Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 213

HOG INSANE - Carole Brown - One Free Book or Ebook

Bio: Carole Brown lives in Southeast Ohio and is always on the lookout for catchy titles and suspenseful plots. The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, her debut inspirational novel, is a Selah Award Finalist and a ACFW Genesis semi-finalist and also wrote a companion book (West Virginia Scrapbook: The Life of Caralynne Hayman) with discussion questions, quotes, recipes and interesting tidbits to go along with it. The first book, Hog Insane , in her cozy mystery book series, has recently been released. She has also written five children’s books, Racy, the Rabbit, dealing with character traits, and won two awards for her poems.
Carole has written her whole life as newspaper reporter, editor of journals and newsletters, and research manuscripts. When not penning her own novels, she enjoys mentoring beginning writers and founded a writer’s group called Circle of Pens where she can mentor to her heart’s content. Her passion for serving continues in her secretarial work and coordinator for the state of Ohiowith ACFW.
She and her husband have traveled extensively throughout the United Statesministering and counseling. They have particularly enjoyed the western states where they’ve labored with the Native Americans and many other specific places where she gathers folder for her writings. They continue to enjoy traveling, their grandsons, the country life and city lights, gardens, and good food.
Welcome, Carole. Why do you write the kind of books you do?Suspense/mystery has always been my first love. Team that with a touch of romance and sometimes pertinent topics from today’s world, and I’m in heaven!
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?My first most innocent happiest day came when I married my best friend, my husband, Dan, and I say innocent, because being a newlywed, I didn’t realize what all a couple must learn and give and do to remain close and in love.
Having acknowledged that, enjoying the birth of my first (and possibly only birth grandchild) I will ever see/enjoy/have, I believe has been the happiest. I know he will have a lot to go through, and in this world, will face a lot of temptations and decisions, but I still count his birth as the happiest. The only thing better would be to know he loves God as he grows older.
How has being published changed your life?A lot of my time is spent in marketing, which fortunately, I enjoy for the most part. Then I also feel more pressure to finish writing projects and get more books out there for my readers. It’s all a part of being a writer, and one I love.
What are you reading right now?I have a missionary book I need to skim through for our missionary program at church, plus several books from writing friends I owe reviews to: Lisa Lawmaster Hess, Mary Ellis, Molly Noble Bull, Barbara Derksen, and another one Revell requested a review. There are ALWAYS plenty of books needing reviews, and I certainly try to honor that. I know how much they mean to an author.
What is your current work in progress?I’m working on several:I’m completing the second book in my cozy mysteries, Bat Crazy.I’m finishing a historical romantic suspense set in the late 1800s.I’m also working on “second” books in series including a new contemporary romantic suspense set in Montanaand a historical WWII spy romantic suspense.
What would be your dream vacation?Traveling to several countries I’ve not visited yet: Italy, Australia, and perhaps Mexico(more).
How do you choose your settings for each book?I decide on a setting once I have an idea for a book. I like to research and go over possibilities of what could/would work, what place seems logical and most importantly, gives me the feeling of being the “right” place.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?This is a hard one for me because I have no particular interest in spending it with anyone other than my friends and family. But if I had to choose, it would be with one of my favorite writers, and I have several.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I enjoy collecting music boxes, but at the stage I’m in now, I prefer antique, interesting or particular ones that capture my attention. I have a wide variety already, so can afford to be a little choosier in continuing this hobby! J
I also enjoy scribbling quotes in journals.
And I collect mugs from states we’ve visited. Since we’ve visited many already, I probably only have about a third more to go. After that, I’ll switch to finding better or more fun or something I like better than what I have now.
We also really love traveling and being with family, especially now that we have three grandsons. We’re always planning short trips we can take with them, or times they can spend the night (and days!) with us. Mommy, so far, has been generous in sharing. J
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?The worst would be finding and keeping the time to write as a priority. We live a busy life and many things are important to me, so I grab what time I can when I can. It takes me a little longer to accomplish my writing, but I get it done.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?As always, I would say: Never, never quit. If you truly feel you’re “called” to write, then write. Don’t let anything or anyone stop you. Find your groove, find your writing technique, find five minutes here and there and keep at it.
Tell us about the featured book. Hog Insane is a cozy mystery that introduces the married character team of Dentonand Alex Davies. It’s the first book of what I call my “crazy or insanity” series, with Book 2 (Bat Crazy) due out in a few months. Book 3 will be Daffy’s Duck, and on and on, until I run out of crazy terms! Lol Here’s a bit about it:
A dead body, a missing motorcycle, a strange key, and dope are at the bottom of the trouble Denton and Alex Davies, and Taffy, their Jack Russell Terrier, run into when they head for their first stop in the Smoky Mountains immediately after early retirement.
All Dentonwants is to fish and recapture his wife’s love. She wants him to respect her wishes. Instead, they find the body of Anthony Risler with a bullet hole in his head. None of the campground people, or even the sheriff, pretend to like Denton and his snoopy questions, and everyone seems to be lying.
Dentonfigures Risler’s missing bike has to hide some kind of evidence that incriminates the murderer. Archie McGhee, the campground manager is self-centered and greedy enough to hide the motorcycle for the murderer, so why doesn’t he know where the bike is now? The Stillwells, although good-looking and popular, brag way too much to suit the Davies. The expensive S-shaped, ruby watch they foist onto Alex ought to play into the mystery, yet Denton can find no evidence of it. The drug-using, gun-toting man who chases Taffy knows more than he’s telling and raises questions in Denton’s mind even when forced to partner with the man.
Why is the sheriff ignoring obvious clues, and why would he leave a bribery note lying around where Denton’s suspicious eyes can see it? When Denton finds the keys with the strange looking C charm Alex and Denton realize only their pastor’s wife, back in Ohio, and the small, cherry-wood box Risler gave her, can provide the final clue they need to reveal the killer.
Dentonwrestles with his personal demons of self-blame over his nephew’s death while riding a bike. Alex resents Denton’s riding roughshod over her feelings. When he thinks her love is fading, he’s determined to woo her back. But if he doesn’t find the young man’s murderer, their love may stretch to the breaking point.
Amazon print: http://bit.ly/1fd3cCQAmazon kindle: http://amzn.to/1eDC39t
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1fd3cCQ
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1dvNA6z
Please give us the first page of the book.“You what?”
“I bought—”
“I know what you said,” I growled. A vision of my wife’s closet back home, filled with rows of shoes—basic colors like black, blue, brown, and white, and a rainbow of colors—flashed across my mind’s eye and nearly blinded me. Alexandria Davies had more shoes than any middle class lady should admit to.
We strolled toward the campground restaurant. The lights from the office behind us cast weird shadows on the shortcut path. I scowled and opened my mouth to let Alex hear why she didn’t need that eighty-sixth pair of shoes.
An explosive crack split the air around us and blasted the fussing right out of my head. I dropped to the mossy ground and pulled Alex down with me, breathing hard, my eyes searching the shadowy darkness closing in on us.
The throbbing rumble of a fast approaching Hog drowned out the creaks of nightlife, as the bike tore down the road that ran parallel with the path we were on. In a blur of silver and black, the sole rider wove from side to side in an imbecilic pattern.
Before I could dwell on it, a small, dark car roared by, twenty feet or so behind the bike. All the windows were dark except one, and something protruded from it. Something long, narrow, and ominous.
I blinked and hugged the edge of the road even tighter. Couldn’t be a gun.
Nah. Ludicrous.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.authorTwitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brownI also am part of several other blogs: Stitches in Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/Barn Door Book Loft: http://www.barndoorbookloft.net/
Thank you, Lena, for this opportunity!

