Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 199

IMPERVIOUS - Heather Letto - One Free Book

Welcome, Heather. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Although I aim to bestow each main character their own identity, I must admit my fingerprints are all over them. Sometimes, they inherit identical personality quirks and sometimes just my personal dreams and aspirations are woven into their hearts. Not to mention, every now and then a snippet of drama drawn from my own life experiences will wander into their lives. One thing I can guarantee will always be part of the makeup of my characters is their faith—and it, consequently, mimics my own.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Such a great question for this season of my life! Because recently (as in just this past August) in a span of two weeks, my husband and I disengaged from most of our earthly possessions (we tossed, gave away, or sold a mountain of stuff!), and hit the road to live full-time in our RV. With the North Carolina coast as our launching pad, we’ve motored through majestic mountains and lush, green valleys, fertile farmlands, and sparkling cities. It’s definitely a quirky lifestyle… and I love it! And how long do we plan to do this? Meh, who knows?
When did you first discover that you were a writer?Interesting question! I discovered early on in life that I enjoyed and actually communicated much more effectively in writing than I did speaking. Therefore, expressing myself on paper became a natural medium of communication for me. My first writing gig began in the 1990’s when I approached the editor of the Chicago Daily Herald with a story idea and soon found myself working as a stringer for the neighborhood edition of the paper. Once I realized others might enjoy reading what I wrote, there was no stopping me.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Over the years, I’ve pretty much worked my way through all of the genres (okay, except horror. I totally can’t do horror!) At this stage of the game, I’m kind of a young-adult junkie…and love fantasy.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I’m a very laid back (and kind of keep to myself) type of person. I spend a lot of time daydreaming, praying, and hanging out with my best friend (who also happens to be my husband!) So, basically, I guess I just saunter when the rest of the world is running.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Each story and character is unique, and their names are derived in different ways. Sometimes I look for a similar biblical character, sometimes it’s phonetic, one that has meaning in another language. And sometimes the name just comes to me.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?To date, I’m amazed that I had a hand in raising two incredible sons who love God and their family and are making a major mark on this world (in a good way).
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A seagull or pelican. I’d sail around all day, eat fish, and hang out at the beach!!
What is your favorite food?That, of course, can change with my mood. But, I’m always a sucker for a warm, gooey, straight-from-the-oven, chocolate chip cookie.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Proofrading. Definitely, proofeading! (I’m still working my way through this particular roadblock.)
Tell us about the featured book. Impervious is the first book in the Ascension Series, an allegorical trilogy.
The residents of Impervious are the remnant—survivors of the War of Annihilation. And though the city is chockfull of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in its corners haunting the residents with its presence. The Beast—a mysterious and terminal illness—has killed off most of Generations One, Two, and Three. And as Gen-Four prepares to take the stage a provocative, yet questionable, new method to avoid an untimely death becomes a cultural rage.
But Fran is counter-cultural. And living off the grid in true rebel fashion, her life is far from opulent. Scurrying through dark tunnels, searching for hot meals and ditching the holographic security team encompass most of her day. However, she views it as a healthy trade-off. Unaccountability means The Council can’t steal her sliver of hope—a belief that she’ll see The Epoch arrive before the beast can pull her into its fetid embrace.
After losing her mother and then her Rebel mentor, however, she grasps painfully onto the splintered sliver, until a new hope is born. First through Pete. And then through a miraculous discovery.
But the question still haunts her… Can she outrun The Beast?
Impervious sets the stage for the savior… who appears in book II.
Please give us the first page of the book.Fran crept through the familiar maze of the Impervious ventilation system, her head throbbing from a late night at the unsanctioned gaming hubs. The black-market eye-openers and holographic acquaintances entertained her so well her parboiled brain tried to convince her to stay at the sleeping-niche. However, hunger trumped headache, so she crawled.
A shake of her cloudy head sent matted ringlets brushing across her shoulders, reminding her of their dreadlocked state. Yeah, she was a little ratty, but ragtag rebel fashion was hot. It spoke of who she was.
Unaccountable.
Due to the Impervious System of Equality, however, she needed Accountability Status to land a hot meal. Who are you? What is your parentage and classification? Where do you live? Daily agenda? How many credits remaining?
Irritation mounted as Fran considered the monthly check-ins and sharing of residential stats. As far as she was concerned, people should stay out of her business—especially the uber-nosey Council. Therefore, as a Rebel, Unaccountable to their ridiculous system, she didn’t retain a food allowance.
Fran grunted. Just a mindless system for mindless idiots anyway. Sure, she had choices. She could live within the guidelines of an Accountable resident and permit Superior eyes to monitor her every move, but she’d found a better way. For the past year, she’d walked the new road―off the grid and accountable to no one. Well, that was her outlook on a good day anyway. Today, she just felt hungry, like a big, bad wolf.
Fran snickered and remembered what her old mentor, Chan, said when he took her under his wing. “You just don’t run with the pack, do you, Fran? Careful, life can be tricky for a lone wolf.”
What Chan meant as a warning, however, she’d latched onto as an identity. Lone Wolf the Unaccountable Rebel Girl. She chuckled again. Who would have thought? The image of a mangy, rabid canine gnawing on the leftovers of a dead carcass flashed through her mind. Fran smiled and yipped like a hungry pup, enjoying the character. I’m on the prowl. Dinner will soon be served.
How can readers find you on the Internet?At this time, Impervious is temporarily off the shelves, but it will be back soon! (Along with the second book in the series.) To stay informed, I’d encourage readers to sign up for my newsletter (which can be done on my website www.heatherletto.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ascensionbook1?ref=bookmarksTwitter: https://twitter.com/hletto2Also, anyone who cares to follow along with us as we travel the U.S.can find us at: http://lettotravels.wordpress.com/

Thank you, Heather, for sharing your 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

FEAST FOR THIEVES - Marcus Brotherton - One Free Book

Bio: Marcus Brotherton is a journalist and professional writer known internationally for his books and literary collaborations with high-profile public figures, humanitarians, inspirational leaders, and military personnel. He has authored or coauthored more than 25 books.

