Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 186

May 26, 2015

SKINNY - Laura L Smith - One Free Book

Welcome, Laura. How much of yourself do you write into your characters?So much! There are hints and slivers of me in all of my characters, although none of them are me. They all have their distinct identities. I danced ballet for years like Claire, was on high school dance team like Lindsey and Melissa, lived in Atlanta for ten years like Raven, have a silver cross necklace like Palmer, etc. Not to mention the foods they eat and the music they listen to and the trips they take, plus all the little things that might occur to the girls in my books that seem random to a reader, but mimic real experiences of mine.
What is the quirkiWhen did you first discover that you were a writer?In second grade, we had to write a story and draw a picture that went with it, you know on that kind of paper that had lines on the bottom for you to form your letters correctly and space at the top to illustrate your work? I wrote a three-sentence story about Sally the Skunk. It was the most exciting thing I’d ever done. I was so proud of that piece of paper, or my creation. It planted a seed inside me. From that time forward, I’ve always wanted to write more and more stories and create more and more characters.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading?I absolutely love to read. I am typically reading two books at once. This always consists of one nonfiction Christian book guiding me on ways to increase my faith. In this genre, I just completed reading Calledby Ryan Pemberton and am about to crack open The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis. The other book I’m usually reading is typically well-written, emotional fiction with compelling characters. I tend to read a lot of young adult, because the emotions are so raw and genuine, and because I write in this genre. But I’ll also read historical fiction and try to dip into the NY Times Bestseller list. I just completed I’ll Give You the Sun (YA) and am so excited to dive into All the Light We Cannot See (NY TimesBestseller and historical fiction).
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run, world?I have a deep faith and find peace and comfort in the fact that I don’t have to be in control of everything. In fact, I’m not. Knowing God is in control and handing things over to Him gives me breathing room in a hectic world. I also run to clear my head and breathe in and breathe out.
How do you choose your characters’ names?The same way my kids pick names for their stuffed animals J. Really. I think about who the character is, what she or he represents in a story, what they would be like to hang out with, and try to think of a name that fits their personality. Sometimes a name will just pop into my head, other times I’ll have to let it simmer a bit, keeping my eyes peeled to names I see in my day-to-day life, anything from an email I get from a customer service rep, to a name of someone posting on a Facebook thread, to a list of names on a newsletter. When I see the right name, I know it, and voila, my character has a name.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?None of my accomplishments are mine. They are all gift. But the thing that brings me most joy and fulfillment, besides my faith, is my family—my marriage to a wonderful man and our four amazing children.
What is your favorite food? Chocolate chip cookies hands down. Actually the dough, before they’re even baked, and then the actual cookies come in second.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock and how did you overcome it?Getting published. The publishing industry is highly competitive. Editors are inundated with submissions. It is a challenge to get noticed amidst everything they’re being sent.
A writing friend suggested I get out a piece of lined notebook paper. Every time I submitted my manuscript somewhere, she told me to write out the name of the publisher and the date on a line of the paper. She told me not to give up until I had filled every line on that paper! I know we rarely use pen and paper any more, but there was something tangible about writing out each submission. It made the submission itself feel like an accomplishment, which it is. It’s a lot of work to put together a proposal, research a publisher, research an editor, write the perfect query, and be brave enough to send it. This exercise also reminded me not to give up after four or five submissions. That can feel like a lot, when you’re putting yourself out there, but at that point in the process, there were still quite a few blank lines on my page of notebook paper. Before I reached the halfway point, my first novel, was accepted by NavPress.
Tells us about the featured book. I had a close friend in high school who was hospitalized for anorexia. I had another dear friend in college who also had to go into treatment for her eating disorder. As an adult woman, one of my friends was in a dangerous battle revolving around her body image. Skinny began as my way to speak to them. To let these friends know I understood what it’s like to be a female in our society with so much pressure to be thin, to look a certain way. But even more importantly, I wanted to let them know they are beautiful, just the way they are, just the way God made them. Skinny started out as that, almost as a letter, a tribute, an essay or a short story, but it evolved into a novel about a high school freshman bombarded by the changes and pressures of high school, seeking to find a way to regain control of her life. Skinny is young adult fiction, because the character is fourteen, but my hope is it will touch a place in all women’s hearts, reminding them that they were made in the image of God, and therefore they are beautiful.
Please give us the first page of the book.Melissa posed as perfectly as a marble statue. Her head bent at a forty-five degree angle, her fingers spread equidistantly, rigid, and exactly in line with her thighs. The music pulsed in her veins. She inhaled and silently counted along with Todd.
“Five, six, seven, eight.”
Even though he was only five foot five, Todd had a booming voice that commanded the attention of every girl in the room. The rhythm of the music vibrated from the speakers on the church’s glossy gymnasium floor.
Like a marionette brought to life by invisible strings, Melissa jerked her hands up, forming a V with her arms, snapped her head upright, and flashed a radiant smile.
“And turn, six, seven, eight. Lift and lift and slide and slide,” Todd continued like a metronome. The pulsating beat pulled Melissa’s body back and forth.
Abruptly, Todd’s solid muscular body relaxed. The coach turned his back to the group of girls and padded across the wooden floor to turn off the music.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Website www.laurasmithauthor.comFacebookTwitterInstagram: https://instagram.com/laurasmithauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurasmithbooks/
Thank you, Laura, for sharing this new book with us. It's an important topic to deal with. So much in our modern world tears down the self-image of so many girls and women.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Skinny: She was starving to fit in... (False Reflections Book 1) - paperback
Skinny: She was starving to fit in... (False Reflections 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
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Published on May 26, 2015 07:24