Thank you, Carole, for sharing a peek into your life and 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

FRIDAY NIGHT LOVE - Tia McCollors - One Free Book

Welcome, Tia. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I think there’s a little piece of me in each of my characters. It may be something small like the penchant for organization, or my cuisine preferences like enjoying Italian food or banana pudding. Other than that, I probably give my characters more of a personality from my friends and family members.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?This is a boring answer to such a good question, but I’m not quirky at all and can’t think of one quirky I’ve ever done!
When did you first discover that you were a writer?A job lay off in 1999 prompted me to begin to pursue purpose for my life. I was a journalism major so of course I was always writing throughout my career track—whether I was working in marketing, public relations, etc. But during that time when I didn’t have to wake up for my 9-to-5, God really spoke to me and told me that he was going to “marry” my love of reading and writing.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love good, solid literary fiction. I know some people like to read fast, page-turners that leave you hanging at the end of every chapter, but I’m not opposed to totally wading through a five or six-hundred page novel. It gives me joy. When I want one of those suspense filled novels, I turned to my legal thrillers. I also enjoy Christian/inspirational fiction of course. Often times, I’ll try a new author solely based on another person’s recommendation so it’s always great to discover new literary voices.How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Sometimes I don’t! Being married with three little ones under the age of 8, my world is constantly in motion. But I do try to slow it down as much as possible when I can. I keep our schedules to a minimum and try not to say “yes” to every social invitation. My family also functions well under “systems’ and “schedules.” It makes all of our lives better when we know what to expect and when.
How do you choose your characters’ names?It’s happened several different ways. I’ve chosen a name from hearing it in passing at a store, I’ve thumbed through athletic rosters, the phone book, and on social media. If the name fits the picture of the character I have in my head, I go with it.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I count every finished literary work as an accomplishment, especially my first novel, A Heart of Devotion. I don’t think people realize the amount of dedication and sacrifice it takes to complete a novel. And even after the first draft you have edits and rewrites. It can be draining, but it’s worth every take-out meal you had to feed the family and every lost hour of sleep.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Now this is a question I’ve never had to answer. I don’t even like animals! At first I was going to say a fish since that’s the only pet I’ve ever had but they lead such a boring, mundane experience. So because of that I’d say a lion. If you’re going to be an animal, I guess it’s best to be King of the Jungle.
What is your favorite food? Chicken fettucine. I’m such a simple gal.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Making myself sit down to write. You have to do the work. For my first novel in particular, I was always thinking about the story. I’d mull it over in my head. I’d jot down part of an outline or scene but I wouldn’t take the time to write. That takes discipline. I’ve since developed that.
Tell us about the featured book. Until Death (Or Divorce) Do Us Part…Zenja Maxwell was widowed in her twenties; she never thought she’d be a divorcee, too. Yet that’s the destiny she resigns herself to after learning of her second husband’s infidelity and kicking him out of the house. She plans a cruise with her best friend, Caprice, to take her mind off Roman and celebrate moving on with her life.
But Caprice won’t let her give up that easily, especially when Roman seems committed to reconciling. Caprice and her husband invite Zenja and Roman to Friday Night Love, a weekly event for couples.
At the events, the women are issued a series of Bible-based challenges designed to help them cultivate respect for their husband. Zenja struggles at first; she isn’t even sure she wants to rekindle the relationship. But Roman is persistent in his pursuit of her, even when he discovers that she dallied with cheating herself. Through tragedies, triumphs, and trusted friends, the couple learns never to underestimate what the Author of marriage can do when husbands and wives surrender to Him.
Please give us the first page of the book.“You got what you wanted, but you lost what you had,” I told my husband as I tossed the packing tape dispenser on top of three unassembled cardboard boxes stacked in a corner of the garage.
Roman had come home three hours earlier than usual, catching me off guard. He stared in disbelief at the boxes of his belongings that I’d already assembled, packed, and labeled. Anger clenched his jaw, and the tension between us hardened his normally laid-back expression. As far as I was concerned, I’d done him a favor. I’d given him thirty days to move out, and this was the twenty-eighth day. Now he could be ahead of the game.
“So, this is how you get your point across?” Roman sliced his car key across the clear tape sealing the box marked T-SHIRTS AND UNDERWEAR.
I took my time answering as I finished off the last of the bitter coffee I’d bought from the gas station around the corner. Caffeine wasn’t my thing, but I’d needed the extra boost of energy that morning. After the final sip, I said, “You have two days till you’re supposed to be out, but you haven’t touched any of your things. What did you expect me to do—let you casually move out at your own leisure? I’m not going to subject my children to watching you leave us sock by sock.” I shook my head and turned my back to Roman’s annoyed look. He didn’t have a right to question any of my decisions. After all, this was his fault.
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.TiaMcCollors.comwww.facebook.com/FansOfTiaTwitter at @TiaMcCollors

Thank you, Tia, for sharing your new book and a peek into your life with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Friday Night Love (Days Of Grace) - 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 SHEPHERD'S SONG - Betsy Duffey, Laurie Myers - One Free Book

Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are sisters who write together. I’m thrilled to have them on my blog today. Their book is getting lots of high praise.
Welcome, Betsy and Laurie. Tell us how much of yourselves you write into your characters. The best characters are multilayered, and the different layers come from different places. Physical traits can come from someone we know or a stranger we spot on the street. Personality traits can also come from people we know or someone we read about in the paper. Sometimes characters just come straight out of our heads, with no connection to anyone. The feelings of the characters come from our own experiences. Grief, pain, love, shame, fear all are in some way and at different levels common experiences for everyone.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Writing makes you more adventurous. You have to get out of your comfort zone to try new things – things that your characters will do in books. (Betsy)When I was working on a book about rollercoasters, I rode over 40 coasters in a year. I could never have described the emotion (fear!), and the sensory details without haven’t experienced it myself. (Laurie) One of my strangest things was also done for my writing! A shark dive in the Bahamas. Fortunately I lived, and it made for a great story. We are always game for the next adventure.
When did you first discover that you were writers?Even as little girls we thought of ourselves as writers. Growing up the daughters of a writer shaped us. From our early days we listened to our mother tell us stories. Even when she read a book, the story often came out of her mouth differently. She could not resist adding, embellishing, pumping it up. Later millions of other children would hear her stories as she went on to win many awards for her 60+ children’s books. When you feel called to write it can seem like an impossible dream. Seeing our mother write gave us a realistic idea about what it takes to be a writer. She would write for hours every day at a desk in the corner of her bedroom. We shared the joys and pains of writing even as children.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. As we have been writing together over the years we have begun to enjoy reading together. When we choose a book and both read it, we come to a common place for discussing writing or our faith. We just finished reading and praying through Mark Batterson’s Draw the Circle, The Forty Day Prayer Challenge. It was a significant tool for us to stay on the same page and to encourage each other through prayer. Visioneering by Andy Stanley was important to us as we developed a vision for our writing.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Grounding in our faith is a daily, hourly, minutely exercise! Staying connected to God through prayer and study keeps us focused and keeps us balanced.
How do you choose your characters’ names? Names are important. We want each name to be memorable and to fit the character. You tend to remember well-named characters, like Atticus Finch or Cruella Deville. Sometimes we try to show something about the character through the name. Marra, a name in The Shepherd’s Song means sorrow and was the perfect name for the young girl in the book fleeing from an abusive relationship in a tattoo parlor. Her abuser who is pursuing her was a challenge. We decided on Lobo, which means wolf. It seemed to capture his stalking nature. Both of these names helped the reader to understand the characters. Some of the characters were named after people we both knew and liked—Chris, a friend of Laurie’s, or Cornelia, Betsy’s neighbor. Other names were chosen to reflect the nationality of the character, like Francois, the French art restorer, or Kioni, the Kenyan runner.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? This is one of those tough questions. All the things that we have accomplished individually or together have been made possible by our God who loves us enough to allow us to be a part of His work on earth. We are so grateful for that!
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Sheep! We see ourselves more and more resembling sheep – stubborn and needing a Shepherd. As we researched sheep and shepherds for The Shepherd’s Song , we decided to visit a sheep farm. We had read many books about sheep and how God is our shepherd but the reality of that promise came through for us when we visited the sheep and watched a true shepherd at work. Keith Odom has a farm in North Georgia, and we drove up for the afternoon. We watched Keith’s affection for his sheep, reminding us of God’s love for us. And we watched the sheep eat—not a pretty sight. It reminded me how fearful we can be and how God always provides enough.
What is your favorite food? We live about two hours apart so we write together one day a week in a coffee shop that is halfway between our houses. They have a beautiful pastry case—scones, cinnamon buns, cakes, pies. The scones are our downfall!
I love scones. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Unity. The best part of writing together is having someone to share the joys and sorrows of writing and publishing. Writing can be a lonely business and with two of us, we are not alone in it. The difficult part, the “roadblock” comes from our differences. Laurie is a plotter. Betsy is a seat-of-the-pants writer. This was a source of tension for us when we first began to write together. In the beginning, Laurie would come to our weekly meeting with spreadsheets while Betsy wanted to let the book take shape as we went along. The process of working together required our surrender of the work to God. When we both let go of the control of the book, we began to work together and appreciate the skills and the wiring that God gave each of us. The difficult parts became strengths. Prayer was the answer and the unifier for us as we began to see the book as God’s book, not our own book.
Tell us about the featured book. The Shepherd’s Song is the story of a woman who, like a lot of us, wonders if her life has mattered. She writes our Psalm 23 for her wayward son and is later in a car accident. As she is rushed to the hospital she prays, “Let my life count.” Her copy of the psalm then begins a journey around the world, changing the lives of twelve different people.
Please give us the first page of the book.Kate McConnell opened her eyes. Where was she? There were bright lights above her. Movement. The sound of a siren wailing.
She closed her eyes and opened them again, hoping somehow this all would go away. It didn’t.
An ambulance. She was in an ambulance.
What had happened?
A man’s voice called out behind her. “Female, age about forty-five, multiple injuries. BP: ninety over sixty. Pulse: one-forty. Respirations: twenty-five, short and shallow.”
Each bump and jolt of the ambulance brought pain, crushing pain in her chest and stabs of pain down her right leg. Kate tried to grab her chest, but her arms were strapped down. She shivered uncontrollably. Her blue sweater and pants were covered in something wet—gooey and wet. Blood. He was talking about her.
A brief memory came—her car sliding on the slick road, the sound of breaking glass and crunching metal. A car accident. Panic rose in her chest. She had been in an accident.
The newspaper would later say it was the worst traffic accident ever on that section of I-95 between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore—twenty-five cars, six semis, and one bus. The temperature Thursday had been fifty-five degrees, a beautiful day. Then, Friday, it fell to thirty-one, unusual for October. A sudden snowstorm dropped more than two inches of snow in just ten minutes, creating whiteout conditions that took everyone by surprise, including the drivers on I-95.
The voice behind her continued its calm clinical assessment. “In and out of consciousness. Possible head injuries.”
“Help,” she whispered. Each breath was raw. There wasn’t enough air. Dizziness swept over her. She tried again. “Help.”
“Hold on. Try to stay awake.” A young man leaned over her, making eye contact. His voice was calm, but she saw fear in his eyes.
She tried to nod but couldn’t.
“Be still; we’re on the way to the hospital.”
Everything in her wanted to fight free of the straps and the stretcher, but she couldn’t even move her head. Pain radiated from her chest and leg.
The voice began again. “Bleeding profusely from a gash in right leg—looks like an open fracture. Possible internal injuries.”
For a few seconds there was silence, the only sound the hum of tires on the road.
“Will do. We’ll be there in five to eight minutes, depending on traffic.”
What had happened? Kate remembered her morning, speeding from one activity to the next, pushing her old station wagon to the point where it shook. An early-morning run to the grocery store, then back home, then a twenty-mile drive to deliver dinner to a friend who was recuperating from surgery, then a stop to drop off the dry cleaning, then five more things on her to-do list. Then the snow had started.
The cleaner’s. She had been trying to get back to the dry cleaner’s, but for what?
She felt a hand on her forehead, and she opened her eyes. The young man’s face came into view again. His nervous eyes studied her.
“What’s your name?”
She tried to focus. Her name?
“Kate . . . McConnell.” She gasped out each word.
“Your birthday?”
She tried to come up with the answer, but it was too confusing. Tears welled up.
“It’s all right. Just stay with me.”
“What hap—?” She wanted to finish the sentence but could not.
“You were in a car accident on the interstate.” He held her arm, feeling for a pulse. “There was a pile-up. It’s a mess out there.”
Her mouth opened and closed with a question unasked. She wanted to say the words, but nothing came out.
“Matt,” she finally gasped out the name of her son. “John.” Her husband.
“No one was with you in the car. Just rest and stay calm. We’ve got you.”
She could feel the sway of the ambulance as it passed other cars. The voice faded in and out. She closed her eyes.
A new thought came. She might die. Would it be like this, the end? So fast? With so much undone?
Kate’s mind drifted back and forth, weaving in and out of the events of the past week.
“I don’t think my life matters,” she had told a friend. “I’ve been a Christian for almost twenty-five years, and I haven’t accomplished anything. I can’t point to one single person that I’ve had an impact on, even in my own family.”
“Of course you have. You serve on the church worship committee, you deliver meals every week to people in need, and you’re always writing down scriptures for people.”
“But are those the important things?” Kate had asked. “Do those things matter?”
John. He mattered. And Matt.
“Oh, Mom,” she could hear Matt say. “You don’t believe all that stuff.”
Matt, who had drifted away from faith when he’d started college, now refused to go to church at all.
She couldn’t get through to him.
Was she really dying?
Someone lifted her eyelid. It was the young man. He looked closely into her eye, as if he was examining her soul.
“Stay with me now.”
She felt the ambulance sway, then the jolt of a sharp turn.
“Help,” Kate gasped again as pain stabbed through her side.“Stay with me.”
A wave of dizziness. Then nothing.
Wow! Just reading this gave me chills. How can readers find you on the Internet?www.WritingSisters.com

Thank you, Betsy and Laurie, for sharing your new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
The Shepherd's Song: A Story of Second Chances - 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

