Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 216
June 9, 2014
A WOMAN OF FORTUNE - Kellie Coates Gilbert - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Kellie Coates Gilbert’s newest book. Kellie is a dear friend, and I’ve been blessed with the privilege to have her in the critique group that meets in my home before she was published.
This new story could have been ripped from a Texasnewspaper’s headlines. It’s gripping that the characters touch you deep in your heart. I could really get into the plot, wondering what I would do if I had to face something similar. I will warn you that you won’t want to put the book down until you read the last word.
This is a good book for our Summer Reading Challenge.
Welcome back, Kellie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I’m a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who worked on many high profile cases, including the Jack-in-the-Box e-coli litigation in the mid-nineties and the largest cattle fraud case in the United States. People are often at their most vulnerable in these tense situations where much is at stake, giving me a unique perspective on the human psyche. Early in my legal career, I recognized there could be value in telling stories about women facing relationship fractures, betrayal, and loss and how we often exhibit strength and dignity in these journeys.
My agent urged me to write romance to break into publishing. I did, and my first novel sold. But that story was not one that burned in my heart as I wrote. When the publishing house switched directions and pulled back even before we got the contract to sign, the situation was an easy one to let go of.
I am meant to write stories for women that focus on relationships, and the deep places in life. People have many layers, and never more than in family dynamics and hard times. I’m intrigued with the coping mechanisms we employ to fill our empty places. These are the stories of my heart.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?I’m a happy gal and mighty blessed, so it’s difficult to choose a single happy day. Maybe the best way to approach this answer is to tell you about a RECENT event that brought me a lot of joy:
Anyone who follows me on social media knows how much my little grandson means to me. A few weeks ago, he spent the night. At 3:00 am – I was awakened from a dead sleep by two tiny three-year-old hands on my cheeks. "Dammy, let's go blow bubbles outside again." I rubbed my tired eyes. "Go back to sleep, Peanut. It's dark out there." He tapped my shoulder. "Dammy, but we can turn the lights on."
And so we did.
My heart is wrapped around my little Peanut. A few weeks ago, his little sister Gumdrop was born. This “dammy” plans to enjoy these little ones over the next months and years, and read to them every chance I get. That is what happiness is all about, isn’t it? My own Gram instilled in me the love of books, and the knowledge I was her “Precious Puddin’ Gift of God.” I fully plan to pass those sentiments on . . .
With each of my grandchildren and great grandchildren, I bought a preschool picture book and took it to the hospital to read when I first held the little darlings. And I continued to give books to them. How has being published changed your life?I’m a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who worked on interesting cases, often ones you might have seen on the news. While I adored the fast-paced nature of my legal profession, and I’d climbed to the upper rungs of the career ladder and enjoyed all the perks that came with that . . . something was missing. Deep inside, I remembered my lifelong dream of becoming a career novelist, and how I’d placed that aspiration on the shelf to pursue a sensible career that would help raise two boys and put them through college.
When my husband received a call from a recruiter with a very lucrative offer, he accepted and moved us from the Pacific Northwest to Texas AND told me this was my chance. He wisely advised that if I failed to pursue my dream at that juncture, I likely never would.
Today, I feel like I am just as busy. Writing on a four-book contract with six month turnarounds has its pressure, especially coupled with all the marketing that authors must do in this current publishing environment. But, Lena . . . I’ve never felt more in my skin. And I’m finding that all those years in courtrooms are finding their way onto the pages of my novels. I’m telling contemporary stories about women in life-changing circumstances and exploring how strong women find their way to faith in light of it.
I love my life!
And you do it so well. What are you reading right now?Research material! I’m an avid reader and normally read at least two novels a week. When I get a few minutes to place my nose in the pages of a good story, I often choose a Jodi Picoult novel. Normally, I devour her novels within a week of release. Sadly, this tight writing schedule has interrupted my casual reading time.
I am a huge fan of Ms. Picoult. While some of her recent subject matter seems a bit soap-boxy in nature, there are few novelists who write with the skill she exhibits on every single page. I study her work, diagram her plots, tear apart the tools she utilizes and try to bring my own craft to a higher level by mimicking her talent the best I can.
I also love how her books take on contemporary subject matters that inherently hold multiple points of view and foster lively discussion. And no one creates tension and emotion like this very talented author.
What is your current work in progress?In late 2008, many of us watched as master financier Bernie Madoff’s story unfolded. I couldn’t seem to pull my eyes from the television as the man accused of swindling thousands of innocent victims—including family and friends—out of billions of dollars in the world’s largest Ponzi scheme, was taken from his posh Manhattan apartment in handcuffs and his family became vilified in the media. The events held particular interest for me. In my former role as a legal professional, I helped unravel, what was then, the largest cattle fraud in the United States. I interviewed dozens who were caught in the betrayal and who found themselves and their businesses floundering as a result. These stories fascinate me on many levels, but in particular, I’m intrigued with the families behind the scenes. What is it like for a wife to learn her husband is a criminal? What happens to children when they face that kind of shame? We know, at least in part, what transpired in the Madoff family in the aftermath—fractured relationships, family devastation, and suicide. As a novelist, I yearned to explore what might happen if the converse were true. What would the story look like if a strong woman protagonist bucked the odds and used her faith to land on solid ground?
A WOMAN OF FORTUNEis about a Texassocialite, Claire Massey, who is living the dream—designer clothes, luxury cars, stunning homes. But her Neiman Marcus lifestyle comes crashing down when her charming cattle broker husband is arrested for fraud. Suddenly she finds herself facing attorneys, a media frenzy, and a trail of broken hearts. Betrayed and humiliated, Claire must start over against incredible odds to save her family—and discover a life worth living.
You’re too young to know about this one, but as I read the book, the story reminded me of the Billy Sol Estes scandal that happened in Abilene, Texas, several decades ago. What would be your dream vacation?I’ve always wanted to tour Israeland Jerusalem. My former church took a tour and I was booked to go, but my husband’s job change shifted plans.
We’ve owned seven motorhomes (I used to write for Motorhome Magazine as a contributing editor) and we’ve done a lot of traveling around the United States. There’s nothing too much better than exploring America’s small towns and backroads, stopping at places like the Gilroy Garlic Festival on a whim. As soon as my hubby retires, that’s likely where you’ll find us again.
How do you choose your settings for each book?The Texas Gold books are a collection of standalone contemporary stories, each set in a metropolitan area of Texas—Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and then Austin. I’ve really enjoyed the research trips, and I think readers will close the pages of these novels feeling like they’ve spent time in these cities. A Woman of Fortune is set in Dallas and you’ll see some very familiar settings, Lena!
Yes, I did, since I’ve lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex since the early 1970s. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?President Barack Obama. That answer would surprise people who know me well. But I think running this great nation is an immense responsibility. I’d like to tell him I pray regularly that he makes wise decisions and that he seeks wise counsel. And I’d listen . . . try to learn what his job is like in this current time. I’d hope we’d end the evening with a new understanding and respect for each other’s points of view. Perhaps we wouldn’t agree on everything, but I’d like him to know that people who follow Christ care very much about him and his family and want him to make the best decisions possible for future generations.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I love to throw dinner parties. Sadly, I haven’t had time to enjoy doing that while trying to meet my writing deadlines.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Oh, this one is easy to answer . . . ISOLATION! I’m so used to working in a collaborative environment and writing is such a solo act. Luckily, I’m blessed with a great writing partner (Lynne Gentry), and we talk every weekday morning from six to six-thirty or so. We plan out what we’re writing that day, work through problem areas with characters, motivation, etc. Rarely, we read passages to each other to see if they are working.
Frankly, there can be DAYS where my husband is traveling and I sit in the house not seeing another human being. I’m working to correct that and have joined a lot of women’s groups and a book club and force myself to close down my Mac and go out some evenings and mingle with people who are NOT somehow involved in the publishing industry!