Notable works include We Who Are Alive and Remain, a New York Times bestseller, A Company of Heroes, which ranked No. 1 in the country among World War II/Western Front books, and the widely-acclaimed Shifty’s War.
Marcus’ books have been praised by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, Entertainment Weekly, Associated Press, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and more. Critics have called Marcus’s books “…fascinating…” “…brilliantly arranged…” “…magical…” and “…refreshingly frank…”
He has been interviewed by the New York Times, WashingtonPost, BBC World Today, and The John Batchelor Show, and was featured in the documentary film A Company of Heroes, which aired on PBS stations around the country.
Collaborative works include projects with Lt. Buck Compton (one of the original Band of Brothers), apologist Dr. Ravi Zacharias, NFL quarterback Colt McCoy, psychologist Dr. Nancy Heche, fashion journalist Lauren Scruggs, Austin Stone pastor Matt Carter, Bronze Star winner Colonel Susan Luz, Alabama restaurateur Martha Hawkins, humanitarian Susan Scott Krabacher, speaker Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, youth ministry expert Doug Fields, radio show host Steven Arterburn, First Place weight loss program CEO Carole Lewis, musician Tommy Walker, youth speaker Ryan Dobson, university chancellor Rev. Wayne Cordeiro, and more.
Born in Canadain 1968, Marcus earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical education and journalism from Multnomah Universityin Portland, Oregon, and a master’s degree in practical theology and writing from Talbot Seminary at Biola Universityin Los Angeles, where he graduated with high honors.
Marcus lives with his wife and children in Washington State.
Dear Readers, the featured book is Mr. Brotherton’s debut novel. I’m pleased to be able to introduce you to both him and the book.
Welcome, Marcus. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.A surprising amount.
Much of a novel’s story-world is imagined or observed, yet the biggest real part I write into my characters is the emotion, far much more than the actions they take.
If a character is feeling angry, frustrated, happy, sad, or whatever, I imagine a time in my life when I’ve felt something similar, as deeply as life has allowed.
Then I weave my own emotions and responses into whatever the character is going through. By the time a book is finished, it can be a real rollercoaster.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Right out of college, my wife and I both worked in youth ministry at a church. Quirkiness abounds when you’re working with students. For a while I had a long 1970s mustache that I quite seriously thought was the epitome of cool.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?In high school I wrote short stories for fun. Sometimes I showed them to my English teacher, sometimes to friends. Sometimes I just kept them for myself.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I read everything: fiction and nonfiction, novels, memoirs, biographies, you name it.
I love to study classic, time-proven novels and learn what makes them tick. Catcher in the Rye, I’ve read probably 10 times. Same with The Old Man and the Sea.
My favorite modern authors include Cormac McCarthy, Elmore Leonard, David Benioff, Laura Hillenbrand, and Patrick DeWitt.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?My wife and kids are great for keeping me down to earth. It’s one thing to go to a book signing event and have someone sincerely tell me that they loved my book and stayed up all night to read it.
It’s quite another thing to come home, make a piece of toast for my 6 year old, and have him tell me through missing teeth that he had a good day on his class’s field trip to the pumpkin patch.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I keep a log of intriguing names every time I hear them. Names pop out from anywhere.
A few months ago I was working on an editorial project in Los Angeles and drove far out of the city to see up close a particular town an author was describing to me. In this town was a bee farm named “Honey Lane,” which I thought was just great.
Somewhere along the line, I’m going to name a character Honey Lane. You heard it here first.
I called a bank in another town to take care of some business for my elderly father-in-law. The woman I talked to was Sabra Valentine. (I did ask her permission.) I’m planning to use it in one of my books. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I love the novel I’ve just completed.
Prior to that, I’m definitely proud of the nonfiction oral history projects I’ve done with WWII veterans. By bringing their stories to life, it feels as though I’ve helped preserve important history. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Just some friendly mutt. I’d belong to some suburban family somewhere, and they’d take me to the beach on their summer vacations. I’d stick my head out the window of their station wagon on the drive to the coast so I could take in all the exotic wonder of the world with my tongue hanging out free and wild.
What is your favorite food?I love a good cheesecake.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Finding the time.
As an established author, I can usually write a proposal document and a few chapters of a book and have a publisher consider it based only on those.
But since I switched genres with this book, it meant that I needed to write the entire manuscript on speculation before a publisher would consider it for a contract.
So I outlined the book extensively and wrote the first three chapters just to see if the story and tone were working. I sent it to my agent to get his opinion. After that, I sat on the book for about two years until a slot opened up in my schedule.
That “free” spot coincided with the birth of our third child. I’d budgeted three weeks off work to help my wife around the home. For the first day or so I went to the pharmacy, did dishes, and a few loads of laundry, that type of thing. I thought our new baby was fabulous, of course, but given the nature of a new baby, there’s only so much a father can do until the child grows up a bit.
So I talked with my wife and I said, “Sweetie, anything you need me to do for you, I’ll do. But in the meantime, I can either sit around on the couch watching reruns of Matlockor go write the rest of my novel.”
She happily urged me to go write. And I did. A lot of adrenaline flows around the birth of a new child, and no one in our family was sleeping much anyway, so I pounded the book out over the next three weeks. It was a crazy pace. Long, long days. Massive word counts. That type of thing.
After three weeks, I finished the novel and went back to my regular projects, then edited the book slowly over the next few months.
Tell us about the featured book. Feast For Thieves is about an elite incorrigible paratrooper who returns home from war, turns his life around, and falls into a job as preacher in a backwoods Texastown.
Picture Jan Karon’s Mitford series, except just a bit grittier. Or Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River, except told in a neo-Western genre.
Please give us the first page of the book.March 1946When it came to robbing the bank, we wasn’t polished or nothing. We just set the old truck’s hand brake and jigged out the side while the motor was still running, shrugged off the rain while throwing sacks over our heads to hide our faces, and bustled straight up the middle with our rifles aimed forward. Shoot, I never would have hurt nobody innocent. I just needed money real bad, like anyone does if he’s spent time in the clink and nobody will give him a job once he gets out.
Right through the front door, Crazy Ake walloped the guard over the back of the head and he went down like a sack of peas thrown on a stock house pallet, which I felt sorry about, but not much blood was coming out, so I ran to the counter and stuck my rifle up in the clerk’s skinny face so the man could see I wasn’t fooling. We was only carrying one sack to fill—mine—so as one partner could be more of the muscle if folks decided to fight back. Besides, it was a big sack, and the clerk stuffed it full while Crazy Ake strode back and forth up on there on the countertop yelling about how he was the fires of hell and was pouring down wrath on the town.
All that yelling may not have been simple scare tactics with Crazy Ake. He was foaming around the edges of his mouth where the sack was cut for an air hole, and cursing a blue streak, and he looked genuinely like his finger might twitch tight against the trigger and blow some man’s head away if aggravated enough.
Wow! I can’t wait to read the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?www.marcusbrotherton.com

Thank you, Marcus, for sharing a bit of your life and your new novel with us. I know my readers will want to get a copy.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Feast for Thieves: A Rowdy Slater 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

