Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 189
April 14, 2015
LOVE ON THE RUN - Angela Ruth Strong - One Free Ebook
Welcome back, Angela. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.At first glance, my main character in False Security is nothing like me. She’s a tough former cop with a temper and trust issues. Though we both have a passion for justice. We both stink at business. And we both have amazing grandmothers who love to buy us purses.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?It’s a toss-up between riding on the shoulders of a unicyclist and winning a hamster ball race.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?4th grade when we had to write tall-tales for a class assignment. I would pretend to lose the stories so I would have to write a new one each day. The kids in my carpool would read them aloud on the way home, and we would laugh and laugh.
My favorite one was about a dog that caught bank robbers. Funny I’m still writing about bank robbers today.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I prefer my books to be light-hearted and thought-provoking. Which might be why I like children’s books so much. I also prefer contemporary. My apologies to all you amazing sci-fi, fantasy, and Amish authors.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Bubble baths.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Names are one of my favorite things. I try to vary syllables and letters when naming different characters in a story, but it always comes back to intuition. Then I try to give the name meaning, as well.
For example, Laney Winters runs All-Seasons Security. And you find out later in the story that she changed her name to Winters when she moved in with her grandmother as a child. The last part of her life has (figuratively) been a very long winter, and she has to learn trust so that the sun can shine again.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Letting go of who I thought I should be.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A dolphin.
What is your favorite food?Homemade bread.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Fear of failure. I overcame it by failing. A lot. And becoming stronger because of it.
Tell us about the featured book.
False Security is part of a boxed set of romantic suspense novellas with a couple other romantic suspense authors here in Idaho. They all write for Love Inspired Suspense, while I’m new to the genre. We call ourselves Team Love on the Run. Here’s a little blurb about each of our stories:False Security Angela Ruth Strong Alex Pierce needs Laney Winters to help him prove neither of them is responsible for the millions of dollars that went missing after Laney arrested him for bank robbery five years ago. Besides Laney not believing he truly repented in prison, there’s the problem of the real thief trying to kill her and the police department treating her like a dirty cop. With the possibility of another crime being pinned on them, Laney finally teams up with Alex to save her life. If only she could trust him with her heart, as well.
Framed Secrets Heather Woodhaven Small town girl Kathleen Wicks has been looking forward to her first real art show all her life. When Matt Kaplan, handsome stockbroker and her college nemesis, is the first in attendance, Kathleen is sure it's a sick joke ... until he buys one of her paintings to have shipped back home. Elated after a foreign investor then purchases all her work, Kathleen figures she must be on the fast track to making a name for herself. But when the investor returns with a gun and demands to know where the other frame went Kathleen and Matt must find the frame, and the secret it holds, before they get killed. Or worse … fall in love.
Sanctuary Hidden (WITSEC TownSeries 2.5) Lisa Phillips When Cyan Greene finds decades-old evidence hidden among her dead mother’s belongings she’s plunged back into a world of run and hide. NFL quarterback Nate Mason knows more than he should about the secret witness protection town of Sanctuarywhere Cyan grew up. He’s the perfect person to protect Cyan; except he doesn’t know a thing about being a bodyguard. When the mob catches up with them, and an old nemesis interferes, Nate is the only one who stands between the woman he’s come to care about … and the people trying to silence her forever.
They all sound intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.It wouldn’t take a pro to break into the new law office on Broadway. Glass doors with standard locks and a lack of cameras? Heck, Laney’s own grandmother could do it.
She handed her business folder to the young attorney. It was really a no brainer. He needed security. He’d hire her.
“Basically, I’m offering a consulting package that will help you choose the best equipment and services to prevent crimes—both physical and electronic.”
Joseph Morgan Jr. rifled through the contents of her folder. “And your background is with the Spokane Police Department?”
“Yes.” Hopefully he wouldn’t ask why she didn’t work for them anymore. “I investigated robberies, so I have a lot of experience with what works and what doesn’t.”
Morgan nodded. “Well, thank you very much for your time, Ms. Winters. I have one more consultant I’m going to meet with before making a decision.”
Laney tilted her head. Did he say another consultant? Who else was in the area? There were tons of providers but not any other consultants that she knew of.
Morgan motioned past her. “Oh, here he is now.”
She pivoted, squinting to make out her competition’s face as he strode toward the building. Or more like strutted. He was one of those guys who wore designer jeans with a sports coat and lots of goo in his hair. He wasn’t a consultant. He was a salesman—more interested in getting paid than actually doing the job.
Why did his strut look familiar? Why did her guts turn with dread?
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.angelaruthstrong.com
www.teamloveontherun.com
http://www.amazon.com/Team-Love-Run-Box-Set-1-ebook/dp/B00TVD8UUY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426173809&sr=8-1&keywords=team+love+on+the+run
Thank you, Angela, for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait for my copy of the book to arrive. I know I'll love it. So will my readers.
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
April 13, 2015
THE CAPTIVE IMPOSTER - Dawn Crandall - One Free Ebook
Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to once again host this author, who is also represented by the same agent I am. Recently, the first book in this series, The Hesitant Heiress, won the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence in Romance. We’re all proud of her.Welcome back, Dawn. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?I need to catch my breath! I know lots of people think I’m super woman and wrote these three books crazy fast, but that isn’t the case at all! They just released from my publisher crazy fast! I had the first two books already written when I signed the book contract, and then had to finish the third while I was struggling through having pregnancy brain, and then having my first baby! I am not a fast writer AT ALL. So, since I’m basically starting from scratch all over again, I really have no idea what kind of time-frame I’ll be working with!
Tell us a little about your family.I have been married for ten years, and we have a just-turned-one-year-old baby boy. J
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?Writing has definitely changed my reading habits. It’s more difficult to get excited about reading a book now because I know I will need to make an effort to turn my editor-brain off to simply enjoy a book. Even with my favorite authors! Not that I find much to “edit”, but it’s the whole mental process of opening the book to find out what’s inside. It’s so different now. What are you working on right now?I have always known I would continue on with more characters from this series! Next is Vance Everstone’s turn—that man needs some redemption! And he needs a heroine too!—Violet is introduced in The Captive Imposter ! And after that, I plan to revisit two other female characters the readers have been introduced to in the series so far.
What outside interests do you have?Right now, writing, launching these first three books and being a mom pretty much takes up all my time!
How do you choose your settings for each book?I just love the Victorian architecture of Back Bay, Boston and the huge cottages of Bar Harbor, Maine! Those were the settings in the first two books. However, the heroine in The Captive Imposter is separated from her family and friends in a much needed break from society. Her story takes place at a mountain resort on a huge lake in Central Maine.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?I would choose to spend the time with Jane Austen, and I would talk about our shared love of writing … and I would gush to her about her books!
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?I wish I had known how quickly everything would happen! I would have started writing sooner than five years ago.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?That I need to depend on HIM to keep my sanity through these crazy, busy times!
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Join American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), go to the national ACFW conference, and connect with fellow serious writers.
Tell us about the featured book.Sent away for protection, hotel heiress Estella Everstone finds herself living undercover as a lady’s companion named Elle Stoneburner at one of her father’s opulent hotels in the mountains of Maine—the one she'd always loved best and always hoped to own one day, Everston. The one thing she doesn't like about the situation is that her ex-fiancé is in the area and is set on marrying someone else. Reeling from her feelings of being unwanted and unworthy, Estella reluctantly forms a friendship with the gruff manager of Everston, Dexter Blakeley, who seems to have something against wealthy young socialites with too much money, although they are just the kind of people Everston caters to.