As you know, I used to show up at your door every Thursday to critique with other novelists. I had to give that up when I starting writing on this tight deadline. I miss it, though.
And I really miss seeing you, too, Kellie. You, Lynne (another of my favorite authors and friends), and I need to get together soon. What advice would you give to a beginning author?Read. Don’t get in a hurry. Learn as much about the craft of writing as you can before you start submitting. Get a great agent (and editor). And read. Then, read some more. In the end, great story trumps great craft. If you have both, you’re far ahead of the pack trying to break in.
And here’s a bit of a secret: Publishing a novel is as fun as you think it will be. Nothing compares to a reader email that says she couldn’t put your book down and your story will remain in her heart.
That is so true, Kellie. I just love hearing from readers. They are one of the main reasons I joined Facebook. We connect a lot more there. How can readers find you on the Internet?WEBSITE: www.kelliecoatesgilbert.comBLOG: http://kelliecoatesgilbert.com/up-the-waterspout-2/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kelliecoatesgilbertTWITTER: https://twitter.com/KCoatesGilbertPINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/kcoatesgilbert/GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782157.Kellie_Coates_Gilbert
Thank you, Kellie, for visiting with us today. We need to schedule the next three books on this blog.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Woman of Fortune, A (Texas Gold Collection): A Texas Gold Novel - Kindle
Christian Book Store
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
This new story could have been ripped from a Texasnewspaper’s headlines. It’s gripping that the characters touch you deep in your heart. I could really get into the plot, wondering what I would do if I had to face something similar. I will warn you that you won’t want to put the book down until you read the last word.
This is a good book for our Summer Reading Challenge.
Welcome back, Kellie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I’m a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who worked on many high profile cases, including the Jack-in-the-Box e-coli litigation in the mid-nineties and the largest cattle fraud case in the United States. People are often at their most vulnerable in these tense situations where much is at stake, giving me a unique perspective on the human psyche. Early in my legal career, I recognized there could be value in telling stories about women facing relationship fractures, betrayal, and loss and how we often exhibit strength and dignity in these journeys.My agent urged me to write romance to break into publishing. I did, and my first novel sold. But that story was not one that burned in my heart as I wrote. When the publishing house switched directions and pulled back even before we got the contract to sign, the situation was an easy one to let go of.
I am meant to write stories for women that focus on relationships, and the deep places in life. People have many layers, and never more than in family dynamics and hard times. I’m intrigued with the coping mechanisms we employ to fill our empty places. These are the stories of my heart.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?I’m a happy gal and mighty blessed, so it’s difficult to choose a single happy day. Maybe the best way to approach this answer is to tell you about a RECENT event that brought me a lot of joy:
Anyone who follows me on social media knows how much my little grandson means to me. A few weeks ago, he spent the night. At 3:00 am – I was awakened from a dead sleep by two tiny three-year-old hands on my cheeks. "Dammy, let's go blow bubbles outside again." I rubbed my tired eyes. "Go back to sleep, Peanut. It's dark out there." He tapped my shoulder. "Dammy, but we can turn the lights on."
And so we did.
My heart is wrapped around my little Peanut. A few weeks ago, his little sister Gumdrop was born. This “dammy” plans to enjoy these little ones over the next months and years, and read to them every chance I get. That is what happiness is all about, isn’t it? My own Gram instilled in me the love of books, and the knowledge I was her “Precious Puddin’ Gift of God.” I fully plan to pass those sentiments on . . .
With each of my grandchildren and great grandchildren, I bought a preschool picture book and took it to the hospital to read when I first held the little darlings. And I continued to give books to them. How has being published changed your life?I’m a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who worked on interesting cases, often ones you might have seen on the news. While I adored the fast-paced nature of my legal profession, and I’d climbed to the upper rungs of the career ladder and enjoyed all the perks that came with that . . . something was missing. Deep inside, I remembered my lifelong dream of becoming a career novelist, and how I’d placed that aspiration on the shelf to pursue a sensible career that would help raise two boys and put them through college.
When my husband received a call from a recruiter with a very lucrative offer, he accepted and moved us from the Pacific Northwest to Texas AND told me this was my chance. He wisely advised that if I failed to pursue my dream at that juncture, I likely never would.
Today, I feel like I am just as busy. Writing on a four-book contract with six month turnarounds has its pressure, especially coupled with all the marketing that authors must do in this current publishing environment. But, Lena . . . I’ve never felt more in my skin. And I’m finding that all those years in courtrooms are finding their way onto the pages of my novels. I’m telling contemporary stories about women in life-changing circumstances and exploring how strong women find their way to faith in light of it.
I love my life!
And you do it so well. What are you reading right now?Research material! I’m an avid reader and normally read at least two novels a week. When I get a few minutes to place my nose in the pages of a good story, I often choose a Jodi Picoult novel. Normally, I devour her novels within a week of release. Sadly, this tight writing schedule has interrupted my casual reading time.
I am a huge fan of Ms. Picoult. While some of her recent subject matter seems a bit soap-boxy in nature, there are few novelists who write with the skill she exhibits on every single page. I study her work, diagram her plots, tear apart the tools she utilizes and try to bring my own craft to a higher level by mimicking her talent the best I can.
I also love how her books take on contemporary subject matters that inherently hold multiple points of view and foster lively discussion. And no one creates tension and emotion like this very talented author.
What is your current work in progress?In late 2008, many of us watched as master financier Bernie Madoff’s story unfolded. I couldn’t seem to pull my eyes from the television as the man accused of swindling thousands of innocent victims—including family and friends—out of billions of dollars in the world’s largest Ponzi scheme, was taken from his posh Manhattan apartment in handcuffs and his family became vilified in the media. The events held particular interest for me. In my former role as a legal professional, I helped unravel, what was then, the largest cattle fraud in the United States. I interviewed dozens who were caught in the betrayal and who found themselves and their businesses floundering as a result. These stories fascinate me on many levels, but in particular, I’m intrigued with the families behind the scenes. What is it like for a wife to learn her husband is a criminal? What happens to children when they face that kind of shame? We know, at least in part, what transpired in the Madoff family in the aftermath—fractured relationships, family devastation, and suicide. As a novelist, I yearned to explore what might happen if the converse were true. What would the story look like if a strong woman protagonist bucked the odds and used her faith to land on solid ground?
A WOMAN OF FORTUNEis about a Texassocialite, Claire Massey, who is living the dream—designer clothes, luxury cars, stunning homes. But her Neiman Marcus lifestyle comes crashing down when her charming cattle broker husband is arrested for fraud. Suddenly she finds herself facing attorneys, a media frenzy, and a trail of broken hearts. Betrayed and humiliated, Claire must start over against incredible odds to save her family—and discover a life worth living.You’re too young to know about this one, but as I read the book, the story reminded me of the Billy Sol Estes scandal that happened in Abilene, Texas, several decades ago. What would be your dream vacation?I’ve always wanted to tour Israeland Jerusalem. My former church took a tour and I was booked to go, but my husband’s job change shifted plans.
We’ve owned seven motorhomes (I used to write for Motorhome Magazine as a contributing editor) and we’ve done a lot of traveling around the United States. There’s nothing too much better than exploring America’s small towns and backroads, stopping at places like the Gilroy Garlic Festival on a whim. As soon as my hubby retires, that’s likely where you’ll find us again.
How do you choose your settings for each book?The Texas Gold books are a collection of standalone contemporary stories, each set in a metropolitan area of Texas—Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and then Austin. I’ve really enjoyed the research trips, and I think readers will close the pages of these novels feeling like they’ve spent time in these cities. A Woman of Fortune is set in Dallas and you’ll see some very familiar settings, Lena!
