Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 185

UNDERCOVER BRIDE - Margaret Brownley - One Free Book

Welcome back, Margaret. 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?You're absolutely right, Lena! It does take a lot of people. For this book I'd have to travel back in time to 1852 when Kate Warne asked Allan Pinkerton to hire her. I've never been able to find out why a young widow would want to be a detective—especially at that time in history—but I'll always be grateful to her for being the inspiration behind my Undercover Ladies series.
I also have to mention my wonderful agent, Natasha Kern, who knew my idea would make a great series even before I did. Also, on hand all through the birthing process was my editor Annie Tipton whose sharp eye and thoughtful suggestions always makes a book better. Also, I can't forget to mention the whole Barbour support team.
 I also have to mention my readers. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be writing.
Oh yes, we love our readers. If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar? I usually have speaking engagements lined up for the year but other than being on a panel at the Cowboy Festival in Newhall I'm taking a break. I've got too many books to write.
That’s a wonderful reason not to have a full speaking schedule. If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?It would take an act of congress to move me out of California. I love the weather. Also I love that in less than an hour's time I can travel to the ocean, the mountains, the desert, or countryside. Nope, not moving.
If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?Make your readers use their senses. Give them something to see, hear, taste, or smell in every paragraph.
You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])I'd probably invite the entire cast of Dancing With The Stars and they'd have to teach everyone aboard ship the Argentine Tango. Yep, even my non-dancing husband.
Tell us about the featured book.In a nutshell: Maggie Michaels is sent to Arizona Territoryas an undercover mail order bride to track down the notorious Whistle-Stop Bandit. With the clock ticking, she has to prove the suspect guilty before the wedding—or she could end up as his wife!
Sounds wonderful. Please give us the first page of the book. Undercover Bride Arizona Territory1880Maggie Taylor spotted the thief the moment she stepped off the Southern-Pacific train and onto the open air platform.
As a Pinkerton operative, she'd dealt with her share of pickpockets through the years, but this one put the profession to shame. The man made no attempt to be discreet; he simply bumped into a male passenger and walked away with the man's gold watch.
Normally, Maggie wouldn't hesitate to go after the culprit, but today she had bigger fish to fry. Chasing after a third rate thief could jeopardize months of hard work and careful preparation and she couldn't take the chance.
It was only after he targeted a young mother with three small children that Maggie changed her mind. The man had to be stopped.
Threading her way through the crowd, she reached the woman ahead of the thief and picked up the drawstring handbag carelessly left next to a carpetbag.
"Your purse, ma'am. There are thieves around. Better keep an eye on it."
The harried mother took the bag from her. She looked no older than nineteen or twenty. "Thank you," she murmured as if thieves were the least of her problems.
Satisfied that the pickpocket's latest attempt at debauchery had been thwarted, Maggie pushed him from her mind and swung her gaze over the crowd. Never before had a new assignment filled her with such anxiety. But then again, never had she attempted such a daring venture.
Would she recognize the suspect on sight?
According to Pinkerton files, Garrett Thomas stood six feet tall, was thirty-five years of age, and had dark hair and blue eyes. His one outstanding feature was a scar along the side of his face—a war wound. He was also extremely clever. Some said even lucky. A suspected thief and murderer, Thomas had endured the Battle of Gettysburg and a year in the Andersonvillerebel prison— an impressive record of survival by anyone's standards.
Though he was suspected of committing a daring train robbery, his most notable achievement was evading Pinkerton's best detectives for nearly two years. We'll see how long your luck holds out this time, Mr. Thomas. Eventually even a cat runs out of lives.
After checking that her feathered hat was angled just right, she pushed a strand of auburn hair behind her ear and smoothed the bun at her nape. Her wardrobe had been chosen with utmost care and her demeanor meticulously polished.
The goal was to look fashionable but not ostentatious; to act domesticated without appearing dull. At all times she had to be charming, well-spoken and industrious. In matters of politics, religion and finances she must take care not to express a contrary view as she was often inclined to do. In other words, she had to look and act like a woman that any man would be proud, indeed anxious, to wed.
Given her somewhat opinionated and independent spirit, curtailing her impulsive nature would be her greatest challenge. She couldn't afford to do or say anything without careful consideration of the consequences. Not this time.
Not only did she have to make a fine impression but one that would throw no suspicion her way. "Dazzle Thomas with your charm and good looks," Mr. Pinkerton had said. "He won't suspect a thing."
In her current state, she'd be lucky to dazzle a horsefly. She was hot and she was hungry and more than anything, travel-weary.
I can’t wait until my copy arrives. Your books go to the top of my to-be-read list. Where can we find you on the Internet?Website: www.margaret-brownley.comFacebook:

