Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 95
September 16, 2018
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.
Lori (IL) is the winner of Gone to Texas by Caryl McAdoo.
Abigail (VA) is the winner of Gateway to the West by Susette Williams.
Brenda (MS) is the winner of Trail to Clear Creek by Kit Morgan.
Pam (OH) is the winner of Heart and Home by P. Creeden.
Dianna (TN) is the winner of No Turning Back by Lynette Sowell.
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.
Lori (IL) is the winner of Gone to Texas by Caryl McAdoo.
Abigail (VA) is the winner of Gateway to the West by Susette Williams.
Brenda (MS) is the winner of Trail to Clear Creek by Kit Morgan.
Pam (OH) is the winner of Heart and Home by P. Creeden.
Dianna (TN) is the winner of No Turning Back by Lynette Sowell.
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.
September 14, 2018
UNMISTAKABLY YOURS - Kristin Holt - One Free Book
Dear Readers, this is another book from the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings series.
Welcome, Kristin. I so happy to have you on my blog.Thank you, Lena, for visiting with me today. It’s a pleasure to talk about writing and to share a little bit about myself.
Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Oooh! What a fun question. I try, diligently, to ensure my characters are unique and all their own people. I’ve still found a good deal of myself seeps into individual characters. Once or twice, writing a character’s arc from “darkness and troubled” to the ending’s “happiness and confident and settled” has been a tear-jerker for me, because I used one of my own difficulties for the character. If I had to give a percentage of myself in my characters, I’d guess 25% overall. I do a good deal of provoking my imagination.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’m laughing! I tend to be a “rule follower,” a “good girl,” a “respectful” woman. Quirky.... hmmmmm.... Am I quirky? I haven’t any idea....
You’d know it if you were. I’m quirky, and I know it. When did you first discover that you were a writer?Unlike so many of my author friends, I didn’t always know I’d been called to write, or born to write. I entered various writing contests through my school years, and placed in a poetry contest. My mother saves all mementos, so upon rereading that piece of poetry that told a story about a parent’s discovery of how quickly a child’s life becomes her own, “grown and gone”.... the tale wasn’t bad, but I have no ear for poetry, and I changed from past tense to present tense frequently. How did that place first in a competition? I have no idea.
My dear mother also saved a hard-bound book I made with my class in about third grade. My science fiction tale was handwritten and sewn into this hardbound cover. Again, a “publication” that will never see the light of day.
I’ve always LOVED books and reading. I fell in love with fiction very young, as my parents read to me regularly, and often read aloud to my brother and me while still too young to read longer works of fiction. Favorites I remember from those early days are The Little Leftover Witch by Florence Laughlin and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. I devoured fiction for years, and finally determined to try writing a book of my own when my children were young. I discovered friends who were also interested in writing, took writing classes from successful writers, joined a critique group, and spent a long while learning the craft. Through a detour in my professional life, I finally returned to this long-time dream in 2013.
Fascinating. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I read everything from historical nonfiction (I do love research!), everything about the craft of writing fiction well, and fiction genres like cozy mysteries, historical Christian romance, historical fiction (not necessarily romance), and romances in general.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I’m chuckling. Am I supposed to have figured this out by my age? I’m fifty-one. I often feel overrun by the fast-paced world we live in. I had the privilege of working as a Territory Manager for Weight Watchers during the peak of “in person” meetings in our territory... and I drove the wheels off the company car. My territory was large, and I was on the go constantly. I listened to hundreds of audiobooks, but hadn’t five seconds to open a paperback.
Since that time, I’ve discovered that I must take time to let my well fill, so I’ll have anything to give (can’t draw water from an empty well, right?).(Right.) I’m the kind who regenerates by quiet downtime, rather than by socializing (which suits my youngest daughter perfectly).(She sounds like me.) I read, nap, and soak up the quiet. I’ve also discovered how much I need the Sabbath. I need one day a week that isn’t a work day. I relish the chance to focus on my spiritual needs and to recharge those batteries, so to speak.
We all need that. That’s why several years ago, I stopped going into my office and using the computer on Sundays and many Saturdays. How do you choose your characters’ names?Because my characters are all in the late Victorian era, my favorite resources are true-to-history census records. I want the greatest accuracy possible, so I make sure their names could’ve happened. I was pressed for time when naming characters for our recent joint series, Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Collection One, so I grabbed the heroine’s name out of thin air—and as no other character was named with a “B.” I determined her name would be Brenna... until I paused to look long enough to realize that name was far too new. So, back to the drawing board. I did plenty of digging online for most common names for the decade when my heroine would’ve been born, and “Brenna” became Jane. Rather than the common “Mary Jane,” my heroine is Jane Mary, as her mother’s name is Mary (also a character in the book). Did you know that “Mary” was the most common name for Victorian-era Americans to give their daughters?
I knew it has been popular in Americafor a very long time, but I wasn’t aware of that statistic. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?At risk of sounding like every other mother on the planet, my first instinctual answer is this: I’m most proud of having raised four children who are now productive, hard-working, contributing members of society. We’ve had our challenges and our hard times. If only every parent didn’t have to be a first-time parent, we might have fewer glitches and problems. I learned right along with my little ones.
If my answer must be in a personal arena, I’d have to say my greatest accomplishment might be 30+ years of marriage to the same wonderful man... despite all the rocks and stones thrown in our path. We’ve had our challenges (some significant and marriage-threatening), but we made it past them with a great deal of prayer and determination to include God in our decisions and in our marriage.
Professionally? I’m proud of the work I did as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. I’m proud of the work I did as a Weight Watchers Leader, in really helping others along their journeys and motivating them to succeed (I shed more than 70 lbs myself!), in addition to my time as a Territory Manager for that company. But my ability to complete what I begin, with my writing, to actually finish novels and novellas and send them out into the world, feels like an immense accomplishment. If you could see the incomplete projects in my basement (counted cross stitch that isn’t done, enough fabric to sink a ship, an entire (tiny) room filled with card-making supplies, you’d see that FINISHING is an immense accomplishment for me).
Back in the 70’s, I lost over 90 pounds on Weight Watchers and worked for them, too. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Perhaps I’ll start with what I know I’m NOT... I’m not an ostrich (don’t stick my head in the sand... at least I try not to)I’m not a cat (in general... I’m not the “princess,” and I don’t hide from people)Not a goldfish (I have a brain...)Not a bird (can’t fly), and I’m definitely warm-blooded.Not a giraffe (Given my BMI, I’m not tall enough...)I might be a dog. I need lots of affection and connection with people. I still insist, after thirty++ years of marriage that my husband hug me goodbye and kiss me hello when he returns from work. I kind of follow him around. { grin }
After almost 54 years of marriage (anniversary on November 7) James and I are much like that. What is your favorite food?This one’s easy! I have a very unhealthy love affair going on with Tillamook vanilla bean ice cream. Frankly, any quality vanilla ice cream will do. I’m not even all that picky about flavor. In fact, I’ve only met one or two ice cream flavors I didn’t love. If a food is sweet, cold, and creamy (e.g., cheesecake) I’m all over it. Yes, I earned those 70+ pounds I later shed in the most honest way possible. I LOVE ice cream!
I love ice cream, too. Blue BellHomemade Vanilla and Chocolate Covered Cherries are my two favorite kinds. Now I choose not to eat much ice cream. Sometimes, James will have a bowl and offer me a bite, and that’s all I take. One bite, and it satisfies me. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?My greatest challenge, my greatest roadblock with writing is living with severe chronic pain. I’m one of the roughly 25- to 30% of adults with severe chronic pain... and this circumstance interrupts my life more than anything else. If I were “well,” I’d be able to publish much more frequently, have greater clarity of mind, and might actually be able to work an eight-hour day.
Overcoming it has been a process, and I’m not sure I’m there yet. I’ve sought quality and safe medical help, connected with other authors and professionals (and readers!) who suffer with chronic pain, and this sense of community has given me a greater desire to be productive and to ensure my life isn’t just “tolerated,” but lived well. My husband (“an engineer”—explains his personality to a T) told me once, and not unkindly, “It’s your life.” He meant to say, “Yes, Dearest, do what you wish. It’s not my decision to make.” But the motivation I heard was this: I have only so much time, and I have yet so many books to write. Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” has resonated with me since I first heard it, especially the lines that mean (to me) the same thing as my husband’s unintentional wake-up call.
Tell us about the featured book.I’m thrilled to introduce my first truly Christian romance novel, Unmistakably Yours . Prior to this title, all of mine have been sweet (innocent, rated G or mild PG), clean (no offensive language) Western Historical Romances. Some readers have assumed my books are Christian romances, so my efforts to write characters whose choices and behaviors are in harmony with their beliefs (which happen to be Christian) must have been enough for those particular readers.
