Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 148

AMBER ALERT - Linda K Rodante - One Free Book

Bio: Born and raised in Florida, Linda loves the salt water, the sun and the swamp lands. Linda has always loved reading—especially mysteries and romantic suspense novels. Years ago, she found authors Agatha Christie and Mary Stewart thrilling. Today, she reads different types of Christian fiction, but romantic suspense is still her favorite.
Linda taught at a Christian school, worked for the Pregnancy Center of Pinellas County as a Center Director, and as a financial aid assistant at Trinity College of Florida. Now she speaks and works against human trafficking with the Tampa Bay area’s Community Campaign Against Human Trafficking Task Force (now called FREE). Her blog at lindarodante.wordpress.com highlights human trafficking, sexuality in America, commitment to Christ, and her mother’s missionary trips to Israeland Indonesia.
Linda gave her life to Christ at twenty-six and discovered the miraculous love and existence Jesus has to offer. Her life has not always been easy but has included wonderful friends and family, joy, laughter, and even the miraculous.
As a young teen, Linda wanted to write, but it wasn’t until she was in her fifties that God opened the door. Linda’s writing has won finalist and semifinalist awards with the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis and First Impressions Contests. The fourth book in her Dangerous Series just came out in June.   She and her husband live in Florida. They have two grown sons—one is following his grandmother’s example—he and his family are missionaries in Botswana, Africa. Her other son works at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC.
Welcome, Linda. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.  I think all authors put some of their quirks and frailties into their characters. My protagonist, Sharee Jones in Amber Alert , has a couple of mine—being uncertain of herself next to someone else who is obviously more sophisticated is one that jumps to mind.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? At age 13, my friend talked me into playing a joke on drivers by pretending to be dead in the street. When they stopped, I would leap up and run into the woods. We had one man chase us. He yelled at us and threatened us. I was terrified and never let her talk me into anything that crazy again!
When did you first discover that you were a writer? In middle school. I finished reading the books by authors that I liked and thought I guess I’ll have to write my own. However, when I became a Christian, I threw everything away. It wasn’t until thirty years later that I began to write again.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. The genres that I like to read for enjoyment are limited. My favorite is Christian romantic mystery or suspense. I also like British mysteries, British police procedurals, Christian historical romance or historical romantic suspense. I don’t enjoy graphic sex, cursing, or explicit violence in my reading (or movies, TV), so I don’t venture outside Christian novels much these days. Even though my own novels deal with some hard subjects (domestic abuse, rape, etc), I write so that the story is still a “clean read.”
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? At one point, I said often that I felt overwhelmed, then God showed me not to be overwhelmed by anything but Him. I purposely stopped saying I was overwhelmed and gave my books, the marketing, and everything that goes with it to Him. When I get flustered, I remind myself it is in God’s hands.
How do you choose your characters’ names? Wow. That’s hard sometimes. Some names come as soon as I start writing, others I struggle with. Once I asked friends on facebook for a name for my main character and used the name that was most recommended.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Although I don’t know if this qualifies as an “accomplishment,” giving my life to Christ was the best decision I ever made. Now, I have two sons who know Him. Ranking right up there is my husband of 40 years. We’ve stayed together through tough times and good and are seeing the blessings from that.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A horse! Because I love them—the way they run, head up, manes flying. They represent freedom to me.
What is your favorite food? Tacos or spaghetti. It depends on the day.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? I assumed I’d never be published or that anyone would like my books. However, I love Christmas, and I wanted to write something that would lift up Jesus. So, I wrote a short story about Christmas and sent it to members of my family. They all encouraged me to keep writing. A friend who read it told me I should expand it into a novel. When I prayed and asked God if He wanted me to do that, I felt He did. So, I just jumped in and just kept on keeping on.
Tell us about the featured book. Amber Alert is the novel from that short story above. I wanted to glorify Jesus, and I wanted readers to come away from the story feeling loved. Sharee Jones has waited years for the right man to come along—a man with whom she could share her love of God and of missions. John Jergensen bears little resemblance to the person she’s prayed for. He’s a loner working at the church as a maintenance man, and he wants nothing to do with God. But Sharee needs his help to build the sets for her Christmas program. As they work together, Sharee discovers John’s creativity, his penchant for amusement, and the tragedy that underlies his anger and aloofness. Neither realizes that someone is planning to use the program to terrorize a new mom and kidnap a baby. Sharee’s faith is tested, John’s past life exposed, and God’s healing power forms the backdrop as they work together to find the kidnapper.   
Please give us the first page of the book. Sharee Jones stalked over the dark field away from the church. Moonlight yellowed the area in front of her and a breeze tossed her mass of curls.      Calm down, Sharee. The teen didn’t push your loyalty buttons by design. Abbey Somers had no idea she’d trampled the character of a woman who supported you after a broken engagement two years ago—all while facing a tragedy of her own.      Sharee inhaled and caught the scent of jasmine mixed with damp earth. She just needed a few minutes of peace. No one would miss her. Ahead, the inky blackness of the pond reflected the moon’s light, and the cypress trees stood like sentinels against the sky. Bushes clung to the bank except where the church’s maintenance crew of one had cleared them.      She crossed the last few feet to the pond, put a hand against the tree’s trunk and stared at the moon’s cold presence.      A growl rose from the darkness. Her heart lurched, and she froze.     Grrr…      She strained to see through the dark, but black foliage obscured her view. She inched her head around. A bear? Not this close to the city, but… Someone had reported a panther the other day. Her heart gave an erratic jerk.      Come on, Sharee, don’t freeze. Move backwards. A step at a time...      Clouds raced past the moon. The night shadows shifted, revealing the animal. Whatever stood there was huge.      A third growl rose, and her throat constricted.      God, I need your help.      She glanced over her shoulder. The church lights glowed fifty yards away. A long fifty yards. She swallowed. Stay still. Don’t move.      The creature snarled and shook its head. Recognition hit, slid over her.      A dog.      It should have brought relief, but her throat closed. The scar under her hair constricted. She gave a quick look at the church. People filled the fellowship hall there. The baby shower proceeded without her. No one would come looking for her. Not for a while.
Wow! That leaves us wanting more. How can readers find you on the Internet? 
I’m on facebook at Linda K. Rodante. My author website is lindarodante.com. I also have a blog at lindarodante.wordpress.com where I blog about human trafficking and commitment to God. I’m on twitter @lrodante, on pinterest and on linkedin.
Thank you, Linda, for sharing this book with us. I'm eager to read it, and I'm sure my readers are, too.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Amber Alert: Christian Contemporary Romance with Suspense (Dangerous Series) (Volume 1)[image error] - paperback
Amber Alert: Christian Contemporary Romance with Suspense (Dangerous Series Book 1)[image error] - Kindle