21 DAYS OF GRACE - Compiled by Kathy Ide - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve known Kathy Ide for a number of years. We’ve been to writers’ retreats together, attended some of the same conferences, and she has been the editor for at least one of my books. I know she edited Pirate’s Prize. And I’ve been in some of the books she’s compiled. I'm excited to introduce you to this new series.
Welcome, Kathy. Tell us about your newest book. 21 Days of Grace : Stories that CelebratWhat’s unique about this series?A lot of readers today love Christian fiction. But in their quiet times with the Lord, they want something with a little more depth … and something a little shorter than a novel. There are lots of compilations with short true stories out there. The Fiction Lover’s Devotionals are for readers who enjoy fiction. For people who haven’t discovered the joys of Christian fiction, these short stories will be a great introduction to it.
Which authors are included in this book? 21 Days of Grace has chapters by Angela Hunt, Deborah Raney, Cindy Woodsmall, Tracy Higley, Cecil Murphey, DiAnn Mills, Kathi Macias, and more. Bios of contributing authors are featured at the end of each chapter, so you can get something new from the novelists you already know and love as well as samples from other authors you can add to your favorites list.
How do you see people using these devotionals?The books are being published as hardcover gift books—small enough to take with you wherever you go, and with chapters short enough to read anywhere. You can enjoy these stories over breakfast, at lunch break, before bed, or curled up in your favorite chair with a cup of coffee or tea. 21 Days of Grace just released on June 1st, just in time for summer, so you can take it to the beach or on vacation. These books could also be used in group settings—for your book club, Bible study, life group, Sunday school class, or just getting together with friends. They make terrific gifts too!
What are the other book titles in this series? 21 Days of Christmas : Stories that Celebrate God’s Greatest Gift (which has a chapter by Lena Nelson Dooley in it!), comes out this October. 21 Days of Love : Stories that Celebrate Treasured Relationships, is scheduled for next Valentine’s Day. And 21 Days of Joy : Stories that Celebrate Motherhood, is for Mother’s Day.
How do you find the authors for your books?I’ve been in the Christian publishing industry for almost twenty years, and I’ve attended a lot of writers’ conferences in that time. That has given me an opportunity to meet numerous authors at all stages of the writing process. Most of the authors in 21 Days of Grace are people I’ve met in person or are editing clients of mine. But I’ve put call-outs on my website and social media, and I’ve received several great stories from authors I’ve never met or worked with before.
How do you choose which stories to include?It’s not easy! As word gets out about the series, I’m getting more and more submissions. And I can only choose 21 for each book. The main determining factor, to me, is whether the story touches my heart, whether I can sense the Holy Spirit speaking through the characters and their situations. Almost as important is the use of good fiction-writing techniques. Even the best story can be powerless if it’s not told really well.
Do you edit the submissions?Every single one. What can I say? I’m a freelance editor—it’s what I do! I try my best to keep the author’s voice and style. But I can always find a few things to tweak that, in my opinion, make the story stronger. When I send my revised versions to the authors, I always encourage them to work with me on any changes I made that they’re not totally satisfied with. I want the final product to be something we’re both excited about.
Where can people purchase the book?The print version of 21 Days of Grace can be ordered online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook, Walmart, and Cokesbury. The e-book is available from Amazon, BN.com, iBooks, and Google Play.
What do you want readers to take away from the book?I am a huge fan of Christian fiction. The Holy Spirit has spoken to me many times through novels, as I relate personally to the characters and their situations. I believe the same thing can happen for readers through the short stories in these devotionals—especially with the brief Life Applications at the end of each one. Also, when I’m looking for a new book to read, I tend to go for the authors I’m already familiar with. It’s tough to decide which new novelists to try because I don’t know what their style is and whether it’s something I’m going to like. Reading short stories from a variety of novelists all in one book will give fiction fans an opportunity to sample different authors and find new ones they enjoy.
What can readers do after they read the book?There’s a forum on FictionDevo.com where people can post responses to the book and the stories in it. They can also do that on Facebook.com/FictionDevo.
Are you looking for stories for future books in this series?
I am currently open to submissions for the Mother’s Day devotional. (Details and guidelines are on the FictionDevo.com website.) If the first books sell well, the publisher will continue the series, so we could have several more titles to come.
Thank you, Kathy, for sharing this new book with my readers. I know they'll love it. I plan to use my copy as my devotional as soon as it arrives.
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.
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SILVER SPURS - Miralee Ferrell - One Free Book

Welcome back, Miralee. You have a lot of books out now. What is your favorite setting to use in your books?For my historical romances, I love any setting in the Old West, especially the states where cowboys, ranches, and outlaws could be found. But for my middle-grade contemporary horse novels, I love setting those close to where I live, as I know the area so well and have ridden my horse here for years.
What do you look for when you’re shopping for a book to buy for yourself?I have a wide variety of interests. Right now I’m hooked on fantasy and other speculative fiction. Other times I’m hungry for a good suspense or mystery, while at others I’m in the mood for historical romance that contains action, adventure, and anything Old West!
Give us a little tour of the setting for this book.It’s set in a very small rural town in Oregon, only an hour or less from Mt. Hood, and about ten minutes or so from the Columbia River Gorge. There are a lot of horses, orchards, hay fields and pasture, and a saw mill. Lots of green, snow in the winter, and it’s become more and more of a tourist area due to the beautiful setting and variety of things to do.
What other books do you have coming out soon?There will be two more books in the Horses and Friends series, with the final one releasing in February, 2016. I also have two different novellas that are part of historical romance collections. Summertime Brides is the first collection, and my book is The Dogwood Bride, and the other book is part of Cowboy Brides, and my title is Love’s Sweet Storm, set in Colorado.
Please give us a glimpse inside your home.Our home is located nine miles from a small town, across the Columbia River that separates Washington (our town) from Oregon. We own eleven acres, a two story house and garage, and a VERY large yard and garden area. I love all the flowers and grass, but it’s it takes a lot of time to keep up. I’ve planted delphinium, dozens of day lilies, roses, Canterbury bells, peonies, and many other flowers … not to mention blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
Is this novel part of a series or a stand-alone book? Silver Spurs is the second book in the series, and the books follow the same kids and their adventures.
Tell us about the story.Kate’s dream of owning a horse has finally happened. But now her best friend Tori has no money to buy a horse. So Kate comes up with a plan—she’ll raise money by boarding horses and hosting a show in her family’s barn.

It seems the perfect solution until Melissa, the girl who disses Kate and Tori at school, shows up to board her horse, determined to compete in their show and win the silver spurs. Will their plan be ruined—or does God have something better in store for them all?