Unmistakably Yours
is title 8 in the muti-author Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Collection One series, and is also title 8 (unintentional, but cool!) in my own primary series, Holidays in Mountain Home. All of the novels and novellas in both series STAND ALONE and may be read in any order, or in no order at all. Each has its own happily ever after, and each is about one (or in the case of
Unmistakably Yours
—two!) couple’s romance.
Mountain Home, Colorado, is a fictitious town set in a very real place. By this, I mean that no real town existed, but I’ve taken elements true to the dot on the map—everything from the flora and fauna to weather to history’s truth about what brought people to the Colorado Rockies, what people did to earn a subsistence and a living (and eventually, thriving!), where the train actually arrived, and surrounding my town with the realities of true-to-history cities, mines, and communities. (Cities by the name of Mountain Home are real in the states of Idaho, Arkansas, Utah... and maybe others.)
Unmistakably Yours is my first novel with TWO parallel romances with two different couples. I enjoyed exploring both, and the minor (and perhaps helpful—I’ll let you decide if I succeeded) ways they intersected. After all, if two men are discovering the love of their lives, and their conversations help one another to understand women a little bit better, then it’s a win, eh?
Right. Please give us the first page of the book.Mountain Home, ColoradoAugust 1887“OJane Vancoller, proprietress of the only tea room in Mountain Home, pasted on a pleasant smile— a skill she’d perfected. “Both doors are open to catch a breeze, if there were one. The striped awning arrived in a timely manner and saves us from direct sunlight.”
The late summer heat tried the patience of all. The temperatures were uncomfortable, but brought in a steady stream of visitors seeking shade, an icy beverage, and a rest. Behind the subtle fragrance of flowers, perfumes, tea, and pastries, the industrial odors of fresh paint and furniture oil smelled new. And remarkably like a dream come true.
“I told Mayor Abbott this morning,” Ann said, speaking of her husband, “this August heat has been dreadful. Mercury this high belongs to July, not temperate August. And certainly not so near September.”
“Yes.”
A crash reverberated through the wall. Jane flinched in her seat at one of the tables for two.
The pesky Murphy boys played marshals and train robbers in the vacant store between their father’s grocery and the Tea Room. Why didn’t the little varmints play in the meadow a half-block away?
One boy whooped and hollered, and Jane resisted the urge to massage her temples.
“I suppose we can’t blame you for the heat or the uncommon noise next door.” Mrs. Abbott, thin to the point bony prominences showed in her small hands and wrists, was given to sour expressions. How a thin, pinched woman possessed a full-bodied voice, Jane would never understand. “I must say it’s stuffy in this little room, much more than in my rose garden.”
Fortunately, Jane also had tremendous practice keeping retorts to herself. She held silent and watched as Ann perused the Tea Room’s parlor, and tried to see the decor through the other woman’s narrowed eyes.
Would Ann see past the heat, past the thud of little feet against bare floorboards, to the peaceful and serene setting? Would she appreciate the delicate rosebud-painted teacups? Or the quality of the china service?
Wallpaper and matching draperies brought a sense of home to the feminine retreat.
At the height of beauty, lacy tablecloths and fresh flowers graced each of nine circular tables. Half of the small tables seated two; half seated three or four. The arrangement was ideal for intimate conversations, quiet reflection, or the gathering of friends. A place for women.
Sounds like an interesting story. How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m most active on Facebook, but I also have specific Pinterest Boards for each of my novels and novellas. The visuals help me to ensure the historical elements in the backdrop of the story are accurate, but are also intended to enrich the reader’s experience. You can see my Pinterest Board for Unmistakably Yours here: https://www.pinterest.com/kristindholt/unmistakably-yours-a-thanksgiving-books-blessings-/
My second passion, behind the story, is to include the most accurate history backdrop (without painting a heavy-handed story where the backdrop overwhelms the story). I share frequent blog articles with readers on my website, containing elements of western (American) historical romance and the real history in fiction. Here’s the page: http://www.kristinholt.com/archives/category/articles
Here’s a longer list—Note: Kristin is spelled with two i’s, and is “e-free”Website: www.kristinholt.comContact: www.KristinHolt.com/contact-kristinNewsletter (receive a free, exclusive novella!): www.KristinHolt.com/newsletterFacebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/kristin.dinersteinholtFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KristinHoltSweetVictorianWesternRomance/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kristindholt/Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+KristinHoltAuthorTwitter: http:// twitter.com/KHoltAuthor BookBub: https://www.Bookbub.com/authors/kristin-holtAmazon: https://amzn.to/2xjL2vm(case sensitive)
Thank you, Kristin, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read your story.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.Unmistakably Yours: A Holidays in Mountain Home Romance, book eight (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection One 8)[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.)
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Welcome, Kristin. I so happy to have you on my blog.Thank you, Lena, for visiting with me today. It’s a pleasure to talk about writing and to share a little bit about myself.Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Oooh! What a fun question. I try, diligently, to ensure my characters are unique and all their own people. I’ve still found a good deal of myself seeps into individual characters. Once or twice, writing a character’s arc from “darkness and troubled” to the ending’s “happiness and confident and settled” has been a tear-jerker for me, because I used one of my own difficulties for the character. If I had to give a percentage of myself in my characters, I’d guess 25% overall. I do a good deal of provoking my imagination.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’m laughing! I tend to be a “rule follower,” a “good girl,” a “respectful” woman. Quirky.... hmmmmm.... Am I quirky? I haven’t any idea....
You’d know it if you were. I’m quirky, and I know it. When did you first discover that you were a writer?Unlike so many of my author friends, I didn’t always know I’d been called to write, or born to write. I entered various writing contests through my school years, and placed in a poetry contest. My mother saves all mementos, so upon rereading that piece of poetry that told a story about a parent’s discovery of how quickly a child’s life becomes her own, “grown and gone”.... the tale wasn’t bad, but I have no ear for poetry, and I changed from past tense to present tense frequently. How did that place first in a competition? I have no idea.
My dear mother also saved a hard-bound book I made with my class in about third grade. My science fiction tale was handwritten and sewn into this hardbound cover. Again, a “publication” that will never see the light of day.
I’ve always LOVED books and reading. I fell in love with fiction very young, as my parents read to me regularly, and often read aloud to my brother and me while still too young to read longer works of fiction. Favorites I remember from those early days are The Little Leftover Witch by Florence Laughlin and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. I devoured fiction for years, and finally determined to try writing a book of my own when my children were young. I discovered friends who were also interested in writing, took writing classes from successful writers, joined a critique group, and spent a long while learning the craft. Through a detour in my professional life, I finally returned to this long-time dream in 2013.
Fascinating. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I read everything from historical nonfiction (I do love research!), everything about the craft of writing fiction well, and fiction genres like cozy mysteries, historical Christian romance, historical fiction (not necessarily romance), and romances in general.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I’m chuckling. Am I supposed to have figured this out by my age? I’m fifty-one. I often feel overrun by the fast-paced world we live in. I had the privilege of working as a Territory Manager for Weight Watchers during the peak of “in person” meetings in our territory... and I drove the wheels off the company car. My territory was large, and I was on the go constantly. I listened to hundreds of audiobooks, but hadn’t five seconds to open a paperback.
Since that time, I’ve discovered that I must take time to let my well fill, so I’ll have anything to give (can’t draw water from an empty well, right?).(Right.) I’m the kind who regenerates by quiet downtime, rather than by socializing (which suits my youngest daughter perfectly).(She sounds like me.) I read, nap, and soak up the quiet. I’ve also discovered how much I need the Sabbath. I need one day a week that isn’t a work day. I relish the chance to focus on my spiritual needs and to recharge those batteries, so to speak.
We all need that. That’s why several years ago, I stopped going into my office and using the computer on Sundays and many Saturdays. How do you choose your characters’ names?Because my characters are all in the late Victorian era, my favorite resources are true-to-history census records. I want the greatest accuracy possible, so I make sure their names could’ve happened. I was pressed for time when naming characters for our recent joint series, Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Collection One, so I grabbed the heroine’s name out of thin air—and as no other character was named with a “B.” I determined her name would be Brenna... until I paused to look long enough to realize that name was far too new. So, back to the drawing board. I did plenty of digging online for most common names for the decade when my heroine would’ve been born, and “Brenna” became Jane. Rather than the common “Mary Jane,” my heroine is Jane Mary, as her mother’s name is Mary (also a character in the book). Did you know that “Mary” was the most common name for Victorian-era Americans to give their daughters?