NO EASY CATCH - Pat Simmons - One Free Book

Welcome back, Pat. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?Honestly, I don’t know what God’s will is for my writing career, but whatever stories He leads me to write, I want to give my all.
Tell us a little about your family. I have been married for more than 30 years, and we have a son with an unbelievable testimony and a daughter. Both are “grown and gone.” My husband spearheads my exhausting travel schedule.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?Yes, I don’t read as much as I used to or would like. When I do, I don’t have the luxury of taking my time because I need to stay on deadline for my projects. Also, I try to read non-fiction books that will strengthen my understanding of my characters’ personal dilemmas. For example, I read His Needs, Her Needs when I was writing a story about infidelity. When I considered writing a Black historical romance, I read We Are Your Sistersthat highlighted Black women’s struggles and triumphs during and after slavery. The Warmth of Other Sons, which traces the migration of Blacks from the South I read for background research for another series. After eleven published novels and hundreds of reviews, praise God that no readers have complained that my characters lack development.
What are you working on right now? I just finished In Defense of Love, Book 2 in the Carmen Sisters series. I’ve just started my research for Book 3. I’m also outlining my 3rd Christmas novella. Those stories seem to be a big hit with fans.
What outside interests do you have? Genealogy, genealogy, genealogy. I also like to sew my clothes, so when I travel I’m not wearing that same black or red dress in each picture. J
How do you choose your settings for each book? If an area within a city has historical significant, I like to explore that place as a backdrop for my characters and describe the surroundings to my readers. For example, St. Louis has several historical neighborhoods. In my next book, I take readers to South St. Louis to the LaSalle neighborhood and Lafayette Square. I did the same thing in my first novel in North St. Louis Countyand readers actually took the Old Ferguson tour. I was surprised that I had that type of influence.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?That’s easy, my second great-grandmother, Charlotte Jamison Wilkerson. She was enslaved by Robert Jamison in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, and bore two sons by his houseguest, John Wilkinson, who later married Robert’s only daughter. She lived to be 80 years old. I found her mentioned by an author. She ironically “lived in the backyard” of another former slaveholder, the Caradines. My first question would be “How did you survive?” I’m sure she would impart wisdom.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?This “world of make believable” is actually a real business, and once I committed to being an author, I had to learn the business side, which is more important than the writing.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?That I may not achieve the status of New York Times bestselling author, but my work for Him is important and to continue doing what I’m doing and He will bless me accordingly.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Write, pay for an editor, and attend selective book conferences where they can sit in on workshops, meet with agent/editors and get encouragement from other well-established authors.
Tell us about the featured book. I don’t believe in bashing church people or highlighting their bad behavior. There are plenty of books for that. However, in No Easy Catch , I wanted to minister to the sisters in the church who have been hurt in relationships with someone in the church. Shae Carmen thought she had found the love of her life in the church, but her boyfriend was stringing her alone. Not only was he estranged from his wife, but he was also trying to reconcile with her at the same time he and Shae were getting closer. It was because of that deceit that caused Shae to doubt her faith and the integrity of men. Shae felt that God didn’t have any more good men in the church and definitely not outside of it. But there’s something attractive about a man who recognizes that God is the only One who can save us.
Please give us the first page of the book.
St. Louis Cardinal baseball outfielder Rahn Maxwell had made some wrong turns in life—women and money to name a few—but this wrong turn could prove deadly if the pair of blinding headlights racing toward him didn’t slow down.
He had just left a downtown St. Louis nightclub where he had met some friends. A construction sign had instructed him to detour off Interstate 64 while his GPS attempted to recalculate. The darkness around him was thick as fog.
“Turn around when possible,” his GPS kept advising as if it sensed danger.  That would be a good idea, but at the moment, he had a more pressing issue. Since there wasn’t time for Rahn to get out of harm’s way with a car speeding behind him, he braced for an impact. Seconds later, the anticipated crash never occurred as an old Camaro shrieked to a halt alongside his pearl gray Mercedes Benz G550 SUV, blocking his exit. Rahn experienced a bad gut feeling. The passenger side of the car’s window descended. A dark-skinned man, wearing dark glasses that blended into their surroundings, snarled at him. Brandishing some type of machine gun, he ordered Rahn to lower his window. Great! And just think he had declined the dealer’s recommendation for armor-plated protection for his luxury vehicle. Now, Rahn wished he had complied. How come hindsight couldn’t be foresight?
Watching the gunman’s movements, Rahn counted down the seconds until his life would end. He hadn’t reached his thirty-fifth birthday, the age he planned to announce his retirement. Judging from the looks of things, his short-lived career was about to stop at twenty-seven. God, I can’t go down like this. Please help me. Rahn had too many wrongs he needed to right, people to whom he had to say his last good-byes, and babies he had to kiss.
This book is going to the top of my to-be-read pile. How can readers find you on the Internet? I’m on most social networks: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, Google+, and others. My website is www.patsimmons.net

Thank you, Pat, for sharing your new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
No Easy Catch (Carmen Sisters) - 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

WINNERS!!!!!!

Linda (CA) is the winner of  Chain of Mercy  by Brenda S Anderson. 
Sherry (VA) is the winner of  Red Gold  by Sandy Nadeau.
Mary B (WI) is the winner of  Living Separate Lives  by Paulette Harper.
Shannah (NC) is the winner of  Wynn in the Willows  by Robin Shope.
Lisa H (GA) is the winner of  Home to Currahee  by Beverly Vernado.

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.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM - June Reports

Have You Joined Our Summer Reading Challenge?
Three months of reading challenge - June, July, August. Keep a list of all the books you read and list them this way:
List one will be books with covers on either sidebar of this blog. You will get 3 points for each of them you read.
List two will be the books featured on my blog that aren't in either sidebar. You will get 2 points for these.
List one will be any other book you read in these three months.
When you make your list, we want the title and author(s) of the book.
You'll be reporting on your progress at the end of each month. At the end of June and at the end of July, you can leave a comment with only the number of books read. At the end of August, we'll want your complete lists in the comments. The one who has the most points will receive a gift card to Deeper Shopping Online Christian store.
I'll be reading along with you. This is going to be fun.



Happy Reading!!!
Leave a comment with just the number of books you've read so far. We'll do the points at then of August.

