Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 94

WINNERS!!!

IMPORTANT: New instructions for winners in 2018 - 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 email per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Melanie (TX) is the winner of  The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible  by Doris Elynbeek Rikkers. 

Vivian (CO) is the winner of  3 Things to Forget  by Cynthia T Toney. 

Glenda (AL) is the winner of  Cowboy Charm School  by Margaret Brownley. 

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.

THE NEPHILIM VIRUS - John T Prather - One Free Book

Welcome, John. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.What a great question! I feel like every character I write is a little part of me. Writing is somewhat like acting in that the artist has to find a part of him or herself to show people in order for the audience to connect with the work and for it to be real and honest. I feel very in-tune with each character I write as I am writing them. I wrote this particular story in first person so the readers would get that same feeling of seeing the story happen in front of their own eyes and hopefully the ability to feel parts of themselves come alive along with the character.
I have a drama background, so I know what you mean. It has helped me write believable characters and situations. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Eight years ago, I threw some clothes into the back of my truck and moved to Los Angeles with no job, no house, and no prospects. I knew absolutely nothing about L.A.! I don’t know if that counts as quirky, but it was definitely crazy.
Works for me. When did you first discover that you were a writer?I’ve loved to write as long as I can remember. I have stacks of old notebooks filled with stories I wrote as a child. I’m one of those strange people who get excited about the flow and rhythm of words and sentences and stories. The struggle and challenge of putting 80,000 words together in the right order to tell the story I’m trying to tell energizes me. I think if you can find joy in that challenge, you can be a writer.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I read a lot of books. I average a couple of books per week when my writing quota allows for it. I’ll read almost anything, but my favorites are usually thrillers and books about history. In my own writing, I try to borrow the things I love from each author I read. For example I love the way Sigmund Brouwer jumps right into the action of a story. I love the dialogue of the late Robert Parker. I enjoy characters like those created by Lee Child (Jack Reacher) and Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X). I think Ted Dekker is incredibly imaginative when creating his stories. And I like history books written in the vein of Erik Larson that tell the fascinating stories of real people throughout history.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I love the beach. Sitting on the sand and watching the waves roll in or the sunset over the water really cleanses my soul. The ocean is one of my favorite things about Los Angelesand I don’t think I could survive this crazy city without it. I also find that the busier I get the more I have to focus on my spiritual life. I have to keep that as a priority because everything else flows from that. No matter how run, run, run life gets it is important to be able to be still and focus on the important things.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Learning how authors choose character names has always fascinated me. That question was the first one I asked when I was younger and got the opportunity to meet a successful author. His answer was that he randomly chose them out of the phone book. When I started writing myself, I found that names were a big deal to me. In naming a character, I am telling the reader something about that character. Sometimes clues to the story I am telling can be found in the character names I choose, so I take a lot of time naming them. Sometimes I’ll write several chapters before I have the correct name for the character I am writing. Sometimes I’ll try out several names until one feels right. In a weird way, I feel like my characters eventually tell me their own names.
I had to change the name of a character halfway through one of my books. As I was immersed in the story, a different name kept appearing for him. Finally, I just went with it. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I am most proud of being a foster/adoptive dad. My wife and I are in the process of adopting our oldest daughter out of the Los Angeles Countyfoster care system. The foster care system is a tough one to navigate and adoption has been a long and very difficult process. But I’m a big believer in the importance of adoption so I’m incredibly proud to be able to call myself a foster dad, and hopefully very soon, an adoptive dad as well.
