Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 179

WINNERS!!!!!

Dear Readers, here are this week's winners. I go will have knee-replacement surgery on Monday. I'll be in the hospital a couple of days, then go into rehab for a couple of weeks.

I've uploaded interviews to post five days a week while I'm gone. I'm not sure when I'll be able to announce the winners though. I will have connection to the Internet some, but I may have to wait to announce the winners until I get home. Keep checking the blog while I'm gone.

Amy (VA) is the winner of  Midnight on the Mississippi  by Mary Ellis.

Melissa (NC) the winner of  Crazy Little Thing Called Love  by Beth K Vogt.

Diana (SC) is the winner of the Ebook  Orphaned Hearts by Marion Ueckermann.

Terrill (WA) is the winner of the Ebook  Nettie's Love  by Patricia Pacjac Carroll.

Melanie (TX) is the winner of  The Hopper-Hill Family  by Erika S Castiglione.

If you won a book and you like it, 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.

SAVING JUSTICE - Susan Crawford - One Free Book

Dear Readers, this is a new author to the blog, introducing her debut novel. Let’s give her a warm welcome.
Welcome, Susan. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I have to work hard not to assign my own emotions and opinions to my characters, so I’m sure there’s more of me in them than I even realize, but I do like to add in some fun personal things. The heroine in Saving Justice has a couple of my quirks. For example: I consume warm chocolate chip cookies like they’re going out of style—I bake them when I’m stressed or bored or happy or you name it—and so does Kinley. Also, I’m not exactly a neat-freak. When Kinley can’t find her laptop because it’s shoved under the couch that’s piled with stuff, that may or may not have been a snapshot of my living room while I was writing the scene. (My husband loves this about me.)
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’m sure I’ve done lots of quirky things, but the one that my family comments on the most is that I only eat one thing at a time. If I have a plateful of food, I finish each serving completely before moving on to the next item. I don’t like to mix all the tastes up. I have no idea why, but I’ve done it this way for as long as I can remember.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?My family heritage is rich with writers and storytellers of all kinds, so a love of words was nurtured into me as far back as I can remember, but I didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer. In my twenties, I began to think that I might like to write something, but I always thought it would be non-fiction. I’ve always loved to read, but never considered myself a creative type, so I was very surprised in my late thirties when the urge to write a novel hit me out of nowhere. I decided to give it a try and discovered that I love it!
I don’t believe it came out of nowhere. I believe that God wove that talent into your DNA, and that was the time He had chosen to pull it out and use it. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Anything with an element of romance is my favorite—contemporary, historical, suspense, women’s fiction—I like it all. I also enjoy reading young adult books and some speculative fiction, though I’m not a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi. In non-fiction, I love memoirs and anything that challenges me to dig deeper in my faith.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?It’s a struggle, not gonna lie. Like many writers, I’m an introvert, and we need to be alone in order to recharge, but that’s really hard to do when there are so many obligations and activities clamoring for our time and energy. I’ve found that I have to purposefully, intentionally step away from all the noise and movement that surrounds me, even if it’s just for a few minutes. I think God has been trying to teach me how to do this better for a while, but I’m finally learning how to regain my balance when I feel overwhelmed. It can be something as simple as taking a bubble bath or going to a quiet room to read, but those kinds of things can make a big difference in my level of sanity.
I’m one of those extrovert writers. How do you choose your characters’ names?I keep a running list of names I like. It has several leftover baby names I didn’t get to use for my own kids, so it’s fun to be able to use them on my fictional people. My husband and I came thisclose to naming one of our daughters Kinley Reid, but we didn’t, so now Kinley gets to be the heroine in my story. When I choose a name, though, it has to fit the character. If nothing from my list sticks, I pull out the Name Dice app on my phone and roll the dice until something strikes me.
I hadn’t heard about that app. I’ll have to download it to my phone. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Staying married for almost 22 years. It’s a miracle that my husband has put up with me for this long. Ron Crawford a patient and gracious man. J
James Dooley and I will celebrate our 51st anniversary in November. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I don’t know, what kind of animal likes to eat junk food and be left alone for long periods of time? A bear? Yeah, maybe I’m a bear. They seem cute and cuddly from a distance, and they get to hibernate for months. I could live with that.
What is your favorite food?Chocolate chip cookies, fresh out of the oven.
Sounds good to me. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Fear. I often battle with the voices that tell me I’m not a good writer, that I can’t do this, that it’s too hard and I should just quit and leave the storytelling to the talented ones. But God has been so gracious to surround me with people who speak truth over me. He’s given me family, friends, a fantastic publishing team, and an amazing community of writers who constantly speak words of encouragement. Also, I hold onto the scripture that says His power is made perfect in weakness, and I pray like crazy every time I sit down to write.
That’s why “The Voice of Truth” is one of my favorite contemporary Christian songs. Tell us about the featured book. Saving Justice is my debut novel and the first book in my Heart of the City series. It’s a contemporary romance set in Oklahoma City, my beloved hometown. It’s the story of a schoolteacher, a man who’s running from his past, and a boy from a poverty-stricken neighborhood who brings them together.
Please give us the first page of the book.Kinley Reid had expected poverty, but this was worse than she’d imagined. Infinitely worse. The baby-blue house in front of her looked as sturdy as a cereal box. She matched the address on her purple sticky note with the numbers near the front door, though with the paint peeling off, they were hard to make out. Unfortunately, she’d come to the right place.
As she tiptoed over bits of trash in the so-called yard, untamed weeds brushed her ankles and the reality of her students’ living conditions crashed in on her. The Martindale neighborhood sat just five miles from her own quaint little housing addition, but the differences were so extreme, they were hardly measurable. Homes on her street were well-built, though small, and lawns were nicely kept, but terms like homes and lawns were far too generous to describe Kinley’s present surroundings. How could such poverty exist in Oklahoma City? Or maybe the better question was how could she have been blind to the severity of it until now? She knew her fourth-graders faced significant challenges, but she hadn’t seen their lives from this angle before.
She reached the porch, paused, and then climbed the crumbling concrete steps. Squaring her shoulders, she pasted on her best teacher smile and knocked on the rickety door. A plump woman with cocoa skin and cropped gray hair answered, a crying infant in one arm and a toddler clutching her leg. The stink of sour milk hit Kinley, and she fought the urge to turn her head.
“What you want?” the woman asked. “I ain’t buying nothin’.”
Kinley broadened her smile and raised her voice over the baby’s squalls. “I’m not selling anything, ma’am. Are you Justice’s grandmother?”
“Who’s asking?”
“I’m Kinley Reid, his teacher.” She extended her hand, but the woman only deadpanned in return. Kinley’s hand hung there for several awkward seconds before she surrendered and pulled it back. “Is Justice here?”
I’m hooked. I can’t wait until my book arrives. How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find me at the following links:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SusanCrawfordBooksTwitter -  https://twitter.com/SuCrawford Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/SusanCrawfordPinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/sucrawford/Instagram - https://instagram.com/sucrawfordAnd I’d love for you to stop by my website and sign up for my newsletter. www.susancrawfordbooks.com

