Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 200

WINNERS!!!

Kelly Y (VA) is the winner of A Most Inconvenient Marriage  by Regina Jennings.
Cheryl (IL) is the winner of A White Christmas in Webster County  by Laura V Hilton.
Kimberly H (KS) is the winner of Electric Angel  by Sue Dent.

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.

THAT WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS! - A R Cecil - One Free Book

Welcome, A R. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. There are twenty-five short, short stories in the book, That Was the Best Christmas! I will now name some of the fictional characters and how they relate to me. In “Anna’s Fleece,” I am Anna—the little girl who wanted her father’s love and who knew she wouldn’t get along very well through life without it. I am Joseph’s mother in “Christmas Reborn.” I have also parented with my fingers on the pulse of all my children. In “Beyond the Garden Gate,” Cassie is awkward at evangelizing. I did not become a Christian until I was in my mid-30s, so I was inspired to write about the challenges of reaching others for Christ. If only, however, I had Cassie’s heart, I could have moved mountains.
And, there is no question in anybody’s mind who knows me that I am Emma in “Emma in the Middle.” I am a middle child, and—from early on—my older sister has been an accomplished person. As a child, I was too shy to try anything outside my world of pretend. Like Emma, I do like people. Sometimes we fare better in life by relating beyond our four walls. I, too, have had kind people in my life, as Emma had Mr. Johnson. He could realize her potential and, therefore, steer her in the direction of her talents and gifts. Supportive people have been there for me at every turn.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?My husband and I had arranged to meet at a restaurant after he got off work. He had asked me to leave early and get us a table. Because we had eaten there before, I could picture the building and the location. When I arrived at the place where the restaurant should have been, it wasn’t there!
I called my husband. “It’s not here! The restaurant it not here!” I declared.
“What do you mean?” he asked in his usual calm manner.
“They moved the restaurant!” I proclaimed. “It’s not here! I know houses can be moved, but to move an entire restaurant . . . !” 
Of course, I was in the wrong place. But, I was so convinced I was in the right place that the only “logical” explanation was that an entire restaurant had been moved from its foundation to a new location.
My husband found me, and we found the restaurant.
When did you first discover you were a writer?Between the grocery and the dry cleaners in Louisville, Kentucky, at the red light of the crazy intersection that represents the need to do something with all the streets converging at one point. “I am a writer!” was the light bulb moment.
I had been writing for twelve years. (This was twenty years ago.) But something I had recently written was being replayed in my head and, for the first time, I felt like a writer!    
Books! I love books. Two weekends ago, we moved into an apartment. Just yesterday, I put the books up into the shelves. So, now I am home! In the grandchildren’s room are all their books—the ones I read over and over again to their parents. Tattered copies of—among others—Goodnight Moon, Pierre – A Cautionary Tale, and The Runaway Bunny are waiting for the grandchildren to return.
In another room of the apartment are my husband’s and my books. Old Bibles that have been handed down in the family, and newer ones. Books by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Oswald Chambers, and C.S. Lewis—among other Christian classics. Old novels, miscellaneous inspirational titles, and biographies of noteworthy people in history finish our collection. All good books give hope. I always buy a book when I am sad or troubled. 
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?  I write. I honestly don’t run that much because writing takes so much time. I talked to a friend on the phone just this morning, and she was on her way out the door to help at church. Our personalities and talents are different, but I couldn’t help questioning myself, “Shouldn’t you be out there doing more?”
When I do question myself, I always receive the same answer: From all that I can see, it seems that God has been saying, “Sit still and write.” 
 “Yes,” I gleefully obey. I’ll keep writing until God says, “Stop.” But, I sure hope He never asks me to do that.  
How do you choose your character’s names?The name needs to fit. Naming characters is great fun. Anna—from “Anna’s Fleece”—is innocent and subdued. Emma—from “Emma in the Middle”—has two m’s in the middle. Emma is the name of a thinker. Eleanor—Emma’s older sister—is a name that sounds like a girl who is in control.