I knew it has been popular in Americafor a very long time, but I wasn’t aware of that statistic. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?At risk of sounding like every other mother on the planet, my first instinctual answer is this: I’m most proud of having raised four children who are now productive, hard-working, contributing members of society. We’ve had our challenges and our hard times. If only every parent didn’t have to be a first-time parent, we might have fewer glitches and problems. I learned right along with my little ones.
If my answer must be in a personal arena, I’d have to say my greatest accomplishment might be 30+ years of marriage to the same wonderful man... despite all the rocks and stones thrown in our path. We’ve had our challenges (some significant and marriage-threatening), but we made it past them with a great deal of prayer and determination to include God in our decisions and in our marriage.
Professionally? I’m proud of the work I did as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. I’m proud of the work I did as a Weight Watchers Leader, in really helping others along their journeys and motivating them to succeed (I shed more than 70 lbs myself!), in addition to my time as a Territory Manager for that company. But my ability to complete what I begin, with my writing, to actually finish novels and novellas and send them out into the world, feels like an immense accomplishment. If you could see the incomplete projects in my basement (counted cross stitch that isn’t done, enough fabric to sink a ship, an entire (tiny) room filled with card-making supplies, you’d see that FINISHING is an immense accomplishment for me).
Back in the 70’s, I lost over 90 pounds on Weight Watchers and worked for them, too. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Perhaps I’ll start with what I know I’m NOT... I’m not an ostrich (don’t stick my head in the sand... at least I try not to)I’m not a cat (in general... I’m not the “princess,” and I don’t hide from people)Not a goldfish (I have a brain...)Not a bird (can’t fly), and I’m definitely warm-blooded.Not a giraffe (Given my BMI, I’m not tall enough...)I might be a dog. I need lots of affection and connection with people. I still insist, after thirty++ years of marriage that my husband hug me goodbye and kiss me hello when he returns from work. I kind of follow him around. { grin }
After almost 54 years of marriage (anniversary on November 7) James and I are much like that. What is your favorite food?This one’s easy! I have a very unhealthy love affair going on with Tillamook vanilla bean ice cream. Frankly, any quality vanilla ice cream will do. I’m not even all that picky about flavor. In fact, I’ve only met one or two ice cream flavors I didn’t love. If a food is sweet, cold, and creamy (e.g., cheesecake) I’m all over it. Yes, I earned those 70+ pounds I later shed in the most honest way possible. I LOVE ice cream!
I love ice cream, too. Blue BellHomemade Vanilla and Chocolate Covered Cherries are my two favorite kinds. Now I choose not to eat much ice cream. Sometimes, James will have a bowl and offer me a bite, and that’s all I take. One bite, and it satisfies me. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?My greatest challenge, my greatest roadblock with writing is living with severe chronic pain. I’m one of the roughly 25- to 30% of adults with severe chronic pain... and this circumstance interrupts my life more than anything else. If I were “well,” I’d be able to publish much more frequently, have greater clarity of mind, and might actually be able to work an eight-hour day.
Overcoming it has been a process, and I’m not sure I’m there yet. I’ve sought quality and safe medical help, connected with other authors and professionals (and readers!) who suffer with chronic pain, and this sense of community has given me a greater desire to be productive and to ensure my life isn’t just “tolerated,” but lived well. My husband (“an engineer”—explains his personality to a T) told me once, and not unkindly, “It’s your life.” He meant to say, “Yes, Dearest, do what you wish. It’s not my decision to make.” But the motivation I heard was this: I have only so much time, and I have yet so many books to write. Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” has resonated with me since I first heard it, especially the lines that mean (to me) the same thing as my husband’s unintentional wake-up call.
Tell us about the featured book.I’m thrilled to introduce my first truly Christian romance novel, Unmistakably Yours . Prior to this title, all of mine have been sweet (innocent, rated G or mild PG), clean (no offensive language) Western Historical Romances. Some readers have assumed my books are Christian romances, so my efforts to write characters whose choices and behaviors are in harmony with their beliefs (which happen to be Christian) must have been enough for those particular readers.
Unmistakably Yours
is title 8 in the muti-author Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Collection One series, and is also title 8 (unintentional, but cool!) in my own primary series, Holidays in Mountain Home. All of the novels and novellas in both series STAND ALONE and may be read in any order, or in no order at all. Each has its own happily ever after, and each is about one (or in the case of
Unmistakably Yours
—two!) couple’s romance.Mountain Home, Colorado, is a fictitious town set in a very real place. By this, I mean that no real town existed, but I’ve taken elements true to the dot on the map—everything from the flora and fauna to weather to history’s truth about what brought people to the Colorado Rockies, what people did to earn a subsistence and a living (and eventually, thriving!), where the train actually arrived, and surrounding my town with the realities of true-to-history cities, mines, and communities. (Cities by the name of Mountain Home are real in the states of Idaho, Arkansas, Utah... and maybe others.)
Unmistakably Yours is my first novel with TWO parallel romances with two different couples. I enjoyed exploring both, and the minor (and perhaps helpful—I’ll let you decide if I succeeded) ways they intersected. After all, if two men are discovering the love of their lives, and their conversations help one another to understand women a little bit better, then it’s a win, eh?
Right. Please give us the first page of the book.Mountain Home, ColoradoAugust 1887“OJane Vancoller, proprietress of the only tea room in Mountain Home, pasted on a pleasant smile— a skill she’d perfected. “Both doors are open to catch a breeze, if there were one. The striped awning arrived in a timely manner and saves us from direct sunlight.”
The late summer heat tried the patience of all. The temperatures were uncomfortable, but brought in a steady stream of visitors seeking shade, an icy beverage, and a rest. Behind the subtle fragrance of flowers, perfumes, tea, and pastries, the industrial odors of fresh paint and furniture oil smelled new. And remarkably like a dream come true.
“I told Mayor Abbott this morning,” Ann said, speaking of her husband, “this August heat has been dreadful. Mercury this high belongs to July, not temperate August. And certainly not so near September.”
“Yes.”
A crash reverberated through the wall. Jane flinched in her seat at one of the tables for two.
The pesky Murphy boys played marshals and train robbers in the vacant store between their father’s grocery and the Tea Room. Why didn’t the little varmints play in the meadow a half-block away?
One boy whooped and hollered, and Jane resisted the urge to massage her temples.
“I suppose we can’t blame you for the heat or the uncommon noise next door.” Mrs. Abbott, thin to the point bony prominences showed in her small hands and wrists, was given to sour expressions. How a thin, pinched woman possessed a full-bodied voice, Jane would never understand. “I must say it’s stuffy in this little room, much more than in my rose garden.”
Fortunately, Jane also had tremendous practice keeping retorts to herself. She held silent and watched as Ann perused the Tea Room’s parlor, and tried to see the decor through the other woman’s narrowed eyes.
Would Ann see past the heat, past the thud of little feet against bare floorboards, to the peaceful and serene setting? Would she appreciate the delicate rosebud-painted teacups? Or the quality of the china service?
Wallpaper and matching draperies brought a sense of home to the feminine retreat.
At the height of beauty, lacy tablecloths and fresh flowers graced each of nine circular tables. Half of the small tables seated two; half seated three or four. The arrangement was ideal for intimate conversations, quiet reflection, or the gathering of friends. A place for women.
Sounds like an interesting story. How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m most active on Facebook, but I also have specific Pinterest Boards for each of my novels and novellas. The visuals help me to ensure the historical elements in the backdrop of the story are accurate, but are also intended to enrich the reader’s experience. You can see my Pinterest Board for Unmistakably Yours here: https://www.pinterest.com/kristindholt/unmistakably-yours-a-thanksgiving-books-blessings-/
My second passion, behind the story, is to include the most accurate history backdrop (without painting a heavy-handed story where the backdrop overwhelms the story). I share frequent blog articles with readers on my website, containing elements of western (American) historical romance and the real history in fiction. Here’s the page: http://www.kristinholt.com/archives/category/articles
Here’s a longer list—Note: Kristin is spelled with two i’s, and is “e-free”Website: www.kristinholt.comContact: www.KristinHolt.com/contact-kristinNewsletter (receive a free, exclusive novella!): www.KristinHolt.com/newsletterFacebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/kristin.dinersteinholtFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KristinHoltSweetVictorianWesternRomance/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kristindholt/Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+KristinHoltAuthorTwitter: http:// twitter.com/KHoltAuthor BookBub: https://www.Bookbub.com/authors/kristin-holtAmazon: https://amzn.to/2xjL2vm(case sensitive)
Thank you, Kristin, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read your story.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.Unmistakably Yours: A Holidays in Mountain Home Romance, book eight (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection One 8)[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
September 12, 2018
ESTHER'S TEMPTATION - Lena Nelson Dooley - One Free Book
Dear Readers, once again I have a book releasing this week, on Friday—Esther’s Temptation. And once again, I’m answering the questions I ask the authors I feature here.