A LADY AT WILLOWGROVE HALL - Sarah E Ladd - One Free Book

Bio: Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period—the clothes, the music, the literature, and the art. A college trip to Englandand Scotlandconfirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in that era. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that she started writing seriously. Her latest release, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall is the third and final release in the Whispers on the Moors series.
Dear Readers, I haven’t received my copy of this book, but I loved the first two in the series. Her writing is fresh, and she grabbed me on the very first page.
Welcome back, Sarah. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon? I feel really blessed to be able to write and do what I love! I am currently working on a series titled Treasures of Surrey for Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins Christian Publishing. It is another Regency series, and then once this series is complete, I will be writing a stand-alone novel.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how? Without a doubt, writing has changed my reading habits! Writing has made me a much more of an observant reader–I notice things that I would never have noticed prior to writing and editing a novel.
What are you working on right now? Right now I am working on the final edits for The Curiosity Keeper, which will release next July. It is the first of three books in the new series.
I would love to schedule the new series on my blog. What outside interests do you have? I love spending time with family and friends, reading, gardening, and sewing/stitching.
How do you choose your settings for each book? Regencies take place in England, so my setting is pretty much pre-determined! But I do tend to set my stories in the English countryside as opposed to a major city such as London.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why? I would have to say Jane Austen! She has always been one of my favorite authors, and I would love chat with her about her view on Regency society and the craft of writing–I think it would be fascinating.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels? I wish I had known that it is all right to not get it perfect the first time. When I first started writing, I tried to make each chapter perfect. But now, I find I am much more productive if I get all of my thoughts down and write the story and then go back and fix the details!
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Write every day–even if it is just a couple hundred words. Make “writer” friends! They understand the journey and can support and encourage you.Enjoy the journey–don’t lose sight of why you love writing. It is easy to get caught up in the details–give yourself permission to just write–you can always go back and edit later!
Tell us about the featured book.
When sitting down to write each of the books in the Whispers on the Moors series, I asked myself the following question: What would a lady during the Regency NOT do? So in the very beginning of A Lady at Willowgrove Hall , the heroine, Cecily, makes a BIG mistake—one that as the power to ruin her. The novel then takes her on a journey. Initially, she does whatever she can to hide her secret and keep it from the world, but through a very specific turn of events she learns to rise above her past and eventually find peace and love.
Please give us the first page of the book. Blacksmith’s Cottage at Aradelle ParkDetham, England, 1814Is it always a sin to tell a lie?
Sixteen-year-old Cecily Faire rolled over to glance at Leah, who slumbered in the narrow bed they shared. A worn, wool blanket was tucked tightly under her sister’s chin, and her long, auburn braid lay limply against the pillow.
For weeks she had kept a secret from her sister. Hear dearest friend. Her closest confidante.
Cecily swallowed the emotion that welled within her.
Each little lie that she had told haunted her.
But had there been any alternative? Secrecy was imperative.
Cecily relaxed her head against her own pillow and stared at the rough, wooden beams running the length of their bedchamber and struggled to make out their uneven shape in the night’s shifting darkness. Outside their room’s only window, unremitting rain battered their family’s modest cottage, clattering against the thatched roof and disturbing the shutters.
(Barnes & Noble has a great preview of the book on their website. You can read a sample of the book here.)
How can readers find you on the Internet? I love to connect with readers online. Here is where I can be found–I hope you all will stop and say hello!Facebook:        www.facebook.com/SarahLaddAuthorPinterest:         http://www.pinterest.com/SarahLaddAuthor/Twitter:           @SarahLaddAuthor Goodreads:     www.goodreads.com/Sarah_Ladd Website:          www.sarahladd.com

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (Whispers On The Moors Book 3) - 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

THE SNOWBOUND BRIDE - Davalynn Spencer - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Davalynn. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I write inspirational Western romance because at the end of the book, love wins and there’s always a cowboy involved! But the process is what I hope keeps readers in the story pulling for the hero or heroine, relating with their struggles, hoping it will all work out. Whether historical or contemporary, the story of two people setting themselves aside, working through their differences, and finding each other (and themselves) worthy of love gives us an extra glimpse of faith and fresh hope in action.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?The day I married my handsome cowboy.
How has being published changed your life?Publication as a novelist was a long-time goal. However, the day did not arrive with my heart fluttering over seeing my name in print. As a former crime-beat reporter, I’ve seen my name in print thousands of time. Becoming a published author fulfilled not only a dream but also my life calendar. I’m much busier now as a novelist than I was as a journalist. There is a lot of working ahead to write the book, working during revisions, edits, and rewrites, and working after the fact in promotion—all while working ahead on the next book.
What are you reading right now?I just finished Jody Hedlund’s Carol Award-winning A Nobel Groom, and Rachel Hauck’s best-selling The Wedding Dress.
What is your current work in progress?I’m working on a story set in 1910 Cañon City, Colorado, during the town’s heyday as the pre-Hollywood center for silent movies.
That sounds like an interesting book. I want to feature it on my blog. What would be your dream vacation?I want to go to Scotland. I’ve read several novels set there and lived vicariously through them. My grandfather was Scot/Irish, and I’d love to visit my heritage.
How do you choose your settings for each book?I live on Colorado’s Front Range and the state has incredibly rich and colorful history. I can’t help but set most of my novels here in either actual locales or fictional towns.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I’d like to meet and visit with the Korean woman pictured with my father when he was in the Army overseas. From looking at the old photographs, I believe she and my dad had a relationship. If she is still alive, I’d like to get to know her.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I play and sing contemporary Christian music and I enjoy walking every morning.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Staying off social media long enough to log my minimum 2,000 words a day is a struggle, particularly since authors are told to be “out there” on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and other sites. Add to that my blog and guest posting, and I find I must jealously guard my manuscript-writing time.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Don’t be discouraged and don’t quit. Listen, learn, rinse, repeat.
Tell us about the featured book. On the run from a heartless uncle in the winter of 1865, Arabella Taube hides in Nate Horne’s buckboard just as a blizzard sweeps into Colorado. Can she find her way out of the storm—physically and emotionally—or will the handsome mountain horseman steal her heart?
Please give us the first page of the book.Arabella Taube clutched her small carpetbag as tightly as her breath and turned her back to the coach car. The man in the brown bowler had watched her all the way from Denver. He was watching her now through the window. She was certain of it.
Blowing snow swirled around her skirts, and the cold nipped at her ears. Oh, to have her trunk and be off to the hotel with the other passengers. She rubbed her jacketed arms as couples claimed their baggage and trudged through the snow toward waiting hacks and buggies. With this delay, there might be no rooms left when she got there.
Stomping her freezing feet against the platform boards, she looked again for a porter. She had assumed the train would press on to Leadville without stopping for the night. “Assumption is the devil’s joke on the unwitting.” Her grandmother’s brittle warning twisted inside Ara’s stomach, and the woman’s disapproving tsks rang in her ears. Or was that the pop and snap of the engine as it cooled?
Horses whinnied and tossed their heads as they pulled from the station. She stiffened against the bluster of wind and panic. She would make her own way without her uncle’s ordering of her every step and Grandmother’s resentful regard—as if Ara could go back and change her parentage. The train heaved a dying breath, and the engineer stepped from his cab. The conductor followed. Where were the por­ters with her trunk?
The brown-bowlered man exited the car, looked both ways, and skimmed over her as if she didn’t exist. She was not fooled and turned quickly for the depot. An inside bench would serve if need be, but she’d not be ogled by that man any longer.
The fine hairs on her neck sprang like porcu­pine quills. He was following her. Ladies do not run. She lifted her skirt and quickened her pace. As she neared the depot door, the clerk reached for the shade. Casting off Grandmother’s drill, she ran and grabbed the brass doorknob. “Please,” she mouthed.
He shook his head, jerked a thumb over his shoulder, and dropped the shade. The light dimmed within, and she turned to see the bowlered man a few paces away, lighting a pipe. The flare of his match lit pale eyes that watched her askance. Her stomach knotted. She didn’t know his name, but she knew he was one of her uncle’s lackeys, one willing to do for a price what her uncle would not.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I’ve listed them in order of preference, so pick what you need from the top down, please. Thank you!http://www.davalynnspencer.comhttp://www.facebook.com/AuthorDavalynnSpencerhttp://twitter.com/davalynnspencerhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5051432.Davalynn_Spencerhttp://pinterest.com/davalynnspencer/boards/

Thank you, Davalynn, for sharing this Christmas book with us.