When Estella finds herself in need of help, Dexter comes to the rescue with an offer she can't refuse. She sees no other choice aside from going back home to her family and accepts the position as companion to his sister. Throughout her interactions with Dexter, she can't deny the pull that's evidenced between them every time he comes near. Estella realizes that while she's been hiding behind a false name and identity, she’s never been freer to be herself than when she's with Dexter Blakeley. But will he still love her when he finds out she's Estella Everstone? She's not entirely sure.
Please give us the first page of the book.
“This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight….”—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, EvangelineSunday, September 6, 1891Portland, Maine“Everston?” My voice cracked. It sounded very unladylike, which, I supposed, was allowable, considering the situation.
Mrs. Macy and Mrs. Granton both turned to stare at me.
I suppose it was rather odd to them that I’d spoken. I hadn’t said much in the three months they’d known me. It was generally my way, but the mention of Everston had sliced right through my otherwise resolved discreetness.
“Just think, being surrounded by all those green mountains, all that fresh air…. I think Mother will enjoy the cooler weather there. Don’t you, Miss Stoneburner?” Mrs. Macy asked.
As if she valued my opinion.
She didn’t, of course, so I remained silent. I was just the companion she’d hired for her elderly, recently widowed mother, Mrs. Myrtle Granton.
I was only Elle Stoneburner now.
What a shock it would be to Mrs. Macy if I revealed the truth. If only I could tell her that, more than being my reference, the formidable Bram Everstone was also my father, and that Everston—where she proposed sending us—one of his opulent mountain hotels.
I hadn’t been to that particular hotel in thirteen years—ever since the summer before my mother had died. It wasn’t that I thought anyone there might recognize me as Estella Everstone, for I’d been only eight at the time. No, the only person there who might recognize me was the last person on earth I never wanted to see again.
Jay.
Moments later, Mrs. Macy rose from her chair and looked down at me. “Then it’s settled. You’ll leave tomorrow.”
I took in this information as silently as I normally would have, though what I really desired to do was argue that there were plenty of other, wonderfully situated hotels in the Appalachian Mountain region of central Maine that would suffice.
Please, God—anywhere but Everston.
Mrs. Macy walked toward the door to the hall, leaving her mother and me seated upon the sofa. She turned to add, “Miss Stoneburner, you don’t have much to pack. But do help Mother, will you?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I never hated two words more than those! Never in my life had so much been asked of me with nothing given in return. It wore at my reserves every hour of the day. I didn’t know how I would survive the remainder of the summer.
But I really didn’t have a choice.
“Cheer up, young lass.” Mrs. Granton smiled with a sparkle in her eye. “Don’t you know what kinds of adventures await? We will likely find you a fine young husband while we’re there. I’m thinking you would much prefer the position of wife over companion to someone with one foot in the grave.”
“No, Mrs. Granton. You’re wonderful, but I—”
“Wouldn’t you like a husband?”
Jay’s chocolate brown eyes came to mind, as did his warm smile. I shook my head as if to dispel the image. “A husband is the last thing I’m concerned about finding at the moment, Mrs. Granton.”
Finding a way to trust my heart again…that would have to come first.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Facebook: facebook.com/DawnCrandallWritesFirst
Book Review Blog: www.APassionforPages.blogspot.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dawnwritesfirst
Twitter: @dawnwritesfirst / www.twitter.com/dawnwritesfirst
Author Website: www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bilhmvGoodReads: www.goodreads.com/dawn_crandallAmazon: www.amazon.com/author/dawncrandall
Thank you, Dawn, for sharing this new book with us. And congratulations of winning the Gayle Wilson Award.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
The Captive Imposter (The Everstone Chronicles Book 3)
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
April 12, 2015
WINNERS!!!!!
Sm (CA) is the winner of
Jessie's Pearls
by Patti Lacy.
Bonnie (KY) is the winner of The Pharaoh's Daughter by Mesu Andrews.
Sharon (SC) is the winner of The Postcard by Laura V Hilton.
Mary P (Aus) is the winner of the ebook Her Nerdy Cowboy by Annette M Irby.
Maxie (TX) is the winner of Laurel by Susan F Craft.
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.
Bonnie (KY) is the winner of The Pharaoh's Daughter by Mesu Andrews.
Sharon (SC) is the winner of The Postcard by Laura V Hilton.
Mary P (Aus) is the winner of the ebook Her Nerdy Cowboy by Annette M Irby.
Maxie (TX) is the winner of Laurel by Susan F Craft.
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.
April 11, 2015
April 10, 2015
UNBOUND - J B Simmons - One Free Book
Welcome, J B. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.When I write, I try to get myself out of the way. Every character may have some little piece of me, but there are also pieces of those around me and of universal human nature. I’m fascinated by personality types, and these can play a big part in figuring out who a character is. At the end of the day, if a character can’t hold his or her own outside my mind, that character won’t add much to a story. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I like running. I like biking. I like Sparta. So a couple years ago, when a friend and I signed up for a “Muddy Buddy” trail race, we decided this couldn’t be just any race. This was a race for Spartans. We donned scarlet togas and charged through the forest and mud pits. We may not have made the cut for 300, but it was pretty epic … and quirky.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I went to law school with a goal of sharpening my writing skills. Then, about seven years ago, late one night, I was toiling over a legal brief and asking myself hard questions: “Who am I, why am I here, what am I doing?” An answer flashed in my mind like a bolt of lightning: “You are a writer.” It took me a while to lean into that calling, but ever since, I’ve felt peace when filling a page with words.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I try to read too many books at once. So, I’m sticking to four books of four different types. Here are the types with a recent example each: (1) Non-fiction on personal growth and faith (Celebration of Discipline); (2) Historical or religious fiction that teaches me something I need to learn (The Lion’s Gate); (3) Epic, complex, and long fiction (The Wheel of Time); (4) Fun and fast fiction, often Young Adult (The Fault in our Stars).
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I start with a quiet time every morning. I drink coffee, then I write. Things get hectic from there: three kids under age five, an intriguing day job, and sweeping events of the world. But my morning ritual anchors me down. Even if I’m crazy by the end of a day, I can try again the next day, starting with quiet time, coffee, and writing. It’s all about the process—“running with endurance the race that’s set before us.”
How do you choose your characters’ names?First, it’s a gut instinct. Often the names are symbolic or representative of a character trait. But I’m not wedded to the initial name I use. Several characters’ names have changed through the editing process. (For those who have read my Gloaming books, you’ll never guess Andor’s original name…)
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Marrying my wife. She’s the most amazing person I know. I wouldn’t be anywhere close to the person I am today without her in my life.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Speaking of my better half, I asked her this question. Her answer: a puma. The Wikipedia description is pretty spot-on: the puma is “crepuscular” (there’s your word of the day—it means most active at dawn and dusk), “capable of sprinting,” and “typically an ambush predator.” That’s me, a crepuscular ambush predator!
Thanks for the new word of the day. I’d never heard that one, and I have a rather large vocabulary. What is your favorite food?Does coffee count? No? Well, then, I like salty more than sweet. I eat an unusual amount of tasty chips. Favorite kind: Red Hot Blues.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Creating the habit of writing every day. It took me years to write my first book. It took me a couple months to write the first draft of Unbound . Writing is so much better when it’s regular. Two books had huge impacts on me in this area: On Writing by Stephen King and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. If you’re serious about writing, they’re must-reads.