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

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

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

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

HEAVENLY REALITIES: Stumbling Toward Gratitude - Raebeth McGee-Buda - One Free Book

Welcome, Raebeth. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?I would say that at first I may seem shy but I'm really talkative. I am crazy busy with two kids as a stay at home Mom. I have been married for almost four years, however we didn't have the fairytale ending. In 2013, I gave birth to my daughter who was stillborn and this dramatically changed my life. At that moment in time, I turned back to God and have been following Him since.
Tell us about your family. My family is a crazy bunch. I have three children total but only get to parent two of them. We live in a small place on the outskirts of town surrounded by trees in all directions. Yes, we have neighbors but not very many. I have one fur baby and he's an all white cat named Romeow.
Have you written other nonfiction books? Yes, I have written my daughter's very short journey here on earth called, Saying Goodbye Without Saying Hello. It was a tough write but I wanted to bring more awareness to Pregnancy and Infant Loss.
Do you have any other books in the works right now?Of course! I'm in the process of writing a book for women on having a godly marriage and another in the fiction genre.
What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?I love to color in adult coloring books. The inspirational/spiritual coloring books are my favorite. I love to read. I journaling and photography. However, I prefer to spend as much time with my family as possible.
Why did you write the featured book?I felt led to write it. We see a lot of hate and ungratefulness in our crazy world. Stumbling toward Gratitude takes the reader/journal on a journey in a month and helps them to see the small blessings in life.
What do you want the reader to take away from the book?I want them to be able to spot areas in their lives where blessings occur but are often missed. Those who live a more grateful life tend to live happier lives. Who doesn't want a happier life?
Is there anything you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?Give it a chance. Dedication is important and so is self discipline. It takes 21 days to form a habit, so push to continue through the journey. I promise that it'll be worth it in the end.
Please give us the first page or two from the book.Gratitude is thankfulness, appreciation, or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.
I'm so glad that you decided to join me in bettering yourself and I'm praying you'll find it within to follow along each day and find the hidden blessings within your very own life.
First, for this challenge you will need a journal. It will be our gratitude journal. This can be a notebook, papers stapled together, or you can purchase an actual journal for this. You can also download the Attitudes of Gratitude Journal from Play Store to use on your phone. (iPhone users can download the gratitude journal from iTunes) Either way, I believe this will be worth it in the end.  By doing this challenge, you're going to retrain yourself to see the best in all situations and be more grateful, even in the rough times of life.
I will be giving you a guideline throughout this journey, so you can follow along with it. I'm praying for a more grateful life for you. I'm hoping to help others learn how to make gratitude a regular family tradition.
The daily challenges are based on research showing that people who are grateful for things (big or small) tend to be happier and healthier when they fully commit to the challenge. With each entry, try to go into as much detail as possible. Don't be vague about it. Going into details and be specific about what you're writing about. This is the key factor in gratitude journaling.
Where on the Internet can the readers find you?Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raebethbuda/Website: http://raebethmcgee.weebly.com/Blog: http://raebethbuda.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Raebeth, for sharing this book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Heavenly Realities: Stumbling toward Gratitude[image error] - Paperback
Heavenly Realities: Stumbling toward Gratitude - Kindle[image error]