We have several friends in our church, who have fostered and/or adopted out of the system. That’s a calling from God. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I would be a grizzly bear. I’ve always loved grizzlies and I’m not even really sure why, but I think they are amazing animals. A grizzly is the mascot of my favorite sports team, but I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.
What is your favorite food?Tacos. I love, love, love a great taco.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Making time to write has been my greatest roadblock. Finishing my second novel has been more difficult than the first. As an author, actor, and fitness model living in Los Angelestime is scarce, especially since the birth of my twins six months ago. Fortunately my wife is very supportive so she helps me carve out time to write while still prioritizing my family. I think making time to write is one of the major roadblocks most writers deal with and I am no exception. I find that it’s especially tough for me because in Hollywoodyou usually have to diversify to survive. Like I said, I couldn’t do it without a wonderful wife.
Tell us about the featured book. The Nephilim Virus is a fast-paced post-apocalyptic thriller about a blood disease that threatens to usher in the extinction of the human race. The virus has infected two-thirds of the world, turning most of humanity into mindless super-monsters who hunt every living thing, and a select few into incredibly intelligent super-humans who are intent on using the virus to rule the world. The story is told through the eyes of Nick and a beautiful hematologist named Faith. They race to discover the origin of the virus and undo a mistake David and his son Solomon made thousands of years ago that threatens to end humanity as we know it. Nick and Faith have to survive long enough to uncover the truth about the virus and discover a cure. And they must do it while being hunted by the infected.
The Nephilim Virus has Christian themes but wraps up its spiritual imagery and symbolism in an edge-of-your-seat life and death story. The chapters are short and the pace is frantic as the main characters are swept into one impossible situation after another. My goal when writing The Nephilim Virus was to write a book that told a spiritual story that was almost unnoticeable until the reader was so hooked they couldn’t stop turning pages to read more.
Good for you. Please give us the first page of the book.Part 1NickI woke up at exactly 4:37 p.m. from the longest nap of my life.
A half dozen people dressed in scrubs and lab coats rushed into my room to examine me. Some poked and prodded; others watched monitors or tubes. Someone stuck a needle in my arm. When I pulled away, a Velcro strap clamped my wrist to a metal bar. There was a similar strap on my other wrist and both my ankles. They finished drawing blood and wiped a cotton ball across the punctured vein. It felt like sandpaper. I tried to focus on breathing so I wouldn’t pass out. I tried not to panic, but the walls were so close I could reach out and touch them. Could, if I weren’t strapped down.
My hands shook, and I realized they were balled tightly into fists. A worried-looking woman leaned over me. Her lips moved, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. She stood up and pointed, yelling something. My breath was shallow. The edges of my vision turned black. The fingers of darkness reached toward the center of my sight.
People hurried out of the room. I closed my eyes and concentrated on each breath. In and out. In and out. I felt oxygen rush into the vacuum of my lungs and then back out as my body relaxed. In and out. One breath at a time.
Slowly, my senses returned. When I opened my eyes, the darkness was gone; so were the people. Only the woman who had leaned over me remained. Pretty, petite, she moved with the grace of someone comfortable in her own skin. Her blonde hair fell just over the collar of her white lab coat.
A wonderful opening that really pulled me into the story. How can readers find you on the Internet?People can find my writing on my website Thank you, John, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it. I’m glad my copy has arrived.
Readers, here are links to the book. The Nephilim Virus[image error] - Amazon Paperback
The Nephilim Virus - Kindle[image error]

