Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 170
November 26, 2015
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
There are a lot of things I'm thankful for. Every member of my family being together for Thanksiving for the first time in several years. Now that our army grandson is out of the army, we'll all be together.
Our family is close, and I'm thankful.
My husband has loved me for over 51 years, and I'm thankful.
I've had several health issues for the last 14 months, and God was with me through every step of the way, and I thankful.
Here's a song that says what I feel about the Lord:
Our family is close, and I'm thankful.
My husband has loved me for over 51 years, and I'm thankful.
I've had several health issues for the last 14 months, and God was with me through every step of the way, and I thankful.
Here's a song that says what I feel about the Lord:
November 25, 2015
AFTER THE RAIN - Rita Gerlach - One Free Ebook
Welcome back, Rita. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?An excellent question. I strive to weave spiritual themes into the story by fleshing out the characters. I do not preach at the reader. Readers want don’t want a sermon, they want to journey with characters they can relate to. In real life, we all deal with spiritual issues whether we are a believer or not. Some of the spiritual themes in my newest release,
After the Rain
, are the care of widows and orphans, unplanned pregnancy, trusting in God for guidance, discernment, and living a godly life, just to name a few. What other books of yours are coming out soon?October has been a busy month. My Daughters of the Potomac series came out in Audible alongside After the Rain . I’ll have other books coming out in the next year. I’m working on writing another Edwardian era novel, and my agent and I are discussing the publication of a novel that is finished.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I wouldn’t mind having dinner with Dr. Dennis Slamin. He’s an oncologist and chief of the division of Hematology-Oncology at UCLA, known for his work in classifying the oncogene that is found in HER2 breast cancer, and the treatment of Herceptin. I received Herceptin IVs for a year during breast cancer treatment. It has saved so many women’s lives, including mine. He fought the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA to get the drug approved. So many of us BC survivors are very thankful. There is a movie called Proof of Life about him, and as I watched it, I could see how the Lord had his Hand in this.
You know my oldest daughter battled breast cancer this year, because you prayed for her and reached out to her. I so appreciated that. God had laid you on my heart through your battle. For a while there, I was praying for four different author friends who were also in the battle. I’m so thankful you and my daughter are on the other side of the battle. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?If it were another writer, undoubtedly I’d want to meet Mark Twain. If anyone has ever read his work, he’d be in the top ten of people to meet. Not only was he a brilliant writer, he was witty, and a very wise man. I can imagine sitting on his porch on a summer evening talking while he smokes a cigar. I’d do a lot more listening than speaking, but I’d have many questions about writing.
It would be fun to be there with the two of you. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?I’d encourage them by saying not to allow rejections to hold you back from doing what you love and fulfilling your calling as a Christian writer. All writers get rejections, and most of the time it has to do with the market. Publishing is a business, and publishers are in it to make money. That’s the bottom line. If you are called to write, no one can take that away from you. Only you can decide what to do with it. And we have the option of self-publishing with Amazon’s KDP program, which gives you all the rights, full control, and higher royalties. There is always hope, so let God lead you. Write and don’t fold.
Tell us about the featured book.I loved writing
After the Rain
. It was a leap forward in time for me. My other books were Colonial era novels, so this one was exciting to delve into, especially with all the new research I had to do. Here’s the synopsis. It's 1908, a year in the Edwardian Age, the year J.M. Barrie’s play What Every Woman Knows, premiered in Atlantic City and the first Model T rolled off the assembly line in Detroit. It is a year when the world faced one of its worst disasters in history, when the New Year would heal the wounds of loss.
Louisa Borden lives a privileged life in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a new and thriving community on the outskirts of Washington, DC, for the well-to-do. Against the wishes of her domineering grandmother, she retreats from the prospects of a loveless marriage and instead searches for what she hopes is her calling in life.
When her horse is spooked along Rock Creek, she is thrown from the saddle—an embarrassing situation for any affluent young lady. Soaking wet, bruised and humiliated, she is carried up the muddy bank to safety by Jackson O’Neil, a stranger to the city, who changes the course of everything, including the lives of all those around her.
Please give us the first page of the book.Autumn 1908 VirginiaJackson O’Neil scanned the ridgeline. The clouds were low and misty, shades of blue and gray ash that stretched along the mountains as far as his eyes could see. Autumn had come early, and the dogwoods were turning crimson—the maples gold, the oaks deep brown.
A whisper of a breeze stirred the changing leaves and ruffled his dark hair. His quarter horse grazed in the field beyond the farmhouse his father had built so many years ago, before he was born, before his younger sister took her first breath.
He drew in the scent of apples fallen from the trees, listened to the hum of yellow jackets thirsty for the sweet overripe nectar of the rotting pulp. He heaped hay over the fence and whistled to his horse. Ransom raised his head and trotted over.
Jacksonrubbed the velvety nose offered him and reached inside his pocket for a sugar cube. “Come spring, I’ll find you a mare, Ransom. It gets lonely, doesn’t it?”
He understood loneliness, and wished for it at times so to forget some of the things he had seen in his life. He rubbed his horse’s ear and recalled the seasons when his father’s fields were dotted with mares and their foals, a stallion in the next meadow over. Would he ever bring those prosperous days back to Ballyshannon? Or had those years of plenty ended?
He’d been home more than a year now, since his father turned the land over to him, land that had been in his family for three generations, named for the place where his great grandfather had been born in Ireland. Jackson smiled—grateful to be home, regretful he had ever left.
An engine rumbled in the distance. It drew closer and a dust cloud flew up into the air. Choking exhaust mixed with rusty sand and dirt, held no comparison to the colossal billows of soot and concrete dust he remembered. He threw back the images and focused on Bill Shanks barreling toward him on the motorbike used for delivering the mail. Whipping around a bend, Shanks skidded to a halt, frightening Ransom away from the fence.
“I’ve a letter for you.” Shanks lifted his goggles and drew a brown envelope out of his leather satchel. “It’s from your pa.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is https://ritagerlach.wordpress.com/They can find my author’s page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/author.ritagerlach
My regular Facebook profile is at https://www.facebook.com/rita.gerlach.3
Thank you, Rita, for sharing this new book with my readers. I know they will be eager to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
After the Rain - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
November 24, 2015
A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS - Dorothy Love - One Free Book
BIO: A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texashill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. When she isn’t busy writing or researching her next book, Love enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband Ron and their rambunctious golden retriever. The Loves make their home in the Texas hill country.
Welcome back, Dorothy. Tell us about your salvation experience.I grew up in the Presbyterian Church and from a very early age was taught that as believers we belong to God. I don’t have a specific salvation story to tell. I can’t remember when faith was not a part of my life.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?Only four? There are so many writers I admire. For this question I’m going to limit my answer to writers I have not yet met and not the ones who encourage and inspire me every day with their talent and friendship.
As a southern author born and bred and as one who writes almost exclusively about the South, I’d have to invite Pat Conroy because he loves the South Carolinalowcountry as much as I do and writes about it with such grace. Lee Smith for her realistic portrayals of Southern families in all their messiness, Kaye Gibbons because her book Ellen Fosteris a masterpiece and I’d love to pick the brain of such a genius, and Cassandra King who is a very good writer in her own right and happens to be married to Pat Conroy. I figure Sandra might persuade Pat to accept my invitation.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?I locked myself out of my house twice in one day. Luckily a sympathetic neighbor came to the rescue the first time. When I did it the second time, it was late in the afternoon and I just waited for my husband to get home and let me in.