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

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

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

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

THE PROMISE OF JESSE WOOD - Chris Fabry - One Free Book

BIO: Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He has written more than 70 books for children and adults. His novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won three Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and a Christianity Today Award of Merit, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more. Chris and his wife, Andrea, have nine children and live in Arizona.
Welcome, Chris. How did you “discover” The Promise of Jesse Woods? I don’t discover stories, they come to me in bits and pieces. I grew up in a small, West Virginia town like Dogwood and the people who populate this story are echoes of those people. Like Matt, who moves to Dogwood from a bigger city, I felt a little like an outsider or an observer of life as I was growing up. We have the opportunity to watch or participate in life and Matt is forced to begin living because of his two new friends.
Where did you get the name, Daisy Grace?My mother grew up near a little mining town called Putney on Campbell’s Creek. Her sister, Grace, would toddle into the field near their house and pick daisies and bring them to her mother. Her mom acted surprised each time. Grace died during a diphtheria epidemic when she was three. My mother still takes daisies and puts them on Grace’s grave. When I heard that, I knew I wanted her to be part of this story.
What is significant about the title, The Promise of Jesse Woods?When you hear those words, you immediately wonder, What did Jesse promise? Who is she? How does this promise shape her life? We all make promises or agreements with others, with God and with ourselves. These shape us and others in ways we often don’t realize. So the story looks at what Jesse’s promise did to her, Matt, Matt’s parents, the church and the town.
Talk about the themes you develop in the novel.The most arresting theme is the dawning of first love and what this coming of age passage does to each character. Matt falls for an Appalachian girl and the longing this awakens in him follows him a dozen years into the future and compels him to return home. There is a strong theme of secrets kept and what those secrets do once they are uncovered. Faith—real faith and what it is—that theme runs through the novel. What if my father’s faith is not my own? How do I navigate a real relationship with God when my example is less than perfect? Coming home to a world you left behind is a strong theme—and the way music shapes a life and calls back memories.
Your main character, Matt, finds himself tied to his past. How strong a hold does our past have and how do you develop this idea?Our adult lives are spent trying to figure out what happened to us in the rearview. Why am I the way I am? What forces shaped me for good or ill? Do I really know the truth about all that happened to me and why it happened? Matt knows, intuitively, that something in his past doesn’t add up, but he can’t figure out what that is. The book is really his search for that truth and once he finds it, it’s like a key that unlocks all the other rooms and gives him answers he never received as a boy.
As parents we sometimes see red flags in our kids’ lives. How does fear play into parenting and what are the negative effects of that kind of parenting?
Once you have tasted this fear, it’s difficult to break free. Fear will cause you to avoid real life—it will make you choose something other than life. Matt’s parents are in many ways guided by their fear and this has devastating effects on their family, though their motives are good. They want to protect Matt from mistakes. I’m hoping parents will see this as a cautionary tale—that in order to really love a child, fear cannot be your guiding force. Fear and love will shove each other off the mountain—only one can be king of the hill.
Did you like growing up in the small town where you were born?I didn’t have a choice, nor anything to compare it with. Like Matt, my life was contained on a farm—a solitary existence with animals and fishing and hunting and farm work (though my brothers would argue that I ever did any work). The seeds of my imagination and becoming a writer began in those hills, I’m sure of it. And the people I met and all our relatives brought such a rich tapestry of character and honor and a love of stories. I wouldn’t trade my childhood for anyone else’s because it made me who I am today.
There is a huge theme of the “savior” role people play in others’ lives. Why do we do this and what happens when we do?Everyone has someone in their life they want to “save.” There is something going on in that other person’s life that brings out this desire to rescue. The desire is not bad—but any time we fashion ourselves as saviors, we set others up to depend on us in an unhealthy way. There is only one Savior. We can be agents of change in other people’s lives, we can influence, but it’s a dangerous thing to think we can save anyone. This idea runs through Matt’s childhood and adult life and it really keeps him from fully living and embracing faith.
When Matt returns to Dogwood 12 years after the events of that first summer, what does he discover about himself and others?The hardest thing about going home or discovering what really happened in your past is seeing the truth—and seeing how you chose not to see the truth. In other words, someone can lie to us about something—but we have to believe the lie in order for it to work against us. We get to choose whether we question or acquiesce. In that sense, we want to write our own reality. We want to live in the world we want to have rather than the one that is. Maturity or growing up is the process of living in reality rather than the world we would like to have. This is hard for Matt, his parents and everyone in the novel.
What’s the power of a promise and how does this play in the story?Betrayal is a strong force in our lives and all of us have felt it on some level. Jesse is the strong, moral, driving force in the story and she prides herself on never breaking a promise or a vow. What will she do when two promises collide and force her to choose? There are some promises we can’t keep. How do we reconcile this? And can we be forgiven by God and others if we break a promise? Can we forgive ourselves and truly live with the specter of a broken promise?
What do you want faith-driven readers to take away from The Promise of Jesse Woods?If a writer tells an honest story and paints characters on the canvas of a novel well, there will be lessons drawn from those characters I didn’t plan. I’m hoping I hear from readers that this story really hits some deep, subterranean part of their hearts. I have a heart for younger people who are struggling to find where they fit in the world—and in the church. I would love to have someone read this and recognize some unhealthy parenting in their life or their past and avoid it—or deal with it. I always want people to pursue a real faith of their own rather than someone else’s faith or a list of rules and regulations. In a way, I hope this story will set people free to really live.
There is a lot of humor in this novel. More than in some of your other books. Why is that?Jesse and Dickie are two of the funniest characters I’ve ever found. They have, even as kids, a wry, jaded view of the world because life has been so hard. Jesse’s family is the poorest in town. Dickie is half Caucasian/half African-American with a father fighting an unpopular war. The humor is a “southern” thing. You laugh at something so you won’t cry. You look at life a little fatalistically—like you know something bad is around the corner, you just don’t know how fast it’s coming. So the humor springs from these situations and endears you to the characters.
You dedicate the story to Kristin Kent and Dantrell Davis. Why?Kristin was a student at Moody Bible Institute when I first came to Chicago. I did not know her personally. She had a heart for the city and the people who live there. In August of 1984, walking home from her job one night, she was attacked and murdered. She was just a couple of blocks away from safety. I wanted to honor her life and her heart for missions in some small way.
Dantrell Davis was walking to school with his mother in October of 1992. He was shot and killed by a gang member. He was seven. His death was a wake-up call to Chicago and the nation, but sadly the cycle of violence and death for children in the inner city continues. I wonder what Kristin and Dantrell would be doing today if they hadn’t been killed.
Matt’s father becomes the pastor of a small church. What happens there might make some believe you are jaded about the church.The church is God’s plan to change the world and give hope to those without it. Period. Unfortunately, the church is full of sinners and hypocrites. These are the people Jesus came to save. The struggle is how to keep from getting jaded by those in the church who rankle us—people like Mr. Blackwood. He doesn’t see that he’s treating the church like a country club. The irony is, it’s easier to see the faults of others and want them to change than it is for us to see ourselves and our need to change. This idea runs through the stories I write. Though we can see someone else’s sin, it’s only our own we can truly deal with and bring to God to see real change. When we do that, it will influence others around us.
What would you like parents of teens to take away from the story?Every problem with your son or daughter is an opportunity to go some deeper place with God. Most parents who have a problem will ask, “How do we fix this? How do we get out of this or solve this problem?” Solving problems is good—but I find that I rarely ask the deeper question when a child struggles. What is God doing in me in the midst of this situation? How is he growing me up and maturing me in this process? It doesn’t lessen the struggle of the child’s problem to think this way, but it takes the pain and uses it for good in my life if I can get to that point. In other words, a parent can try to be the savior of the child or the parent can allow the child’s struggles to point out the need for a savior in their own life.
The Promise of Jesse Woods/Written by Chris FabryISBN: 978-1-4143-8777-2/July 2016/ $14.99

Thank you, Chris, for sharing your new book with us. i'm eager to read it.

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 

FRONTIER PREACHER - David A Millican, III - One Free Book

Welcome, David. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Not much. I find other people so much more interesting than me. Well at least I find their flaws more interesting because I don’t like to think about my flaws. So most of my characters are composites of people I have known.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Besides singing to my dogs while I robot dance? At one point in time my entire shirt wardrobe consisted of blue shirts. Nothing but blue shirts. There may or may not have been a girl’s complement about me in blue shirts involved.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?2nd Grade. There was a school-wide writing contest, and they put the winners into a book that you could buy. I was in second grade and won the entire contest and had the featured page. I wrote stories before that but that was the first time I thought that other people would want to read them. The story was about an owl that hurt his wing, and I nursed him back to health, if you care to know.
What an encouraging thing for a child. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Everything. Romance and Fairy Tales are my least favorite but even then there are some that have carried me away. Because of a glitch in the system, I was put into regular 11th grade English instead of Advanced. My teacher gave me the reading list, and I had read them all already. She gave me another list that was huge and pushed my limits. Since then, I have enjoyed reading as long as it is well-written.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I don’t watch the news, and I sit on the couch with my wife. Sometimes we watch TV, sometimes we listen to a book, sometimes we just sit. The pace of the world doesn’t concern me. Being me concerns me.
How do you choose your characters’ names?By a long and arduous process. Researching the time frame, the area, the culture, the impact certain names have, and the sound of names is important to. How do they sound screamed or whispered? When you hear them, what image do you get in your head? And then after all that, I pick the name. Sometimes I have one in mind from the beginning. Hollis Winget, the main character in Frontier Preacher , is the first and middle name of my maternal grandfather. But his name passed all my tests so I used it.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?None. If there is anything worth boasting about in my life it is because God made it happen not me.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I am a dog person so it pains me to say this, but a cat. Not even a lion or a tiger, but a house cat. I get to do whatever I want, play when I want to, sleep when I want to, eat when I want to, and shun who I want to and everyone thinks it’s adorable.
What is your favorite food?I’m not the person that can answer something like that. That’s just too much commitment to one food. I need to play the field a little. Sample from this culture, indulge in that style. Can’t we just all eat everything? Except cooked broccoli, that you can just throw in the trash.
One of my grandsons loved broccoli when he was in elementary school. When he went home, he told his mother how many helpings of broccoli he got to eat, because his friends gave him theirs. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Finishing. I had trouble staying on one concept long enough to finish. With age and practice some of that has gone away.
Tell us about the featured book. Frontier Preacher first began life as I researched my home congregation in Gillette Wyoming. As I expanded my research and followed all the rabbit trails I realized there were a lot of stories that hadn’t been told. I wanted to tell them. The first incarnation of the book was a short story then expanded to the current novel size. Most everything in the book is a true story, but not the same story. All the events happened at different times and different places, and I wove them into a single narrative. The first time I wrote it, Hollis was a railroad worker. But it just didn’t work. The antagonist needed moral authority without having to explain that he has moral authority. That’s when I landed on the idea of a Frontier Preacher . And the rest, is as they say, Historical Fiction.
Please give us the first page of the book.Cold bit his hand when he gripped the rail as he exited the train. James had been right; this was a wholly different cold than Tennessee. The snow had seemed the same out the window during the trip, though the land was flat and featureless. The cabin was cold during the trip, cold enough to see his breath, but not cold enough to reach his bones. He had wrongly assumed it would be the same outside. The clear sky had only a few traces of clouds and a bright sun, which had lent its warmth to the window in the cabin.
As he stepped down onto the crunching frozen snow of Cheyenne, the sun might as well have been a ball of bright ice. The wind ripped at his face with cold that burned and it tore through his clothes like they were tattered curtains. James had said to be prepared, and Hollis had thought he was but now he knew it was impossible to prepare for this. The lining of his nostrils froze and his scalp felt like it was being pierced with a thousand little needles. The air in his lungs was so cold that he began to cough like a backroom painted woman after too many years in the sheets.
How can readers find you on the Internet?davidamillicaniii@gmail.comhttps://www.facebook.com/davidmillicanauthor/@davidmillican3Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017QRMMM8