Tell us about the featured book.
Unbound
started with little questions about a huge idea. The book of Revelation says that, after one thousand years bound in chains, “the dragon, that ancient serpent ... must be released for a little while.” That’s hard to understand. Why would anyone unleash the bad guy? What would the bad guy do, and how long is a little while? I began writing about this and, pretty soon, the characters spun the story into a trilogy. National radio host Hugh Hewitt describes the story as “The Da Vinci Code meets The Hunger Games meets Left Behind.” It has elements of all of those. My aim was to make it a gripping, thrilling read, and readers seem to agree. A common thread of readers’ reviews is that Unbound offers a fresh look at the end times—and it’s hard to put down.
Here’s the back blurb:
He must be released for a little while.
But the one who sees doesn’t believe.
Elijah Goldsmith has nightmares he needs to ignore. Why would a rich kid from Manhattan dream three straight nights about a dragon and the destruction of St. Peter’s Basilica? He’s never even been to Rome.
It’s bad timing, too. He’s graduating soon and applying to be a spy in the International Security Agency. That’s where he meets Naomi. She’s the kind of girl who makes boys like Elijah want to share their secrets. Were they brought together to learn what his secrets mean? There’s more to their sparks than they think.
This is 2066, the year the world ends.
Sounds intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.My pleasure! Here it is (plus a little extra):I stood in the piazza facing St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Bodies pressed around me and a pope’s voice boomed in my ears. The ground began to tremble, as if aching under the crowd’s weight. The cobblestones lurched under my feet. I staggered, tripped over someone, and fell flat on my back. People started running and screaming.
The sky darkened like nothing I’d ever seen. Lightning rolled through black clouds that were not there a moment before. A bolt struck the center of the piazza, hitting the cross atop the towering obelisk. The thunderclap was deafening. The obelisk tilted and fell, taking the cross down with it. Just as it crashed on the ground, the piazza split open—as if a giant had grabbed the colonnades on either side and ripped them apart. Hundreds of people plummeted into the chasm as I scrambled away to the piazza’s far edge.
The splitting earth spread to the Basilica. Spider-web cracks splintered over the dome. The ancient stone groaned, swayed, and then imploded on itself. An enormous cloud of dust and debris billowed out into the chaos.
Then a shape rose from the chasm. Where the obelisk had been, a creature hovered low in the sky. It was like a dragon, but no storybook dragon. Ribbons of shadow and smoke coiled and danced around its long, slender form. Above its sentient face, onyx horns the size of trees stabbed into the sky. Its wings covered the entire width of the piazza.
A man walked toward the creature and paused at the chasm’s edge. The creature fixed its red eyes on him as if seeing an old friend. He was a stunning man, with a flawless face and dark hair to his shoulders. His gray suit showed no blemish or wrinkle, despite the wind and the chaos. I knew him, but I could not name him. I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t move. I could only feel the blackness, feel the end. It had to end.
And then it did. I woke up covered in sweat.
This was three nights in a row. Three nights of the same stupid nightmare. It had come from nowhere. I’d never even been to Rome.
I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and ran my hands through my hair. Today of all days, I could not have these visions in my head.
Wow! Just wow! How can readers find you on the Internet?The best place is my website:
Thank you, J B, for sharing this book with us. It sounds powerful. I know my readers will like it.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Unbound (The Omega Trilogy) (Volume 1) - Paperback
Unbound (The Omega Trilogy 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
April 9, 2015
WHEN THE REAL THING COMES ALONG - Faith Simone - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I’m interviewing a debut novelist today.
Bio: Faith Simone is a poet, playwright, and novelist. She is also an active blogger, sharing her personal thoughts, book reviews, and tips for writers on her website FaithSimone.com. Simone is passionate about using her gift of writing as a tool to help promote humanity, understanding, and compassion.
Welcome, Faith. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Well, I think I stay pretty distant from my characters. But my close friends and family say that they see a lot of my main character, Jacelynn, in me. So I guess I’m a tad bit delusional. It seems to be a necessary character trait for most writers.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I do quirky things all the time: record YouTube videos about random subjects that I never upload, hold personal auditions for American Idol with myself, interview myself, and give my personal opinions of current events. I’m truly the most interesting person I know lol!
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I was about 10 years old when I first decided I wanted to be a writer. I let practicality get in the way of pursuing it. Then I had a life changing event and decided that life is too short to not spend it the way you really want to.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I enjoy all kinds of books! From romance to chick lit to suspense (as long as it’s not too scary) to the classics to African American literature, romantic comedy, women’s fiction. I could go on and on …
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Well, judging by my answers to the second question, I’d say I failed the sanity test a long time ago. But I try to take time to disconnect from technology, friends, and family and just sit with myself. It keeps me balanced. If I don’t I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Another thing I do it to practice the act of gratitude as much as possible. Being grateful has so many benefits, including helping you to slow down and appreciate the little things.
How do you choose your characters’ names?It’s totally random. I just think about the character as a person and imagine what their name should be. Pretty easy and there’s no method to my madness on that one.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Being the kind of person who is always there for loved ones in a crisis. Those are the times when my love has the opportunity to shine the brightest.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I’d be a butterfly. They’re beautiful, they’ve been through a major transformation, and they fly!
What is your favorite food?Anything sweet and baked. After that, pizza is close second.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Being easily distracted used to be a big problem for me. Not during the actual act of writing, but making time to slow down and actually make an effort was a problem. To overcome it, I simply channeled the bull dog determination I’m known for and committed that unless I died, I wouldn’t let anything stop me from writing. During the writing of When the Real Thing Comes Along , I made an impromptu move from Texas to Michigan to Tennessee, cared for a sick loved one, and found a new 9-5 job. Through it all, I was determined to finish and get that book out. Eventually, I did!
Tell us about the featured book.
When the Real Thing Comes Along
is a mix of romance, coming of age, faith, and challenging choices. Readers who enjoy unpredictable character driven stories will love WTRTCA! Here’s the official blurb:
She loved and lost … Will faith give her the courage she needs to love again?
Jacelynn appears to have it all together: a great relationship with her boyfriend Jason who is truly a man after God’s own heart, a decent career and the love of family and friends. But when an unwelcome reminder from her past shows up, her previously uncomplicated world is turned upside down. Will she jeopardize what she has with Jason in an attempt to rewrite the mistakes of her past?
They say you never forget your first love, no matter how hard you try. So far, Jacelynn has done a pretty good job of forgetting Taylor, the boy who had her heart first. When Taylorreturns several years later as a man requesting a second chance, what’s a girl to do … Especially when she already has a new man?
The hidden issues of Jacelynn’s heart come to light, and she’s forced take a hard look in the mirror while making choices that will change her future forever. Will she be able to reconcile who she was then, with who she is in Christ now?
Living and loving in faith isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. That’s what happens … When the Real Thing Comes Along
Please give us the first page of the book.At first Jacelynn actually thought that she was hallucinating. She figured that her mind must be playing tricks on her. One minute she was going through her normal church routine: making sure there were enough programs for the service, verbalizing assignments for the youth assistants, etc. The next minute she was struggling not to pass out at the sight of a blast from her past. Swaying slightly, Jacelynn leaned against the wall and signaled to one of the other ushers that she needed to be relieved from her post. Since the service hadn’t even started yet, Latonya, the little teenage girl that took her place, made it clear that she was being put out. Ten minutes later, after chugging a glass of ice water in the fellowship hall and holding her head between her knees, Jacelynn returned to her position at the rear entrance of the church.