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, 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

SUMMER PLANS AND OTHER DISASTERS - Karin Beery - One Free Book

Welcome, Karin. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.The first heroine in my first novel (which is unpublished and needs a complete rewrite if it ever wants to be published) was the most autobiographical. I wrote what I knew, which were my own struggles and issues. Since then I’ve tried to incorporate different characteristics into each heroine, though most of them will probably love some type of sports team (because I love sports!).
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I did some weird things in high school and college, but I wasn’t streak-through-the-neighborhood crazy. I did have a pretty quirky job, though! I worked on the S.S. Badgerin Ludington, Michigan, during the summers when I was in college. It’s a coal-fired car ferry that used to carry train cars across the Great Lakes. Now it’s a passenger vessel. It’s still one of my favorite jobs—I could tell stories about that job for hours!
My crazy college job was in Longhorn Cavern in central Texas. I worked down in the snack bar in the cave. People were only at that spot once an hour. When did you first discover that you were a writer?I’ve always written stories. I wrote my first novella in high school (during class!), then I got my degree in English because I couldn’t imagine not reading or writing for a semester. I didn’t really start writing, though, until 2006 after my husband’s cancer diagnosis. I wrote a novel manuscript and wanted to see if I could get it published. As I continued to learn about the publishing process, I also learned about different kinds of writing. I think it was 2007 when I started to consider myself a professional writer because I had my first article published. I’ve been writing ever since.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.My preference is romance novels—I read a lot of historical and contemporary romance. But I also read speculative fiction, mystery, young adult, and suspense novels. However, if someone tells me that a book is well-written, I’ll read any genre. (But I’ll like the book better if it includes a romance.)
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?My husband taught me the value of honoring the Sabbath. We make sure to take a day off together to relax and recharge. It might mean that we have to miss a fun event, but that’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make to ensure that we don’t wear ourselves out.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I go online and search for names that were popular around the time my main characters would have been born. I usually have a few names that I’m considering; when I search for names, I find one that has a similar quality that stands out to me. Sometimes, though, I find one completely different that grabs my attention.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I’m most proud of the fact that I kept writing after so many years of struggling and failing. I finished my first novel in 2007 and submitted it in 2008. Since then, I’ve written several manuscripts, entered contests, queried agents and publishers, learned to edit, read craft books, attended conferences, and so much more. I watched other people succeed where I failed. I taught other people things they needed to know to polish their manuscripts, but mine still didn’t garner any attention.
I wanted to quit so many times, especially after I started writing and editing professionally and struggled to get clients. I’m an extrovert, so I wanted nothing more than to get a “real job” some place where I would be around people all day and earn a regular paycheck, but every time I prayed about it I felt like I was doing what God wanted me to do by writing. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t quick, but I grew so much throughout the process (emotionally and spiritually). I’m proud of myself for not taking the easy road.
Actually, those who don’t take the easy usually become better writers than those who do. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A dog with a big family. That way I could be around people all of the time and get lots of back rubs!
What is your favorite food?Pizza.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Focusing. I’m easily distracted, and I tend to do everything else before I write, so it’s not uncommon for me to go days (or weeks) at a time without writing on my manuscript. Once it’s written, however, I can focus on the editing.
A couple of years ago, I realized that I need to set aside a month to write my first draft. I forgo all events and activities to focus on writing. The first draft doesn’t have to be good, I just need to get at least 60,000 words down. If I can do that, then I can print it off and edit it anywhere (which is how I prefer to edit).
Tell us about the featured book. Summer Plans and Other Disasters is the third incarnation of the second novel that I wrote. I created some characters and picked a setting that I loved, then started writing. It was early in my career, though, and I was learning a lot. I had about 45,000 words written when I realized how flat and uninteresting my characters were, so I scrapped the plot and started over. About 45,000 words later, I discovered plot holes big enough to drive tanks through, so I started over again. On the third try, I finally created a story that I liked. It took a lot of editing and help from other people to polish it, but I think it was worth the effort.
My favorite part of this story is the setting. The majority of it takes place at Old Mission Lighthouse in Traverse City, Michigan. Years ago, the township’s park superintendent used to live in the lighthouse. If he ever had to be out of town, he would recruit someone to cover his basic duties while he was gone (mostly emptying garbage cans and making sure nothing bad happened). My husband and the superintendent were friends, so my husband covered for him a couple of times, and I was able to stay with him at the lighthouse. I included some of my experiences there in the story.
Interesting setting. I’m in a Barbour collection that will release in November, and all the stories take place in and around lighthouses. Please give us the first page of the book.“Need a hand, sweetheart?”
Callie peeked over the top of her sunglasses. A slick-haired young man in a lime green polo shirt stood bent over, grinning at her through her open car window. She flashed him her best Julia Roberts smile as she inwardly groaned, then flicked her left wrist, popping the car door open and into his forehead.
“Sorry.” She slid out of her car. “My older brother will be here any minute now. He can get some ice for that. Would you like to stick around? I think he went hunting. I could introduce you after he skins something.”
The tall, tanned pretty boy shook his head and walked toward a group waiting nearby. Callie rolled her eyes.
“Nice technique.” A familiar baritone voice rumbled.
She smiled.
“Lying’s a sin.”
Callie spun around. “Didn’t you go hunting?”
Her brother stood twenty feet away with his arms crossed, but he chuckled. “I don’t hunt.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
So was she. Callie launched herself at Jack, aiming for the waist.
He laughed as he moved, and she shot past him, but he grabbed her belt and pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing until she giggled. “You never would have survived on the football field. You telegraph.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m all over! I have a dedicated author website and Facebook page at:www.karinbeery.comwww.facebook.com/authorkarinbeery
You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram:www.twitter.com/karinbeerywww.instagram.com/karinbeery
And you can find writing and editing tips and tricks on my business website and Facebook page:www.writenowedits.comwww.facebook.com/writenowedits
Thank you, Karin, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read my copy.
Readers, here are links to the book.Summer Plans--and Other Disasters[image error] - Paperback
Summer Plans and Other Disasters - Kindle[image error]

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

WINNERS!!

IMPORTANT: New instructions for winners in 2018 - 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 email per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Mary Alice (NY) is the winner of  The Abolitionist's Daughter  by Kathleen L Maher. 

Sharon (SC) is the winner of  Rebecca's Legacy  by Betty Thomason Owen. 

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.

COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL - Margaret Brownley - One Free Book

More Love and LaughterFrom Margaret Brownley
When buying a horse don’t consult a pedestrian;When courting a woman don’t ask advice of a bachelor. - Cowboy Charm School

