his legacy.
The angled roof sections lifted.
“Stop. I will not leave without her.”
“We have to go, Señor.” Ortega strapped a belt around Sevilla and shouted at the pilot.
“I will have your head.” Sevilla kicked at the man, willing him to fall out of the gaping side of the transport. No such luck.
I don’t remember this scene in the first draft. I love it. How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m pretty easy to find. I’m always around my website and blog, http://MarjiLaine.com, and I usually have Facebook open so I get notices when folks comment on my page, /MarjiLaine. I’m also on Twitter and Goodreads, but nowadays I also hang out at the Write Integrity Press website: http://WriteIntegrity.com. Anyone wanting to chat can email me from the contact page on either website.
Thank you, Marji, for sharing this new book with us. I absolutely love the cover.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Counter Point (Heath's Point Suspense Book 1)[image error]
Comments Conversation Starter Questions: Do you like reading suspense novels? Do you like novels that are partly set in a foreign country?
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
October 25, 2016
FINDING LOVE IN BIG SKY, MONTANA - Angela Ruth Strong - One Free Book
Bio: Angela Ruth Strong studied journalism at the University of Oregon and published her first novel, Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho, in 2010. With movie producers interested in her book, she's decided to rerelease it and write sequels as a new series titled Resort to Love. This Idaho Top Author and Cascade Award winner also started IDAhope Writers to encourage other aspiring authors, and she's excited to announce the sale of her first romantic suspense novel to Love Inspired Suspense. For the latest news or to contact Angela, visit http://www.angelaruthstrong.com.
What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?In my Resort to Love series, I have taken different themes from scriptures in the Bible and woven them into my stories. For example,
Finding Love in Big Sky
is a Christmas story, so I use the theme of stars, specifically the Christmas star, to help my heroine overcome her fear. It’s like a bonus Bible study inside a romance novel.
What other books of yours are coming out soon?The third book of my Resort to Love series, Finding Love in Park City, releases next spring. It’s a very real story for me as the heroine is a single mom healing from an abusive relationship. I felt so vulnerable sending it to my editor, but she said it’s the best one yet.
Also, my first Love Inspired Suspense novel comes out in February. Presumed Dead is about a helicopter pilot presumed dead during a sabotaged military operation, and he plans to let the world think he’s dead as he tracks down the real criminal…until he’s forced to reveal his existence to save the life of his childhood sweetheart.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I’m going to say J.J. Abrams. Not only is he talented and creative, but I saw him at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year as research for a novel, and he is dynamic and charming, so an evening of learning from him would be sure to inspire. And fun.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?Esther. She’s been my hero ever since my mom read me The Picture Bible, and I dressed up like her for Halloween.
Esther has also been a favorite of mine for decades. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?I have a four-step plan. It’s designed to help victims overcome trauma, but getting nothing but rejection can be pretty traumatic.1. Accept it—it’s easier to live in disbelief, especially when there is negative feedback or criticism2. Own it—if the editor didn’t understand or enjoy my manuscript, I’m the only one who can change that3. Make a plan—what changes can I make, what can I learn?4. Move on—either get back to work on the rejected manuscript or start something new having learned from the experience
Tell us about the featured book.
Bright Star Ranch led him to her—but will he stay?
Josh Lake is forced to head home for the holidays after he’s suspended from his job in the city, but running into Paisley Sheridan could be exactly what he needed. Not only does she board him at her ranch in exchange for his advertising expertise, but spending the Christmas season with her in Big Sky, Montana, brings more joy than he’s felt in a long while. Is he willing to give up the lavish lifestyle he’s worked for in exchange for the gift of love?
The last thing Paisley wants for Christmas is to spend time with Josh Lake—the guy who broke her heart in high school—but until her bank loan goes through, she has to take all the free help she can get. Unfortunately, Josh seems to want back in her life again, and the town’s quirky coffee shop owners don’t help by hanging mistletoe at every opportunity. Will Paisley succeed in driving him away, or will she find the healing needed to have hope for a future together?
Please give us the first page of the book.PAISLEY SHERIDAN PINNED HER LAST help wanted flyer to the bulletin board between an advertisement for Breakfast with Santa and free ski passes to Military Appreciation Day. Maybe next year she’d have time for holiday fun, but this year she had work to do, and she needed to hire someone to help her do it.
She stepped back and took a deep breath. Was she really ready for this? Did she have what it took to reopen Grandpa’s old ranch? Only one way to find out.
Hopefully she’d get a response to the flyers she’d hung all over town. For now she’d reward her efforts with a sugar-free cream cheese croissant and warm up with a cappuccino. She’d purposefully made The Coffee Cottage her final stop, as Dot and Annabel were sure to want to play “twenty questions.”
“Let’s see it.” Dot clapped her hands and stepped from behind the counter to get a better look at the advertisement. Though the woman was close to Grandpa Johan’s age when he died, she had more energy than Paisley.