May 25, 2015

FATAL TRAUMA - Richard L Mabry MD - One Free Book

Welcome back, Richard. How did you come up with the idea for this story?I read a novel by my friend and colleague, the late Dr. Michael Palmer, about the physician for the US President. Since there’s an ex-president residing in the area where I live, I thought it might be fun to write about a doctor who, because of the sudden death of a colleague, is called upon to be personal physician to a former president. I toyed with the idea, and pretty soon I had the skeleton of a novel. It turned out to be a lot more difficult than I imagined, by the way.
If you were planning a party with authors of Christian fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Only six? I’d need a ballroom, not a dining table, to include everyone who comes to mind. But here are a half dozen of them.
We could start with my friend and mentor, James Scott Bell. Jim is full of stories about movies, Los Angeles, and his experiences as an attorney. Then I think I’d invite fellow medical author Candace Calvert, so we could trade tales about the things we’ve encountered in our medical careers. I’d ask Brandilyn Collins to be unofficial hostess and keep the party moving. Randy Ingermanson’s presence would raise the collective IQ of the group and add a slightly off-kilter slant to the proceedings. Author, teacher, mentor, former pastor Alton Gansky would see to it that the conversation never flagged. And if he fell down on the job, you—Lena Nelson Dooley—could reach back into your experiences and tell us how the publishing world has changed in the years since you first started writing.            It certainly has changed a lot in those decades. Thanks for including me. I’d love to be at a party with all those other authors. I know all of them personally, except Alton Gansky, but I know him by reputation. Now let’s do that for a party for non-authors; what six people would you invite and why?This is where you may wonder about my sanity. All my guests have passed on. I’d start with one of the finest clean comedians ever known, Red Skelton. He’d have us all laughing throughout the evening. I’d invite the late Bobby Bragan, who spent decades in baseball and has a story for every week of those years. The entertainment world recently lost a fine gentleman, and I’d really like an opportunity to have an evening with James Garner. One of the pioneers of medicine was Dr. Will Mayo, and I’d want to invite him because I’d have so many questions for him. There are lots of authors I admire, both of Christian and secular works, but the one I think I’d choose is William Faulkner, who pioneered in saying that experience, not technique, makes a good writer. The last invitee? I’d ask Kate Smith to sing “God Bless America” to close the evening. (I get chill bumps just thinking of it).
Red Skelton has been a favorite for James and me for decades, too. And this week we’ve enjoyed hearing Kate Smith sing that song at the New YorkYankees vs. TexasRangers games. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career? Fatal Trauma is my eighth published novel, which ranks far below the work product of many of my colleagues (including the five pages I found of your books on Amazon). With each book, I start out with an idea I think might make a good book. And each time I begin to write, I descend into my imposter syndrome—that little voice whispering in my ear that this will be the one that shows everyone I’m a fake and can’t really write. Technically, the hardest part of each book is the first ten thousand words. The next hardest is the last five thousand. Oh, and in between isn’t easy sometimes.
Richard, I think all of us hear that little voice somewhere in the writing of each book. Tell us about Fatal Trauma .It began with Dr. Mark Baker facing a gunman who had nothing to lose. It could end with him behind bars.
In the Emergency Room, Dr. Mark Baker and Nurse Kelly Atkinson stand at the mercy of a gunman who declares, “If he dies, everyone here dies.” At the end of the evening three men lie dead. One of them is a police officer Mark and a surgeon, Dr. Anna King, couldn’t save. The other two are members of the feared Zeta drug cartel, and their threat of revenge puts the lives of Mark, Kelly, and others at risk.
It isn’t long before the shootings begin, and Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. Because of Kelly’s growing love for Mark, she is hurt when he turns to his high school sweetheart, now an attorney, for help.
Who is the shooter? And can Mark find out before he becomes the next victim?
I’m very intrigued. Please give us the first page of the book.Dr. Mark Baker swept his straw-colored hair away from his eyes, then wiped his forearm across his brow. He wished the air-conditioning in the emergency room were better. Patients might complain that it was cool, but if you were hurrying from case to case for eight hours or more, it was easy to work up a sweat.
“Nobody move!”
Mark spun toward the doors leading to the ER, where a wild-eyed man pressed a pistol against a nurse’s head. She pushed a wheelchair in which another man sat slumped forward, his eyes closed, his arms crossed against his bloody chest. Dark blood oozed from beneath his splayed fingers and dropped in a slow stream, leaving a trail of red droplets on the cream-colored tile.
Behind them, Mark could see a hospital security guard sprawled facedown and motionless on the floor, his gun still in its holster, a crimson worm of blood oozing from his head. Mark’s doctor’s mind automatically catalogued the injury as a basilar skull fracture. Probably hit him behind the ear with the gun barrel.
The gunman was in his late twenties. His caramel-colored skin was dotted with sweat. A scraggly moustache and beard framed lips compressed almost to invisibility. Straight, black hair, parted in the middle, topped a face that displayed both fear and distrust. Every few seconds he moved the barrel of the gun away from his hostage’s temple long enough to wave it around, almost daring anyone to come near him.
I can’t wait until my copy gets here, so I can find out what happens next. How can readers find you on the Internet?In addition to my web page, you can find me on my blog, on Twitter, and my Facebook fan page. I’m also on GoodReads and Pinterest, but I don’t spend a lot of time there.
Lena, thanks for having me as your guest. I appreciate your friendship and support as I’ve gone down this road to writing. Blessings.
Thank you, Richard, for being a friend and colleague for so long. I’ve been doubly blessed by knowing you.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Fatal Trauma - 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
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Published on May 25, 2015 07:19

May 24, 2015

WINNERS!!!!