SIDETRACKED - Brandilyn Collins - One Free Book

Welcome back, Brandilyn. Tell us about your salvation experience.I grew up in a Christian home and so was taught from an early age about Christ and His salvation. I accepted Jesus as my savior as a teenager, later rebelled, then came back to Him at the age of 24. Since then it’s been a continuing experience of learning a deeper walk with Him.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?If we’re talking about a plotting retreat (rather than a spiritual one): Steven King, for his plotting brain for suspense. Dean Koontz for his word imagery. James Scott Bell, for his understanding of plot structure. Christopher Vogler, (author of The Writer’s Journey) for his insights into mythical story.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.I keynote at writers conferences when I’m able. I try not to do more than 3 conferences a year (teaching and/or keynoting), since it takes time away from my writing. So my schedule tends to fill up in advance for these. I do enjoy speaking and being with writers at conferences.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?Honestly, I can’t remember ever being deeply embarrassed by some event. But I know what I’d do. I’d laugh. I have a rather warped sense of humor and have no problem laughing at myself.
People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?I would say, “Great. Do it.” The person might find great satisfaction in the writing. He may have fun. I always encourage people to write if they want to. What I don’t do is tell them whatever they first write will be publish-worthy. It won’t be. But everyone has to start somewhere. If someone really has a dream to write, one day he/she will. Doesn’t mean that person will necessarily ever be published. But who am I to discourage the writing itself?
Tell us about the featured book. Sidetracked is a Seatbelt Suspense® novel, and comes with my brand’s four-point promise: fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith.
The back cover copy:When you live a lie for so long, it becomes a part of you. Like clothing first rough and scratchy, it eventually wears down, thins out. Sinks into your skin. 
Thirty-four-year-old Delanie Miller has fled her dark past and is now settled into a quiet life in small-town Kentucky. She has friends, a faux “family” who lives in her house, and a loving boyfriend who may soon ask her to marry him. Her aching dream of a husband and future children are about to come true. But protecting this life of promise means keeping a low profile and guarding the truth of her past—from everyone.
The town's peace is shattered when Delanie's friend, Clara, is murdered, and Delanie finds her body. The police chief quickly zeroes in on Billy King, a simple-minded young man whom Delanie knows would never hurt Clara. Delanie can hunt down evidence and speak out publicly against the chief—only at great risk of her own exposure. But after suffering such injustice in own her past, how can she keep silent now? Delanie must find a way to uncover Clara’s murderer yet save the life she’s created for herself—the deceit-ridden life that will forever distance her from others and God.
With page-turning intensity, Sidetracked hurtles between Delanie’s trauma in Redbud and the chaos of her past. Those experiences forced Delanie to reinvent her present—but at what cost to her future?
Please give us the first page of the book.In the beginning comes the end.
April in Redbud, Kentucky, brings to full bloom the trees that give our town its name. Pink blossoms against blue sky. Daffodils push up yellow and sassy. Lilies are still in stem but boast lush promise. Tulips splash the yards, multicolored and fragile. Spring days are warm without summer’s humid oppression. The time of renewal.
Spring was my favorite season. Once.
In the dark just after nine-thirty, I drove away from the town’s Methodist church, a white wooden building with a tall steeple. I was the last to leave Clara Ann Crenshaw’s wedding shower, having stayed around to clean up. After all, I was the one who’d thrown the party for Clara. She had left a few minutes before, her car chock full of presents. The rest she’d left behind to pick up the following day. I locked them up in the church.
Clara was twenty-two, vibrant and in love with life. In love with Jerald Allen, too, who would become her husband in June. The church hall had been full of her friends, young and old. The rip of wrapping paper, laughter, and clink of forks against cake plates vibrated in the air. A true celebration. Clara wore her signature bright blue to match her sparkling eyes. Rosy-cheeked, she hugged me hard before she left. “You’re next, Delanie,” she whispered in my ear. “Mrs. Andrew Bradshaw.”
I smiled. Andy had carried that look in his eye lately. I hoped I was reading him right. I was thirty-four already and so wanted to be his wife. Build my own real family—even though it would mean breaking up the pseudo one I’d gathered around me. Folks in town just knew Andy and I would be married before the year was out.
When you live in a town of twenty-five hundred, everyone assumes your business is theirs.I drove out of the church’s parking lot and rolled down quiet Chester Avenue. Streetlights spilled over the tree-lined sidewalks. No one else in sight. Redbud always shuts itself up early. At Walton Street I went left, my house about a half mile away. One block over ran Main Street—the home of quaint shops and cafes. For a small town, Redbud had built quite a local reputation on its fancy-painted store fronts. Many from around the area came to browse through the town’s shops and dine in its homey restaurants.
Brewer approached. I turned onto it—and saw a shadow on the street. Faint, fleeting. Until it materialized again and went still, as if trying not to be seen. Washed pale by the umbra of a streetlamp, it looked like a man’s form, wearing a baseball cap, hands raised to his chest. Legs apart, as though ready to run.
A chill needled my bones.
I slowed the car. Slid my gaze left toward the source of the shadow. He stood by a front yard bush as tall as he, backlit by the house’s front porch light. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I felt them lock onto me.
A forever second ticked by.
He swiveled and ran toward the back of the house. Disappeared into the night.  I braked to a stop. Peered into the darkness, looking for him.
He was gone.
Was this a robber? We had so little crime in our town. But this man was too out of place, too … raw. I was well acquainted with sudden trauma. Knew the feel, the smell of it. And this wasn’t right.
How can readers find you on the Internet?On my website they can read the first chapters of all my books and sign up for my newsletter. www.brandilyncollins.com
I love to interact with readers on my Facebook page. There I post Today’s Word, an unusual word and its definition, and ask for creative sentences using the word. I also post a daily funny picture and ask all my “Creative Captioneer” readers for their best caption. Those are fun. And I post info about my or other writers’ books—when the ebooks either go on sale or are free. Plus photos from around our house and forest/lakeproperty. You never know what those crazy deer/turkeys/osprey/etc. will do. (Not to mention the humans.) www.facebook.com/brandilyncollinsseatbeltsuspense
At Twitter I’m @Brandilyn

Thank you for sharing your new book with us today, Brandilyn.

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

WHEN I FALL IN LOVE - Susan May Warren - One Free Book

Readers, one of our favorite authors is back with a new book.
Welcome, Susan. Where do you write?I write in two places—a big blue chair that is more marshmallow than chair! It has two wide arms on it so I can stack all my research materials on each side, and on my giant ottoman and create a sort of writing “nest” where I incubate the story. For editing, I move to my desk, and surround myself with all the details of the story—names, eye color, timeline—all the pertinent facts I need to get it right.
When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?I took a look at what I was already reading and thought—well, I already basically understand the structure of these stories, so I’ll start there. I had a shelf of romantic suspense, so I launched my writing in that genre.
What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?I’m a DIY girl— I love turning “trash to treasure,” so I’m constantly working on my house, furniture, painting, etc. I also love to garden and keep a flower garden in the summertime. I also work out at the Y (love my yoga and swimming classes) and of course…read!
What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?Read. A lot. Keep a writing journal of the words that sing to you. Be observant of the world around you – take notes on interesting people, events, situations and setting. And, eventually, start writing!
What is your favorite book? Favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? Oh, I love everything by Dee Henderson, Francine Rivers, Siri Mitchell, Deeann Gist, Rachel Hauck, Beth Vogt, Lisa Jordan, and Melissa Tagg. I think Dee and Francine were my biggest inspirations—but the others now inspire me to stay on top of my craft!
Where did you get the idea for When I Fall in Love? I love cooking shows, and I’ve always wanted to write a story about an every day Iron Chef (hello every mother out there who’s opened the fridge and said…huh, what can I make with a carrot, a hunk of cheese, 2 eggs, and a leftover pancake?) Our family went to Hawaiilast year, and the setting captured my heart—I knew I had to put a book there, and even better…a cooking book. But vacations also have a way of making you forget your troubles. So…what if a couple met and fell in love on vacation…could they bring the romance home, into real life?
From idea to final revision, how long did it take to write?This book came fast—I wrote it in 3 months, start to finish. Sometimes it’s like that—the story just appears and flows out.
Are you working on anything now?I just finished the next book in the series, Always on My Mind, a story that picks up the subplot from When I fall in Love, and carries it into the main storyline with the question: What if you see someone you love headed for trouble—but they’ve told you to stay out of their life. Do you interfere?
Please tell us about the story. When I Fall in Love is about Grace Christiansen, a woman who is content on staying in her hometown of Deep Haven, staring at her dreams of being a Chef from afar until she is given the gift of a cooking vacation to Hawaii. Set up on a “blind” vacation date by her family, she has no idea she’s going to spend the next two weeks in paradise with the most eligible—and yet mysterious—bachelor from the Saint Paul Blue Ox hockey team. However, Maxwell Sharpe is harboring a heartbreaking secret…. Can they take their newfound romance home from vacation?
I love the theme of this story…What if you found your true love, but you could only have him for a short amount of time—would you still marry him? This book puts to the test the old adage: “It’s better to have loved and lost than never having loved at all.” Really? We’ll see!
Please give us a peek at the first page of the book.It would be the most perfect day of her brother Darek’s life. Even if Grace Christiansen had to personally hand-dip two hundred strawberries.
“If you don’t leave now, you’re going to miss the entire wedding.” Her assistant, Raina Beaumont, reached around Grace and moved the bowl of strawberries out of her reach. “I might not be going to culinary school in a month, like you, but I swear I can dip these without making a mess.”
But—the word touched her lips a moment before Grace nodded and stepped away from the island in the middle of the industrial kitchen.
The afternoon sun creased the red tile floor and stewed the smells of the tiny kitchen—wild mushrooms simmering in garlic and wine sauce, focaccia bread baking in the oven.
She could stand here, close her eyes, drink in the scents, and die happy. Something about seeing her brother—her wounded, broken oldest brother—smile down at his beautiful bride-to-be last night at the rehearsal dinner had filled her soul right to the brim. Yes, of course she would dip strawberries and hang twinkly lights from the rafters of the folk school building. Because that’s what family did—they shared in dreams, even helped make them come true.
Raina pushed her toward the door. “Seriously, I’ll get Ty to chase you out of here, or better yet, throw you over his shoulder and—oh, for pete’s sake, you have chocolate on your dress.”
“What? Shoot, where’s a rag?”
But Raina had already reached for a wet cloth and was dabbing at the dark stain on the collar of Grace’s dark purple dress.
Grace checked her reflection in the microwave door over Raina’s shoulder. Her hair had stood the test of the kitchen, still caught up in netting. Eden’s spectacular idea of having her hair done before she set foot in the kitchen to oversee the final preparations might not have deserved the battle they’d waged. But she shouldn’t have worn the dress. Unfortunately, that brilliant thought she’d managed with no help from her big sister, and now she’d have a stained gown for the pictures. . . .
Pictures!
“Oh no.”
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?Stop by www.susanmaywarren.com!
Thank you for having me today!!Susie May

