Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 143
September 19, 2016
THE LONG JOURNEY TO JAKE PALMER - James L Rubart - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I always eagerly await the release of James L Rubart’s next book. He writing is awesome, as those of you who have read his works have seen. And the storylines take me to spiritual places I haven’t explored before. I love stories that stretch my belief in our awesome God.
Welcome back, James. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?Although I had a great deal of help, the person most responsible is my wife Darci who came up with the idea for the novel. Every summer when our boys were young, we took them to the same lake. At the end was a wall of cattails and trees. One year we swam through the cattails and pushed through the trees to see what was on the other side. We found a wide, beautiful field. We all pretended we’d entered another land where anything could happen. When we were brainstorming Jake, my wife said, “Why don’t you write a story about the corridor? Where it’s a legend and no one can find it, but if they do, they’ll get what they want most in the world?” And the story was born.
I know I will love this book. My copy hasn’t arrived yet, and as always, it will go to the top of my to-be-read pile. If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar? This past year I spoke at ACFW, the Oregon Christian Writers conference, the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers conference, the Writer to Writer conference, and at the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii. So far for next year, I’m speaking at a one-day conference at OCW in February and at Realm Makers in July. More dates are likely coming. I love speaking almost as much as writing.
If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?Probably Australia. Darci and I went there in the early 90s and fell in love with the weather, the beaches, the atmosphere, and most of all the people.
If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?There’s room at the top. Writing novels is hard. It’s the hardest kind of writing to do well that there is. But that’s good news because most people give up. So if you can’t stop yourself from writing, keep going, you will improve while most other aspiring writers are falling away.
You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])I used to be a semi-pro magician so there has to be a magic show. Phil Keaggy and Jeff Johnson and Jack Johnson would take care of the music, Ellen DeGeneres would probably do stand up for us, my friend Paul Young would give talks on theology, and I’d have my friend Riley do all his amazing food stuff.
Tell us about the featured book.From the back cover:What if there was a place where everything wrong in your life could be fixed?
Corporate trainer Jake Palmer coaches people to see deeper into themselves—yet he barely knows himself anymore. Recently divorced and weary of the business life, Jake reluctantly agrees to a lake-house vacation with friends, hoping to escape for ten days.
When he arrives, Jake hears the legend of Willow Lake—about a lost corridor that leads to a place where one’s deepest longings will be fulfilled.
Jake scoffs at the idea, but can’t shake a sliver of hope that the corridor is real. And when he meets a man who mutters cryptic speculations about the corridor, Jake is determined to find the path, find himself, and fix his crumbling life.
But the journey will become more treacherous with each step Jake takes.
Jake was given 4.5 stars by RT Book Reviews and made a Top Pick for August. Publishers Weekly gave it a rare starred review as did Library Journal.
Please give us the first page of the book.
If Jake Palmer had only kept the mundane promise he’d made to himself, his life wouldn’t be headed down a dead-end road at the speed of light. He’d vowed there’d be no more late-night flights. No more trips stacked on top of each other. No more landings at Seattle’s Sea-Tac Airport after midnight, which pushed him to physical and emotional exhaustion. But there he’d been for the third time in eight days. His phone rang as he pulled out of the parking garage, and Jake glanced at the time before he picked up. Twelve thirty-five a.m. Sienna should be asleep.
“What are you still doing up?”
“I miss you. I’ve hardly seen you for the past three months.”
“I know. Not fun. But Italy will be here in six short weeks. Then fourteen days of cruising where you’ll have to put up with me 24/7.”
“Maybe I should get some rest.” Jake laughed.
“How far away are you, Adonis?” Sienna asked. He smiled at her pet name for him.
“Forty minutes.”
“Get here now. I’ll wait up.”
“And sacrifice your beauty rest?” Jake tapped on his steering wheel and grinned.
“Yes, even though it’ll make me look horrible tomorrow.”
“Impossible. You’d win every beauty contest known to man even if you stayed up for a month.”
“If I’m asleep when you get home, wake me up. Promise.”
“Absolutely.”
Sienna blew a kiss through the phone and hung up. Jake glanced at his gas gauge as he headed up I-5. The yellow warning light glared at him, red needle on the wrong side of the empty line. Problem. Wouldn’t be good to run out before getting back to Bothell. He glanced at the exits coming up. Probably not the greatest section of Seattleto get gas this late at night, but running out here would be worse. Why hadn’t he filled up before the trip? Because his schedule was insane and there hadn’t been time.
Jake pulled off I-5 at the next exit. Quick fill and he’d be back on the asphalt river, home to Sienna before one twenty. He pulled up to the outside gas island and snatched his wallet out of his coat at the same time. As he stepped outside into the October chill, odors of pot and gas filled his nose. As he stepped to the pump, a battered Honda Civic with peeling dark blue paint lurched into the station and stopped behind his Jeep. A young woman got out, her black hair streaked with red and purple, her denim coat marred with grime and amateur images of dragons drawn with blue and red Sharpies. She swiped a credit card and as she pumped her gas glanced furtively past Jake at the street to his back, then at the street in front of them. She jiggled her nozzle up and down as if to try to make the gas flow faster.
“You okay?”
And as usual when you’re on my blog, you leave us hanging at the end of your page, wanting to know what comes next. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?Best place is my website: jamesLrubart.com That’s where folks can sign up for my newsletter which is the best way to find out what’s going on with me.But I’m also on Twitter: @jamesLrubart and on Facebook: facebook.com/JamesLRubart/e-mail is: james@jamesLrubart.com
Thanks so much for having me, Lena!
I always look forward to interviewing you, and maybe next year, I can see you again at ACFW, since it is very close to where I live.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Long Journey to Jake Palmer - Kindle[image error]
The Long Journey to Jake Palmer - mp3 audio
Comments conversation starter questions: Have you read any of James L Rubart's books? If So, which one is your favorite?
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]
Welcome back, James. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?Although I had a great deal of help, the person most responsible is my wife Darci who came up with the idea for the novel. Every summer when our boys were young, we took them to the same lake. At the end was a wall of cattails and trees. One year we swam through the cattails and pushed through the trees to see what was on the other side. We found a wide, beautiful field. We all pretended we’d entered another land where anything could happen. When we were brainstorming Jake, my wife said, “Why don’t you write a story about the corridor? Where it’s a legend and no one can find it, but if they do, they’ll get what they want most in the world?” And the story was born. I know I will love this book. My copy hasn’t arrived yet, and as always, it will go to the top of my to-be-read pile. If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar? This past year I spoke at ACFW, the Oregon Christian Writers conference, the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers conference, the Writer to Writer conference, and at the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii. So far for next year, I’m speaking at a one-day conference at OCW in February and at Realm Makers in July. More dates are likely coming. I love speaking almost as much as writing.
If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?Probably Australia. Darci and I went there in the early 90s and fell in love with the weather, the beaches, the atmosphere, and most of all the people.
If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?There’s room at the top. Writing novels is hard. It’s the hardest kind of writing to do well that there is. But that’s good news because most people give up. So if you can’t stop yourself from writing, keep going, you will improve while most other aspiring writers are falling away.
You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])I used to be a semi-pro magician so there has to be a magic show. Phil Keaggy and Jeff Johnson and Jack Johnson would take care of the music, Ellen DeGeneres would probably do stand up for us, my friend Paul Young would give talks on theology, and I’d have my friend Riley do all his amazing food stuff.
Tell us about the featured book.From the back cover:What if there was a place where everything wrong in your life could be fixed?
Corporate trainer Jake Palmer coaches people to see deeper into themselves—yet he barely knows himself anymore. Recently divorced and weary of the business life, Jake reluctantly agrees to a lake-house vacation with friends, hoping to escape for ten days.
When he arrives, Jake hears the legend of Willow Lake—about a lost corridor that leads to a place where one’s deepest longings will be fulfilled.
Jake scoffs at the idea, but can’t shake a sliver of hope that the corridor is real. And when he meets a man who mutters cryptic speculations about the corridor, Jake is determined to find the path, find himself, and fix his crumbling life.
But the journey will become more treacherous with each step Jake takes.
Jake was given 4.5 stars by RT Book Reviews and made a Top Pick for August. Publishers Weekly gave it a rare starred review as did Library Journal.
Please give us the first page of the book.
If Jake Palmer had only kept the mundane promise he’d made to himself, his life wouldn’t be headed down a dead-end road at the speed of light. He’d vowed there’d be no more late-night flights. No more trips stacked on top of each other. No more landings at Seattle’s Sea-Tac Airport after midnight, which pushed him to physical and emotional exhaustion. But there he’d been for the third time in eight days. His phone rang as he pulled out of the parking garage, and Jake glanced at the time before he picked up. Twelve thirty-five a.m. Sienna should be asleep. “What are you still doing up?”