Silver Spurs  is a tale of overcoming fears and trusting God with your dreams.
Please give us the first page of the book.Kate Ferris hauled back on the reins and brought her Thoroughbred mare to a stop. Her arms ached with the effort. Capri was a lot of horse to keep under control.
The mare tossed her head, and froth flew from her mouth. Kate patted the mare’s neck, her palms sweaty against the dark-red coat. “Easy, girl. Settle down. It’s okay.” It’s really not okay. Kate frowned, hoping her voice didn’t show her frustration. Determination pushed her forward. No way could she quit and let Capri win this battle. Kate hadn’t learned as much as she’d liked in the few lessons she’d taken while working at the English-riding barn a couple of miles from home, but she knew she shouldn’t reward Capri by dismounting when the mare wasn’t responding to her cues.
The chestnut horse threw her head again and pranced in place.
Kate gave an exasperated sigh. “All right, let’s try it again. Slower this time.” She nudged her mount into a trot along the rail of the outdoor arena, trying to focus on rising and falling to the beat of the Thoroughbred’s long stride. Getting the hang of posting hadn’t been easy, but Kate finally had it mastered. At least she hoped she’d mastered it.
How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find me at my blog and website, and sign up for my newsletter there, at www.miraleeferrell.comFacebook Fan Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/82316202888/Twitter:  www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell

Thank you, Miralee, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Silver Spurs (Horses and Friends Book 2) - 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.

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DAUGHTER OF THE CIMARRON - Samuel Hall - One Free Book

Welcome, Samuel. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Since my genre is primarily historical fiction, I retain the actual names of the people in the story unless the family of a bad person would suffer shame or embarrassment by my depiction of their relative. My characters are based on people I’ve known or observed but they reflect my idea of what I believe them to be.
Obviously, I see my characters through the lens of my biases and worldview. While I can portray believable characters, I would be hard pressed to develop a Hannibal Lector (Silence of the Lambs) as I simply would not want to descend—even within my imagination—to the level of a serial killer.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Just being me. For those of us with ADD, it’s hard to isolate one activity or habit. I try to represent the real me wherever I am. That has alarmed people who feel that making a good impression is paramount, while some probably classify me as eccentric, or even uninhibited or rude. So yes, I’ve been known to do or say the unexpected, which may appear to be quirky but really, I’m simply enjoying being myself.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?Freshman composition college class. One of my classmates, whom I viewed as intellectual, said he thought I got the only A in the section. I loved that class; it not only showed me that I could write, it exposed my vast need for improvement. Research was the tinder to light my fire, and learning to use the right word as opposed to the almost-right-word became a game.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.The Book That Made Your World by Vishal Mangalwadi and Foxe’s Christian Martyrs of the World should be in every Christian’s library, in my view. Oswald Chambers, Andrew Murray, and Brother Lawrence conveyed their experience with the Holy in ways that inspire me to this day. Tim Keller and Ravi Zacharias form much of my apologetic while the writings of C.S. Lewis are timeless; I trust Christina Hoff Sommers for social commentary; and Jon Krakauer and John Vaillant (The Tiger) write the kind of adventure stories I aspire to. Alexander McCall Smith and Thurber titillate my funny bone, and Walter Wangerin, Jr. is simply remarkable. Beryl Markham, Sanora Babb, and Eudora Welty wrote with a passion and attention to detail that will forever keep their books on my shelves. Bill Myers and Richard Russo, each in his own way, craft stories that never disappoint. Stephen King is seldom a comfortable companion for bedtime reading but he is deadly eloquent and never dull.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I don’t venture out into it very often. Long ago, my roommate bequeathed me a B & W television. When it died two months later, I didn’t replace it. My wife and I never owned a TV. We read stories to our three children when they were young, and all appear to have survived the hardship of doing without TV. Additionally, our house reposes behind a coverlet of trees on all sides. It’s a blissful place of refuge that calms my soul.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I generally let them choose their own names, appropriate to their level of perceived self-importance, reputation, giftedness, fears, or ambition. However, if they get carried away, I step in and allow other irreverent characters in my story to tag them with nicknames that bring them to heel. For my historical fiction, I let them keep the names they brought home from the hospital … unless, of course, they or their living descendants would be shamed or inflamed by my revelations. Then I give them innocuous handles somewhat in keeping with their roles.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?It’s not really my achievement but I am most proud of our daughter and two sons. The fact that we and they love each other, and say so every time we part or sign off a conversation speaks volumes about God’s love for me.I have few personal accomplishments that I attained due to my determination or talent; most resulted from my response of sink-or-swim to situations or roles thrust upon me. One prominent exception is my staying with my story, Daughter of the Cimarron , until it found the right publisher—Ashberry Lane.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Ah, the giraffe, that mild-mannered wallflower with the ungainly stride. Deceptive in demeanor, he towers above the madding crowd, and his kick can knock an incautious lion into next week.
What is your favorite food?As related in Daughter of the Cimarron , once during the Depression, Claire and Elmer had only wheat and milk to eat—for two whole months! In contrast, I consider the variety of delectable foods we put on our tables today, and I’d have to say that just about any food could be my favorite.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Discipline, or lack of it. We ADDers live interesting lives, jumping from an activity to a succession of distractions before settling down to complete whatever task must get done. Deadlines are our friends, quieting the siren call of procrastination. The nature of a critique group carries with it the simple expectation that each writer has something prepared … every time, every meeting. My unwillingness to not meet those expectations means that I do my level best to perform as expected. Wrong motive, but for me, that’s what I need.
Tell us about the featured book.Set in the Great Depression, Claire’s story begins when she is stranded in St. Louis on a traveling sales crew by her cheating husband, abetted by her own cowardice. A moment of outrage achieves what she’s long needed—and always feared. She can’t go home but she has to start over. The breakup of her marriage shatters her trust in a manageable God and ends her dream of a happy home with children.
Urbane and handsome Elmer, her irreligious boss, wins her affections until she learns there’s another woman. Heartsick and doubting if God ever forgives divorce, she flees to a doubtful refuge—home. Two men pursue her but she can’t decide which love is real. Her own mother doesn’t show up when she marries. The Depression forces the couple onto their own resources. Marooned far from family, they spiral into extreme want. With the Dust Bowl as the anvil, Claire’s in-laws become God’s hammer to make her into what she’s resisted … and desired.
This story portrays a woman’s quest for identity and celebrates her determination and inner worth. It honors the dignity of people struggling to overcome. Beyond that, the characters question God’s reality while hiding personal agendas and power plays.
Please give us the first page of the book.Chapter OneCLAIRE Mama always said, “People put out stories to make themselves feel superior. Ignore the tales and the people who tell them.”
But I couldn’t ignore the envelope in my purse.
“Sunday driver!” My husband shook his fist at the car in front of us. Tilting the steering wheel to the left, he pulled the throttle lever down. The engine puttered faster as we moved beside the other car’s back bumper. A moment later, the car jolted.
Our ’26 Ford coupe jerked to the right and slipped into a shallow ditch beside Illinois Highway 3. No sound but the creaking of metal.
The car we’d been trying to pass kept on going.
Harold sat rigid as a post, knuckles ivory white over the steering wheel. My husband’s thick brown hair looked as if he’d combed it with an eggbeater. Uttering a stream of curses, he swept his hair off his forehead.
“Are you all right?” Why had he taken such a risk? Did he want to die?
Harold shoved his door open and, without another look at me, stepped down.
I pushed against my door, but a barbed wire fence gleamed on the other side of the ditch so I scooted across the seat and followed him out.
He ducked to catch his reflection in the side window and commenced finger-combing his hair back in place. “Lookit that,” he muttered. “Clear in the ditch and stuck besides. How am I going to get this flivver back on the road?”
A battered red truck rolled to a stop beside us. The driver, a rangy farm hand with a gap-toothed grin, vaulted out. “Hey-ee. Close call. Everybody in one piece?”
I pulled myself upright. “I … I guess so. It was so quick, I—”
“Things can happen mighty fast. People driving thirty, forty miles an hour. Like maniacs. You coulda been killed.” He shook his head.
“What?” Harold puffed out his chest. “You didn’t see nothing. Who you think you are?”
The tall man’s smile faded. He seemed to be deciding whether to fling Harold over the fence or simply to leave.
I stumbled forward. “No. No, he didn’t mean it that way.” My voice caught. “Yes … you’re right. We should’ve been careful …”
“Claire, I did mean it that way!” Harold’s right eyelid twitched, a sign things could get out of control—quickly.
I wheeled between the two and grasped Harold’s arm. “Elmer expects us in St. Louis today. We need this man’s help. He didn’t intend disrespect.” I turned back to the farmer. “He’s … we’re just upset. That was very frightening. We’re so glad you stopped.”
The man stared at Harold, as if daring him to pop off again. Finally he got into the truck and backed up to our car. Within minutes, he’d hitched on to our coupe and pulled it up beside the pavement. He unhooked from the Ford and dropped down to look underneath. “That right tie rod’s bent. I’d get it fixed as soon as possible if I was you.” He directed the words at me, not Harold.
I reached into the car for my purse.
The farmer shook his head. “You don’t owe me nothin’. I’m glad to help you.” Without further ceremony, he climbed in his truck and chugged off.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My blog can be reached via my website, samhallwriter.com. I also have a FaceBook and Goodreads presence.
Thank you, Samuel, for sharing this new book with us. I live in North Central Texas, and we have been in an extreme drought for almost a decade. I've often through about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. I'm so thankful that the drought is finally broken.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Daughter of the Cimarron - Paperback
Daughter of the Cimarron - 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