Thank you, Susan, for sharing your debut novel with us. I know my blog readers are as interested in it as I am.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Saving Justice: Heart of the City (Hometown Romance)

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

OSLO OVERTURES - Marion Ueckermann - One Free EbookOslo

Bio: Marion Ueckermann’s passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she moved to Irelandwith her husband and two sons. Since then she has published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven.
Marion loves writing Contemporary Inspirational Romances set in novel places and has three Passport to Romance novellas published and contracted through White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint: her debut novella, Helsinki Sunrise; Oslo Overtures (August 2015); and Glasgow Grace (2016).
She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa, in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.
Welcome back, Marion. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?He has, Lena, and it’s been such an amazing blessing. At the beginning of the year, I felt God was giving me the word BREAKTHROUGH, for 2015. Three days later that breakthrough began to happen when I was asked to take part in a boxed set (Splash!) of summer novellas with eight other international authors. The decision to become a part of Splash! has turned my writing world upside down (in a good way) and set me on a path I never thought I’d travel.
On the horizon, I see a busy time and a lot of hard work. Orphaned Hearts, my Splash! novella was released independently last month as Book 1 of my new indie published, Heart of Africa romance series. I am planning to release Book 2 at the end of the year, so after I attend my first American writer’s conference in Dallas in September with ACFW, I’ll be working hard on that.
I also have Book 1 completed in Heart of Ireland—another “Heart of...” romance series I’m planning. That’ll be a northern hemisphere spring release. Then I need to write to additional three books in that series to release every three months during 2016.
I’ve just contracted my third Passport to Romance novella, Glasgow Grace (working title), so I’ll be busy with galley edits on that in the next few months. I still have so many Passport to Romance novellas I want to write and submit to my publisher, White Rose Publishing (Pelican Book Group).
And then, of course, in between all the writing, these releases need to be marketed. As I said, busy, busy, busy.
Tell us a little about your family.Oh, golly, where do I start? I’m from a really close-knit family—two brothers and one sister. At the time I prepared this interview, I had written that I was blessed to still have my parents, aged 88, although the sands of time were running out, and that I was making the most of the opportunities I still had with them. However, on July 17th, my dear mother was called home to Jesus. I miss her terribly, but am so glad that we don’t mourn as those who have no hope. I will see her again one day.
I married the love of my life thirty years ago and we have two amazing sons, and two gorgeous grandsons. My youngest son, Kyle, lives in Budapest with his Finnish wife (that’s when they’re not living in Finland or Sweden). They’ve just bought a tiny cottage on a fairly large piece of ground about a half-hour outside of Budapest, so perhaps they’ll settle down there. They’re missionaries (well, kind of cyber-missionaries J. You can see what exciting stuff Kyle’s up to here: http://www.awakenmovement.com/team/)
My oldest son, Ryan, and his family live in the townhouse right next door to our house, and he has his office in our loft. He’s a 3D Architecture Visualizer. Ryan gets to drink our coffee all day, and we get to see our grandsons every day if we want. A win-win situation don’t you think, although hazardous to writing time.
Yes, those grandchildren are important. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?Yes. I get little time to read now L, except for my critique partners’ great work J.
What are you working on right now?Right now I’m finalizing my Christmas novella, Poles Apart, for another boxed set. Then I have to plan and prepare for ACFW Dallas. After that, it has to be me and Heart of Africa Book 2.
What outside interests do you have?None. My interests lie inside—in my office, at my desk, and in front of my laptop. But my, what wonderful worlds are to be found there.
How do you choose your settings for each book?I love writing stories set in unusual locations, hence my tagline “A Novel Placeto Fall in Love.” With the Passport to Romance stories, Pelican Book Group have a long list of interesting places around the world that they require stories for. So that list so far has had a strong influence on my setting choice, although I tend to gravitate to the cities that I’ve been to. In fact, on my way back to South Africaafter ACFW, I have a seven hour stopover in Madrid. I definitely plan to make a dash for the city and spend three hours there researching because that’s another Passport to Romance city, and I’ve had a story brewing in my head since I booked my airline ticket and realized I could go and do a little European location digging.
Finally, because I’m South Africa, stories in Africaare high on my list of things to do. There are so many beautiful places for my characters to go in our country, from the winelands of the Cape, to the desert dunes of Namibia, to the roaring waters of Mosi-o-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders)—more commonly known to the traveler as the Victoria Falls.
I have friends who have a mission school on the banks of Lake Victoriawhere they rescue and educate throw away boys. They teach them about the Lord and teach them skills that they’ll need to make a living. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?I’ve never really been into history... I’d probably love to spend a night though chatting to our former President, the late Nelson Mandela. I think he was just an amazing man with much wisdom to impart. It would be an evening not only of learning much, but an entertaining one, too. Mr. Mandela, I think, was quite a character, too. He really loved people. I know he’d probably spend the evening though asking me about my writing and encouraging me to follow my dreams.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?ALL the rules of writing!
Some of those aren’t really rules, just suggestions to make our writing better. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?To breathe ... and just take one thing at a time. Eventually it’ll all get done.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Write ... every day. When you don’t, it’s hard to get back into it.Network! Other authors play such an important part in your success as a writer, whether it be in your critique partners polishing your work, or just the opportunities you come to know of because of your writer friends. No writer can be an island.Do not be in a hurry to publish. Allow God to use the unpublished years to prepare you for what He’s called you to.
Tell us about the featured book. Oslo Overtures is set high in the Norwegian skies (a lot of the time) and takes the reader on an adventure into the fascinating world of wingsuiting. Danger, excitement, romance, and an unusual setting make this a great story. The story is about overcoming fear from painful wounds of the past, and discovering that God moves in the situations of our lives to accomplish his plan for our lives.
Anjelica Joergensen and renowned wingsuiter Kyle Sheppard from New Zealand meet in Oslo when they join an international team to break the formation flying Guinness World Record where Kyle goes from one blunder to the next in front of the beautiful Norwegian.
Anjelica carries the scars of a tragic loss. She’s not looking for love, but love soon finds her and has her questioning whether falling for another wingsuiter is such a good idea. When Kyle makes a foolhardy decision, Angelica has to make a hard choice.
Sometimes you have to lose it all, to win it all. The same can be said for Anjelica and Kyle’s love story. It’s a story about losing, and winning.