“I miss you. I’ve hardly seen you for the past three months.”
“I know. Not fun. But Italy will be here in six short weeks. Then fourteen days of cruising where you’ll have to put up with me 24/7.”
“Maybe I should get some rest.” Jake laughed.
“How far away are you, Adonis?” Sienna asked. He smiled at her pet name for him.
“Forty minutes.”
“Get here now. I’ll wait up.”
“And sacrifice your beauty rest?” Jake tapped on his steering wheel and grinned.
“Yes, even though it’ll make me look horrible tomorrow.”
“Impossible. You’d win every beauty contest known to man even if you stayed up for a month.”
“If I’m asleep when you get home, wake me up. Promise.”
“Absolutely.”
Sienna blew a kiss through the phone and hung up. Jake glanced at his gas gauge as he headed up I-5. The yellow warning light glared at him, red needle on the wrong side of the empty line. Problem. Wouldn’t be good to run out before getting back to Bothell. He glanced at the exits coming up. Probably not the greatest section of Seattleto get gas this late at night, but running out here would be worse. Why hadn’t he filled up before the trip? Because his schedule was insane and there hadn’t been time.
Jake pulled off I-5 at the next exit. Quick fill and he’d be back on the asphalt river, home to Sienna before one twenty. He pulled up to the outside gas island and snatched his wallet out of his coat at the same time. As he stepped outside into the October chill, odors of pot and gas filled his nose. As he stepped to the pump, a battered Honda Civic with peeling dark blue paint lurched into the station and stopped behind his Jeep. A young woman got out, her black hair streaked with red and purple, her denim coat marred with grime and amateur images of dragons drawn with blue and red Sharpies. She swiped a credit card and as she pumped her gas glanced furtively past Jake at the street to his back, then at the street in front of them. She jiggled her nozzle up and down as if to try to make the gas flow faster.
“You okay?”
And as usual when you’re on my blog, you leave us hanging at the end of your page, wanting to know what comes next. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?Best place is my website: jamesLrubart.com That’s where folks can sign up for my newsletter which is the best way to find out what’s going on with me.But I’m also on Twitter: @jamesLrubart and on Facebook: facebook.com/JamesLRubart/e-mail is: james@jamesLrubart.com
Thanks so much for having me, Lena!
I always look forward to interviewing you, and maybe next year, I can see you again at ACFW, since it is very close to where I live.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Long Journey to Jake Palmer - Kindle[image error]
The Long Journey to Jake Palmer - mp3 audio
Comments conversation starter questions: Have you read any of James L Rubart's books? If So, which one is your favorite?
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]
September 18, 2016
WINNERS!!!!
Dear Readers, somehow I missed announcing these winners in late August.
Mary P (AUS) is the winner of the ebook Playing With Fire by Susan May Warren.
Kristen (OK) is the winner of When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks.
Lind (PA) is the winner of Knight In Shining Apron by Carole Brown.
EJ (WI) is the winner of Origins by Linda Godsey.
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.
Mary P (AUS) is the winner of the ebook Playing With Fire by Susan May Warren.
Kristen (OK) is the winner of When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks.
Lind (PA) is the winner of Knight In Shining Apron by Carole Brown.
EJ (WI) is the winner of Origins by Linda Godsey.
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.
September 17, 2016
SECRET PLACES REVEALED - Paulette Harper - One Free Book
Welcome, Paulette. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I do use my personal experiences in life to write from. When I’m writing a nonfiction book, I reflect on my own life’s journey and how it can relate to the subject matter and when I wrote my inspirational novel, I incorporated some of my personality in to one of the characters. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? The quirkiest thing I’ve ever done was walked into work with two different color shoes on. Funny how getting dress with not a lot of light makes black and blue look identical.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? I was in my early forties when the Lord first spoke to my heart about writing. That was a few years ago and six books later.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I enjoy reading Christian fiction, inspirational fiction, nonfiction, and contemporary fiction.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Pray, pray, pray. LOL. That’s a loaded question. But truthfully it’s with prayer and being organized. There are times when I feel overwhelmed by the pull to do everything else but it’s in those moments that I take a step back and tell myself to relax because God is in control.
How do you choose your characters’ names? Secret Places Revealed is my first full novel. So with his particular book, I wanted to use a man’s name that was strong Aaron, and the female character Simone, I wanted her name to show her true gentle spirit.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I believe the accomplishment that I am most proud of is the fact that I’ve enrolled in school to obtain a BA in Business Management.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? If I were an animal, I believe I would be a horse. Horses are resilient, beautiful, and can run in the wild.
What is your favorite food? My favorite food would be seafood. That would include crab, shrimp, and lobster.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? My greatest roadblock was keeping focused and not allowing distractions to pull me way from writing.
Tell us about the featured book. My featured book Secret Places Revealed is an inspirational romance novel. The hero and heroine have come out of relationships that have hurt them tremendously and are not looking for love. But are trying to put pieces of their lives back together. But fate and divine providence have other plans for them.
The blurb:
A broken man, a woman on the run, a love that won’t be denied.
Single—and very content—real estate developer Aaron Blackman is determined not to become involved in another relationship. He’s experienced enough drama to last a lifetime. The only thing garnering his attention now is his growing business. And he plans to keep it that way. Then Simone Herron waltzes into his life, beautiful and confident. Fighting to keep his promise to himself—to remain single—he soon discovers that when it comes to love, some promises must be broken.
After losing her fiancé in an untimely death, Simone Herron relocates. She desperately needs to put the past behind her and start a new chapter in her life. While love is the farthest thing from her mind, she experiences an attraction to the handsome Aaron Blackman that frightens her. She's built a wall around her heart, but can she find the strength and courage she needs to welcome love again? To do so, she must conquer her fears and allow God to put all of her broken pieces back together.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Simone Herron wanted to escape from the pain, and from life. At this time of the year, she always felt utterly lonely. It was like being in the middle of the ocean surrounded by only the waves. This was year number two without Joshua. Simone had family and friends, but it wasn’t the same. As if she weren’t already miserable, the holiday season had arrived, with all of its cheery fanfare. She wished she could skip over November and December and head straight into January.
Pensive, Simone stared out her Fifth Avenue office window in the center of Manhattan, New York—the city that never slept. She could imagine that below her hordes of people bustled to and fro, arms laden with shopping bags, and tourists gawked at the beautiful and spectacular views from The Empire State Building to Times Square. Who wouldn’t love it? But her heart was no longer enraptured by its beauty; the Big Apple wasn’t the same anymore.
Simone turned away from the window. Even the busyness of the city and all it had to offer could no longer mask her restlessness. Something was missing. Could a move be the answer? A new locale would distract her and keep her mind off her personal life.
Sitting in the leather chair at her desk, she mindlessly shuffled the papers. When had her life fallen into this monotonous rut? For the past couple of years, she’d spent her Thanksgivings serving dinner at Shepherd’s Gate, a women’s shelter. Christmas was spent singing carols with her church at Faith Bible Center. She enjoyed those things, but she wanted more.
Maybe her boredom stemmed from the fact she’d buried her fiancé a few months before their marriage. But that was two years ago. She should have been enjoying life, but Joshua was gone and she was alive and still trying to remember how to put one foot in front of the other.
People told her time would heal her wounds and it would get easier day by day. And they were right—some days. People also told her never to question God, but those who knew her were aware that that was like asking an artist not to paint. There were days on which she felt she’d moved on, but others when the feelings in her heart and her dreams of him were as real as the love they’d once shared.
She couldn’t understand why God had taken the only man she’d ever truly loved. Joshua had been her soulmate, her friend, the love of her life, her future children’s father. The more she got to know him, the more she realized that meeting him had been something divine. He’d felt the same way.
There was an undeniable connection between them the first time their eyes met on their college campus in Manhattan. She wondered what their children might have looked like. Would they have had his dark eyes and curly black hair, or maybe brown eyes like hers?
The idea of not having a family hurt her to the core. Her parents were married for decades before her father suddenly died from a heart attack. They cherished one another and that’s what she wanted for herself. For now, her dream of falling in love and having a family was tucked away somewhere in the back of her mind, preserved in the faint hope of a second chance.
Simone wasn’t sure she believed there was such a thing as getting back to a normal life. She accepted what life had dealt her and was allowing her circumstances to bring her to a place of surrender. She learned to accept that when life brought pain, God would give her the strength to go through it.