WINNERS!!!!!

Cheryl (IL) is the winner of   At Bluebonnet Lake  by Amanda Cabot. 

Sharon (SC) is the winner of  Living Joyfully Free Devotional  by Lisa Buffaloe.

Lyndie (TX) is the winner of Sins of the Mothers  by Caryl McAdoo.

Judy (NJ) is the winner of Double Cross  by DiAnn Mills.

Shelia (MS) is the winner of  Side By Side  by Jana Kelley.

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. 

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Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

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THE PROMISE OF PALM GROVE - Shelley Shepard Gray - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve become fascinated by books set in Pinecraft in Florida. Only about a year ago, I found out about this place where Amish and Mennonite go for vacations. And some of them live there. This is book one in Shelley Shepard Gray’s Brides of Pinecraft series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I think you will, too.
Welcome back, Shelley. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?One of my favorite themes to incorporate in my novels is God’s Grace. Having my characters discover this feels so hopeful and positive.
What other books of yours are coming out soon? After Proposal at Siesta Key’s release on May 12, I’ll look forward to the publication of An Outlaw’s Heart in July. This is my novella in the Among the Fair Magnolias Novella collection. The next two books in the Brides of Pinecraft series will be published in September and October. Finally, I’ll be publishing Whispers in the Reading Room, an 1894 Chicago Historical Romance, in November.
They all sound wonderful. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I would love to spend an evening with Anne Perry. She’s my favorite author, and I’ve read all of her novels. She’s from Scotland. I imagine I would be happy just staring at her and listening to her talk about anything she wants.
What historical figure would you like to meet and why? I would love to meet Martin Luther. I’m Lutheran, and we’ve studied his life and writings a lot in our church. I would be fascinated to learn more about his teachings from him!
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?Oh, gosh. Rejections! Yes, receiving those are hard. However, you can only get rejected if you submit and try. So, in a way, I think that’s something to celebrate. Rejections are also part of the publishing life. I’ve sold over 50 books but I still get rejections. It’s also helpful to remember that it’s the manuscript or proposal that is being rejected, not the author. Finally, the best thing to do is to always be working on something new.
Tell us about the featured book.For years, now, I’ve been fascinated by Pinecraft, the Amish snowbird and vacation community located in the heart of Sarasota, Florida. Three years ago, I wrote Ray of Light and set part of the book there. When it was time to start planning the new series for 2015, I asked my editor if we could set it in Pinecraft. I spent five days there last year doing research and soon decided it was one of my favorite places in the world.
The Promise of Palm Grove is the first book in my new series, Amish Brides of Pinecraft, and follows Leona as she must decide: Does she follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her? She finds Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.Beverly Overholt dreamed in color now.
Pinks and yellow, blues and reds. Green, purple, indigo, orange. So many vibrant colors, so much promise.
So very different than her dreams had been when she was in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
As Beverly swept the front porch of the Orange Blossom Inn, her home for the last three years, she took care to carefully clear away each stray piece of Spanish moss that had fallen from the oak trees dotting the yard. And as she did so, she reflected again that God was so good. He was so good because He reminded her in dozens of ways each day that change was possible.
Every morning, He gave her the beautiful sunrises over the Gulf of Mexico, warm weather, and gentle rains. Flowers and blue skies, palm trees and always, always the hint of happiness.
In more ways than she could ever name, the Lord promised new beginnings. Renewal. Paradise.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I have a website and blog. www.shelleyshepardgray.comI’m also very active on Facebook www.facebook.com/ShelleyShepardGrayAnd on Twitter. @ShelleySGray
Thank you, Shelley, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers will love it as much as I did.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
The Promise of Palm Grove: Amish Brides of Pinecraft, Book One (The Pinecraft Brides 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