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?Go for it. Enjoy the process. But be prepared. It’s harder than it looks.
So … so true. Tell us about the featured book.
A Respectable Actress
is inspired by the life of Frances Anne (Fanny) Kenble, a very popular British actress who toured America in the 1800’s when actresses were considered undesirables. Fanny married Pierce Butler and went with him to his St Simons Island plantation where much of my novel is set. My fictional lead character, India Hartley, comes to Savannah as a visiting actress on a tour of theaters across the south. On the second night of her Savannah engagement, her leading man, a popular local actor is shot dead onstage in front of a packed house. India is accused of the crime. Celia McKay, a character from my novel The Bracelet hires her friend Philip Sinclair, the best lawyer in town to defend India. To protect her from pre-trial gossip, he takes her to Indigo Point, his rundown plantation on St Simons where they work on her defense, and where India makes startling discoveries about Philip’s past as she looks for clues to the disappearance of a slave girl and seeks to unravel the mysteries of a woman in a portrait.
Romantic Timesnamed the book a Top Pick and commented on its “gothic vibe.” It’s a bit of a departure from my earlier books but I hope readers will enjoy it.
I can hardly wait to read my copy. Please give us the first page of the book.Savannah, December 20, 1870Gunfire exploded to the right of the stage, a burst of sound that temporarily deafened her. When the ringing in her ears subsided she was aware of screams, of shouts for a policeman and a doctor, of the ensuing chaos as officers arrived and began ushering patrons out of the packed theater. Two burly officers leapt onto the stage, seized her by both arms, and manhandled her into a police wagon parked in the alley, the officers with their weapons at the ready, the horses stamping impatiently in the cold. Now it was midnight and the city of Savannah slumbered beneath a veil of winter moonlight, the deep silence broken only by a rush of wind that rattled the palmettos and the Pride of India trees lining the deserted streets. Inside the Chatham County Jail the walls rang with the shouts of drunken sailors and their painted escorts, the clang of metal bars and snatches of lewd songs sung off key. Jaded-looking policemen armed with nightsticks moved along the dimly lit corridors checking the locks and admonishing the prisoners to quiet down.
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website : www.DorothyLoveBooks.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/dorothylovebooks, Twitter at WriterDorothy
Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing this new book with us. Your snippet intrigues me. I usually only read Christmas books in November and December, but I probably will slip your book in very soon. I can hardly wait to read it. I'm sure my readers feel the same way.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
- Amazon
A Respectable Actress - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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, Dorothy. Tell us about your salvation experience.I grew up in the Presbyterian Church and from a very early age was taught that as believers we belong to God. I don’t have a specific salvation story to tell. I can’t remember when faith was not a part of my life. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?Only four? There are so many writers I admire. For this question I’m going to limit my answer to writers I have not yet met and not the ones who encourage and inspire me every day with their talent and friendship.
As a southern author born and bred and as one who writes almost exclusively about the South, I’d have to invite Pat Conroy because he loves the South Carolinalowcountry as much as I do and writes about it with such grace. Lee Smith for her realistic portrayals of Southern families in all their messiness, Kaye Gibbons because her book Ellen Fosteris a masterpiece and I’d love to pick the brain of such a genius, and Cassandra King who is a very good writer in her own right and happens to be married to Pat Conroy. I figure Sandra might persuade Pat to accept my invitation.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?I locked myself out of my house twice in one day. Luckily a sympathetic neighbor came to the rescue the first time. When I did it the second time, it was late in the afternoon and I just waited for my husband to get home and let me in.
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?Go for it. Enjoy the process. But be prepared. It’s harder than it looks.
So … so true. Tell us about the featured book.
A Respectable Actress
is inspired by the life of Frances Anne (Fanny) Kenble, a very popular British actress who toured America in the 1800’s when actresses were considered undesirables. Fanny married Pierce Butler and went with him to his St Simons Island plantation where much of my novel is set. My fictional lead character, India Hartley, comes to Savannah as a visiting actress on a tour of theaters across the south. On the second night of her Savannah engagement, her leading man, a popular local actor is shot dead onstage in front of a packed house. India is accused of the crime. Celia McKay, a character from my novel The Bracelet hires her friend Philip Sinclair, the best lawyer in town to defend India. To protect her from pre-trial gossip, he takes her to Indigo Point, his rundown plantation on St Simons where they work on her defense, and where India makes startling discoveries about Philip’s past as she looks for clues to the disappearance of a slave girl and seeks to unravel the mysteries of a woman in a portrait. Romantic Timesnamed the book a Top Pick and commented on its “gothic vibe.” It’s a bit of a departure from my earlier books but I hope readers will enjoy it.
I can hardly wait to read my copy. Please give us the first page of the book.Savannah, December 20, 1870Gunfire exploded to the right of the stage, a burst of sound that temporarily deafened her. When the ringing in her ears subsided she was aware of screams, of shouts for a policeman and a doctor, of the ensuing chaos as officers arrived and began ushering patrons out of the packed theater. Two burly officers leapt onto the stage, seized her by both arms, and manhandled her into a police wagon parked in the alley, the officers with their weapons at the ready, the horses stamping impatiently in the cold. Now it was midnight and the city of Savannah slumbered beneath a veil of winter moonlight, the deep silence broken only by a rush of wind that rattled the palmettos and the Pride of India trees lining the deserted streets. Inside the Chatham County Jail the walls rang with the shouts of drunken sailors and their painted escorts, the clang of metal bars and snatches of lewd songs sung off key. Jaded-looking policemen armed with nightsticks moved along the dimly lit corridors checking the locks and admonishing the prisoners to quiet down.
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website : www.DorothyLoveBooks.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/dorothylovebooks, Twitter at WriterDorothy
Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing this new book with us. Your snippet intrigues me. I usually only read Christmas books in November and December, but I probably will slip your book in very soon. I can hardly wait to read it. I'm sure my readers feel the same way.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
- Amazon
A Respectable Actress - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
November 23, 2015
AN ENDLESS CHRISTMAS - Cynthia Ruchti - One Free Book
BIO: Speaker and award-winning author, Cynthia Ruchti draws from 33 years experience writing and producing a daily radio broadcast to tell stories hemmed in Hope through her novels, novellas, devotions, and nonfiction. She serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Cynthia and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin.
Dear Readers, I’ve known and loved Cynthia Ruchti for a long time. And her books are always wonderful reads. Since the beginning of October, I’ve been reading mostly Christmas books. There are a large number of new Christian Christmas releases. An Endless Christmas stands out as one of the best. A unique storyline and characters who marched into my heart and took up residence there kept me turning pages as fast as I could. A heartwarming story that lingers, this book is sure to become a traditional favorite that will be read year after year. You won’t want to miss this one.
Tell us about your salvation experience.A love for God, the Bible, and Jesus had been planted in my heart almost since birth, or at least since I could recognize the word God and the look of reverence on my parents’ faces. Respecting the Word of God and appreciating Jesus and His love almost came naturally, growing up in that sweet atmosphere. But when I was five years old, I was confronted with my need for doing more than just thinking about Jesus. During swimming lessons that summer, the instructor’s insistence on the buddy system “in case someone got in trouble in the water” brought me face-to-face with the idea that even a child could die. I wanted the assurance that if something happened to me, then or ever, I would have a home in heaven with the God I loved. I can almost hear the screen door slamming behind me all those years ago when I rushed home after swim class, kneeled by the ratty tweed couch, and asked my parents to help me commit my life to Jesus as my Savior. No turning back. No turning back.