Yes, I did, since I’ve lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex since the early 1970s. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?President Barack Obama. That answer would surprise people who know me well. But I think running this great nation is an immense responsibility. I’d like to tell him I pray regularly that he makes wise decisions and that he seeks wise counsel. And I’d listen . . . try to learn what his job is like in this current time. I’d hope we’d end the evening with a new understanding and respect for each other’s points of view. Perhaps we wouldn’t agree on everything, but I’d like him to know that people who follow Christ care very much about him and his family and want him to make the best decisions possible for future generations.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I love to throw dinner parties. Sadly, I haven’t had time to enjoy doing that while trying to meet my writing deadlines.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Oh, this one is easy to answer . . . ISOLATION! I’m so used to working in a collaborative environment and writing is such a solo act. Luckily, I’m blessed with a great writing partner (Lynne Gentry), and we talk every weekday morning from six to six-thirty or so. We plan out what we’re writing that day, work through problem areas with characters, motivation, etc. Rarely, we read passages to each other to see if they are working.
Frankly, there can be DAYS where my husband is traveling and I sit in the house not seeing another human being. I’m working to correct that and have joined a lot of women’s groups and a book club and force myself to close down my Mac and go out some evenings and mingle with people who are NOT somehow involved in the publishing industry!
As you know, I used to show up at your door every Thursday to critique with other novelists. I had to give that up when I starting writing on this tight deadline. I miss it, though.
And I really miss seeing you, too, Kellie. You, Lynne (another of my favorite authors and friends), and I need to get together soon. What advice would you give to a beginning author?Read. Don’t get in a hurry. Learn as much about the craft of writing as you can before you start submitting. Get a great agent (and editor). And read. Then, read some more. In the end, great story trumps great craft. If you have both, you’re far ahead of the pack trying to break in.
And here’s a bit of a secret: Publishing a novel is as fun as you think it will be. Nothing compares to a reader email that says she couldn’t put your book down and your story will remain in her heart.
That is so true, Kellie. I just love hearing from readers. They are one of the main reasons I joined Facebook. We connect a lot more there. How can readers find you on the Internet?WEBSITE: www.kelliecoatesgilbert.comBLOG: http://kelliecoatesgilbert.com/up-the-waterspout-2/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kelliecoatesgilbertTWITTER: https://twitter.com/KCoatesGilbertPINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/kcoatesgilbert/GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782157.Kellie_Coates_Gilbert
Thank you, Kellie, for visiting with us today. We need to schedule the next three books on this blog.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Woman of Fortune, A (Texas Gold Collection): A Texas Gold Novel - Kindle
Christian Book Store
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
June 8, 2014
WINNERS!!!!!
Kristen (KY) is the winner of
The Lost Loves of World War II
by Bruce Judisch.
Tammy (AL) is the winner of Nature Girl by Karen Whiting.
KayM (TN) is the winner of Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson.
Shelia (MS) is the winner of A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell.
Connie (KY) is the winner of The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher.
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.
Tammy (AL) is the winner of Nature Girl by Karen Whiting.
KayM (TN) is the winner of Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson.
Shelia (MS) is the winner of A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell.
Connie (KY) is the winner of The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher.
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.
June 6, 2014
RAPTOR 6 - Ronie Kendig - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More
Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to once again introduce you to Ronie. Her writing will keep you on the edge of your seat. I was blessed to have Ronie in the critique group that meets in my home for several years. Then she moved to another part of the country. We still keep in touch, but I miss spending face-to-face time with her.
Bio: Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-plus years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with four children and a Maltese Menace in northern Virginia. Author and speaker, Ronie loves engaging readers through her Rapid-Fire Fiction.
If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar? I will be teaching a class called Mind Magic at the ACFW annual conference - it’ll have tips and tricks on luring readers into reading your book.
If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why? Our family once started over after a very dark, desert-like time in our lives but if I could chose where to start over next time, I’d probably want somewhere in the country (yet close enough to civilization that we could get food/supplies without too much trouble) or mountains because the crowded environments of the city and even the suburbs can get to me. I see God in the mountains and country. I feel calmer and quieter.
If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?My advice would be to know the rules, master the rules, but do not get strangled by the rules. I’ve seen far too many authors suffocate their voice and style by a strict adherence to every rule out there. I’ve also seen some authors break from rules too early and take the vain approach that they’re too “edgy” for those rules. It takes experience and wisdom to recognize when the rules should be broken and when they shouldn’t.
You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related]) I’d probably invite Skillet, 12 Stones, TobyMac, and the Lieutenant Dan Band as singing talent, then I’d invite Oliver North, Bob Hamer, Gary Sinise, and President George Bush as motivation speakers … and then I’d invite the families of our military heroes.
Since I have a grandson overseas in the military right now, I’d love that cruise. Tell us about the featured book.
Raptor 6
is the first book in the Quiet Professionals series, and it features the return of the ODA team featured in A Breed Apart. Captain Dean Watters is fighting a massive cyber terrorist strike against the U.S. military’s super secure network and computers—and when the woman who holds the key is kidnapped, Dean must lay everything on the line to save her and his brothers in arms.
Please give us the first page of the book.Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe.
Present Day
Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe.
He sucked in a hard breath. Fabric drew against his nostrils. Hot. Can’t breathe. No air! He thrashed, searching for freedom, for air. . . I’m going to die! At the thought, he jerked.
Where am I? A bounce smacked his head against something hard. Metal. Captain Dean Watters groaned. Opened his eyes. But couldn’t see. The meaty rumble of an engine warned him he was in a vehicle. The tail of one by the roaring sound and steel digging into his shoulder. The way his breath coiled back at him told him he had a hood over his face. Mouth taped. Hands taped. Feet—he tested his leg—taped.
Get out or die! Dean kicked. Tendons strained against his effort. Brakes squealed. Gravity shifted and tugged him. Rounding a corner. Again the engine roared. Where are they taking me? Where’s Z?
Recollection swarmed him in a thick cloud of defeat. She’d walked out. Willingly. He couldn’t blame her. They’d been through the fires of hell and back since they were captured. The enemy had broken her. Gotten into her head and convinced her that helping them was the smart choice.
A sudden lurch made him slide. Hands pawed at him as shouts erupted. He was lifted. . . .The truck bounced. Gravity pulled him left again—another corner. The truck must’ve turned. Then spinning. . .
Still blind and bound, Dean felt himself flying. Through the air. Unrestrained. He tensed, no idea where he’d land. What he’d hit. Or in what. And he prayed—begged—God to let him live. He had to live. Had to find her.
Wow! Now I can take a breath. Where can we find you on the Internet? I can be found at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction), Twitter (@roniekendig), and Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/RonieK)
Don't miss the first book, Raptor 6, in Ronie Kendig's new Quiet Professionals series. Ronie combines a dangerous romance and explosive action for a thrilling and satisfying ride. "Lock and load for this Spec Op, fighting under God’s 'rules of engagement.'" —Bob Hamer, veteran FBI undercover agent and award-winning author
Ronie is celebrating with a Kindle HDX Giveaway!
One winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire HDXRaptor 6 by Ronie KendigEnter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 15th. Winner will be announced June 16th on Ronie's blog.
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Ronie's blog on June 16th to see if you won.Thank you, Ronie, for sharing this new book, and the new series with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Raptor 6 (The Quiet Professionals) - 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
Bio: Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-plus years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with four children and a Maltese Menace in northern Virginia. Author and speaker, Ronie loves engaging readers through her Rapid-Fire Fiction. If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar? I will be teaching a class called Mind Magic at the ACFW annual conference - it’ll have tips and tricks on luring readers into reading your book.
If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why? Our family once started over after a very dark, desert-like time in our lives but if I could chose where to start over next time, I’d probably want somewhere in the country (yet close enough to civilization that we could get food/supplies without too much trouble) or mountains because the crowded environments of the city and even the suburbs can get to me. I see God in the mountains and country. I feel calmer and quieter.
If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?My advice would be to know the rules, master the rules, but do not get strangled by the rules. I’ve seen far too many authors suffocate their voice and style by a strict adherence to every rule out there. I’ve also seen some authors break from rules too early and take the vain approach that they’re too “edgy” for those rules. It takes experience and wisdom to recognize when the rules should be broken and when they shouldn’t.