FAMILY OF HER OWN - Keli Gwyn - One Free Book

Bio:Award-winning author Keli Gwyn writes stories that transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life, peoples them with colorful characters, and adds a hint of humor. A Californianative, she lives in the Gold Rush-era town of Placervilleat the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains.
When Keli’s fingers aren’t hovering over the keyboard of her newfangled laptop, she enjoys strolling past stately Victorian houses in her historic town, burying her nose in reference books as she unearths interesting facts to include in her stories, and interacting with other romance readers. Her favorite places to visit are her fictional worlds, other Gold Rush-era towns, and historical museums.
Welcome, Keli. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.It seems each of my characters has at least one of my attributes. Tess, the heroine in Family of Her Dreams , loves to record her innermost thoughts in writing. Like Tess, I’ve often kept journals. Becky, the heroine in my second Love Inspired Historical, has a fondness for words and is quite attached to her dictionary, as am I. Callie, whose story I’m currently working on, names inanimate objects. If you were to visit my house, you’d find the Monster lurking in the hall closet, which is what I call our vacuum cleaner when I warn our skittish cats that it’s coming out of hiding.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I have several quirks, but one that draws attention is my ability to engage in Cat Speak. When people visit our house and hear our two cat brothers with their distinct voices and personalities carrying on lively conversations, they have varied reactions. The more reserved try to hide their surprise but are given away by the widening of their eyes. Some grin. Others laugh outright. I simply remind our guests that they’re in the company of a writer who’s in the habit of creating characters, so what can they expect?
When did you first discover that you were a writer?At the age of seven, I had a light bulb moment when I realized that the books I loved to read were written by writers. My dream of being a writer was born that memorable day. Forty years later, I dusted off that dream and began writing my first romance.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Historical romance is by far my favorite genre. I’m partial to stories set in the American West during the Victorian Era. Sound familiar? Yup. That’s what I write. My favorite tropes are mail-order bride and marriage of convenience stories. I do read some contemporary romances, and thanks to Sarah Sundin, I read the occasional WWII story. Hers are a must read.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?My sanity has done run out on me. At least there are days I feel like it’s left. Snicker!
Seriously, though, I have learned to embrace that itty bitty word “no.” I’ve come to realize I can’t do it all. I carefully evaluate how much I put on my plate. Even so, there are times when I take on too much, end up with an overflowing platter and have to do some paring. I suspect I’m not alone in this. Please, tell me I’m not.
I think all authors have to do that, probably more than once in their writing life. How do you choose your characters’ names?I peruse lists of Victorian names, look in past issues of our newspaper, which dates back to California’s Gold Rush, and keep my ears open when people talk about their ancestors. My goal is to give a hero a strong, solid-sounding name. I tend to choose names for my heroines that have a dated feel but flow nicely off the tongue. If a name can be shortened, I consider that a bonus. That way my heroine can have a nickname. Since I’m a romance writer, I make sure to try my heroine’s first name with my hero’s last name. For example, Penelope (Penny) Baxter and Garrett Gwyn would never do.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?In regards to an accomplishment that involves others, I would say I’m proud of helping my husband raise a daughter who loves the Lord and is confident enough to be pursuing her dream of working in Europe. When it comes to a personal accomplishment, I would say seeing my first book released has made me the proudest. That milestone was the culmination of a lifelong dream.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A chihuahua. I’m small, but I have plenty of energy. I’m also a big Taco Bell fan.
What is your favorite food?I love Mexican food! During college, I often put away Taco Bell for both lunch and dinner. These days, I often make myself a bean burrito smothered in green sauce for lunch.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Without a doubt it was—and is—self-doubt. While there are times when the words flow and I feel like I’ve written something halfway decent, there are others when I’m sure what I’ve splashed on the page is complete and utter dreck.
Tell us about the featured book. Family of Her Dreams , my first Love Inspired Historical, takes place in a Gold Rush-era town not far from where I live in the Sierra Foothills. Here is the back cover copy.
A Family to Cherish Headstrong Tess Grimsby loves her new job caring for the children of a recently widowed man. But she never imagined that she’d fall for her handsome employer. Yet Spencer Abbott is as caring as he is attractive, and Tess can’t help but feel for him and his family. Though, for the sake of her job, she’ll keep any emotions about her boss to herself.
Between his stationmaster responsibilities in a gold-rush town and trying to put his family back together, Spencer has his hands full. He soon finds his new hire’s kind personality warming his frosty exterior. But could he ever admit to seeing her as more than just an employee?
Please give us the first page of the book.The pages of my book are small, so I’ll give you a wee bit more than that, since I’m eager for your blog’s readers to meet my handsome but hurting hero, Spencer Abbott.
July 1866Shingle Springs, California“Look out, ma’am!”
Tess Grimsby jumped back to avoid a fellow about fifteen pulling a baggage cart with far too much speed for the bustling rail station. She collided with a mother herding her four youngsters, causing the weary-looking woman to drop her wicker basket. Several children’s books slid across the wooden platform.
“My apologies. I didn’t mean to bump into you.” Tess stooped to pick up the books that had landed at her feet.
The woman made sure her children were all right, dropped to her knees and reached for a copy of Little Bo-Peep. “It wasn’t your fault.” She scowled at the baggage handler. “He needs to watch where he’s going.”
The young man parked his cart beside the baggage car and sprinted over to them. “Sorry ’bout that. It’s my first day on the job, and my boss said to hurry. I’ve got to make a good impression.” He grinned, reminding Tess of one of the many boys she’d befriended when she lived at the orphanage.
She smiled. “No harm was done.”
A man with a voice as rich as Belgian chocolate addressed the teen. “Be more careful next time. Getting the baggage moved quickly is important, but Mr. Flynn wouldn’t want you to endanger our passengers, nor would I.”
“Right, sir.” The lad left.
“Come, children. We need to get home.” The mother took the books Tess had gathered, muttered something about troublesome teens and hustled her children across the crowded platform.
Tess slid her satchel back on her shoulder, straightened and found herself face-to-face with a broad-shouldered, golden-haired gentleman. He was younger than any of the men she’d worked for—and far more handsome with his strong chin and arresting sky-blue eyes, currently clouded with sadness. If he was Mr. Abbott—the widower she’d come to see—she could understand.He held out her journal and said nothing for several seconds as he gazed at her, his expression unreadable. No doubt the tall man wasn’t used to looking a woman in the eye.
“Sir?”
The frown he’d worn faded, giving way to a hint of a smile that caused her breath to hitch. “I believe this is yours. It fell out of your bag during the commotion.”
“Thank you.” She took the diary from him, its pages so full of her hopes and dreams—as well as the mementos she’d tucked between the pages—that she had to grip it tightly to keep items from falling out. She would add her train ticket to the collection of memorabilia, a symbol of the new chapter in her life she was eager to embrace. “You must be Mr. Abbott, the stationmaster.”Copyright © 2015 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover, cover copy text and excerpt used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.
® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
or its affiliated companies, used under license.
I love it. How can readers find you on the Internet?I invite readers to visit my Victorian-style cyber home at www.keligwyn.com, where they can find my contact information and social media links.
Thanks for hosting me, Lena. Your questions were a lot of fun to answer.
I’d like to end by asking your blog visitor’s a question. I admitted to naming my vacuum cleaner. What is an inanimate object you’ve named, and why did you give it that name?