Please give us the first page of the book.Anjelica drank in the beauty of the surrounding mountains that hugged the dark blue waters far below. The climb had been worth it. As usual. She could never get enough of the view across the fjord. Beside her, pockets of snow filled the gaps between flat gray rocks.
She stepped up to the edge, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply. The butterflies in her stomach were determined to be the first to take flight. Standing at the exit point—whether a precipice, skyscraper, or aircraft’s open door—was one of the scariest moments. She could turn away and fail or step forward into moments of death-defying adventure. Despite her anxiety, this was Anjelica’s favorite place.
She raised her arms and leaned over the rock. Her body dropped through the air before she stretched her limbs like a bird. As the wind wrapped around the shape of her wingsuit, she began to fly.
Visions of the week ahead filled her mind. She exhaled slowly. Her helmet warmed inside at her breath. She had to calm her thoughts—focus on the flight was paramount to success. For the next few minutes, she and the currents would wage war against gravity and error.
Determined to improve on her previous time in the air, Anjelica raised her head. She bent her body at the waist and looked ahead, slowing her rate of descent and forward momentum.
I can’t wait to read this book. How can readers find you on the Internet?I look forward to interacting with readers at any of the following places:WEBSITE       http://marionueckermann.com/FACEBOOK   https://www.facebook.com/Marion.C.UeckermannAMAZON       http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KBYLU7CGOOGLE+      https://plus.google.com/+MarionUeckermannAuthor/TWITTER       https://twitter.com/ueckiePINTEREST   https://www.pinterest.com/ueckie/
Oslo Overtures releases tomorrow and will be available on Amazon and Pelican, and probably the other sites listed below:AmazonPelican Book Group               Christianbook.com                 Barnes & Noble
Nook 
Thank you, Marion, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers will love it.