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

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS

Sierra (IN) and Merry (MN) are the winners of their choices of an Ebook by Lena Nelson Dooley.
Kathy (NC) is the winner of the Ebook  The Christmas Tree Bride  by Susan Page Davis.
Loraine (TX) is the winner of  Big C little c  by Connie Lewis Leonard.
Deanna (NE) is the winner of  Betrayed Hearts  by Susan Anne Mason.
Mary P (Aus) is the winner of the Ebook  Sweetened By Honey  by Valerie Comer.
Linda K (CA) is the winner of  That Was the Best Christmas!  by A R Cecil.

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.

WAYWARD HEARTS - Susan Anne Mason - One Free Book

Welcome back, Susan. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I’ve always loved anything to do with romance. Even as a child reading Nancy Drew mysteries, I was more interested in her getting together with Ned. So writing my own stories of romance came quite naturally. It wasn’t until I got introduced to Christian romance that I knew I wanted to incorporate a faith element into my stories.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?The birth of my first child was the happiest! My husband and I had a hard time conceiving, so when our daughter was born, it was like a dream come true!
How has being published changed your life?Getting published was the fulfillment of a dream dear to my heart. Holding that first book in my hands was one of the most amazing feelings ever. It is also has made me feel like I belong with all my fellow authors. It’s like being part of the cool crowd! LOL.
What are you reading right now?I’m reading Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund. An excellent read!
What is your current work in progress?I am currently working on my second historical romance for Bethany House. Irish Meadows, the story of two O’Leary sisters, releases next August, and now I’m writing their brother’s story (currently untitled) which comes out in 2016.
What would be your dream vacation?Anywhere by the ocean. I especially love New Jersey and Florida!
How do you choose your settings for each book?I set my Rainbow Falls series in a fictional small town in North Dakota, mainly because it had some similarities to my home province of Ontario in Canada. For my Love Inspired book, Healing the Widower’s Heart, coming out in February, I chose the finger lakes region of New Yorkbecause it resembled the Muskoka cottage country in Northern Ontario where the Wyndermere Resort was situated. For my historical series, I based it somewhat loosely on my own Irish ancestors who settled in Brooklyn, New York, but after some research, I chose Long Island as the place where the O’Learys’ horse farm, Irish Meadows, was situated. So, in answer to your question, I guess each case is different!
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?Tough one. Either Oprah Winfrey or Katie Couric because they are both women I admire who have accomplished so much and have met so many interesting people over the course of their careers. It would be a fascinating evening!
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I don’t have much time for other hobbies, but I do enjoy scrapbooking. Back when my kids were young, I spent a lot of time making books of their baby pictures. I also love researching our family history and have solved some family mysteries with my online research through www.Ancestry.com .
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Learning to plot a story from beginning to end was a major obstacle for me. The other was writing consistently. Many times I’d just stop writing for months at a time. I finally realized that to be a good writer, I had to keep at it! Practice does make perfect.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?I would advise a beginner to join a writer’s group if at all possible and study, study, study the craft of writing. The second thing I would advise is to enter writing contests. This is great for getting feedback on your work, and in my case, two of my contracts were a direct result of contests I entered. A good critique partner and/or mentor is also another great way to boost your confidence as a writer.
Tell us about the featured book. Wayward Hearts is the story of Maxi North, who always dreamed of being a famous hairstylist in New York City. She is living the life she loves, until the unexpected death of her father brings her back to her hometown of Rainbow Falls where she is forced to confront a tragedy from her past, as well as her unrequited feelings for Jason Hanley, her former best friend.
Please give us the first page of the book. “Ninth floor penthouse.” The musical voice oozed from the speakers as the elevator slid to a smooth stop.
The doors whispered open, and Maxi North stepped out into the magnificent lobby of Baronne’s Salon. She paused, latte in hand, and smiled at the sheer luxury on display. The ornate crystal chandelier glittered above the mahogany reception desk that housed a striking array of orchids. Sometimes Maxi had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming—that this former farm girl from Rainbow Falls, North Dakota, now worked as a junior stylist in one of the top salons in New York City.
She hiked her purse farther onto the shoulder of her satin jacket as she strode into the heart and soul of the salon—the chrome and glass stylist stations, where the employees worked their magic for a pampered clientele. The familiar scents of floral shampoos, coconut conditioner, and hair spray swirled around her.
Coming in for the afternoon shift meant that most of the stations already bustled with activity. On the way to her own station, second chair from the back, she waved to her friend Cherise. With a contented sigh, Maxi set down her latte, threw her purse in the bottom drawer, and plugged in her curling irons.
“You’re early today.” Cherise stood on tiptoes, stretching to reach one of the sliding cupboards at Maxi’s right. She grabbed some towels and blew her pink-tinted corkscrews off her forehead before flashing a dazzling smile.
“Nothing to do at home. My Internet connection died, so I figured I might as well come in and get a head start on my shift.” Maxi fished her cell phone out of her jacket pocket and deposited it on the counter in front of the huge beveled mirror. “Mrs. Rothman’s my first customer. You know how picky she is.”
Cherise snickered. “Uh-huh. Better you than me.” She swung back toward her customer, then pivoted, her ebony eyes twinkling. “Rumors are flying today. Philippe and the other partners have been in a meeting all morning.”
The numerous cups of coffee Maxi had already consumed churned in her stomach. “Good news or bad, do you think?” She hadn’t dared heed the latest gossip that the Baronnes might be considering taking on another partner.
“Hard to tell.” Cherise nodded toward the hall leading to Philippe Baronne’s private office. “Guess we’ll know soon enough.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?They can find me on Facebook or on my website www.susanannemason.com .They can find my books at the Pelican Book group site www.pelicanbookgroup.com or at Amazon.com            Thank you for having me here again, Lena!How can readers find you on the Internet?They can find me on Facebook or on my website www.susanannemason.com .They can find my books at the Pelican Book group site www.pelicanbookgroup.com or at Amazon.com            Thank you for having me here again, Lena!