David is offering a discount for my readers who buy the book. Here's how you can get the discount:

The coupon code for Frontier Preacher paperback through Createspace is: GYM7ACWXThe Createspace buy link is: https://www.createspace.com/6236943They apply the code at checkout.

Thank you, David, for sharing this book with us. Since I often write historical fiction, I'm eager for my book to arrive, so I can read it.

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

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

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

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

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!!!!

Linda K (CA) is the winner of  Murder Mezzo Forte  by Donn Taylor.

Sharon (SC) is the winner of Generations   by Dennis Jernigan.

Kim H (NE) is the winner of The Saddlemaker's Son by Kelly Irvin.

Connie (KY) is the winner of  Hearts Tightly Knit  by Jodie Wolfe.

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CAN Scavenger Hunt #10

Dear Readers, welcome to stop #10 on the CAN Scavenger Hunt. If you haven't been to the first nine, here is the link to the first stop on our hunt:


http://christianauthorsnetwork.com/newreleases/

Anne Greene, I’m so happy to feature you on my blog for this CAN Scavenger Hunt. What book are we featuring today? Today we are discussing ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS.
What encouraged you to write this story?This is a story of my heart. I’m a WWII buff. The war and its aftermath changed the world, especially for women and offered them tremendous opportunities to better their lives. During the years 1941-1945, thousands of women answered the call of duty to help protect our country. Scores of these women died because of their service. Angel With Steel Wings tells the story of the women test pilots, WASPs. Army and Navy NURSES, WACS, WAVES, and SPIES also served. My Women of Courage series will tell these stories. I’m so proud of what these women accomplished.
What are some of the things you like to do for fun? I love to travel. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit over thirty foreign countries. Some of my other books are set in foreign countries where I’ve spent a good deal of time. Some of my travels were in conjunction with my Special Forces Colonel husband. Angel With Steel Wings has several scenes in Englandwhere I spent a lovely time. I also enjoy spending time with friends and singing in our Church choir. I dabble in oil painting as well.
How many books do you have out now? At present I have seven published books available. I have two Christmas novellas, A Christmas Belle and A Groom for Christmasavailable on Amazon. My novella for Barbour Publishing, The Marriage Broker and The Mortician, releases in August. I’m working on the sequel to Angel With Steel Wings called Spies Like Her, which is the second book in my WWII Women of Courage series, and then I’ll work on the second book of my Handcuffed In Texas detective/mystery series, after the first book, Holly Garden, PI, Red Is For Rookie. My novella, Recipe For a Groom releases in November for a Thanksgiving Anthology. I also have three other novellas releasing in 2017. So I’m pretty busy.
Please give us the first page of the book. ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS.“She’s late! Where is she?” Insides churning like pistons, Major Harvey Applegate stared hard at the tiny blonde standing in front of him, her hands clenched behind her back.
Her chin trembled. She looked so young he wanted to pat her on the back and send her to the hangar for a hot chocolate, but majors didn’t do that. So he gritted his teeth. He was supposed to show respect for the WASPs invading his air base. That was asking a lot. They were young and unpredictable. Men fought wars to protect American women. Men died in wars. Not women. He restrained his impulse to pound the metal side of the wet hangar and slapped his thigh with his cap instead.  “I can’t lose another WASP on my watch. Not two in as many days.” He plowed his hand through his short, dripping hair, frowned, and reminded himself not to get his underwear wrapped around an axle.
“She’s only half an hour late, sir.” Doreen’s lower lip quivered.  “Didn’t that pilot get the word this morning?” Harvey wrung his cap. He wouldn’t take his temper out on this innocent blonde.
“No, sir. Corporal Jones ran up to tell me we were grounded twenty minutes after she was in the air.”
Above the wail of the wind, Harvey picked up the faint lilting song of a Merlin engine running slightly rough. He gazed toward the windsock blowing straight out and pivoted toward the landing strip. A P-51 came in fast and low, circled the field, made a perfect three-point landing, and taxied to a halt.
He snapped his cap onto his head. He didn’t have many men who could land in a crosswind that well. Even he would have had trouble. Boots splashing water, he dashed across the tarmac and reached the craft before the propeller stopped spinning. The canopy of the single-seater flew open. A slight figure, clad in a man’s too-large flight suit, climbed out onto the rain-slick wing. He stretched up his arms and grabbed her waist to lower her to the ground. Even with the weight of her boots, flight jacket, and gear, this one felt light in his arms.The pilot glanced at his insignia. If she’d actually been military, she’d have had to salute. But she wasn’t, and she didn’t. The minute her feet touched ground, the slender woman pulled off her goggles and gazed up at him. Wide blue eyes circled with goggle marks.
Another starry-eyed angel. Harvey swallowed hard. His chest hurt. She looked so vulnerable.  He scowled, picturing that slender nose smashed and those winsome lips closed forever. He couldn’t face seeing another woman killed. He wanted these women off his air base. Wanted no more sleep lost over these young ladies. Wanted no more sending them into danger. Wanted no more funerals that tore him apart. He slapped the cowl of the plane so hard she jumped. No more charred women in downed planes. Trista took on a man’s job, and look how that turned out. Agony pierced his chest. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the memory.
“I’ll see you grounded!” Harvey thundered. “You were due back half an hour ago. Can’t you women obey rules?”    Ruby lips rounded into an O of surprise. Her sapphire eyes widened. Her dark brows arched. “What?”
“Women pilots!” He slammed his fist into his palm. “I’ll shut down this program.”
Her brows furrowed. Her chin poked out. Her hands flew to her hips. She looked ready to jump all over him. As long as she was alive and safe, he didn’t care. He could handle her. “You head-in-the-clouds dreamers think you’re on your own private missions. This base is no place for a woman!”
“You men have such a high opinion of yourselves. Women could fly in combat, but you keep us home.” Flames tinted her wet cheeks. “You won’t admit our country desperately needs us to fly these planes.” She stressed each word passionately.
Harveycould tell she wanted to say more, but she clamped her lips. He glared. She glowered back.
Tough if she thought he had an inflated opinion of himself. Better that than for her to guess he had a soft spot for these female pilots. “I don’t want any more dead women.” She cringed. Her face crumpled.
Why hadn’t he kept his trap shut? Even on a base this big, she probably knew the missing WASP pilot. But he’d wanted to scare her into obeying the rules. Obedience gave the women pilots some semblance of safety.
She recovered from her first reaction and blazed. “Connie’s alive. I know it. And rumor patrol says it’s just a couple of you big shots who want to shut us down. Most fellas like us testing repaired planes and towing targets. They want to be free to fly combat.”
He shrugged. She was right. And he couldn’t dredge up a comeback.
She stomped stiff-legged toward the open hangar door, parachute bumping her backside, rain blurring his view.  “Feisty pilot, you’re the kind gets yourself killed,” he yelled just as she reached the hangar door. 
Where can the readers find you on the Internet? Visit with me at www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com, www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor, @TheAnneGreene, on Pinterest at The Anne Greene, on Book Fun Magazine at  http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com
SOME ROMANTIC PARTS OF ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGSThe most romantic thing my hero did for my heroine was to paint her name on his fighter plane. The most romantic thing my heroine did for my hero was to fly a plane dragging a banner asking a captivating question.
The most romantic place my hero and heroine went to was a hospital wedding. My couples’ favorite romantic restaurant was the café just off the Air Force base where they had their first date and first played their WW2 song, “I’ll Be Seeing You.” The most romantic present my hero gave my heroine was her wings to fly. And she became the wind beneath his wings.
My couples’ favorite romantic vacation destination was London, after the war, especially the llama estate.
Now, here's the news (my phrase) about the rest of the hunt.
Stop #11 on this CAN Scavenger Hunt is:
http://anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com/
Anne is offering a giveaway of ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS on her blog. Leave a comment on her post for a chance to win the copy.