Simone became teary-eyed as questions swirled around in her head. Why, with all of her great accomplishments—she was a paralegal for a prestigious law firm, Armstrong and Armstrong; she worked with some of the most gifted and intelligent lawyers in the city—did she
How can readers find you on the Internet? Readers can connect with me on the following social media networks. Website www.pauletteharper.comBlog: http://pauletteharper.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpauletteharperTwitter: https://twitter.com/pauletteharperAmazon: http://amzn.com/e/B004FEJKCQGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5824102.Paulette_HarperInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauletteharper1/?hl=en
Buy links for the book:
Paperback - https://amzn.com/0989969150
Ebook - http://a.co/7DiBAAd
Thank you, Paulette, for sharing this new book with us. I'm sure my readers will be as interested in reading it as I am.
Comment conversation starter questions: Have you ever had a secret that affected all of your life? Have you had a revelation from someone else that shocked and affected you?
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
September 16, 2016
RESCUE ME - Sandy Nadeau - One Free Book
Bio: Sandy Nadeau loves to go on adventures, photograph them and equally loves to write about them. She and her husband did a lot of four-wheeling in the back country of Colorado and shared those experiences with others by taking them up in the mountains. Her writing experience includes a community news column in a small newspaper for twelve years, magazine articles, and two novels with adventure, mystery, romance, but most importantly sharing God’s love. She is currently a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Married for a whopping 40 years, she and her husband are loving life as grandparents to their three grandchildren
Welcome back, Sandy. Why do you write the kind of books you do?My hubby and I love adventure. We spent thirty years living in Coloradodiscovering the back country and four-wheeling into areas that few people can go. We love what we can find. It was only natural for that to follow into my books. Whether a mystery or a romance, there’s always going to be adventure with my stories.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?There’s so many. Getting married to my best friend. (We celebrate 40 years in September.) Having our daughter. Seeing her marry her best friend. Then they adopted two babies. Moving close to them all. And now she’s about to have a baby. Long awaited dreams are always happiest days. So I guess I have to also add getting a book contract, then another….I’ve had a lot of happy days and look forward to more. They are much more fun than those awful days.
How has being published changed your life?It hasn’t too much. I’m learning more about marketing than I ever thought I would. That keeps me pretty busy now. It’s still just as hard to get a book going in my mind and down on paper. It’s fun to see reactions of people when you say you are a published author. It seems to impress people or surprise them. I’m not sure how to take that. But if they knew how hard it really is to get to this point, well….maybe they should be impressed. It’s hard work! No one is more surprised than me.
What are you reading right now?I’m about to finish As Love Blooms by Lorna Seilstad. It’s a historical set at Como Park in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is what caught my eye. I grew up near there. I love Lorna’s books. I read a lot of genres in the Christian market.
What is your current work in progress?Well, that’s a tricky one. I recently tried to resurrect a book I wrote many years ago, pre-published days. Once I got through rereading it, the plot was so full of holes. It’s going to take a major rewrite with a new plot that I haven’t come up with yet. So I’m moving on to another idea of a romance with the heroine doing something usually only men do for a living. I’m not giving it away yet, but it’ll be different from anything you’re thinking.
What would be your dream vacation?Oh my. I had one once. We were invited to Grand Cayman and spent 10 days snorkeling in a semi-private reef area where the water literally was clear as glass. It was a dream. But I’ve always wanted to go to Norwayand see the fjords. I have a strong family history out of Norway, so it would be fun. Anything with adventure!
I’m one-fourth Norwegian. I’d like to visit there and Sweden. How do you choose your settings for each book?We love the state of Colorado. The mountains in particular. Like I said, we lived there for thirty years and never once took it for granted. We would pack up a cooler with snacks and sandwiches and plenty of water, and head west. We lived in the foothills so we had quick and easy access to many amazing places. I’ll probably write with that setting for a while yet. We have moved to Texas now to be near our only child’s family. Grandkids grow so fast, and we didn’t want to miss any more of it.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I had to think about this for a bit. Male: Mike Rowe. He cracks me up. And sings well. Female: Candace Cameron Bure. Love her Hallmark movies.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?Grandkids! Woodworking. Gardening. Crocheting. Walking. Traveling. Photography.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Sitting in the chair and doing it. So many things distract me. I have to really make a point of sitting down and write. Write anything! Just do it.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Join the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW.com). Smartest thing I ever did. Then study the craft. Learn it. Practice it. Write! Submit. Try. Pray! But just do it.
Tell us about the featured book.
“Risking her life to save him is easy. Risking her heart to give him a second chance is impossible.”
Rescue Me
came about from my husband’s years as a volunteer firefighter. He was also on the rescue squad becoming the Director of Emergency Services for a while. We experienced a lot of fire and rescue calls. I say we because I worked with the spouses on the auxiliary bringing them food and drink on calls. Then living in Colorado all those years, we saw and heard about a lot of things that would happen. And I have quite an imagination so I incorporated it all into the story. I’ve also dealt with a lot of loss of dear friends so giving Ronnie that fear to deal with was easy.
Steve, the hero in the book, has always loved Ronnie and wants her back in his life. But Ronnie lost her father to a fire and just won’t risk dating firefighters anymore. They find themselves taking the same class to become Emergency Medical Technicians and a relationship begins to blossom again. Ronnie has to fight her doubts and fears. Steve has his own guilt to contend with. Will they be able to love again, or will their relationship be quickly extinguished by the very thing she feared?
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers. I’m reading the book right now and loving it.“I can’t believe this.” Steve McNeal reached down again to try to move the rock that trapped his foot. Pain shot through his entire leg and cold dots of perspiration chilled his forehead. He rested against the granite boulder trying to ignore his throbbing ankle and to slow his heartbeat. Of course this had to happen. How could he have been so stupid as to try to scramble between the boulders alone? How many times had he scaled this boulder field? A shortcut to the trail. Brilliant idea.
Bracing both arms against the cold, rough granite on either side of him, he pushed with his free leg against a flatter area of one boulder, trying to get some relief from the pressure on his trapped foot. No doubt about it. This was a definite problem.
Steve scanned the sloping hillside that held the trail, which wound around the boulders that now held him hostage. The view was limited from his position, but at least he’d made his way down facing forward so he could look out instead of at the rock behind him.
Unbelievable. Ten feet from the ground, the trail right there, freedom so close and yet absolutely unattainable. Ow! He had to get his foot out. Or quit moving.
How could there be no one on the trail today? He twisted his upper body to look up at the boulders. “Anybody up there?” He quickly straightened. Ouch, OK that hurts. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone for the tenth time. Still no bars. What did he expect? Suddenly he’d have signal?
Cell towers were not a popular thing among the dwellers of the foothills southwest of Denver.
“Lord, a little help here?”
“Hey, Mister.”
It might as well have been a voice from heaven. Relief let some of the tension out of his shoulders. He strained to see the face that peered over the edge of the rocks above.
“What’cha doin’ down there?”
“Hey kid, I’m uh…stuck. Can you go get some help?” Steve’s arm slid against the granite and a little skin peeled off as he tried to look up at the boy. More pain burned a path through his leg, and he gritted his teeth to keep from moaning. His forehead tightly furrowed. He didn’t want to look like a sissy in front of the kid.
“Who are you talking to?” A female voice asked.
“There’s a guy down there.”
“Oh, my. Are you OK?”
Seriously? Do I look OK? “No ma’am. I appear to be trapped by a rock. Can you get a call out for help?” Steve couldn’t see much of her between his position and only her eyes peeking over the edge.
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.SandyNadeau.com www.SandyNadeau.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/authorSandyNadeau/ @sandynadeauCO
Here are buy links for Rescue Me.https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Me-Sandy-Nadeau-ebook/dp/B015BWE5OI/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=CRVYCWBYAJEFP7R2GYKT
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rescue-me-sandy-nadeau/1122658973?ean=9781611165340
http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_47&products_id=742
Thank you so much for having me on your blog. Blessings to you and your readers!
-Sandy
Sandy, it's a pleasure hosting you on my blog. I know my readers will love the book. I'm enjoying the story even more, because I've been to Summit County, Colorado, and loved it. I was the speaker for a women's retreat for a Breckenridge church, but we were in Silverthorne for the retreat. Then during the next winter, I was a counselor for our church's youth retreat, so I could see it in winter.
Comments conversation starter questions: Have you ever been to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado? Would you like to go?
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
Welcome back, Sandy. Why do you write the kind of books you do?My hubby and I love adventure. We spent thirty years living in Coloradodiscovering the back country and four-wheeling into areas that few people can go. We love what we can find. It was only natural for that to follow into my books. Whether a mystery or a romance, there’s always going to be adventure with my stories. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?There’s so many. Getting married to my best friend. (We celebrate 40 years in September.) Having our daughter. Seeing her marry her best friend. Then they adopted two babies. Moving close to them all. And now she’s about to have a baby. Long awaited dreams are always happiest days. So I guess I have to also add getting a book contract, then another….I’ve had a lot of happy days and look forward to more. They are much more fun than those awful days.