I was also reared in that kind of home, and I asked Jesus into my heart when I was seven years old.You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?My daughter, Amy, who has a writer’s heart and is one day going to write more than the wittiest Facebook posts ever.
My granddaughter, Grace, who also has an exceptional gift.
My other granddaughter, Hannah, because her flair for the dramatic may mean she too is on a path toward writing emotion-packed stories (and because she’d never forgive me if she weren’t invited).
You, because you’d make them all feel at home. J
That sounds like a fun retreat. I’d love interacting with all of you. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.Yes, I speak frequently for women’s groups and retreats. I love the relationships that form at these events and the ability to in that way, too, tell stories hemmed in hope. I have the outrageous privilege of serving as one of the speakers on a Women’s Retreat CRUISE in April, from Tampa to Key West to Cozumel and back. What a thrill to have been asked to participate in that event.
Wow! That sounds like fun. I love cruises. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?One of the most embarrassing was during a duet my girlfriend and I sang in church when we were young teens. It was a sober song, but we got the giggles and couldn’t get rid of them. My friend’s mother was our pianist and shot us a searing “evil eye.” But that just made it all the funnier. We never did pull ourselves together. But we were asked again and somehow managed to overcome the temptation to allow it to happen again.
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?I would tell people—and often have—to get to the best writers’ conference they can afford. It’s such a good first step, because they will either feel like they’ve finally found what they’ve been looking for, or the realities of what it takes to become a writer will convince them there are other ways to lose sleep.
Tell us about the featured book.
An Endless Christmas
is the story of Christmas week with the Binder family. When grandson Micah Binder proposes to his girlfriend and she says “No,” the week seems off to a rocky start. But the Binder family’s response becomes part of Katie Vale’s journey to the heart of Christmas.
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.“What did she say?”
A carol played in the background. Carols perpetually played in the background at the Binder’s cottage at Christmas, Katie Vale had quickly learned. The music almost covered the whispered “What did she say?” that made the rounds of the room built for two that now held twenty. “She said no.” Dodie Binder—matriarch and tone-setter—leaned closer to her husband Wilson whose smile collapsed, stroke-like, when she repeated the answer in his good ear. “She said no?” He wasn’t the only one asking for clarification. Katie fingered the heirloom ring. In her hand, not on it. A square-cut diamond surrounded by tiny sapphires. A narrow, glitter-edged ribbon looped through its circle. Moments earlier it had hung on the Binder’s tinseled Christmas tree. “I said…”—she apologized to Micah Binder with her eyes and with all she couldn’t express—“no. I can’t accept this. I can’t—”
How can readers find you on the Internet?http://www.cynthiaruchti.com, http://www.hemmedinhope.com, http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage, http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti, http://www.pinterest.com/cynthiaruchti
Thank you, Lena. It’s always a joy to stop by for a chat!
And, Cynthia, it's a joy to host you. With the growth of the readership of the blog, we always have new readers who haven't read any of your work. I'm happy to introduce them to other Christian authors.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
An Endless Christmas: A Novella - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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
Dear Readers, I’ve known and loved Cynthia Ruchti for a long time. And her books are always wonderful reads. Since the beginning of October, I’ve been reading mostly Christmas books. There are a large number of new Christian Christmas releases. An Endless Christmas stands out as one of the best. A unique storyline and characters who marched into my heart and took up residence there kept me turning pages as fast as I could. A heartwarming story that lingers, this book is sure to become a traditional favorite that will be read year after year. You won’t want to miss this one.
Tell us about your salvation experience.A love for God, the Bible, and Jesus had been planted in my heart almost since birth, or at least since I could recognize the word God and the look of reverence on my parents’ faces. Respecting the Word of God and appreciating Jesus and His love almost came naturally, growing up in that sweet atmosphere. But when I was five years old, I was confronted with my need for doing more than just thinking about Jesus. During swimming lessons that summer, the instructor’s insistence on the buddy system “in case someone got in trouble in the water” brought me face-to-face with the idea that even a child could die. I wanted the assurance that if something happened to me, then or ever, I would have a home in heaven with the God I loved. I can almost hear the screen door slamming behind me all those years ago when I rushed home after swim class, kneeled by the ratty tweed couch, and asked my parents to help me commit my life to Jesus as my Savior. No turning back. No turning back.I was also reared in that kind of home, and I asked Jesus into my heart when I was seven years old.You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?My daughter, Amy, who has a writer’s heart and is one day going to write more than the wittiest Facebook posts ever.
My granddaughter, Grace, who also has an exceptional gift.
My other granddaughter, Hannah, because her flair for the dramatic may mean she too is on a path toward writing emotion-packed stories (and because she’d never forgive me if she weren’t invited).
You, because you’d make them all feel at home. J
That sounds like a fun retreat. I’d love interacting with all of you. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.Yes, I speak frequently for women’s groups and retreats. I love the relationships that form at these events and the ability to in that way, too, tell stories hemmed in hope. I have the outrageous privilege of serving as one of the speakers on a Women’s Retreat CRUISE in April, from Tampa to Key West to Cozumel and back. What a thrill to have been asked to participate in that event.
Wow! That sounds like fun. I love cruises. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?One of the most embarrassing was during a duet my girlfriend and I sang in church when we were young teens. It was a sober song, but we got the giggles and couldn’t get rid of them. My friend’s mother was our pianist and shot us a searing “evil eye.” But that just made it all the funnier. We never did pull ourselves together. But we were asked again and somehow managed to overcome the temptation to allow it to happen again.
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?I would tell people—and often have—to get to the best writers’ conference they can afford. It’s such a good first step, because they will either feel like they’ve finally found what they’ve been looking for, or the realities of what it takes to become a writer will convince them there are other ways to lose sleep.
Tell us about the featured book.
An Endless Christmas
is the story of Christmas week with the Binder family. When grandson Micah Binder proposes to his girlfriend and she says “No,” the week seems off to a rocky start. But the Binder family’s response becomes part of Katie Vale’s journey to the heart of Christmas.Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.“What did she say?”
A carol played in the background. Carols perpetually played in the background at the Binder’s cottage at Christmas, Katie Vale had quickly learned. The music almost covered the whispered “What did she say?” that made the rounds of the room built for two that now held twenty. “She said no.” Dodie Binder—matriarch and tone-setter—leaned closer to her husband Wilson whose smile collapsed, stroke-like, when she repeated the answer in his good ear. “She said no?” He wasn’t the only one asking for clarification. Katie fingered the heirloom ring. In her hand, not on it. A square-cut diamond surrounded by tiny sapphires. A narrow, glitter-edged ribbon looped through its circle. Moments earlier it had hung on the Binder’s tinseled Christmas tree. “I said…”—she apologized to Micah Binder with her eyes and with all she couldn’t express—“no. I can’t accept this. I can’t—”
How can readers find you on the Internet?http://www.cynthiaruchti.com, http://www.hemmedinhope.com, http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage, http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti, http://www.pinterest.com/cynthiaruchti
Thank you, Lena. It’s always a joy to stop by for a chat!
And, Cynthia, it's a joy to host you. With the growth of the readership of the blog, we always have new readers who haven't read any of your work. I'm happy to introduce them to other Christian authors.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
An Endless Christmas: A Novella - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
November 22, 2015
WINNERS!!!!!