Readers, 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  

PATRIOT HEART - Diane Kalas - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, Diane is a long-time writing acquaintance and fellow Texan. I’m pleased to share her debut book with you today. I was intrigued by her Civil War storyline.
Welcome, Diane. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I try to “get into character” as actresses need to do in order to play a part. However, where period clothing is concerned, I write what I would love to wear in regards to style, colors, and fabric.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I don’t think I’m a quirky person. However, my son teases me about lining up my ceramic roosters facing the same direction. When he moves them, I move them back.
I’ve told my husband that if I were to have a mental illness, it probably would be obsessive/compulsive disorder. When did you first discover that you were a writer?My first try at writing was a time travel-historical romance years ago. Tricky for a newbie, but the challenge took hold to research and write and rewrite.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love inspirational historical romance, biographies, reprinted journals, and diaries of people who lived during the Civil War or pioneered out West. I have 22 antique books that I own and have read, starting 1859 to 1902.
I’d love to see them. I love antique books. I have several journal/diary reprints. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I go to estate sales, one or two times a month, with girlfriends and then have lunch. I try not to mention my writing and focus on buying some little treasure.
How do you choose your characters’ names?There’s a Web site that lists popular 19th century names by decades. I also have a baby name book that gives the origin of the names.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Raising a son to become a Christian man, husband, and father.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I love animals, all kinds, but I’ve always had a cat. They’re somewhat independent.
What is your favorite food?Pasta. Love the different kinds of pasta with sauce, chicken, lobster, or vegetables.
I love pasta, too, but James isn’t as fond of it, so I don’t make it very often. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?I’d say it was the POV thing, and then that became deep POV. It was a matter of training my brain and studying a couple of books that gave examples that helped me understand.
Tell us about the featured book. Patriot Heart is book 1 in a 3-book series about three Civil War POWs who met in the infamous Andersonville Prison for Union soldiers and survived because of their friendship and Christian faith.
I decided to write my hero as a strong Christian and the heroine who is unsaved, instead of the reverse which is seen more often. The idea for a Civil War hero with soldier’s fatigue emerged after news journalists reported on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder almost every week since the US got involved in the Middle East conflict named Desert Storm 1990-91. I wanted to write about a Christian veteran who struggled with horrific nightmares and hallucinations after confinement in Andersonville Prison. He’s a man who leans upon the Lord for recovery, although fears he’s losing his mind and unfit for marriage.
The heroine is a confident, bossy young woman who’s determined to live her life her way. She buys an old emporium near the Missouri River and turns it into a supply depot for emigrants heading out West after the war. The hero lives there, and she can’t avoid him. She tells herself she doesn’t need God, or the hero, and throws herself into her business.
In romance, it’s such fun to write those scenes when hero/heroine clash. In this story, the reader needs to see the hero’s sense of humor even though his mind hasn’t left the prison pen altogether.
Here is my back cover blurb.
DUTY             COURAGE        INTEGRITYMay 1865. All Dan Goodman wants is to marry an uncomplicated girl and have a family, but the war interfered and he became a POW who now believes he’s losing his mind and unfit for marriage. He dreams of Oregon to put the memories behind him. The problem is he owes a debt of gratitude to the beautiful songstress. In addition, Clara Barton wants him to be a witness for the prosecution in the first trial for war crimes in American history.
INDEPENDENT         ENTERPRISING        FEISTYLetty Talbot is a world-weary steamboat songstress, and wants a new direction after sudden loss. Letty decides to run a supply depot for emigrants going out West, and talks Dan into a partnership where he builds the prairie schooners. Letty won’t admit she wants to keep Dan from leaving. Even though Letty and Dan butt heads a lot, no man ever interested Letty as this one did.
TRUST            LOVE         PEACEIf Letty marries Dan she losses her depot, because married women have no property rights. Letty must learn to trust God with her future. Dan must forgive fellow Union inmates who killed for selfish reasons, and face the commandant of Andersonville Prison in a court of law. Allowing his Oregon dream to fade, he can then embrace the future God planned for him.
Please give us the first page of the book.“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him;and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12
Chicago, Illinois – Tuesday, May 2, 1865Dan Goodman stared at the Lincoln Special with the slain President’s photograph over the cowcatcher, flanked by flags, and festooned in black along the sides of the railway cars. Out of respect, he saluted the train even though his fallen commander in chief remained on exhibit at the Cook County Courthouse until evening.
The sharp crack of mourning bunting slapped against the depot, startling Dan. He inhaled a shaky breath, disappointed in himself. After all these months, away from Andersonville Prison, he still had a reaction to unexpected sounds.
Dan continued to observe Lincoln’s train, until the Chicago and Alton rolled under the enormous Federal flag stretched across the tracks and blocked his view. He smiled at the scene.His future arrived to carry him far from everything in the recent past.
A powerful opening scene. How can readers find you on the Internet?http://dianekalas.blogspot.comhttp://pinterest.com/dianedreamshttp://twitter.com/dianekalaswww.facebook.com/dianekalasauthorwww.amazon.com/patriotheart/dianekalasauthorwww.forgetmenotromances.com/authors/dianekalas

Thank you, Diane, for sharing your new book with us. I know My readers will be interested in it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Patriot Heart (Journey Home Book 1)