Welcome back, Margaret. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?One of the biggest challenges of being a multi-published author is keeping stories fresh. Through the years, my books have gradually become a combination of romance and mystery, and that seems to be what my readers like. So, for now, I’m staying the course.
What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them? I recently attended a local conference and sat on a panel. I have a full writing schedule this year, so I won’t be attending any national conferences, but hope to make next year’s Romance Writers of America’s conference in New York.
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?The title of the panel would be Career Survival in a Changing World. I’ve been published for more than thirty years and I can’t tell you how different the publishing landscape is today from when I started. My panel would include writers who have been around for a while yet have managed to thrive in changing times. My dream team would be Susan Wiggs, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber and, of course, Lena Nelson Dooley           
Wow! It’s an honor to be included in that list. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?I would not have reached my writing goals had I not belonged to a writing organization. I’ll always be grateful to the friend who dragged me to my first writers’ meeting. I felt like I had found a home. It was through the organization that I learned my craft and how to be a professional writer.
Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?I love working with young people and for that reason I’m a Boy Scout counselor. So far, I’ve worked with nearly a thousand boys.
That’s wonderful. I was blessed by a boy’s Eagle Scout project when I was a theater director. Who are the three people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?   I tell my grandchildren that the most important decision they will ever make will be choosing a life partner. I’m glad to say, I chose well. Before his passing, my husband was my biggest supporter. He truly was the wind beneath my wings. His last words to me were, “Keep writing.”
I have to mention the eighth-grade English teacher who flunked me and said I would never make it as a writer. It was years later that I realized she did me a huge favor; for I was determined to prove her wrong and did!
I also can’t forget a former pastor. After I’d made the church picnic read like a Grisham novel for the church newsletter, he suggested that maybe God was calling me to write fiction.
I love that. If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?I would want it to say; “A great big thanks to all who helped walk me home.”
Tell us about the featured book.     I played with the idea for Cowboy Charm School for five years before I actually got around to writing the book. Book ideas generally come to me in scenes. I’ll suddenly visualize someone atop a runaway stagecoach or scrambling over a roof and then have to figure out who and why. The scene that popped into my head for Cowboy Charm School was a wedding scene with a man running down the church aisle yelling, “Stop the Wedding!”
It took me awhile to figure out that the man was a Texas Ranger who thinks he’s saving the bride from marrying an outlaw. He’s mistaken, of course, but his accusations cause the couple to break up. It’s only right that he tries to get the estranged couple back together and that’s when the fun starts.
Here’s the First Page:Haywire, Texas 1885Brett Tucker hunkered low in the saddle and urged his galloping horse to go full chisel. The wind in his face and sun at his back, he pressed his boots hard in the stirrups. He didn’t know her name or anything about her; all he knew was that he had to save her.
With a slap of his reins, he yelled, “Giddup!”
His mind raced along with his mount’s pounding hooves. But what if he was too late?
The ground shook beneath his hurtling horse, sending squirrels and rabbits racing for cover. Frenzied blackbirds shot from treetops, scorching the air with protesting squawks. Deer took flight with leaping bounds.
A farmer pulled his wagon to the side of the road, allowing Brett to race by unhampered. Mavericks raised their tails and ran. A buffalo lifted its shaggy head and bellowed.
Jaw tense, Brett narrowed his eyes against the dust, and glare of the hot white sun. The only things identifying him as a Texas Ranger was the Colt at his side and the shotgun slung from his saddle. That and maybe his grit.
It was his grit that brought him to this moment. The moment he’d waited for. Waited too long for; Three years, two months and twenty-one days to be exact.
The road sloped upward, slowing his progress. Digging his heels into his horse’s flanks, Brett urged him up the hill. “Come on, Soldier, come on.”His mount crested the hill and the steeple of the white church came into view.
Behind him lay the town of Haywire; Before him the moment he’d hoped would forever define him as a man.
The horses and wagons parked outside the church gave Brett a small measure of comfort. In less than two minutes, the wait would be over, and he would have done a woman a favor in the process. That is, if he wasn’t too late.
One minute. Anticipation coursed through his body.
Thirty seconds.
Twenty.
Reaching the church, he pulled hard on the reins and Soldier’s front legs rose in the air. He slid out of the saddle, boots hitting the ground hard. With one quick move, he wrapped the reins of his horse around the hitching rail and reached for his holstered Colt.
Surprise was on his side and he dared not waste a minute. Taking the steps two at a time, he rushed through the double oak doors leading inside the hushed chapel and ran past the two startled ushers. He hated ruining a bride’s wedding day, but better now than later. No woman in her right mind would knowingly marry an outlaw.
“Stop the wedding!” he yelled, and a collective gasp greeted his outburst.
Dear Readers, you can see why Margaret is one of my favorite authors. Her stories never disappoint.
Thank you, Margaret, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers. I’m eager to read this story. I have been since I first saw the title. When my book arrives, it will go the top of my to-be-read pile.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?I love hearing from readers!Website: http://margaret-brownley.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretbrownly
Purchase links:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Charm-School-Haywire-Brides-ebook/dp/B07CPB154F/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524834439&sr=1-1&keywords=Cowboy+charm+school
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/cowboy-charm-school/id1377706581?mt=11
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cowboy-charm-school-margaret-brownley/1127456041?ean=9781492658344#/
Readers, 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, 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

