Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 58
August 18, 2020
DANGEROUS DECEPTIONS - Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry, plus 7 other authors - One Free Copy of PORT OF ORIGIN
BIO: LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has over thirty novels and novella collections in print. She and her family have spent almost two decades working as missionaries in Africa. When she's not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africavisit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com
Welcome back, Lisa. How did your story for the collection come about?Over a decade ago, Lynne Gentry and I decided to write a medical thriller together. Ghost Heartended up being the first book in this series. It’s a story about transplant tourism and a mother’s love for a child that makes her willing to do anything to save her. We finally published that novel in 2017, with plans for a second in the series, and promises that it wouldn’t take another decade to write it. Interestingly enough, we’d just finished the second book, Port of Origin, a story about a virus unleashed on a medical ship, when the pandemic our world is facing today hit the headlines.
Lethal Outbreak
, our story in this collection is actually a prequel to Port of Origin, but can be read in any order. It delves deeper into how Aiden Ballinger and Rachel Allen—one of the main characters from Port of Origin—meet. And then sets the scene for the next book in the series, Death Triangle. When I was asked to join this romantic suspense collection, Lynne Gentry and I decided that this story would be a perfect fit and introduction to our medical thriller series. Are these stories connected in some way? If so, how?The stories in this box set are all romantic suspense novels, but are not connected. Most of the stories are stand alone, though may be a part of a series and is a great way to get to know some new best-selling and award-winning authors.
What are you reading right now?I just started reading Secrets She Knew, by D.L. Woods, one of the other authors in the collection.
How many other books have you had published?I’ve published about forty books, mainly romantic suspense and medical thrillers—my favorite genres!
What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a collection?Since the storylines in the books in this collection aren’t connected, we didn’t have to worry about that angle, but there is still a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on. We’ve spent a lot of time over the past few months brainstorming the cover, discussing marketing strategy (we want to make the USA Today best-seller list), writing interviews, building a website and video, formatting the stories, and the list really goes on and on. I’ve never been a part of a collection like this before, but while it has been a lot of work, I’ve loved working with these other authors.
How did collaborating with this team impact you?Honestly, I’ve been impacted the most in ways that have nothing to do with writing. We meet monthly on Zoom, share prayer requests, pray for and encourage each other. I hadn’t expected this, and it has been such a blessing!
Please give us a peek into your story. Lethal Outbreak : Virus hunter Aiden Ballinger believes the source of the lethal outbreak that decimated a remote Tibetan village came from disturbing the permafrost. Desperate to rebury it before it buries the world, Aiden enlists Rachel Scott, a beautiful epidemiologist. But while Aiden and Rachel pursue the cure—and their feelings for each other—someone is hunting them. Whoever wants them dead will not stop until they are silenced.
What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?Sit down and write. The journey is full of ups and downs, but write and learn, write some more, and never give up.
Where can my readers find more about the Dangerous Deceptionscollection on the Internet?To read more about the collection, the individual stories, and interesting insights about the authors, we have great website: https://dangerous-deceptions.com
Readers, here’s a link to the book.Dangerous Deceptions: A Christian Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Collection[image error]
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Point of Origin. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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, 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
DANGEROUS DECEPTIONS - Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry, plus 7 other authors - One Free Copy of POINT OF ORIGIN
BIO: LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has over thirty novels and novella collections in print. She and her family have spent almost two decades working as missionaries in Africa. When she's not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africavisit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com
Welcome back, Lisa. How did your story for the collection come about?Over a decade ago, Lynne Gentry and I decided to write a medical thriller together. Ghost Heartended up being the first book in this series. It’s a story about transplant tourism and a mother’s love for a child that makes her willing to do anything to save her. We finally published that novel in 2017, with plans for a second in the series, and promises that it wouldn’t take another decade to write it. Interestingly enough, we’d just finished the second book, Port of Origin, a story about a virus unleashed on a medical ship, when the pandemic our world is facing today hit the headlines.
Lethal Outbreak
, our story in this collection is actually a prequel to Port of Origin, but can be read in any order. It delves deeper into how Aiden Ballinger and Rachel Scott—one of the main characters from Port of Origin—meet. And then sets the scene for the next book in the series, Death Triangle. When I was asked to join this romantic suspense collection, Lynne Gentry and I decided that this story would be a perfect fit and introduction to our medical thriller series. Are these stories connected in some way? If so, how?he stories in this box set are all romantic suspense novels, but are not connected. Most of the stories are stand alone, though may be a part of a series and is a great way to get to know some new best-selling and award-winning authors.
What are you reading right now?I just started reading Secrets She Knew, by D.L. Woods, one of the other authors in the collection.
How many other books have you had published?I’ve published about forty books, mainly romantic suspense and medical thrillers—my favorite genres!
What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a collection?Since the storylines in the books in this collection aren’t connected, we didn’t have to worry about that angle, but there is still a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on. We’ve spent a lot of time over the past few months brainstorming the cover, discussing marketing strategy (we want to make the USA Today best-seller list), writing interviews, building a website and video, formatting the stories, and the list really goes on and on. I’ve never been a part of a collection like this before, but while it has been a lot of work, I’ve loved working with these other authors.
How did collaborating with this team impact you?Honestly, I’ve been impacted the most in ways that have nothing to do with writing. We meet monthly on Zoom, share prayer requests, pray for and encourage each other. I hadn’t expected this, and it has been such a blessing!
Please give us a peek into your story. Lethal Outbreak : Virus hunter Aiden Ballinger believes the source of the lethal outbreak that decimated a remote Tibetan village came from disturbing the permafrost. Desperate to rebury it before it buries the world, Aiden enlists Rachel Scott, a beautiful epidemiologist. But while Aiden and Rachel pursue the cure—and their feelings for each other—someone is hunting them. Whoever wants them dead will not stop until they are silenced.