Thank you, Keli, for the fun interview.

Dear Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Keli's novel. Be sure to answer her question, and we'd like to know where you live, at least the state or territory.

Here are links where you can purchase a copy of Family of Her Dreams:
 - Amazon
Family of Her Dreams (Love Inspired Historical) - Kindle

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

WAIT FOR ME - Jo Huddleston - One Free Copy

Author Bio: Jo Huddleston is a multi-published author of books, articles, and short stories. Her debut novels in the Caney Creek Series and her latest book, Wait for Me are sweet Southern romances. She is a member of ACFW, the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN), and holds a M.Ed. degree from Mississippi State University. Jo lives in the U.S. Southeast with her husband, near their two grown children and four grandchildren.
Welcome back, Jo. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?Now that Wait for Me has released I’ll have more time to spend on Book 2 in the West Virginia Mountains Series.
Tell us a little about your family.I live in the U.S. Southeast with my husband and near our two grown children and four grandchildren. I’m an only child and my husband’s sisters live in another state so the ten of us are it.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?Yes, writing has changed my reading habits. I have less time now to read for pleasure. I read a lot of writing craft books.
What are you working on right now?I’m working on Book 2 in the West Virginia Mountains Series. I don’t have a title yet. I usually get my titles from a scene or chapter in the book.
What outside interests do you have?My church, having lunch with friends, attending in-home Bible studies, and, of course, my grandchildren.
How do you choose your settings for each book?I write sweet Southern historical romances. We’ve lived in four states in the U.S. South and spent time in the rest of them. I’m a born-and-raised American Southerner. I probably will set all my novels in the South.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?Amelia Earhart. I’ve always been fascinated by aviation. I’d really like to know what happened to her and her navigator, Fred Noonan, and hear her story of their last hours.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?How time consuming writing novels really is. I’m blessed to be able to devote all the time I want to my writing. I don’t know how writers who have a day job can find time to write for publication.
For several of my books, I did both, but I prefer only writing as my work, like it is now. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?To depend completely on Him. One of our grown children is battling cancer. In such a circumstance, the Lord is the only constant in our lives.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?1. Ask God to help you write before your fingers touch the keyboard each day.2. Be teachable. 3. If writing for publication, be patient.
Tell us about the featured book. Wait for Me is Book 1 in the West Virginia Mountains Series, is a sweet Southern historical romance, and is set in West Virginia.
Can Julie, an only child raised with privilege and groomed for high society, and Robby, a coal miner’s son, escape the binds of their socioeconomic backgrounds? Set in a coal mining community in West Virginia in the 1950s, can their love survive their cultural boundaries?
This is a tragically beautiful love story of a simple yet deep love between two soul mates, Robby and Julie. The American South’s rigid caste system and her mother demand that Julie chooses to marry an ambitious young man from a prominent and suitable family. Julie counters her mother’s stringent social rules with deception and secrets in order to keep Robby in her life. Can the couple break the shackles of polite society and spend their lives together? Will Julie’s mother ever accept Robby?
Please give us the first page of the book.Winter, 1955When Julie left her driveway, she hurried her steps. As the dirt road dipped, she peered into the night to find Robby. She so hoped he waited for her. Clouds flirted with the moon, offering Julie enough light to search for him at the edge of the road.
She reached the place where he always waited but didn’t find him. She called to him, “Robby, where are you?”
Robby stepped out from the shadows farther down the road and walked with a slight swagger back toward her. “I didn’t want to leave before I saw you but I was about to go.”
“Sorry.” She kissed his cheek. “Daddy questioned me as I was about to leave the house.”
Robby took her hands then bent to place his forehead against Julie’s. “So, are you supposed to be at Betty Jean’s tonight?”
Julie started to answer Robby but he muffled her words when he kissed her mouth. A tingle traveled over her insides with his every kiss.
“Let’s get off the side of the road before your daddy follows you. Let’s go behind the company store.”
She wrapped her long coat tighter around her and hand-in-hand they moved to the back of the store where the lamppost out front cast a shadow over them. After more kisses and hugs, Julie and Robby stood with their backs against the building.
“Julie, are you still leaving tomorrow for that dance thing in Savannah?”
“Yes, I have to go.”
“But it’s nearly Christmas. I wanted us to spend time together during the holidays.”
She brushed his dark hair from his eyes. “I’ll be back soon. We’ll only be gone about a week.”
“Don’t start liking that guy who’s your date down there.” Robby scuffed the ground with his shoe. “Does he have a lot of money?”
How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find Jo at:Website www.johuddleston.comBlog http://www.johuddleston.comBlog http://lifelinesnow.blogspot.comFacebook https://www.facebook.com/joshuddlestonGoodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1615694.Jo_Huddleston