You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related]) I’d probably invite Skillet, 12 Stones, TobyMac, and the Lieutenant Dan Band as singing talent, then I’d invite Oliver North, Bob Hamer, Gary Sinise, and President George Bush as motivation speakers … and then I’d invite the families of our military heroes.
Since I have a grandson overseas in the military right now, I’d love that cruise. Tell us about the featured book.
Raptor 6
is the first book in the Quiet Professionals series, and it features the return of the ODA team featured in A Breed Apart. Captain Dean Watters is fighting a massive cyber terrorist strike against the U.S. military’s super secure network and computers—and when the woman who holds the key is kidnapped, Dean must lay everything on the line to save her and his brothers in arms. Please give us the first page of the book.Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe.
Present Day
Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe.
He sucked in a hard breath. Fabric drew against his nostrils. Hot. Can’t breathe. No air! He thrashed, searching for freedom, for air. . . I’m going to die! At the thought, he jerked.
Where am I? A bounce smacked his head against something hard. Metal. Captain Dean Watters groaned. Opened his eyes. But couldn’t see. The meaty rumble of an engine warned him he was in a vehicle. The tail of one by the roaring sound and steel digging into his shoulder. The way his breath coiled back at him told him he had a hood over his face. Mouth taped. Hands taped. Feet—he tested his leg—taped.
Get out or die! Dean kicked. Tendons strained against his effort. Brakes squealed. Gravity shifted and tugged him. Rounding a corner. Again the engine roared. Where are they taking me? Where’s Z?
Recollection swarmed him in a thick cloud of defeat. She’d walked out. Willingly. He couldn’t blame her. They’d been through the fires of hell and back since they were captured. The enemy had broken her. Gotten into her head and convinced her that helping them was the smart choice.
A sudden lurch made him slide. Hands pawed at him as shouts erupted. He was lifted. . . .The truck bounced. Gravity pulled him left again—another corner. The truck must’ve turned. Then spinning. . .
Still blind and bound, Dean felt himself flying. Through the air. Unrestrained. He tensed, no idea where he’d land. What he’d hit. Or in what. And he prayed—begged—God to let him live. He had to live. Had to find her.
Wow! Now I can take a breath. Where can we find you on the Internet? I can be found at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction), Twitter (@roniekendig), and Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/RonieK)
Don't miss the first book, Raptor 6, in Ronie Kendig's new Quiet Professionals series. Ronie combines a dangerous romance and explosive action for a thrilling and satisfying ride. "Lock and load for this Spec Op, fighting under God’s 'rules of engagement.'" —Bob Hamer, veteran FBI undercover agent and award-winning author
Ronie is celebrating with a Kindle HDX Giveaway!
One winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire HDXRaptor 6 by Ronie KendigEnter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 15th. Winner will be announced June 16th on Ronie's blog.
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Ronie's blog on June 16th to see if you won.Thank you, Ronie, for sharing this new book, and the new series with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Raptor 6 (The Quiet Professionals) - 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
June 5, 2014
A PLACE IN HIS HEART - Rebecca DeMarino - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More
Dear readers, I’m happy to introduce this debut novelist to you today.
BIO: Rebecca DeMarino lives in the Pacific N.W. with her husband Tom. She enjoys travel, hiking, baking, genealogy and gardening. Her debut novel, A Placein His Heart, is a historical romance inspired by her ninth great-grandparents, Barnabas and Mary Horton, and is book one of The Southold Chronicles.
Welcome, Rebecca. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I think there are little pieces of my heart in all my characters, really. I think writers cannot help but do that. But I have two sisters, and I think there is a lot of all three of us in Mary and Lizzie.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? My husband and I went to New York to pick up an airplane he bought on Ebay. We flew it from New York to Oregon in the middle of January! It took us over ten days, many of which were spent sipping cocoa while watching snowflakes fall in the little terminals across the country. He thinks this is completely normal. I think it’s a little quirky. But I have to admit it was fun!
When did you first discover that you were a writer? I had an inkling my senior year in high school when I took a creative writing course. But I didn’t give it another thought until I took my mother on a trip to find our past, and I found a story I couldn’t help but write.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I love the classics, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Anna Karenina, Wuthering Heightsto name a few. I love a good suspense and historicals, especially with romance. I’ve read almost all of John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks and Jane Kirkpatrick books. Other keepers on my bookshelf right now are: Julie Lessman, Lori Benton, Carrie Turansky, Margaret Brownley, Anita Higman and I could go on because there are more on my shelves, but they wouldn’t all fit in this answer! But I love the novels being published today for the CBA, and I think Christian fiction is filling a need in a way it never has before.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Getting out in nature to walk, jog or hike. I live in the beautiful Columbia Gorge, with mountains, rivers, forest and lakes. So inspiring! But even a walk in the garden relieves stress, clears my mind and that’s when some of my best writing ideas start playing in my brain!How do you choose your characters’ names? I write about my real-life ancestors, and I use their real names. Sometimes that is tricky because in the 17th century the English names were pretty much Mary and Elizabeth, Joseph and Thomas. So I had to improvise with a couple, giving them middle names. Mary likes to call people by nicknames, so that helped give variety. I made up the name for Wauwineta, my fictional Native American woman, but Mary likes to call her Winnie and I liked that, too.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Helping my dad finish his own novel, The Stagecoach Murders, after he suffered a stroke. I typed, he dictated the last four chapters. It was a slow process because his speech was affected. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, but it didn’t always come out that way. That gave us a few laughs along the way!
Yes, I loved featuring your father and his novel on this blog. And I enjoyed reading his story. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A horse – they are poetry in motion, which I am not!What is your favorite food? Mom’s apple pie, still warm from the oven. It’s a tradition in our family.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Dealing with the day-to-day interruptions of life. Some were major interruptions, like when my father became ill. Others just small inconveniences. I think it’s about setting priorities. For me, it’s making a list the night before of the things I need to do the next day. Seeking God in the morning. Knowing my faith and family come first. And then being diligent in sitting at the desk and writing.
Tell us about the featured book. A Place in His Heart is a historical romance based on the lives of my ninth great-grandparents. Set in the 1600’s, the story begins in England, before they cross the pond. This is the first of a three book series, The Southold Chronicles, which find the Hortons on Long Island. Barnabas is a Puritan, a baker and a widower of two young sons. He grieves deeply for the loss of his wife, but knows he must find a mother for his two little boys. Mary is a young Anglican maiden, on the verge of being forced into an arranged marriage with Robert. She longs for love and a family, but she knows she will not find it with him. They are two tender hearts, who take a leap of faith and wed, cross an ocean and work together to establish a new home—and a legacy—but will she ever find the secret places of her husband’s broken heart?
Please give us the first page of the book.October 21, 1630London, England
Wooden ships languished in the Thames, lolling to and fro, like oxen taking a mud bath. The murky water lapped at the blackened oak as Papa’s words washed over her once more.Mary Langton leaned over the crumbled stone wall and buried her face in her arms. How long she wept she could only guess. Someone moved beside her, but she could not bear to look—could not bear to face anyone. She turned her tearstained face eastward to the great port.
After an eternity, she pressed a handkerchief to her reddened nose and cast a sideward glance. “Papa.” She straightened and turned from him. What use would a discussion be?
Her sister approached and hope rose in her heart. An ally, perhaps? No, Lizzie stepped aside, apology evident in her eyes.
Papa’s voice was strained, with a sadness she’d not heard since her mother had died. “You shall come to know that I am right, my girl. You might not agree with me today, but you shall see.”
“You are wrong about that . . .”
How can readers find you on the Internet? I can be found at www.rebeccademarino.comand at www.facebook.com/AuthorRebeccaDeMarinoAlso look for me at Pinterest, Google+and Goodreads!