In “Beyond the Garden Gate,” Mrs. Thatcher is a good name of someone who is distant and hurt. Aaron is a good sturdy name for a boy who can weather storms and who loves his horse in “Gray Lady.”
Someday I will count all the characters named in That Was the Best Christmas! I did have a good time birthing all of them!
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Behind all the important people in my life, my greatest accomplishment in writing is twofold. First, a book of poetry. In That Place Called Daywas written to share my journey between the lines. In “Summer Rain,” for example, I am the person who takes the umbrella from the back hall and unfolds—like it does—to go walking in the rain. I was trying to say that I am capable of trying something new and willing to be a bit daring. And, in “Lemons Needed,” I realized that lemons are needed to make lemonade. There is a place for us glass-half-empty kind of people. The glass-half-full people need us, and we need them. Good thing we are not all alike.
The second accomplishment that brings me joy is the completion of three picture books for young children. (They are finished, but not yet published.) The Christian books concern a fictional boy named Henry. The first book deals with Henry’s heart, the second with his soul, and the third with his mind. The goals of these books are reaching young children with the truth of God’s Word and setting them on a good path for their lives. 
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? I would be a child’s dog and make a difference in his or her life just by being me. I’d be there when he or she came home. I would dash to the door to meet him or her, and I’d show my love and concern at every turn of the child’s road. 
What is your favorite food?Strawberries. I am so very glad they are no longer a seasonal item that is restricted to the springtime.  In every one of my grocery carts is a plastic, flip-top container of strawberries. My husband has caught on and does not return from the store without a box.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Self-doubt has been my greatest roadblock. “What if no one likes what I write?” is the question that once bothered me so much. Finally, I hope I have resolved that battle in my brain. I write because I need to write; it is good for me; and it helps me grow in the Lord.
I can’t control whether or not I am successful as far as others liking what I write. I do write to help people. That is always my first motivation. A few days ago, I returned to a doctor’s office to pick up some paperwork. The lady in charge of the paperwork and I know each other on a personal level.  We talked about many different things. I learned that her grandmother had recently passed away and that her mother had taken care of her for many years. Then, she shared that she had given That Was the Best Christmas! to her mother last Christmas. 
“Your book meant so much to my mother last year,” she said. “She told me that it was her best Christmas gift.”
Wow! That was a wonderful moment. A dear lady, who had been burdened with the care of an elderly person, enjoyed the stories in the Christmas book—that was a great moment.    
Tell us about the featured book. The twenty-five stories in That Was the Best Christmas! were written approximately twenty years ago over many months. I had some ideas that I wanted to share about relationships, feelings, personalities, and God’s intervention in our lives. So, I wrote little stories, not intending for them to ever be published together. But, it became increasingly clear that the stories, which are set at Christmastime, fit into different times in history. It was then that I interjected a bit of history into each and arranged them in order. My publisher at Cladach Publishing had the very good idea to add the endnotes that relate what happens beyond the story’s ending. 
How can readers find you on the internet?   I blog with some other women on “Journeys to Mother Love.” I am one of nine women who wrote her testimony in a book by the same name. We write about the relationships we have had, or are having, with our mothers. And, we write about our experiences as mothers. 
I have a website, which is Greatfish Books. And, my email for writing is My account in Goodreads will be activated shortly after Thanksgiving. 
Thank you for including me on your blog. I hope that my answers have been helpful. And, to you and the readers, I wish the best Christmas—one filled with the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is my pleasure and great blessing to introduce you to my readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
That Was the Best Christmas! : 25 Short Stories from the Generations - Paperback
That Was the Best Christmas! 25 Short Stories from the Generations - 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