What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?Sit down and write. The journey is full of ups and downs, but write and learn, write some more, and never give up.
Where can my readers find more about the Dangerous Deceptionscollection on the Internet?To read more about the collection, the individual stories, and interesting insights about the authors, we have great website: https://dangerous-deceptions.com
Readers, here’s a link to the book.Dangerous Deceptions: A Christian Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Collection[image error]
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Point of Origin. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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, 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
August 17, 2020
JANE DOE - Lillian Duncan - One Free Book
Actually, I was feeling quite uninspired so I went on my social media and asked for suggestions for my next book. An old high school friend suggested I write a story that featured someone who struggled with memory loss.The old amnesia plot is usually a no-no in modern story telling so I took it as a challenge to come up with a fresh approach. And JANE DOE is the result of it.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Let’s see…let’s see… I hate the thought of leaving out people, but here goes. First, I’d invite Terri Blackstock and Brandilynn Collins because they are two of my favorite suspense writers. Then I’d include Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, and James L. Rubart because I also love supernatural stories. And only one more…Of course, I’d invite Lena Nelson Dooley because not only is she a wonderful writer, but she’s so supportive of other Christian writers.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?It’s coming up with ideas that are different than what I’ve written before. I don’t want all my books to sound the same or to have the same basic plot. That means creating unique characters and then putting them in unique situations.
I think I succeeded in doing that with JANE DOE.
I think that’s a problem for most multi-published authors. Tell us about the featured book.JANE DOE is my latest release. And it’s a doozy! It’s romantic suspense that’s heavy on the suspense but enough romance to make you smile.
JANE DOE, also known as Raven Marks survives a brutal kidnapping after being tossed off a cliff and left for dead. She’s haunted by her memories. First because she doesn’t have them and then because she does! She wants to move on with her life, but she keeps asking herself what if she isn’t his last victim.Please give us the first page of the book. “Wakey. Wakey. Little Suzie.” His sing-song voice penetrated the drug-induced blur that was her normal these days.
”Not…my… name.” Raven. Her name was Raven Lynn Marks. It was getting harder and harder to remember anything about her life before the monster, but she didn’t want to forget her name. Raven. Her name was Raven. That was all she had left. The monster had taken everything else from her. Her life. Her family. Her friends. She refused to let him take her name.
As she ran her fingers through her long, black, stringy hair, the weight of the chain around her wrist chafed. She looked up at him. “Leave…me…alone.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Little Suzie? But you don’t tell me what to do.”
A moment later he poked her with the electric cattle prod. The electrical current traveled throughout her body causing her to jerk and tremble. Her mind tried to block out the excruciating pain. It failed. She screamed.
Wow! How can readers find you on the Internet?I love to hear from readers. They can visit me at my blog, Tiaras and Tennis Shoes at Blog: www.lillian-duncan.com. I also have a devotional blog called Devotions From Puzzle House at www.powerupwithGod.com. They can connect with me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lillian.k.duncanor on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lillianduncan.
Thanks so much for having me.
Thank you, Lillian, for sharing this new suspense novel with us. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book.Jane Doe[image error] - Paperback
Jane Doe - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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, 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
August 16, 2020
WINNERS!!
Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.
Melissa (TN) is the winner of In High Cotton by Ane Mulligan.
Connie (KY) is the winner of Let Him Go by LuAnn K Edwards.
If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.
Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... 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 or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.
August 13, 2020
SEASON OF HOPE - Carol James - One Free Book
Welcome, Carol. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I think it’s impossible for a writer to create characters that are not in some way influenced by the author’s experiences and personality. Those two things provide the lens through which a writer views the world. I lived in Texas. My books are set in Texas. I’ve traveled to Ecuador and Germany. My characters have done the same thing. I’ve been on multiple mission trips. So have they. However, there’s not as much of me in my characters as you might think. Often they have personality characteristics and display traits I wish I had.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Quirky, you say? Well, this has got to be near the top of the list. Here’s a little backstory.
My husband and I have some very good couple-friends we travel with. Our goal is to visit all fifty states together. (We have four left.)
When we plan our trips, we always try to do something thematic to get us in the spirit. We sang along with the score from Oklahoma as we drove across that state. We watched The House of Seven Gablesmovie when we visited that site. And then sometimes, we tour unusual places like the Spam Museumin Minnesota or Carhenge in Nebraska. (Yes, a replica of Stonehenge made from cars.)
On one of our recent trips, we went to Fargo, North Dakota. I had never seen the movie, Fargo, so the other three decided I needed to watch it before we went. I did… And little did I know that when we got to Fargo, the visitor center would have on display the very same chipper used in the movie. Of course, I had to reenact part of the movie.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Writing came late in my life. My journey was birthed out of adversity. It’s a long, but amazing, story.
I majored in English in college. Unlike most English majors, I loved grammar and never aspired to write. I wanted to teach, and I felt English would allow me to really get to know the hearts of my students.
I was teaching part-time at a Christian school. I loved my work and considered it my personal ministry. Then my husband suffered a health issue and lost his job. With two daughters in college, I needed to find full-time work. So I had to leave not only my job, but my personal ministry. Yet God promised me He was doing a new work in my life. I just needed to trust. I clung to Isaiah 43:18-19. I searched for the new work He was doing in my life.
One of my students’ parents offered me a position at a business he owned, and I accepted it. I quickly gained the much-deserved title of “Grammar Police.” Mine were often the last set of eyes that scanned the company’s promotional and training materials.
One day, my boss came into my office and closed the door. “I do a little writing,” she whispered, “and I wonder if you would proofread some pieces for me."
That moment changed my life. A voice deep in my heart said, “You are in this place for this purpose. Writing is your new ministry."