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

PATRIOT HEART - Diane Kalas - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Diane is a long-time writing acquaintance and fellow Texan. I’m pleased to share her debut book with you today. I was intrigued by her Civil War storyline.
Welcome, Diane. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I try to “get into character” as actresses need to do in order to play a part. However, where period clothing is concerned, I write what I would love to wear in regards to style, colors, and fabric.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I don’t think I’m a quirky person. However, my son teases me about lining up my ceramic roosters facing the same direction. When he moves them, I move them back.
I’ve told my husband that if I were to have a mental illness, it probably would be obsessive/compulsive disorder. When did you first discover that you were a writer?My first try at writing was a time travel-historical romance years ago. Tricky for a newbie, but the challenge took hold to research and write and rewrite.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love inspirational historical romance, biographies, reprinted journals, and diaries of people who lived during the Civil War or pioneered out West. I have 22 antique books that I own and have read, starting 1859 to 1902.
I’d love to see them. I love antique books. I have several journal/diary reprints. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I go to estate sales, one or two times a month, with girlfriends and then have lunch. I try not to mention my writing and focus on buying some little treasure.
How do you choose your characters’ names?There’s a Web site that lists popular 19th century names by decades. I also have a baby name book that gives the origin of the names.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Raising a son to become a Christian man, husband, and father.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I love animals, all kinds, but I’ve always had a cat. They’re somewhat independent.
What is your favorite food?Pasta. Love the different kinds of pasta with sauce, chicken, lobster, or vegetables.
I love pasta, too, but James isn’t as fond of it, so I don’t make it very often. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?I’d say it was the POV thing, and then that became deep POV. It was a matter of training my brain and studying a couple of books that gave examples that helped me understand.
Tell us about the featured book. Patriot Heart is book 1 in a 3-book series about three Civil War POWs who met in the infamous Andersonville Prison for Union soldiers and survived because of their friendship and Christian faith.
I decided to write my hero as a strong Christian and the heroine who is unsaved, instead of the reverse which is seen more often. The idea for a Civil War hero with soldier’s fatigue emerged after news journalists reported on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder almost every week since the US got involved in the Middle East conflict named Desert Storm 1990-91. I wanted to write about a Christian veteran who struggled with horrific nightmares and hallucinations after confinement in Andersonville Prison. He’s a man who leans upon the Lord for recovery, although fears he’s losing his mind and unfit for marriage.
The heroine is a confident, bossy young woman who’s determined to live her life her way. She buys an old emporium near the Missouri River and turns it into a supply depot for emigrants heading out West after the war. The hero lives there, and she can’t avoid him. She tells herself she doesn’t need God, or the hero, and throws herself into her business.
In romance, it’s such fun to write those scenes when hero/heroine clash. In this story, the reader needs to see the hero’s sense of humor even though his mind hasn’t left the prison pen altogether.
Here is my back cover blurb.
DUTY             COURAGE        INTEGRITYMay 1865. All Dan Goodman wants is to marry an uncomplicated girl and have a family, but the war interfered and he became a POW who now believes he’s losing his mind and unfit for marriage. He dreams of Oregon to put the memories behind him. The problem is he owes a debt of gratitude to the beautiful songstress. In addition, Clara Barton wants him to be a witness for the prosecution in the first trial for war crimes in American history.
INDEPENDENT         ENTERPRISING        FEISTYLetty Talbot is a world-weary steamboat songstress, and wants a new direction after sudden loss. Letty decides to run a supply depot for emigrants going out West, and talks Dan into a partnership where he builds the prairie schooners. Letty won’t admit she wants to keep Dan from leaving. Even though Letty and Dan butt heads a lot, no man ever interested Letty as this one did.
TRUST            LOVE         PEACEIf Letty marries Dan she losses her depot, because married women have no property rights. Letty must learn to trust God with her future. Dan must forgive fellow Union inmates who killed for selfish reasons, and face the commandant of Andersonville Prison in a court of law. Allowing his Oregon dream to fade, he can then embrace the future God planned for him.
Please give us the first page of the book.“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him;and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12
Chicago, Illinois – Tuesday, May 2, 1865Dan Goodman stared at the Lincoln Special with the slain President’s photograph over the cowcatcher, flanked by flags, and festooned in black along the sides of the railway cars. Out of respect, he saluted the train even though his fallen commander in chief remained on exhibit at the Cook County Courthouse until evening.
The sharp crack of mourning bunting slapped against the depot, startling Dan. He inhaled a shaky breath, disappointed in himself. After all these months, away from Andersonville Prison, he still had a reaction to unexpected sounds.
Dan continued to observe Lincoln’s train, until the Chicago and Alton rolled under the enormous Federal flag stretched across the tracks and blocked his view. He smiled at the scene.His future arrived to carry him far from everything in the recent past.
A powerful opening scene. How can readers find you on the Internet?http://dianekalas.blogspot.comhttp://pinterest.com/dianedreamshttp://twitter.com/dianekalaswww.facebook.com/dianekalasauthorwww.amazon.com/patriotheart/dianekalasauthorwww.forgetmenotromances.com/authors/dianekalas

Thank you, Diane, for sharing your new book with us. I know My readers will be interested in it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Patriot Heart (Journey Home Book 1)

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.

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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

PULSE - L R Burkard - One Free Ebook

Welcome, L R. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?I like to show that God can accept anyone into his family, that the only requirement is a repentant heart. It's not what we've done, or what we've become, or what we failed to do. It's being contrite and realizing we bring nothing to the table, but God accepts us anyway. People tend to focus on themselves and whether or not they feel worthy, instead of focusing on God's forgiveness and power of redemption.
What other books of yours are coming out soon?A contemporary romance, called FALLING IN. It's nothing like PULSE, which is YA Suspense. I also have a time-travel regency in the works, and a romantic suspense that includes a trip aboard the Titanic.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?Carolyn Mahaney (wife of C.J. Mahaney). I love her writing style; she's full of warmth and wit and wisdom and she'd be an awesome mentor—even for one night.  
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?Jane Austen, because I’d love to hear her account of how and why she wrote her novels, including how much (or little) she struggled with the tasks. Also because, if I could possibly earn her trust, she'd be delightful.   
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?Authors need to have a thick skin because rejections will come. I can't think of a single published author who hasn't faced them. But at the same time, we need to find people who can critique our work so we know we aren't being rejected for quality reasons. Many rejections from publishers are not about the quality of the work, but about the publishers' current list, needs, and whether they have room for the particular type of book we've submitted. 
Tell us about the featured book. PULSE is Young Adult Suspense featuring three teenage girls and their families. The book asks the question: What would you do if the whole world came to a sudden, crashing….stop? It follows the aftermath of a catastrophic electromagnetic pulse that takes down America's electric grid, and how survival might look.    Please give us the first page of the book.ANDREAAGE 16, JANUARY 11DAY ONESo my dad got all upset because when he went to leave for work the car went halfway down the driveway and died. His precious Mercedes. I was just walking out to wait for the school bus and he hurried towards me in a huff, yelling something about how the starter wouldn't even turn over.
"What'd you do to the car, Andrea?" he demanded. I stared at him. I couldn't believe he was trying to pin it on me.            "Nothing."            "What'd you do to it, huh?" he asked again. I turned and stalked blindly down the             driveway to wait by the mailbox. My heart was pounding. Normally I'd enjoy the crunch of snow beneath my boots, and the way the pines lining our driveway are blanketed in white; but I barely noticed either.            Leave it to Dad to ruin my day before it starts.            Yesterday Mom let me practice driving for about thirty-five minutes and the Mercedes drove just fine. So I'm supposed to know what happened? I'm guessing it's frozen because we're having a nman cold spell. The bottom line is Dad loves his car more than me (he loves lots of things more than me). I blinked away tears that felt cold on my skin the moment they appeared. Where was that wretched bus? I wanted to see my friends and forget about home.            I waited, beginning to freeze. Designer boots aren't made for warmth. I waited a long time; I knew the bus should have come already, but I didn't want to go back—Dad would say I overslept and missed it on purpose or something like that.            Finally, I had to go in. Sure enough, there was Dad, hands on hips, glaring at me. "Why are you back?"
"The bus didn't come."
He stared at me as if he didn't believe me.
"So walk to school," he said. I gaped at him. Was he kidding? We live, like, five miles from my high school. My mother called him from the kitchen. I turned and stared out the window. Our secluded circular drive was a winter wonderland. In nice weather, it's a beautiful manicured front, maintained meticulously by landscapers. Today it was a world of white, so cold the snow glittered. No way was I going to walk to school. Anyway, my father says things he doesn't mean when he's mad, so I took off my coat and boots in the mud room. (There's rarely an ounce of mud in it but that's what we call it.)
How can readers find you on the Internet?I have two websites; my older one is http://LinoreBurkard.com, and the new one for The PULSE Effex Series, is http://L.R.Burkard.com. I'm also on Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn and Goodreads.  
Thanks for having me on the blog, Lena. 