3 THINGS TO FORGET - Cynthia T Toney - One Free Book

Welcome, Cynthia. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Only little bits. The rest comes from people I’ve loved or known, sometimes only for a short while.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? As a kid, I liked to walk backwards as fast as I could. That ended when I ran into a street pole.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? When I started trying to write greeting card sentiments (hoping I’d one day sell them) and to improve product descriptions in advertisements.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. Autobiographies and biographies of people I like or admire, historical fiction of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, contemporary mysteries and romantic suspense, and well-done science fiction. I like to slip a good children’s book into the mix once in a while.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I deactivate Facebook for weeks at a time. I grow herbs and cook with them. I get down on the floor with my dogs and interact with them on their level.
I didn’t know you could deactivate Facebook for a while. How do you choose your characters’ names? Sometimes I use place names I’m familiar with for people and people names for places. Sometimes I use a surname for a first name or the other way around. I’ve even created character names that don’t seem to exist anywhere. I really admire the clever character names other authors have created.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? To have survived long enough to write novels and get them published. I recall a number of times when God must have sent a guardian angel to keep me out of harm’s way.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A bird. I’ve always wanted to fly.
What is your favorite food? If I had to live the rest of my life eating only one ethnicity of food, it would be Italian.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? My first drafts tend to be sparse, perhaps because I see so much in my mind’s eye but forget to write it all down for the reader. I’ve learned to expand my descriptions and my characters’ reactions.
Tell us about the featured book. 3 Things to Forget is the fourth and final book of the Bird Face series from Write Integrity Press. My main character, half-Cajun Wendy Robichaud, finally makes it to Alaska to see her dear friends Mrs. V and Sam.
In Alaska, Wendy thinks she’s left behind the problems resulting from her mistakes in Louisiana and wants to forget them. But starting the summer at her friend Sam’s house and volunteering with Alaska Wildlife Conservation bring not only strange surroundings but also strangers into her life. And those strangers have a secret involving a troubled girl who threatens Wendy’s friendship with Sam.
As Wendy struggles to understand the Alaskans she meets and gets to know, she must also say good-bye to old friends she might never see again and decide whether to forget the past or to learn from it.

Please give us the first page of the book.
There’s something to be said for escaping 4500 miles to the third least-populated state in America, where no one (well, almost no one) knows me. Otherwise, leaving behind my disgrace from the biggest academic scandal ever to hit my school—resulting in the breakup with my boyfriend on the night he said he loved me—might’ve been impossible.

Surrounded by strangers on the second of two connecting flights to Anchorage, for a total of fourteen hours on a Friday, I summoned teeth-grinding determination to forget the past. What better time for an intense study, a.k.a. cramming, of American Sign Language? Before the plane would land in Alaska, I might become proficient enough in ASL to communicate with Sam and his deaf friends without making a fool of myself.  For the month of June, I’d live with Sam and his family in Anchorage. I’d work with him and other teens, possibly deaf, as a volunteer at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. And I’d do whatever it took to fit in.

How can readers find you on the Internet? www.CynthiaTToney.comand my blog, www.birdfacewendy.com  On Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter: Cynthia T. Toney. Always use the middle initial to find me!
Thank you, Cynthia, for sharing your book with my blog readers and me.
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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE SPIRIT OF GOD ILLUSTRATED BIBLE - Doris Wynbeek Rikkers - One Free Book, Plus Much More

About the author and illustrator:Doris Wynbeek Rikkers is a freelance writer and editor who has written many bestselling children’s books and Bibles. Although she loves the ocean, she lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, surrounded by her books, her flower gardens, and her family and friends.
Spanish artist Fernando Juarez illustrates children’s books and also works as an art supervisor at the Madrid studio Ilion Animation. The company produces 3D feature films for children. Fernando has three kids himself, and if he has any time left after work and family, you might catch him playing guitar in a rock band.
Welcome, Doris. What has drawn you to writing for children?When my sons were pre-schoolers they wanted to hear more stories about Jesus as a child. This inspired me to write the book, Little Jesus, Little Me to help them understand that Jesus was once a child too.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I always loved to write but criticism by peers in elementary school hindered my progress. In a college English class I had a professor who told me I was a good writer; that encouraged me more than anything else.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I’m an avid reader and love historical fiction as well as non-fiction. I gravitate to award-winning authors and books recommended by friends.
What other books have you written, whether published or not?Understanding the Holy Spirit Today, Faithwords, 2018The Wayfinding Bible, Tyndale, 2012The Family Reading Bible, Zondervan, 2010Read with Me for Toddlers, Zonderkidz, 2010Little Jesus. Little Me, Zonderkidz, 2000/ new art 2018Read with Me Bible: an NIrV Story Bible for children          Zonderkidz Read with Me Bible for Little Ones                Zonderkidz God Loves Me Bible (girls)                             Zonderkidz God Loves Me Bible (boys)                            Zonderkidz I use a pen name of Susan Elizabeth Beck for some of the children’s books. I’m currently working on my first novel about World War I and the flu epidemic of 1918.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I’m rather old-school. I don’t look at my phone all the time and I love quiet. I recharge by sitting on the beach in the sun!
That sounds good to me. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?I always desired to get a Master’s degree and finally went back to school at age 59, completing my Master’s in Bible and Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary at age 63. You’re never too old to pursue a dream!
Is it hard to break into the children’s market?Yes and no. Children’s publishers are always looking for fresh ideas and a new approach to a common theme. If your writing is unique and fresh you might find a publisher interested in your manuscript.
What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?The best advice is go to writer’s conferences and network with other authors and editors. I spoke at a writer’s conference and met an author who had a great idea although she had never published. I presented the proposal to a friend in publishing and the manuscript was accepted. That author is now being published regularly.
What would you like to tell us about this Bible? The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible presents the stories of God’s power and presence in the lives of his people from the beginning of time. It is a unique collection of stories that highlight the work of the Spirit through the Bible stories from both the Old and the New Testaments. Through these stories, children will come to know the work of the Spirit and the power he provides to ordinary people who can then do extraordinary tasks for God.
Readers, Would you like to win your own copy of The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible?