Annie (MD) is the winner of
Light and Shadows
by Carole Jefferson (Susan Page Davis).
Denise (CO) is the winner of 100 Simple Ways to Have More Friends by Cherie Burbach.
Apple Blossom (ND) is the winner of Dodging Destiny by Derinda Babcock.
Brenda (VA is the winner of Cup ' N Cake by Teresa Ives Lilly.
Ingrid (MO) is the winner of The Memory Weaver by Jane Kirrkpatrick.
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 of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.
Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.
Denise (CO) is the winner of 100 Simple Ways to Have More Friends by Cherie Burbach.
Apple Blossom (ND) is the winner of Dodging Destiny by Derinda Babcock.
Brenda (VA is the winner of Cup ' N Cake by Teresa Ives Lilly.
Ingrid (MO) is the winner of The Memory Weaver by Jane Kirrkpatrick.
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 of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.
Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.
November 20, 2015
THE FIVE TIMES I MET MYSELF - James L Rubart - One Free Book
Welcome back, James. Reading your novels always stretch me spiritually. Why did you become an author?Like many other writers, I didn’t chose writing, writing chose me. I remember when I was around twenty years old on a weekend getaway to the Washingtoncoast where I felt so restless inside I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I sat down and wrote out the true story of how a friend and I narrowly escaped being mauled by a mama bear, and as soon as I finished everything felt right with the world. I can’t not write if I want to feel peace.I so understand that feeling. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?Bear trainer. No, I’m kidding. Since I’m too old, and was never talented enough to play in the NFL, I’ll go with actor. I took acting classes in college and loved it. One of the items on my “someday” list is to try out for community theatre.
I don’t know if you knew that my degree is in Drama. And I’ve both written the script and directed in community theater. If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why? Let’s head for 1804, and give me a spot on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. What a rush to be journey across the US to the Pacific Coast, not knowing what kind of adventures you’d find along the way. No roads, no map, just the unknown quest in front of you.
I like that period, too. My only pirate book was set in 1804, but it took place in the south eastern part of the US. What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?Darci and I have always talked about visiting the New England states in the fall. The golden and red leaves, the covered bridges, the quaint small towns ... take us there!
How about a foreign country you hope to visit? I have never been to Greece, and we’d love to go someday. I can’t wait to scuba dive down there in the Greek Isles.
What lesson has the Lord taught you recently? That it’s all about grace. Everything. The grace we give ourselves, the grace we give each other, and our willingness to receive the unending, exploding fountain of grace our true Abba has given us through Jesus.
I love basking in His grace for me so I can extend it to others. Tell us about the featured book.
The Five Times I Met Myself
is probably the most personal book I’ve ever written. So much of me is in there. The question I ask in the book (and I asked about my own life) is, what would you do differently if you could make different choices? And what would that life look like? And is there hope for the future since we can’t make different choices? Here’s the back cover copy that will give you a good feel for the novel:What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?
Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.
So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.
Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.
Please give us the first page of the book.The dream had come again last night, just as it had sliced into Brock’s subconscious the night before that. A dream now dominating a significant portion of his waking moments. He had to talk to someone about it— someone with at least a smattering of psychology. Someone he could trust. His best choice was Morgan. His only choice, really.
Brock crossed Seattle’s 4th Avenueand looked up at the sky as it surrendered to dusk. Not long till the spring evenings would hold the light till after nine o’clock. He reached the other side of the street, strode up to the front door of Java Spot, yanked the door open, and stepped inside. Three-quarters full. The perfect number of people. Not so many that newcomers would turn away, but enough to tell people it was a place to be. Morgan had to feel good having that many customers at six twenty.
Brock glanced around at the 1940s motif. Posters of Rosie the Riveter and Ted Williams, an old Coca- Cola sign, and the famous shot of the sailor kissing a nurse in Times Squarehung on the walls. Definitely captured the hope of a post–World War II populace. Or maybe Java Spot simply appealed to those who wanted an alternative to the corporate giant that had more coffee shops sprinkled throughout Puget Sound than 7-Elevens.
On one side: a cluster of what looked like college students, a few couples, and some solo acts. The opposite side: three people hunched over their Mac laptops, and a large group of mid-forty somethings laughed and pointed at each other in rapid-fire succession. What Java Spot put in its drinks was obviously the right concoction, which made Brock smile again, because he’d developed those concoctions being consumed in all fifteen of Morgan’s locations as well as the rest of the country and overseas.
Brock took one more glance around the coffee shop, then strolled behind the counter and said, “Not a bad crowd for a Monday night.”
“You can’t come back here.”
“Deal with it.”
“Nope. Employees only. Get out. Now.”
Morgan Myers lugged his sizable girth toward Brock and grinned. When he reached Brock, Morgan grabbed him by both shoulders and shook him like he was a stuffed animal. Yeah, maybe Morgan had put on more than a few pounds since their college days, but even after thirty-one years, he hadn’t lost any of his linebacker strength.
“Amazing,” Morgan said. “You actually have the hint of a tan to go with your slightly graying mane. A vacation you call work—but at least you got some sun.”
“It was work.”
“Uh- huh. A week in Costa Rica sipping coffee and checking out beans. Brutal. How did you survive? What, you were probably slaving away three, maybe four hours a day before you hit the beach?”
“Four and a half.” Brock grinned at his friend.
“When did you get back?”
“Five days ago.” Brock lowered his voice. “That’s when they started.”
“When what started?”
“When you get a moment, I need to talk.”
“The doctor is in.” Morgan tapped his chest.
“A degree in psychology you never used makes you a doctor?”
“I use it every day.” Morgan waved his paw of a hand at the crowd. “Spill it. Problems with Karissa? Tyson? Work?”
“A dream. More like a nightmare.”
Morgan beckoned with his finger and led Brock to the back room and into the office. After they settled into the small space, Morgan beckoned again with both hands. “Let’s go. Tell me about dem cah-razy dreams.”
You’ve already pulled me in, as you always do with the first scene in your books. How can readers find you on the Internet?· Website and where folks can sign up for my newsletter: JamesLRubart.com · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart· Twitter: @jamesLrubart
Thanks for having me, Lena! Always great to be with you.
And I love having you. I’m eager to read this new book, and I know my readers are as well.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
The Five Times I Met Myself - Kindle (best price)
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
November 19, 2015
ISLAND CHRISTMAS - Kimberly Rose Johnson - One Free Book
Bio: Kimberly Rose Johnson writes sweet inspirational romance. She married her college sweetheart 25 years ago. Her hobbies include reading, watching chick flicks, playing the piano, long walks with her hubby and their yellow lab, drinking coffee, and eating way too much dark chocolate. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science and is a member of ACFW.
Island Christmas Mountain Brook InkOctober 30, 2015Should Rachel take a risk, or play it safe and possibly lose the man who could help fulfill her dreams?
Welcome back, Kimberly. How would you classify the genre of your novel?I have always thought of my writing as contemporary romance, but it actually sells better in the women’s Christian fiction genre. I’m not sure why, but it may have something to do with my covers. I’ve learned since expressing my vision for the covers to my publishers that romance readers like to see people on the covers and the first three books in this series do not have people. I’m hoping the next book will. J
Please tell us three random things we might not know about you. --As a kid I wanted to be a secret agent when I grew up. --When I first started writing I wrote romantic suspense, but never sold any of those manuscripts. I switched genres to contemporary romance and sold the first one I wrote.--I changed my major three times in college. I started as an elementary Ed major, switched to piano performance, and ultimately ended up with a degree in Behavior Science with a minor in music.