Deanne (PA) is the winner of   To Win Her Favor  by Tamera Alexander

Tammy (NJ) is the winner of  Island Refuge  by Kimberly Rose Johnson.

Rita (WI) is the winner of  The Lady and the Mountain Doctor  by Misty M Beller.

Melissa (TN) is the winner of  Reservations for Two  by Hillary Manton Lodge.

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
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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.

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Published on May 24, 2015 01:00

May 22, 2015

SIDE BY SIDE - Jana Kelley - One Free Book

BIO: Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend East Texas Baptist University. She and her husband married a month after she graduated and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. After thirteen years living in Africa and the Middle East, Jana, her husband, and their three boys, moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live.
Welcome, Jana. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. Side By Side is my first fiction title. The character that is most like me was the character I had the hardest time writing. Unfortunately, she is one of the main characters! It was not until I could let go of her a little and let her be different from me that writing her character flowed more easily. So I guess the answer is that, at the beginning I wrote a lot of myself, but as I tweaked the manuscript, I wrote less of myself.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I used to live in a country that required an expensive permit to take personal videos of anything outside my home. I wanted a video of our neighborhood to show my family. I emptied a Kleenex box and put my camera inside. Then I cut a hole in the front of the box for the camera lens and I taped the box to my dashboard and drove through my neighborhood. It worked great, but I felt pretty quirky!
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I wrote my first “book” when I was six years old, before I’d even learned to spell correctly. I had a notebook called “My Fan Book” (pronounced “fahn”, as in “fun”). I filled it with horrendously spelled poems and stories. I have written journals, poems, and stories steadily since then. In 2008 I sent a story to a small writing competition and won. That was the first time I realized perhaps I was writing stuff that other people would actually enjoy reading.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I like missionary biographies because of the challenges and cultures that the people face. I like historical fiction because that’s the only way I will remember history. I love travel books and books about women living in foreign countries because I also travel and live in other countries. A fiction or nonfiction book that is going to teach me about culture, countries, history, or people, while also entertaining me, is a book I will enjoy.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I do not lead as fast-paced a life as most of my friends in America. Why? Because I don’t live there! That’s one thing I love about living overseas. I have discovered that I feel more in control of my schedule in Asia and Africa than I do in America. I enjoy activities more fully when my life is not crammed with them. This is important enough to me that I actually say no to things that are good but not best and I’m becoming quite good at that! I find it helpful to ask the Lord what are the activities He wants me to be involved in each week, and I put those on my calendar. I try to stay true to those commitments and say no to things that conflict or take away from what I know to be the most important activities in each day.
How do you choose your characters’ names? Side By Side has a lot of Arabic characters. I have always loved the name Halimah so that’s what I named the main character. For the other Arabic names I looked them up on the Internet and chose the names that I know would be common names for the country Side By Side is set in. The American names just came to me. I was not as attached to the American names as I was to the Arabic ones. One time I did a Facebook poll for the last name for my main character. That was a lot of fun!
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I’m still a new author so Side By Side is the accomplishment I am most proud of in my writing life. But I have to say here that I can almost visibly see God’s hand in the whole process, so I honestly do not feel like this book is something that I can take credit for. Side By Side is a written version of God’s grace and faithfulness in my life.
If you were an animal, which one would you be and why?I would be a cat. Cats have a fantastic, yet dry, sense of humor. They can be a quiet presence in the room, but can also let everyone know they are around if they choose to do so. They are smooth and silky and graceful. I’d be a short-haired cat though. I’d hate all that long hair to get caught on my rough tongue.
What is your favorite food?I choose savory over sweet every time. My all-time favorite food is chips & salsa. I’ll eat it as a meal if I can. But if I have to actually choose a main dish, I’ll choose Lebanese food. Hummus and stuffed grape leaves are to die for!
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock and how did you overcome it?My biggest problem was the lack of time. I was homeschooling when I began to write the first novel. The main thing that kept me going was a strong drive to accomplish the task. Where there is a will there is a way, right? So I asked my kids to give me one hour of alone time after school was over. Unfortunately for me, this is the one hour that would otherwise have been my nap time! So for at least one hour a day, I secluded myself in my bedroom with my laptop and I wrote. As I began to see progress, I got more inspired and my routine became easier.
Tell us about the featured book.Are Muslims scary to you? Have you ever thought about what life is like for a Muslim woman? Side By Side is the story of two women who live in a Muslim country. One is Muslim and one is Christian. This novel is based on true events. The reality may surprise you!
Please give us the first page of the book. “You’re moving to . . . Sudan?”
“Yes, Mom. Sudan.” Mia put the last dinner plate in the dishwasher and then joined her mother at the kitchen table.
“I’ve heard they have a lot of orphanages.” Her mother’s cheery voice squeaked a little higher than usual, as if she were forcing the words out.
“That’s South Sudan. North Sudanis a different country altogether.” Mia willed her voice to remain calm. She had to be patient. This news was a lot for her parents to take in.
“And you say you’ll live in . . . Khartoum?”
“Yes. Khartoum. That’s the capital city.” Mia wondered how Michael was doing with her father in the living room. She absently twisted a blonde curl between her fingers and looked at her mother’s strained face.
“That can’t be right, honey. I’ve read about Khartoumin the news. That’s where the terrorists are. It’s a dangerous place. Ask Michael again. Maybe you misunderstood.”
“Mom, Michael and I made this decision together. I don’t need to check with him. He will be working as the project manager at the head office in Khartoum as well as in the displacement camps just outside of the city. A lot of families who had to escape war-torn areas in Sudan moved to Khartoum. They live in these camps as refugees.”
“Tell me again why it has to be Sudan.”
Mia had to hand it to her mom for at least trying to understand. “Kellar Hope Foundation is an organization that helps families all over the world. Sudan is just one of them.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?I love to connect with readers! You can find me at www.JanaKelley.comFrom there you can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, email, and you can get information on Side By Side and my other books.
Thank you, Jana, for sharing your new novel with me and my blog readers. I have a number of close friends who are missionaries is various foreign countries, so I will love reading Side by Side. I’ve bee privileged to go on over a dozen short-term mission trips into Central America.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Side by Side, A Novel - Kindle