You need to leave a comment on this blog for a chance to win a Kindle copy of my book The Gold Digger.

Be sure to sign up on every blog that has an individual giveaway,  and collect all the phrases for each blog, so you can enter the Grand Prize giveaway of a free book from all the authors on the hunt. Blessings on you today.

THE RINGMASTER'S WIFE - Kristy Cambron - One Free Book

Welcome back, Kristy. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?Our family actually has some exciting things on the horizon! As soon as I’m able to share with everyone, I will. I can’t wait to talk about what I’m planning to work on next. J
Tell us a little about your family.Three words: messy, awkward, love.
That’s our family. My husband and I are next year moving into a 20-year anniversary as a couple. I can’t even believe time has flown by so fast. But now we have three young sons and with that comes sports schedules, school events, and one harried momma who sometimes has to write chapters while sitting in the bleachers at a basketball game. We make it all fun though!
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?I love this question, because I think my reading habits have changed and I hadn’t even realized it! My sister is a teacher so she’s always sharing the best of Young Adult (YA) fiction with me. I find that because I research and write in this structured world of historical fiction, I like to fall into fantasy or dystopian novels almost as an escape. (Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles are absolute favorites.)
What are you working on right now?I’m actively editing my fourth novel with HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The Illusionist’s Apprentice (releasing March 2017). It’s really a departure me and I confess that as a writer, I enjoy trying new things. This novel is still a non-linear narrative of historical fiction, but there’s the mystery (and a bit of suspense) of the 1920s vaudeville world mixed in. Toss the world famous Harry Houdini into the story and I’ve got some fun editing days ahead of me!
What outside interests do you have?I love watching classic films, spending time outdoors with my family, and I really enjoy traveling for onsite book research. I also like to cook, but now that I’m gluten-free, it’s a new set of challenges that I’m not convinced I’m ready to tackle in the kitchen! J
How do you choose your settings for each book?It’s all about the inspiration.
My current novel, The Ringmaster’s Wife , was an idea that my publishing team actually brought to me. The world of vintage circus was always something I’d had interest in, so I jumped at the opportunity. But most of my settings and storylines include things and places I love: Europe, art history, travel, and vintage themes. I hope they always color any story I write.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?I’m selecting someone from my history – my Dad. He passed from aggressive leukemia in late 2013 and I miss him every day. What hope I have that if there are evenings in eternity, I think I’d like to spend each one with him.
I lost my mother, who was in her early thirties, when I was seven years old. I look forward to really getting to know her in heaven. What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?That we can write, but it doesn’t always mean that we write well. There’s a big difference. I learned very quickly in this industry just how much I don’t know, and how much I have yet to learn about the mechanics of writing, and writing well. I’m still a student.
All authors are still students, whether they admit it or not. I’m always learning, even after all these years. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?It sounds simple, but it’s more complex that I’d ever imagined: trust God. Our family has been on this journey of trust for the last couple of years. While it’s a critical piece of my own spiritual development, this daily dying to myself and trusting everything to Him is truly more difficult than it sounds. It’s daily faith-walking.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?1.) Own it. It doesn’t matter if you’re published yet or not – you’re an author because that calling has already been placed on your heart. In order to make it in this industry, own your calling and refer to yourself as what you are: an AUTHOR. 2.) Seek Him. Whatever your daily communion looks like, whether it’s prayer, devotions, Bible study or listening to sermons online, spend time with Christ before you write. He’s the leader in everything we do and He can’t be left out of the writing process. 3.) Have fun. This is a business, so it’s important to be professional. But… don’t get so wrapped up in the demands of this author life that you forget to have fun with your writing. It’s work, but it’s work that you ardently love. It should be fun too.
Very well said. Tell us about the featured book. The Ringmaster’s Wife is my first work of semi-biographical fiction – on the life of Mable Ringling. It’s a novel set in the midst of the Roaring Twenties, centering around Mable (the circus queen), and a new recruit to the Ringling Bros. circus world – a bareback rider from England by the name of Rosamund Easling. Readers will get to see behind the curtain of circus life during the golden age of traveling entertainment, but they’ll also have an opportunity to meet two strong female characters who have more in common than they might have thought possible. It’s a book about dream chasing, being brave, and risking everything to follow the call God’s placed on your heart.
SUMMARY: An ounce of courage.A leap of faith.
Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life—one that’s reimagined from what they might have become.
In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confines of a quiet life on the family farm. With little more than her wit and a cigar box of treasures, Mable steps away from all she knows, seeking the limitless marvels of the Chicago World’s Fair. There, a chance encounter triggers her destiny—a life with a famed showman by the name of John Ringling.
A quarter of a century later, Lady Rosamund Easling boards a ship to Americaas a last adventure before her arranged marriage. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling.
When Rosamund’s path crosses with Mable’s and the Ringlings’ glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, choosing instead the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers’ circus.
A novel that is at once captivating, deeply poignant, and swirling with exquisite historical details of a bygone world, The Ringmaster’s Wife will escort readers into the center ring, with its bright lights, exotic animals, and a dazzling performance that can only be described as the Greatest Show on Earth!
I’m already hooked. Please give us the first page of the book.Prologue1929 Louisville, KYWe only see what we want to see— in people, in love, and in life.
What we see is a choice, as is what we offer the world in return. And it’s only behind the costumes and the masks that we can be who we truly are.
The words echoed in Rosamund’s mind, in a tangle of memories collected over the past three years. She waited at the performers’ entrance at the back of the enormous Big Top, trying to ease the racing of her heart before show time.
Waves of riotous applause ebbed and flowed with the breathtaking thrills of the trapeze act. It was a “straw house” tonight— sold out, the bleacher seats packed and the overflow of children lining the edges of the rings on piles of laid- out straw. Rosamund could hear the children now through the call of horns and pops of confetti bursts, squealing in delight at the antics of the clowns. It wouldn’t be long now— the ringmaster’s signal for the horse troop to march in was just moments away.
A breeze caught Rosamund’s attention, perfuming the air around her with the richness of caramel, mixed with the salty scent of popcorn and sweet apples from a wagonette nearby. It was a welcome contrast to the usual smell of animals and churned- up earth in their field lot. All the familiar sounds and smells, the excitement that hung on the air before a performance . . . they reminded her how the three- ring canvas castle had become her home.
How can readers find you on the Internet? You can connect with me at: Facebook: Kristy Cambron | Twitter: @KCambronAuthor  | Instagram: kristycambron  Pinterest: KCambronAuthor | Web:  KristyCambron.com| TheGROVEstory.com
Thank you, Kristy, for sharing this book with us. I’m eager for my copy to arrive.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Ringmaster's Wife[image error] - Kindle
The Ringmaster's Wife - Amazon, audible