SWEETENED WITH HONEY - Valerie Comer - One Free Ebook

Bio: Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters. Valerie writes Farm Lit where food meets faith, injecting experience laced with humor into her award-winning Farm Fresh Romance stories.
Welcome back, Valerie. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?       Oh, this is so true, Lena. I'm so amazed and blessed, and I'm so excited as I look into 2015. In the past year, I've had the privilege of independently re-publishing two novels from my previous publisher plus three original novels. In 2015, I expect to release three more novels as well as several novellas. It's so much fun to write again! 
Tell us a little about your family.    
My husband and I have been married for 34 years. We live on a small farm in western Canada where we grow much of our own food. I'm especially excited about this because we can help provide real food, nutritious food, organic food for our three little granddaughters (and their parents, LOL).
Our son lives in a mobile home on our farm with his wife and their little girl, and it's such a delight to see them nearly every day. My daughter's family lives only 90 miles away, but the two mountain passes between make it seem further! My daughter is my cover designer, which is another thrill for me.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?        Yes and no. I've always read a lot. Since I began writing, my reading time has fluctuated, but I usually read fiction for an hour or so before bed. I love my genre, contemporary romance, and love discovering fresh new voices. I'm reading more consistently than I used to, and I have my Kindle to thank for that. Living in a rural area meant I didn't always have access to the books I wanted to read. Now that's not an issue.
What are you working on right now?         These days I'm finishing up Dandelions for Dinner, which will release in early March. It's the fourth book in my Farm Fresh Romance series. I expect to write and release the fifth and sixth books in the series in 2015, as well, so I'm keeping busy!
What outside interests do you have?           I’m a true introvert and, since my job left me two years ago, have become a fulltime author and freelancer. My vegetable garden and my family are my two major non-writing interests! My husband and I enjoy traveling in western Canada and camping beside the ocean or mountain streams. This time of year we're snuggling down for cold weather, though. I hope we have enough snow this winter for snowshoeing. Getting outside and moving around is vital for both my physical energy and mental energy.
How do you choose your settings for each book?  The Farm Fresh Romance series is set in northern Idaho, which is not far from where I live in Canada. I chose it because I needed a climate and growing season familiar to me for the farming aspects of the series. When I began the books, I was writing for traditional publishing houses that didn't want to see Canadian-set books. The series I'm eyeing for 2016 will likely be set on Vancouver Island, off Canada's west coast.
Oh, I’m so glad. I love books with foreign settings. I know the US is foreign for you, but Canadais foreign for me. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?My dad, I think. He died in 1998, a few years before I began writing, and I believe he'd have been very proud of me and interested in my progress. He enjoyed writing, too, but no one could read his handwriting. He wrote a lot of poetry. I'd love to compare notes with him as the woman I am today rather than who I was back then.
I so understand. I’d choose my mother who died when I was 7. I’d love to know her as a woman. What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?  I wish I'd learned to trust my instincts sooner. I lived under the mistaken impression far too long that a writer was either a plotter or a seat-of-the-pants writer. I couldn’t do either, and it was extremely frustrating. I've since learned that it's a spectrum and that I fall very close to the middle. I need to know certain things about my story in advance, and then I need to jump in and trust the process. There's been much less deep revision to do in the past several years, and my stories hold together so much better. How did I not figure this out five years earlier? It's a mystery.
Me, too. I’m closer to the seat-of-the- pants side of the spectrum though. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?          I find it interesting how much God teaches me through the novels I write. It's like He has some master plan or something. ;) But the characters in my current novel need a large dose of self-forgiveness and hope, and I'm finding myself challenged through their problems and conversations.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?          1. Write another book. Don’t just write proposals, even if you're aiming for traditional publication. Write the whole thing. Write in a series. Keep in practice.2. Grow your newsletter subscriber list. It's your most important tool. Send letters regularly. Create a giveaway for your subscribers that can be delivered to them automatically when they sign up. I recently changed up my giveaway to a short story that lands between the second and third books in my series. Peppermint Kisses is only available to subscribers. It seems to be quite effective. J3. Create a business plan. Figure out how many books you can write in a certain time period and what marketing you can do. Lay your schedule out on one giant calendar, and push yourself a little.And a bonus #4: Ask God to show you where He wants you every day. Let Him guide your imagination and fingers! 
Very good advice. Tell us about the featured book.  Sweetened with Honey : A Farm Fresh Romance 3   Gabriel Rubachuk returns to Galena Landing, Idaho, once the setting of a charmed life before an accident killed his pregnant wife. Will he embrace hope for a new life or escape once again?
Beekeeper Sierra Riehl has spent three years helping to keep Gabe’s health food store afloat while he worked with orphans in Romania. Now he’s back, but it looks like he might bolt. Can she hold him still long enough to spark a romance? But Sierra’s hope falters when she begins to suspect she can’t give Gabe the life he deserves.
Is new love sweet enough to overcome the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future?
Please give us the first page of the book.     Sierra Riehl had done a lot of strange things while studying natural medicine, but this seemed right up there with applying leeches to let blood. Straight out of medieval times.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” She set the jar containing two honeybees on the table in her naturopathy office.
“I think so.” Her friend eyed the bees crawling up the side of the glass. “I’ve read a lot of reports that say stings really help. My rheumatoid arthritis seems worse every day.”
“I know. That’s the only reason I’m agreeing.” Probably not what she should say out loud — and not what she would, if Doreen Klimpton’s symptoms hadn’t taken over so quickly. Her once-vibrant friend had shrunk in on herself in recent months.
“Where are you going to apply it?” Doreen kept her eyes on the jar as she settled her bony frame in the reclining chair. “Are you going to sting me twice?” Her thin fingers gripped the armrests.
“Maybe.” Sierra slipped a lab coat over her lilac dress. “I plan to start with one as a test. If things go well, we can do a second one. Or not, as you wish.”
Doreen nodded. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She took a deep breath. “Getting stung on purpose.”
Sierra couldn’t, either. Yet, since she’d taken up apiculture, she kept hearing old beekeepers say they never had arthritis. The venom from the many stings they inevitably incurred in the line of duty kept their joints at ease. Unprovable at the moment, but she’d be glad of the side benefit as she aged, no doubt. She’d never expected her boss to test the theory.
Doreen closed her eyes. “Do it already. The anticipation must be worse than the sting.”
Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?    My home base is http://valeriecomer.com . Once there, you can sign up for my newsletter, follow my blog, find out where food meets faith, or connect with me on social media. Oh, and find out more about my books, of course.
Thanks so much for inviting me over, Lena. It's always a pleasure chatting with you and your readers.

And it's a great pleasure to have you here, Valerie.