She stood there, confident that the dim lighting in the sanctuary had caused her to see something, or rather someone, that wasn’t there. She tried to smile and greet people as they walked through the church doors but her nerves were so shaken that she gave up. Finally, she worked up the courage to look for him in the crowd of people already seated. She recognized him instantly. She would know the back of that head anywhere.
The minister of music fired up the organ and the praise leaders took their places at the front of the church. Jacelynn’s heart dropped and her lungs felt like they were about to collapse. This time she didn’t bother to signal Latonya. She simply walked over to the first pew she saw and sagged onto it.
Taking slow shallow breaths, she continued to sit there as people sung, shouted, fell out and recovered. All she could see was the back of that head in a sea of heads. An hour and forty-five minutes later she still hadn’t moved. But, she knew that she had to get out of there before that head turned around.
The door to her freedom was about sixty feet away. If she moved quickly she could easily make it out of the church and into the sanctuary of her car in one minute flat. Her heart beat fast against her rib cage as Pastor Greer finished up the benediction, “In the precious name of your holy Son … ” Jacelynn grabbed her purse and took a shallow breath. By the time “amen” drifted from the lips of fellow worshipers she was pushing the plexiglass doors open while disgracefully sprinting across the parking lot.
With shaking hands she turned the ignition of her 2011 Honda Civic. She exited the parking lot with little regard for oncoming traffic, barely noticing the screeching brakes that echoed in her wake. On autopilot Jacelynn mashed the gas pedal and merged onto the 91 Freeway. She ignored the indignant honks and focused on trying to regulate her breathing as she deftly changed lanes in the light Sunday afternoon traffic. Ten minutes later, she jerked her car into the underground garage of her apartment, threw the gear shift into park, and ran through the courtyard. She was completely oblivious to the snickers from the teenage boys admiring the sight of her behind bouncing slightly as she bounded up the stairs. Once she was safely inside, she locked the door and closed her curtains to the blinding Southern California sun. Slumping onto the couch she kicked off her stilettos.
He’d finally found her. Not that she’d been hiding; he simply hadn’t been looking in the right places.
Until now.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m everywhere! I love hearing from readers, so don’t hesitate to contact me. Website: FaithSimone.com http://www.faithsimone.com
Facebook: Author Faith Simonehttp://facebook.com/AuthorFaithSimone
Twitter:@FaithSimone2011https://twitter.com/FaithSimone2011
GoodreadsFaith Simonehttp://goodreads.com/FaithSimone
Google+Google.com/+FaithSimonehttps://www.google.com/+FaithSimone
Amazon Author PageFaith Simonehttp://www.amazon.com/author/faithsimone
Thank you, Faith, for sharing your new book with us. I know my readers will love it. I can hardly wait to read it myself.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
When the Real Thing Comes Along - Paperback
When the Real Thing Comes Along
- Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Bio: Faith Simone is a poet, playwright, and novelist. She is also an active blogger, sharing her personal thoughts, book reviews, and tips for writers on her website FaithSimone.com. Simone is passionate about using her gift of writing as a tool to help promote humanity, understanding, and compassion.
Welcome, Faith. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Well, I think I stay pretty distant from my characters. But my close friends and family say that they see a lot of my main character, Jacelynn, in me. So I guess I’m a tad bit delusional. It seems to be a necessary character trait for most writers.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I do quirky things all the time: record YouTube videos about random subjects that I never upload, hold personal auditions for American Idol with myself, interview myself, and give my personal opinions of current events. I’m truly the most interesting person I know lol!
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I was about 10 years old when I first decided I wanted to be a writer. I let practicality get in the way of pursuing it. Then I had a life changing event and decided that life is too short to not spend it the way you really want to.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I enjoy all kinds of books! From romance to chick lit to suspense (as long as it’s not too scary) to the classics to African American literature, romantic comedy, women’s fiction. I could go on and on …
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Well, judging by my answers to the second question, I’d say I failed the sanity test a long time ago. But I try to take time to disconnect from technology, friends, and family and just sit with myself. It keeps me balanced. If I don’t I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Another thing I do it to practice the act of gratitude as much as possible. Being grateful has so many benefits, including helping you to slow down and appreciate the little things.
How do you choose your characters’ names?It’s totally random. I just think about the character as a person and imagine what their name should be. Pretty easy and there’s no method to my madness on that one.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Being the kind of person who is always there for loved ones in a crisis. Those are the times when my love has the opportunity to shine the brightest.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I’d be a butterfly. They’re beautiful, they’ve been through a major transformation, and they fly!
What is your favorite food?Anything sweet and baked. After that, pizza is close second.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Being easily distracted used to be a big problem for me. Not during the actual act of writing, but making time to slow down and actually make an effort was a problem. To overcome it, I simply channeled the bull dog determination I’m known for and committed that unless I died, I wouldn’t let anything stop me from writing. During the writing of When the Real Thing Comes Along , I made an impromptu move from Texas to Michigan to Tennessee, cared for a sick loved one, and found a new 9-5 job. Through it all, I was determined to finish and get that book out. Eventually, I did!
Tell us about the featured book.
When the Real Thing Comes Along
is a mix of romance, coming of age, faith, and challenging choices. Readers who enjoy unpredictable character driven stories will love WTRTCA! Here’s the official blurb: She loved and lost … Will faith give her the courage she needs to love again?
Jacelynn appears to have it all together: a great relationship with her boyfriend Jason who is truly a man after God’s own heart, a decent career and the love of family and friends. But when an unwelcome reminder from her past shows up, her previously uncomplicated world is turned upside down. Will she jeopardize what she has with Jason in an attempt to rewrite the mistakes of her past?
They say you never forget your first love, no matter how hard you try. So far, Jacelynn has done a pretty good job of forgetting Taylor, the boy who had her heart first. When Taylorreturns several years later as a man requesting a second chance, what’s a girl to do … Especially when she already has a new man?
The hidden issues of Jacelynn’s heart come to light, and she’s forced take a hard look in the mirror while making choices that will change her future forever. Will she be able to reconcile who she was then, with who she is in Christ now?
Living and loving in faith isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. That’s what happens … When the Real Thing Comes Along
Please give us the first page of the book.At first Jacelynn actually thought that she was hallucinating. She figured that her mind must be playing tricks on her. One minute she was going through her normal church routine: making sure there were enough programs for the service, verbalizing assignments for the youth assistants, etc. The next minute she was struggling not to pass out at the sight of a blast from her past. Swaying slightly, Jacelynn leaned against the wall and signaled to one of the other ushers that she needed to be relieved from her post. Since the service hadn’t even started yet, Latonya, the little teenage girl that took her place, made it clear that she was being put out. Ten minutes later, after chugging a glass of ice water in the fellowship hall and holding her head between her knees, Jacelynn returned to her position at the rear entrance of the church.
She stood there, confident that the dim lighting in the sanctuary had caused her to see something, or rather someone, that wasn’t there. She tried to smile and greet people as they walked through the church doors but her nerves were so shaken that she gave up. Finally, she worked up the courage to look for him in the crowd of people already seated. She recognized him instantly. She would know the back of that head anywhere.