Comment question: Have you ever been to the circus? If so, what did you like the most?

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

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

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

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

THE SOUND OF SILENCE - George Dalton - One Free Book

Welcome, George. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.  Probably very little. My characters may reflect the man I would like to be more than the man I am.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Rode a bull, flew an old airplane with no working instruments from Mobile, Alabama, to Dallas, Texas. My wife and I held a Christmas brunch at our house and 87 senior citizens showed.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?That is a fun story it actually started about forty years ago. I decided I would like to write short stories for magazines. Back then we had no computes. I wrote a fabulous story and gave it to my darling little wife to type up for me. She mailed it in with a stamped self-addressed envelope so I could get the check. I got back my envelope a few weeks later but no check. They sent back my story with a rejection letter. I wrote the story as we speak in Texas. I left the “r’s” off the words. Workin instead of working etc.
When I read what they sent back she had corrected all my spelling. So you see my career would have started 40 years sooner except or the R that got put back in. That has been joke between her and I ever since.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love Terri Blackstone, Louis laMour, Mary Higgins Clark, anything that is clean and fast paced.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?My family keeps me grounded, I end every day by praying for each member by name and ask God’s blessing on them, then I expand my request to include any person or entity that  comes to mind. I also pray for each book I am working on.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I look for names that were popular in the time period I am writing about.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Being a dad, a grandfather, and now a great grandfather, and being married to the same wife for sixty years.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?  A horse or maybe a mule
What is your favorite food?Mexican
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Time management, I am still working on it.
Tell us about the featured book.I am a pilot. I have flow small airplanes for almost sixty years. This book is about a small town airport and the people who interact there. It also shows how greed can cause devastating results in people’s lives.
A young engineer discovers that the company he works for is producing engines that are unsafe. He approaches the C.E.O to get a recall started. He discovers corruption in high places
How can readers find you on the Internet?I have about 2000 friends on Facebook. My books are all available on Amazon, I am on twitter, and I have a web page that is under construction hopefully finished soon.