My boss became my mentor, my critic, my encourager. And once I began, I knew this was what God had called me to do.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I particularly enjoy reading fiction and biographies. I love happy endings. (Surprise, surprise.) For years, I enjoyed what I refer to as “guy” literature - Tom Clancy, John Grisham. Pat Conroy, Ferrol Sams, Robert Ludlum, Nelson DeMille, etc. And then my daughter introduced me to Christian fiction. Karen Kingsbury and Lori Wick changed my reading world. I love reading books where the main characters express their relationship with God, where God is active.
You might like my books then. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Our city park has a beautiful walking trail. My husband and I meet a small group each morning. He walks on with the others, while I linger behind with our dog, Zoe. She likes to investigate and meander at her own pace. And those times when she slows down to enjoy the smallest bits of creation, slow me down, too. Most of the time, I play music from a local Christian station in my earbuds. I meditate on the beauty of creation, the variety of the bird calls, the delicate bouquets of wildflowers. And God speaks to me. I often discover the next portion of the plot to my current work in progress. Or get an idea for my next novel. Connecting with God through nature brings me peace.
I love that. How do you choose your characters’ names?
Choosing character names can be a challenge. When I first began writing, I felt God was leading me to write three novels in which the heroines were named Faith, Hope, and Charity. So here we have Hope in Season of Hope. Faith is featured in Rescuing Faith. And Charity is still in manuscript form. Other female names can depend upon the seasonal setting (Holly and Mary for Christmas novellas). And then sometimes I hear an unusual name and know it will be perfect for a certain character, as Ethne in my upcoming novel, No Longer a Captive.
The names of most of my heroes are Biblical names, because they are timeless. Joshua is the hero’s name in Season of Hope. Even though Josh is flawed, he exhibits the grace of Jesus.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I don’t really know if this is an accomplishment, or how much, if any, credit I can take, but I am so proud of my two daughters and the relationship we have. They are beautiful and gracious Christian women. I love watching them love their husbands and raise and love their children. For most of their lives, my husband travelled for his work, and because he was gone much of the time, we made deliberate decisions and sacrifices as they grew up. I was a stay-at-home mom and began working part-time only after they started school. We often didn’t have the material possessions our friends and neighbors did. The vacations we took were either to see family or tagged on to one of my husband’s business meetings (because the hotel would be paid for). But to us, time spent with them was worth more than any amount of money we might have gained by my working full-time. We wanted to invest ourselves in their lives and hearts. Not to say a single parent who works full-time can’t do this, too. They can. But it has to be much more difficult.
My husband and I made the same choices. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
Of course, I want to say dog. But I’m much more introverted than most dogs. I’m slow to form relationships. I really have to get to know you and trust you. And I’m happy having only a very few close friends than a wide circle of casual acquaintances. So I’m probably going to surprise you and say the dog’s cousin, the wolf. Some people would call them mysterious. Although they are pack animals, they’re generally monogamous and value close relationships.
What is your favorite food?
I like simple foods. My very favorite treat is Chocolate Raspberry Truffle ice cream from our local ice cream stand. Amazing!
Sounds yummy. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
When I began writing, finding a critique group was impossible. The ones I knew of were not welcoming to an inexperienced writer. My boss was a help, but she didn’t write in the inspirational genre. So I attended associational meetings and workshops to learn the craft. I discovered entering my work in contests was a way to receive unbiased, instructive critiques. At first, I didn’t always agree with the judges’ comments. It was like someone saying I had an ugly baby (LOL). But I quickly learned to take a deep breath and step away. A few minutes later, I’d realize they were right. I’m now a member of several critique groups, and I am happy to help new writers in any way I can.
Tell us about the featured book.Season of Hope is the story of two broken hearts, two painful pasts, and one redeeming hope. The first manuscript I wrote, it was born out of the strife and rebellion of the late sixties and early seventies (my college years). Hope is a single mother trapped in the winter of her life. But then a new pastor, Josh, comes to town, and she wonders if she can share the secrets that have been buried in her heart all these years.
Please give us the first page of the book.
He crossed off the last entry on the list. When he’d vowed to do this, he’d had no idea it would be so difficult. He’d called every entry in the phone book and every additional number he’d gotten from Information with no success.
He didn’t have enough money to hire a private investigator, and even if he had the funds, he may not have enough information for the detective to be successful.
As the evening sun shone through the gap between his bedroom curtains, the gold chain and pendant sparkled as if mocking his efforts. Opening the small Bible, he placed the necklace back between its pages and slowly folded the covers closed.
He was tired. Tired of war, tired of loss, tired of failure.
Father, it’s in Your hands now. I’ve done all I know to do.
I’m intrigued. How can readers find you on the Internet?
https://www.instagram.com/caroljamesauthor
https://twitter.com/CarolJamesAuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19149238.Carol_James
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carol-james
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3duHqKc
Thank you, Carol, for sharing this book with us. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book.
https://amzn.to/2CuTEWQ - Paperback
https://amzn.to/2Y13nM5 - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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, 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
August 11, 2020
LOVE'S AUTUMN HARVEST - Patricia Lee - One Free Book
Welcome, Patricia. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Most of my characters are components of people I know or have known. My first novel contained images of my life rearing a daughter with autism. This newly released novel depicts the drive and determination of a long time neighbor who always grew enough vegetables every summer to feed the entire city block. The love story reflects the mix of stories of many different couples I have known. I am not really in any of the books but thoughts and actions I’ve experienced are. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I was scheduled to attend an ACFW conference in Indianapolis, but when I arrived at the Eugene, Oregon, airport for the first leg of my trip through San Francisco, the flight was cancelled. Not postponed. Not rescheduled. Cancelled. I spoke to the ticket agent explaining I had to get to the conference which was to begin the next day. He looked at the flights going out and suggested a commuter flight north to Portland. A red-eye jumbo jet was flying to Chicagoat midnight, and I could try to go standby on that. “That flight,” he said with a frown, “is full. But often there are last minute no-shows which might give you a seat.”