Her best friend, Annabel, followed, pink cowboy boots clacking. “It’s very lovely. How many people are you hiring?”
Paisley scrunched her nose. She only had the money for a single employee until the bank loan came through. If that wasn’t enough, maybe she could recruit an intern. “One person at the moment. I need someone to help me host birthday parties and guide sleigh rides while I get ready for the building expansion in the spring.”
Dot squealed. “That sounds like so much fun. Hire me.”
Paisley couldn’t help smiling at the memory of Dot trying to put a saddle on backwards the one time she’d visited the ranch. “You already have a job.”
“Oh, yeah.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.angelaruthstrong.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong
Thank you, Angela, for sharing this book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love) (Volume 2)[image error] - Paperback
Finding Love In Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love--Finding Love line Book 2)[image error] - 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
What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?In my Resort to Love series, I have taken different themes from scriptures in the Bible and woven them into my stories. For example,
Finding Love in Big Sky
is a Christmas story, so I use the theme of stars, specifically the Christmas star, to help my heroine overcome her fear. It’s like a bonus Bible study inside a romance novel.What other books of yours are coming out soon?The third book of my Resort to Love series, Finding Love in Park City, releases next spring. It’s a very real story for me as the heroine is a single mom healing from an abusive relationship. I felt so vulnerable sending it to my editor, but she said it’s the best one yet.
Also, my first Love Inspired Suspense novel comes out in February. Presumed Dead is about a helicopter pilot presumed dead during a sabotaged military operation, and he plans to let the world think he’s dead as he tracks down the real criminal…until he’s forced to reveal his existence to save the life of his childhood sweetheart.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I’m going to say J.J. Abrams. Not only is he talented and creative, but I saw him at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year as research for a novel, and he is dynamic and charming, so an evening of learning from him would be sure to inspire. And fun.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?Esther. She’s been my hero ever since my mom read me The Picture Bible, and I dressed up like her for Halloween.
Esther has also been a favorite of mine for decades. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?I have a four-step plan. It’s designed to help victims overcome trauma, but getting nothing but rejection can be pretty traumatic.1. Accept it—it’s easier to live in disbelief, especially when there is negative feedback or criticism2. Own it—if the editor didn’t understand or enjoy my manuscript, I’m the only one who can change that3. Make a plan—what changes can I make, what can I learn?4. Move on—either get back to work on the rejected manuscript or start something new having learned from the experience
Tell us about the featured book.
Bright Star Ranch led him to her—but will he stay?Josh Lake is forced to head home for the holidays after he’s suspended from his job in the city, but running into Paisley Sheridan could be exactly what he needed. Not only does she board him at her ranch in exchange for his advertising expertise, but spending the Christmas season with her in Big Sky, Montana, brings more joy than he’s felt in a long while. Is he willing to give up the lavish lifestyle he’s worked for in exchange for the gift of love?
The last thing Paisley wants for Christmas is to spend time with Josh Lake—the guy who broke her heart in high school—but until her bank loan goes through, she has to take all the free help she can get. Unfortunately, Josh seems to want back in her life again, and the town’s quirky coffee shop owners don’t help by hanging mistletoe at every opportunity. Will Paisley succeed in driving him away, or will she find the healing needed to have hope for a future together?
Please give us the first page of the book.PAISLEY SHERIDAN PINNED HER LAST help wanted flyer to the bulletin board between an advertisement for Breakfast with Santa and free ski passes to Military Appreciation Day. Maybe next year she’d have time for holiday fun, but this year she had work to do, and she needed to hire someone to help her do it.
She stepped back and took a deep breath. Was she really ready for this? Did she have what it took to reopen Grandpa’s old ranch? Only one way to find out.
Hopefully she’d get a response to the flyers she’d hung all over town. For now she’d reward her efforts with a sugar-free cream cheese croissant and warm up with a cappuccino. She’d purposefully made The Coffee Cottage her final stop, as Dot and Annabel were sure to want to play “twenty questions.”
“Let’s see it.” Dot clapped her hands and stepped from behind the counter to get a better look at the advertisement. Though the woman was close to Grandpa Johan’s age when he died, she had more energy than Paisley.
Her best friend, Annabel, followed, pink cowboy boots clacking. “It’s very lovely. How many people are you hiring?”
Paisley scrunched her nose. She only had the money for a single employee until the bank loan came through. If that wasn’t enough, maybe she could recruit an intern. “One person at the moment. I need someone to help me host birthday parties and guide sleigh rides while I get ready for the building expansion in the spring.”
Dot squealed. “That sounds like so much fun. Hire me.”
Paisley couldn’t help smiling at the memory of Dot trying to put a saddle on backwards the one time she’d visited the ranch. “You already have a job.”
“Oh, yeah.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.angelaruthstrong.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong
Thank you, Angela, for sharing this book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love) (Volume 2)[image error] - Paperback
Finding Love In Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love--Finding Love line Book 2)[image error] - 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