Christian Book Store
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
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Published on May 22, 2015 06:49

May 21, 2015

DOUBLE CROSS - DiAnn Mills - One Free Book

Welcome back, DiAnn. Let’s do some fun questions first. What song most closely resembles your life?“Oceans” (Where Feet May Fail) by HillsongThe words touch me as though the song were written for and about me.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?Jeremiah 20:9. I like the NIV version the best: But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
The words of Jeremiah inspire me to live and breathe every aspect of God living in me.
What is the one thing you wish you could go back and change in your life?To understand the value of my relationship to God. Hold fast and never let go. Like all of             us, I made mistakes because I took my focus off Him.
What is the most important characteristic for a good friend to have?Integrity. I didn’t even have to think about this question!
What extracurricular activities did you participate in when you were in school?Can I remember that far back? :)1. Latin club (I know boring but I loved it.)2. Choir3. Band - I was a majorette.
I could see you as a majorette. What is your favorite movie of all times?Gone with the Wind- The characterization moves me each time I view it. All the characters were uniquely motivated.
I’ve read the book several times over the year, and I own the DVD of the movie. It’s been a favorite of mine, too. Tell us about why you wrote this book. I wanted to show how strong characters reacted to a scam against the elderly who suffered from Alzheimer's. My heroine is an FBI agent, and my hero is a police officer. Both were motivated to end the scam and bring the ones responsible to justice.
As a side note: those who deal with the struggles of Alzheimer’s, the caregiver and the victim, are caught up in a downward spiral. I wanted their voices heard.
Please give us the first page of the book.PrologueSpecial Agent Laurel Evertson had done everything required of her and more to gain Morton Wilmington’s affections. The gaudy diamond on her left hand proved it. She was prepared to end her undercover work tonight and walk away from this despicable role. All she had to do was find the flash drive that would send her fiancé to prison for life.
Morton reached into his closet and pulled out designer pants, shirt, and a sports jacket. “Babe, I’m taking a shower. Thought we’d grab dinner downtown before the play.”
“Perfect. I’m ready. So looking forward to tonight.”She despised the lies and the counterfeit love.
“What are you going to do, read here?”
“I am. A new romance novel.” She pointed to a window seat that offered a scenic view of his condo’s pool, bathed in late summer afternoon sun.
He chuckled, his deep-blue eyes smoldering. “As long as I’m your main man.”
“None other.” She kissed him lightly. “I’m turning on a little Andrea Bocelli to put me in the mood.”
“For what?”
“The book, the play, dinner, and us.”
“Another reason why I love you. Even if you did beat me last night in Monopoly.” He disappeared into the shower.
The moment the sound of water met her ears, she confirmed his location. Four times she’d found herself alone in his condo and attempted to access his safe, but each time she’d failed to hack into his computer, where he stored the safe combination that changed daily. Today she knew his password, and she quickly located the code on his laptop.
She placed the novel on the bed and removed a framed picture of a tank at Fort Knox from the wall to reveal the safe. Odd for a bedroom, but Morton had served four years in the Army. Probably the only thing he could be proud of. She rested the picture against the nightstand while the digital combination bannered across her mind. Gripping her right fingers into her palm to steady herself, she pressed in the code, hoping Andrea Bocelli’s tenor voice drowned out the low click. If she was wrong, the alarm would blare throughout the condo, bringing Morton out of the shower along with his bodyguard from the kitchen.
Big business had made him one of the most powerful men in the country and certainly in Texas. Murder, money laundering, and organized crime were his best friends—legitimacy his enemy. But he’d made one mistake, exposing it all on a flash drive. He’d bragged where it was hidden one night after drinking too much. It had taken her months to locate the safe and figure out how to gain access.
Was she any better than he, using another person for her own agenda? She shook off the thought with her commitment to stop Wilmington from breaking the law.
She secured the flash drive and replaced the picture. Stealing her way to the bathroom door, she confirmed Morton was still showering. His laptop sat on his desk as though beckoning her to prove the FBI’s suspicions. She inserted the drive. Her heart pounded, ached.
“Babe, had an idea for our honeymoon,”he called from the bathroom.
“Great.” She breathed deeply to calm her scattered nerves. “Are you going to tell me?”
“Maybe.”
“You know I love surprises.” The details on the computer rose like rich cream . . . names, places, bank accounts. She ejected the device and slipped it into her shoe.
“I sent a check to MD Anderson this morning,”he said.
“For the kids or in general?”
“The kids. The fund-raiser we attended hit me hard.”
But you’d killed men who got in your way. “They stole my heart too.” She texted the FBI and Jesse, her partner, providing the code to the condo’s alarm system and telling them where the armed bodyguard was located. “Do you need anything?”
“That’s a loaded offer but I’m good.”He wouldn’t be so good once the FBI arrived for the takedown. “What time are we leaving?”She moved back to the window seat and opened her novel.
He stepped from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Is six okay?”
She smiled. “Sure.” Finally this charade would be over.
While discussing what Wilmingtonwanted to do for the children at MD Anderson, he dressed and she touched up her makeup. Her hands trembled.
“Are you okay?” he said. “You’re shaking.”
“Just hungry.” She hated this game, made her feel as dirty as Morton.
“Want a glass of orange juice?”
“You’re so sweet. Thanks, I’d love it.”
He left the room and went down the hall to the kitchen. She checked her phone.
W r n place. Now
With a confident breath, she pulled her Glock from her purse and trailed after Wilmington.
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.diannmills.comwww.facebook.com/diannmillstwitter.com/diannmills
Thank you, DiAnn, 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
Double Cross (FBI: Houston Book 2) - Kindle