I love hosting you. Thanks for sharing this new book with us. I know my blog readers will be interested in it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
PULSE (PULSE EFFEX SERIES Book 1) - 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

THROUGH WATERS DEEP - Sarah Sundin - One Free Book, Plus More

Dear Readers, Sarah Sundin is a favorite author of World War II novels. Her stories have won numerous awards. Last year, when my book took third place in the Golden Scroll Awards, hers took second. This one looks like another winner.
Welcome back, Sarah. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?So many! I have to start with my brainstorming buddies, Marcy Weydemuller and Cathleen Armstrong, who helped me flesh out the plot, especially the mystery component. Marcy is an experienced writing teacher and editor, and she helped me greatly as I learned to write mysteries.
Also, my husband and our youngest son, Matthew, indulged me as I tacked research on to our family vacation again. I stayed an extra week in Boston, and Matthew stayed with me. I assumed he stayed because he loves Bostonand history and wanted a chance to visit the National Archives in Boston with me, which was a blast! On the trip, I found out the truth when he told my aunt, “I know what Mom’s like when she’s researching. I’m here to make sure she doesn’t get lost.” Ha! Nevertheless, I did feel better with a strapping teenage boy at my side!
If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar? I love teaching and speaking! I’ll be teaching a workshop on historical research at the ACFW conference in Dallas in September. In October, I’m teaching a workshop on character development for the Alameda Writers Group in Alameda, Calfornia. And next March, I’ll be on the faculty at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in California, leading a fiction mentoring track and teaching a workshop called “No Missed Deadlines”—about goal setting, calendars, charts, and organization. More details are on the speaking page on my website.
If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?With our nest emptying, my husband and I discuss this frequently. Our oldest son has a great engineering job in southern California. Our daughter got married this July, and she and her wonderful husband will be going to school in southern California. And our “baby” (see “strapping teenage son” above) is graduating from high school this year. So do we stay put in northern Californiauntil the dust settles? Move to Oregonas my husband has always dreamed? Go someplace else entirely? We shall see.
If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?Slow down, relax, and learn. Everyone is in a hurry to get published. I was too, but that was before self-publishing became cheap, viable, and respectable, so I had no choice but to wait. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t have that choice. My rejection letter years forced me to keep learning my craft, even when I thought I was already “there.” Those years also taught me vital things about God and about myself—things I needed to know before I entered the strange and challenging world of being a published author. So I advise every aspiring novelist, whether seeking traditional publishing or self-publishing, to take a deep breath, take your time, and learn as much as you can about the writing craft, the publishing industry, and about publicity.
You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])Oh dear. I’m afraid I’ve never been a celebrity watcher. I’m too skeptical of people who are lauded for superficial traits like beauty and talent, and I truly admire those with strong character, who often work behind the scenes unnoticed. If I held a cruise, it’d be for the volunteers, the veterans, the exhausted moms and dads—those who put other people before themselves. And they could just relax and be pampered.
Tell us about the featured book.In 1941, as Americateeters on the brink of World War II, Mary Stirling works at the Boston Navy Yard and renews an old friendship with naval officer Ensign Jim Avery. Jim’s destroyer escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic, but problems on his ship point to a saboteur at the shipyard. As Mary works to find the culprit and Jim battles U-boats, could their friendship blossom into something more? Or could the dangers they face keep them apart?
Please give us the first page of the book.Boston Navy Yard; Boston, MassachusettsTuesday, March 18, 1941On a platform by the bow of the USS Ettinger, Mary Stirling prepared supplies no one would notice unless they were missing.
While nautical pennants snapped in the sea breeze and the band played “Anchors Aweigh” for the ship-launching ceremony, Mary set down a box containing rags, a towel, a whisk broom, and a first aid kit. Then she nestled a bottle of champagne in a silver bucket.
Something crinkled. Odd.
Mary picked up the bottle in its decorative tin shield that prevented shattering. Yesterday, she’d tied red, white, and blue ribbon around the neck. Now the ribbon didn’t lie flat, the bow was lopsided, and the foil around the cork seemed loose and wrinkled, as if someone had taken it off and replaced it.
Why? Scenarios zipped through her head, each more ludicrous than the one before. “Too much Nancy Drew in junior high,” she muttered. And too many spy and saboteur stories in the press lately. With the United States clinging to neutrality in the war in Europe, tensions between isolationists and interventionists had become sharper than the prow of the Ettinger.
Mary stroked the sleek red hull of the new destroyer, towering above her. “Into the wild Atlanticyou go.”
“That is a bad year.”
Mary smiled at the French accent and faced her roommate and co-worker at the Boston Navy Yard, Yvette Lafontaine. “I doubt the Ettinger cares about the champagne’s vintage.”
“She should.” Yvette narrowed her golden-brown eyes at the ship, then lit up and grasped Mary’s shoulders. “But you look très magnifique.”
Mary knew better than to argue. “Thank you for helping me choose the hat. I love it.” The shape flattered her face, and the fawn color blended with her brown hair and the heavy tweed coat she wore. It would also go well with her spring coat—if winter ever ended.
Yvette fingered the puff of netting on the brim. “I still prefer the red one.”
“Not red.”
“Sometimes a woman needs to . . . to accent, not match.”
Sounds intriguing. Where can we find you on the Internet?Website:         http://www.sarahsundin.comBlog:               http://www.sarahsundin.com/blogFacebook:       http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthorTwitter:           http://twitter.com/sarahsundin Pinterest:        http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin

Dive into Sarah Sundin's explosive new series, Waves of Freedom, with book one, Through Waters Deep. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them in the midst of their budding romance.

Join Sarah in celebrating the release of Through Waters Deep by entering to win an Anchors Aweigh prize pack!

 
One grand prize winner will receive:
A copy of Through Waters DeepA nautical tote bagA set of compass rose notecardsA "Hope Anchors the Soul" journalA Boston Tea Party earl grey tea setA Through Waters Deep apronA set of nautical tea towels  
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. The winner will be announced August 25th on Sarah's blog .



That looks wonderful. I know my readers will want to enter.
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this new book with us. Many of my readers love World War II novels.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - AmazonThrough Waters Deep (Waves of Freedom Book #1): A Novel - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. 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

WINNERS!!!!!

Terri (WI) is the winner of  Out of the Ashes  by Sandi Rog.

Mary P (Aus) is the winner of the Ebook  Love's Enduring Flame  by Ruth Axtell.

Susan (NC) is the winner of The Convenient Bride Collection  by Andrea Boeshaar.

Jackie (OH) is the winner of the Ebook  Never Broken  by Kathleen Fuller.

Maxie (TX) is the winner of  Raindrops From Heaven  by Twila Belk.

If you won a book and you like it, 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.

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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.

THE HOPPER-HILL FAMILY - Erika S Castiglione- One Free Book

Welcome, Erika. What has drawn you to writing for the YA market?Many of the books that have had the biggest impact on me are young adult, and I have spent a large portion of my adult life working with teenagers in ministry and as a teacher. 
When did you first discover that you were a writer?My fourth grade teacher introduced me to creative writing. I distinctly remember writing a story from the point of view of my feet. I couldn’t believe something so fun could be considered schoolwork.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love the classics, especially classic children’s literature (Charlotte’s Web, Little Women, The Chronicles of Narnia Series, Anne of Green Gables Series, A Secret Garden), Jane Austen novels, and historical biographies and memoirs. My favorite modern novel is Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
What other books have you written?I have a few half written novels in folders on my computer, but this is my first time to bring a novel to a satisfactory conclusion and publish it.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I had a family picture taken on The Great Wall of China when my youngest son was only eight days old.  
I love the picture of that. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I take time each day to pray, read scripture, and journal. I walk my dog. I read and laugh and cuddle with my family. I make thankful lists.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?I spent several weeks in China in between my junior and senior year of college. It was a big step of faith at the time and because of that initial trip, I ended up spending six years there after graduation.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A dolphin. They travel in groups and get to live at the beach.
What is your favorite food?Dark Chocolate.
You’d be surprised how many authors say their favorite food is chocolate. I’m with you. I take mine dark. Is it hard to break into the YA market?It seems that way, but I’m still at the very beginning of the process.
What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?Write the best book you can write and spend a lot of time editing. Get to know young adults, care about them and learn from them. Read a lot—not only will it make you a better writer, it will remind you why you decided to write in the first place.
What would you like to tell us about the featured book? It is the story of adoption through tragedy and the joys and struggles of becoming a blended family. I hope it will touch you deeply, make you laugh, and encourage you to celebrate and appreciate your own family.
Please share the first page with us.The NewsFor twelve years I dreamed about what it would be like to grow up in a large family. I would have been happy to have had even one brother or sister. I asked for one several Christmases in a row, and it was my standby wish every time I blew out my birthday candles, but I didn’t really expect it to happen, and certainly not in the way it did. It was a Sunday the day before school started for second semester, and Mom and I were pulling ornaments off the tree and putting them in boxes when Dad got the call. I could tell it was a serious conversation by the noises Dad was making, the way he drew in his breath, the way he whispered, “No.” Mom turned down the music, but he stepped outside anyway. I watched him on the front porch in his hoodie and jeans, his breath like smoke in the cold air.
“Melissa, could you step outside a minute?” he said, sticking his head in the door.
I watched them talk, knowing they would have to tell me whatever it was and wishing they would hurry. Mom nodded as she listened and pulled Dad into an embrace. I could see his shoulders tremble and her knuckles turning white as her arms tightened around him.
“Dad’s going to drive out to Gram’s house. He might bring her back for the night,” she said. “Let’s sit down. I guess you need to know what this is all about.”
And you have me hooked wanting to know what this is all about. I know my readers are, too. How can readers find you on the Internet?www.TheHopperHillFamily.com

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Hopper-Hill Family - Paperback
The Hopper-Hill Family - 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