I changed my major three times in college, too. I started as an English major, then changes to speech, and finally went with Drama. Please tell us a bit more about the plot of your novel. Sous Chef Rachel Narrelli returns to WildflowerIsland looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son, but discovers that life has a lot of bumps in the road even on idyllic Wildflower Island. She is grateful when new friend Chris Campbell offers support as she faces obstacles with her new job and new life. She cares for Chris but must decide if she is willing to risk her heart to a man with an uncertain future.
A self-proclaimed workaholic, Chris Campbell comes to Wildflower Islandhoping to take life at a slower pace. When a new guest at the Wildflower B and B catches his eye, he is drawn to her. But how will a woman and her young son fit into his future—a future that’s uncertain at best? And most of all, how can he reconcile her lack of faith in God with his strong religious beliefs.
What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about her/him.Rachel is a courageous young widowed mother who has worked hard to get where she is, but life keeps knocking her down.
All the men in Chris’s family have died young from heart attacks. Chris believes this could be his fate as well and has worked hard to stay heart healthy, but when it’s not enough he moves to Wildflower Islandfor a slower pace. While there he meets Rachel and her young son and suddenly he’s not content to accept his family history.
If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?Chris would be played by Bradley Cooper and Rachel would be played by Alexis Bledel—I’m a huge Gilmore Girls fan and would be honored to have her play the part. J
What is something in your writing-industry experience that made you laugh or at least smile?Several years ago at one of the summer Oregon Christian Writer’s Conferences Liz Curtis Higgs was the keynote speaker. My goodness she is funny. I think I was crying at times from laughing so hard.
I love to listen to Liz Curtis Higgs. She was one of my first online writer friends, way back in the early days of the public Internet. What is the last novel you read that you would recommend? Why do you recommend it?I just finished reading My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould. At first I wasn’t sure I would like it because it has two stories within the storyline, one takes place in present day the other several hundred years ago. Then I realized how important one story was to the other and how you wouldn’t have the present day story without the historical one. It was exceptionally well written and a page-turner. It’s also part of a series so there is a continuing mystery thread.
I also really liked Keptby Sally Bradley. This book is unlike most books Christian books I’ve read. It’s one of those stories you need to read to understand what I’m saying, but I couldn’t put it down.
What are you working on now?I’m currently writing Island Hope the fourth book in the Wildflower B and B Romance Series. This book will release in April 2016. The release spread between books is farther on this one. I hope readers will subscribe to my newsletter so I can let them know when it releases. It’s easy to subscribe from my website at kimberlyrjohnson.com.
Where else can readers find you online? My website J kimberlyrjohnson.comI am a contributing blogger at http://www.inspyromance.com/All my books are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Kimberly+Rose+Johnson
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
Since this is a Christmas book, what is your favorite Christmas memory?
I’ll share mine. When I was a kid my family drove to California to spend Christmas with my Grandma. We were still traveling Christmas morning and had stopped at a rest stop. In those days, seatbelts weren’t required, and my sister and I sat in the back of our Datsun pickup on beanbags. There was a boot that connected the back to the cab. Anyway, my parents stopped to give us our Christmas stockings and handed them to us through the boot. She opened our gifts in full view of anyone who cared to watch through our windshield. I’ll never forget this one woman who stood there the entire time with a big smile just watching my sister and I enjoy our Christmas morning stocking at the rest stop. J
Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing this new book with us. I enjoyed reading the first two in the series, and I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of this one. I know my readers will be eager to read this one as well.
Readers, leave a comment, answering Kimberly's question, for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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
Island Christmas Mountain Brook InkOctober 30, 2015Should Rachel take a risk, or play it safe and possibly lose the man who could help fulfill her dreams?
Welcome back, Kimberly. How would you classify the genre of your novel?I have always thought of my writing as contemporary romance, but it actually sells better in the women’s Christian fiction genre. I’m not sure why, but it may have something to do with my covers. I’ve learned since expressing my vision for the covers to my publishers that romance readers like to see people on the covers and the first three books in this series do not have people. I’m hoping the next book will. JPlease tell us three random things we might not know about you. --As a kid I wanted to be a secret agent when I grew up. --When I first started writing I wrote romantic suspense, but never sold any of those manuscripts. I switched genres to contemporary romance and sold the first one I wrote.--I changed my major three times in college. I started as an elementary Ed major, switched to piano performance, and ultimately ended up with a degree in Behavior Science with a minor in music.
I changed my major three times in college, too. I started as an English major, then changes to speech, and finally went with Drama. Please tell us a bit more about the plot of your novel. Sous Chef Rachel Narrelli returns to WildflowerIsland looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son, but discovers that life has a lot of bumps in the road even on idyllic Wildflower Island. She is grateful when new friend Chris Campbell offers support as she faces obstacles with her new job and new life. She cares for Chris but must decide if she is willing to risk her heart to a man with an uncertain future.
A self-proclaimed workaholic, Chris Campbell comes to Wildflower Islandhoping to take life at a slower pace. When a new guest at the Wildflower B and B catches his eye, he is drawn to her. But how will a woman and her young son fit into his future—a future that’s uncertain at best? And most of all, how can he reconcile her lack of faith in God with his strong religious beliefs.
What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about her/him.Rachel is a courageous young widowed mother who has worked hard to get where she is, but life keeps knocking her down.
All the men in Chris’s family have died young from heart attacks. Chris believes this could be his fate as well and has worked hard to stay heart healthy, but when it’s not enough he moves to Wildflower Islandfor a slower pace. While there he meets Rachel and her young son and suddenly he’s not content to accept his family history.
If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?Chris would be played by Bradley Cooper and Rachel would be played by Alexis Bledel—I’m a huge Gilmore Girls fan and would be honored to have her play the part. J
What is something in your writing-industry experience that made you laugh or at least smile?Several years ago at one of the summer Oregon Christian Writer’s Conferences Liz Curtis Higgs was the keynote speaker. My goodness she is funny. I think I was crying at times from laughing so hard.
I love to listen to Liz Curtis Higgs. She was one of my first online writer friends, way back in the early days of the public Internet. What is the last novel you read that you would recommend? Why do you recommend it?I just finished reading My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould. At first I wasn’t sure I would like it because it has two stories within the storyline, one takes place in present day the other several hundred years ago. Then I realized how important one story was to the other and how you wouldn’t have the present day story without the historical one. It was exceptionally well written and a page-turner. It’s also part of a series so there is a continuing mystery thread.
I also really liked Keptby Sally Bradley. This book is unlike most books Christian books I’ve read. It’s one of those stories you need to read to understand what I’m saying, but I couldn’t put it down.
What are you working on now?I’m currently writing Island Hope the fourth book in the Wildflower B and B Romance Series. This book will release in April 2016. The release spread between books is farther on this one. I hope readers will subscribe to my newsletter so I can let them know when it releases. It’s easy to subscribe from my website at kimberlyrjohnson.com.
Where else can readers find you online? My website J kimberlyrjohnson.comI am a contributing blogger at http://www.inspyromance.com/All my books are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Kimberly+Rose+Johnson
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
Since this is a Christmas book, what is your favorite Christmas memory?