Thank you so much, Lena, for inviting me for this interview! It’s been fun!
Rebecca is hosting a Giveaway worth over $300.00 in prizes. There will be 8 winners. The giveaway is hosted by Rafflecopter. Blog link: : http://www.rebeccademarino.com/a-place-in-his-heart-giveaway/
Read a chapter excerpt: Visit hereLike Rebecca on FacebookFollow Rebecca on TwitterAdd Rebecca to your circles on Google+Follow Rebecca on Pinterest
Subscribe to Rebecca’s Blog and/or Newsletter
It is my pleasure and great blessing to host you, Rebecca. Please contact me to schedule the other books in your series on this blog.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Place in His Heart, A (The Southold Chronicles Book #1): A Novel - Kindle
Christian Book Store
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
June 4, 2014
OZARK REUNION - Helen Gray - One Free Book
Welcome back, Helen. Why do you write the kind of books you do?So Christian fiction is the only option for me. I don’t want to write anything that I would be uncomfortable having others read, and I want to write stories that have the potential of touching readers in a positive way. My stories aren’t meant to preach, but to provide wholesome entertainment for Christians and portray or demonstrate a biblical principal or lesson. And it’s fun!Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?That would have to be my wedding day, which was fifty years ago this week. (May 31)
James and I will celebrate our 50th Anniversary in November. How has being published changed your life?In a nutshell, made it busier. I now have to juggle my attention between my current work in progress, edits, promotional articles, book signings, etc.
What are you reading right now?My last Carol Award entry
What is your current work in progress?A historical romance set in 1885 Kansas.
What would be your dream vacation?My idea of a good trip is simply going to visit my kids or close friends and spending time with them. However, if I were to decide to become a globetrotter, I would probably visit Australia.
How do you choose your settings for each book?I tend to stick close to my home turf, feeling more secure writing what I know.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?Billy Graham. I admire the integrity of the man and the Christian work and influence he has consistently wielded over the years.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I am an amateur musician and ventriloquist. I still play the piano and sing for church, but the ventriloquism has been neglected since I retired and resumed writing seriously. I also play the trumpet.
What is your most difficult obstacle, and how do you overcome it?The Internet. It distracts me. Pulls me off onto rabbit trails. Absorbs too much of my time. And I haven’t overcome it—yet. I’m working on it. Sometimes I take a notebook and go out on the back porch and sit in the glider to write. No PC=no Internet. If I need to brainstorm, I go for a walk.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Learn the craft. Read writing blogs and books. Enter contests for feedback. And make up your mind you’re in this business for the long haul. Don’t give up. Write. Write. Write.
Tell us about the featured book.
Ozark Reunion
is set toward the end of the Great Depression, when the “alphabet” agencies were prominent—WPA, CCC, NYA, etc. The hero, embittered about the death of his teenage brother, is not a Christian, while the heroine is such a strong Christian that she has become a bit pious. When she tried to lead him to the Lord years earlier, they parted in anger.Please give us the first page of the book.Missouri, 1935Riley Blake tramped through the trees, a rifle cradled in one arm, the other hand clutching a stick from which two dead squirrels dangled, the stick driven through the tendons of their feet. No longer walking with hunter stealth, dead leaves rustled beneath his feet.
He emerged from the woods near the road and worked his way through the strands of a barbed wire fence. As he came upright and pulled his coat tighter against the cold November air, motion to the left drew his attention. The late afternoon sun highlighted a figure in a dress flying down the hill toward him on bicycle.
He recognized Jolene Delaney’s little sister, Irene. A pretty, black haired thing, she had been a familiar sight riding up and down this road from the time she could ride. She would be about fifteen now. But the way she was bent low and pedaling furiously signaled trouble.
Alarm skittered up his spine. Could something have happened to Jolene? Not that she mattered to him in any special way. Not any more. He hopped across the ditch and waited by the gravel road.
The girl braked and skidded to a stop a few feet past him, hopped off, and backed up. “Dad cut his leg with the axe. Bad,” she added, struggling to draw air into her lungs. She looked pale and scared. She must have beaten all her speed records on the mile ride from her house.
“Let’s get Mom. She’ll know what to do.”
He set out at a fast clip for the house a hundred yards further down the road. Irene pushed her bike alongside him. “When did it happen?” he asked, the squirrels flopping against his knee.
“Sometime …this afternoon,” she managed to say between gasps. “I came home from school and found him in the kitchen floor. He had dragged himself in there and wrapped a towel around his leg.”
“Where’s Jolene?”
How can readers find you on the Internet?Web page: http://www.helenbrowngray.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.gray.9081
Thank you, Helen, 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
Ozark Reunion (Heartsong Presents) - 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
June 3, 2014
REBEKAH'S TREASURE - Sylvia Bambola - One Free Book
Welcome, Sylvia. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.There is a bit of me in all my characters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We are all sinners saved by grace. Knowing this helps me understand my characters better and incorporate not only my experiences and emotions but the experiences and emotions of those I’ve witnessed over the years.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’m not quirky. I’m fun-loving but not quirky, and I do tend to be practical. I suppose that’s why I married a man who was completely the opposite and incredibly spontaneous. Now I could tell you plenty of stories about him. Like the time he put a pot on his head, a garbage can lid on his arm like a shield while trying to get a squirrel, that had fallen into our chimney, out of the house, but that’s another story.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?For as long as I can remember I loved telling stories. My friends and I would sit around for hours making them up. When I was in eighth grade, I actually started a novel though never finished it. But what can you expect from an eighth grader? Little staying power, there. Still, I never expected to be blessed with an actual writing career. Like I said, I’m practical. But after I was married and we were in a place financially where I didn’t need to help with the bills, I turned my attention to writing, went back to school, and began practicing my craft. My family was incredibly supportive throughout the ten long years I work at it before publishing my first novel, A Vessel of Honor, which won a Small Press Editor’s Choice Award and was seriously considered for a television movie.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. Being a Bible study teacher, I read mostly nonfiction, books that will help in my understanding of the Bible or help with a topic. Recently I’ve read The Feasts of the Lord by David Mitts and Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. Currently I’m reading Exo-Vaticana by Cris Putnam and Thomas Horn. All excellent.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?This is easy, by having quiet time with the Lord. I try not to miss this time and have incorporated it into my schedule as the first thing I do each morning, even before eating breakfast or dressing. This truly sets the tone of my day. By making God first it’s easier to prioritize the rest of my time, weeding out the unimportant from the important that tend to crowd our lives.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Sometimes as I review the story in my mind they just come to me. But most often I spend a good deal of time pouring over lists of names until I come across one that feel’s right or seems to fit a character’s personality.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?My marriage and family. Though my husband has gone home to be with the Lord after losing his battle with cancer, we had forty-four happy years together. Like all marriages, our marriage was not perfect, but it was Christ centered, and because of that. we were able to weather the storms that came our way. And my children? What can I say about them? Do you have a few hours? Okay, then suffice it to say, they have grown into wonderful God-fearing adults, leading productive lives. These are the things I’m proud of.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A horse. No doubt about it. This may seem odd when you realize I don’t ride and I’ve never owned one, but I love their beauty, their power, their wonderful spirit, and their capacity to love and obey a kind owner/master.
What is your favorite food?Hands down, Italian. But then I was married to an Italian and learned from a master chef, his mother. She was so kind and patient and took a young wife under her wing, one who could hardly boil water, and taught her to cook, and for this I am so grateful.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?It was never with writing itself. Rather it was with the concept of marketing. I’m what they call a “hybrid,” part of a growing number of writers who have walked both sides of the publishing-world streets. That means I’ve been both traditionally published and self-published, and I can tell you that no matter what road a writer takes he/she will be saddled with the bulk of the marketing. Now like most writers, I want to write. I don’t want to be bothered with the business end of things. This was a serious obstacle I had to overcome. And how I did it was to understand that I work for the Lord and therefore I should “do all as unto Him.” When I began looking at it that way instead of self-promotion, which I hate, it became a lot easier. Notice I didn’t say it’s easy, but it is easier.