It is a pleasure to have you here, Susie. I'm really loving the Christiansen, even though I'm not a fan of hockey.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
When I Fall in Love (Christiansen Family) - 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

ANNIE'S STORIES - Cindy Thomson - One Free Book

Readers, Cindy Thomson is back with the second book in her Ellis Islandseries. Her books are rich in historical details and her characters will grab your heart. I just finished reading Annie’s Stories earlier this week. The depth of the characters reveal their foibles as well as their hurts, and I really cared about what was happening to them. The ending was satisfying, and I’ve been mulling over all the details since I finished the book. You won’t want to miss this novel.
Welcome back, Cindy. Why do you write the kind of books you do?Genealogy influences my writing. I’m passionately interested in the stories of our ancestors. Historical fiction goes beyond the names and dates and helps us appreciate the sacrifices and accomplishments our ancestors made—things that influence our lives today.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?The day I got married, followed by the days my sons were born. This August will be 32 years since I married my high school sweetheart, the best decision of my life.
How has being published changed your life?I suddenly found the courage to speak in front of groups. It wasn’t so hard because I’m invited to talk about the topics I’m passionate about. Being a freelance writer is much less structured than being a teacher, so I’ve had to do some adjusting. This job also does not have a quitting time unless I set one, so it has changed my lifestyle and affected what I do when. It’s all about balance, and I struggle at times to find it, but it’s worth it.
What are you reading right now?Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke. I love historical fiction of almost any era and Cathy’s books are filled with such detail that I’m transported back in time. I love that!
Yes, I recently read Saving Amelie. I love Cathy’s books, and this one is her best one. What is your current work in progress?I’m currently working on book three of the Ellis Island series, although there is no publication date for that. I’m continuing with some of the same characters at Hawkins House, but this will be the story of an Italian immigrant who learns a family secret that threatens to destroy her mother’s sanity. A struggling musician needs to find out who killed his father. Their paths cross as they both learn to reach beyond their ethnic community and their preconceived ideas to follow the Master’s Voice and find resolution.
What I can promise readers right now is the short stories that are mentioned in my new book Annie’s Stories . Annie’s father wrote down the stories he told her when she was growing up. These stories are mentioned in the novel but not given. Subscribers to my newsletter can get them for free: http://cindythomson.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html#.U7FuFY1dVao
What would be your dream vacation?My dream vacation is always Ireland. I’ve been there twice but have not seen the whole country yet. I’d also like to go to Wales and Scotland and follow the paths of my ancestors.
I’d love to go to Ireland, because my mother was half-Irish. How do you choose your settings for each book?The Ellis Island series was suggested to me by my agent. I loved the idea because of my interest in genealogy. It’s estimated one in four Americans have at least one ancestor who came through Ellis Island. The reason I kept my characters in Lower Manhattan is because of the large immigrant communities there. There are so many colorful stories to be told set in a time of great wealth contrasted with great poverty, and incredible advances in many areas of society. I chose the Brownie camera for Grace’s Pictures, the new book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for Annie’s Stories , and the Victor dog in His Master’s Voice advertising image for book three because these are things we recognize today as having influenced society in some manner.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I assume you mean someone I haven’t already met or imagine I’ll ever have the chance to meet. Off the top of my head I would say Pope Francis. He seems to be such a compassionate man and I would love to hear how he sees God’s people.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?In the summer watching my favorite MLB team, the Cincinnati Reds, is at the top of the list. I also like to experiment with new recipes and try some craft projects. I’m not real crafty, but Pinterest lures me in.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Time management. I use a calendar that is synced to my phone to send me reminders. I’ve found that scheduling things that are writing-related but not actually writing helps me to protect my writing time. Before I wanted to jump on every task (blog interviews, email questions, promotional opportunities…) as soon as they landed in my inbox. Scheduling my time has been key.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?It’s so easy to give up, or to want to. I know. On the other hand, some writers are choosing to publish too soon. Don’t get in a hurry to publish. It’s so easy to do now that so many people are rushing to print before their books are ready. It takes time to learn the craft, something people don’t usually like to hear. But if you work hard and allow yourself time to learn the most you can, you will end up with a book people want to read. You want only your best out there. It’s a flooded market. Readers aren’t patient with subpar work.
Very wise advice. Tell us about the featured book. The year is 1901, the literary sensation The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is taking New York Cityby storm, and everyone wonders where the next great book will come from. But to Annie Gallagher, stories are more than entertainment—they’re a sweet reminder of her storyteller father. After his death, Annie fled Ireland for the land of dreams, finding work at Hawkins House.

But when a fellow boarder with something to hide is accused of misconduct and authorities threaten to shut down the boardinghouse, Annie fears she may lose her new friends, her housekeeping job ... and her means of funding her dream: a memorial library to honor her father. Furthermore, the friendly postman shows a little too much interest in Annie—and in her father’s unpublished stories. In fact, he suspects these tales may hold a grand secret.