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

AT LIBERTY TO LOVE - Caryl McAdoo - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Caryl and I have been good friends for several years now. We met at ACFW national conference and really connected because we’re both Texans and we both write historical novels. I will be a speaker at a mini-conference she’s directing in August in Southlake, Texas. It’s the second conference I’ve taught at that she was the director. And I love her books.
Bio: Caryl McAdoo is all about loving God! She currently writes four series: the historical Christian “Texas Romance”; a contemporary “Red River Romance”; The Generations, her Biblical fiction, and the newest Days of Dread Trilogy for mid-grade readers. Known as the Singing Pray-er, she loves praising with new songs the Lord gives her and prays her story gives God glory! In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-plus years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Besides glorifying Him, she hopes each title will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star Statewith two grandsons.
Welcome back, Caryl. How did you come up with the idea for this story?This is a fun story as it was the title that spoke to me while finishing up book six in the series JUST KIN. In a very poignant conversation between Charley and the Texas Ranger Wallace Rusk, the elder tries to explain why he will absolutely not saddle his beloved Rebecca with a cripple who can never give her children.      He knows that she married him because he wore her down. She’d been the love of his life even before he ever met her in person (in book two HEARTS STOLEN), but though she surely loved him, he always knew he was not the love of her life. Now, he told Charley, “She will be at liberty to love.”     This phrase so spoke to my spirit, that I knew Rebecca’s book…her romance…had to be written, and its title would be AT LIBERTY TO LOVE. So basically, I wrote the book for its title! JFrom there, knowing Rebecca so well—since she was a nine-year-old in book one VOW UNBROKEN—I started with what she would do upon becoming a widow, and started chapter one.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?What a great question! Contemporary, huh? Well, let me see…of course every book I’ve read that’s coming to my brain are historicals! Well, there’s Holly Michael, a Missouriauthor who I love with my heart. She wrote CROOKED LINES that I so enjoyed and has its sequel coming out this summer, TRUE PATHS. She’s the wife of a dear Anglican bishop and loves the Lord!     I’d invite DiAne Gates, a fellow Texan who wrote ROPED, a great contemporary book for young adults…I love reading books for the younger set. DiAne is a lovely and wise lady and I enjoy her company as I know all would.      This would be so easy if we were talking historical Christian authors!     So…oh, I know! Tanara McCauley! Her first book is written and sure to come out soon! She is the dearest woman and smart as a whip. A delight to visit and worship with, and I’d know if she came to my party, everyone would enjoy her. She’s that kind of lady.     And speaking of enjoying someone’s company, Amy Lillard! She’s a good friend, and I get a big dose of laughter every chance I get to spend time with her. Amy writes Amish and contemporary novels that make you giggle all the way through. So that’s four.      I know I have so many author friends who write contemporary, yet my mind is drawing such a blank. Plus I know so many more than six, so I’m concerned of hurting someone’s feelings! I want to invite them all. That’s what I’ll do…if it’s alright with you. I’ll just issue an open invitation and make room for everyone!
Ask and ye shall receive. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Whew! Thank you! But will this really be easier or harder?      I’d invite you right off, Lena Dooley because I admire your McKenna’s Daughters series and would love to get to spend an evening socializing and picking your brain! And my good Virginian friend, Carrie Fancett Pagels would get an invitation. She is a wonderful lady who loves the Lord, too. I enjoyed her Civil War books, and the lumberjack series, too.      Sandy Mauck would certainly get an invitation. She’s written her debut novel, MORE THAN SHE DREAMT and will be following it with a sequel this fall I believe. We share a likemindedness in our love of God and praising and worshiping Him. It would be my delight to finally meet Sandy in person and hug her neck and sing with her!     Mimi Milan, who wrote REBEL IN JERICHO, I met at my first ACFW Conference—met Carrie and you there, too, come to think of it. Anyway, Mimi, a.k.a. Michele Claudio and I were roommates there, and I haven’t got to see her since. She has a sequel coming out soon, and a portion of her books goes to stop human trafficking.
I’d like to meet Cathy Gohlke after recently finishing her novel SECRETS SHE KEPT. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I’d invite her to come. I’d love discussing how she wove Corrie Ten Boom into the story...what a dear surprise that was for me. Lastly, I’d invite Bodie Thoene because she’s one of my all-time favorite authors of those I’ve read and never met, and it’d be awesome to meet and visit with her, let her take me back to Jerusalem with her stories. I know I could learn a thing or four.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?I think that would be the juggling required of an Indie author—or hybrid—to market as well as write. Some authors who come out of the gate selling a million books may not have to market, but the majority of us do. I truly thought I had arrived when I sold VOW UNBROKEN to Simon and Schuster, but I still had to do almost all the marketing.      So the biggest problem is that I’m not twins! With the wee bit of success that has come my way, I find it hard making enough time for keeping up with dear readers who mean so much to me…they are the life of my career. I’d hate to think any one of them felt I’d neglected them in any manner.     Then there must be time to market. An author is always marketing to acquire new readers. Writing then is forced to vie with my life for its fair share or when will the new book come out? And all the readers want the next book, right? J
Tell us about the featured book.AT LIBERTY TO LOVE is a book of surprise and obedience. It’s indicative of how we so often face many of the same things our parents did, a scriptural principle that it happens in real life. Rebecca never dreamed she’d #1 be a widow like her mother, #2 meet another man who was the one…that special one made for her by God to be her soul mate or that, #3 be in the same position as her mother when it came to unequally yoking herself.      When stubbornness made her a widow, Rebecca Baylor Buckmeyer Rusk didn’t know what to do with her life, but the Holy Ghost placed the seed of desire in her heart…the natural longing to be a mother…and an idea of how she might save a parentless child while adding a rich full love to hers again. And what a boon that her sisters in San Francisco happened to have the Mercy House Orphanage!     The plan worked itself out, and against her daddy’s advice and her brothers’ counsel, she decided to make the long journey alone. She’d go to Californiaand adopt herself a baby—or maybe even two. Have a nice visit with her sisters then return to Texasto share her life with her children.     Never did she ever consider another man would be any part of that plan.     But as often happens, God’s plans turn out higher than our own. And who wants to miss Him? I mean really, who among us wants to miss anything He has in store?     Marcus Ford was as shocked as she was, too! He’d heard aplenty about the beautiful wife of his bunk partner in the War, serving under General Buckmeyer. And more of her personality and intelligence from the Major Levi Baylor, a good friend and the woman’s brother.      But he never ever either.     Yet there they were, and she wasn’t anything like any woman he’d ever known. Only he blames God and is uninterested in any relationship with a big man in the sky who let his wife and baby girl die in the yellow fever plague of New Orleans. He gives Him no credit for being on the same stage as Rebecca, but at the port, she goes south then west, and his plans to work as a professor will take him east.     No breaks for the widower or the widow.     I enjoyed this being a “mature” romance as both my heroine and hero are in their forties. Haven’t had one of those since book three HOPE REBORN.   Please give us the first page of the book.Clarksville, Texas, October 2, 1865“Are you sure about this?”
Rebecca nodded. “Yes, Daddy. I’ve considered every angle and studied long and hard on it. I’m certain, and my mind is made up.”
He closed his eyes as though he couldn’t stand watching her leave. “I hate it.”
A chuckle threatened, but he was being so pathetic. She swallowed the giggle. “I know, but don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it.”
His lids lifted, then he leaned in a bit and lowered his voice. “You’ve got both Derringers?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you’re wearing the petticoat Laura made you?”
Mother May punched his arm. “Henry, leave her be. She’s a grown woman.”
“Mercy, baby. I hate this.”
“You’ve already said that, Daddy.”
Movement caught her eye. The driver hustled from the stage’s boot up to the front then climbed aboard next to the guard. “Looks like he’s ready to go, and that I’m his only hold-up.”
“Don’t mind him.”
She reached up and kissed his cheek then hugged Mother May. “I love you both.”
More hugs and kisses followed. One each for her to pass along to all the west coast clan. She thought they might never stop, but soon found herself waving from her window until the dust cloud blocked her view.
Hard even for her to believe it, but there she was. Really doing it. A big part of her heart remained on the boardwalk in front of the Donoho with her parents.
Except they weren’t, not really. Neither one of them.
Another wonderful start to one of your books, Caryl. How can readers find you on the Internet?All Books: http://tinyurl.com/CarylsAmazonPage At Libertyto Love: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EQC60E2Author Pages: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caryl-mcadoo                        http://www.amazon.com/Caryl-McAdoo/e/B00E963CFG                        http://tinyurl.com/S-SCarylsPageWebsite: http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com (All First Chapters are offered here)Newsletter: http://carylmcadoo.com/sign-up-to-the-caryler/ (Get all the latest news FREE books and sales!)Reviewer?: http://carylmcadoo.com/christian-evaluaters/(Join Caryl’s Street Team!)Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.authorYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_1hQx6UZbWi3OYwmKKxh6Q(hear Caryl sing new songs the Lord gave her! J) Blog: http://www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.comGoodReads: http://tinyurl.com/GoodReadsCarylGoogle+: http://tinyurl.com/CarylsGooglePlusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryl-mcadoo-00562323Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdooPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/CarylMcAdooPuzzle: http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=2dc0755a2787 