Christian Book Store
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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Published on May 21, 2015 07:30

May 20, 2015

SINS OF THE MOTHERS - Caryl McAdoo - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I met fellow Texasauthor Caryl McAdoo at an American Christian Fiction Writers national conference several years ago in another state. The first book in her A Texas Romance series had just released, and I scheduled her with an interview on this blog. Her novels really have a Texashistorical feel about them. I’ve loved them all.
I’m almost finished reading Sins of the Mothers. This story travels from Texas to Californiaand New York. I haven’t gotten to the New Yorkpart yet. The characters are strong people, who make serious mistakes that affect many others. The story contains many layers of plotting and characters that won’t let go of your heart.
Welcome back, Caryl. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?God’s unfailing love, trusting God which results in no fear or worry; repentance and salvation no matter how bad you’ve been; walking in obedience, modesty, mercy, and redemption; holiness, the power of prayer; how He will lead and guide us; that His promises and miracles are still for us today if only we’ll believe and not doubt—and sometimes, even if we do. Grace and mercy. I could go on and on and on. I pray my story gives God glory. J
What other books of yours are coming out soon?In July, a Christian contemporary novel titled ONE AND DONE, book three of the Red River Romance series will be released during baseball’s All Star Break as it has a Texas Rangers backdrop. TOKEN OF THE COVENANT—likely to be renamed REPLENISH THE EARTH—volume three of my Biblical fiction series The Generations debuts in August. September’s launch is the next in the historical Texas Romance series, book five, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART. Then in October, my fourth contemporary in the Red River Romances ACQUIRING A WIFE comes, and last for 2015, but not least, CHILDREN OF EBER, volume four of The Generations series. That’s a total of ten new releases in 2015. But in 2016, I’m only planning six! All, of course, God willing.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?Without thought or hesitation, Benjamin Netanyahu! I would love to sit and visit with such a statesman. Share my love for Israel and discuss Yahshuah Ha Mashiach’s (Jesus the Messiah) imminent return.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?King David has always been my favorite Biblical hero, and I’d pick him!  He loved God from his youth, was such a sinner, discouraged by his failings, a singer of God’s praise, a worshipper, a dancer, repentant, and in his later years, he sinned no more. We have so much in common. I think we’d get along great! I could sing harmony to his melody, and we’d praise and worship Him Who sits on the Throne together.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?Dig in to learn more about your craft, deep point of view, breaks and beats and tags, scene and sequel, natural dialogue, how to show not tell and be active rather than passive. Make your story better! God will help you! He will lead you and guide you. Find a critique group! I would never have been published but for God leading me to the DFW Writers’ Workshop.
But if you know He wants you to write, never give up. Refuse to be discouraged, knowing deep in your knower that His perfect time has not yet come, but for everything under the sun, there is a time! Keep at it with open ears to His Words.
If traditional publishers continue to reject your work, pray about going Indie. Sometimes, a novel isn’t rejected because it isn’t a great story or even that it isn’t well written. Many turned down are only unusual stories that don’t fit their formulas. This is the time for Indies! But before you do take such a route, pray and make certain your work is ready and the best it can be.
Tell us about the featured book. Set in 1851 through 1853, SINS OF THE MOTHERS is definitely a story of redemption. Misguided by blind love, my young heroine, Mary Rachel Buckmeyer (Sue and Henry’s oldest daughter) defies her father to wed Caleb Wheeler then flees with her new husband to San Franciscoto partner with his cousin in a mercantile. The gold miners need everything! But nothing is as planned, and she finds herself in dire straits. It is book four in the Texas Romance series, and while each book stands alone, I believe readers will enjoy each one more if read in sequence.
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers. With everyone on the porch for the clan’s send-off, Mary Rachel decided for sure and for certain and could wait no longer. She took a deep breath and hugged his neck.
 “Daddy, I’m sorry. I really am, but I can’t go. No, I mean I’m not going. I can’t leave. I won’t.”
He leaned back and stared at her for too long a minute, his face suddenly stone cold. “What did you just say?”
She grimaced, then steam rose to her cheeks. He softened just like he always had when her mother turned on him. Saying it aloud made it all the more real, strengthened her resolve.
“I cannot be gone for seven months. I thought for a while maybe I could, but I can’t, Daddy.”
Her new mother stepped close. “But Mary Rachel, why? It’s the trip of a lifetime. I promise you’ll adore Europe.”
“It’s just Mary now, please. No Rachel. That’s what Caleb calls me.”
His voice lowered to almost a whisper; he slipped some of the steel back on. “So. This is about that boy.”
“He’s a man, Daddy, and you know it. We love each other.”
“If he loves you, Baby, then he’ll wait. It’s only seven months. He should be thrilled you have this opportunity to travel Europe.”
“Well, I’ve made my decision, and I’m not going.”
“We’ve booked your passage.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner, but I knew you wouldn’t be happy about my decision.” She looked off at the tree line, hating the disappointment in his eyes, but that was a coward’s way. She faced him again. “Like I said, I thought I could. Anyway, let Bonnie take my place.”
From somewhere, her youngest sister burst into the middle. “Can I, Daddy? Please take me! I’ll be good. Mama, tell him how good I’ll be.” She turned those doe eyes on him. “Pleeeease.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?All Books - http://tinyurl.com/CarylsAmazonPage
Sins of the Mothers - http://tinyurl.com/SinsOfMothers
Website - http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com  (All First Chapters are offered here)
Newsletter - http://carylmcadoo.com/sign-up-to-the-caryler/(Get FREE books for subscribing!)
Reviewer? - http://carylmcadoo.com/christian-evaluaters/ (Join Caryl’s Street Team!)
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.author
Puzzle - http://tinyurl.com/SingPuzzle
Blog - http://www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.com
GoodReads - http://tinyurl.com/GoodReadsCaryl
Google+ - http://tinyurl.com/CarylsGooglePlus
Twitter  - http://www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdoo
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/CarylMcAdoo