Did I have enough faith?
I took the challenge. The plane in Portland was indeed full. I sat waiting, watching the passenger seating chart fill as people checked in. As time for departure drew near, the seating had diminished to five empty seats. Then four. Finally only two remained. It didn’t look good. Suddenly I heard my name called. Because the ticket agent in Eugenehad put me on standby, I was granted the last remaining place on the plane. I gave thanks for the goodness of God because I had no idea how I would get back home if that plane hadn’t carried me East.
God indeed is good. When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I wrote my first story when I was six years old. I don’t remember any of it but my teacher was so impressed that she gave me a bookmark and wrote on the back of it, “Keep writing, Patty. That stuck with me as I moved on through school, wrote columns for the local paper, and studied journalism at the University of Oregon.
Tell us the range of books you enjoy reading.
Though I write contemporary romance with a twist of women’s fiction mixed in, I read a lot of historical fiction. I’m drawn to life in other times, fascinated with the detail most authors include, and like the feeling of escaping to another era.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I’m not a hustler. I’ve lived long enough to know life is more than hurrying from one task to another. If one never slows down, much of life is missed in the rush.
I approach each day with a list of things that need to be done. When I was younger, I filled the day with housekeeping tasks interspersed with the needs of my children. When I homeschooled them, I used assigned chores as part of the daily curriculum. Privileges were granted or suspended on the basis of the work completed. Now that I’m older, I give each day a sprinkling of work, fun, and relaxation. Readingis a favorite past time, as is growing flowers. Both give me a sense of peace in God’s great creation.
How do you choose your characters names?
I often begin a work with a stand-in name for a character, like a place holder at a dining table. Then as I get to know the character and get a sense of who he or she is, I find a name better suited to his or her personality. In my most recent release, I knew I had to have a name that fit the situation comedy of the third character. Hillary means laughter so that character was born and she gets into a lot of tight spots. Eileen became the main character but she’s whimsical so I renamed her Eily (I-ly with a long i). Marshallwas named to be a strong male model as he will need to be as the story unfolds.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My daughter has autism. I made a commitment to her when she was very young to give her every opportunity to have a normal life. That meant finding the right teachers for her, discovering activities in which she could grow, and giving up my personal life to see her achieve. My husband and I spent a lot of years figuring her out but she now is a thriving adult who can handle most of what life throws at her. She speaks, even though I was told she probably never would. She has her own art business. She loves church. She will always need support, but I’m proud of what she has accomplished.
That’s wonderful. If you were an animal, what one would you be, and why?
I would be a cat. Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows they are independent thinkers and they do things on their own terms. The saying that dogs have masters and cats have staff is spot on. Besides, sleeping 18 hours a day can’t be all that bad, can it?
What is your favorite food?
I had to think long and hard on this question. I enjoy most dishes but to name a favorite is a stretch for me. My most often go to food is cottage cheese. It’s bland and can be combined with many other ingredients. I like it mixed with fruit or with a spoonful of salsa stirred in spread on dark rye toast. That makes a quick and tongue satisfying lunch, though most people would probably find that weird. That’s okay, it’s my lunch.
For breakfast, I often eat cottage cheese with a little fruit cup with no sugar added and a couple of tablespoons sunflower seeds. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock and how did you overcome it?
I had to learn to humbly accept my limitations. When I first began writing fiction, I thought I could do a fairly decent job. After all, I’d written for magazines and blogs and newsletters for years. What an arrogant point of view that was! I soon found writing a sentence to transmit content is a lot different than writing a scene to provoke emotion. Writing fiction is more than putting a noun in front of a verb and adding, “said.” I joined a critique group who kept me in my place, attended writer’s conferences where I rubbed shoulders with popular best-selling authors, and entered contests where feedback was provided on my manuscripts. Over time, my writing evolved to a level worthy of publication. TIME was the key.
In the keynote address I gave last Saturday on a writing Zoom conference, one of the points was “It’s all about the process.” That’s what you’re talking about. Tell us about the featured book.
This novel, Love’s Autumn Harvest, is a story that was born out of a challenge by a speaker at a writer’s conference. He said to change up our writing. Write something totally different from what we usually write. See what happens. I decided I wanted to write something that wasn’t too serious, a story that would make people laugh. Thus Eily (pronounced I-lee) McKintrick and Marshall Frye were born, one a widow, the other a widower, both with no interest in a love interest. To further complicate the plot, I added Hillary Shepherd, a divorcee with her sights set on snagging Marshall. The result is a laughter filled romp through a three-way love triangle. I believe readers are going to love all the characters and have a good time reading the story.
Please give us the first page of the book.
One onion
That’s all she needed
Medium-sized, yellow or white, hot or mellow
HER IDEA BORE ALL THE EARMARKS of trouble.
Beyond Eily McKintrick’s kitchen window, widower Marshall Frye worked in his garden, dirty canvas cap plopped like an afterthought on his balding head. Bib overalls billowed whenever the wind wafted through the manicured rows. Every day she saw him out her window, hoe in hand, back bent, head bobbing in time to the rhythm of his arms. Today was no different.
But not every day did she need an onion.
She studied the recipe for garlic beef enchiladas in front of her, drugstore reading specs suspended on the end of her nose. Ticking off the list of spices with a forefinger she located each one in her kitchen cupboard—cumin, sage, and chili powder. She removed the spice jars from the lower shelf and set them on the counter.
A stepstool under her feet, Eily rummaged through the assorted canned vegetables stored higher in the cupboard. Standing on tiptoe, she dug into the corners, wobbling when the stool squeaked. Her hands flew out, gripping the door of the cupboard, heart racing.