You can purchase eBook for Kindle and print copies of Wait for Me at: http://tiny.cc/xndfwx
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

CALLED TO BE AMISH - Marlene C Miller - One Free Book

Dear Readers, since so many love the Amish fiction, I thought you might like to read this memoir. This is just an added bonus on this blog. We don’t have an interview today, but we still will have a giveaway.
About the author:Marlene C. Miller joined the Amish as an adult and has been a member of the Old Order Amish for almost 50 years. She and her husband of 48 years live on a farm in Ohiosurrounded by their nine children, more than 40 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
About the book:
Called to Be Amish
Fewer than one hundred outsiders have joined the Old-Order Amish---and stayed---since 1950. Marlene C. Miller is one of them.

In this rare memoir, Marlene recounts her unhappy and abusive childhood, how she throws herself into cheerleading and marching band, and how she falls in love with Johnny, the gentle young Amish man who helps her lace her ice skates.

Against the wishes of both sets of parents, Marlene and Johnny get married and begin a family. Follow the author on this unusual journey to find out how God's love called her out of bitterness and depression and into the warm embrace of her new Amish community.

Accompany her as she dons an Amish dress and prayer covering and gets baptized. Learn how she endures the strain of ten children, a hundred-acre farm, and accidents and tragedy, and find out how she comes close to walking away from it all. Turning Amish has proven to be anything but plain and simple for this former majorette. But nearly fifty years later, Marlene is still living out God's call as an Old Order Amish woman.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1ESK6eR