Thank you, Caryl, for sharing this new book with me and my blog readers. I know they'll love it as much as I do.

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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Published on May 20, 2015 07:09

May 19, 2015

LIVING JOYFULLY FREE DEVOTIONAL - Lisa Buffaloe - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Lisa Buffaloe is a dear friend. She lived near me a long time and attended the critique group that meets in my home. Then the Lord moved her family to another state, so I praise the Lord for the Internet. She writes both fiction and nonfiction. She has a ministering heart. She touches a multitude of lives through her blog. You’ll want to check it out as well as her books.
Welcome back, Lisa. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally? My favorite subject is sharing about God. I’ve been through many difficult journeys, I have scars, life wasn’t always pretty, downright ugly and painful and times, yet God was there to heal, redeem, and restore.
Tell us about your family. I’m married to a wonderful man and mom to our son who is a new college graduate.
Have you written other nonfiction books? Yes, I’ve also written Living Joyfully Free Devotional Volume 2, Unfailing Treasures Devotional, and No Wound Too Deep For the Deep Love of Christ. I also have two novels, Nadia’s Hope, Prodigal Nights, and a novella, Grace for the Char-Baked.
Do you have any other books in the works right now? Yes, I’m working on another devotional, a non-fiction book, and a new fiction project.
What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy? I love gardening and exploring nature with my sweet husband. My favorite thing is to sit by a river and clean out any debris that has been stuck. There is something so wonderful about watching the water flow free, which reminds me of the beauty of God’s restoration.
Why did you write the featured book? The world is a hurting place and the news bombards with negative images and horrific reports. People are in need of hope. Living Joyfully Free Devotional is written to help readers find truth from God’s word to give a solid foundation to live, joyfully free regardless of the bad news and their own situations. Living Joyfully Free points to The One who is Good News.
What do you want the reader to take away from the book? Each devotion is written to hopefully bring the reader closer to The One who is joy and freedom – Jesus. Life isn’t easy; however God will help us live, joyfully, free in spite of the messiness of life.
Is there anything you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book? The format for the book is written to give the reader a story with hope and/or a point to ponder to allow them time to reflect on God’s goodness, mercy, truth, and love. I sure don’t have life figured out, don’t know everything there is to know about God, but I do know God is a good God who longs for a relationship with each of us. And His loving heart is looking for those who will welcome Him into their heart.  
That is so true, Lisa. Where on the Internet can the readers find you? www.lisabuffaloe.comwww.livingjoyfullyfree.com. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing this book with me and my readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Living Joyfully Free Devotional - Kindle



Christian Book Store
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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Published on May 19, 2015 08:06