Bio: Multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 900,000 copies of her books sold. She is a member of ACFW and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW.She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network and GatewayChurch in Southlake, Texas.
She has been on the ECPA and CBA Bestseller lists, Publisher’s Weekly bestseller list, and several Amazon Bestseller lists as well as a reviewer’s Top Ten Books of 2011. She has won over a dozen major awards.
She hosts “The Lena Nelson Dooley Show” on the Along Came a Writer Blogtalk radio network.
Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I don’t think an author can write an authentic story without some things about them being a part of the story. In
Esther’s Temptation,
I understand what Esther felt and used the emotions I felt when I had the same kind of temptation.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Quirky could be my middle name. I’ve often done things most people wouldn’t try. When I was attending OuachitaBaptist Collegein Arkadelphia, Arkansas, (back when it was a college, instead of a university) I did the most dangerous thing I ever did. Ouachita is in a mountainous region. On the campus property, there was a place where a large pipe, maybe 12 inches across, connected two parts of the mountain. It was probably about 40 feet above the ravine. A group of us were hiking in that area. I don’t remember why I did it, but I crossed that ravine walking on that pipe. I don’t remember anyone else doing it with me. Probably for a good reason.
When did you first discover you were a writer?I came from a family where writing was just part of family life. Only one other person in my immediate family has been published. My brother is a retired minister, and he had a book of sermons published before I became a professional writer. You can read the testimony of how God told me to become a professional writer by clicking on the About Me tab at the top of this blog.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Most of the nonfiction books I read, besides the Bible, are reference books I use for research. But I love reading fiction. I’ve read books ever since I was five years old. I love most genres, except horror. In the last few years, there are so many good, well-written Christian novels that I’ve stopped reading any fiction besides Christian fiction.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Keeping close contact with the Lord is the best way. And spending time with my family and friends is a close second.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Some arrive when the character does. Sometimes, I use a name to honor someone dear to me. And there’s always name websites, especially if I want a historical name or a name for a specific nationality.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Not being prideful, but having points of pride in what the Lord has helped me accomplish. My dear husband and I have been married almost 54 years. Our anniversary is in November. We raised wonderful children, who have given us grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I’m blessed when readers let me know how one of my books changed their lives. And God has blessed me to allow my books to win awards and appear on bestseller lists.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I would love to be an eagle and soar above the earth, riding on the wind currents.
What is your favorite food?Dark chocolate and TexMex food.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?When I started writing professionally, we didn’t have all the professional organizations that are available today. I was a storyteller, so I just told a story. Later I began to learn the real craft of writing, and there have been many people along the way who helped me.
Tell us about the featured book.This book is #9 in the Thanksgiving Books and Blessing series. All the books in the series will be released in a collection in early November.
Here’s the back cover copy:Saddle weary, former deputy USMarshal Jac Andrews rides into Denton, Texas. He’d hunted a swindler and his daughter—or identical twin daughters if Jac is right—and he feels he finally has caught up with this criminal gang. Unfortunately, He is immediately distracted by the lovely redhead, Esther Brians.
Esther, feeling like an old maid surrounded by all her close friends who are happy married couples, is drawn to the intense gaze, blue as the Texas sky, of an unknown cowboy. But several things cause her to become wary of his intentions—and his spiritual well-being.
Has this unsaved lawman captured Esther’s heart or will the Lord deliver her from the temptation of Jac’s presence?
What will it take for Jac to win this lovely lady and become Esther’s husband?
Please give us the first page of the book.August – Deep in the heart of Texas1896. How could it be 1896? When Jac Andrews started this quest, he figured he’d be married with children by this time in his life. All the years had passed without achieving his goals—both of them.
He sure hoped that was Denton, Texas, up ahead and not a mirage. His head ached from the bright sunlight and long hours. He’d been in the saddle so long he felt as if it were fused to the seat of his pants. Pants he’d worn until they could almost stand up by themselves. Finally, he could have a bath, clean clothes, a shave, a hot meal, and a real bed. In that order.
But the long ride had been worth it. He was bone weary, but he could sense that indefinable excitement he always felt when he was about to catch his prey. Peter Graham and his daughter had to be just ahead. He’d been chasing this gang for too many years—through hard winters, mostly mild summers, and he’d seen a lot of the territory in the United States. But this was the farthest south they’d ventured. Denton, Texas, was the end of the line. For him and for the Grahams—in more ways than one.
As he approached, the haze hovering on the horizon solidified into a nice enough town, but Jac hoped it wouldn’t take long to bring the Grahams to justice. He wanted to get on with his life, and he couldn’t until he had finished this one thing. Although he was only thirty years old, he felt ancient. He’d seen enough of the seamy side of life to age him beyond his years. Criminals and their evil deeds had hardened him so much he barely knew who he was anymore. Certainly not the idealistic young man who became a Deputy U.S. Marshal all those years ago. He didn’t even know where he belonged. Maybe when he finished this final arrest, he could find out. For the first time in over ten years, he could have a life of his own.
But he didn’t dare take his mind off his prize. This arrest had to come before anything else. He wouldn’t saddle any woman with a man who was hardly ever be home. He would really retire from hunting criminals and maybe find some kind of business he’d enjoy. He had plenty of money stashed away to buy or start one. He didn’t use much money while he’d been trying to catch this slippery weasel, who preyed on unsuspecting, upstanding citizens.
Because of his obsession to catch Peter Graham and his daughter, he was no longer a marshal. The U.S. Marshal in Washington, D.C., had given him a choice, give up this quest or turn in his badge. Jac knew his boss thought the ultimatum would make him back down. With great reluctance, he’d removed the star with the circle around it, the badge that made him official. Since then, he’d been on his own as he followed the trail of this confidence man and his family. Good thing he’d saved so much of his pay over the years, and his needs were negligible. A pile of his money remained safe in a bank back East, waiting for him to get to the point where he could start living a real life. He wouldn’t have to worry about finances while he established himself. That thought brought a stiff smile to his face.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com Blog: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.comPinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooleyTwitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=tsGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_DooleyChristianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1728796&sp=67484&event=67484|1728796|67484Blogtalk Radio, The Lena Nelson Dooley Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/along-came-a-writer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenanelsondooley/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooleyAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDEBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lena-nelson-dooley
Readers, the ebook releases on Friday. It’s been on pre-order for a few weeks. The print edition will be available soon after.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.Esther's Temptation (Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Book 9)[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
Bio: Multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 900,000 copies of her books sold. She is a member of ACFW and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW.She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network and GatewayChurch in Southlake, Texas.
She has been on the ECPA and CBA Bestseller lists, Publisher’s Weekly bestseller list, and several Amazon Bestseller lists as well as a reviewer’s Top Ten Books of 2011. She has won over a dozen major awards.
She hosts “The Lena Nelson Dooley Show” on the Along Came a Writer Blogtalk radio network.
Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I don’t think an author can write an authentic story without some things about them being a part of the story. In
Esther’s Temptation,
I understand what Esther felt and used the emotions I felt when I had the same kind of temptation.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Quirky could be my middle name. I’ve often done things most people wouldn’t try. When I was attending OuachitaBaptist Collegein Arkadelphia, Arkansas, (back when it was a college, instead of a university) I did the most dangerous thing I ever did. Ouachita is in a mountainous region. On the campus property, there was a place where a large pipe, maybe 12 inches across, connected two parts of the mountain. It was probably about 40 feet above the ravine. A group of us were hiking in that area. I don’t remember why I did it, but I crossed that ravine walking on that pipe. I don’t remember anyone else doing it with me. Probably for a good reason.