One of these days I’ll move the waffle iron and the bread machine and put the canned goods below the counter. No sense breaking my neck for a container I could just as easily get from the ground.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Facebook: @patricialeebooks
Twitter: lee_patricia__
Website: www.authorpatricialee.net
E-mail: patricialeewrites@earthlink.net
Thank you, Patricia, for sharing this novel with us today. It sounds like a fun read.
Readers, here are links to the book.
https://amzn.to/3gIevER - Paperback
https://amzn.to/3kCCcAC - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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, 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:
August 10, 2020
PERSIAN BETRAYAL - Terry Brennan - One Free Book
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Welcome back, Terry. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
The type of action/adventure/suspense books that I write are the same kind of books I read as a kid and continue to read up until this day. I can’t remember if my love for the genre started with the Sherlock Holmes stories, but I think the Fu Manchu series of adventures by Sax Rohmer preceded Sherlock. Today I eagerly await the next Joel Rosenberg thriller, and I’ve come to love the Charles Lennox detective mystery series by Charles Finch. He spins a great feel for Victorian London.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Boy, this is tough. Different kinds of happy, eh? I was filled with awe at the birth of my children. I was struck by the immensity of God’s favor the day I married Andrea (and, honestly, that joy continues to grow each day, now 40 years later). And I pulled off the Interstate, turned into an empty parking lot and literally danced around our car the day my agent called and said, “Hello, mister author,” for the very first time.
Yes, that is a wonderful feeling. How has being published changed your life?
I never thought I’d be this busy at 73.
It’s been 15 years since I started writing the first novel and writing has continued to drive my days even now that I’m “retired.” I’ve been successful enough that I keep writing books and keep having them published, but not so much that I’m on TV or slogging through multiple city book-signing tours (but I wouldn’t turn one down). Andrea and I live in a small house on a cul de sac, seven minutes from two of our grandchildren. The life of a published author is quiet, but busy. My days are filled to overflowing – sometimes with anxiety when I’m stuck or up against a looming deadline. Sometimes with tending a large vegetable garden and multiple beds of flowers. Busy … but I’m blessed.
What are you reading right now?
For the last several years I’ve belonged to a book club with a bunch of guys I’ve known for a couple of decades. We just finished The Power of One, an older book about the rise of apartheid in South Africa, and we have just started A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff, a fellow Kregel author. At the same time, I’m now reading We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels on my own and just finished The Martian by Andy Weir. Waiting on hold is The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel (her Station Eleven book was awesome!).
I’ve featured, Andrew’s books on my blog, too. What is your current work in progress?
The Empires of Armageddon series is complete (we’re currently doing last edits on Book 3, Ottoman Dominion, that comes out in November), so I took a bit of a break and I’m now onto a number of different projects. I’ve “finished” a non-fiction book, Rescuing the Hidden Hearts of Men, that I continue to find needs polishing and improving to move forward. I’ve also resurrected two books – Hunger’s Ransom and Jacob’s Portion – that I wrote years ago. I believe I’ve become a much better author since I completed those manuscripts and it’s clear both of those books need a good bit of work. But they are both solid stories, so I’m trying to breathe life into them and make them viable. And I’m nurturing the seed of an idea that may be called The Crimes of Lough Neagh.
What would be your dream vacation?
Two stops. As much for Andrea as for me – back to Jerusalem for a couple of weeks just to soak up the animate presence in that amazing city, then a couple of weeks return to Paris. Preferably in the mid-Fall season, after the tourists and before the cold rains. Jerusalembreakfast in one of the myriad pastry shops that dot the city; lazy lunch in a Paris sidewalk bistro and then a languid stroll through the flower market on Ile de Cite in the shadow of the wounded cathedral of Notre Dame.
Sounds wonderful! How do you choose your settings for each book?
Mostly, I try to write a lot about what I know. My six books thus far have all been set, ultimately, in the Middle East. The Jerusalem Prophecies series is rooted, at the start, in New York City (where we lived for 10 years) before heading to Jerusalem and The Empires of Armageddon series is launched from the Washington DC area (where I once worked and we’ve visited regularly) before landing in Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Amman, and Ankara. Since my books are often tagged “end-times-thrillers” it’s understandable that a great deal of the stories play out on the stage of Israel and the rest of the Middle East.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
These questions are killers. I think, Henry Kissinger … though, since he’s 97, the meeting should be scheduled soon. Former US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor in the administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, he’s also a decorated veteran of WWII. Imagine the perspective Kissinger has on Watergate and the Nixon White House.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Gardening. I have an over 400 square foot vegetable garden, surrounded by a metal fence called “hardware cloth” to keep the field mice and chipmunks from eating all the harvest. I grow the standards – tomatoes, green peppers, green beans, zucchini, along with strawberries, beets, carrots, lettuce, onions, garlic, cucumbers, and three different kinds of herbs and a peach tree. Andrea and I also love flowers, so we’ve surrounded our home with color. I have three perennial beds – one 40-feet long – and annuals growing front, back, and sides of the house – and in front of the utility shed. It takes work! But it’s one way I get my exercise.
And that sounds beautiful. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Organization. There are two kinds of writers – architects and gardeners. Guess what kind I am. Plant the seed, water it, let the sun shine on it, watch it grow, and see what happens. And usually I start a book with one idea and a vague expectation of the destination. The book grows, too. So I get lost a lot. Boxed into corners. Too much research. Whole sections (some very good) with no home. Editors asking me questions like, “Well, what is his motivation? Why would he do that?” Huh? He’s got to … it’s part of the action.
But I’ve gotten better. Because of the world-wide stage upon which my books play out, over a significant number of time zones, the significant number of characters, and the rapid shifts in action from one locale to another, keeping the scenes in the correct order was a challenge.