Readers, here is a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Sweetened with Honey (A Farm Fresh Romance 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 

BETRAYED HEARTS - Susan Anne Mason - One Free Book

Welcome, Susan. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.That’s a tough one. I don’t consciously write myself into my characters, but I’m sure some of my personality leaks through. One thing I do try to include, though, is the message of God’s love and forgiveness.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I live a pretty boring life. I can’t think of anything quirky. Oh, I just remembered something. My grandmother passed away when she was 96 and 4 years later on her 100th birthday, I had an impromptu celebration at the cemetery, complete with helium balloons!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?I started writing my first book with encouragement from my Grade 6 teacher, and finished it in my teens. I received my first rejection in high school and then stopped writing. University, marriage, and children took over for the next 20+ years! I rediscovered my love of writing again sometime after my 40th birthday, and it took about 10 years to finally get published. A winding road to be sure!
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I enjoy romance of almost any kind: contemporary, historical, inspirational, and sweet.  I do read some secular romances as well, but my favorite authors are Julie Lessman, Becky Wade, Laura Frantz, Jody Hedlund, and Katie Ganshert.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Writing is my sanity. If I haven’t had to time to write in a while, I find myself getting very grumpy. LOL.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I usually pick first names I love and pair them with a last name that I think sounds good. Sometimes for inspiration I read the obituaries in the paper. A little morbid, but you get great story ideas there, too!
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Raising two great kids. And making it to almost 30 years of marriage. A huge accomplishment these days!
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Definitely a cat. We have 2 in our house, and they lead the loveliest lives. Eating, sleeping and getting fussed over!
What is your favorite food?I would have to say pizza—with chocolate coming in a close second.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Learning to plot a story from beginning to end was a huge issue for me. I started as a seat-of-the-pantser but partway through the book, I’d have a hot mess on my hands. Now I’ve learned to plot the big events from beginning to end, along with the major twists and turns, and this helps me write more cohesively.
Tell us about the featured book. Betrayed Hearts is the story of Lily Draper, a girl who has had a rough childhood and a rocky road to adulthood. At the beginning of the book, she has reached the lowest point in her life. The discovery that she may have a biological sister who her adoptive parents didn’t tell her about leads her to Rainbow Falls, North Dakota, to find her. The last thing Lily expects is to meet an aspiring minister who makes her question everything she believes about herself.
Please give us the first page of the book.PrologueThe click of the door echoed as loud as a gunshot through the silent house. Lily Draper’s heart battled to escape her chest. She pressed her back against the cool wall of her father’s office and made a valiant effort to calm the roar of blood in her ears.
No time for fear. Focus on what you’re here for.
The familiar scent of cedar and moth balls threatened to swamp her with nostalgia, causing memories of her beloved mother to spring forth with a ferocity that spiked an ache of longing through her.
Mama, how I wish you hadn’t died. If you were here now, my life wouldn’t be such a disaster. She pushed away from the wall, grim determination stiffening her resolve. She refused to dwell on thoughts of her mother, knowing how disappointed Mama would be with the drastic action Lily was about to take.
She felt her way in the dark to the desk where she snapped on the brass lamp. Dust motes danced under the short beam of light aimed at the open Bible. With a pang, Lily ran her fingers over the worn pages. She used to love when Mama read her stories from the Bible. But that was before God took her mother away and left her with Tobias. With each punishment Tobias doled out, he cited a judgmental, angry God who waited to punish Lily for the least transgression. Lily wanted no part of a God like that.
How can readers find you on the Internet?They can find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/susan.mason.127or on my website www.susanannemason.com.They can find my books at the Pelican Book group site http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=160 or at Amazon.com under Susan Anne Mason.           
Thank you for having me here, Lena! I’ve enjoyed answering your questions.
It's my pleasure to feature you here on my blog. I know my readers will be interested in this book.
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