When did you first discover you were a writer?I came from a family where writing was just part of family life. Only one other person in my immediate family has been published. My brother is a retired minister, and he had a book of sermons published before I became a professional writer. You can read the testimony of how God told me to become a professional writer by clicking on the About Me tab at the top of this blog.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Most of the nonfiction books I read, besides the Bible, are reference books I use for research. But I love reading fiction. I’ve read books ever since I was five years old. I love most genres, except horror. In the last few years, there are so many good, well-written Christian novels that I’ve stopped reading any fiction besides Christian fiction.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Keeping close contact with the Lord is the best way. And spending time with my family and friends is a close second.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Some arrive when the character does. Sometimes, I use a name to honor someone dear to me. And there’s always name websites, especially if I want a historical name or a name for a specific nationality.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Not being prideful, but having points of pride in what the Lord has helped me accomplish. My dear husband and I have been married almost 54 years. Our anniversary is in November. We raised wonderful children, who have given us grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I’m blessed when readers let me know how one of my books changed their lives. And God has blessed me to allow my books to win awards and appear on bestseller lists.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I would love to be an eagle and soar above the earth, riding on the wind currents.
What is your favorite food?Dark chocolate and TexMex food.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?When I started writing professionally, we didn’t have all the professional organizations that are available today. I was a storyteller, so I just told a story. Later I began to learn the real craft of writing, and there have been many people along the way who helped me.
Tell us about the featured book.This book is #9 in the Thanksgiving Books and Blessing series. All the books in the series will be released in a collection in early November.Here’s the back cover copy:Saddle weary, former deputy USMarshal Jac Andrews rides into Denton, Texas. He’d hunted a swindler and his daughter—or identical twin daughters if Jac is right—and he feels he finally has caught up with this criminal gang. Unfortunately, He is immediately distracted by the lovely redhead, Esther Brians.
Esther, feeling like an old maid surrounded by all her close friends who are happy married couples, is drawn to the intense gaze, blue as the Texas sky, of an unknown cowboy. But several things cause her to become wary of his intentions—and his spiritual well-being.
Has this unsaved lawman captured Esther’s heart or will the Lord deliver her from the temptation of Jac’s presence?
What will it take for Jac to win this lovely lady and become Esther’s husband?
Please give us the first page of the book.August – Deep in the heart of Texas1896. How could it be 1896? When Jac Andrews started this quest, he figured he’d be married with children by this time in his life. All the years had passed without achieving his goals—both of them.
He sure hoped that was Denton, Texas, up ahead and not a mirage. His head ached from the bright sunlight and long hours. He’d been in the saddle so long he felt as if it were fused to the seat of his pants. Pants he’d worn until they could almost stand up by themselves. Finally, he could have a bath, clean clothes, a shave, a hot meal, and a real bed. In that order.
But the long ride had been worth it. He was bone weary, but he could sense that indefinable excitement he always felt when he was about to catch his prey. Peter Graham and his daughter had to be just ahead. He’d been chasing this gang for too many years—through hard winters, mostly mild summers, and he’d seen a lot of the territory in the United States. But this was the farthest south they’d ventured. Denton, Texas, was the end of the line. For him and for the Grahams—in more ways than one.
As he approached, the haze hovering on the horizon solidified into a nice enough town, but Jac hoped it wouldn’t take long to bring the Grahams to justice. He wanted to get on with his life, and he couldn’t until he had finished this one thing. Although he was only thirty years old, he felt ancient. He’d seen enough of the seamy side of life to age him beyond his years. Criminals and their evil deeds had hardened him so much he barely knew who he was anymore. Certainly not the idealistic young man who became a Deputy U.S. Marshal all those years ago. He didn’t even know where he belonged. Maybe when he finished this final arrest, he could find out. For the first time in over ten years, he could have a life of his own.
But he didn’t dare take his mind off his prize. This arrest had to come before anything else. He wouldn’t saddle any woman with a man who was hardly ever be home. He would really retire from hunting criminals and maybe find some kind of business he’d enjoy. He had plenty of money stashed away to buy or start one. He didn’t use much money while he’d been trying to catch this slippery weasel, who preyed on unsuspecting, upstanding citizens.
Because of his obsession to catch Peter Graham and his daughter, he was no longer a marshal. The U.S. Marshal in Washington, D.C., had given him a choice, give up this quest or turn in his badge. Jac knew his boss thought the ultimatum would make him back down. With great reluctance, he’d removed the star with the circle around it, the badge that made him official. Since then, he’d been on his own as he followed the trail of this confidence man and his family. Good thing he’d saved so much of his pay over the years, and his needs were negligible. A pile of his money remained safe in a bank back East, waiting for him to get to the point where he could start living a real life. He wouldn’t have to worry about finances while he established himself. That thought brought a stiff smile to his face.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com Blog: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.comPinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooleyTwitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=tsGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_DooleyChristianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1728796&sp=67484&event=67484|1728796|67484Blogtalk Radio, The Lena Nelson Dooley Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/along-came-a-writer/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenanelsondooley/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooleyAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDEBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lena-nelson-dooley
Readers, the ebook releases on Friday. It’s been on pre-order for a few weeks. The print edition will be available soon after.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.Esther's Temptation (Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Book 9)[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
September 10, 2018
DAUGHTER OF DEFIANCE - Heather Blanton - One Free Book
Today’s interview is with the author of book 6 in the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings series.
Welcome, Heather. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. Though my relationship with Jesus has definitely tempered me, I still can be a bit confrontational and strong-willed. So you see that in my heroines. They don’t back down or run from a fight.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Well, I get ribbed a lot by my friends because they know at 9:00 pm I like to be done. Done with everything. The kitchen is closed. Mom is in her jammies. (Man, remember the days when we were getting ready at 9:00 pm to go out for the evening?) Anyway, once I’m officially done, I have a glass of wine and a bowl of popcorn. I love popcorn. I mean, I really like it. I will starve all day if I have to to make it to that buttery goodness.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? When I was about five years old and the Funky Phantom went off (this was my favorite cartoon). I didn’t want the show to be over, so I wrote my own adventure. My mom typed it up for me. I also remember pretending to be a reporter—who knew I could have made a career out of that. Pretending to be a journalist, I mean (said the snarky conservative). I coulda made it to CNN.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I love a good, simple Western, a romcom with truly believable characters, time travel where the heroines adapt quickly, and gothic horror. Yes, I am a huge Edgar Allan Poe fan.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? Sanity? I know not of what you speak. I live in a house with three boys, ages 15, 18, and 57. There are teenagers EVERYWHERE! I lose myself in my stories. Sometimes I find my way back.
How do you choose your characters’ names? Wish I had some awe-inspiring answer here. Usually, names pop into my head, unless I’m looking to pay homage to someone in particular. But it is weird because sometimes there they are, name and all, as if this character really exists somewhere in the universe.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Pride is a dangerous thing to dwell on, but I would have to say that I’m really blessed I was available when a young girl I know ran away from home and was suicidal. I reached out to her, became her mentor, and now she is in the National Guard. She is thinking seriously about active duty, though, because she loves the military life so much. I can be a bit withdrawn and a loner, but I put that aside to help her. God is good. I’ve been very blessed by the experience.
I love those God happenings. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A cat. Because I can be a bit withdrawn and a loner. LOL
What is your favorite food? I eat from my favorite four food groups—popcorn, wine, pizza, coffee
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? There have been a couple of stories that I just felt like I was floundering on. Just couldn’t pull a cohesive plot together. And the more I wrote, the worse it got. I won’t say which stories I’m referring to. I improved them, but not to my complete satisfaction. Sort of like making a bed and leaving a big wrinkle in it. I intend over the next several months to finish smoothing out these books.
Tell us about the featured book.
Daughter of Defiance
picks up a story line from my book A Promise in Defiance (book 3 in my Defiance series). In A Promise, I had a character finally get the full impact of her very bad choices—people died because of her.
Daughter of Defiance
opens with this character going home to her mother whom she hasn’t seen in fifteen years. When life gets so bad all you want is to die, you either give in to the darkness or make one last gasp at hope. At home. It’s a sort of prodigal-child tale. Please give us the first page of the book. The campfire popped and crackled, punctuating Oscar’s defiant tone. The two other men with him—Lawrence and Charlie—nodded, the flames painting all three in an uneasy mix of light and midnight shadows.
“And she won’t,” Oscar continued, waving his bottle. “I ain’t backing off now.”
“What if she ain’t there?” Charlie asked as he languidly settled on his bedroll. “If she ain’t, I’m probably done following you two around.” He sounded bored and a little sleepy. “This has been a long row to hoe.”
“Then be done,” Oscar spat, sloshing a little whiskey in the fire. It flared ferociously, the light illuminating the trio for an instant. He contritely pulled the bottle closer to his chest and spoke more calmly. “We don’t need you. You invited yourself along anyhow.”
“True, I did. I was curious to see if you two could find her. But this road is gettin’ long. Summer is comin’ to an end.”
“It ain’t over yet,” Lawrencesaid, the certainty in his gravelly voice a harbinger of death. “Long as Jamie lies at the bottom of that mine, we’ll keep looking.”