For each book, I created an Excel spreadsheet “Outline/Timeline” for myself that tracked the “date/time stamp” for each scene. I also included the “date/time stamp” in the book with each change of scene to help orient the reader. Each line of the spreadsheet also included a short, descriptive sentence about the content of each scene. That way, if I needed to move scenes in the book, I also moved the scenes on the spreadsheet to make sure the “date/time stamps” were correctly aligned.
This Excel spread sheet was a God-send and really helped me remain organized in so many ways.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Try tennis.
Okay, never mind. Writers gotta write. That’s what we do.
The “key to success” in writing is not in a book, not in a seminar – though those are great resources and can be extremely helpful. The key to becoming an author is to diligently sit in front of your computer and write. Books and seminars are great for honing your craft, discovering how to become more adept as a writer. But the success is in the actual writing. In being disciplined enough to keep going back to the computer screen. It’s putting in the work, sharpening and focusing – and editing – until what you can’t get any better.
So enjoy the writing and the creating of stories for what it is - exercising the gift God gave you.
We are storytellers, an ancient and cherished profession. We remember and honor the past, spin tales of the possibilities of the future and entertain in the present. Not a bad way to spend a day.
So, keep at it. Never give up. Write all the stories in your heart and all the words God gives you. And celebrate the gift.
Tell us about the featured book.
Three ancient empires are rushing toward a collision in the volatile Middle East; an official high in the US State Department is conspiring with a foreign power against the US President; a centuries-old prophecy is unveiled that herald’s Christ’s imminent return; and malevolent created eternal beings – fallen angels – are determined to invalidate Biblical prophecy so they can manufacture a different ending to the Bible … reverse the outcome of the battle of Armageddon. In Ishmael Covenant, the first book of the Empires of Armageddon series, Diplomatic Security Service agent Brian Mullaney is banished to Israelto protect new USAmbassador Joseph Atticus Cleveland. Mullaney and the ambassador are thrust into the cauldron of Middle East conflict, both political, spiritual, and personal. They come into possession of an ancient, lethal metal box that supposedly holds a second prophecy that could threaten both the nascent peace treaty between Israel and all its Arab neighbors – the Ishmael Covenant – and also reveal the insidious plot of their evil enemies. Mullaney finds himself fighting for the life of the ambassador and his daughter, fighting for his own crippled marriage, and fighting a spiritual battle, for which he is unprepared, against the agents of evil who are determined to destroy the box, the prophecy, and the Middle East as we know it.
The story in Persian Betrayal commences exactly where Ishmael Covenant ends, with the destruction of the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalemby agents of the Turk, who is still trying to destroy the prophecy of the Vilna Gaon and the lethal metal box that protects it. Mullaney finds himself propelled into the midst of a spiritual battle that is manifested in the physical realm: the Turk’s Disciples leave death and destruction in their wake as they attack the US Embassy and the Ambassador’s Residence in Tel Aviv at the same time, but fail to secure the box of power; Ambassador Cleveland goes AWOL – without his security detail – to confront Turkish President Emet Kashani about the rumors of a Turkish attempt to steal the nuclear weapons at the Incirlik Air Base; and Mullaney is enlisted by an eight-foot angel to become the Final Guardian of the Gaon’s lethal box.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Hurva Square , Jerusalem, Israel
July 20, 2014, 1:14 p.m.
Rabbi Chaim Yavod raced into Jerusalem’s Hurva Square, choking on the thick, swirling stone dust that encased the square in a malevolent fog. He leaped over huge shards of fractured stone and concrete—white, arched remnants of the Hurva Synagogue’s once magnificent dome. A symphony of horror filled the square nearly as thick as the stone dust—moans of the wounded and maimed; wails of survivors as they stumbled over the bodies of those who were not; shrill and urgent sirens promising help but not prevention.
Only moments earlier he had been sent to fetch Rabbi Herzog’s car. Then, in a mounding tide of rumbling destruction, the world that Chaim Yavod knew best was obliterated.
The convulsions of the first explosion ripped the door of the black Toyotaout of Yavod’s hand and knocked him back onto the uneven surface of the small parking lot. The ground shifting under his shoulder blades, Yavod felt three additional explosions shudder the stones of the street. He looked up, above the rooftops toward the north. What looked like a volcanic eruption of smoke, stone, and debris was roiling ever higher over the square that contained the Hurva Synagogue—outside of the Western Wall, the most revered symbol of Jewish worship in Jerusalem.
Now Yavod frantically scrambled through the destruction in the Hurva Squaretoward the smoking, shattered remains of the synagogue. The sickening fear tearing at his heart pushed aside any concern about delivering the envelope inside his jacket pocket—the decoded second prophecy from the Vilna Gaon. Israel Herzog, chief rabbi of the Israeli Rabbinate Council, his friend and superior, was probably somewhere under the collapsed dome and crumbled walls of what had once been Israel’s most beautiful synagogue. Was Herzog alive . . . any other members of the council who were with him? Could he save them? Yavod pressed on through the escalating havoc.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website: https://www.terrybrennanauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.brennan.5201
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTerryBrennan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terrbrennan1
Readers, here are links to the book.
https://www.christianbook.com/persian-betrayal-2-terry-brennan/9780825445316/
https://amzn.to/3ip1nVF - Amazon Paperback
https://amzn.to/2Cjcznm - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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, 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:
August 9, 2020
WINNERS!!!
IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.
Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.
Abigail (VA) is the winner of Son of Mary by Randy Ingermanson.
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If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.
Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... 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 or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.