BIG C, little c - Connie Lewis Leonard - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Connie is a friend of mine. She’s part of our local writing group. This is her debut novel. My husband and I enjoy spending time with her and her husband when we can.
Welcome, Connie. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?I accepted Christ when I was eleven. When I was thirteen, I had an English teacher who gave us choices: we could do the assignments in the grammar book, or we could do creative writing. We weren’t taught to write, but that year I discovered I loved to write and wanted to be a writer. I married young, had children, and put my husband through college and seminary. Then God gifted me with scholarships, I majored in English and taught in public schools for twenty-three years. I kept the desire to write buried in my heart. I thought I would write someday, when the kids were grown, someday when I retired. When doctors told me the breast cancer had metastasized to the lungs and liver, which was a terminal diagnosis, I realized that someday may never come. I decided to write a brief story of my life for my children and future grandchildren. As I wrote, I saw the hand of God directing my life even when I wasn’t walking with Him. It was at that point, I realized I didn’t just want to write, but I want to write for the Lord. That was twelve years ago. I opted not to have surgery, and either I didn’t have cancer, or the Lord chose to heal me because I am alive and well. 
Tell us about your family.My husband and I have been married for forty-four years. Thirty-eight of those years, we have served in ministry together. God blessed us with two great kids and two precious grandkids. Our son is a football coach and teacher and our daughter is a counselor and registered play therapist. I am fortunate to still have both of my parents and a brother who live in New Mexico
Have you written other books?I have written two short romantic suspense novels that I rewrote into one longer book following the advice of an agent. They are still unpublished. I write devotions and am currently working a devotional book, A Psalm a Day. I have also written a couple of Bible studies used in our church. I also write human interest magazine articles.                        Do you have any other books in the works right now?I am about half-way finished with a romantic novel that takes place in a cowboy church in Texas. The idea popped into my head one Sunday morning while I was listening to the band in our cowboy church.
The idea for one of my books, that is still unpublished, came to me in a praise service. It’s wonderful when that happens. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?I love baking and cooking, especially when we have family get-togethers. I love reading and writing, and I enjoy scrapbooking.
What is your favorite food?My favorite foods, besides sweets, are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners. I also love homemade Mexican food. I was raised in Albuquerque, so I don’t care too much for TexMex.
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?If I were an animal it would be a dog because dogs are loyal, friendly, and affectionate. They are also fiercely protective of their people, and so am I.
Why did you write the featured book? This is the book of my heart. I am a cancer survivor. I have received the dreaded call and the diagnosis of a terminal condition. Although I didn’t have to endure chemo and radiation, I have seen the ravages of the disease and its treatment. I hope to raise awareness and sensitivity. When someone has cancer, they don’t cease to be a person. Some people focus only on the cancer, like the person has no other life or concerns. Other people act like the cancer, or the cancer victim, ceases to exist because it’s too painful to face their suffering. Cancer affects the family and friends as well as the patient. My prayer is that everyone facing cancer, or any other major life crisis, would have the support system that Lyn Newton has in Big C, little c .
What do you want the reader to take away from the book?We go through seasons in life. We can be sailing along smoothly, on top of the world, when all of a sudden the bottom falls out, and we plummet into a deep, dark desert. It’s through these valley experiences that we truly come to know God’s great love, mercy, and grace. He reaches down and picks us up out of the pit and puts our feet on solid ground. He walks on the water to rescue us from the raging storms. Christ is the “Big C”—He is bigger than cancer or any other crisis in life.
Is there anything you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?My book is a novel, a work of fiction that portrays the human experience. It is more about relationships than cancer—personal relationships with God, relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings, and friends. It is a book about placing our hope in Christ.
Here is the back cover blurb:Lyn Newton’s foundation is rocked by the diagnosis of cancer. Assaulted by one crisis after another, her family fights for life, life as they’ve known it, life as they hope it will be, and finally the life Christ has planned for them. With prayer and the support of Lyn’s ladies’ Bible study group, they discover the peace of Christ, “The Big C,” who is greater than any calamity of life, including cancer. Through laughter and tears, the Newton family is drawn back together, stronger in love for each other and faith in God.
Where on the Internet can the readers find you?I write devotions and post them in the Blog on my website:http://connielewisleonard.webs.com/I am also on Facebook.

Thank you, Connie, for sharing your debut novel with us today.

Readers, here are purchase links for the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Big C, little c - paperback
Big C, little c - 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