The minister of music fired up the organ and the praise leaders took their places at the front of the church. Jacelynn’s heart dropped and her lungs felt like they were about to collapse. This time she didn’t bother to signal Latonya. She simply walked over to the first pew she saw and sagged onto it.
Taking slow shallow breaths, she continued to sit there as people sung, shouted, fell out and recovered. All she could see was the back of that head in a sea of heads. An hour and forty-five minutes later she still hadn’t moved. But, she knew that she had to get out of there before that head turned around.
The door to her freedom was about sixty feet away. If she moved quickly she could easily make it out of the church and into the sanctuary of her car in one minute flat. Her heart beat fast against her rib cage as Pastor Greer finished up the benediction, “In the precious name of your holy Son … ” Jacelynn grabbed her purse and took a shallow breath. By the time “amen” drifted from the lips of fellow worshipers she was pushing the plexiglass doors open while disgracefully sprinting across the parking lot.
With shaking hands she turned the ignition of her 2011 Honda Civic. She exited the parking lot with little regard for oncoming traffic, barely noticing the screeching brakes that echoed in her wake. On autopilot Jacelynn mashed the gas pedal and merged onto the 91 Freeway. She ignored the indignant honks and focused on trying to regulate her breathing as she deftly changed lanes in the light Sunday afternoon traffic. Ten minutes later, she jerked her car into the underground garage of her apartment, threw the gear shift into park, and ran through the courtyard. She was completely oblivious to the snickers from the teenage boys admiring the sight of her behind bouncing slightly as she bounded up the stairs. Once she was safely inside, she locked the door and closed her curtains to the blinding Southern California sun. Slumping onto the couch she kicked off her stilettos.
He’d finally found her. Not that she’d been hiding; he simply hadn’t been looking in the right places.
Until now.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m everywhere! I love hearing from readers, so don’t hesitate to contact me. Website: FaithSimone.com http://www.faithsimone.com
Facebook: Author Faith Simonehttp://facebook.com/AuthorFaithSimone
Twitter:@FaithSimone2011https://twitter.com/FaithSimone2011
GoodreadsFaith Simonehttp://goodreads.com/FaithSimone
Google+Google.com/+FaithSimonehttps://www.google.com/+FaithSimone
Amazon Author PageFaith Simonehttp://www.amazon.com/author/faithsimone
Thank you, Faith, for sharing your new book with us. I know my readers will love it. I can hardly wait to read it myself.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
When the Real Thing Comes Along - Paperback
When the Real Thing Comes Along
- KindleLeave 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
April 8, 2015
A Six-Book Series From the Past - Colleen Coble - 2 Free Books
Bio: USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Her romantic suspense novels including Tidewater Inn, Rosemary Cottage, and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series.
Welcome back. I’ve loved reading your books, Colleen. This series is something you and your publisher are doing. Tell us what is different about these six books and why they are being published right now.My first two novels were Heartsongs, published back in 1998. They have always been special to me because that series was part of the grieving I went through when my brother Randy was killed in a freak lightning accident. That tragedy pushed me into writing. My publisher and I have taken the first two books and broken them into a serialization. I’ve rewritten them and created cliffhangers at the end of each part to draw in the reader. I’m very excited to share these stories with a new group of readers!
My readers love to get to know the authors I feature. Please tell us something that probably no one knows about you.I’m terrified of spiders. J I can pick up snakes with no problem, but I run screaming from spiders the size of pinheads.
I don’t do the snake thing, but if the spider is small, I will squash one. Why did you become an author?I wanted to write from the time I was in the first grade. My dream was to have a book in the library. Writing is how I make sense of the world. It’s how I work through the struggles I see around me and experience myself. I’ve been a big reader all my life, and to be able to create characters myself is such a joy!
I know you’re multi-published, but how has being published changed your life?Oh, it’s changed me in so many ways! I love helping others get started in their journeys, and being published has given me more confidence as well. It’s brought fulfillment in so many ways.
Do you have any hobbies besides writing and reading?I love to travel! In 2013 we went to Cambodia, and that was life-changing. We support a missionary there who ministers to orphans and starts churches in the villages. We so love the people there, and we are returning in July. I used to crochet and quilt, but both those hobbies have fallen by the wayside as my writing took off.
My crafts have fallen by the wayside, too. Can you tell us a little about the stories themselves?They are set on western forts. I was a huge John Wayne and old westerns fan, and it seemed natural to write those settings as I began my career. I happened to read a journal written by Custer’s wife, and until I read it, I hadn’t realized there were women on the western forts with the Sioux rampaging all around. My imagination was hooked, and I knew I had to write about it!
Please give us a peek into the first book. Maybe the first page.Wabash, Indiana, October 1865 Autumn’s chill matched Sarah Montgomery’s heart. The Civil War had taken so much from her, and it seemed impossible for life to ever get to a hopeful place. The scent of turning leaves lingered in the air as she sat on a porch rocking chair beside her father who was huddled in a blanket. Her bustle bunched under her uncomfortably, but she wanted to be close to her ill father for as long as possible before Ben arrived.
The sun lingered on the horizon, casting rays of gold and red across the Indianasky. In the distance, she could see the silhouettes of the workers in the field as they tossed the last of the ears of corn into the wagon behind the horses.
“Bed sounds better than a party.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m getting tired of dances every night, though I can’t begrudge everyone’s revelry.” The Union was preserved, but the price had been so high. Scarcely a family in the county had been spared the loss of a loved one.
Her father coughed and tugged the blanket higher on his chest. “I’m glad you’re beginning to enjoy life again. Randwouldn’t want you to grieve.”
“No. No, he wouldn’t.” But what no one seemed to understand was that her fiancé’s death in the war had left a hole that couldn’t be filled. Not ever.
His cold hand clamped down on her wrist. “I need to see you settled before I die, Sarah.”
She flinched. “Don’t talk like that, Papa.” She couldn’t bear to lose him—not when she’d already lost so much.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?I love to connect with readers!
My website is www.colleencoble.com, and I answer every email. I’m also on Facebook at colleencoblebooks and twitter @colleencoble.
Thanks for having me, Lena!
Thank you, Colleen, for spending this time with us. I just love reading all your books.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. A Heart's Disguise:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0529103419?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0529103419&linkCode=xm2&tag=lenneldoochaw-20
A Heart's Obsession:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0718031652?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0718031652&linkCode=xm2&tag=lenneldoochaw-20
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of both books. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Welcome back. I’ve loved reading your books, Colleen. This series is something you and your publisher are doing. Tell us what is different about these six books and why they are being published right now.My first two novels were Heartsongs, published back in 1998. They have always been special to me because that series was part of the grieving I went through when my brother Randy was killed in a freak lightning accident. That tragedy pushed me into writing. My publisher and I have taken the first two books and broken them into a serialization. I’ve rewritten them and created cliffhangers at the end of each part to draw in the reader. I’m very excited to share these stories with a new group of readers!My readers love to get to know the authors I feature. Please tell us something that probably no one knows about you.I’m terrified of spiders. J I can pick up snakes with no problem, but I run screaming from spiders the size of pinheads.
I don’t do the snake thing, but if the spider is small, I will squash one. Why did you become an author?I wanted to write from the time I was in the first grade. My dream was to have a book in the library. Writing is how I make sense of the world. It’s how I work through the struggles I see around me and experience myself. I’ve been a big reader all my life, and to be able to create characters myself is such a joy!