“Well, I will say,” Charlie began as he turned his back to his comrades and folded his arms for warmth, “If you two do find Delilah, I sure wouldn’t want to be in her shoes.”
Nice way to hook the reader right away. How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m right here:
https://www.facebook.com/authorheatherblanton/https://twitter.com/heatherfblantonMy newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/z8i1i3_copyMy website: https://ladiesindefiance.com/
Thank you, Heather, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here is a link to the book.Daughter of Defiance (Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Book 6)[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
September 9, 2018
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.
Sandy Q (TX) is the winner of Courage in the Face of Evil by Mark Shaw.
Sarah (OH) is the winner of The 12 Gifts of Christmas by Lena Nelson Dooley.
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.
When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.
Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.
Sandy Q (TX) is the winner of Courage in the Face of Evil by Mark Shaw.
Sarah (OH) is the winner of The 12 Gifts of Christmas by Lena Nelson Dooley.
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.
When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.
Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.
September 7, 2018
NO TURNING BACK - Lynette Sowell - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I’m happy to welcome my friend, Lynette Sowell, back to the blog.
Welcome back, Lynette. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?I like to write about themes of redemption and second chances, how when we might think a situation is hopeless, God can move in unexpected ways.
What other books of yours are coming out soon?I have a pair of Christmas mysteries releasing this fall, set in the fictional town of Christmastime, Colorado.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I once heard former President George W. Bush speak and I’d love to hear more about his life since the presidency, if there’s anything he would have done differently. Also, he’s a fantastic painter and I’d love to talk with him about art. Since the Bushes’ ranch isn’t too far from where I live, I wouldn’t have far to go.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?I would like to meet John, the Apostle. His books are among my favorites in the Bible and I would like to know why he decided to write his Gospel differently from the way the other Gospel writers did.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?Keep working on your craft and concentrate on telling a great story. Don’t be afraid to risk writing something a little out of the box as you find your voice.
Tell us about the featured book.The Texas Hill Country is one of my favorite places to visit in Texas, and
No Turning Back
is set in Cedar Springs, not far from the Pedernales River. My heroine, Lizzie Westford, is a recently widowed young woman who tries to tough it out and run the ranch, instead of heading back to the safety of Iowa and her family. Enter her husband’s friend from childhood, who came to pay his old friend a visit only to discover he’s dead and that the widowed Mrs. Westford has a lineup of obstacles threatening her holding onto her legacy.
Please give us the first page of the book.Cedar Springs, Texas 1885Lizzie Westford mopped her brow and looked across the pasture that still shimmered with the leftover heat of a Texas summertime. The horse beneath her shifted on the crusty bits of grass that the cattle somehow managed to survive on. The autumn’s coolness and the rains – save for a day like today - had brought the grass back.
Hugh’s hat gave plenty of shade from the sun that beat down on her. Lizzie tried not to sigh. Why must she always be so tired? Four weeks since they’d laid Hugh in the ground and yet sleep still eluded her. Never mind she poured herself into the ranch, supervising fence repairs and such. “Miz Lizzie, you look a mite wore out. You can get back to the house.” Clem Jenkins sat on Blue, the best cattle horse south of the Red River, or so the old man claimed.
“No, I can stay out a bit longer.”
The older man shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you don’t come cryin’ to me when the sun touches you.”
At that, she laughed. Clem was always frank with her, with everyone. He was the only one who’d stood at her side after burying Hugh. They had cattle to work, fences to mend, and she’d told Clem she wanted to learn it all.
“You’re right.” A grin tugged at the corners of her lips. The first grin she’d found on her face in oh, so long. “I’ll have supper ready at five.”
Without another word, she rode off toward the house. The wide open skies soothed her, and she let the wind blow across her face. There was a coolness in the air that told her winter would come. Already, her heart was cold inside. She didn’t know if it was the idea that Hugh was gone, really gone, and the feelings that swirled inside her despite the chill in her heart.
Hugh Westford had been a hard man and she’d married him at her parents’ insistence, not realizing he’d take her away on a fool’s dream of a Texasranch. It wasn’t enough for him to farm the same rows of corn year after year, as his family in Iowahad done. No, he’d charmed Lizzie with the dreams of Texas.
How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find me on my author page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor/.
Thank you, Lynette, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book, which is available for pre-order.No Turning Back (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings)[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
Welcome back, Lynette. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?I like to write about themes of redemption and second chances, how when we might think a situation is hopeless, God can move in unexpected ways.What other books of yours are coming out soon?I have a pair of Christmas mysteries releasing this fall, set in the fictional town of Christmastime, Colorado.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I once heard former President George W. Bush speak and I’d love to hear more about his life since the presidency, if there’s anything he would have done differently. Also, he’s a fantastic painter and I’d love to talk with him about art. Since the Bushes’ ranch isn’t too far from where I live, I wouldn’t have far to go.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?I would like to meet John, the Apostle. His books are among my favorites in the Bible and I would like to know why he decided to write his Gospel differently from the way the other Gospel writers did.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?Keep working on your craft and concentrate on telling a great story. Don’t be afraid to risk writing something a little out of the box as you find your voice.
Tell us about the featured book.The Texas Hill Country is one of my favorite places to visit in Texas, and
No Turning Back
is set in Cedar Springs, not far from the Pedernales River. My heroine, Lizzie Westford, is a recently widowed young woman who tries to tough it out and run the ranch, instead of heading back to the safety of Iowa and her family. Enter her husband’s friend from childhood, who came to pay his old friend a visit only to discover he’s dead and that the widowed Mrs. Westford has a lineup of obstacles threatening her holding onto her legacy.Please give us the first page of the book.Cedar Springs, Texas 1885Lizzie Westford mopped her brow and looked across the pasture that still shimmered with the leftover heat of a Texas summertime. The horse beneath her shifted on the crusty bits of grass that the cattle somehow managed to survive on. The autumn’s coolness and the rains – save for a day like today - had brought the grass back.
Hugh’s hat gave plenty of shade from the sun that beat down on her. Lizzie tried not to sigh. Why must she always be so tired? Four weeks since they’d laid Hugh in the ground and yet sleep still eluded her. Never mind she poured herself into the ranch, supervising fence repairs and such. “Miz Lizzie, you look a mite wore out. You can get back to the house.” Clem Jenkins sat on Blue, the best cattle horse south of the Red River, or so the old man claimed.
“No, I can stay out a bit longer.”
The older man shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you don’t come cryin’ to me when the sun touches you.”
At that, she laughed. Clem was always frank with her, with everyone. He was the only one who’d stood at her side after burying Hugh. They had cattle to work, fences to mend, and she’d told Clem she wanted to learn it all.
“You’re right.” A grin tugged at the corners of her lips. The first grin she’d found on her face in oh, so long. “I’ll have supper ready at five.”
Without another word, she rode off toward the house. The wide open skies soothed her, and she let the wind blow across her face. There was a coolness in the air that told her winter would come. Already, her heart was cold inside. She didn’t know if it was the idea that Hugh was gone, really gone, and the feelings that swirled inside her despite the chill in her heart.
Hugh Westford had been a hard man and she’d married him at her parents’ insistence, not realizing he’d take her away on a fool’s dream of a Texasranch. It wasn’t enough for him to farm the same rows of corn year after year, as his family in Iowahad done. No, he’d charmed Lizzie with the dreams of Texas.
How can readers find you on the Internet?You can find me on my author page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor/.
Thank you, Lynette, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book, which is available for pre-order.No Turning Back (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings)[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
September 6, 2018
HEART AND HOME - P Creeden - One Free Book
Welcome, P Creeden. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.Usually the quirks or little bits of reality that are written into the story come from my own life experiences. For example, the little seven-year-old, Jackie, has a hard time with remembering the direction of lower case b and d when writing his letters. My son, who was homeschooled, had the same difficulty. So I added that bit in to make the story more real for me and, I hope, the reader.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’m a fan of Korean Dramas and Pop music. Because of that, I’m currently studying the Korean language so that I don’t need subtitles.
Sounds interesting. When did you first discover that you were a writer?When I was about nine, my father bought a typewriter for Christmas, because that was what I wanted. In elementary school, I remember taking an aptitude test and arranging my answers so that it would turn out that I should become a writer. Ever since I could read, I also wanted to write.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I read pretty much anything… from mystery and suspense to fantasy and science fiction. I write my favorite genres under two different pen names.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?I don’t know if I’m doing a good job of that… as I tend to give up on sleep more than anything else.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I choose a name that I like and one that tends to fit the character’s background as I create it.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I’m a perpetual starter and have a hard time finishing things. I’m proud of every story I’ve ever finished.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I love dogs, but if I were one, I’d need a job—so I’d want to be a service animal or trained agility.