I’ll share mine. When I was a kid my family drove to California to spend Christmas with my Grandma. We were still traveling Christmas morning and had stopped at a rest stop. In those days, seatbelts weren’t required, and my sister and I sat in the back of our Datsun pickup on beanbags. There was a boot that connected the back to the cab. Anyway, my parents stopped to give us our Christmas stockings and handed them to us through the boot. She opened our gifts in full view of anyone who cared to watch through our windshield. I’ll never forget this one woman who stood there the entire time with a big smile just watching my sister and I enjoy our Christmas morning stocking at the rest stop. J
Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing this new book with us. I enjoyed reading the first two in the series, and I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of this one. I know my readers will be eager to read this one as well.
Readers, leave a comment, answering Kimberly's question, for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
November 18, 2015
FREED TO FORGIVE - Julie B Cosgrove - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I was privileged to read this book for endorsement. You won’t want to miss this book. The way Julie deals with the need for forgiveness, and how terribly hard it is sometimes, is masterful. And the suspense in the story will keep your heart beating double time.
Bio: Julie B Cosgrove is widowed and lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with two cats, lovingly dubbed her “beastie boys.” She is a part-time church secretary, professional public speaker, faith-based freelance writer, and award-winning author. Julie writes regularly for six Christian devotional and inspirational magazines and websites, and has her own blog, Where Did You Find God Today? She has published six non-fiction and four fiction works, with five more under contract. A native Texan, she grew up in the Texas Hill Country and is a true “river rat” who enjoys people watching, word games, and mystery novels/movies, especially British ones. She is active in the prayer and outreach ministries in her church and president over the women of her denomination in three states. Julie is also a representative for Women at Risk International, a missionary group who rescues women and children from sex slavery in thirty countries, and she speaks to civic and church groups about how to thwart human trafficking in their communities.
Welcome back, Julie. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?Whether fiction or nonfiction, I write about people finding God in their everyday lives and Him meeting them where they are. So often people wonder where He is moving in their lives, but they are so focused on themselves and their conflicts, they can’t see His fingerprints on the situation.
What other books of yours are coming out soon?So glad you asked because I am giddy about it. I have been a mystery aficionado forever, so I finally got up the gumption to write one. Bam - I just signed a three-book contract for a cozy mystery series called The Bunco Biddies Mysteries about twelve women in a retirement community who gather for Bunco and solve crimes as they toss the dice. Book One, Dumpster Dicing, will be out the summer of 2016, book two, Baby Bunco, will be out in the winter of 2016 and Threes and Sixes will be out the summer of 2017.Yes, the series is humorous as well as faith-based and heart-felt.
I also have two romance novellas, Navy Blues and Greener Grasses which will launch in 2016 as part of an anthology of fifteen works with fourteen other authors based on 1Corinthians 13.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I’d really like to spend the evening with Joyce Meyer. When I was at a real low point in my faith years ago, her TV program lifted me. I saw her once in person as well. I have seen her talks lift other women as well, plus she is a hoot, right? It would not be a dull evening.
James and I have enjoyed her for years. We were in the studio audience when she was on James Robison’s show. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?Sam Houston. Any man who nails studs to the banister of the brand new Texas Governor’s Mansion main stair railing to keep his kids from sliding down it during dignitary visits is worth meeting. He must have been a bigger-than-life sort of man to fight with the Texicans, be the first president of a brand new country and then lobby for it to become a part of the United States and take on being the first governor.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?If they are truly serious about their craft, I encourage them to never give up. Keep writing and learning. Like many things, it takes time, effort and dedication to develop your talents. Find a supportive critique group with published authors who will mentor you and take their advice to heart. Finally, purchase Autocrit. Take the time to put one of o your rejections through it and go through the editing process. It is an amazing tutor.
Tell us about the featured book.
(Author sucks in her breath.)
Freed to Forgive
is about forgiving those who hurt us so we can heal and move on. God commands us to do that in the Lord’s Prayer and it is the hardest and most uplifting thing we can do on our faith journey besides initially accepting the fact we need a Savior. That being said, it does come with a disclaimer. Though faith-based, this novel does contain veiled and delicately-worded abusive scenes necessary for the plot, and unfortunately, all too common in human trafficking. This is a not a fluffy romance. It is a story of a young of girl’s journey from trafficked to triumph. I researched and conferenced for hours and hours with legislators, social workers, immigration counselors and missionaries before I wrote it to make sure I’d tell the story accurately. Jesus met people where they were—in the middle of their sins—and then healed them and lifted them out of it into redemption. Thus, I felt I had to take the reader through the whole journey. But there is a happy ending, and the reader can see God’s purpose and movement in her life, even though Marisol doesn’t see it at the time.
Juxtaposed to Marisol’s journey is that of a young pastor as well as the protagonists from the first two novels, Hush in the Storm and Legitimate Lies, who will cross her life several times. But I purposely added scenes not revealed in the first two in this series and only referenced to scenes elaborated upon in the first two, so hopefully the reader doesn’t feel like they are in the middle of a rerun if they have read them or feel lost if they have not. It’s my favorite of the trilogy and I am blessed that Prism Book Group has taken the “leap of faith” to support me in this effort and publish it. And I thank you, Lena, for endorsing it and encouraging me.
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.San Antonio, Summer, 2023 Marisol Hernández did a double take. An icy tingle slithered down her arms. She recognized the woman’s face. One she never thought she’d see again. Jen Westlaw. Except now her name read Wilson?
She back-stepped a few paces to peer into Jen’s pixelated bluish-green eyes displayed on the Abundant Life Church’s marquee as it flashed the latest posts from their social media site. The face beckoned her—once again. Yes, definitely the same woman.
They met in 2013. The year Marisol’s life changed. Hadn’t the news reported she’d disappeared without a trace and was presumed dead years ago? Yet there she gleamed in 3D color.
A man with a handsome smile stood next to Jen in the photo. Tom, it read. She’d never learned his name, but she recognized him all right. He’d helped Jen escape. He appeared again at the shelter on that horrid day—held Marisol’s hand, whispered she could trust him. She had, and part of her still regretted the decision.
Vivid memories flooded her thoughts, pressing against the emotional dam which she’d carefully constructed over the past decade. The hurt, once pooled deep inside, rushed from its stagnant state through cracks in her psyche. Waves of her secret torment rolled and crashed within the walls of her heart, threatening to drag her under. She gasped for breath.
“Watch it. Other people use this sidewalk.” A sharp male voice jolted Marisol back to the present. She’d absent-mindedly edged into the passenger’s path.
She dashed her gaze to the concrete. An old habit. Never look a man in the eyes. That had been pounded into her brain. And her back. Her last jefé once beat her with a belt for doing it. Ten lashes. Obey, or suffer. A tough lesson learned for a spirited, angry teenager who’d fought so hard to survive. She twitched her shoulder blade, the old pain jabbing her once again. Some scars never heal.
In a low voice she apologized to the stranger. “Lo siento. Um, sorry.”
“Yeah. Well, this isn’t Mexico.” Disgust vibrated through his words. “Give them some help and they think they deserve the world.” His grumbling faded with his footsteps.
Thank you. How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is www.juliebcosgrove.com. I also have a devotional blog, because I write devotions for several publications as well as Bible studies.