Thank you, Caryl, for visiting us again today and sharing your new book with us. I'm eagerly awaiting my copy.
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.
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A SAINT IN THE ETERNAL CITY - Rosanne Croft - One Free Book

Welcome back, Rosanne. Why do you write the kind of books you do?If I didn’t write, I’d burst from lack of creativity and living a real life. Jesus freed me from legalistic religion, and I want others to know they can be free, too.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?It really would have to be my wedding day. We had a fast romance, and between being scared and happy and grateful and disheveled all at once, I’d say that day was the happiest of my life. Falling in love is life-changing.
James and I met each other 3 months and 3 days before we married, and we will celebrate 52 years in November. How has being published changed your life?It boosted my confidence tremendously. I owe a great debt to my first publisher because I think I’d have given up if I’d had to wait much longer.
It took 8 years to get my first book published, and it was 10 years between book 1 and book 2, but look what’s happened since. What are you reading right now?I read a variety. I started “25 Books Every Christian Should Read,” and though I’ve read a few of them, these are scholarly books, so I’m grateful for the “Cliff’s Notes” contained in the book. Also, I have an autobiography by Vladimir Putin called First Person; An Astonishingly Frank Self-Portrait on my nightstand. I love Russian history and I’m curious about Putin. I just picked up a children’s copy of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight retold by Michael Morpurgo at the library. Because children’s versions are more attractive that adult ones, I love them. They’re more understandable, too.
What is your current work in progress?It excites me to say that I’m finishing the Believe in Love Series with Book 3, For Time and Eternity. I also resurrected an old manuscript of a children’s fantasy (now called speculative fiction) and I’m having fun re-writing it. The working title is Here There Be Dragons.
What would be your dream vacation?I’d love to go back to Italy, which happens to be where A Saint in the Eternal City takes place. I would drive around the island of Sicily where I spent time when I was young. If I could combine that with a visit to J. R. R. Tolkien’s and C. S. Lewis’ haunts in Oxford, England, it would be my dream vacation.
How do you choose your settings for each book?I’m familiar with my settings, Utahand Italy. I lived in both for a time. I wanted to juxtapose the two cultures, one in the New World, the other far more ancient. Contrasting the cultures helped my book.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I’d spend the evening with Peter Jackson, talking about how he was able to write a screenplay like The Lord of the Rings so well; how he chose elements to include in the plot and how he achieved such good acting from his actors.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?Film watching, gardening, cooking, and sewing. If I don’t sew for a few months, I’m itching to make something. I like to do quilted landscapes. I’m a homebody, very domestic, much like a hobbit.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Disciplining my time. I used to think I needed long blocks of time to write, and that’s still what I prefer. But now I take what segments of time I can, between grandchildren, cooking, and running the household. Prayer helps calm my heart to write, and the drive to get it done returns. Also, once I start, hours go by ... so starting is key.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Learn to self-edit; it helps your writing in a way that nothing else can. Be teachable; learn from others and be humble about it. Believe in yourself, and in the Lord who gave you the gift. Never give up.
Tell us about the featured book. A Saint in the Eternal City continues the love story in A Gentile in Deseret; a romance between a born-again Christ follower and a Latter-day Saint. The conflict is obvious—their worldviews are different, their cultures are at odds. But they love each other and pursue the relationship even though they have so much against them. God intervenes and their story becomes one of a spiritual journey for truth.
Please give us the first page of the book.Chapter OneMissing Utah
Alex Campanaro sank deep into his garden chair, brooding over a cup of dark roast coffee. Outside Rome, his family’s villa reflected the sienna color of the sky this August morning, but the beauty of the ancient house and courtyard had little effect on his mood. Turmoil swept through him like splashing water in the nearby fountain, scattering chaotic drops in every direction. A sudden breeze ruffled the violet flowers climbing the pergola, as well as his wild curly hair. Pumping with energy, he jumped up to pace the cobblestones.
His heart was back in Utahwith the girl he loved. How he missed his blue-eyed blonde, Jennalee Young. Their goodbyes at high school graduation resounded in his mind whenever he glanced at her senior picture on his new cellphone. The loss of her pervaded his mind.
She’d told him, “I guess we set ourselves up for hurt like this when we started going out. It’s all so impossible.” I’ll say impossible. Jennalee was right; dating a Mormon girl when he was a sold-out born-again Christian meant obstacles, lots of them. After she’d said it, he’d made a vain effort to quiet her crying.
“Don’t look at it like that. One year, remember? We’ll be back together in a year. I’ll email you, I promise.”  A promise he couldn’t keep since all their plans to communicate were a tangled mess. The pact to meet in a year fractured. Would he ever see her again? Had she totally forgotten what they’d studied in the Bible and gone back to her LDS roots? Maybe she didn’t want him to find her.
On impulse before leaving for Italy, he’d sold his expensive smart phone to buy a plane ticket, unaware he couldn’t relay his new number to her, since her number had also changed. Her parents succeeded in taking over her Facebook account, which she hadn’t seen in three months as far as he could tell. All emails had gone unanswered. The Young family circled the wagons around their daughter, blocking him out.
He had to find her, talk to her, but how could he leave his demanding new job in Italyto go back to Utah? Just then his younger brother Gabe popped outside in his bathrobe, interrupting his worries.
“Hey bro, have you seen my camera?” he asked, squinting in the rich light. “I have to pack it for the trip back to Utah tomorrow.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?
I’m on Facebook, Twitter, and on my website, RosanneCroft.com, which I’m currently building. Recently, I joined LinkedIn. Thanks, Lena, for the opportunity to share with your readers.
I enjoyed the opportunity to feature your new book. I know my readers are interested in reading it.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.A Saint in the Eternal City (Believe in Love) (Volume 2)[image error] - paperback
A Saint in the Eternal City (Believe in Love Book 2) - 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]