I have an author friend here in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex who has a dog trained to be around sick people. They visit hospitals. What is your favorite food?Kimchee. It’s the Korean equivalent of coleslaw. It’s spicy, and I pretty much use it as a garnish for everything…
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Finishing the story. Like I said before, I’m a perpetual starter. The only thing that motivates me to finish the story is to have a hard deadline set…then I tend to procrastinate until the last minute, but still manage to get the story finished—usually on time.
Tell us about the featured book.
Heart and Home
is the story of a widowed school teacher who is spending her first Thanksgiving without her husband or any family to speak of. When a handyman is sent to repair the roof of the schoolhouse, her troubles begin…Please give us the first page of the book.Caroline took a deep breath and brushed her hand across her head to make sure her bun was still in place before headed toward the door of her small home. She glanced down, as she had done every day since the terrible accident. William’s boots sat right where she left them, and her heart grew heavier in her chest. Something about the weather changing and growing cooler put her in a nostalgic mood. Caroline couldn’t help but think about her husband and his loss that much more.
The wind picked up and threatened to pull the door from her hand, making her grip the knob harder. After pulling the door shut tightly, she started off toward the schoolhouse where the town’s children awaited. That was how she was able to overcome her trepidation about moving out west as William wanted. She had been perfectly content to stay in Harrisburg but the call for riches was too great for William. Once she heard that there were children in the west who were desperate for teachers, she needed no more convincing.
The morning air smelled of fallen leaves and fresh earth.
His mercies are new every morning… she thought as she hurried down the wooded trail. She didn’t have much to worry about here, but when she got to the main street of town, it was a different story. When her feet hit the wooden sidewalk, she quickened her pace. An older drunk came stumbling out as she passed the saloon, and she darted past him. Caroline had never been scared to live in Helenawhen William was alive, but with him gone, it was a different story. At only twenty-three, she was already a widow and living alone in this wild western town plagued with gold seekers and miners. She swallowed. It was virtually unheard of.
How can readers find you on the Internet?My blog is: http://pcreedenbooks.blogspot.comNewsletter: http://subscribepage.com/pcreedenbooksFacebook: http://facebook.com/pcreedenbooksInstagram: http://instagram.com/paulinecreedenAmazon: http://amazon.com/author/pcreedenBookbub: http://bookbub.com/authors/p-creeden
Thank you for sharing your new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.Heart and Home (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection One Book 4)[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
September 5, 2018
TRAIL TO CLEAR CREEK - Kit Morgan - One Free Book
Welcome back, Kit. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. Bits and pieces, all depends on the book. There is one character, however, where I realized later, the he was me as a man.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? In the fifth grade. The assignment was to write a simple story. I wrote a fifteen-page book complete with illustrations.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. All kinds, but I don’t seem to enjoy literary fiction. I guess I like my happily ever afters too much.
I’m with you on the HEAs. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? That’s easy, I live in a log cabin on a creek on twenty acres in a canyon. World? You mean there’s a world outside of this place?
How do you choose your characters’ names? I have name books. After writing nearly 80 books, where would I be without them?
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? When my first book hit the book store shelves.
I know. I had my husband take a picture of me by my book on a store shelf. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A horse of course. They’re so majestic, powerful, fast. But don’t try to saddle me. I’ll buck you off for sure.
What is your favorite food? Hmmm, this is a tough one. I guess I’d have to say the classic steak and baked potato!
I love steak and baked potato. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Hmm, I’d say over-thinking what I was writing, rather than enjoying it and letting it flow. Once I learned how to do that, it’s been a breeze.
Tell us about the featured book.
Trail to Clear Creek
is a story my readers have been asking for for years. It’s the story of Honoria and Jefferson Cooke, who married in order for Honoria and her three sons to join a wagon train heading west. Imagine a blended family getting to know each other on the Oregon Trail! The tagline of the book says it all. Two lonely hearts. Five sons between them. Two-thousand miles.Sounds interesting. Please give us the first page of the book.Independence, Missouri, March 1849
Benedict is dead. My heart bleeds.
But I must go on.
Honoria Alexandra Sayer dipped her pen into the inkwell, eyes on the page before her. She’d written that entry months ago, but her pain at times was still bone-searing deep. She hadn’t written in her private diary since.
She put pen to paper and began to write …
Benedict, my love, so much has happened since you left us. The boys insist I decide what to do. Duncanis especially anxious. Our money is nearly gone.
I wish you were here to guide us, but everything is up to me now and Duncan – at least in his mind. He is the oldest and at nineteen, considered a man. He wants to lead, has been doing so, but I can’t help feeling that we’ll need more. Not that he can’t be head of the family, but there’s so much missing. So much of you.
Honoria sighed, dipped the pen and continued. She didn’t have much time.
Colin and Harrison argue as usual and miss you terribly. Harrison still cries when he thinks no one can see him, and Colin’s practical jokes are rampant. He has annoyed Mr. Greenly at the mercantile more than once, and I’ve had to speak with him about it. I hope their hearts will settle soon.
We must be on our way. I suppose writing to you like this will help me decide what to do. Your dream to come to this country became our dream, my love. And I cannot let that dream die in vain.
“Mother?”
Honoria raised her head. “Yes?”
Her eldest son Duncan stepped into the room. “The others are ready to leave. We made a list of what we’ll need. Mr. Greenly said he has a wagon.”
She closed her eyes and sighed again. So this was it – Duncan was forcing her hand. “Come here, darling.”
He approached, his booted feet heavy against the wooden floor. “Yes, Mother?”
She turned in her chair to look at him. Duncan was tall, taller than his father. “You’ve grown again.”
He put his hand to his chest and shrugged. “Filled out, yes. Taller, no. Not that I’ve noticed.”
She smiled as tears stung the back of her eyes. To her, he was still the little boy that loved animals, saved little damsels in distress (kittens from trees, mostly) and looked out for her as long as she could remember. He was now her knight in shining armor doing his best to fill his father’s shoes. “You really want to do this?”
“You do too. You just can’t admit it.”
How can readers find you on the Internet? Through my website, www.authorkitmorgan.com, my Facebook Page and Twitter can be accessed from there as well!
Thank you, Kit, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it. I’m sure they will be, too.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
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
September 4, 2018
GATEWAY TO THE WEST - Susette Williams - One Free Book
Welcome, Susette. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I find that after I’m writing a story, it may often be something I’m dealing with in our family. As for what characters may have a touch of me…my humor. I love to crack corny jokes and get people to laugh, even if it is at me.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I’m not sure I should admit to this… Putting random items in other people’s shopping carts without them knowing it.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?In 7th grade I had a friend who wrote poetry and I started writing poetry. Then in the next year, I had read around fifty romances and felt like I could write one, but never tried until I was married and had children.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.Romance, cozy mysteries, and perhaps suspense are the only types of books I tend to read, and in that order. I do write other genres and I love a variety of types of movies—probably action adventure the most when it comes to movies.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?My children are grown so thankfully the “run, run, run” in my world tends to be writing related.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Sometimes I ask friends if they want to be immortalized. Other times I ask readers to help come up with names. I’ve even looked through phone books for names or used a name generator site online to help find a name.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?For me, I’m happy just knowing readers enjoy my stories. I love to make people smile, laugh, or think.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I’m allergic to animals so that’s a tough question. I’ve honestly never thought about what type of animal I like better than another or what I’d want to be. My favorite type of cat is the Siamese cat.
What is your favorite food?Fried zucchini and a lot of desserts, but nothing cherry.
And I absolutely love cherries, especially chocolate-covered cherries. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Learning to write with the distraction of six kids when they were younger was a challenge. I often feel guilty to write when there is housework that needs done.
I am truly blessed. My husband does most of the housework. Tell us about the featured book.
Gateway to the West
was actually one of those ideas that I didn’t plan on it being something around me, but as I wrote it, I thought about an older couple I knew who both lost their spouses. The two couples used to go places together, even on vacation, and after they both lost their spouse within six months of each other, they eventually ended up dating and marrying.Please give us the first page of the book.Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Independence, Missouri — June 1, 1840Haley Hunter’s jutted jaw and cute upturned nose exuded a sense of confidence and determination. Yet the pleading looks in her eyes hinted at an underlying vulnerability. She planted her fists firmly on her hips, her reticule dangling from the drawstrings clasped within her grip. “Well, do you or don’t you need a cook?”