May 18, 2015

IN FIREFLY VALLEY - Amanda Cabot - One Free Copy of AT BLUEBONNET LAKE

Bio: Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels including the Texas Dreams trilogy, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. A former director of Information Technology, she has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. Amanda is delighted to now be a fulltime writer of Christian romances, living happily ever after with her husband in Wyoming
Welcome back, Amanda. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?A beautiful sunrise. Oh, wait … you didn’t mean a literal horizon. What’s on the immediate horizon for writing is another historical novella. The Fourth of July Bride is part of the 12 Brides of Summer series and will be released in e-book format on July 1. This fall, my Christmas Star Bride novella, which was released in e-book format last December, will be included in a deluxe print edition with the other eleven 12 Brides of Christmas stories. And that will be followed by another contemporary romance next February. On Lone Star Trail is the third in the Texas Crossroads series and continues the story of Rainbow’s End and the people who’ve turned it from a rundown resort into a successful establishment.
Tell us a little about your family.When people ask why I write romance, the answer is simple: because of my husband. God brought him into my life at exactly the right time. I was a junior in high school, terribly disappointed because my dream of becoming a foreign exchange student wasn’t coming true, when I met him. Now I think back to that March so many years ago and realize that God answered my prayers in ways I could never have imagined. He didn’t give me the year abroad when I wanted it. Instead He gave me what I needed at that time: a man to love, a man whose love made me believe in happily-ever-after. But God wasn’t finished. Soon after my husband and I were married, He gave us the opportunity to live abroad, compliments of the US Army. Never doubt that God answers prayers – every prayer – and that both His answers and His timing are perfect.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?The biggest change is that I’ve become a very critical reader. I no longer have much patience for stories that don’t hook me in the first few pages, and I have no – zero! – patience for poor grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
What are you working on right now?I’ve just finished the first edits for On Lone Star Trail, the third of the Texas Crossroads books. Like the first two, it takes place at Rainbow’s End and features characters who are at crossroads in their lives. Famous pianist Gillian Hodge’s career is destroyed when her hand is crushed in a motorcycle accident, so if there’s one thing she never wants to see again, it’s a man on a motorcycle. You can guess what happens. She’s on her way to Rainbow’s End when a sudden thunderstorm causes a motorcycle to hydroplane and crash in front of her. On Lone Star Trail will be available in February 2016.
What outside interests do you have?You won’t be surprised that some of my interests are writing-related. I lead a group of Christian fiction writers in northern Colorado and spend a fair amount of time mentoring them. But when I step away from the computer, I love traveling with my husband. We’ve always enjoyed exploring new places together, and ever since I started my “Wednesday in Wyoming” blogs, we’ve had a focus for our travels. It’s so much fun to visit some of the lesser-known parts of Wyoming and share pictures with readers.
How do you choose your settings for each book?Since I’ve already told you that I love traveling, it won’t be much of a surprise that I find settings when I travel. I fell in love with the Texas Hill Country the first time I saw it, so when I was choosing the setting for both the Texas Dreams historical trilogy and Texas Crossroads, my current contemporary series, that was the first place that came to mind. Similarly, when my editor asked me to set a series in Wyoming, the location that popped into my mind immediately was Fort Laramie. The first trip my husband and I took after we moved to Cheyennewas to Fort Laramie, and though I hadn’t expected anything more than a day away from unpacking, I discovered a place that fired my imagination and simply demanded to be the setting for a book.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?Oh, what a hard question to answer! There are so many fascinating people I’d like to meet, but if I could only choose one, it would be Abraham Lincoln. I’d love to talk to him about the challenges he faced as President during the Civil War and how he managed to keep his sense of humor while he led the country through one of its most turbulent eras.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?How long the whole process takes. I hadn’t realized just how much effort went into editing and that cover design was such a time-consuming step of the process. And then there’s the advance time needed for marketing. Now I understand why publishers want a manuscript a full year before the book will be released. They need that time to get everything ready so that when the book is actually ready for readers, readers will be ready for it.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?Patience. Without a doubt, patience. It’s not a new lesson, but it’s one that I’m still learning. So many things move slowly in the publishing world, and I’m not by nature a patient person, so learning to wait for His plan to be clear isn’t the easiest thing for me.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?The first is to read extensively in the genre you want to write. That’s the best way to learn what a publisher is buying. Secondly, join a writer’s group. ACFW is wonderful for writers in the Christian marketplace, and Romance Writers of America is excellent for anyone interested in writing romance. A writer’s group provides support, networking, and so many other resources to the aspiring writer that I can’t over emphasize the importance of joining one. And lastly, never give up. Rejection is a fact of life. I won’t sugarcoat it: rejection hurts. But if you let it defeat you, if you stop sending out your manuscript just because it was rejected, you’ll never be published. Believe in your book and in yourself. Oh … that was four pieces of advice. Sorry! 
Four is just fine. Tell us about the featured book.I’m always challenged to tell a story in just a couple paragraphs, so why don’t I simply share the back cover copy with you?
She’s lost her dream job—but has she found the man of her dreams?
Devastated by a downsizing, Marisa St. George has no choice but to return to the small Texastown where she grew up. Though it means a giant step backward, she accepts a position as business manager at the struggling Rainbow’s End resort. The only silver lining: Blake Kendall, a new guest who might make her believe in love at first sight. But will Marisa’s dreams of happily-ever-after be turned upside down when she discovers Blake’s real identity?
This warm and witty story of dreams deferred and mistaken identity will have you believing in second chances.
Please give us the first page of the book.It wasn’t the homecoming of her dreams. When she’d pictured this moment, Marisa St. George had imagined herself riding in a shiny new Lexus. She’d be wearing a designer dress and sporting an impressive diamond on her left hand, while her tall, dark, and handsome husband smiled at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world. Instead she was driving an ordinary white sedan with more than its share of dents and a loud rattle that the previous owner had assured her wasn’t serious. Her clothes were as ordinary as the car, and the diamond ring and doting husband were as much a figment of her imagination as the luxury car and expensive clothing.
The car clanked again, reminding Marisa she was no longer a rising star at a prestigious Atlantaaccounting firm but was back in the town she’d been so eager to flee and headed for a job that was definitely not part of her career plan.
Think of something positive, she admonished herself. She glanced at the sign marking the entrance to town and nodded. It still said “Welcome to Dupree, the Heart of the Hills,” reminding passing motorists that they were in Texas’s famed Hill Country, but the sagging wooden post that had turned it into a Texas version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa had been replaced by two perfectly straight shiny metal poles. The sign itself was freshly painted, a nice improvement over the faded and peeling greeting Marisa had seen the last time she’d been here.
Maybe it wasn’t just wishful thinking. Maybe Mom and Lauren were right when they said Dupree was changing. Marisa hoped that was the case. The town needed a boost, and so did her mother and her best friend. Being with them again was the one good thing to come out of all that had happened this year.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I love hearing from readers and encourage them to email me and to sign up for my online newsletter. My social media links are:www.amandacabot.comhttps://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabothttps://twitter.com/AmandaJoyCabot/
http://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Amanda, for sharing this new book with us. By the way, you look very pretty in pink.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.In Firefly Valley: A Novel (Texas Crossroads) - Amazon
In Firefly Valley (Texas Crossroads Book #2): A Novel - Kindle