Win a children's book prize pack from Read with Audra!
The prize pack includes a copy of:
Spirit of God Illustrated Bible Adventure Bible Book of Daring Deeds and Epic CreationsNIV Kids Visual Study BibleExplorer's Bible GuideWords to Love ByLove Letters from God 
Link for the giveaway:https://www.audrajennings.com/2018/09/the-spirit-of-god-illustrated-bible.html
Thank you, Doris, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book here on this blog. 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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!

IMPORTANT: New instructions for winners in 2018 - 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 email per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Wendy (NE) is the winner of  Daughter of Defiance  by Heather Blanton. 

Tina (PA) is the winner of  Esther's Temptation  by Lena Nelson Dooley. 

Rhonda (FL) is the winner of  Unmistakably Yours  by Kristin Holt. 

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.

THE ABOLITIONIST'S DAUGHTER - Kathleen L Maher - One Free Book

Welcome, Kathleen.Hi, Lena.  I am awestruck to be here on your blog. Thank you for the opportunity to share about my writing!
Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Only certain characters earn my heart, and I do share secret thoughts and ideas though them. They can be male or female characters, too, which is interesting to me. Most of my characters are based on people I’ve known with speculations of what they must have been thinking to do X, Y, or Z. My faith, and love of animals, gardening, nature, and family pours through my story world inhabitants.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I once agreed to a blind date. My friend told me about a young man recently back from Bible college. His mutual friend told him about two sisters, one a “pilgrim beauty and the other a China doll.”  I guess I was his choice, because he said he’d like to meet me. I married him a little less than a year later. We just celebrated 20 years together.
My husband and I married three months and three days after meeting on a blind date. That was 54 years ago, and we still love each other completely. When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I always knew I wanted to draw horses and other animals. From the time I could hold a pencil or crayon I was doodling. But the writing came later. I loved books from my preschool years—Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit gave me courage as a child whose father was absent. I admired Peter’s bravery to explore a big, scary world without a daddy. I decided like Potter, I wanted to write creative adventures and maybe draw the scenes that popped up in my imagination. I still contemplate writing children’s books, but the stories that have spoken to me so far are historical romances.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love nonfiction on a wide variety of subjects, some of them already mentioned. Animals, gardening, landscaping, history, art, crafting, writing, marketing…. I also love to read spiritual, inspirational, and Biblical testimony/memoir/autobiography. Corrie ten Boom’s books, for example. In fiction, I love historical fiction and historical romance. I have been known to read outside my genre, but only if the writing is exceptional and the story compelling.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I am an intercessor. Everything that keeps me awake at night goes before the throne of grace. I try to please my Heavenly Father, my husband, my family, and then my other demands in that order. I give myself a lot of grace, and others as well. Though currently I have a puppy that is trying my last nerve with her Houdini-esque escapades, slipping from our fenced yard. Prayers always appreciated…. LOL
How do you choose your characters’ names?
This is often a struggle for me, and some characters’ names have been changed three or four times before I settle on one that suits him or her. I often use surnames that emphasize a character trait. For example, the twins in The Abolitionist’s Daughter have the last name Sharpe. They are quick-witted, good with a gun, and all of the connotations a name like that suggests.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Raising three children who love God, are good to one another and their families, and do their best in life. But I take no credit—all glory is God’s.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
Animals that are well cared for have great lives, but so many of them go without proper care, or have their habitats encroached upon. I guess if I could be a well-loved cat, that would be a good life. Naps in the sunshine, a pretty, maintenance-free garden to roam, and food at my beckon call…. Yeah, that would be a nice way to live. Plus, they are such amazing athletes! Who wouldn’t want to climb a tree or leap six times their body height?