I know you’re multi-published, but how has being published changed your life?Oh, it’s changed me in so many ways! I love helping others get started in their journeys, and being published has given me more confidence as well. It’s brought fulfillment in so many ways.Do you have any hobbies besides writing and reading?I love to travel! In 2013 we went to Cambodia, and that was life-changing. We support a missionary there who ministers to orphans and starts churches in the villages. We so love the people there, and we are returning in July. I used to crochet and quilt, but both those hobbies have fallen by the wayside as my writing took off.
My crafts have fallen by the wayside, too. Can you tell us a little about the stories themselves?They are set on western forts. I was a huge John Wayne and old westerns fan, and it seemed natural to write those settings as I began my career. I happened to read a journal written by Custer’s wife, and until I read it, I hadn’t realized there were women on the western forts with the Sioux rampaging all around. My imagination was hooked, and I knew I had to write about it!
Please give us a peek into the first book. Maybe the first page.Wabash, Indiana, October 1865 Autumn’s chill matched Sarah Montgomery’s heart. The Civil War had taken so much from her, and it seemed impossible for life to ever get to a hopeful place. The scent of turning leaves lingered in the air as she sat on a porch rocking chair beside her father who was huddled in a blanket. Her bustle bunched under her uncomfortably, but she wanted to be close to her ill father for as long as possible before Ben arrived.
The sun lingered on the horizon, casting rays of gold and red across the Indianasky. In the distance, she could see the silhouettes of the workers in the field as they tossed the last of the ears of corn into the wagon behind the horses.
“Bed sounds better than a party.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m getting tired of dances every night, though I can’t begrudge everyone’s revelry.” The Union was preserved, but the price had been so high. Scarcely a family in the county had been spared the loss of a loved one.Her father coughed and tugged the blanket higher on his chest. “I’m glad you’re beginning to enjoy life again. Randwouldn’t want you to grieve.”
“No. No, he wouldn’t.” But what no one seemed to understand was that her fiancé’s death in the war had left a hole that couldn’t be filled. Not ever.
His cold hand clamped down on her wrist. “I need to see you settled before I die, Sarah.”
She flinched. “Don’t talk like that, Papa.” She couldn’t bear to lose him—not when she’d already lost so much.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?I love to connect with readers!
My website is www.colleencoble.com, and I answer every email. I’m also on Facebook at colleencoblebooks and twitter @colleencoble.
Thanks for having me, Lena!
Thank you, Colleen, for spending this time with us. I just love reading all your books.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. A Heart's Disguise:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0529103419?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0529103419&linkCode=xm2&tag=lenneldoochaw-20
A Heart's Obsession:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0718031652?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0718031652&linkCode=xm2&tag=lenneldoochaw-20
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of both books. 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
April 7, 2015
BROKEN SILENCE - Annslee Urban - One Free Book
BIO: Annslee Urban grew up watching old-time romance movies, which she attributes to her passion for sweet romance, true love, and happy endings. A daydreamer at heart, she began her writing journey when the youngest of her five children started school. For several years she worked as a freelance writer for newspapers in her community and has written for magazines and online publications.
Raised in the foothills of Arizona, she survived temperature shock when she moved to Western Pennsylvania, before setting in North Carolinawith her husband and children. Aside from writing, Annslee works part-time as a Registered Nurse in the Behavioral Health field. She is a member of ACFW and has served as on the board of Carolina Christian Writers. She currently has 4 published novels. Her current book, Broken Silence , Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, released March 1.
When she isn’t writing, Annslee enjoys cooking, traveling to faraway places, playing with grandbabies and all things chocolate!
Welcome, Annslee. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon? My prayer is that I will continue to write for the Lord to allow me to witness to others through my writing.
Tell us a little about your family. I’ve been married for thirty-five years and have five children. We had three biological kids and then adopted a daughter from Peru and a son from Russia. Three of our children are married, and we are blessed to have six grandkiddos! Three grandsons and three granddaughters, ages four and under. Our family is very close. We love to get together often and go on yearly family vacations which often includes my siblings and their children. Family is a priceless gift J
That is so true. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?I rarely read non-fiction these days, concentrating instead on reading Inspirational Romantic Suspense since that’s what I’m currently writing.
What are you working on right now? I have a new Inspirational Romantic Suspense in the works. It is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I want to feature that one on my blog when it is published, too. What outside interests do you have? I love to cook. I collect recipes and enjoy cuisine from around the world. I also love to travel. I’m always looking for fun spots to visit for our next vacation. J Church activities, spending time with family and friends are also at the top of my list.
How do you choose your settings for each book? Honestly, whatever feels right with the story I’m writing. My last few books have been set in the South, North Carolina and Georgia. There’s a lot of quaint small towns that seem to work well with my stories.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?Corey Ten Boom. I loved her book, The Hiding Place and have heard a taped message she gave. She endured so much, losing her family, being in a concentration camp and through it all she held onto a strong trust in God. Her courage, faith, and forgiveness is an inspiration, and I’d love to spend an evening with her, sipping tea and hearing her story. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom“In darkness God's truth shines most clear.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels? I guess, I wish I knew more about the publishing business. I didn’t realize there was so much competition and how the process worked.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now? To pray. Throughout the day. About everything. My pastor said something that really hit a cord with me, “If it’s worth worrying about, it’s worth praying about.” I’ve always prayed, but sometimes life can be distracting and situations discouraging. Giving the concerns of my heart to Lord allows me peace, and praising Him for His constant blessings keeps everything my life in perspective. Romans 12:12 says, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Amen J
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful? Read the genre you write. Write what you are passionate about. Pray for the Lord’s direction and guidance.
Tell us about the featured book.
Broken Silence
is a Harlequin, Love Inspired Suspense. A story about lost love reunited: Here’s a little blurb.SHE'S HIDING A DEADLY SECRET…and someone wants to make sure Amber Talbot never reveals it. When she becomes the target of a car bomb and a home invasion, she gets the message loud and clear. If she tells anyone her secret, she will die. The person charged with protecting her is police detective Patrick Wiley—the fiancé she walked away from but never forgot. The same man she never wanted to tell about the attack that left her for dead. Back then Patrick couldn't save her. Now he must. Because the attacker has returned to finish what he started. Except this time he's got them both in his sights.
Please give us the first page of the book.The distant toll of the Chatham County, Georgia, clock tower rang twelve noon as Amber Talbot left the Safe Harbor Counseling Centerand headed down River Streetto her car.
The forecast had called for late afternoon thunderstorms here in Savannah, but already dark clouds hovered low in the sky. A rising breeze swept the tree-lined streets, rustling spring foliage and delivering a sudden chill to the air. Turning up her collar, Amber eyed the murky waves that boomed against wooden docks. Boats tied to their posts bobbed like corks in the water. Curling whitecaps crashed over their bows.
Amber pulled in a breath of humid air and picked up her pace. Perfect weather to snuggle up with a good book. Exactly what she needed. After weeks of being bogged down at work, she was treating herself to a restful weekend.
With those thoughts echoing in her head, Amber jogged up a short flight of steps to the parking lot. Lengthening her strides, she dug out her key fob and unlocked her car with a click.
“Ma’am, did you drop this?”
Amber spun in the direction of the male voice and found an older gentleman waving a manila envelope with her name sprawled across it.
She glanced at her open messenger bag, crammed full with her purse, client files and notes for her fund-raiser. How careless, she chastised herself, for forgetting to zip it closed.