Christian Book Store
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:
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Published on May 18, 2015 08:43

May 17, 2015

WINNERS!!!!!

Minabucket (VA) is the winner of   Like a Love Song  by Camille Eide

Deanna (PA) is the winner of  Sword of Forgiveness  by Debbie Lynne Costello. 

Cindy W (IN) is the winner of  Echoes From the Past  by June Foster.

Judy (LA) is the winner of  Year of Jubilee  by Peggy Trotter.

Tammy (TX) is the winner of  RX: Murder  by Richard L Mabry, MD.

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.
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Published on May 17, 2015 17:22

May 15, 2015

RESERVATIONS FOR TWO - Hillary Manton Lodge - One Free Book

Welcome back, Hillary. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I like to write the sorts of books I prefer to read – fiction, for starters, but also stories of women navigating their lives, sorting out issues of faith and family, and eating really great food.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?Marrying my husband was pretty great. I was anxious all day, getting ready and doing the photos, but the minute I walked down the aisle and saw Danny on the other end, my brain flipped and I loved every second. My favorite people were there, and Danny was there, and I had a really great dress on, and we were getting married while listening to our favorite music – such a wonderful day.
How has being published changed your life?So many ways, but one of my favorites is how it’s connected me to authors all over the country. My husband and I travel quite a lot, and it’s fun knowing that wherever his job – or mine – sends us, there’s often another author in that area to connect with over coffee. 
What are you reading right now?I’m reading the Advanced Readers Copy for Carla Laureano’s new novel London Tides – so ready to make a trip to Scotland!
What would be your dream vacation?A tour of European castles, preferably spread over a couple of months.
How do you choose your settings for each book?The setting depends on the book. In my first two novels, I needed a place in Oregonwhere you could, conceivably, find an Amish population. I love setting stories in Oregonbecause it’s been my home for most of my life, so I can really allow the characters to exist in their surroundings. With the Two Blue Doors Series, I knew that I wanted to have a story set in a thriving restaurant scene – I never considered setting it anywhere but Portland.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?Anne Lamott – I love the way she looks at life, faith, and writing.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?Photography and cooking, though the cooking has been less of a hobby and more of a job while writing the Two Blue Doors books. I’ve done a lot of the promotional graphic design for the series, which I’ve enjoyed. I like to make pretty things – whether it’s using a computer, knitting needles, or jewelry pliers.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Recognizing writer’s block when it’s happening can be hard for me. I’ll be struggling without realizing how hard I’m struggling. Once I figure it out, I can step away and untangle whatever’s giving me pause, usually a sticky plot point or getting to a section that needs to be outlined in better detail.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Place a high value on self-care. It’s easy, when you’re on contract, to throw everything into each book. But writing is sneakily tough, emotionally, physically, and often spiritually. It’s important to exercise, get fresh air, see friends, to eat nutritiously. It can be hard to leave your writing hobbit hole behind, but keeping your body healthy will keep your mind limber and the ideas flowing.
Tell us about the featured book. Reservations for Two is the continuing story of Juliette D’Alisa, food writer turned restaurant manager. It picks up seamlessly where the first book leaves off – Juliette’s visiting the family chateau in Provence, trying to gather clues about her grandmother by exploring the house and interviewing her French family. She succeeds in uncovering letters between her grandmother and great-aunt written on the eve of the Nazi Occupation. While she finds answers, Juliette also finds new questions.
And one of those is how to make a long-distance relationship with Neil McLaren work in real life. Her life in Portland has its own challenges – her mom is sick and she’s got a restaurant to open. Neil and his research live in Memphis. Juliette and Neil love each other, but have difficulty making it work when they’re separated by both distance and culture. They have to figure out if it’s a love that they could rearrange their lives to maintain, or simply a chapter in their personal histories.
Of the books I’ve written, Reservations for Two has certainly been the most challenging. But I also feel it’s one of the most rewarding – I really love the way the characters grow and change.           
What is your current work in progress?I’m working hard at the third book in the Two Blue Doors Series – haven’t finalized the title yet. It’s been amazing to start tying up all of the strings! I don’t want to say too much about it before readers have a chance to get their hands on book two, but I’m very excited about book three – it’s shaping up to be one of the most romantic books I’ve written.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Readers can read the full chapter here - http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Reservations-for-Two.pdf
How can readers find you on the Internet?I can be found all over. Readers can visit my website at www.hillarymantonlodge.comto find my blog and connect with me via Facebook Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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

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
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Published on May 15, 2015 06:36