Though the postman’s intentions seem pure, Annie wants to share her father’s stories on her own terms. Determined to prove herself, Annie must forge her own path to aid her friend and create the future she’s always envisioned ... where dreams really do come true.
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.Late August, 1901Sometimes the smallest things ignited memories Annie Gallagher would sooner forget. This time all it took was a glimpse of a half-finished tapestry Mrs. Hawkins had left on her parlor chair: Home Sweet Home. Annie pressed her palm against her heart, trying to shut out the realization that she was far from home—and not just because she now lived in America.
In a few days it would be her birthday, but she wanted to forget. Birthdays held no significance when your parents had gone to heaven.
For most of her life, Annie had traveled with her father, a seanchaí, a storyteller from the old Irish tradition. She had learned the age-old stories of the great warrior Cuchulain and the tragic tale of a cruel stepmother in “The Children of Lir.” She learned of kings and monks and lords and wild beasts. But when night came and he tucked her into whatever straw cot they had borrowed for the night, he told her tales that were just for her—Annie’s stories, he called them. Now that her father was gone, those stories were all she had, her only connection to a place, intangible as it might have been, that she called home.
She held on to them, brought them out from time to time to remind her she’d once lived in someone’s heart. Without that, she feared she might plunge again into darkness.            Annie approached the breakfront cabinet gracing the wall opposite a substantial parlor window that looked out to the street. She opened the door, revealing her special lap desk. Suddenly her father’s voice lived again in her mind.
“Look here, Annie lass,” her da called one day from his mat
How can readers find you on the Internet?Web site: http://www.cindyswriting.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/cindyswritingTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/cindyswritingPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cindyswritingGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/cindythomson
Thanks for having me, Lena!

And thank you, Cindy, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Annie's Stories (Ellis Island) - Kindle

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

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

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

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SMOKY MOUNTAIN INVESTIGATION - Anslee Urban - One Free Book