August 6, 2020
LET HIM GO - LuAnn K Edwards - One Free Book
Welcome back, LuAnn. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I enjoy reading many genres, but Christian romance remains my favorite. My current series, Love Comes Again, focuses on falling in love for the second time as both my heroine and hero have suffered the death of a spouse. Whether you fall in love once, twice, or more, each one is a unique experience. And when you fall in love with the Lord, that beats them all.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
My wedding day is number one. My husband and I married forty-five years ago, and the love we had then has grown much deeper. He’s my inspiration and my encouragement.
How has being published changed your life?
Being published fulfilled a dream I’ve carried for many years, but I don’t feel different or accomplished. My goal is to honor God with my writing, point others to Him, and share faith and hope.
What are you reading right now?
A recent novella that I enjoyed was Love Accepted, by Pamela Ferguson. This is a story about family reconciliation and rekindled love. I’m also reading Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.
What is your current work in progress?
Book 3 in my Love Comes Again series is in the editing stage. I hope for an early fall release date. The current work I’m writing is a second chance at love novella. The hero and heroine meet up once again to give their relationship another try.
What would be your dream vacation?
I love Hawaii. My husband and I have been there three times—three different islands. This past May, we planned to visit our fourth island, but Covid interrupted that dream. Another place I’d love to travel is the Mediterranean—specifically Greece and Italy.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
My series takes place in Nashville, Tennessee, where I lived for several years and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I now live. Two of my children still live in Tennessee, so I call them from time to time and ask them location questions for those things where my memory fails me and when I can’t locate the info on the web.
That’s handy. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Not one, but seven. Because I live 1200 miles away from my two oldest children, their spouses, and three grandchildren, I would like to spend an evening with all of them at the same time. We’ve lost two trips to Tennessee because of Covid. I miss my family.
I can imagine. James and I are blessed that all our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where live. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I love to hike trails through the woods and along lakes, rivers, streams, and waterfalls. I enjoy taking pictures of the animals I encounter on those walks and the beautiful scenery. Other hobbies include traveling, crocheting, and jigsaw puzzles. I also enjoy baking and make bread most weeks.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
I’ll share two. A lot of talking going on when I’m writing distracts me. Soft music is okay, but I prefer quiet. I move outside on my back patio if the talking persists and if the weather’s nice.
Another difficulty is sharing my completed manuscript with others—beta readers, writing coach, and ultimately with my publisher. Every time I read my work, I make changes, so I struggle in knowing when it’s ready for someone else to read. I felt exposed when I sent my first book to my beta readers. What if they laugh at me? That gets easier with each book, so I keep pushing forward.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?
My advice for a beginning author is to attend writers’ conferences, join a writers’ critique group (you may need to start one like I did), and hire a writing coach. I’ve grown through each of these avenues. Learning is ongoing. Never stop.
Tell us about the featured book. Book 2—Let Him Go released in early June. Keedryn wishes to pursue a deeper friendship with Blake but insists on taking things slow. After a romantic evening, trouble erupts at the office when rumors fly, and a new policy goes into effect that could destroy their budding romance. She’s falling for him, but his non-existent relationship with the Lord causes her concern. When a voice pounds in her head to let him go, their newfound love may not survive.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Mid-November
Nashville , Tennessee
Blake Conner stood inside our office suite and near my desk when I arrived on Monday morning—our first day back in the office after a business trip together. A lovely mixed bouquet in a clear glass vase sat on my desk.
“They’re beautiful.” I bent to smell them, straightened, and whispered. “Should you have sent these to me here? I thought we were going to keep our new friendship quiet?”
He frowned. “They’re not from me. They were on your desk when I arrived.” He sounded frustrated. “I’d give you roses.” He crossed his arms. “Maybe they’re from Wes. I’ve expected as much.”
I stepped over to our office suite door and closed it. “Wes is not your concern. I worked with him in the IT Department, and now we eat lunch together on occasion. That’s all.” Blake accused me of spending too much time with Wes in the past. I resented him bringing the topic up yet again. I shook my head. “Leave him out of this. They’re not from him.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed. “How many other admirers do you have?”
I responded in an irritated tone. “Perhaps I should open the card to find out.”
I grabbed the note from its holder and read to myself. “Keedryn, would you agree to double with Jenny and her husband?” At the bottom, the man included his cell number.
Careful not to react in front of Blake, I showed no emotion and said, “They’re from a man my daughter knows from her church.”
Blake took a step closer, his tone filled with displeasure. “You dating him?”
How can readers find you on the Internet?
To learn more about my Love Comes Again book series, please check out my website at www.luannkedwards.com.
If you’d like to connect, I’d love to hear from you!
Website’s contact page: https://www.luannkedwards.com/take-action
Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/luannkedwards
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luannkedwards
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuAnnKEdwards1
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/luann-k-edwards
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/luannkedwards
Thank you, LuAnn, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m sure most of them will want to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book.
https://amzn.to/31ERMU3 - Paperback
https://amzn.to/2DC0mdQ - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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, 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
August 3, 2020
IN HIGH COTTON - Ane Mulligan - One Free Book
Welcome back, Ane. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?He has indeed. On the horizon I see two more books in my Georgia Magnolias series. This book is
In High Cotton
, followed by On Sugar Hill, which releases June 2021. Then I’m working on By the Sweet Gum, which will be the third in this series. I’m finding I love writing during the Depression era.The Covid-19 pandemic has not caused too much difference for me, except I’m not able to produce the plays at our community theatre. We’re hoping to get back in November. So I’ve found more time to write and it’s made a difference in my writing. For that, if nothing else, I’m finding blessings in the quarantine.
I’ve seen a lot of good things happening during this time, too. Tell us a little about your family.We have three children. The eldest two are my stepchildren, whom I love as my own. The third is Chef Greg. That should tell you a lot right there. My hubby is an artist, and he designs all the sets for our theatre. We live in Sugar Hill, Georgia, with a rascally Rottweiler, who is from the Smores line of Rottweilers. His father is the grand champion marshmallow.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?Yes, definitely. I used to be able to read nearly everything my hands picked up. Now, studying the craft for so many years has made my inner editor very strong. Now, I stick to women’s fiction and historical.