Tell us about the featured book.
Set in 70 A.D. Jerusalem
, Rebekah’s Treasure
takes readers to war-torn Israel, mixing history with a tale of love and suspense. In order to flee the advancing Roman army, Rebekah, along with her daughter, Esther, must leave Jerusalemas well as her husband and sons. Escaping to Pella, she joins other followers of The Way who have fled the coming danger that was foretold by an oracle years before.But Rebekah didn’t leave empty-handed. She brought with her the cup of the Last Supper. In no time, her treasure garners attention as miracles begin occurring and believers credit the cup. It also causes outrage among the devotees of Isis who fear this “magical” cup will draw away their followers. In response they hatch a plot to steal it.
Things become more complicate when Rebekah’s daughter, Esther, runs away and Rebekah’s husband, Ethan, embarks on a quest to retrieve the hidden Temple treasure outlined in a copper scroll, and then take it to the Jewish stronghold of Masadain order to “continue the fight.”
When reading Rebekah’s Treasure readers will see history unfold as Titus’s legions lay siege to Jerusalemand the Temple. Yet amid the chaos of war, there is love and faith and hope as Rebekah and her family struggle to survive as well as discover where their true treasure lies.
Please give us the first page of the book.Jerusalem 70 A.D.“You can’t stay. It’s just too dangerous now.”
My husband, Ethan, stands firm, like David before Goliath, and I know I’ve lost the battle. Maybe if I had phrased it differently. Maybe if I hadn’t said those words—“we are all going to die”—maybe then he wouldn’t be standing before me now with his hand on the hilt of his dagger as though drawing courage. But too late. My tongue has already betrayed me.
“Any day now, that jackal will be here with his siege works, for what’s left for him to conquer but Jerusalem?”
“Vespasian? I thought he was in Alexandria.”
“Yes, but his son, Titus, continues his push through Judea.”
This time the words drive me to the bear of a man I have loved for twenty-six springs. My head finds its familiar resting place on his chest. He smells of sweat and Templeincense. His beating heart thunders in my ear. And amid this thunder, I hear shuffling, and know, without seeing, that the footfalls are made by our sons.
I pull away and glance at the four young men behind Ethan. All are tall and strong and handsome. Any mother would be proud. But when my eyes drift to the blue tassels that trim their tunics, my stomach clenches. I have come to hate that trim. It’s the same trim that hangs from Ethan’s tunic, “to remind him of the commandments,” he says. Does he think I’m simpleminded? Does he think I don’t know that Zealots wear blue fringe?
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is: http://www.sylviabambola.comFace book: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sylvia-Bambola/78754640991Twitter: @sylviabambolaAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rebekahs-Treasure-Sylvia-Bambola/dp/0989970744/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392657387&sr=1-1&keywords=rebekah%27s+treasure
Thank you, Sylvia, for sharing your book with us today.
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
June 2, 2014
PROOFREADING SECRETS OF BEST-SELLING AUTHORS - Kathy Ide - One Free Book
My first contact with Kathy Ide was when she was the editor for my book, Pirate’s Prize, fairly early in my writing career. She loved the book, which warmed my writer-heart. Then soon after, we were at a writing retreat at the edge of the Sam Houston National Forestin Texas. Janice Thompson had put the retreat together. All who were there became long-time friends. I was thrilled when Kathy wanted me to send information to be included in this book.
Welcome, Kathy. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?One thing that often surprises people when they find out I’m a professional freelance editor is that I didn’t go to college … well, except for a hockey game at the University of Minnesota once. I learned how to write and edit by reading books about the craft, attending writers’ conferences, talking to other writers and editors, studying the industry-standard style guides—and a little bit by osmosis, since I’ve been an avid reader my entire life.
I also seem to have a natural affinity for catching mistakes in written material. I’m one of those people who notices when billboards and magazine ads and signs in grocery stores have misspelled words or punctuation marks in the wrong place. I used to drive my family crazy complaining about those things. Now that I get paid to do it, they don’t mind so much.
Tell us about your family.I have an amazingly supportive husband—there’s no way I could be doing what I do without Rick, that’s for sure. When I lost my day job 15 years ago, after working for 30 years as a secretary and graphic designer for companies, he asked me what I’d do for a living if I could do anything. I immediately said, “Write!” But we’d just bought a house in Southern California based on my income with a well-established career. So he asked, “What would your second choice be?” I told him the members of my critique group seemed to really like what I did for them. He suggested I see if I could turn that into a career. And I did!
I also have two grown sons. Both have moved out of the house (twice) and are now living in other states: one in Texasand the other in Colorado.
Since my hubby and I live in Southern California, our extended family members come to visit us a lot! We love being the “bed-and-breakfast” for our relatives while they explore all the tourist options within an hour or so of our home.
Have you written other nonfiction books? I’ve self-published two books for writers: Christian Drama Publishing and Typing without Pain.
Do you have any other books in the works right now?Of course! If my Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors does well, I plan on doing more books in the Secrets of Best-Selling Authors series: Editing Secrets, Publishing Secrets, Marketing Secrets, Keyboarding Secrets … and maybe Secrets of Best-Selling Fiction Authors, Best-Selling Children’s Authors, etc. The possibilities are almost endless.
I’m also working on a series of devotionals with a unique twist. When I get a contract for the book, you’ll definitely hear about it!
And I have a novel manuscript that I’ve been working on for years, off and on. It’s near-future speculative, which is a bit of an odd duck. But I believe it will find the right home someday.
I know that more and more publishers are looking for speculative books right now. Maybe it’ll be soon. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?My husband says that editing is my job and writing is my hobby! That’s because editing results in a much better income than writing. But I love both! And I tend to spend a lot of my free time doing things related to one or the other. Traveling to speak and teach at writers’ conferences is “work” but it’s also tremendous fun. Running my two organizations for editors (Christian Editor Connection and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network) takes several hours a week, but I enjoy that too.
I’ve always been an avid reader. But to be honest, it’s harder now to find books I can just enjoy, without doing at least some editing in the back of my mind! When I find a book that captivates me so much I stop analyzing it, that’s a real treasure.
Still, all work and no play, even when you enjoy your work, is a recipe for disaster and burnout. So I make sure to spend leisure time with my hubby (I drive to his office to have lunch with him every week, and we have date night at the movies at least once a week), my BFF (she comes over to exercise and pray every week, and she brings her family along for dinner and a movie or a Wii game a couple of times a month), and my totally adorable five-year-old goddaughter, Zoe.
We just bought a motor home, so I’m looking forward to some leisurely trips in that.
I also love going to the theater, and Southern California has a lot of options for that. I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera, my favorite, a half dozen times—three times with Michael Crawford.
Why did you write the featured book?
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors
started when I was proofreading galleys for Moody Publishers. If I wanted to make any change, I had to prove I was right by citing a rule from The Chicago Manual of Style or look up the spelling in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. I found myself looking up the same rules and words over and over, so I made a little “cheat sheet” for myself. That list got longer and longer. And I started rewriting the explanations from the Chicagomanual in words that made sense to me.
When I shared that list with other writers and editors, they wanted a copy. So I started printing them and giving them away. When the list got longer, and more people wanted it, I self-published it as a book and sold it. I called it Polishing the PUGS: Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling Tips for Writers. It became so popular, I was awarded the nickname “the PUGS lady”!
When I found a commercial publisher for the book, I decided to change the title, put in more PUGS guidelines (based on input from my readers), and add a new feature: tips from multi-published authors on how to proofread a manuscript for typos, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies.