How has being published changed your life?It hasn’t too much. I’m learning more about marketing than I ever thought I would. That keeps me pretty busy now. It’s still just as hard to get a book going in my mind and down on paper. It’s fun to see reactions of people when you say you are a published author. It seems to impress people or surprise them. I’m not sure how to take that. But if they knew how hard it really is to get to this point, well….maybe they should be impressed. It’s hard work! No one is more surprised than me.
What are you reading right now?I’m about to finish As Love Blooms by Lorna Seilstad. It’s a historical set at Como Park in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is what caught my eye. I grew up near there. I love Lorna’s books. I read a lot of genres in the Christian market.
What is your current work in progress?Well, that’s a tricky one. I recently tried to resurrect a book I wrote many years ago, pre-published days. Once I got through rereading it, the plot was so full of holes. It’s going to take a major rewrite with a new plot that I haven’t come up with yet. So I’m moving on to another idea of a romance with the heroine doing something usually only men do for a living. I’m not giving it away yet, but it’ll be different from anything you’re thinking.
What would be your dream vacation?Oh my. I had one once. We were invited to Grand Cayman and spent 10 days snorkeling in a semi-private reef area where the water literally was clear as glass. It was a dream. But I’ve always wanted to go to Norwayand see the fjords. I have a strong family history out of Norway, so it would be fun. Anything with adventure!
I’m one-fourth Norwegian. I’d like to visit there and Sweden. How do you choose your settings for each book?We love the state of Colorado. The mountains in particular. Like I said, we lived there for thirty years and never once took it for granted. We would pack up a cooler with snacks and sandwiches and plenty of water, and head west. We lived in the foothills so we had quick and easy access to many amazing places. I’ll probably write with that setting for a while yet. We have moved to Texas now to be near our only child’s family. Grandkids grow so fast, and we didn’t want to miss any more of it.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I had to think about this for a bit. Male: Mike Rowe. He cracks me up. And sings well. Female: Candace Cameron Bure. Love her Hallmark movies.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?Grandkids! Woodworking. Gardening. Crocheting. Walking. Traveling. Photography.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Sitting in the chair and doing it. So many things distract me. I have to really make a point of sitting down and write. Write anything! Just do it.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Join the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW.com). Smartest thing I ever did. Then study the craft. Learn it. Practice it. Write! Submit. Try. Pray! But just do it.
Tell us about the featured book.
“Risking her life to save him is easy. Risking her heart to give him a second chance is impossible.”
Rescue Me
came about from my husband’s years as a volunteer firefighter. He was also on the rescue squad becoming the Director of Emergency Services for a while. We experienced a lot of fire and rescue calls. I say we because I worked with the spouses on the auxiliary bringing them food and drink on calls. Then living in Colorado all those years, we saw and heard about a lot of things that would happen. And I have quite an imagination so I incorporated it all into the story. I’ve also dealt with a lot of loss of dear friends so giving Ronnie that fear to deal with was easy.Steve, the hero in the book, has always loved Ronnie and wants her back in his life. But Ronnie lost her father to a fire and just won’t risk dating firefighters anymore. They find themselves taking the same class to become Emergency Medical Technicians and a relationship begins to blossom again. Ronnie has to fight her doubts and fears. Steve has his own guilt to contend with. Will they be able to love again, or will their relationship be quickly extinguished by the very thing she feared?
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers. I’m reading the book right now and loving it.“I can’t believe this.” Steve McNeal reached down again to try to move the rock that trapped his foot. Pain shot through his entire leg and cold dots of perspiration chilled his forehead. He rested against the granite boulder trying to ignore his throbbing ankle and to slow his heartbeat. Of course this had to happen. How could he have been so stupid as to try to scramble between the boulders alone? How many times had he scaled this boulder field? A shortcut to the trail. Brilliant idea.
Bracing both arms against the cold, rough granite on either side of him, he pushed with his free leg against a flatter area of one boulder, trying to get some relief from the pressure on his trapped foot. No doubt about it. This was a definite problem.
Steve scanned the sloping hillside that held the trail, which wound around the boulders that now held him hostage. The view was limited from his position, but at least he’d made his way down facing forward so he could look out instead of at the rock behind him.
Unbelievable. Ten feet from the ground, the trail right there, freedom so close and yet absolutely unattainable. Ow! He had to get his foot out. Or quit moving.
How could there be no one on the trail today? He twisted his upper body to look up at the boulders. “Anybody up there?” He quickly straightened. Ouch, OK that hurts. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone for the tenth time. Still no bars. What did he expect? Suddenly he’d have signal?
Cell towers were not a popular thing among the dwellers of the foothills southwest of Denver.
“Lord, a little help here?”
“Hey, Mister.”
It might as well have been a voice from heaven. Relief let some of the tension out of his shoulders. He strained to see the face that peered over the edge of the rocks above.
“What’cha doin’ down there?”
“Hey kid, I’m uh…stuck. Can you go get some help?” Steve’s arm slid against the granite and a little skin peeled off as he tried to look up at the boy. More pain burned a path through his leg, and he gritted his teeth to keep from moaning. His forehead tightly furrowed. He didn’t want to look like a sissy in front of the kid.
“Who are you talking to?” A female voice asked.
“There’s a guy down there.”
“Oh, my. Are you OK?”
Seriously? Do I look OK? “No ma’am. I appear to be trapped by a rock. Can you get a call out for help?” Steve couldn’t see much of her between his position and only her eyes peeking over the edge.
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.SandyNadeau.com www.SandyNadeau.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/authorSandyNadeau/ @sandynadeauCO
Here are buy links for Rescue Me.https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Me-Sandy-Nadeau-ebook/dp/B015BWE5OI/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=CRVYCWBYAJEFP7R2GYKT
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rescue-me-sandy-nadeau/1122658973?ean=9781611165340
http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_47&products_id=742
Thank you so much for having me on your blog. Blessings to you and your readers!
-Sandy
Sandy, it's a pleasure hosting you on my blog. I know my readers will love the book. I'm enjoying the story even more, because I've been to Summit County, Colorado, and loved it. I was the speaker for a women's retreat for a Breckenridge church, but we were in Silverthorne for the retreat. Then during the next winter, I was a counselor for our church's youth retreat, so I could see it in winter.
Comments conversation starter questions: Have you ever been to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado? Would you like to go?
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
September 15, 2016
365 FAMILY DINNERS AND DEVOTIONS - Kathleen Y'Barbo - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to once again feature one of my dearest friends, Kathleen Y’Barbo (Turner). This is the first nonfiction book of hers I’ve featured. It looks very useful—family recipes and devotions. Everybody needs both.
Welcome, Kathleen. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally? That I love Jesus and my husband and I’m very glad to be back home in Texas after a six-year stint living north of the Red River.
Tell us about your family. I have a fabulous blended family. My husband and I have a combined eleven grown kids—four mine and seven his—made up of eight boys and three girls. Add to that our ten grandchildren and you can see why the first devotional of the book is dedicated to them: Defining Family
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. James 1:17 kjv
Family is a big word and difficult to define. Some would say family consists exclusively of those who are biologically connected. Others say it includes all those we call our loved ones, regardless of blood bond. We call those who live by faith in God “the family of God.” However we define family, we should cherish those God has placed in our lives. They are among His greatest gifts.
Sunday Brunch Casserole
½ pound sliced bacon
½ cup onion, chopped
½ cup green pepper, chopped
1 dozen eggs
1 cup milk
16 ounces frozen hash browns, thawed
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Cook bacon in skillet until crisp. Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon. Crumble bacon and set aside. In bacon drippings, sauté onion and green pepper until tender; remove with slotted spoon. Beat eggs and milk in large bowl; stir in hash browns, cheese, salt and pepper, onion, green pepper, and bacon. Place in greased baking pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.
Looks yummy. I’ll have to leave out the bacon, but I’m going to try this one. Have you written other nonfiction books? Yes, I have co-written two nonfiction books with bestselling author Janice Thompson. The House is Quiet, Now What do I Do gives hope for those who are struggling with empty nest, and I Know I’m Not Alone, Lord takes on the tough topic, divorce.
Do you have any other books in the works right now? I am on track to complete The Princess of Polecat Creek, a historical romance novella set in 1880s Texas, by the end of this month. Then I start on A Gift in Secret, another historical novella—this one set in 1880s New Orleans—that is due in December.
We need to schedule both of those books on the blog. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy? I love reading and cooking—but not at the same time! I also enjoy long drives with the top down on my Mini and my hubby behind the wheel. Yes. Tall guys can drive Mini Coopers! Some days, however, my favorite leisure activity is curling up on the sofa and bing watching Food Network or HGTV. I also love watching college football, specifically my beloved Texas Aggies!