Welcome back, Anslee. Why do you write the kind of books you do? I write Christian Romance and Romantic Suspense. I started writing when my daughters were young wanting them to read good wholesome stories with a happy ending.
My daughters are the reason I wrote my first Christian romance. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? I have had so many happy days—the birth of my three children and the adoption of my two younger children among them and of course grandchildren ;-) But, as far as personal accomplishments I was very excited when I sold my first book to Harlequin Love Inspired. It was a dream come true!
How has being published changed your life? I think being published has made me a more confident writer.
What are you reading right now? The Deputy’s Dutyby Terri Reed.
What is your current work in progress? I just started another romantic suspense.
What would be your dream vacation? Australia. I would love to take an outback vacation.
Australia is one of my dream vacations. How do you choose your settings for each book? I look for small towns that fit the storyline.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?Dr. James Dobson. I’ve read many of his books and love his views on family and faith. He was a great inspiration as I was raising my children.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? I love to travel, cook, and plan fun adventures for my grandkiddos.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? Time! My days are pretty full, but fortunately I am a night person and often write until late into the night. It is quiet and peaceful and my creativity sparks when the rest of the world sleeps ;-)
What advice would you give to a beginning author? Follow your dreams and the Lord’s direction. If He’s given you the talent and desire to write, persevere.
Tell us about the featured book. Smoky Mountain Investigation it is set in Asheville, North Carolyna, where a perilous stalker taunts journalist Kylie Harper with details of a decade-old death, leading her on a new trail of murder. Ex-Delta Force captain and Kylie’s former love Nick Bentley fled their Smoky Mountain hometown after the murder of their classmate. When family duty calls him back, Nick comes face-to-face with Kylie and the past he’s tried to forget. Now Nick must put everything on the line to save Kylie before she becomes the next victim of a madman.
Please give us the first page of the book. Kylie Harper pressed the cell phone to her ear, her heart thumping against her chest. Had she heard the man right?
Standing outside the airport terminal, she took a moment to gather her composure. Angry clouds hovered low over Asheville, quickly turning the evening into night.
She took a much needed breath. “Who is this?”
“Murderer.” He spoke slowly this time. More precisely. “Because of you, an innocent person died.”
Kylie stiffened and swallowed. A sick joke. Crazed folks enjoy taunting journalists, her rational self reminded her. “I don’t know who you are, what you want, or even if you have the right number―”
“Ten years ago.” The slow, mumbled drawl bled through the phone line. “I was there.”
Clutching the cell in a death grip, Kylie smashed it harder to her ear. Her battered heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. “What do you want?” She tried to sound calm.
A raspy chuckle tore at her eardrums. “Dear Kylie, you do remember what happened ten years ago?”
Silence as her heart now ceased to beat. She pulled the phone from her ear, checked the display. Restricted number glared back.
She pressed the phone to her other ear. “Is this about Camp GoldenRock?” The words stuck in her throat.
A bark of laughter replaced the chuckle. “How many incidents are hidden in your past, Kylie? Could I be talking about anything else?”
Kylie gasped, breath caught in her throat.
“I know I’ve been negligent,” the man continued, “not staying in touch. But for this anniversary I planned something special.”
Struggling to even breathe, Kylie blocked her thoughts from the memories. How many times she relived that May night, haunted by the “what if’s” and “if onlys.” By God’s grace she’d finally moved on. Put that nightmare behind her.
“Why are you doing this?” she ground out.
“You know how important memories are. Especially the ones that involve death.”
Memories. Anniversaries. Her tenth year class reunion was coming up. As cruel as it seemed, only one explanation made sense, this had to be a prank. A hidden cameraman from some shock-reality show had to be hiding somewhere. Kylie jerked her gaze around the area.
“You won’t find me, Kylie.”
She froze. She was being watched.
“The baggage claim, Kylie. My gift is there. And remember, sweet girl, I’ll never be more than a heartbeat away,” the man calmly whispered. The phone went dead.
Panic jolted every nerve ending in Kylie’s body. Turning on her heel, she rushed back into the terminal and started down the concourse, praying this was a bad joke, but somehow knowing it wasn’t.
Leaving caution behind, she bounded down the escalator two steps at a time, her bulky purse banging against her side. On the bottom level, and out of breath, she dashed around the corner and into the main baggage claim. She quickly scanned the area. Empty. Except for the two rental car agents that chatted behind a counter at the opposite end of the building.
She shifted her attention to the flight status monitor on the wall. Her nerves settled a bit. The last plane for the evening had landed but the carousel number had yet to be listed. She breathed easier. Nothing. Thank You, Lord.
She’d seen this before. Some lonely person fascinated with unsolved murders and too much time on their hands. Why not rouse up speculation and gain a little notoriety at the same time? And who better to harass than someone who’d been at the camp, a journalist no less. She shook her head.
A screech, thud, and a chime resounded, then Carousel A’s conveyor belt churned to life.
Kylie turned just in time to see a limp male figure roll down the chute and onto the moving belt.
No dear Lord, not again.
Instantly, the chill returned. Her extremities turned icy about a second before a curdling cry tore from her throat.
****
Former Delta Forces Captain Nick Bentley barely roused as the aircraft’s front wheels made contact with the runway. The plane bounced, rose in the air and touched down hard again. The final jolt of the impact sent ripples along his spine.
Nick’s eyes flew open. He gripped the metal arm rests.
Lights flickered on overhead. The thunder of the outside engines assailed his ears.
Stiffening against the seat back, Nick’s adrenaline surged, his mind stumbling to keep up. What mission are we on? What destination?
“Welcome to Asheville. The local time is seven thirty-eight,” crackled through the commuter’s speakers.
North Carolina. Nick exhaled heavily as relief swept over him. The nightmare was over.
No more watching over his shoulder.
No more blistering desert heat.
No more death.
Or? Tension grabbed at his gut. Was another nightmare about to begin? He was coming home ―something he swore he’d never do.
He glanced out the oval window to his left. Runway lights lent an eerie glow against passing landscape. An outline of rugged mountains. The evergreen beauty was lost in the darkness and fog, but he could picture it still. Lofty hardwoods and bristly pines. Dense forest he used to love.The plane rolled to a stop. He hung back, waiting for the few other passengers to deplane then hefted his Army issued duffle bag onto his shoulder and stepped down the steep aircraft stairs and onto the tarmac. The terminal in front of him was lit brightly, surprisingly welcoming. Small and quaint. No bustling crowds to contend with.
Nothing had changed. That’s what he was afraid of.
Three back to back tours of Afghanistanand Iraqshould have prepared him for anything. So why was his gut twisted in knots?
Temporary assignment, he reminded himself. Once his brother was back on his feet, he’d shake the dust off his shoes and move on. Find someplace to call home.
He repositioned his duffle and headed for the terminal doors. Deeply, he inhaled, pulling in a lungful of Blue Ridge air. Cool and clean, yet tainted with memories.****On the ground floor of the main terminal, Kylie stepped aside, allowing a wave of airport security officers a clear path to the baggage claim conveyor belt and the body sprawled across it.
Two of the officers halted about a yard from the victim and exchanged glances. The older man, shorter and robust, shook his head. His grave expression said it all. The other officer, tall and lanky craned his neck a bit for a better look but didn’t move any closer.
Nausea spiraled through Kylie’s abdomen. She struggled to breathe as flashes of another crime erupted in her mind. One just as gruesome. The night her classmate and friend, Conrad Miller was killed.
“Late twenties, early thirties is my guess,” the tallest officer mumbled after a moment. “Anyone know who he is?” He glanced back at Kylie.
She shook her head. “Not that I can tell.”
Approaching sirens blazed to life behind her. The few onlookers, stragglers from earlier flights were quickly herded out of the way as paramedics and sheriff deputies rushed in.
There was a cacophony of noise. Questions flying, voices escalating around her. The medics gave a quick assessment of the limp male figure lying in a pool of blood, then pulled a sheet from the gurney and covered him. No other measures were needed.
Kylie backed further away from the scene and leaned against a nearby column. Coolness from the metal trim penetrated her thin jacket adding to her chill. Fortunately, she’d gathered sufficient facts for a story, along with an elusive phone call. Nothing conclusive, but enough to satisfy her boss, chief news editor, Max Dawson. And after a cliffhanger article for the morning paper, she planned to hand the story over to another colleague. Being at the wrong place at the right time, even worse, being the perpetrator’s contact person, didn’t make her the best fit for the story. Hopefully, Max would agree.
“Kylie, tell me again what you know.” Detective Dave Michelson walked toward her, scratching his forehead with the end of his pen.
“I really don’t know much.” Kylie straightened a bit, willing her knees not to buckle. “I came to the airport to drop off my sister and was heading back to my car when I received the phone call.”
“And, the man on the phone told you he had a gift for you at baggage claim?”
“Eventually. Yes.”
“Any idea who the caller might be?” Dave started scribbling on a pad.
“No. He spoke with a thick muffled drawl. And the number came up restricted.”
“Was there anyone else around when the body arrived?”
“Security was right behind me. Tipped off by a caller…or killer.” Just saying the word sent a shiver dancing across her skin.
Dave grunted, shifted his husky frame and kept writing.
“The first security guard at the scene checked for a wallet or ID,” Kylie added, tightening her arms across her chest. “None were found.”
Dave bobbed his head. “No signs of life?”
Her heart fractured. “None. He was bleeding from the neck.”
Eyebrows gathered over Dave’s prominent nose. He didn’t comment, only jotted more notes on his pad.
“Fortunately security officers secured everything before a crowd formed. Not really a picture that bystanders needed to see.” She knew that from experience.
A grunt again. Dave hadn’t changed since high school. Serial grunts, nods, maybe a raised eyebrow. He only said what he needed to.
“Thanks.” He pocketed his pen and pad.
This time she nodded. There was nothing else to say.
“Incoming bags are on carousel C.” One of the security guards shouted, gesturing to the opposite side of the baggage claim area for the passengers stepping off the escalator. “Just keep moving.”There were surprised looks and mumbles from the travelers, but everyone complied, except for one man. He was dressed in fatigues and boots, a duffle draped over his shoulder and a canned drink in his hand. His dark piercing gaze roved over the scene. And as he stood there, his expression turned dismal.
Kylie’s teeth dug into her bottom lip. She knew that expression. And she would never forget those eyes.
Nick Bentley.
****
Nick stared at the scene and nearly lost the burger he’d just devoured. The thread of welcome he’d felt when he arrived evaporated. A déjà vu moment replaced it.
EMS workers strapped the body wrapped in a blood stained sheet onto the gurney and headed out the door. Three police officers followed and several others remained at the crime scene, talking amongst themselves and shaking their heads. Like they had the night Conrad Miller was murdered.
Ten years ago, Nick’s senior class had taken a trip to nearby Camp Golden Rock. Their last night there, somewhere between eight and nine o’clock, Conrad’s body had been dumped onto the front porch of their cabin. He was found lying in a small pool of blood, with his throat slashed from ear to ear. Nick swallowed as nausea threatened again. Conrad had taken security patrol that night. It was his job to make sure everyone was out of their cabin and at the bonfire. A mandatory buddy system was in place, but Conrad’s buddy had been late.
Nick still couldn’t forgive himself.
“Nick.”
A wave of panicked voices echoed around him, but the softness of one feminine tone cut through the mayhem, making him almost drop his duffle and the drink that he was carrying. Nick hadn’t been home an hour and already his mind was playing tricks on him. He slowly turned his head and to his surprise, he met Kylie Harper’s warm, green gaze. Shoulder length auburn curls framed her sweet face. Pert nose, slender brows, high cheekbones, luscious full lips. An unmistakable twinge of awareness shot through him, quicker than any bullets he dodged in the Middle East.
He blinked, not believing how even after ten years she still struck him as the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. His déjà vu moment got stronger.
“Kylie.” Even saying her name stung. Another part of his life he tried to forget.
“I can’t believe it’s you.” She stared up at him and brushed stray locks back with her fingers.No ring. He couldn’t help notice.
“Yeah. It’s been a while.” He swung his duffle to the ground, propping his drink can on top. “And, a dead body wasn’t exactly the welcome I hoped for.”
“Ironic, isn’t it?” Shaking her head, she looked up at him, her eyes widening and brimming with tears. “The poor man. No one even knows who he is. Even worse―”
She looked away a moment, took a deep breath.
“Worse?” Nick stuffed his hands in his jacket.
Another moment, then her gaze settled back on him, fear in her eyes. “I think Conrad’s killer may be back.” Her voice barely a whisper.
The knife in Nick’s heart slipped a little deeper. “What do you mean back? You don’t think―”Kylie’s nod cut off his words. Déjà vu just escalated to nightmare.
Thank you, Anslee, for giving the whole first chapter. I’m sure my readers are as hooked as I am. How can readers find you on the Internet?http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=annslee+urban
http://www.harlequin.com/author.html;jsessionid=C4ABEE17E1CCF3BFE67EA3F6928D6EF9?authorid=3019

www.maryurban.blogspot.com
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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