“I do.” Malcom Wheeler recalled saying those words a long time ago, and he hadn’t been there, not when she needed him. It was a mistake he would never make again.
“Then it’s set.” Haley smiled.
“Wait, no.” Malcom shook his head vehemently. “You can’t do that. I wasn’t finished speaking.”
“Well, it appears you are now.” She picked up a green floral valise, clasping it firmly in her hands. “Show me the way.”
Malcom gritted his teeth. The cook he originally hired for the job had backed out. He wanted to find another man for the job. Heck, he was willing to do it himself if he had the time and forethought to planning meals. His job was to lead the wagon train and get everyone to their destination in one piece, with their scalps intact.
“It ain’t safe for a woman.” His jaw clenched. He could be as stubborn and unmoving as she was—even more.
Her eyebrow arched. “Then why are you taking women with you on the wagon train?”
“Because they’re married.” And from what he could tell, she wasn’t. She’d be a distraction to several of the other single men, and he needed everyone to have their wits about them.
“I am… I was…” Her mouth clamped shut, giving him a moment of peace and satisfaction. It only seemed to fuel her determination. “So, if something happens to one of the men during the trip, you just toss their wife by the wayside?” Haley asked. “Perhaps leave them for the Indians?”
“No.” Haley infuriated him more than fur flying in a cat fight. “It’s my job to protect the members of my wagon train, and I take my job very seriously.”
“Perhaps you think it best if I tried to make it on my own, without the protection of a larger group?” Her attempt at pious indignation wrenched his gut.
“Why is it so important to you that you insist on going?”
How can readers find you on the Internet?Website http://www.susettewilliams.com/NewsletterCLICK to SubscribeFacebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSusetteWilliams/Twitter https://twitter.com/SusetteWilliamsGoodReads Author PageAuthor Pages: (please follow) Amazon https://www.amazon.com/SusetteWilliams/e/B008RSAZW0/ BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susette-williamsEmail contactme@susettewilliams.com
Thank you, Susette, for sharing your new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here is a link to the book.GATEWAY TO THE WEST (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection One Book 2)[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
September 3, 2018
GONE TO TEXAS - Caryl McAdoo - One Free Book
Dear Readers, this blog and the next 8 will feature each of the books in this new collection.
Bio: Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory which is what she lives to do, and her novels’ rankings by Christian readers attests to the Father’s favor and blessings. With thirty-six titles, she loves writing almost as much as singing the new songs He gives her—look on YouTube to hear a few. She and her high school sweetheart celebrated fifty years of marriage in June; they share four children and eighteen grandsugars. Ron and Caryl live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.
Welcome back, Caryl. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I write a WHOLE LOT of myself into my heroines. Since my husband Ron and I write together (even though only my name is on the books—that was a NY agent and Simon and Schuster editor thing), it’s like most the time, I’m the heroine and he’s the hero. The other day I was writing along and actually used his name! The female character was saying something like “And you full well know it, hero . . . except I typed in “And you full well know it, Ron McAdoo!” I started cackling at the computer and he said, “What are you laughing about?”
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?Quirky, huh? I’m going to have to think on this . . .
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I wrote an essay in the 7th grade about being an intergalactically famous author, rocketing from planet to planet to sign books! It was a 1962 assignment about what I’d be doing in the year 2000. The space program let me down. What can I say?
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love reading historical Christian romance, but when writing three to five or six books a year—which I’ve done the last several years, releasing 27 since fall, 2014—it’s just hard to read any at all.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Oh, this is an easy question. Giving all my burdens to my Heavenly Father, trusting Him with everything, and clinging to Him. I daily walk in peace with no fear or worries because I know how much He loves me and that He’s always thinking of me! (That’s a line from one of the new songs He gave me. I sing them on YouTube)
How do you choose your characters’ names?Isn’t that just one of the most fun things we get to do? Ron and I just kick them around until we find the one we both like! After thirty-seven titles, it isn’t always that easy, but eventually we get the job done! I had a herd of eighty dwarf Nigerian goats (I milked them—only twelve or thirteen at a time) and named everyone and knew each by name. I believe names are VERY important, and help “make” the character who they are. Ron and I had a stable and some of our boarders brought in horses named Buck! WHO names a horse that? And this one escape artist we had . . . her name was Gypsy! My name means Joyful Song. Seems appropriate to me.What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Rearing four grandsons. When we were fifty-two, it was us or strangers when CPS got involved, so we took in six, four, and three-year-old, and a newborn (straight to us from the birth hospital). We thought it would be a good, temporary thing, motivating the parents to clean up and make better life choices to get their children back, but they saw the boys had a good, loving, stable home and became the frequent visitors with gifts in hand for their sons instead. We had them fourteen years. The oldest is a senior at Texas A and M who graduates in December.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I’ve always said if I wasn’t a human, I’d want to be a bird. I love flying high and singing.
What is your favorite food?Tacos! When I get to Heaven, I fully expect I’ll have a taco tree in my front yard. I’ll give you an invitation now to come by anytime and have one with me. My mansion is the one with the oversized emerald door.What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Figuring out Point of View! It seemed so hard, but I believe is the difference between a great writer and a mediocre one. POV is why my readers tell me they feel as though they are right there with my characters and feel like my people are real friends. One told me she caught herself praying for one of my characters! What a GREAT compliment!
Tell us about the featured book.GONE TO TEXAS is a very special story in my humble opinion! It’s not only Book One in the awesome Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Collection—which I am SO EXCITED about—but it’s also Book One in my all-new Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga. Three families—close knit by blood and friendship—choose to leave Tennessee and sojourn to the new Republic of Texas, putting everything they own on the line. But Texas was handing out headrights in 1840— free land for settlers! One other fractured family joins them before they leave, so seventeen souls embark on the journey fraught with hardship, danger, and loss.
Please give us the first page of the book.Dickson County, ten miles south of Charlotte, TennesseeAugust 1st, 1840
Alisha's father shook the reins over the mule's back. “Hey, now.” Like the good boys they were, the matched pair leaned into their collars. Trace chains jangled, and leather creaked as the wagon's wheels turned. “Watch your brother, sweetheart!” Her mother turned and looked back over her shoulder. “And help Esther with the little ones.”For what? The tenth time she'd told her that morning?
“Yes, ma'am. I will!” She gave her an exaggerated wave from the porch. Mercy, after seventeen years, she'd think her ma could trust her to be responsible and remember what she'd asked of her. Watching until the rig crossed the creek, she looked toward the sky and sighed. “Oh Lord, what am I going to do?”
The sound of the big hammer banging on the anvil pulled her eyes to the shop shed. Flynn raised the sledge again then brought it down with another boom. “Please, Father God, let us stay. Don't take him away.”
A tug on her shirt pulled her around.
“Lesha, I'm powerful hungry.”
“Mercy, boy! You just had eggs and cornbread. Did you drink all your milk?”
“Yep.” Her brother wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
“Does it break your jaw to say ma'am, Aaron Edmond Van Zandt?”
The six-year-old grinned. “Nope.”
“You better watch it.”
“Yes, maaa'am.” He puffed his chest up, sucked in his poor starving tummy, and grinned even bigger. “Can I eat Arlee's cornbread slab with some honey?”
“No, sir, you certainly may not. You know the rules. If she doesn't clean her plate this meal, she can the next.”
“But she hates cornpone, and I love it! And I'm powerful hungry.” His brows furrowed. He crossed his arms over his chest and stomped his foot. The porch's floorboards rattled.
How can readers find you on the Internet? Southern Writers Magazine - http://authors.southernwritersmagazine.com/caryl-mcadoo.html Sweet Americana Sweethearts - bit.ly/2q0tcfFbit.ly Website: http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com (All First Chapters offered here)Newsletter: http://carylmcadoo.com/sign-up-to-the-caryler/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_1hQx6UZbWi3OYwmKKxh6Q (Hear Caryl sing her New Songs!)Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.authorBlogs: The Word & the Music http://carylmcadoo.com/blog/ HeartWings (Devotional) - http://www.HeartWingsBlog.com Sweet AmericanaSweethearts (Historical) - http://www.SweetAmericanaSweethearts.blogspot.comGoodReads: http://tinyurl.com/GoodReadsCarylGoogle+: http://tinyurl.com/CarylsGooglePlusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryl-mcadoo-00562323Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdoo Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/CarylMcAdoo Puzzle: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3c14f1bbad62
Thank you, Caryl, for sharing this new book with me and my blog readers. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book.Gone to Texas: Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga, book one (Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection One 1)[image error]
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