I’ve become addicted to some of the Food Network and HCTV shows. I watch them while I do my boring physical-therapy exercises. Why did you write the featured book? Kelly McIntosh, my editor at Barbour Publishing, asked if I might be interested in writing 365 daily devotionals for a cookbook they had in the works. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to pair Jesus and a good recipe!
What do you want the reader to take away from the book? Each devotional is meant to be read as a family, either before meals or in devotions time. I would love for the reader to be drawn in to a deeper faith as he or she reads these devotions, or at least to find some hope in each day’s words.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book? I have been asked if I wrote the recipes, too. The answer is I did not. Barbour Publishing provided those. However, I did my best to pair my devotions with their recipes. I hope the reader will enjoy both.
Wow. I'd love to do something like that. Please give us the first page or two from the book. Here’s a sample recipe and devotion from the book:
January 3
Are You Interruptible?
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.Matthew 4:18–20 niv
How many interruptions do you have in your daily life? If you have a family, the answer is probably plenty! How many times do you think you will complete a task only to find you’re being asked to do something else? That can be frustrating, can’t it? What would you do if Jesus turned your entire world upside down and changed every plan you’ve made? That’s what Jesus did with Simon and Peter. Do you think these brothers were interruptible? Of course they were, and look what happened! Consider this: Are you?
Bacon and Tomato Dip½ pound bacon3 small tomatoes, quartered and seeded1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened3 teaspoons prepared mustard¼ teaspoon hot sauce1½ cups almonds3 tablespoons minced green onions
In large skillet, fry bacon until crisp. Drain, crumble, and set aside. In food processor basket, combine tomatoes, cream cheese, mustard, and hot sauce. Add the almonds, onions, and bacon. Blend until almonds are chopped. Refrigerate at least 2 hours to blend flavors. Serve with crackers or vegetables.
Where on the Internet can the readers find you? Website: www.kathleenybarbo.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/kathleenybarboTwitter: www.twitter.com/KathleenYBarboInstagram: www.instagram.com/kathleenybarboPinterest: www.pinterest.com/kathleenybarbo
Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing this book with me and my readers. I know a lot of them will want one. It would make a good Christmas gift or wedding gift.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Comments conversation starter question: Do you use cookbooks for new recipes? Do you collect cookbooks?
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, Kathleen. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally? That I love Jesus and my husband and I’m very glad to be back home in Texas after a six-year stint living north of the Red River.Tell us about your family. I have a fabulous blended family. My husband and I have a combined eleven grown kids—four mine and seven his—made up of eight boys and three girls. Add to that our ten grandchildren and you can see why the first devotional of the book is dedicated to them: Defining Family
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. James 1:17 kjv
Family is a big word and difficult to define. Some would say family consists exclusively of those who are biologically connected. Others say it includes all those we call our loved ones, regardless of blood bond. We call those who live by faith in God “the family of God.” However we define family, we should cherish those God has placed in our lives. They are among His greatest gifts.
Sunday Brunch Casserole
½ pound sliced bacon
½ cup onion, chopped
½ cup green pepper, chopped
1 dozen eggs
1 cup milk
16 ounces frozen hash browns, thawed
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Cook bacon in skillet until crisp. Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon. Crumble bacon and set aside. In bacon drippings, sauté onion and green pepper until tender; remove with slotted spoon. Beat eggs and milk in large bowl; stir in hash browns, cheese, salt and pepper, onion, green pepper, and bacon. Place in greased baking pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.
Looks yummy. I’ll have to leave out the bacon, but I’m going to try this one. Have you written other nonfiction books? Yes, I have co-written two nonfiction books with bestselling author Janice Thompson. The House is Quiet, Now What do I Do gives hope for those who are struggling with empty nest, and I Know I’m Not Alone, Lord takes on the tough topic, divorce.
Do you have any other books in the works right now? I am on track to complete The Princess of Polecat Creek, a historical romance novella set in 1880s Texas, by the end of this month. Then I start on A Gift in Secret, another historical novella—this one set in 1880s New Orleans—that is due in December.
We need to schedule both of those books on the blog. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy? I love reading and cooking—but not at the same time! I also enjoy long drives with the top down on my Mini and my hubby behind the wheel. Yes. Tall guys can drive Mini Coopers! Some days, however, my favorite leisure activity is curling up on the sofa and bing watching Food Network or HGTV. I also love watching college football, specifically my beloved Texas Aggies!
I’ve become addicted to some of the Food Network and HCTV shows. I watch them while I do my boring physical-therapy exercises. Why did you write the featured book? Kelly McIntosh, my editor at Barbour Publishing, asked if I might be interested in writing 365 daily devotionals for a cookbook they had in the works. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to pair Jesus and a good recipe!What do you want the reader to take away from the book? Each devotional is meant to be read as a family, either before meals or in devotions time. I would love for the reader to be drawn in to a deeper faith as he or she reads these devotions, or at least to find some hope in each day’s words.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book? I have been asked if I wrote the recipes, too. The answer is I did not. Barbour Publishing provided those. However, I did my best to pair my devotions with their recipes. I hope the reader will enjoy both.
Wow. I'd love to do something like that. Please give us the first page or two from the book. Here’s a sample recipe and devotion from the book:
January 3
Are You Interruptible?
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.Matthew 4:18–20 niv
How many interruptions do you have in your daily life? If you have a family, the answer is probably plenty! How many times do you think you will complete a task only to find you’re being asked to do something else? That can be frustrating, can’t it? What would you do if Jesus turned your entire world upside down and changed every plan you’ve made? That’s what Jesus did with Simon and Peter. Do you think these brothers were interruptible? Of course they were, and look what happened! Consider this: Are you?
Bacon and Tomato Dip½ pound bacon3 small tomatoes, quartered and seeded1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened3 teaspoons prepared mustard¼ teaspoon hot sauce1½ cups almonds3 tablespoons minced green onions
In large skillet, fry bacon until crisp. Drain, crumble, and set aside. In food processor basket, combine tomatoes, cream cheese, mustard, and hot sauce. Add the almonds, onions, and bacon. Blend until almonds are chopped. Refrigerate at least 2 hours to blend flavors. Serve with crackers or vegetables.
Where on the Internet can the readers find you? Website: www.kathleenybarbo.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/kathleenybarboTwitter: www.twitter.com/KathleenYBarboInstagram: www.instagram.com/kathleenybarboPinterest: www.pinterest.com/kathleenybarbo
Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing this book with me and my readers. I know a lot of them will want one. It would make a good Christmas gift or wedding gift.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Comments conversation starter question: Do you use cookbooks for new recipes? Do you collect cookbooks?
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
September 14, 2016
MERRY MATCHMAKERS (MATCHMAKER MIXUP) - Darlene Franklin - One Free Book
Welcome back, Darlene. Let’s do some fun questions first. What song most closely resembles your life?Yesterday at church I heard an old hymn that describes my life’s journey very well, “Day by Day (and with each passing moment.)” I love these words from the first verse: “He whose heart is kind beyond all measure/gives unto each day what He deems best/lovingly its part of pain and pleasure/mingling toil with peace and rest.”Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?Here’s another recent discovery, from the passage in Lamentations that starts with the exclamation “Great is thy faithfulness!”
Later in the paragraph, Jeremiah says, “When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The ‘worst’ is never the worst.” (Lamentations 3:28-30, Message). I love the phrase “wait for hope to appear.” The word “hope” (which also happens to be my middle name, lol) has been popping up over and over again. Don’t fuss, don’t question—just wait for hope to appear. Because it will.
I love that, Darlene. One of my favorite verses from The Message is Romans 15:13:“Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!”
What is the one thing you wish you could go back and change in your life?Oh, that’s a tough one. If I think about all the things I’ve done wrong in my life, I’ll end up with a long list of regrets—but they have made me the person I am today. Lately I’ve wondered “what if” I had switched to a music theory major as my professors suggested, when I failed to as a candidate for a Master of Music in piano. Instead, I switched to a Master of Arts in religious education.
What is the most important characteristic for a good friend to have?Listening! When needed and without judgment.
What extracurricular activities did you participate in when you were in school?I was in band and choir and also participated in the math club and the Spanish club. A real nerd.
What is your favorite movie of all times?Field of Dreamsand It’s a Wonderful Life never disappoint.
Tell us about why you wrote this book.
The origins are unclear. I thought we were writing a sequel to the highly successful Christmas Traditions series published in 2014. My publisher suggested a matchmaking theme which replaced the sequel idea. But my book combines both threads: the twin daughters who appeared in An Apple for Christmas became matchmakers for each other. So why? I love writing Christmas stories and this was an opportunity that will hopefully sell well. A story that felt silly and foolish while writing it turned funny and charming when I read it. Please give us the first page of the book.MATCHMAKER MIXUPMaple Notch, Vermont, October 1901Pippin Cortlandlingered by the wall of the University’s gymnasium, trembling in anticipation. Why she had ever agreed to her twin’s hair-brained scheme? How could they possibly get through the evening without their escorts discovering their duplicity?