Tucking the bag under her arm, she started toward the man. “Thank you, sir―”
A deafening blast filled the air.
Amber flew backward, landed hard on the pavement. Black smoke plumed in front of her. The ground shook as glass and metal rained down like a hailstorm. Scrambling to her knees, she hurled her arms over her head to protect it from the shower of stinging objects. A whoosh sounded, then she heard crackling as heat blanketed her. She willed herself to move but couldn’t.
I’m going to die!
“Lady, are you okay?” The man’s distant shriek filled her ears. “You need to get away from the flames!”
Amber’s body pulsed with pain. Smoke raked across her eyes like claws. She squeezed them shut, as coughs wracked her lungs. She pulled herself forward, crawling in the direction of the man’s voice. Shrapnel bit into her palms and knees, but adrenaline kept her moving, until the man grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet.
“I called 9-1-1. Help’s on the way,” the older man screeched between hacks. “Was that your car?”
Amber’s lungs burned. She worked to breathe. On shaky legs she managed to turn.The smoke had subsided some, but the car was engulfed in flames. Panic grew, her mind spun with shock.
“Yes,” she said, disbelieving. “That was my car.”
Wow! I can’t wait to read the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?annsleeurban@gmail.comwww.Annsleeurban.comhttp://Annsleeurban.blogspot.comhttps://www.facebook.com/mary.a.urban.9http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008HRODHE
Thank you for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait for my copy to arrive.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
- Amazon
Broken Silence (Love Inspired Suspense) - 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
Raised in the foothills of Arizona, she survived temperature shock when she moved to Western Pennsylvania, before setting in North Carolinawith her husband and children. Aside from writing, Annslee works part-time as a Registered Nurse in the Behavioral Health field. She is a member of ACFW and has served as on the board of Carolina Christian Writers. She currently has 4 published novels. Her current book, Broken Silence , Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, released March 1.
When she isn’t writing, Annslee enjoys cooking, traveling to faraway places, playing with grandbabies and all things chocolate!
Welcome, Annslee. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon? My prayer is that I will continue to write for the Lord to allow me to witness to others through my writing. Tell us a little about your family. I’ve been married for thirty-five years and have five children. We had three biological kids and then adopted a daughter from Peru and a son from Russia. Three of our children are married, and we are blessed to have six grandkiddos! Three grandsons and three granddaughters, ages four and under. Our family is very close. We love to get together often and go on yearly family vacations which often includes my siblings and their children. Family is a priceless gift J
That is so true. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?I rarely read non-fiction these days, concentrating instead on reading Inspirational Romantic Suspense since that’s what I’m currently writing.
What are you working on right now? I have a new Inspirational Romantic Suspense in the works. It is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I want to feature that one on my blog when it is published, too. What outside interests do you have? I love to cook. I collect recipes and enjoy cuisine from around the world. I also love to travel. I’m always looking for fun spots to visit for our next vacation. J Church activities, spending time with family and friends are also at the top of my list.
How do you choose your settings for each book? Honestly, whatever feels right with the story I’m writing. My last few books have been set in the South, North Carolina and Georgia. There’s a lot of quaint small towns that seem to work well with my stories.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?Corey Ten Boom. I loved her book, The Hiding Place and have heard a taped message she gave. She endured so much, losing her family, being in a concentration camp and through it all she held onto a strong trust in God. Her courage, faith, and forgiveness is an inspiration, and I’d love to spend an evening with her, sipping tea and hearing her story. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom“In darkness God's truth shines most clear.”
― Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels? I guess, I wish I knew more about the publishing business. I didn’t realize there was so much competition and how the process worked.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now? To pray. Throughout the day. About everything. My pastor said something that really hit a cord with me, “If it’s worth worrying about, it’s worth praying about.” I’ve always prayed, but sometimes life can be distracting and situations discouraging. Giving the concerns of my heart to Lord allows me peace, and praising Him for His constant blessings keeps everything my life in perspective. Romans 12:12 says, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Amen J
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful? Read the genre you write. Write what you are passionate about. Pray for the Lord’s direction and guidance.
Tell us about the featured book.
Broken Silence
is a Harlequin, Love Inspired Suspense. A story about lost love reunited: Here’s a little blurb.SHE'S HIDING A DEADLY SECRET…and someone wants to make sure Amber Talbot never reveals it. When she becomes the target of a car bomb and a home invasion, she gets the message loud and clear. If she tells anyone her secret, she will die. The person charged with protecting her is police detective Patrick Wiley—the fiancé she walked away from but never forgot. The same man she never wanted to tell about the attack that left her for dead. Back then Patrick couldn't save her. Now he must. Because the attacker has returned to finish what he started. Except this time he's got them both in his sights.Please give us the first page of the book.The distant toll of the Chatham County, Georgia, clock tower rang twelve noon as Amber Talbot left the Safe Harbor Counseling Centerand headed down River Streetto her car.
The forecast had called for late afternoon thunderstorms here in Savannah, but already dark clouds hovered low in the sky. A rising breeze swept the tree-lined streets, rustling spring foliage and delivering a sudden chill to the air. Turning up her collar, Amber eyed the murky waves that boomed against wooden docks. Boats tied to their posts bobbed like corks in the water. Curling whitecaps crashed over their bows.
Amber pulled in a breath of humid air and picked up her pace. Perfect weather to snuggle up with a good book. Exactly what she needed. After weeks of being bogged down at work, she was treating herself to a restful weekend.
With those thoughts echoing in her head, Amber jogged up a short flight of steps to the parking lot. Lengthening her strides, she dug out her key fob and unlocked her car with a click.
“Ma’am, did you drop this?”
Amber spun in the direction of the male voice and found an older gentleman waving a manila envelope with her name sprawled across it.
She glanced at her open messenger bag, crammed full with her purse, client files and notes for her fund-raiser. How careless, she chastised herself, for forgetting to zip it closed.
Tucking the bag under her arm, she started toward the man. “Thank you, sir―”
A deafening blast filled the air.
Amber flew backward, landed hard on the pavement. Black smoke plumed in front of her. The ground shook as glass and metal rained down like a hailstorm. Scrambling to her knees, she hurled her arms over her head to protect it from the shower of stinging objects. A whoosh sounded, then she heard crackling as heat blanketed her. She willed herself to move but couldn’t.
I’m going to die!
“Lady, are you okay?” The man’s distant shriek filled her ears. “You need to get away from the flames!”
Amber’s body pulsed with pain. Smoke raked across her eyes like claws. She squeezed them shut, as coughs wracked her lungs. She pulled herself forward, crawling in the direction of the man’s voice. Shrapnel bit into her palms and knees, but adrenaline kept her moving, until the man grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet.
“I called 9-1-1. Help’s on the way,” the older man screeched between hacks. “Was that your car?”
Amber’s lungs burned. She worked to breathe. On shaky legs she managed to turn.The smoke had subsided some, but the car was engulfed in flames. Panic grew, her mind spun with shock.
“Yes,” she said, disbelieving. “That was my car.”