NETTIE'S LOVE - Patricia Pacjac Carroll - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, Patricia Pacjac Carroll is a dear friend. She’s been a member of the Lena Nelson Dooley Critique Group for a number of years. I’ve watched her writing grow and develop, and now she’s a very successful Indie author. She’s often on Amazon bestseller lists and on Amazon’s Most Popular Author lists. If you’ve never read any of her books, now’s the time to start.
Welcome back, Patricia. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? I love to write about forgiveness and redemption. The world is full of so many broken people that I want them to know there is a way back.
What other books of yours are coming out soon? I have Nettie’s Love releasing on Aug. 6th. And then I have a logjam of stories I am working on. Some are in Boxed collections that will be available in October. A very special secret project that will be available Dec. 15. And then who knows : )  Just last night a story attacked me, so you just might see it in the near future.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why? These questions are always hard for me. I love my family and friends and enjoy spending time with them. As far as a famous person? Hmm, I guess I would have to say that I want my heart open to the Lord to see who HE would put in my path. Everyone is valuable in His sight.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? Ah, here’s another one of those. : )  I’ll pick Lewis and Clark. I am adventurer at heart and can’t think of anything more fascinating than traveling and exploring over the next hill.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? Learn the craft. Don’t be discouraged because we are in the age of author freedom. Once you have a good handle on crafting sentences and stories, go Indie. Amazon has given the opportunity for anyone to publish a book and it doesn’t have to cost you anything. The biggest thing to do is to write and write often. Find someone that can critique your work and then write some more.
Tell us about the featured book.  My newest is the first in a series set in Texas. Nettie’s Love is about a 40-year-old spinster in Minnesota. She’s known only life on the farm and now that her father has died, everything is sold out from under her and she’s to live with her brothers and their families.
In the 1867, many states reserved virtually no protection for women. They couldn’t own land. Sad but true. Texas and California were different because of their Spanish heritage. But for Nettie, she had nothing but the promise of more back-breaking work.
She finds an ad in the paper for a sheriff wanting a mail-order bride in her forties. He’s 45, and the town is retiring him. Reed Andrews doesn’t like the idea of retiring but has little choice. To make it tolerable, he sent off an ad for a mail-order bride, holding little hope of a woman wanting to come to Bluebonnet, Texas.
I think you’ll enjoy the story. There is sweet romance, a mystery, and wild west adventure as Nettie and Reed fall in love and set up Misfit Ranch in Bluebonnet, Texas, where in later books, Reed will help misfits find themselves and Nettie will find them brides.
I can’t wait until I can get my copy of the book.  It will go to the top of my to-be-read pile. Please give us the first page of the book.Minnesota, 1867Nettie Wellesley picked up a handful of the dark, rich soil and let it fall through her fingers to her father’s casket. He’d loved the land. More than her mother, her brothers, or her. Arnold Wellesley had been a farmer first. Now, he was gone and in the soil that he’d loved so dearly.
The spring wind blew against her face as she gazed at her brothers and their families. She was alone. She always had been. The only girl. Even her mother sided with the boys. It was as if at birth, Nettie, formally Annette, Wellesleywas born to serve.
A worker bee. She did the dishes. Milked the cows. Collected eggs. Helped make dinner. Harvested the crops. Yes, the boys worked hard, too. It was a farm. All of them worked sunup to sundown. Nettie shoved aside the nagging sense of duty to milk the cows, reminding herself the barn was now empty.
The brothers had seen to it that as soon as Pa was in the ground, the farm changed hands. They’d arranged to sell everything out from under her sleeping father. Stroke, the doctor had said. After slumbering for a week, he’d slipped into the next world and the farm into the hands of strangers.
She accepted the pastor’s condolences and well-meaning words from neighbors who couldn’t even look her in the eye. Seems they had all profited on the demise of her farm. Her brothers had their own places. She, the only daughter and her father’s caretaker, was left with nothing and nowhere to go.
David rested his big hand on her shoulder. “Nettie, we, Jack, Bill, and I, decided you would come and live with me first.”
She stared into the image of her father in his younger years. David, the first-born. The dutiful son. With nothing of her own but the few clothes in her satchel, she nodded. They had decided. No one had seen fit to ask. Nor had any of the funds from the sale made it into her hands.
David shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s the way of the law, of family. We promised Pa to take care of you.”
She de-petaled a rose and threw the stem to the ground. “Of course. When do we go?”
He stared back to his family. Or more specifically to Annie, his wife. She stood with arms folded and lips set in a stern line on her already unfriendly face.
David turned back to face Nettie. “When you’re ready, we have a room for you. Off to the side.”
Wooden. It’s how she felt. As if she were already in her coffin and unable to stretch, breathe, or live. He wanted her to accept her fate graciously. Truth was, after taking care of an invalid mother for ten years, the farm, and then her father, she was just, God forgive her, plum out of grace.
“We’ll be at the wagon. Come when you’re ready.” He left her.
She could feel his relief at leaving. She’d felt it years ago when he’d married and taken over his wife’s family farm. And one by one, the brothers left her. No one came to her rescue. No man found her interesting.
Oh, there’d been that salesman, but father had chased him away with the old shotgun. Told her all the jasper wanted was her female prize, and when she later heard what happened to Lola Prater, she had to admit her father had been right.
How can readers find you on the Internet? You can find my books on Amazon:Patricia PacJac Carroll http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-PacJac-Carroll/e/B008R9JCN2/FB https://www.facebook.com/patriciapacjaccarrollBlog : http://patriciapacjaccarroll.blogspot.com/~Please sign up for my Newsletter and get updates about my new releases: PacJac News

Oh, my goodness, Patricia. I’m going to love this new series. Thank you for sharing it with us. I've loved all your books.
Readers, 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