For a moment she thought she saw her twin, Margil, with Ned Hawkins, and her heart stuttered. But her date for the night, Clint Keller, didn’t notice them, and she relaxed. Her sister had accepted two dates to the homecoming dance and insisted that Pippin go with Clint, who’d asked first, so Margil could attend with Ned when he finally got round to asking. “Besides,” Margil had said, “it’s our senior year. You have to go to homecoming at least once.”
The band played “Good Evening, Carrie.” Clint turned to Pippin. “Would you care to dance, Marg?”
Before she could answer, Clint swept her onto the floor. According to the twins’ plan, Pippin and Clint would dance during one set while the other enjoyed refreshments or took a walk. They were wearing identical outfits, something they hadn’t done since childhood.
The dance was nothing like the nightmarish images Pippin had conjured last night. Long ago dance classes proved valuable as Pippin slipped into a lively two-step for one the year’s most popular songs. “Was you dreaming ‘bout me, Carrie?” Clint was an excellent dancer. Her fears of having her feet stepped on in Marg’s uncomfortable heels proved unfounded. Also, dancing minimized talking.
They stayed for a second song. Clint had the physique of a football player, a talent for baseball, but the glasses of a scholar. When he smiled, Pippin wished he were smiling at her, Pippin Margaret Cortland. But of course he believed her to be Margil Rose Cortland.
“Marg.”
That single word threw cold water on her spirits.
“I’m glad you agreed to come with me. I was afraid you would politely decline, as your sister has many a time.” He pushed his glasses back up his nose, something Pippin’s mother often did. Even with the glasses his brown eyes sparkled at her.
Pippin blushed. She had indeed turned him down on numerous occasions, not believing a man with his handsome features and fondness for sports could be seriously interested in a wallflower such as herself. Her mouth stayed closed as she searched for an explanation. How ironic, that Clint finally had the woman he had pursued for years but didn’t know it.
They danced for a moment before she said, “I’m curious as to how my sister is perceived. I want her to find happiness in this world, and not only in her fantasies.” She smiled and twirled the curls around her face, the way Margil did.
“How rude of me to mention her.”
I’m liking this already. How can readers find you on the Internet?Website and blogFacebookAmazon author pageTwitter: @darlenefranklin
Thank you, Darlene, for sharing this new collection with us. I'm eager to read it, and I know my readers will be, too.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.Merry Matchmakers: 10 Christmas Novellas (A Merry Matchmaker Novella)[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
September 13, 2016
UNEXPECTED ALLIES AND RECURRING WARTS - Grace Marshall - One Free Ebook
Welcome Grace. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.It depends on the book. In this series, the horse-craziness of the main character is definitely me but the rest of her personality is not. I usually take little pieces of me and put them into my characters but rarely base a character totally on myself, though I have based personalities on others I know.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Haha! Where do I even start with that? One moment while I consult those who have witnessed my antics… Me at my High School prom. I was shocked at the crudeness of dancing and the ridiculousness of some people, but since I was already there I decided to protest by also being ridiculous. I then proceeded to perform dance moves I knew or that my brother and I had come up with, such as “taking out the trash,” “the shopping cart,” and “scooping the poop.” I wasn’t shy about telling people the titles or teaching others how to do the moves. When all was said and done, I got more laughs than dirty looks, so mission accomplished.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I started doing role plays over instant messenger with my friends in Middle School. I had never tried writing before, just read a ton. My friends introduced me to it and I was hooked, I have been writing ever since.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Pretty much everything except horror or erotica. I read speculative fiction, science fiction, some fantasy, horse books, classics, and books in the Christian genre. I enjoy trying to expand my horizons and finding new books in different genres.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Haha! Keep my sanity? I think I lost that a long time ago. I pray a lot and depend on God. I also get a lot of support and help from my husband, especially on those bad days, and that keeps me going.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I try to choose biblical or Hebrew names for a lot of my characters. For some of my characters, I look up the meaning of the name, other names just come to me, and sometimes I just take a few minutes to think about what I feel that character would be named in real life.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Chasing my dreams. My husband and I moved from Illinois to Missouriand are both pursuing writing careers and also own a business.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A horse, of course! I just love horses and to me it just makes sense that I would be one if I was an animal. I also enjoy just running around and enjoying the wind in my mane (hair).
What is your favorite food?Pickles! Always has been. J
I really love pickles, too. I used to can a lot of pickles, but I haven’t lately. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Marketing was really difficult for me. When I first started writing, I just kind of thought if I wrote a good book and put it out there people would find it. I also didn’t know much about SEO, target audience, etcetera. I read a lot of material out there for writers and my husband has experience with marketing so he helped a lot as well. Now I have come to realize it’s just part of being an author and has it’s ups and downs like everything else.
Tell us about the featured book.
A spunky kitten on a daring rescue, a neglected mare full of love, and boys that recur like warts make teenager Ruth Deloach’s life far from boring. For every kind person that comes to the ranch there seems to be two warts. The attitudes and temperatures of southeast Missouristarkly contrast the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but Ruth doesn’t have time to adjust before her father holds an open house for their horse ranch, Meredith Meadows. Ruth’s overbearing older brother seems to just add dangerous sparks to her frustration as she tries to figure out who she has to be nice to and who she actually wants to be nice to. At first, the horse lessons on the ranch start making Ruth feel as if she is back in her comfort zone until she gets tossed by one of the horses. Sometimes the best way through life is to laugh through the tears, warts, and her own attempts to mow the grass in a straight line.Please give us the first page of the book.Ruth attempted to shrug off the day’s crushing humidity as she crossed the driveway from the barn to the house, brushing a strand of charcoal-colored hair from her face. She was still discovering how much more intense the heat in Missouri was compared to Wisconsin, where she previously lived.
She wondered when her father was going to see the horses they had tested the other day. The sound of crunching gravel contrasted the peaceful country sounds as the vehicle of Emmett, the hunk of a farmhand who had just been fired for lying, deplorable behavior, headed out of the driveway.
As he drove out of sight she saw grandpa Malachi’s green, beat-up pickup pulling up the drive with his two-horse trailer bouncing behind. She paused on the front porch, waiting to see if he had anything in the trailer.
Grandpa pulled around the driveway loop and stopped in front of the house. The sunlight glistened on his almost white hair as he got out of the truck. "Hello, Ruthie," he said as he slammed his driver door shut.
Ruthie? Since when is my name Ruthie? "Hello Grandpa," she responded. "What's the trailer for?"
"Horses." He approached the front porch at a leisurely pace.
Ruth rolled her eyes. "I figured that, but what horses? Whose horses?"
"Yours and your father's I suppose. Your dad told me to bring the trailer just in case you decided to bring any of them home with you today." He had reached the porch and he climbed the front steps with deliberation.
"So you think he'll buy a horse today?" Ruth couldn't contain the grin that spread across her face.
"Apparently he thinks he might." He gave her a quick hug; the periwinkle eyes that matched hers twinkled pleasantly. "Why don't we head inside and see if he is ready to leave?"
I hope we bring home Embera, Ruth wished silently as she followed her grandfather inside. The red-tinted, part-Arabian mare had quickly stolen her heart.
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is www.wordsbytwo.com. I am also on social media. I would love to connect with people!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceMAuthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceM_AuthorPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GraceM_Author/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracem_author/
Thank you, Grace, for sharing some of your life and this new book with us.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Unexpected Allies and Recurring Warts (Horse Haven Book 2)[image error]
Comment conversation starter question: Do you like horses?
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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
September 11, 2016
WINNERS!!!!!
Angela (KY) is the winner of
Worth Forgiving
by Janet K Brown.
Kim (NE) is the winner of Entangled by Julie Arduini.
Janet (TX) is the winner of In the Land of White Nights by Bonnie Leon.
Edward (VA) is the winner of Game On by Lillian Duncan.
Martha (WI) is the winner of Walls of Arad by Carole Towriss.
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.
Kim (NE) is the winner of Entangled by Julie Arduini.
Janet (TX) is the winner of In the Land of White Nights by Bonnie Leon.
Edward (VA) is the winner of Game On by Lillian Duncan.
Martha (WI) is the winner of Walls of Arad by Carole Towriss.
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.