What are you working on right now?By the Sweet Gumis my current project. It’s placed in 1932 in a cotton mill town in central Georgia. My research is eye-opening. I had a plan in place, but my research revealed what I had for my main character’s family wouldn’t work. A major change was needed. When I made the changes, it opened a world of conflict for my characters. Sweet! A writer’s dream.
What outside interests do you have?Community theatre. When I was a three-year-old, my parents took me to see Peter Pan onstage, with Mary Martin. I caught a fever that day, and I’ve never recovered. Stage fever. Now, I don’t act as much but I direct a lot. I’m also the managing director for the troupe. We’re a non-profit and it’s like running a business. I have greasepaint in my veins.
That passion works well with writing novels, and my writing has made me a better director. I find I can draw out characters qualities form my actors, using the same methods I do with my book characters.
Since I share the drama background with you, I totally understand. My books are better because of directing plays. How do you choose your settings for each book?All my books take place in Georgia. There is one exception, When the Bough Breaks, which takes place in New York and Georgia.
Depending on the story, I find an area to place a fictional town or use Sugar Hill as my setting. The story will dictate the setting, and since all mine are Southern-fried, well ... Georgia is the best place for them!
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?Anne Boleyn. She fascinates me. Her story is a sad one. The court of Henry the VIII was ruthless. I think Henry truly loved her, as much as he was able, but he needed a son. And she paid the price for having a daughter.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?That’s not an easy question. I’ve loved every minute of this crazy writing world. I guess it would have to be knowing more about marketing.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?Enjoy each day. I’m a true extrovert. I’m energized by being around people, but writing is a singular job. And without having my writing buddies to meet with, or my theatre pals to physically be with, it’s been hard. But God is showing up and He’s great creative company!
I’m like you, and that is so true. He’s been adding more depth into the book I’m writing right now. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Grow a thick skin. Understand critiques are of the work, not the writer.Don’t be afraid of the delete key. You can create another sentence as beautiful as that one. With this goes: only God’s words are sacred.Enjoy the journey. Don’t be in such a hurry that you miss the friends you meet along the way ... like you, Lena.
We do have a wonderful history, don’t we? Tell us about the featured book.
It’s about five strong women, who come together and use their wisdom and wiles to try to win against prejudice and greed. But it’s Southern-fried, so there is heartwarming humor sprinkled throughout. Here’s the back cover copy:Southern women may look as delicate as flowers, but there’s iron in their veins.
While the rest of the world has been roaring through the 1920s, times are hardscrabble in rural South Georgia. Widow Maggie Parker is barely surviving while raising her young son alone. Then as banks begin to fail, her father-in-law threatens to take her son and sell off her livelihood—the grocery store her husband left her. Can five Southern women band together, using their wisdom and wiles to stop him and survive the Great Depression?
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.Sadie always says, "Southern women may seem as delicate as flowers, but we've got iron in our veins." And I believe her. After all, she's living proof—a lone Cherokee rose, whose thorns protect her better than any man could. Though older than my mama, she stepped into the role of friend the day I arrived in Rivers End as a new bride, and then later as mentor on the day my husband died.
I long to be like her, but figuring out how to work around the prejudice against women working is the pickle. Sadie says she overcame it by pure meanness and tenacity, and that I need more vinegar.
I thought it was iron.
She says I have the iron, I just need to pump some into my spine.
Now, in my own defense, I've done a respectable job raising Barry, my eight-year-old son, on my own while keeping Parker's Grocery afloat. Don't ask Big Jim for his opinion, though. My late husband's daddy is pigheaded when it comes to women working.
"Mama?" Barry pulls on my sleeve. "Can we buy these?" He bounces on his toes, his nutmeg eyes pleading with me over a pair of black high-topped, canvas athletic shoes.
I tousle his golden-brown curls, so much like mine, and pick up the price tag to consider. They're on sale, marked down from a $1.39, but the ten cents saved won't be enough. The grocery's bottom line hangs on a precarious black edge, teetering way too close to red for comfort.
I stroke his smooth cheek. "I'm sorry, sugar, you'll have to make do with the tennis oxfords for now. Look." I hold the tag for him to see. "They cost half of those, and with you growing so fast, they're all I can afford right now."
He nods and squares his small shoulders. "Okay, Mama. The oxfords lace up quicker, anyhow." My sweet boy puts the high tops back on the shelf and carries the canvas oxfords to Miss Ida Claire.
While she measures his foot, I wander over to the front of Mobley's Dry Goods and a display of aprons. I pick through them, looking for one with a little personality in a cheery yellow or bright red. In these dark financial times, a bit of color helps—lifts a gal's spirits like a new lipstick. A train-whistle blows and the wheels rumble on the tracks, vibrating the wooden floor. My heart skips a beat. Someday, I'm going to be on one of those, going somewhere. I turn to see if Barry heard it. He has and darts to the window. Anything to do with trains or airplanes draws him like a fly to butter.
"That's the ten-ten, Mama. Right on time." He peers past a set of fingerprints that are eye level with the dolls. I can't help but wonder if the little girl's mother felt like I do and stared at the dolls, knowing she couldn't afford one for her little girl's birthday.
"Is Miss Ida Claire finished with you, son?"
"Yes, ma'am. She's got 'em at the register."
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website: www.anemulligan.com, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon.Thank you for letting me meet your readers, Lena!
And thank you for sharing this wonderful book with my blog readers and me.
Readers, here are links to the book.In High Cotton[image error] - Paperback
In High Cotton - Kindle[image error]
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