What is your favorite food?
I’ve always loved Italian. And lo and behold, I married a half-Irish, half-Italian man who makes the best meatballs and red sauce I’ve ever tasted. Even better than my mom’s and that’s saying something! I also love seafood and Chinese. And CHOCOLATE. (Sorry for shouting. I get a little excited)
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I lacked confidence in my voice. I spent many years seeking what others were doing, and though learning and perfecting is always good and necessary, I believe I suppressed the gifts the Lord had given me for a while until I received affirmation through contest wins and finals, and my first traditional publishing contract. Had I believed in myself, I might have capitalized on opportunities far earlier. But the friends I made along the way kept me moving forward. I’m so grateful for them!
The writing friends we make along the journey are so important to me, too.Tell us about the featured book.
The Abolitionist’s Daughter was three decades in the making. I started in middle school, imagining a story set on a southern thoroughbred horse farm, and handsome twin brothers who have a real connection with one another—best friends. The Civil War is often called the war between brothers, and I imagined a scenario where their relationship is severed, and they choose opposite sides of the war. Romance and the power of a young lady’s influence takes center stage, the power to both rend and help mend again by faith.
What makes this book so special to me is the local history laced through it. I live in a town with fascinating history in many arenas—the Underground Railroad, a notorious Civil War prison camp and military rendezvous, and a pioneering female college, and this story weaves it all together in what I hope is a compelling and redemptive read.
The Abolitionist’s Daughter by Kathleen L. Maher
1860-1864 Shenandoah Valley, and Elmira, NY
The crusading daughter of a Washingtonpolitician comes between twin brothers as the country plunges toward Civil War. Horsemen from Virginia, the twins would defend their livelihood from her meddling kind. When love ignites, friends become enemies. Can the very girl who divided bosom brothers unite them again?Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Abolitionists-Daughter-Kathleen-L-Maher/dp/1718026242 The Abolitionist’s Daughter book trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brp28ZTOWHo
Please give us the first page of the book.Charles Town, Virginia
December 2, 1859The wrong ideas could get a head—and a body—into a heap of trouble.
Ethan Sharpe craned his neck, staring up thirteen plank steps at the gallows. His breath stopped as John Brown’s body plunged, thrashed for a few seconds, and then went limp. A creak of rope marked the radical’s only requiem among the silent attendants from Virginia Military Institute.
Ethan exhaled a dizzying breath and curled his toes in his boots to test the ground’s firmness beneath him. Counting slow and even draws of air, he stole a glance at the cadet next to him—his identical twin. Devon’s stance was straight as an Enfieldramrod.
“Reckon that snapped his neck?”
Devon tucked his chin to his chest. “Shh! Colonel Jackson’ll hear you.”
Ethan swallowed against his constricting collar, wishing he could tug at it without breaking rank. Brown’s noose bore in on him with more than contemplation.
Devon’s cheek muscle twitched. “An eye for an eye.”
Ethan weighed those words. The abolitionist had waged a holy war through Kansasthe previous year, murdering slave owners in their beds. Attempts to dole out the federal arsenal to contraband had secured John Brown’s hempen necktie. A chill snaked down Ethan’s spine. If successful, no telling how quickly they’d have stormed the Shenandoah Valley, or overrun the Sharpe family farm.
Gripping. How can readers find you on the Internet?I have an author page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLMaherAuthor/and on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/kathleenlmaherI can also be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mahereenie
Thanks so much once again for having me today, Lena.  I look forward to interacting with your readers.
I am hosting a rafflecopter to be drawn at the conclusion of my blog tour just before Thanksgiving, with several prizes, including a $50 Amazon gift card, a print copy of each of my books, and a Christmas goodie basket. Rafflecopter link: http://gvwy.io/48sxkxc
Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing this book and your other giveaway with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read your book.
Readers, I hope many of you will participate on her rafflecopter giveaway in addition to entering for the book we’re giving away on the blog.
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, 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