THE CHRISTMAS TREE BRIDE - Susan Page Davis - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Susan. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I write Christian novels, mostly romance, and a lot have elements of suspense or mystery. My books are split about half and half, contemporary and historical.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?Marrying my husband Jim. That was a long time ago, but still one of the best memories!
How has being published changed your life?Quite a lot, actually. It has allowed me to contribute to the family income while working at home. It has also introduced me to many incredible people.
What are you reading right now?I am just starting Terri Blackstock’s Truth-Stained Lies.
What is your current work in progress?It’s a cozy mystery for the Mysteries of Silver Peak series, from Guideposts. It’s not titled yet, but it’s set in a tiny former mining town high in the Colorado Rockies. The heroine, Sadie, owns an antique shop. It’s a fun series, and this is my second book in the lineup. The other books are written by other authors. My first for this series is book #8, Empty Saddle, releasing soon.
What would be your dream vacation?Go to Englandagain (I was there 40 years ago) and visit my daughter and son-in-law.
How do you choose your settings for each book?Sometimes they are chosen for me, but I usually pick a place I feel would be best for the story to unfold in. Sometimes the town or the terrain are important parts of the story.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I would like to have the chance to ask Vladamir Putin, “What on earth were you thinking?” Of course, I’d need bodyguards, too.
Yes, you would. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I like needlework, family history, logic puzzles, and cryptography.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Too many tasks, too little time!
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Read a lot, across genres. Write something every day.
Tell us about the featured book. My new novella, The Christmas Tree Bride , has a theme of longing, nostalgia, and realization. All of this is symbolized by the tree itself.
In the story, Polly Winfield’s desire for a Christmas tree stands for more than that. Since she moved with her family to the plains of Wyoming, where suitable evergreens are hard to come by. A friend in Massachusetts sends Polly a postcard with a picture depicting a decorated Christmas tree, which sparks her longing for one. Deeper than the tree itself, she longs for the sense of security and being loved that always surrounded the tree when she was younger.
The hero, stagecoach driver Jacob Tierney, is attracted to Polly. He agrees to look for a tree for her as his run takes him into different terrain, where trees are more plentiful. Achieving that goal proves difficult, and Polly’s tree almost becomes sacrificed in an emergency, but finally it arrives at the Winfield station, a bit droopy and bedraggled.
On Christmas Day, the happy gathering around the tree, now resplendent in its garb of homemade ornaments and popcorn strings, climaxes the story. The symbol and the abstract have merged: Polly has her tree and her desire of a happy family around her and a promising future.
Please give us the first page of the book.Polly Winfield dashed about the dining room, setting up. On days the stage came through, she and her mother always prepared to serve a full table. The passengers would eat quickly, reboard the stagecoach, and hurry away toward the next station.
Polly didn’t mind the hectic mornings on Wednesdays. The stage was heading west, and that meant Jacob Tierney would be driving it. He would blow the brass horn to announce their arrival and canter the horses the last few hundred yards, to put on a good show. After the passengers gulped down Ma’s stew and biscuits and pie, they would go on, but Jacob would stay.
The young man had recently landed the job as replacement driver for old Norm Hatfield, who had been injured in a driving mishap when his team was spooked by lightning and ran away with the stage. If Norm recovered, or if the division agent hired another permanent driver, Jacob wouldn’t come by the Winfield Station anymore. But that wouldn’t happen yet. At least, Polly hoped not. She liked Jacob enormously, and he had told her he expected to drive the route another three or four weeks, until the line stopped operation for the winter.
The best part of the arrangement was that Jacob stayed at the Winfields’ home station from Wednesday until Saturday, when the stage returned, heading east. The driver on that run, Harry Smith, would stay at there from Saturday until Jacob returned the following Wednesday. They each had a run of a hundred twenty miles or so, covering six stations. On their days between runs, the drivers could do whatever they pleased. If Polly had anything to say about it, Jacob would be pleased to further their acquaintance.           
I can’t wait to read this Christmas tale. How can readers find you on the Internet?www.susanpagedavis.com   On my website, you can see all my books, sign up for my newsletter, enter a monthly drawing, and read a short story on my “Romance” tab.https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthoris my author page.www.hhhistory.com is a history blog where I post on the 23rd of each month.
Thank you, Susan, for sharing this book with us today. And I checked out the blog. I love the new header and new name for the blog.

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

LENA NELSON DOOLEY'S Ebooks - Two Free Ebook

Dear Readers, some of you have asked that I do a post giving away one of my books. So here it is. I have a number of backlist books that the rights have reverted to me. I've republished several of them as ebooks, because they have never been available for ereaders. 

They are available in both Kindle editions and epub, which are available from Barnes and Noble. A few are contemporary, and some are historical.

Here are the contemporary books:

Christmas Confusion -  Lori Compton, mayor of Mistletoe, needs ideas for ways to prop up the sagging economy. After having her heart broken by the former pastor, she doesn’t want to spend time with the new pastor. Rev. Russell Brown has plenty of ideas, even one that includes his spending the rest of his life with the beautiful mayor. Will Lori be able to move beyond her hurts and recognize God’s intentions for the future of the town – and for her own future?
Christmas Confusion (Montana Mistletoe Book 1) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-confusion-lena-nelson-dooley/1115837331?ean=2940016770994


Can You Help Me? -  When Valerie Bradford asks a Home and Hearth store employee for assistance, she doesn't realize that she'll get more attention than she bargained for.

Austin Hodges can't believe what the feisty blond plans to accomplish all by herself. Because of his profession, he knows how much help she needs, but for right now, his advice will have to do.

God must lead them through the misunderstandings they encounter toward a bright future together.
Can You Help Me? (Carolina Carpenter Brides) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/can-you-help-me-lena-nelson-dooley/1115837344?ean=2940016771090

No Thank You! -  Social Director Scarlett McKaye loves planning things down to the last detail. But what she didn't count on was having to spurn the bold advances of a reckless suitor.

How far will daredevil Derrick Greene go to cancel Scarlett's reservations?No Thank You! - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-thank-you-lena-nelson-dooley/1117545066?ean=2940148954170

The historicals are:

The Best Medicine - When Thomas Stanton shows up at the holiday party of Rose Fletcher’s best friend, his appearance reminds Rose of the infatuation she felt for him when he worked on her father’s ranch. Although her heart wants to continue those long ago feelings, her mind reminds her that he doesn’t share her faith in God. Thomas can’t understand why Rose seems so standoffish. Will it take God’s intervention to show these two people just what He has planned all along?
The Best Medicine (Snowbound Colorado Christmas Book 2) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-medicine-lena-nelson-dooley/1110380790?ean=2940014539685

The Spinster and the Cowboy -  The Cactus Corner singles scene is shrinking. . . . Many were unmarried by choice, others by circumstances, but single women living the 1800s carried the unfortunate label of “spinsters.” Once branded, can a spinster find love?