September 9, 2016
THE WALLS OF ARAD - Carole Towriss - One Free Book
Welcome, Carole. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Not much. Usually there’s a trait or two of me or someone I know in each character. But at a conference once, a best-selling author told us we write the same story again and again, just in different settings with different characters. My heroines always seem to need to realize they have to find their identify in God, and learn to trust only in Him and not in people, especially not in the men in their lives, a lesson I struggle with daily. I don’t do that on purpose, but it always ends up in there somehow.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I have no idea. I’m a pretty boring person, actually.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?The idea for my first book, In the Shadow of Sinai, first came to me as I was reading in Exodus. God says to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills…” I wondered, how does a slave learn to make all the beautiful pieces that were in the tabernacle? Did God just say, “Poof! Now you know how to do all that!”? Sometimes he works that way, but not very often, and it’s not very fun that way, so I made up a story to explain it.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I like Biblical fiction, and occasionally contemporary romance.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Hide in my office and write. (Or watch chick flicks, which drives my girls nuts.)
How do you choose your characters’ names?For my Biblical fiction, I choose names that were in use in that time period in that area of the world. I find documented proof if they are not Biblical names. For the one I’m writing now, I actually talked to a guy who is studying Gallo-Brittonic to help me with some ancient names in first-century Britain.
For my contemporary romance novellas, I just choose names I like!
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Finishing my first book. I started it well over twenty years ago. I ran into some research issues—there was no internet then, and it was really difficult to find some books in print—so I just stopped writing for about fifteen years while I concentrated on my family. I finally picked it up again and finished it in about a year.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A cat. They get to sleep a lot, and sit on laps and be petted.
What is your favorite food?It’s a toss-up between chocolate and tacos.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?In the beginning, research. Like I said, it almost made me quit. It’s so much easier now, with the internet and the ability to find and order out-of-print books. It’s still a huge part of my writing. One of my all-time favorite books was published in 1934 and is basically a collections of the notes of the excavations of Tell Beit Mirsim—a city in Israel. It was explored in 1926-32 by W. F. Albrght. They discovered ten different levels of the city, each one with its own story to tell about the inhabitants! So fascinating to a historical fiction author! But the coolest part is that the whole time the archaeologists are giving glory to God. About their job, the Exodus, the city, every last part of it.
Tell us about the featured book.
The Walls of Arad
is the third in the Journey to Canaan trilogy but can be read alone. It takes place after the forty years of wandering and is based on Numbers 21. This chapter tells us that when the Israelites went north to bury Aaron, the king of Arad attacked and took hostages. Arisha is a young woman who fled that Canaanite city and found herself in the Israelite camp. Please give us the first page of the book.Oasis of Kadesh Barnea, Sinai Peninsula
Late 13th Century B.C.,
Late winter, 22nd day of Shevat“You want me to what?” Zadok stared at the white-haired woman sitting beside him, her face as serene as if she had just asked him to pass her a cup of water.
“Marry her. I want you to marry Arisha.”He’d seen the girl around Miriam’s tent. Not often. She tended to stay inside, away from the gazes of others. “Why me?” He wiped his sweaty hands on his tunic. Marriage was not a topic he enjoyed discussing. “I’m sure there are any number of young men who would be more than happy to take her as a wife. She’s very pretty.” Her wavy, light brown hair and sad eyes floated through his mind.
“She doesn’t need those others. She needs you.” Miriam’s wide grin plumped the apples of her cheeks, giving her an endearing child-like look despite her age.
“Needs me? What do you mean she needs me?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Are you going to repeat everything I say?”
Zadok jumped to his feet. “Are you going to tell me what you are talking about?”
“Sit down.” Miriam spoke without looking up or raising her voice.
Clenching his jaw, he pulled his cloak tighter against the cool morning breeze drifting through the long, orderly rows of canvas tents. “You know what happened the last time I wanted to marry someone.”
She flipped the manna cakes in the pan over the fire in front of her tent. Apparently satisfied they were nicely browned on both sides, she put two next to a handful of dates on a plate and handed it to Zadok. “Marah was a selfish, spoiled child, and her father was no better. They couldn’t see past tomorrow and had no faith in Yahweh’s provision.” She grinned. “But you will be perfect for Arisha.”
“And why is that?”
“Arisha is from Arad. In Canaan.”
“In Canaan?” He pointed north. “That Canaan?”
Miriam raised a brow. “You know of another?”
He bristled. “And I am perfect because like her, I am not a true Israelite.”
Miriam’s eyes—the same piercing eyes she shared with her brother Moses—held his. “I watched your sabba lovingly build every piece of furniture in that Tabernacle.” Her bony fingers pointed to the structure hidden behind the animal hide curtain on the other side of the sandy walkway in front of them. “Your grandfather crafted the Ark of the Covenant, over which the very presence of Yahweh rests. And I watched his sabba Hur, along with my own brother Aaron, hold Moses’s arms up to heaven all day so we would not be slaughtered by the Amalekites. That man gave his life for Israel. You could not be more Israelite if you were Jacob himself.”
Interesting! How can readers find you on the Internet?Twitter: @CaroleTowrissFacebook https://www.facebook.com/NovelistCaroleTowrissPinterest http://www.pinterest.com/ctowrissemail: carole@caroletowriss.comwebsite: www.caroletowriss.com
Thank you, Carole, for sharing this new book with us. I will read it as soon as my copy arrives.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Walls of Arad (Journey to Canaan) (Volume 3)[image error] - Paperback
The Walls of Arad (Journey to Canaan Book 3) - Kindle[image error]
Comment Starting Questions: Have you read any biblical novels? If so, what do you like most about reading biblical novels?
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
September 8, 2016
GAME ON - Lillian Duncan - One Free Book + Plus Other Giveaway
BIO: Lillian Duncan…Stories of faith mingled… with murder and mayhem.Lillian is a multi-published author who lives in Ohio Amish country with her husband. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist for children, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.
Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense and mystery with a touch of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us.
Welcome back, Lillian. Tell us about your salvation experience.I was saved as a teen around the age of 13, but when I got out of high school stopped going to church. And, of course, the longer I stayed away the more bad decisions I made until my life was a mess.
I finally “came back” to God in my forties. Looking back, I can see that God didn’t abandon me during that time even though I abandoned him. He was there all the time protecting me and keeping me safe in spite of my bad decisions. God is so good.
That is so true. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?I would want Agatha Christie since she’s the one who ignited my love of mysteries. Then, I’d also want Margaret Mitchell because…well, because she wrote one of my favorite books ever—Gone With The Wind. Then along with them, I’d invite two current authors, Terri Blackstock and Brandilynn Collins. Not only do I love their books, but the first time I read them, I thought to myself, “they write like me.” That’s when I knew there was a market for the type of books I write.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.I was beginning to have a small speaking ministry until I was diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors in 2012. I had several speaking events scheduled at that time but eventually had to cancel them. Since then, I haven’t done any public speaking engagements because I don’t know how I’ll feel from one day to the next and it wouldn’t be fair to make a commitment then back out at the last minute.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?So many and so little time! Several come to mind, it’s hard to pick only one that I’d even want to share with the world. I’ll have to think about that one for a minute.
OK, I thought about it. There was this time I walking down the streets of Parisand…Mmm. No, That’s not a good one. How about the time I was in Mexico and… No, not good.
OK, got it! I was in high school and we had this “large” study hall, but really how large could it have been since the whole school had less than 600 students. Anyway… I was walking from the back to the front. I have no idea why. As I was walking, people started laughing and as I kept walking forward, more people kept laughing. It seemed to me that the whole study hall was laughing at me by the time I reached the front of the room.
I never could figure out what they were laughing about. I didn’t have toilet paper stuck on my shoe or a run in my hose or anything else as far as I could tell. To this day, I still don’t know what they were laughing about but I can tell you I was plenty mortified!
What did I do? I simply ignored all the commotion, sat down and read my book—as usual!
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?Then write it! I know that sounds trite but that’s really what I tell them with the explanation that the only way to become a writer is to write. Then I go on to tell them that their first book should be a “practice” book and probably never published. Once they’ve written that first book, then it’s time to learn the craft of writing by reading books about writing, taking classes and workshops, and joining a critique group, and, of course, keep on writing.
Tell us about the featured book.
GAME ON is a political thriller. I had a lot of fun writing this one. It just flowed from my fingertips through the keyboard and onto the paper, actually monitor. I wrote the entire first draft of the book in about 5 weeks while I was “camping” on the North Carolina coast which is why it probably got set in North Carolina.
Here’s a bit about the plot: Congressman, Lucas McMann wants to throw his hat into the political arena once again, this time for the U.S. Senate. It’s the next step on his journey to the White House, but he believes he’s the victim of an elaborate stalking game.
The problem is no one believes him. He can’t move forward until he stops the game. He can’t stop the game until he discovers who’s behind it. To do that he needs someone who will believe in him enough to help him get the proof he so desperately wants.
And he knows just the person. If only she’s put their past behind her.
Private Investigator, Nikki Kent makes a living finding out other people’s secrets, but she has one of her own. When Lucas shows up asking for her help, she refuses. She can’t take the chance of her secret coming to light. But her new-found faith won’t let her turn her back on someone who is desperate for her help—even if he was the first man to break her heart!