It's my pleasure to host you. One of my daughters is a hairdresser. I know she would love to read this book when I get finished.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

LOVE TAKES FLIGHT - Lee Carver - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to bring this book to you. Lee is a dear friend and one of the authors I’m mentored for several years. I loved this book as I watched it develop. As I’ve said before, I really like books with foreign settings, and this one is partly set in Brazil. I’ve long been interested in missions, especially pilots who have taken the gospel into hard to reach areas. This book takes us there with them, and of course, there’s a wonderful love story that plays out. You won’t want to miss this book.
Welcome back, Lee. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? In Love Takes Flight,I particularly addressed the reality of a call from God and how it may be recognized.
What other books of yours are coming out soon? I spent last year writing a series of three books set in Brazilat the request of a publisher and my agent. Unfortunately, that publisher was bought out by another, and the line was closed out. I’m having fun writing a novel set in a small Texastown, but it isn’t nearly finished yet.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?Dr. Ben Carson, a man of remarkable intelligence, insight, and abilities.
James and I would love to meet this man as well. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? I would enjoy chatting with the Pasteurs, who proved the germ theory of disease.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? Don’t keep trying to perfect a book which has received only rejections. Start something new, something you will enjoy writing. Make it imaginative. James Scott Bell says to put a surprise on every page. Thinking that way is fun.
Tell us about the featured book. Volunteering in the Amazon to escape a broken heart, an American nurse re-examines her life’s calling as she confronts hijackers, malaria, and her attraction to a certain missionary pilot. This is “the book of my heart,” the net of living many years in Brazil.
Please give us the first page of the book.A child’s scream pierced the Brazilian jungle night, wrenching Camille from the tendrils of a nightmare. The wail soared through the trees again, long and desperate. She rolled out of her hammock and stumbled on numb legs, gripped the supporting rope, and got her bearings. The humid night vibrated with fear and confusion, in time with her pounding pulse.
Nearby, a mission team member hit the floor with a thud, emitting the forced unh! of having the breath knocked out of him. She could run to him or toward the shriek that woke them.
Shouted questions stabbed the moonlight and flashlights snapped on at odd angles. The child howled a Portuguese word Camille didn’t know, but she couldn’t miss the desperation.Focus. Reacting with her nurse’s training and passion, she slipped on flip-flops, grabbed a flashlight, and dashed off the open platform in the direction of the pitiful cries. In this jungle, she and Dr. Flavio were the only ER.
“Sucuri! Sucuri!”The word rang throughout the village more like the name of a beautiful bird than the vicious anaconda.
She ran to where villagers converged on the wide footpath in front of the stilted houses. Raised machetes flashed as muscular brown arms brought knives down hard. Shouting and groaning, men hacked at an enormous snake curled in the baked red dirt.
Camille pushed into the circle of defenders and found a young boy under attack. The snake writhed, dying but not giving up its prey. A final cut severed the snake’s head from its squirming body. Blood squirted on the clay clearing and the people. Snake blood and boy blood.
She recognized Pedro as a ten year old from the previous day’s medical clinic. He cried, but no longer with curdled terror. She knelt in the dust to examine his wounds and her guts twisted. She had to get him somewhere she could treat him.    …
Camille glanced around. Where was Dr. Flavio? She’d have to start without him. Faced with the responsibility, her mind wanted to freeze. Stop the bleeding. Compression. Disinfectant.
She spotted Jessica, the blonde fourteen year old who assisted in the dispensary. She would have the keys to supplies or know who did. “Jessica, get me some disinfectant—alcohol, Betadyne. Lots of it.”
(And by the way, Jessica is real. She is now an RN and about to return as a missionary to the Brazilian Amazon with her husband. They will serve in a very primitive jungle area near her parents.)
How can readers find you on the Internet? For the book: http://amzn.to/12nRfpkwww.LeeCarverWriter.com
http://LeeCarverWriter.blogspot.com
www.amazoncurrents.homestead.com  This last website has hundreds of photos from our years as missionaries in Brazil.
Thank you, Lee, for sharing this new book with 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

A CLICHE CHRISTMAS - Nicole Deese - One Free Book or Ebook

Welcome, Nicole. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Maybe I should ask my husband this question? I never intentionally write myself into a character, but I’ll often have close friends and family say, “I totally heard your voice when so and so said this or did that, Nicole!” Haha! That always makes me laugh.
What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?I’m pretty quirky so this is a hard one for me to narrow down. The most recent quirky thing I’ve done is pretend to be an expert in the art of Mod Podge—which I’m not. Not even close.But as I stood in the aisle of Hobby Lobby next to a seasoned craftsperson (the kind who actually does those things I pin on Pinterest) I felt the need to play along. When the woman glanced down at my sorry-looking mess of supplies and asked what my plans were, I quickly swiped a nearby jar of Mod Podge and began spew out a list of random artsy-sounding stuff.
Shockingly, I think she believed me. Or maybe she was just really nice and took pity on me. I’ll never know for sure.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I loved stories from the time I was a young girl—telling them, reading them, and acting them out. I think somewhere inside me I always knew I was destined to be a writer, but it wasn’t until I turned thirty that I put pen to page and wrote my first full-length novel.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I’ll pretty much read anything if it has the promise of romance in it! Yes, I’m really that much of a sap. My favorite genre is Contemporary Romance, but Young Adult is a close runner-up. I also enjoy Women’s Fiction and some Fantasy (as long as the love story is strong!)
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Not sure if I keep my sanity most days, but if I do, it has everything to do with prioritizing. I’m not so good at that yet, but I’m learning. Slowly.
Starting my day off with prayer and a good walk and a big dose of laughter (by texting with my crazy author friends) usually makes for a pretty great day.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Choosing names is usually a completely random process. Sometimes I have a name in mind, sometimes I ask my readers on my author page, and sometimes I peruse the ever-knowing Google database for inspiration.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Saying “I do” nearly eleven years ago. My husband has taught me so much about love through his selflessness and sacrifice. There’s blessing to be found in commitment.  
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
A bird. Wouldn’t flying be the greatest thing ever? And the worms. Such a good source of protein. Mmm.

What is your favorite food?
Coconut. Yep. I’d eat it with every meal if I could.
What has been your greatest roadblock in writing, and how did you overcome it? 
My greatest roadblock in writing came during a family tragedy. Writing during a season of grief can be very difficult and challenging, but I’m grateful for what I’ve been able to learn and accomplish within that time. Writing can be so healing for the soul.  
Tell us about A Cliché Christmas.
Writing happy endings is easy. Living one is the hard part.
Hollywoodas the “Holiday Goddess”—has made a name for herself writing heartwarming screenplays chock-full of Christmas clichés, but she has yet to experience the true magic of the season. So, when her eccentric grandmother volunteers her to direct a pageant at Georgia’s hometown community theater, she is less than thrilled. To make matters worse, she’ll be working alongside Weston James, her childhood crush and the one man she has tried desperately to forget. Georgia Cole—known in