You can also find my books on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble, and seek me on Facebook - juliebcosgrove_texas, Twitter@JulieBCosgrove, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are eager to find out how Marisol's story ends.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Freed to Forgive
- paperback
Freed to Forgive - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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
Bio: Julie B Cosgrove is widowed and lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with two cats, lovingly dubbed her “beastie boys.” She is a part-time church secretary, professional public speaker, faith-based freelance writer, and award-winning author. Julie writes regularly for six Christian devotional and inspirational magazines and websites, and has her own blog, Where Did You Find God Today? She has published six non-fiction and four fiction works, with five more under contract. A native Texan, she grew up in the Texas Hill Country and is a true “river rat” who enjoys people watching, word games, and mystery novels/movies, especially British ones. She is active in the prayer and outreach ministries in her church and president over the women of her denomination in three states. Julie is also a representative for Women at Risk International, a missionary group who rescues women and children from sex slavery in thirty countries, and she speaks to civic and church groups about how to thwart human trafficking in their communities.
Welcome back, Julie. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?Whether fiction or nonfiction, I write about people finding God in their everyday lives and Him meeting them where they are. So often people wonder where He is moving in their lives, but they are so focused on themselves and their conflicts, they can’t see His fingerprints on the situation. What other books of yours are coming out soon?So glad you asked because I am giddy about it. I have been a mystery aficionado forever, so I finally got up the gumption to write one. Bam - I just signed a three-book contract for a cozy mystery series called The Bunco Biddies Mysteries about twelve women in a retirement community who gather for Bunco and solve crimes as they toss the dice. Book One, Dumpster Dicing, will be out the summer of 2016, book two, Baby Bunco, will be out in the winter of 2016 and Threes and Sixes will be out the summer of 2017.Yes, the series is humorous as well as faith-based and heart-felt.
I also have two romance novellas, Navy Blues and Greener Grasses which will launch in 2016 as part of an anthology of fifteen works with fourteen other authors based on 1Corinthians 13.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I’d really like to spend the evening with Joyce Meyer. When I was at a real low point in my faith years ago, her TV program lifted me. I saw her once in person as well. I have seen her talks lift other women as well, plus she is a hoot, right? It would not be a dull evening.
James and I have enjoyed her for years. We were in the studio audience when she was on James Robison’s show. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?Sam Houston. Any man who nails studs to the banister of the brand new Texas Governor’s Mansion main stair railing to keep his kids from sliding down it during dignitary visits is worth meeting. He must have been a bigger-than-life sort of man to fight with the Texicans, be the first president of a brand new country and then lobby for it to become a part of the United States and take on being the first governor.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?If they are truly serious about their craft, I encourage them to never give up. Keep writing and learning. Like many things, it takes time, effort and dedication to develop your talents. Find a supportive critique group with published authors who will mentor you and take their advice to heart. Finally, purchase Autocrit. Take the time to put one of o your rejections through it and go through the editing process. It is an amazing tutor.
Tell us about the featured book.
(Author sucks in her breath.)
Freed to Forgive
is about forgiving those who hurt us so we can heal and move on. God commands us to do that in the Lord’s Prayer and it is the hardest and most uplifting thing we can do on our faith journey besides initially accepting the fact we need a Savior. That being said, it does come with a disclaimer. Though faith-based, this novel does contain veiled and delicately-worded abusive scenes necessary for the plot, and unfortunately, all too common in human trafficking. This is a not a fluffy romance. It is a story of a young of girl’s journey from trafficked to triumph. I researched and conferenced for hours and hours with legislators, social workers, immigration counselors and missionaries before I wrote it to make sure I’d tell the story accurately. Jesus met people where they were—in the middle of their sins—and then healed them and lifted them out of it into redemption. Thus, I felt I had to take the reader through the whole journey. But there is a happy ending, and the reader can see God’s purpose and movement in her life, even though Marisol doesn’t see it at the time. Juxtaposed to Marisol’s journey is that of a young pastor as well as the protagonists from the first two novels, Hush in the Storm and Legitimate Lies, who will cross her life several times. But I purposely added scenes not revealed in the first two in this series and only referenced to scenes elaborated upon in the first two, so hopefully the reader doesn’t feel like they are in the middle of a rerun if they have read them or feel lost if they have not. It’s my favorite of the trilogy and I am blessed that Prism Book Group has taken the “leap of faith” to support me in this effort and publish it. And I thank you, Lena, for endorsing it and encouraging me.
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.San Antonio, Summer, 2023 Marisol Hernández did a double take. An icy tingle slithered down her arms. She recognized the woman’s face. One she never thought she’d see again. Jen Westlaw. Except now her name read Wilson?
She back-stepped a few paces to peer into Jen’s pixelated bluish-green eyes displayed on the Abundant Life Church’s marquee as it flashed the latest posts from their social media site. The face beckoned her—once again. Yes, definitely the same woman.
They met in 2013. The year Marisol’s life changed. Hadn’t the news reported she’d disappeared without a trace and was presumed dead years ago? Yet there she gleamed in 3D color.
A man with a handsome smile stood next to Jen in the photo. Tom, it read. She’d never learned his name, but she recognized him all right. He’d helped Jen escape. He appeared again at the shelter on that horrid day—held Marisol’s hand, whispered she could trust him. She had, and part of her still regretted the decision.
Vivid memories flooded her thoughts, pressing against the emotional dam which she’d carefully constructed over the past decade. The hurt, once pooled deep inside, rushed from its stagnant state through cracks in her psyche. Waves of her secret torment rolled and crashed within the walls of her heart, threatening to drag her under. She gasped for breath.
“Watch it. Other people use this sidewalk.” A sharp male voice jolted Marisol back to the present. She’d absent-mindedly edged into the passenger’s path.
She dashed her gaze to the concrete. An old habit. Never look a man in the eyes. That had been pounded into her brain. And her back. Her last jefé once beat her with a belt for doing it. Ten lashes. Obey, or suffer. A tough lesson learned for a spirited, angry teenager who’d fought so hard to survive. She twitched her shoulder blade, the old pain jabbing her once again. Some scars never heal.
In a low voice she apologized to the stranger. “Lo siento. Um, sorry.”
“Yeah. Well, this isn’t Mexico.” Disgust vibrated through his words. “Give them some help and they think they deserve the world.” His grumbling faded with his footsteps.
Thank you. How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is www.juliebcosgrove.com. I also have a devotional blog, because I write devotions for several publications as well as Bible studies.
You can also find my books on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble, and seek me on Facebook - juliebcosgrove_texas, Twitter@JulieBCosgrove, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are eager to find out how Marisol's story ends.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Freed to Forgive
- paperbackFreed to Forgive - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
November 17, 2015
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - Darlene Franklin - One Free Ebook
Welcome back, Darlene. Do you have a favorite genre to write? If so, what is it?I love writing historical romance, but I’m discovering how much fun it is to write a cozy mystery. I am taking part in NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) for the first time this year. I write the mystery in first person, and I love it. If you didn’t live in the part of the country where you do, where would you live?For many years, I would have said Colorado. I lived there for a blissful 19 years. Then God led me back to Oklahoma, near my family. But if God moved me away from here? New Mexico or Arizona, where the hot dry desert would be easier on my bones.
I so understand that. A cold front blew in last night, bringing rain, my bones ache today. What foreign country would you like to visit and why?I’d like to visit the British Isles someday, starting with Scotland. My great grandparents were members of the MacAlister Clan.
Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.Oh, my. If I had the right man (I’m single), I’d like a quiet retreat where we could simply spend time together and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Maybe a national park like RockyMountain National Park, Arcadia (which is from my home state of Maine), anywhere along the California coast or definitely Hawaii.
Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?I would like to write a story that actually takes place in Maine, my home state. Most of my heroines who moved west come from Maine. I’ve written books in Vermont and Rhode Island, but none in Maine.
What is the main theme of this book? Christmas Traditions has eight novellas. My entry is An Apple for Christmas. The hero is overcoming the grief of losing his wife, and the heroine struggles with her attraction to a man who has lost faith in God.
Tell us about the story.Ruby Nelson trades her job in the laboratory for teaching in a small girls’ school in Vermont. Twin sisters challenge her position—and their father captivates her imagination. Will the orchard grower graft Ruby onto his heart?Please give us the first page of the book.Spruce Hill, Vermont, 1895Ruby Nelson ran her hands across the oiled surface of her teacher’s desk. Few understood her decision to leave her research position in New York to teach at the SpruceHill FemaleAcademy in Vermont.
The twelve girls on her class list were the reason she’d accepted a teaching position. A dozen young minds to mold, to be seen as individuals. As she read her students’ names, she pictured each girl’s appearance. A person’s face revealed so much. How well was she taken care of? Were her eyes bright with hope or dull from disappointment? Did she meet Ruby’s eyes, or avert her gaze? Comparing the reality to her guesses made it fun. Two girls had the same last name, Cortland, twins, probably. Pippin and Margil? She shook her head. What unusual names for girls. Next, she examined the applications, including transcripts, essays, and referrals. One girl was a year younger than the others, hungry for something more challenging. An only child. Ruby stared out the window. That had been her, thirteen years ago, too smart to fit in, too small to play most games.
How can readers find you on the Internet?WebsiteAmazonFacebook
Thank you, Darlene, for sharing this collection with us. I love the Christmas novella collections.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.Christmas Traditions: An 8 author Multi Christmas novella series
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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:
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November 16, 2015
WITHOUT PROOF - Janet Sketchley - One Free Book
Welcome, Janet. We’re glad to have you back. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?Lena,
Without Proof
finishes my Redemption's Edge series, and as I'm exploring a new series, I'm praying that God will help me recognize key ingredients, situations, and themes that He'd like to use to touch my readers. I write suspense and romantic suspense, and first off, I believe the novels need to be entertaining. But I also believe the Lord can (and will) plant something in the words to make a difference in someone's life.You are so right. Tell us a little about your family.My husband and I are now empty-nesters during the university year, with our youngest son studying out of province and our elder two sons out on their own. We're pet-free due to allergies, although I do have a small flock of stuffed sheep. My husband, because he's amazing and knew I might find the empty nest hard, suggested we institute a weekly date night. It's a double bonus during busy seasons like this one, because it keeps us from each being too wrapped up in our own activities to spend time together.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?Because I've connected with a lot of writers, I read more outside my favourite genres (suspense and speculative). I like to see what my friends are writing. I've also wound up with a much larger to-read stash, and sometimes that starts to feel like work. That's often when I ignore what's next and read something totally random. One other thing that's changed is my understanding of the value of reviews. Even if I only have time for a few sentences, I'm more conscientious about posting a review on Goodreads or an online store, to support my fellow authors.
That’s wonderful. I wish more people would do that. I’m not as conscientious about it as I should be. What are you working on right now?I'm at the beginning of discovering a new suspense series, which will be set in Nova Scotia (East Coast Canada) but not in the same location as Without Proof or Heaven's Prey. So far, the cast have introduced themselves, and the main character is beginning to define herself. A possible love interest is also taking shape. I love this stage!
What outside interests do you have?I enjoy knitting and cross-stitch, and would love to learn to draw someday. Music is important to me, mostly worship music but some classic rock and instrumentals as well. My husband's a fitness instructor and he's shown me the value of regular group exercise classes at the gym. Surprising to both of us, I've also started jogging. Best part of that? I get to listen to my music J
How do you choose your settings for each book?With Heaven's Prey, the plot required an isolated cottage setting, and I chose a spot I knew would work. The setting for Secrets and Liesgrew logically from connected locations in that first book, and for Without Proof , I decided I wanted to write somewhat locally again. That may be because I didn't want to research my original, arbitrary choice of locale, but I think it's also because there aren't many books set in Nova Scotia and it's a lovely place with plenty of fiction potential.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?Oooh... the good, Christian answer is Jesus, but He really transcends history. I'd choose Brother Lawrence, the monk whose letters were complied into the book, The Practice of the Presence of God. His simple faith and trust inspire me, and I'd like to listen to what he might have to say.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?To avoid "head-hopping"! Seriously. I had to rewrite the entire first draft to keep each scene's point of view inside a single character's head.
I think almost all authors start out “head-hopping.” I know I did, too. But my books are so much better since I learned to keep to one POV per scene. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?This has been a year of learning to rely more on His presence (hence my choice of historical person) and about believing that whatever "it" is in a particular situation, God's got it.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?1. You're in this for the long haul, so persevere and enjoy the journey. 2. Cultivate supportive relationships with other writers and with non-writers. 3. Your identity is not in your books and/or sales.
Tell us about the featured book.Two years after the plane crash that killed her fiancé, Amy Silver has fallen for his best friend, artist Michael Stratton. When a local reporter claims the small aircraft may have been sabotaged, it reopens Amy's grief.Anonymous warnings and threats are Amy's only proof that the tragedy was deliberate, and she has nowhere to turn. The authorities don't believe her, God is not an option, and Michael's protection is starting to feel like a cage.
Sounds interesting. Please give us the first page of the book.The doorbell echoed from the main floor. Amy dropped the square of sandpaper onto the frame she'd been finishing and flexed her aching fingers.
Overhead, light footsteps headed for the door. Michael's aunt could sign for the delivery, but Amy wanted to check the boxes. She rolled her shoulders to work out a kink, then slid from the stool and brushed a layer of dust from her clothing.
Aunt Bay's voice met her at the top of the basement stairs. "She may not want to talk to you."
Not the printer order after all. She, as in me? Amy took a few silent steps but stopped out of sight.
"Please, I'm on a deadline." A male voice, light and with a hint of a quiver.
Amy grinned. Aunt Bay had that effect when she wanted. It might be fun to let her soften this guy up a bit more, but Amy stepped into the hallway. "Is there a problem?"
Aunt Bay huffed at the man. "Come in, then. But if she says no, you'll be leaving."
The visitor took three quick steps inside before Michael's aunt could change her mind. "Amy Silver?"
"Yes?"
He wasn't much bigger than Aunt Bay, but closer to Amy's age. A bit older, maybe in his late 20s. Black, with tight-curled hair and black-framed glasses. Despite the passive voice, his gaze spoke determination. "I'm Troy Hicks, a friend of Michael's. I'm a journalist."
"Okay." Amy nodded, waiting. Did he want to write about the art studio? But why would Aunt Bay object?
Troyadjusted the laptop bag strap on his shoulder. "I know this is a sensitive topic for you, but I'd like to ask about your accident."
(Here's a link if readers want to see the rest of the scene: Without Proof Excerpt.)
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website: janetsketchley.caFacebook: www.facebook.com/JanetSketchleyTwitter: twitter.com/JanetSketchleyAmazon Author Central: www.amazon.com/author/janetsketchleyPinterest: pinterest.com/janetsketchley/Goodreads: goodreads.com/janetsketchley
Thank you, Janet, for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait until mine arrives. And I know my readers are eager to read it, too.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Without Proof: A Redemption's Edge Novel (Volume 3)
- PaperbackWithout Proof: A Redemption's Edge Novel - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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