BLURB for GAME ONPolitics is no game when a stalker nears and there’s nowhere to hide.
A run for the senate is just a step on the road to the White House for Congressman Lucas McMann. But his public profile has put him in the middle of a crazed gunman’s twisted game of stalking. If he wants to win the election and reclaim his life, he’ll need the help of the one person who’d rather leave their past behind them.
Private Investigator Nikki Kent knows how to dig up secrets and discover those who exist in the shadows. She should. She’s good at hiding secrets of her own. Can she risk her own discovery for someone so desperate for her help? For the first man who broke her heart?
With new-found faith, she’ll help Lucas search for the answers. But with the truth comes a danger they must face together.
My publisher did a great book trailer to go along with the book. Check it out:
GIVEAWAY:To celebrate the release of GAME ON, I’m giving away a virtual basket of goodies at www.lillian-duncan.com that includes Amazon gift cards. For all the details go to my blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes. Simply leave a comment on the blog post GAME ON at www.lillian-duncan.com and you’ll be entered.
Please give us the first page of the book.Lucas McMann walked down the street, pretending everything was normal. With his premature gray hair and his expensive suit, he looked the part of a senator even if he wasn’t one yet. And he never would be—if something didn’t change soon.
Scanning the area, his heart rate increased with every step. Only the strictest discipline kept him from breaking into a run. If he did that, then they’d know he knew.
He didn’t know why he’d been chosen to play the game. He didn’t know what they wanted. He didn’t even know who they were. There were many things he didn’t know about the game, but Lucas knew one thing. In the end, he would be the winner.
The situation was intolerable, possibly even dangerous.
As he forced his footsteps to slow, his gaze flitted from person to person. Was the young girl with spiked pink hair one of them? Or the older man dressed as a tourist? Or the well-dressed man pretending to be a businessman?
It could be any of them or all of them.
They were everywhere. No matter where he went, he couldn’t get away from their prying eyes or their cameras. And now not even his home was safe. As they’d proven last week.
The Washington Monument towered over the city.
After all that he’d lost, his career was the only thing he had left. He’d never become the next USsenator from North Carolinaif he couldn’t stop them. There was no way he could focus on the upcoming election if these people kept hounding him.
It was part of the plan his father had mapped out.
It had worked perfectly up to this point. First, local government, then the state. He’d been a US congressman for the past four years. Now it was time to move up to the Senate. Each step moved him closer to his ultimate goal—the White House.
How can readers find you on the Internet?To learn more about Lillian, you may visit her at www.lillianduncan.net or www.lillian-duncan.com. She also has a devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com.
Thank you, Lillian. I know I'm going to love reading this book.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Game On[image error] - Paperback
Game On - 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]
Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense and mystery with a touch of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us.
Welcome back, Lillian. Tell us about your salvation experience.I was saved as a teen around the age of 13, but when I got out of high school stopped going to church. And, of course, the longer I stayed away the more bad decisions I made until my life was a mess. I finally “came back” to God in my forties. Looking back, I can see that God didn’t abandon me during that time even though I abandoned him. He was there all the time protecting me and keeping me safe in spite of my bad decisions. God is so good.
That is so true. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?I would want Agatha Christie since she’s the one who ignited my love of mysteries. Then, I’d also want Margaret Mitchell because…well, because she wrote one of my favorite books ever—Gone With The Wind. Then along with them, I’d invite two current authors, Terri Blackstock and Brandilynn Collins. Not only do I love their books, but the first time I read them, I thought to myself, “they write like me.” That’s when I knew there was a market for the type of books I write.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.I was beginning to have a small speaking ministry until I was diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors in 2012. I had several speaking events scheduled at that time but eventually had to cancel them. Since then, I haven’t done any public speaking engagements because I don’t know how I’ll feel from one day to the next and it wouldn’t be fair to make a commitment then back out at the last minute.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?So many and so little time! Several come to mind, it’s hard to pick only one that I’d even want to share with the world. I’ll have to think about that one for a minute.
OK, I thought about it. There was this time I walking down the streets of Parisand…Mmm. No, That’s not a good one. How about the time I was in Mexico and… No, not good.
OK, got it! I was in high school and we had this “large” study hall, but really how large could it have been since the whole school had less than 600 students. Anyway… I was walking from the back to the front. I have no idea why. As I was walking, people started laughing and as I kept walking forward, more people kept laughing. It seemed to me that the whole study hall was laughing at me by the time I reached the front of the room.
I never could figure out what they were laughing about. I didn’t have toilet paper stuck on my shoe or a run in my hose or anything else as far as I could tell. To this day, I still don’t know what they were laughing about but I can tell you I was plenty mortified!
What did I do? I simply ignored all the commotion, sat down and read my book—as usual!
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?Then write it! I know that sounds trite but that’s really what I tell them with the explanation that the only way to become a writer is to write. Then I go on to tell them that their first book should be a “practice” book and probably never published. Once they’ve written that first book, then it’s time to learn the craft of writing by reading books about writing, taking classes and workshops, and joining a critique group, and, of course, keep on writing.
Tell us about the featured book.
GAME ON is a political thriller. I had a lot of fun writing this one. It just flowed from my fingertips through the keyboard and onto the paper, actually monitor. I wrote the entire first draft of the book in about 5 weeks while I was “camping” on the North Carolina coast which is why it probably got set in North Carolina.Here’s a bit about the plot: Congressman, Lucas McMann wants to throw his hat into the political arena once again, this time for the U.S. Senate. It’s the next step on his journey to the White House, but he believes he’s the victim of an elaborate stalking game.
The problem is no one believes him. He can’t move forward until he stops the game. He can’t stop the game until he discovers who’s behind it. To do that he needs someone who will believe in him enough to help him get the proof he so desperately wants.
And he knows just the person. If only she’s put their past behind her.
Private Investigator, Nikki Kent makes a living finding out other people’s secrets, but she has one of her own. When Lucas shows up asking for her help, she refuses. She can’t take the chance of her secret coming to light. But her new-found faith won’t let her turn her back on someone who is desperate for her help—even if he was the first man to break her heart!
BLURB for GAME ONPolitics is no game when a stalker nears and there’s nowhere to hide.
A run for the senate is just a step on the road to the White House for Congressman Lucas McMann. But his public profile has put him in the middle of a crazed gunman’s twisted game of stalking. If he wants to win the election and reclaim his life, he’ll need the help of the one person who’d rather leave their past behind them.
Private Investigator Nikki Kent knows how to dig up secrets and discover those who exist in the shadows. She should. She’s good at hiding secrets of her own. Can she risk her own discovery for someone so desperate for her help? For the first man who broke her heart?
With new-found faith, she’ll help Lucas search for the answers. But with the truth comes a danger they must face together.
My publisher did a great book trailer to go along with the book. Check it out:
GIVEAWAY:To celebrate the release of GAME ON, I’m giving away a virtual basket of goodies at www.lillian-duncan.com that includes Amazon gift cards. For all the details go to my blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes. Simply leave a comment on the blog post GAME ON at www.lillian-duncan.com and you’ll be entered.
Please give us the first page of the book.Lucas McMann walked down the street, pretending everything was normal. With his premature gray hair and his expensive suit, he looked the part of a senator even if he wasn’t one yet. And he never would be—if something didn’t change soon.
Scanning the area, his heart rate increased with every step. Only the strictest discipline kept him from breaking into a run. If he did that, then they’d know he knew.
He didn’t know why he’d been chosen to play the game. He didn’t know what they wanted. He didn’t even know who they were. There were many things he didn’t know about the game, but Lucas knew one thing. In the end, he would be the winner.
The situation was intolerable, possibly even dangerous.
As he forced his footsteps to slow, his gaze flitted from person to person. Was the young girl with spiked pink hair one of them? Or the older man dressed as a tourist? Or the well-dressed man pretending to be a businessman?
It could be any of them or all of them.
They were everywhere. No matter where he went, he couldn’t get away from their prying eyes or their cameras. And now not even his home was safe. As they’d proven last week.
The Washington Monument towered over the city.
After all that he’d lost, his career was the only thing he had left. He’d never become the next USsenator from North Carolinaif he couldn’t stop them. There was no way he could focus on the upcoming election if these people kept hounding him.
It was part of the plan his father had mapped out.
It had worked perfectly up to this point. First, local government, then the state. He’d been a US congressman for the past four years. Now it was time to move up to the Senate. Each step moved him closer to his ultimate goal—the White House.
How can readers find you on the Internet?To learn more about Lillian, you may visit her at www.lillianduncan.net or www.lillian-duncan.com. She also has a devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com.
Thank you, Lillian. I know I'm going to love reading this book.
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Game On[image error] - Paperback
Game On - Kindle
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