Now, facing memories of a lonely childhood and the humiliation of her last onstage performance, seven years earlier, Georgia is on the verge of a complete mistletoe meltdown. As Weston attempts to thaw the frozen walls around her heart, Georgiaendeavors to let go of her fears and give love a second chance. If she does, will she finally believe that Christmas can be more than a cliché?
Please give us the first page of the book.
I glared at the incessant blinking of my cursor and groaned.
Eleven months of the year, I lived in a perpetual state of holly-jolly fanfare. But by the time the first of November rolled around, I was completely Christmased out. I know I sound like a Scrooge to admit such a travesty, but believe me, when you build a career on Christmas cheer and holiday hype, the warm fuzzies of nostalgia fade faster than Hollywood’s latest scandal. When I wrote my first Christmas pageant at nineteen, I had no idea I was actually sealing my fate. But seven years, a few dozen screenplays, and three Hallmark movies later, Christmas had become exactly that. My destiny.
Ironically, December was my only month off. And I took full advantage of those blessed four weeks, which magically buoyed me for another year of fa-la-la-la-la-ing.
Since I moved to LA seven years ago, my Nan—short for both Nancy and Nana—and I traveled to a new tropical destination each year, enjoying sunshine instead of snow, and hulas instead of caroling. Last Christmas it was a two-week Caribbean cruise, but this year our nontraditional holiday extravaganza would be a remote getaway in the Hawaiian Islands.
Clicking out of my latest work in progress entitled Noelle’s First Noel, I navigated through my newest temptation to procrastinate, a travel website that flung me into a cyclone of palm trees, sandy beaches, fruity drinks, and—
My phone did the cha-cha across my desk.
Nan.
Today was Tuesday—volunteer day at the senior center. She never called on Tuesdays.
An alarming icy-hot sensation crawled up my throat. I grabbed my cell. “Nan?”
“Georgia! I’m so glad you answered.”
The balloon of air I was holding inside my chest released. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Oh, I’m fine, darlin’. But I did just hear some distressing news.”
“Is it Mom?” The muscles across my shoulders tightened.
“No, I just spoke to her yesterday. She, Brad, and the twins are all doing fine.” In true Nan fashion, she threw an extra dollop of happy onto her last phrase, as if that were all it took to rewrite the past. “You know my little piano student I brag to you about all the time—Savannah?”
“Yeah, sure.” My mini panic attack subsided. I clicked on another picture of a Hawaiian bungalow wrapped in the warm glow of a setting sun.
“She was just diagnosed with leukemia.”
I stopped clicking. “Oh, Nan. That’s awful. How old is she again?”
“Only five. And her mother is a widow—I’ve grown very close to them.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Well, yes, actually . . . I was hoping you’d ask.” Her voice climbed twelve stories. “I need you to come home for the holidays.”
And I fell twelve stories. An image hit my mental screen. Me, in my Hello-Kitty jammies, splayed on a busy sidewalk, broken and bloody.
“What? What are you talking about, Nan? I’ve already booked our vacation.”
“I’m coordinating a holiday fundraiser for Savannah’s medical bills.”
I pinched my eyes shut and tried to ignore the tantalizing sound of crashing waves that seemed to lap against my eardrums in perfect time with my pulse. A part of me wanted to throw a tantrum—as fading images of tiki torches and spit-roasted pigs danced across my vision—but who could dismiss a child with cancer?
Scrooge, maybe. But not me.
I can’t wait until my book comes, so I can finish reading it. How can readers find you on the Internet?Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/nicoledeeseauthorWebsite: www.nicoledeese.comTwitter: @nicoledeesePinterest: www.pinterest.com/nicoledeese
Buy Link On Amazon.com for A Cliché Christmas :
http://www.amazon.com/Clich%C3%A9-Christmas-Nicole-Deese-ebook/dp/B00KQ1LYJE/
Thank you, Nicole, for sharing this Christmas book with us.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book--print or ebook, winner's choice. 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 