Wow! I can’t wait to read the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?annsleeurban@gmail.comwww.Annsleeurban.comhttp://Annsleeurban.blogspot.comhttps://www.facebook.com/mary.a.urban.9http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008HRODHE
Thank you for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait for my copy to arrive.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
- Amazon
Broken Silence (Love Inspired Suspense) - 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
April 6, 2015
WIND IN THE WIRES - Janet Chester Bly - One Free Book
Welcome back, Janet. Why do you write the kind of books you do?The theme of all our fiction is to prepare the hearts of readers to receive God’s truth. But whether fiction or nonfiction, Bly books deal with relationship issues and encouraging readers to trust God more deeply in the tough hassles of life. Writing westerns was my late hubby Stephen’s genre. That grew out of his love of Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey fiction, his lifestyle growing up on a farm and later working on a ranch, and his knowledge gained of historical details of the era. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?The day in February 2006 when Stephen and I celebrated my birthday in Paris at the Eiffel Towerand it was gently snowing. So fun. And romantic. I’d love to have that event to live over again.
How has being published changed your life?Being published confirmed for me my God-given task, my main ministry. I know where to invest my time, strength, and gifts. Also, this has been an avenue for gaining so many acquaintances and friendships that never otherwise would have been possible. I’m thinking of readers and other writers, as well as various folks in the publishing field.
What are you reading right now?I have started re-reading all of my Anne Perry mystery novels. The Thomas Pitt and William Monk Series were some of her Victorian mysteries. I also have appreciated her World War II Series. She intrigued me so much as a writer that I did some research, was privileged to make personal contact with her via mail, and wrote an article on her work and her life. During the process I discovered a shocking truth about her personally. If you’re interested, you can find it out here: http://www.blybooks.com/2015/02/anne-perry-mysteries/
What is your current work in progress?I am working on three different projects in succession this Spring.
a.) Stephen’s first published book was entitled Radical Discipleship. With a bit of edit and adaptation, it is being re-released as 9 different eBooklets in The Following Jesus Series. Find the first two, The Way-Paver Society and The Pallet Carriers Union here: http://www.blybooks.com/ebooks-estories/
b.) Most of our novel series for kids are out of print. I am re-releasing them one at a time, starting with a fiction for boys 8-14 years old, The Nathan T. Riggins Series. Check out what’s available so far here: http://www.blybooks.com/genre/books-for-kids/.
c.) I’m aiming by the first of May to begin working on Book 2 of the Trails of Reba Cahill Series. Hope to have that book ready in the Fall.
What would be your dream vacation?These days a Reading Retreat sounds wonderful with nothing on the agenda except to read and look at beautiful scenery. In fact, have such a vacay scheduled sometime the next month in northern Idaho with a friend. Other vacations I love are anywhere I can include research for a story idea in the mix.
How do you choose your settings for each book?First of all, they have to be in one of the western states. That narrows it down a bit. Second, it has to be somewhere I/we spent some time or will be headed to. On location research is important. The beginning scenes in Wind in the Wires happen in a fictional town just like the one I live in, so that makes it so much easier. But then one of the characters insists on taking a long journey in a Model T to Goldfield, Nevada. That required a lot more work. Gets me out of the house on the road. Delightful part of my job.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?Whoever is reading this blog right now. Would love to sit with you and listen to your stories, and empathize with your troubles. I’d like to find out who you are and what you’ve done and what your plans are for the future. I love meeting new people and finding out interesting things about them. There are always pleasant surprises. And who knows? You could be the inspiration for a character in a novel sometime.
Good answer, Janet. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I used to have all sorts of hobbies, such as making wreaths, pottery, and embroidery. But all of those fell to the wayside when I started writing. Besides, I overdid it on all those activities. I made so many for friends and family and myself, there was no point in continuing.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?My husband was my partner and helpmeet in everything. We were so prolific because we had learned how to work together, support each other, and divided up all our various duties. As a widow, my main obstacle is the stuff of everyday life. I have to do it all myself now. There are so many details I once shared or didn’t have to do at all that now require my full attention. It’s unrelenting and saps my creative energy at times. One way I overcome being overwhelmed by it all is to remind myself it will never be completely finished. I will leave this world with undone tasks. Stephen did. So will I. That relieves the pressure that somehow I’m supposed to get everything done right now. I focus on one thing at a time. Also, I have found a tremendous power in taking time at the end of the day to enjoy and appreciate each project that does get done. I thank God for all He helped me do. That helps me cope and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Pray through every step of the process of your journey. Make the writing from the very start about your relationship with God. Keep Him front and center. Also, when life happens, don’t consider it as intrusions on your writing. Realize that nothing is ever wasted. The good and the bad, the joys and the ugly, they’re all grist for what you’ll communicate to your world of readers.
Tell us about the featured book.A cowgirl searches for love and family. An old man seeks justice for two cold case murders. Their
journey together exposes lies and betrayal. Will the truth be too hard for either to bear?It’s 1991. Reba Cahill loves ranching with Grandma Pearl in north central Idaho. But there’s a lot of work and only two of them. Reba wants a husband to come alongside. But she finds few prospects in the small town of Road’s End (pop. 400).
Reba is also missing something else: her mother. Deserted by her at three years old and never knowing her dad, she feels a sense of longing and loss. And bitterness.
When elderly, quirky Road’s End citizen Maidie Fortress dies, she’s given an expensive piece of jewelry that turns Reba’s world upside down. She’s led down unexpected paths and toward unsuspected admirers. Will the facts also ruin all hope for romance?
Please give us the first page of the book.May 1991, Road’s End, IdahoShe must find the runaway heifer. And get to Maidie’s funeral on time.
Reba Mae Cahill urged her black quarter horse to trudge through the spring green, muddy terrain. Recent rains and snowmelt gummed the pine-dotted, wild flower sprayed, high mountain prairie. Puddles and small ponds, tall grass and shadows made search tedious.Johnny Poe stalled.
“Come on, boy, Don said he saw her near here. Got to find that cow before Champ Runcie does. And return home quick.”
They rode the moss-covered wood post and barbed wire fence line as she checked the steel stays. A strong whoosh of wind made a ringing sound in the wires. She scanned the long length of Runcie Ranch fencing. Her glance caught at a break in the fence next to stacked tires filled with large rocks supposed to hold the fence in place. Certainly enough space for a moon-eyed, red bovine stray to escape. She peered closer and spied a cut at all five lines, now splayed on the ground.
Why would anyone do that?
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.BlyBooks.com https://www.facebook.com/janetchesterblyhttps://www.facebook.com/BlyBookshttps://twitter.com/blybooks/https://www.pinterest.com/janetcbly/https://www.goodreads.com/janetchesterbly
Sign up for Almost Monthly Newsletter:http://www.blybooks.com/contact/stephen-bly-books-newsletter/
Thank you, Janet, for sharing this new western with us.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Wind in the Wires: A Trails of Reba Cahill Novel
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
April 5, 2015
WINNERS!!!!!
Melanie (TX) is the winner of
How to Catch a Prince
by Rachel Hauck.
Apple Blossom (ND) is the winner of Miss Brenda and the Loveladies by Brenda Spahn.
Angela (FL) is the winner of Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar by Carol Guthrie Heilman.
J C (IN) is the winner of Salt Covenants by Sylvia Bambola.
Barb (NJ) is the winner of Writer Off the Leash by Michelle Griep.
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.
Apple Blossom (ND) is the winner of Miss Brenda and the Loveladies by Brenda Spahn.
Angela (FL) is the winner of Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar by Carol Guthrie Heilman.
J C (IN) is the winner of Salt Covenants by Sylvia Bambola.
Barb (NJ) is the winner of Writer Off the Leash by Michelle Griep.
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.