India Cunningham is happy running the ranch her father left her when a man she doesn’t remember from her childhood arrives to help her. Can she trust Joshua Dillinger, or is he there to steal her land?The Spinster and the Cowboy (Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner Book 1) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spinster-and-the-cowboy-lena-nelson-dooley/1113579950?ean=2940015522419

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 

LENA NELSON DOOLEY'S Ebooks - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, some of you have asked that I do a post giving away one of my books. So here it is. I have a number of backlist books that the rights have reverted to me. I've republished several of them as ebooks, because they have never been available for ereaders. 

They are available in both Kindle editions and epub, which are available from Barnes and Noble. A few are contemporary, and some are historical.

Here are the contemporary books:

Christmas Confusion -  Lori Compton, mayor of Mistletoe, needs ideas for ways to prop up the sagging economy. After having her heart broken by the former pastor, she doesn’t want to spend time with the new pastor. Rev. Russell Brown has plenty of ideas, even one that includes his spending the rest of his life with the beautiful mayor. Will Lori be able to move beyond her hurts and recognize God’s intentions for the future of the town – and for her own future?
Christmas Confusion (Montana Mistletoe Book 1) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-confusion-lena-nelson-dooley/1115837331?ean=2940016770994


Can You Help Me? -  When Valerie Bradford asks a Home and Hearth store employee for assistance, she doesn't realize that she'll get more attention than she bargained for.

Austin Hodges can't believe what the feisty blond plans to accomplish all by herself. Because of his profession, he knows how much help she needs, but for right now, his advice will have to do.

God must lead them through the misunderstandings they encounter toward a bright future together.
Can You Help Me? (Carolina Carpenter Brides) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/can-you-help-me-lena-nelson-dooley/1115837344?ean=2940016771090

No Thank You! -  Social Director Scarlett McKaye loves planning things down to the last detail. But what she didn't count on was having to spurn the bold advances of a reckless suitor.

How far will daredevil Derrick Greene go to cancel Scarlett's reservations?No Thank You! - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-thank-you-lena-nelson-dooley/1117545066?ean=2940148954170

The historicals are:

The Best Medicine - When Thomas Stanton shows up at the holiday party of Rose Fletcher’s best friend, his appearance reminds Rose of the infatuation she felt for him when he worked on her father’s ranch. Although her heart wants to continue those long ago feelings, her mind reminds her that he doesn’t share her faith in God. Thomas can’t understand why Rose seems so standoffish. Will it take God’s intervention to show these two people just what He has planned all along?
The Best Medicine (Snowbound Colorado Christmas Book 2) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-medicine-lena-nelson-dooley/1110380790?ean=2940014539685

The Spinster and the Cowboy -  The Cactus Corner singles scene is shrinking. . . . Many were unmarried by choice, others by circumstances, but single women living the 1800s carried the unfortunate label of “spinsters.” Once branded, can a spinster find love?

India Cunningham is happy running the ranch her father left her when a man she doesn’t remember from her childhood arrives to help her. Can she trust Joshua Dillinger, or is he there to steal her land?The Spinster and the Cowboy (Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner Book 1) - Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spinster-and-the-cowboy-lena-nelson-dooley/1113579950?ean=2940015522419

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 

WINNERS!!!!!!!

Donna B (IL) is the winner of  A Doctor's Heart  by Cynthia Hickey.
KayM (TN) is the winner of  Hidden  by Vannetta Chapman.
Beth G (MT) is the winner of Currency of the Heart and Loraine (TX) is the winner of Once a Marine by Loree Lough.
Charlotte Kay (GA) is the winner of the ebook  Love Is a Rose  by Pamela S Thibodeaux.
Caryl K (TX) is the winner of the ebook  Calculated Risk  by Zoe M McCarthy.
Britney (TX) is the winner of the ebook  A November Bride  by Beth K Vogt.

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.