BELIEVE IN ME - Autumn Macarthur - One Free Ebook

Welcome, Autumn. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.A lot! They are far from autobiographical, but I do draw on my own experiences and my own emotional and spiritual journey when I write. Especially for the characters’ spiritual growth, as I do include a strong faith arc in my romances. The characters are usually Christians, but maybe a bit lukewarm, or with areas they haven’t fully surrendered to God, and getting right with God is often part of what they need to do to heal the emotional stuff getting in the way of their Happily-Ever-After. What I’m finding, story after story, is that God is hammering me with my need to grow in the exact same areas as my characters. Maybe it’s the other way around and He is writing the characters into me? It can feel like an emotional and spiritual boot camp sometimes! In a good way J
I so understand. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Hmm, tough! Maybe skydiving? Doing a tandem jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet strapped to an instructor is probably one of the most terrifying things I have ever done. I screamed and prayed all the way down! But that wasn’t the quirky part. The quirky part was doing it again next time a skydiving team was in town, just to prove I could. Oddly enough, the second jump was a wonderful experience. I don’t feel any need at all to do it a third time!
When did you first discover that you were a writer?Young! I remember writing stories in kindergarten, and making “books” when I was about eight, folding and stapling paper and spending all Saturday afternoon writing out my stories as neatly as I could. In my teens, I sent a lot of short stories and poems off to magazines. They were all rejected, though I did have one article published when I was sixteen. My first ever paycheck from writing- a whole $5! Despite that, I believed all the folk who told me I couldn’t make a living writing, got a sensible job, and spent the next thirty years having other adventures, reading a lot, and writing on and off. I was 48 before I decided to truly commit to writing again.
Good for you. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.As a kid and into my teens and twenties, I read voraciously, anything I could get my hands on. Romance, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, crime, literary.
I still read as much as I can, though one of the things I don’t like about writing is that I have less time to read now! The time I used to read in is now the time I use to write. My Kindle is stacked with hundreds of books I want to read!
I don’t read stories with unhappy endings now, there’s enough of that in the world. I read to be comforted and uplifted. So that means I tend to choose sweet romances with a faith element. Regencies, Western romances, Harlequin Love Inspired and Heartsong (so sad that line is closing), sweet inspirational romances from indie authors. I love going back to old stories I can read and reread like the LM Montgomery books. The Blue Castle is one I especially like.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Pray a lot, and make sure I get my quiet time. I don’t have quite as much of a daily routine as I would like, but I take time when I first get up to write in my journal, and a lot of that is prayer and seeking God’s guidance. And I end the day with meditating on a Bible verse that has particular meaning for me at the time, even if that is just a minute or two. It bookends the day. I really notice a difference when I don’t do those things. I tend to be more scattered through the day and less likely to turn to God for guidance and support.
I keep reflecting on the story from Matthew 14, about Jesus walking on the water. Peter gets out of the boat and walks toward Jesus. He’s doing it; he’s walking on water too! How amazing must that have felt! But the second he takes his eyes off Jesus and looks at the storm and the waves, he sinks, and Jesus needs to rescue him.
I take two things from that-We can do amazing things if we keep our focus on Him, not on our external circumstances.Being human, we’ll get scared and sink, but Jesus is always there to lift us up. All we need to do is ask.
I’m pretty good now at the second part, still learning how to do the first!
How do you choose your characters’ names?I love baby name books and all those online sites that give the meanings of names. I’d love to say I put a lot of thought into names and looked up what they meant and they had special symbolism. But often, the names just are there in my head, as part of the character. I don’t even necessarily like them sometimes!
Like the Gallagher twins in Books 3 & 4 of my Love in Store series, Tiffany and Zoe. Those are lovely names, but I kept thinking as their father is a pastor, surely they’d have Biblical names? I tried giving them other names, but they just didn’t work. Their names are Tiff and Zoe, and that’s it!
In one book, I kept forcing a name onto a character. By the middle of the book, I had to go back and give her the name she had wanted. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?That is a hard question! I think I’d have to say my marriage. We’ve been through some tough times, but we’re still together, very much in love, and getting closer and stronger all the time. I’ve been blessed to do many other things I’m grateful for in my life, like publishing my books, but that’s still the biggie and the one that means the most.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A cat. Whatever they do, they do 100%. They are so good at finding joy in the simplest things, from a comfortable place to sleep to a sunbeam to chasing a leaf in the garden.
What is your favorite food?I have a few too many favourite foods! I try to grow at least a little food, and do love a salad fresh from the garden. Spinach and white cheese thin crust pizza. Bean stew with lots of herbs and garlic and chunks of crusty bread. Hummus and oven roasted tomatoes. I’ve been making a lot of Thai spiced vegetable soup now the weather is cooler. Chocolate anything. Fresh raspberries. Um, this list could go on quite some time!
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?For way too many years (at least thirty!), I wrote a lot of first chapters of stories, then stopped. I’d go back to try to edit, I’d judge the writing, I’d know it wasn’t right, and I’d give up. So letting go of judgment long enough to complete stories was my biggest roadblock.
The main thing getting in the way was that I was trying to write a “publishable story” straight off. I was comparing my first draft of chapter one to the stories I was reading, that had been through multiple drafts and edits, and of course it came up short! Quality in writing is important, but not in the first draft, and not when needing the writing to be “good enough” stopped me from writing altogether.
What freed me was giving myself permission to write badly. To write for fun, not something good enough to submit to a publisher. When I decided I wanted to write again, I did JanNo (like NaNo, but in January), where it was all about word count and not at all about quality. Totally liberating! I had so much fun, and for the first time ever, I finished a story. That year, I went on to complete three full drafts for 50,000 word category romance length stories.
They are complete messes! I still had a lot to learn about craft and story structure and a whole lot of things. I still do have a lot to learn. I don’t believe we should ever stop learning and improving our craft. But it’s okay that they are hot messes. They showed me I could finish. They showed me that having a bad but complete first draft I could edit counted for a lot more than having a first chapter and nothing more.
I read recently that this is a common issue for writers who managed to get by on first drafts all the way through school and college. We feel we’ve failed if we can’t produce perfect first draft. But the challenge of writing a book length story is completely different to a short story or an academic essay. So the one thing I would say to a writer feeling stuck and not completing anything is to write for the joy of it first. To switch off judging as they write, and make finishing the book their first goal.
I find ten minute timed writing is a total blessing to get unstuck. Just set a timer for ten minutes, open a new document file, and write as fast as possible without stopping. The goal is to get as many words as possible, not necessarily good words in the right order. This is also great for writers who feel they don’t have time to write. We all can find ten minutes somewhere in the day. Ten minutes writing, when we don’t stop to think or judge, can produce about a page. A page a day is a whole book in a year!
The most universal writing rule though, one that works for everyone, is to pray before writing! It’s amazing how easy it is to forget to do that. J
Tell us about the featured book. I’ve chosen to make Believe in Me , Book 2 of the Love in Store series, the featured book. It’s a Christmas romance, set in London, and is on offer at 99c this week! http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Me-Christmas-Christian-romance-ebook/dp/B00N6LS8OU
This is a story that means a lot to me. It started off as a sweet secular romance, written for a publisher’s Call for Submissions that had a very specific theme. The stories all had to be based on the Christmas song, “Santa Baby.” But the contest was for short novellas, and the story grew to twice their permitted word count!
Then last year, I realized what the story lacked was a faith element. The heroine Cara couldn’t possibly let go her heavy burdens without God’s help. I rewrote the story, submitted it to Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest, and was blessed that the story semi-finalled, and caught the attention of the Heartsong editor, but wouldn’t be published until late 2015. I prayed, and felt guided to indie publish the book. And here it is!
 A London Christmas, a gift of faith a love.
Bah, humbug!
All Cara Talbot wants for Christmas is for it to be over.
The workaholic accountant has good reason to hate Christmas, along with charmers like actor Nick Callaghan, playing celebrity Santa at the failing Londondepartment store she has the thankless job of managing.
She’s determined to save her staff’s jobs, Hollywood golden boy Nick just wants to live up to his Mr Unattached reputation and enjoy life. They couldn't be more opposite. But if accepting Nick’s dare – dates showing her the magic of a London Christmas – can raise enough publicity to keep the store open, she’ll do it. Even if she risks falling in love with him in the process.
Can this surprising Santa allow love to deepen his untested faith and learn to commit, while helping Ms Scrooge believe in Christmas, and in God, once more?
Book 2 in the Love In Store series of sweet inspirational romances.
The series is set around a stately old London department store, and the same settings and staff pop up in each book. But there is no need to read them in order!
Every story is a complete romance, following a different couple through the trials and joys of a developing love, to their happily-ever-after.
Please give us the first page of the book.All Cara Talbot wanted for Christmas was for it to be over.
She hated everything about the holiday.
The false cheeriness. The materialism. The impossible expectations.
Working in Oxford Street, the heart of London's shopping district, she couldn't escape it. A week into December, Christmas was everywhere.
Even at eight in the morning, getting out of the Underground station became an obstacle course. She battled her way to the stairs through leafletters handing out advertising, carollers singing off-key, and charity collectors in Santa suits rattling buckets.
Scrooge had the right idea. Peace and goodwill? Humbug!
Christmas was a sales opportunity, nothing more.
Except Pettett and Mayfield's department store wasn't selling nearly enough, and it was her job to change that somehow. Deputy assistant manager sounded good, but all it meant was she got landed with the management jobs no-one else wanted, and the blame when things went wrong. Like picking up the pieces after Mrs Pettett's schemes, which started with a bang of hopeful expectation, then always ended in a fizzle of dismal sales.
Nothing suggested the old lady's latest publicity stunt, bringing in Nick Gallagher as the store's celebrity Santa, would be any different. It would take more than some B-list American soap star in Santa's Grotto to bring in enough sales to get the store back in the black.
Divine intervention was closer to the mark.
How can readers find you on the Internet?My Amazon Author page is:http://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Macarthur/e/B00N9KRHKY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1My website is:www.faithhopeandheartwarming.comI’m on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/autumn.macarthur, and on Twitter (not so often!) as @autumnmacarthur , https://twitter.com/autumnmacarthur. You can also subscribe to my mailing list - http://mad.ly/signups/116735/join
I love hearing from readers so please do get in touch! 

Thank you, Autumn for sharing your Christmas book with us today. I know my readers will love it. 

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Believe In Me: A London Christmas, sweet Christian romance (Love In Store Book 2)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