REBECCA'S LEGACY - Betty Thomason Owens - One Free Book

Welcome, Betty. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Oh my. That’s very telling, isn’t it? Betty ends up in a lot of my characters. In fact, I recently had someone notice that the characters on several of my book covers look like me. I’m not sure how that happened. Maybe it’s because the heart of the character comes from my heart. Once upon a time, I set out to write a character who was my opposite, just to prove (mostly to myself) I could do it. On the surface, I succeeded. She looked nothing like me. Blond, blue-eyed, petite. Then she began to take on some of my characteristics. At first, I edited them out, then I realized she is who she is—part of me.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Quirky is weird—in a good way. So, I’m not feeling at all defensive about that question. Lol! Please don’t ask my husband, he’ll give you a list. Hooking my foot on the corner of a wall and falling flat on my face while playing with the cat, would be on the top of that list. I can narrow it down to performing several dance moves from the sixties at a New Year’s Eve party. The hostess loved it, while my husband looked on in disbelief. I was the life of the party, but it was weird.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I have always loved to write and tell stories, but I was in my early thirties when I realized the calling on my life. It started as a powerful desire to tell a story. I sat down to translate a scene from my imagination into words, thinking that if I could successfully “paint a picture” and have someone else read it and “see” what I saw, then I might have something worth pursuing. Sorry for the long sentence, but that’s exactly how it happened. I gave my story to a trusted friend who taught high school literature. She loved it and encouraged me to learn the craft.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I devoured classics as a teen and young adult. I visited the library and started at the “A” shelf and read everything that looked interesting, then moved to the next. Alcott, Austen, Bronte, then Dickens, du Maurier, Dumas…you get the picture. Later, I moved on to classic writers of mystery. I loved the “Miss Read” books. I was never much of a romance reader, and you can probably tell that by reading some of my earlier novels. But lately, I’ve mellowed. I still prefer a rich, well-researched historical with romantic elements to an out-n-out romance. My taste in movies, however…tells another story altogether. I love a good, sappy romance!
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Morning quiet time, prayer, and praise keeps me going! Long walks, whenever I have time. And I retreat into my stories. But real life tends to encroach. I’m semi-retired with two part-time bookkeeping jobs that keep me way too busy. But I don’t have the super-busy life of the modern Mom. Busy as I am now, sometimes I wonder how I managed to keep up with a full-time job, kids, house, dog, laundry, sports, church, etc.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I often name my characters after family members. The father in the Legacy series, for instance, is named after my husband. For surnames, though, I have a go-to “surname/last name generator,” I found on Google. I play around with it until I find a name I like.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Raising three sons who turned out well. I was a stay-at-home mom for their early years, and though difficult financially and physically draining, it was totally worth the investment.
I did the same thing. It is valuable. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?What a funny question, but you know, I didn’t really have to hesitate. A horse. Preferably a mare or a filly with a beautiful, golden coat and flowing mane.
What is your favorite food?I love Italian, but prefer meatless dishes like spaghetti pomodoro, or linguine with pesto.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Passive writing. On my day job, I was a business writer, creating engineering proposals. “In order to utilize the property to the fullest extent allowed, one must…” And then there was the long history of classical reading. I thought “show, don’t tell” was something done in kindergarten. No, wait, that’s “show and tell.” I had to relearn writing, which required study and practice. I joined a couple of critique loops through ACFW and hashed it out. Cried a lot. Still, whenever I think I have it licked, I discover new problems to overcome.
All of us keep learning more. Tell us about the featured book. Rebecca’s Legacy is historical romance, and the final book in my Legacy series. The novels follow a family through three decades. Amy Juliana Emerson is the daughter of the couple in book one, Amelia’s Legacy. It’s 1947, and she’s eighteen, around the age her mother was in the first book.
Amy’s father, Robert Emerson has received a threat against his family in an attempt to take over his company, Sanderson Industries. To guarantee his willful daughter’s safety, he sends her to work on a produce farm run by her Aunt Rebecca. Maybe her quiet strength and unconditional love can work on Amy, keep her from becoming the prodigal daughter she seems insistent on being.

Matt Wordsworth is the man Robert calls upon to make sure his daughter stays in line. His only interest in the beautiful girl is purely part of his job. Purely. Amy considers him a fuddy-duddy which suits the situation perfectly, allowing him to stay close without concern for her losing her heart to him. And his own heart … well, his feelings didn’t matter. This was business.

Humiliated and angry, Amy contemplates a path that will lead her even farther from home and away from Dad’s protection. Rebecca’s influence begins to change her feelings about everything, even about Matt, but Amy might find she’s playing into the hands of the enemy.
Please give us the first page of the book.April 5, 1947Springfield
“Are you crazy? My father’s going to kill me.” Amy Emerson stood near the edge of the dock. One hand shading her eyes, she searched the placid surface of the water from Hammond’s Inlet to Kettle Creek. “How could you let this happen?”
“Aw, quit your caterwauling. The skiff’s tied up over there.” Howie Thompson nodded toward a stand of willow trees near the lake shore. “We’ll be back way before your daddy gets home.”
Amy propped her hands on her hips and sucked in a breath. He’d lied about the boat drifting away? She wanted to give him a piece of her mind. Why did she put up with him, anyway?
He removed his cap and ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair. One stray lock fell over his dark brown eyes, giving him a rakish look. Kind of like a young Clark Gable. He sent her a sideways grin, replaced his cap and set off toward the water. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. Now, grab your stuff. Let’s roll.”
Amy stared at his back as he climbed into the boat. He was well aware of the effect his looks had on her. Not just her, but any female within sight of him. She returned to the bench where she’d left her jacket. After tying on a scarf to protect her hair, she draped the jacket over her shoulders, and followed him, brushing at tears behind his back. She refused to let him see her cry. He’d tell all her friends she was soft.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Betty would like to invite you to her Facebook author page, Twitter, GoodReads, Pinterest, Instagram, Amazon Author Page. She posts weekly on her blog, Hello, Thursday Morning, found at https://bettythomasonowens.com/ and regularly on the multi-author blog, Inspired Prompt.
Thank you, Betty, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.https://www.amazon.com/Rebeccas-Legacy-Betty-Thomason-Owens-ebook/dp/B07G5QMC9J?keywords=Rebecca%27s+Legacy&qid=1537144325&sr=8-1&ref=sr_1_1
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, 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