ELECTRIC ANGEL - Sue Dent - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Sue Dent is a friend of mine who has a ministry writing books that shine the light of redemption into the lives of people who love the fantasy world of werewolves, vampires, and like. Her books have received accolades by many of the fantasy organizations. I’ve read her first two books. We featured them on this blog when they released several years ago.
Welcome back, Sue. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?Publishing has changed so much that it’s hard to even glimpse the horizon. One day it looks one way and the next day all that has changed. What a mess I’ve gotten myself into!
Tell us a little about your family.I’d like to give a shout-out to my big brother Dr. (Reverend) Jeff R. Steele who recently won the Dottie Rambo Songwriter of the Year award at the Diamond Awards earlier this month for his recent release “But God.” I guess we’re just a family of writers. 
That’s wonderful. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?Yes. I know longer read as much as I write. I can’t seem to cut off the self-editing mode that I’ve become accustomed to being in.
It takes a really good book too pull me away from my self-editing mode. What are you working on right now?My readers are screaming for the third book in my Thirsting for Blood Series, Cyn No More as well as another story to follow my recent release Electric Angel . But until there are sales of my other books, I can’t really dedicate a lot of time working on something that isn’t going to bring in income. Sadly, it seems that you have to invest a lot in promotion to even get folks attention in spite of having accolades from the best in the business including a four-star (unasked for) review of Never Ceese by Eric Wilson of Fireproof, having Never Ceese named #1 Christian Horror Novel at BestHorror.com beating out the likes of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, making the preliminary ballot at the Horror Writers Association for Superior Achievement in a First Novel and receiving rave reviews from the British Fantasy Society. Accolades do matter but it’s all about getting the right folks talking about it which is why I appreciate you so much Lena!
I’m also excited about working with Matt Chasin of Matt's Marketing, PR and Management Services who took me on as a client earlier this year and is working to make a movie from Electric Angel .
That’s wonderful, Sue. I’m actually working with a new Christian production company as a screenwriter. And I know what you mean about the accolades. I’ve received a number of them on my books. What outside interests do you have?Presently I’ve found myself caught up in fostering cats. Yes. I’m your resident Crazy Cat Lady!!
How do you choose your settings for each book?It all depends on the story of course. Well, most of the time. Sometimes I just go by my knowledge of certain areas. For instance in Electric Angel I needed a location that depended heavily on power stations to provide electricity and therefore chose New Jersey.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?I believe I’d pick one of my favorite authors Roger Zelazny. I would just love to sit down and talk to him about his books. Amazing and fantastical stories.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?There’s really nothing that I’d wished I’d known before writing novels but TONS I’d wished I known about publishing to the general market. And the list is far too long ... far ... too ... long to break down in this interview!
With Indie publishing growing as it is now, there are lots more avenues open to authors today than when I started writing. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?To shut up and listen to Him and to quit trying to make things work all by myself.
That’s a biggie that all of us need to learn. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Write your story.
Invest wisely. If you’re serious about offering it to the general market and competing with the “big dogs” put out the money to have a professional editor. A “real” professional editor.
It’s a long, sometimes frustrating, ride and often it’s very difficult to enjoy. If you can hang on though, it’s well worth it ... I think ... I’ll let you know once I’m successful. LOL
Tell us about the featured book? The blurb from the book reads:
Because of her cancer, Anna Chadwick wouldn't live long enough to carry her twin infants to term. Yet she wanted nothing more than for them to have a chance at living. Learning one would be stillborn didn't lessen her desire.
It would take a miracle....so she prayed for one.
When an electrical entity arrives to take the place of her stillborn, some would reflect that prayers aren't always answered the way we'd expect them to be.
Please give us the first page of the book.The two-lane road wound its way around the foothills of the lower Appalachians like a ribbon carelessly tossed on the ground. Anna Chadwick gripped the steering wheel tighter and eased her foot from the gas pedal. The long day’s drive bearing down on her, she began to reconsider. Nothing about this makes sense. No one just picks up and leaves everything behind. I don’t even know where I’m headed. Panic took root. Confused tears blurred her vision. She wiped at them with the back of an uncertain hand, then gave her head a determined shake.
“No! You can do this. You have to do this.” She placed a maternal hand on the small bulge of her stomach. “They deserve a chance. Both of them.”
With this thought, she pushed away her panic and drove on. Yet when dusk threatened, the uneasy feeling returned. How much farther would she have to go? Was she on the right road? The landscape looked the same no matter which road she took, rolling hills populated by thick pockets of pines. With no directions, one could easily get lost in an area like this. She’d taken this road because at the moment she had to make a decision, it seemed the road to take. Now, she wasn’t sure. Nothing really distinguished this road from the other five or six she passed up already. That suffocating thought was enough to make her consider turning around.
Then, as the road curved, she saw it.
“Yes,” she sighed. Just like the dream, the recurring dream that began over a month ago, one that had her driving this very road. Yes, this road, she thought, and nodded, all doubt gone. I remember this. I remember all of this. There’s the weathered old billboard. That barn too! She drove the car to the top of the next hill. “And that!”
She jerked the steering wheel hard and pressed on the brakes; the car skidded onto the shoulder. The instant the vehicle screeched to a stop, she shoved the gearshift into park, pressed the button to lower the driver’s-side window and stared out. “I’m not crazy,” she half-laughed and cried. “I’m not!”
How can readers find you on the Internet?They can go to my official website at www.authorsuedent.com where they can purchase any of my “signed” books directly from my own S D Enterprises. They may also purchase any of my books wherever books are sold. It is important to know that the only books I receive money for are the ones distributed through S D Enterprises and those ISBN’s follow:978-0996012188         Electric Angel978-0996012102         Never Ceese978-0996012119         Forever Richard
And yes, these are all available wherever books are sold. You won’t see them in brick and mortar stores but all of them can order it for you.

Thank you so much, Sue, for sharing this book with us. I'm anxious to read it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Electric Angel

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