As always, 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

DWF: Divorced White Female - Carol McClain - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve become friends with Carol through American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Authors Network. I’m thrilled to share her and her debut novel with you today.
Welcome, Carol. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I met my husband online, thus my life became the genesis of Cheryl Chandler in DWF: Divorced White Female. Additionally, I set the novel in my hometown of Malone, New Yorkwith Cheryl living "up" south in Mountain View. I figured, if Lisa Scottoline can set her works in Philadelphia, her hometown, I can do the same.
Aside from those two issues, I was going to say that not much of me goes into the characters. I then remembered Cheryl's sarcasm. Yep, I guess a lot of me is birthed into my work. Friends say this novel is definitely my voice.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I'm not sure you can call it quirky, but I taught high ropes at our local 4-H camp. Along with most of the world, I love the zip line. However, the Flying Squirrel is infinitely easier to get into. In this particular activity, the participant is harnessed into the line and then tethered to a team of runs. She scampers in one direction while the team jogs off in another. Before she knows it, she's flying. She has virtually no choice in taking off--doesn't see it coming, doesn't have to decide to leap. After I--um, she--screams herself mute, she savors the beauty of the world beneath her wings. The freedom of the skies delights me.
Years ago, Carol. I was the 4-H Program Assistant for the county in Texas where we lived.  Both of my girls were in 4-H. When did you first discover that you were a writer?I'm not a typical writer. I wasn't born with a pencil in hand, didn't scribble stories before I learned the alphabet. However, my mother birthed a dreamer greater than Joseph of the Technicolor Dream Coat fame. I day dreamed my life away, invented all sorts of adventures in my head and usually made my friends act out my dramas (always dramas back then). At times, I forced doting parents to pay a nickel to watch us act them out.
As an adult, I wrote Sunday school plays. It wasn't until my forties that I thought I could possibly write a book. And I did. DWF: Divorced White Female is my debut novel.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.The only books I don't read are the demon-possession ones like The Exorcist. They scare the sanity out of me. Aside from that--bring them on. Cozy mysteries? I've finally figured out how to figure them out. The character mentioned once did it. Suspense? I'll read into the night and then curse the author for not letting me get any sleep. Biographies? You read the part of this interview that says I'm a dreamer, didn't you? I become the subject of the bio.
Hands down, my favorites are contemporary, and those with a literary bent. I spent most of my life as an English teacher, so those works must be part of my DNA.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I run. Literally. One day, after a stressful day in school, I knew I had to do something or break. I strapped on my sneakers (I didn't realize we now called them running shoes) headed out the door and ran until my lungs gave out--two or three yards? I did it over and over and felt all the stress ooze down to my feet and out onto the tarmac.
Since then I've run four marathons and written four novels. Running saved my sanity.
As I age, though, yoga is another stress reliever--especially savasana (corpse pose: one simply lies down, empties her brain and enjoys the benefits of having been twisted into a pretzel for the previous hour).
How do you choose your characters’ names?I eavesdrop. Sometimes a name grabs me and I use it. I've used a fake name generator for lesser characters. Cheryl Chandler got her name because a colleague who was Cheryl's age had her first name. I hadn't read any other books with a Cheryl, so it was unique. I figured a forty-year-old wouldn't be named Tiffany or Kaylie, so my protag became Cheryl.
A lot of names suggest themselves. Cheryl's kids all have androgynous names. That decision came probably more for a challenge for myself and became a symbol of her independence when she names her surprise-baby Marina--a pure, unmistakable girl name that reminds her of marinara sauce. Her ex-husband's new wife is saddled with more unisex names.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Neil, my husband, says it's marrying him. And yes, he's living proof that online dating works.
I think my biggest accomplishment was becoming a teacher. Then again, it wasn't my accomplishment, it was purely God's.
During my last year of college I screwed up with drugs. In my addle-brained mind, I believed I ruined my life, would never have children, and no one would love (so thus, marrying Neil is probably my biggest accomplishment). Because of my mental turmoil, I screwed up student teaching, ruined my academic records and my chance of becoming a teacher.
After graduation, I married the wrong man who gave me the right baby when we moved to the country in upstate New York. I decided to try teaching again. With a failing marriage, a ten-month-old daughter, God opened the doors for me to teach Spanish for a year (I had only two college years of the lingo). I enrolled in graduate school, worked insanely, got my masters and a full-time teaching job in my current hometown of Malone.
For thirty-years I developed my craft. The best moments of my life is meeting former students who tell me about the positive effect my love had on their lives.
(I try to forget the ones who hate me.)
It was hard. I didn't know Jesus, but my brother Art did. Probably because of his incessant preaching, I knew, for a fact, Jesus got me into this field, the one I was born to do.
I love to hear real stories of how Jesus redeemed someone from a life of failure. Thanks for sharing that. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A cat in a doting household. We just got two kittens, and their lives are perfect. They play for hours, heedless of curtains or decorations, or the fact that our toes are attached to our bodies by nerves that hurt. They romp where they will. Then they sleep. A lot. They get cuddled, curl between our legs at night. Who wouldn't want that life?
I do NOT want to be a stray or feral. Yuck.
What is your favorite food?Peanut butter. Cannot go a day without chunky peanut butter.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?I haven't overcome my greatest problem. Through the help of good critique partners, I've learned to show and not tell, learned to dive into the emotions of characters and make things worse for them. However, my greatest issue seems to be the muddled middle--especially in sub-plots. Once things begin to resolve, I tire of them and just want to get it done, get to the conclusion. This especially applies to the romantic elements. Once everyone knows said hero and heroine will get together, why draw it out?
Tell us about the featured book.If you think you’ve experienced a mid-life crisis, Cheryl Chandler will prove you wrong. Ditched by a philandering husband, rearing three weird teens (and a toddler—her failed attempt to save her marriage), she knows only one thing will redeem her life: a man—any man so long as he’s hot.
But how does a forty-something divorcée do that?
The kids have the answer. Go online.
After meeting a string of weirdoes, Tarrant LeClerc befriends her. But he’s too religious, and she will only chat with him as a friend.
Then, when she knows this online dating is doomed, she meets the man of her dreams. Smart, witty and enchanting, Carleton Seymour sweeps her off her feet, but he’s got to meet the kids. Cheryl refuses to hide them—although the thought is tempting.
DWF: Divorced White Female , will make you laugh and come away transformed and transported by Cheryl’s antics.
It’s available at:Amazon at: www.amzn.to/1wkUlp1 Desert Breeze Publishing at: www.bit.ly/1zoeixz Barnes and Noble at: www.bit.ly/1wno80d
Currently, the print copy is only available on Amazon.
Please give us the first page of the book.Chapter OneThe EPTI slumped onto my bathroom floor, closed my eyes, and imagined myself in Versace sunglasses with a .357 Magnum. I'd hunt down Martin, blow the heat from my gun, stash it in my charcoal grey, Burberry trench coat, and ride off with a Clint Eastwood look alike. After the deed was done, I'd celebrate with a magnum of champagne. Or a Magnum ice cream.
Yep. That would be one solution.
Not the answer to this one.
With new resolve, I picked up the stick and squinted.
Blue lines. They didn't change color. My bluster slipped away like smoke from the snub nosed .357.
"Holy Toledo."
I didn't use those exact words. I didn't actually bless any Ohio city or anything else. My language that morning was as blue as the lines on the EPT stick.
I thought I had passed the pregnancy phase and blissfully entered menopause -- my golden years of bridge games and cruises and cocktail parties. The kids could care for themselves. Sort of.At last, Taylorhad abandoned his dreadlock-headed punk phase and would start high school this fall. My daughter Bobbie still proved labor intensive, but at least Andi had completed her first year at North Country Community College.
Correction. In college, but not settled. What was she studying? Massage therapy. As a high school senior, she applied for the music therapy program, then switched into art therapy last year. Now this. All this time, I had thought massage was a euphemism for prostitution. Weren't TV cops always apprehending sexy, skinny, beautiful masseuses-- girls not unlike Andi, despite her purple, spiky hair? I learned to deal with her vegetarianism, her Indian Ying/Yang whatever, but a career rubbing bodies? Would a cop one day come knocking at my door and arrest my daughter for massaging pervs?
Despite his obsession with religion, I still feared the cops with Taylor. With McIntyre out of the picture and Jesus in it, maybe we cleared that hurdle. Despite Taylor's religious kick, he acted normal again. He went to school, did his homework, visited friends, wanted to be a forensic computer specialist. Insisted we say grace.
Or as normal as a fourteen-year-old boy with an obsession for Jesus could be.
Obsessions.
My whole family was obsessed. Or possessed.
With worries about my children, tears flooded once more. I leaned against the wall and cried. I didn't bother to break the toilet paper off the roll, just pulled the thin, cottony sheets like one of those old towel rollers in public restrooms my mother told me about. You'd pull the cloth towel, which would go around and around in circles, recycling the same two feet of yucky material. If luck found you, a semi-clean, semi-dry bit of cloth would materialize, and you could dry your hands.
If my youngest daughter Bobbie encountered a recycled towel, she'd bathe in Betadine for a week...
A very good example of your writing voice. How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find Carol McClain at http://carol-mcclain.blogspot.com On facebook at www.facebook.com/carol.d.mcclain
On twitter at @carol_mcclain. She can also be found on google+
Thank you, Carol for sharing this book with me and my readers. I know we're all wondering what is going to happen next.
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.)
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