HELSINKI SUNRISE - Marion Ueckermann - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, when I first heard about this book, I contacted Marionand asked her if I could schedule it on my blog. I’m a second generation American on my father’s side. His mother’s and father’s families emigrated from Norway and Sweden and settled in Minnesota. I especially wanted this book, because it’s set in Finland, another Scandinavian country. As soon as I received my copy of the ebook, I read it, and loved it. The characters jumped straight into my heart and stayed there. I enjoyed the setting and the situations of the story. I’ll be looking for more books from Marion.
Bio: Marion Ueckermann’s passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter(Tyndale House Publishers), Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven, and her debut novella, Helsinki Sunrise (White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint, Passport to Romance series). Her second Passport to Romance, Oslo Overtures, will be published in 2015.
Marion blogs for International Christian Fiction Writers and Beauty for Ashes. She belongs to Christian Writers of South Africa and American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa, in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.Permission to use images obtained.
Welcome Marion. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.          Not a lot, but I do think there’s always a tiny trace of my DNA in each of my heroines J
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?  
Probably the quirkiest thing I’ve ever done is eaten a mopane worm whilst up in Zimbabwe. I did get a certificate for the crazy deed. It was quite a feat for me because I grew up in a small town that was overrun by these large black and blue hairy horned worms. These worms are actually large caterpillars of the Gonimbrasia belina species, commonly called the emperor moth, and are known as mopane worms because they are found chomping the leaves of mopane trees in the South African lowveld after they hatch in summer. They’re sought after by the local Africans for food and are apparently highly nutritious. They’ve become a delicacy in many up-market restaurants in South Africaand are even found in African restaurants in Paris. I wish I could say they taste good—they don’t … not for me anyway. It was kind of like eating a piece of bark.
We will be in Finland over Christmas, and my son has a bucket list of things I need to do. One of the things on his list is for me to jump into the avanto (or hole in the ice). This is done by first roasting in a sauna of around 80 degrees celcius, then hightailing your tush from there across the snow in temperatures of around minus 37 degrees celcius before finally lowering yourself down a ladder through a hole in the ice into the freezing Finnish waters. The entire sequence is done repetitively. I have to admit that it would be a really quirky thing to add to my quirkiest thing list. However, I’m not sure if I’ll be brave enough.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?        My desire to write probably started around twenty years ago, but it was only when we moved to Ireland in 2000 that I began to feed this desire by writing poetry. Two years later, after we returned to South Africa, I penned my first (unpublished) novel, and so began my real passion … writing stories.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.           99% of the books I read are Christian fiction, ranging from contemporary romance, to suspense, to historical and whatever comes in between. I’m not a person who’s set on one genre, although I do have some favorite authors whose writing I always seek out.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?           I’m sane? (refer back to question 2).
How do you choose your characters’ names?         With ease J I never stress over characters’ names. Normally a name pops into my head, and I run with it. There are times when I’ll research a name’s meaning and origin on baby name websites, and I’ve had occasions where I’ve searched these sites for a name if one hasn’t just come to me or if the name’s meaning plays an important role. When I do go looking for a name, I’ll do so under the nationality category until I find one that suits the character.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?            Raising two awesome sons.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?         A Koala bear. I’ve always loved them. As a little girl I can remember owning a few Koala teddies in different sizes.
Why would I want to be one? They hang about in trees all day getting high on eucalyptus leaves. What could be better than life being as slow as it is for a Koala bear?
What is your favorite food? All food J Seriously, I do love a good curry, especially lamb, but chicken will do just fine, too. Oh, and chocolate. Chocolate is food, right?
It is for me. I’m a real chocoholic. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?     Being an author in South Africaand writing Christian fiction, it is really difficult to be published. There are less than a handful of Christian South African publishers and they aren’t really interested in unpublished authors. But it’s equally as hard to get an American publisher or agent interested in a South African author. It’s also almost impossible to attend writers’ conferences where one would have the opportunity to present your manuscript to publishers and agents, as it’s just too far and too expensive with our poor rate of exchange.
When I heard that Pelican Book Group wanted stories for their Passport to Romance series, stories written in foreign locations with foreign characters (ie. not American), I jumped at the opportunity. Helsinki Sunrise was the first story I wrote for them. I have since signed a contract with them for a second book in the series titled Oslo Overtures, and currently have another two stories written for which I’m hoping to submit the full manuscripts.
Passport to Romance has been a wonderful opportunity to be published with an awesome American publisher. It’s great to be a part of the Pelican family. I’ve plenty of ideas for more stories and quite a few first drafts waiting to be edited for submission to Pelican Book Group.
I want to schedule your next book on my blog. Be sure to contact me as soon as you have a pub date. Tell us about the featured book.      My featured book, Helsinki Sunrise , is one of the novella in the Passport to Romance series published by White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint.
One of my critiquers likened it to How to Lose a Guy in 14 Days(although I think in the movie it was 10 days). In Helsinki Sunrise , readers will find romance, comedy, and tension as two completely opposite characters collide and try to wear each other down. Readers also get to experience the beautiful country of Finlandand some of its unique culture.
I love what a recent reviewer had to say about this story: I have never read a love story where the main character is fasting and praying of all things, and yet Marion Ueckermann skillfully turns what could be dry and boring into a modern day Taming of the Shrew with a Christian twist.
I guess the easiest way to tell readers about Helsinki Sunrise is to let them read the blurb. That way, they’ll know just enough to be interested without me giving away the story J:
He needed the island to himself. So did she.
Three weeks alone at a friend’s summer cottage on a Finnish lake to fast and pray. That was Adam Carter's plan. But sometimes plans go awry.
On an impromptu trip to her family's secluded summer cottage, the last thing Eveliina Mikkola expected to find was a missionary from the other side of the world—in her sauna.
Determined to stay, Eveliina will do whatever it takes—from shortcrust pastry to shorts—to send the man of God packing. This island’s too small for them both.
Adam Carter, however, is not about to leave.
Will he be able to resist her temptations?
Can she withstand his prayers?
Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.      “I need to get away for a while.” Eveliina held her breath. If Joel said no, she’d go anyway. She’d resign. She’d break up with him. Whatever it took to bring a little peace and quiet to her harried life.
“But you just got back from Vaasa.” Joel crossed his arms and leaned back in his leather chair.
“Exactly why I need to get away.”
His eyes swept over her, and Eveliina hoped she didn’t look as frazzled as she felt.
“You work too hard, Eveliina, and I’m sorry. It’s just the nature of our business. Creating fantasy for the world is not for the fainthearted.” He rose from behind his smoked-glass desk, placed his hands on the edge of the table and leaned forward. “That’s why people like us aren’t married. We’re wed to our computers, and it’s hard to divorce ourselves from the beasts.” Joel straightened up. “But maybe soon we’ll change that. I know you’ll be as dedicated and talented a wife as you are—”
“I doubt I could love doing anything other than visual effects.” One sure thing got Eveliina uncomfortable—talk of marriage. And these days, Joel didn’t miss an opportunity. Eveliina stared him in the eye. “You’re right. I am married to my job. And I don’t believe in divorce.”
She pointed to the framed 3D characters that lined the walls of Joel’s ultra-modern high-rise Helsinki office like family portraits. “You see those funny little creatures?—they’re the only ones I’m happy to create.”
Joel scratched his chin. “So, how was Ostrobothnia and the tall ships exhibition?”
“Bombarded by noisy children and people dressed as Vikings…?”
He pulled a face. “That bad?”
“You try seven days surrounded by,” she shuddered, “little people. If that wasn’t bad enough, those Viking look-alikes are a crude bunch with a weakness for blondes.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?            Readers can find me at any of the following places, and I look forward to connecting with them.Website  Amazon  Facebook  Twitter  PinterestBlogs: A Pebble in my Pocket  Foreign AffaireOn my website there are also links to blogs where I’m a regular blogger.
Helsinki Sunrise is available to purchase from Pelican Book Group, Christianbook.com, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
Watch the Helsinki Sunrise book trailer on YouTube.
Watch the Passport to Romance book trailer on YouTube.
Thank you, Marion, for sharing your debut novel 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