Which best-selling authors are featured in your book? Lisa Tawn Bergren Renae Brumbaugh Mary DeMuth Lena Nelson Dooley Suzanne Woods Fisher Anita Higman Randy Ingermanson Kathi Macias Gail Gaymer Martin Susan Meissner Deborah Raney Gayle Roper Lynette Sowell Kay Marshall Strom Cindy Woodsmall
And it is a great privilege to appear with these wonderful authors. What do you want the reader to take away from the book?Mostly, I’m hoping readers will grasp the importance of carefully proofreading their manuscripts. One of the things that prevents me from enjoying more books is all the mistakes I find. And these days, with more and more writers going with indie publishing, the number of books that are not carefully proofread is growing like crazy.
In my book, I highlight a few of the industry-standard guidelines for punctuation, and I address a handful of grammar rules, and I reveal some of the most commonly misspelled (or misused) words I come across in my editing. And many people have told me how great it is to have a handy go-to reference. But I’m hoping my readers will take that a step further and study the rules for themselves … and get in the habit of looking up words in the appropriate dictionary, even if they’re absolutely positive they know how to spell them! (My hubby says the definition of positive is being wrong at the top of your voice.)
Where on the Internet can the readers find you?A year ago, I would’ve just told you to check out my website: www.KathyIde.com . But now I’m all over the place on the Internet! I have two Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/Kathy.Ide www.facebook.com/KathyIde.AuthorEditor My book has its own Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ProofreadingSecrets And here are my social media “homes”: Twitter: www.twitter.com/KathyIde LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ kathyideauthoreditor Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4354766.Kathy_Ide Google+: https://plus.google.com/107550233134059288556/posts Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KathyIdeEditor/
I’m also very active with my two organizations for editors.
The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network ( www.TheChristianPEN.com )This is a professional support organization for aspiring and established editorial freelancers, offering tips and tools on the website, a free e-mail discussion loop, online courses, and added benefits for contributing members.
Christian Editor Connection ( www.ChristianEditor.com )Here I personally connect writers, agents, and publishers with established, professional freelance editors who fit their unique needs.
Thanks so much for the privilege of being interviewed on your blog, Lena! You have been a dear friend for many years, and I’m so grateful to God for making sure our paths have crossed so many times!
I've been blessed by that association, too, Kathy.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors - paperback
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors (Writing With Excellence)
- 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
Welcome, Kathy. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?One thing that often surprises people when they find out I’m a professional freelance editor is that I didn’t go to college … well, except for a hockey game at the University of Minnesota once. I learned how to write and edit by reading books about the craft, attending writers’ conferences, talking to other writers and editors, studying the industry-standard style guides—and a little bit by osmosis, since I’ve been an avid reader my entire life.I also seem to have a natural affinity for catching mistakes in written material. I’m one of those people who notices when billboards and magazine ads and signs in grocery stores have misspelled words or punctuation marks in the wrong place. I used to drive my family crazy complaining about those things. Now that I get paid to do it, they don’t mind so much.
Tell us about your family.I have an amazingly supportive husband—there’s no way I could be doing what I do without Rick, that’s for sure. When I lost my day job 15 years ago, after working for 30 years as a secretary and graphic designer for companies, he asked me what I’d do for a living if I could do anything. I immediately said, “Write!” But we’d just bought a house in Southern California based on my income with a well-established career. So he asked, “What would your second choice be?” I told him the members of my critique group seemed to really like what I did for them. He suggested I see if I could turn that into a career. And I did!
I also have two grown sons. Both have moved out of the house (twice) and are now living in other states: one in Texasand the other in Colorado.
Since my hubby and I live in Southern California, our extended family members come to visit us a lot! We love being the “bed-and-breakfast” for our relatives while they explore all the tourist options within an hour or so of our home.
Have you written other nonfiction books? I’ve self-published two books for writers: Christian Drama Publishing and Typing without Pain.
Do you have any other books in the works right now?Of course! If my Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors does well, I plan on doing more books in the Secrets of Best-Selling Authors series: Editing Secrets, Publishing Secrets, Marketing Secrets, Keyboarding Secrets … and maybe Secrets of Best-Selling Fiction Authors, Best-Selling Children’s Authors, etc. The possibilities are almost endless.
I’m also working on a series of devotionals with a unique twist. When I get a contract for the book, you’ll definitely hear about it!
And I have a novel manuscript that I’ve been working on for years, off and on. It’s near-future speculative, which is a bit of an odd duck. But I believe it will find the right home someday.
I know that more and more publishers are looking for speculative books right now. Maybe it’ll be soon. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?My husband says that editing is my job and writing is my hobby! That’s because editing results in a much better income than writing. But I love both! And I tend to spend a lot of my free time doing things related to one or the other. Traveling to speak and teach at writers’ conferences is “work” but it’s also tremendous fun. Running my two organizations for editors (Christian Editor Connection and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network) takes several hours a week, but I enjoy that too.
I’ve always been an avid reader. But to be honest, it’s harder now to find books I can just enjoy, without doing at least some editing in the back of my mind! When I find a book that captivates me so much I stop analyzing it, that’s a real treasure.
Still, all work and no play, even when you enjoy your work, is a recipe for disaster and burnout. So I make sure to spend leisure time with my hubby (I drive to his office to have lunch with him every week, and we have date night at the movies at least once a week), my BFF (she comes over to exercise and pray every week, and she brings her family along for dinner and a movie or a Wii game a couple of times a month), and my totally adorable five-year-old goddaughter, Zoe.
We just bought a motor home, so I’m looking forward to some leisurely trips in that.
I also love going to the theater, and Southern California has a lot of options for that. I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera, my favorite, a half dozen times—three times with Michael Crawford.
Why did you write the featured book?
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors
started when I was proofreading galleys for Moody Publishers. If I wanted to make any change, I had to prove I was right by citing a rule from The Chicago Manual of Style or look up the spelling in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. I found myself looking up the same rules and words over and over, so I made a little “cheat sheet” for myself. That list got longer and longer. And I started rewriting the explanations from the Chicagomanual in words that made sense to me.When I shared that list with other writers and editors, they wanted a copy. So I started printing them and giving them away. When the list got longer, and more people wanted it, I self-published it as a book and sold it. I called it Polishing the PUGS: Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling Tips for Writers. It became so popular, I was awarded the nickname “the PUGS lady”!
When I found a commercial publisher for the book, I decided to change the title, put in more PUGS guidelines (based on input from my readers), and add a new feature: tips from multi-published authors on how to proofread a manuscript for typos, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies.
Which best-selling authors are featured in your book? Lisa Tawn Bergren Renae Brumbaugh Mary DeMuth Lena Nelson Dooley Suzanne Woods Fisher Anita Higman Randy Ingermanson Kathi Macias Gail Gaymer Martin Susan Meissner Deborah Raney Gayle Roper Lynette Sowell Kay Marshall Strom Cindy Woodsmall
And it is a great privilege to appear with these wonderful authors. What do you want the reader to take away from the book?Mostly, I’m hoping readers will grasp the importance of carefully proofreading their manuscripts. One of the things that prevents me from enjoying more books is all the mistakes I find. And these days, with more and more writers going with indie publishing, the number of books that are not carefully proofread is growing like crazy.
In my book, I highlight a few of the industry-standard guidelines for punctuation, and I address a handful of grammar rules, and I reveal some of the most commonly misspelled (or misused) words I come across in my editing. And many people have told me how great it is to have a handy go-to reference. But I’m hoping my readers will take that a step further and study the rules for themselves … and get in the habit of looking up words in the appropriate dictionary, even if they’re absolutely positive they know how to spell them! (My hubby says the definition of positive is being wrong at the top of your voice.)
Where on the Internet can the readers find you?A year ago, I would’ve just told you to check out my website: www.KathyIde.com . But now I’m all over the place on the Internet! I have two Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/Kathy.Ide www.facebook.com/KathyIde.AuthorEditor My book has its own Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ProofreadingSecrets And here are my social media “homes”: Twitter: www.twitter.com/KathyIde LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ kathyideauthoreditor Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4354766.Kathy_Ide Google+: https://plus.google.com/107550233134059288556/posts Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KathyIdeEditor/
I’m also very active with my two organizations for editors.
The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network ( www.TheChristianPEN.com )This is a professional support organization for aspiring and established editorial freelancers, offering tips and tools on the website, a free e-mail discussion loop, online courses, and added benefits for contributing members.
Christian Editor Connection ( www.ChristianEditor.com )Here I personally connect writers, agents, and publishers with established, professional freelance editors who fit their unique needs.
Thanks so much for the privilege of being interviewed on your blog, Lena! You have been a dear friend for many years, and I’m so grateful to God for making sure our paths have crossed so many times!
I've been blessed by that association, too, Kathy.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors - paperback
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors (Writing With Excellence)
- KindleLeave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
June 1, 2014
WINNERS!!!!!
Sheila (OR) is the winner of
Man's Best Hero
by Ace Collins.
Angelica (SC) is the winner a Shattered Rose by T L Gray.
Marianne (Alberta) is the winner of All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti.
Lisa (VA) is the winner of While Love Stirs by Lorna Seilstad.
Doreen (PA) is the winner of A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga.
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.
Angelica (SC) is the winner a Shattered Rose by T L Gray.
Marianne (Alberta) is the winner of All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti.
Lisa (VA) is the winner of While Love Stirs by Lorna Seilstad.
Doreen (PA) is the winner of A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga.
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.
May 31, 2014
SPECIAL SUMMER READING CHALLENGE - One Winner - $25 Gift Card
There's a new TV show that premiere's soon. I'm excited about it.
It Takes a Church will be churches helping a couple of singles in their congregation find true love.
I've loved the American Bible Challenge.
A Red Hot 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!!!
It Takes a Church will be churches helping a couple of singles in their congregation find true love.
I've loved the American Bible Challenge.
A Red Hot 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!!!
May 30, 2014
THE HEART'S PURSUIT - Robin Lee Hatcher - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More
Bio: Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heart-warming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over sixty novels.Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?After writing historical romances exclusively for a number of years, I am currently working on a contemporary romance series, set in the same small Idaho town that was the setting for my January women's fiction release, A Promise Kept. I'm enjoying it a great deal.
I know I’ll love any contemporary books you write. I’ve always been held captive by the historical ones. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?I will be attending the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in September 2014 in St. Louis. I am not speaking but look forward to networking with other writers wherever they gather.
Good, I’ll see you there. If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?Professional Partnerships: How to have the best working relationship possible between writer, agent, and editor/publishing house.
Panelists would be me, my agent of 25 years Natasha Kern, and my editor Ami McConnell.
How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?I have been very active in writers organizations over the past 30 years, including five years on the board of directors of Romance Writers of America (two of those years as President and CEO) and almost 18 years on the board of directors of Faith, Hope, and Love (I continue to serve as an advisor). The friendships made through writers groups and organizations, such as ACFW, are invaluable to me as a writer. It helps to know we are not alone in this crazy business. It helps to know that there are others who think like we do and spend many hours of every day in an imaginary world.
Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?My husband and I serve our church on the greeting team. I love it. Our church is on the larger size (2500 to 3000 members, I believe), and being one of the greeters helps me to meet more people. And I love making newcomers feel welcome.
My husband has been a greeter for years at our church. He loves it too. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?My mother: Her impact touched every part of my life, and she was an example of what it means to walk by faith.
My daughters: Once a mother, always a mother. Raising children shapes the parent as much as it shapes the child.
My husband: Marriage has a huge impact on your life. Can't help it. That saying of iron sharpening iron is true. Marriage is one very certain way to rub off some of our rougher edges.
Pastor Hank: I was a new Christian and his preaching and pastoring were foundational in my faith walk in those crucial early years. He helped instill in me a love of reading and studying the Bible that has stayed with me ever since.
Pastor Tri: He was just the right pastor at the right time. Instead of a new Christian, I was a mature Christian with lots of experiences behind me. He and I came to Christ during the Jesus Movement of the 70's, and we have been witnesses to many of the same things through the years. His messages always reach my heart and touch me where I live.
If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?"She finished the race well."
Tell us about the featured book.THE HEART'S PURSUIT is a wild ride across the Wild West with two characters I've come to love. Here's the blurb:
A jilted bride desperate to save her family from ruin.A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past.
An arduous trek toward justice—or redemption.
Silver Matlock and Jared Newman know traveling together is a bad idea. Bad for Silver’s already tarnished reputation in her small Coloradotown. Bad for bounty hunter Jared’s secret, single-minded mission for revenge. But Silver is determined to track down the rogue who left her at the altar and stole the last remnant of her father’s fortune. And Jared’s in a hurry to hunt down the murderer who destroyed his family—even if Silver is too distractingly beautiful for comfort.
The pair takes off over mountain and desert, past bleak homesteads and raw mining towns, hot on the trail of the two villains who took what wasn’t theirs to take. Soon supplies dwindle, secrets emerge, and suspicion leaves Silver and Jared at odds when they need each other most. To confront an enemy deadlier than desert rattlesnakes and rocky cliffs, Silver and Jared must learn to forgive and trust and face the question they haven’t dared voice: What happens next?
Please share the first page with us.May 1873Bright sunlight glared upon the small town of Twin Springs, Colorado, as Jared Newman stopped his pinto gelding in front of the saloon. Silence reigned along the main street. If he hadn’t ridden through here just three days earlier, he would have thought the town abandoned. Not a soul in sight.
He removed his battered Stetson and raked his fingers through his hair, then stepped down from the saddle. He hit the hat against his pant leg a few times, shaking loose the trail dust. He was bone-weary, and his temper had seen better days. The latter was due to the unseasonable heat. The former was due to the man who rode with him.
“Get down, Peterson. We could both use something to drink.”
His prisoner obeyed, sliding to the ground, his wrists cuffed in front of him.
With a jingle of spurs, Jared ushered Lute Peterson through the swinging doors of the Mountain Rose Saloon. The narrow room was dimly lit and musty-smelling. Two men, a circle of smoke lingering above their heads, glanced up from their game of cards. A blonde in a dress that might have been in the height of fashion a decade or two earlier lounged against the bar.
Behind her, the bartender swirled a white cloth along the bar’s hardwood surface. He grinned at the new customers, but his expression changed fast enough when he noticed the cuffs on Peterson’s wrists. His gaze shifted to Jared. “What’ll it be?”
“Sarsaparilla. Two.” He tossed coins onto the bar.
Peterson cast a look of disbelief in Jared’s direction. “Sarsaparilla? How about a whiskey?”
Jared ignored him.
The woman sidled closer. “Haven’t seen you in here before. Where you headed? Or are you new to town?”
He glanced at her. A generous dusting of powder and rouge had been applied to her angular face. Like her dress, she might have been attractive at one time, but life had left its mark around her eyes and in the cynical corners of her painted mouth.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?Website and blog: http://www.robinleehatcher.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/robinleehatcherTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/robinleehatcherPinterest: http://pinterest.com/robinleehatcher/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/62524.Robin_Lee_HatcherRobin Lee Hatcher's latest novel, The Heart's Pursuit, is receiving critical praise: "The Old West lives again in this inspirational romantic adventure. . . . Themes of forgiveness, justice and mercy dominate the story and add to the characters' depth. Hatcher treats readers to a rich sensory experience—you can taste the desert dust and smell the smoke and stench of a crowded gambling hall." (Publishers Weekly)
Robin is celebrating the release of her novel by giving away a $200 "Romantic Weekend Getaway."
One winner will receive:
A $200 Visa cash card (Get away for the weekend with that special someone!)The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee HatcherEnter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 8th. Winner will be announced June 9th on Robin's website.
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Robin's blog on June 8th to see if you won.Thank you, Robin, for sharing this new book and giveaway with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
The Heart's Pursuit - Kindle
Christian Book Store
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. 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
