K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 19

Bonnie Doran's "Dark Biology"

Book Title: Dark Biology
Publisher: Harbourlight, imprint of Pelican Book Group
Cover blurb:Renowned vaccinologist "Hildi" Hildebrandt has set her sights on beating her brother to a Nobel Prize, and the opportunity to conduct experiments on the International Space Station might just provide the means to obtain that goal. Chet Hildebrandt should have had that opportunity. But now he'll teach a lesson to them all: his hot-shot astronaut sister, his philandering hypocritical father, and the CDC for not properly appreciating his work. One vial of a virus purloined from the CDC labs and released at his father's marriage seminar should do the trick, without hurting anybody. After all, it's only a mild influenza strain...Or is it?1) How did this story come to you? I was angry at the news announcing another case of infidelity by a prominent Christian leader. My brain started whirling. What if his son was angry enough to unleash a biological weapon at his father’s Christian marriage seminar? The story developed from there. 

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published. Before turning to fiction, I wrote 67 devotions and a number of magazine articles. I wrote a YA science fiction novel that still sits in my drawer. Several of my critique partners told me I should be writing adult fiction, so I started on that. After six years, I finished the manuscript, acquired an agent, and signed with a publisher the same year. This was after attending writers conferences for 17 years, learning the craft, and developing relationships. 

3) What are you working on now and what’s next for you? I’ve finished half the rough draft of a science fiction  novel called Terror on Targus Three. Here’s the pitch: A Christian agoraphobic linguist races to translate the language of the first-discovered alien race before her blunders start an interstellar war. I’m also involved in promoting Dark Biology through social media, guest blog posts like this one, and book signings. 

4) Parting comments? For aspiring novelists: Don’t give up! Writing and selling a novel takes a lot of work and time. Keep writing, keep learning, and keep forging relationships. 

5) Where can fans find you on the Internet?Website: Where Faith and Science Fiction Collide: http://www.bonniedoranbooks.com/Blog: The Mad Scientist's Wife: http://bonniedoran.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bonniedoranbooks Twitter: @bonniedoranTwitter hashtag: #DarkBiology Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2FWJ0...

Register to win Bonnie Doran's "Dark Biology"

We're happy to have Bonnie Doram with us today talking about her book, "Dark Biology." Please leave her a comment with your email address at the end of her post for your chance to win a copy. if you'd like to receive emails regarding weekly book giveaways, please place your email address in the feed burner box to the right. Thanks!

Book Title: Dark Biology
Publisher: Harbourlight, imprint of Pelican Book Group
Cover blurb:Renowned vaccinologist "Hildi" Hildebrandt has set her sights on beating her brother to a Nobel Prize, and the opportunity to conduct experiments on the International Space Station might just provide the means to obtain that goal. Chet Hildebrandt should have had that opportunity. But now he'll teach a lesson to them all: his hot-shot astronaut sister, his philandering hypocritical father, and the CDC for not properly appreciating his work. One vial of a virus purloined from the CDC labs and released at his father's marriage seminar should do the trick, without hurting anybody. After all, it's only a mild influenza strain...Or is it?1) How did this story come to you? I was angry at the news announcing another case of infidelity by a prominent Christian leader. My brain started whirling. What if his son was angry enough to unleash a biological weapon at his father’s Christian marriage seminar? The story developed from there. 

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published. Before turning to fiction, I wrote 67 devotions and a number of magazine articles. I wrote a YA science fiction novel that still sits in my drawer. Several of my critique partners told me I should be writing adult fiction, so I started on that. After six years, I finished the manuscript, acquired an agent, and signed with a publisher the same year. This was after attending writers conferences for 17 years, learning the craft, and developing relationships. 

3) What are you working on now and what’s next for you? I’ve finished half the rough draft of a science fiction  novel called Terror on Targus Three. Here’s the pitch: A Christian agoraphobic linguist races to translate the language of the first-discovered alien race before her blunders start an interstellar war. I’m also involved in promoting Dark Biology through social media, guest blog posts like this one, and book signings. 

4) Parting comments? For aspiring novelists: Don’t give up! Writing and selling a novel takes a lot of work and time. Keep writing, keep learning, and keep forging relationships. 

5) Where can fans find you on the Internet?Website: Where Faith and Science Fiction Collide: http://www.bonniedoranbooks.com/Blog: The Mad Scientist's Wife: http://bonniedoran.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bonniedoranbooks Twitter: @bonniedoranTwitter hashtag: #DarkBiology Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2FWJ0...

Cheri Swalwell's "Spoken from the Heart? Journey from Fear to Faith"

Title:     Spoken from the Heart: Journey from Fear to Faith

Cover blurb: When faced with difficulties in life or exciting new adventures, we each have a choice. Will you step out in faith or cower in fear? Life can be scary.  Sometimes, through no fault of our own, we’re forced to deal with unemployment, a devastating health diagnosis, broken relationships, financial difficulties, or…sometimes we feel God leading us in a new direction.  It can be exciting, but also scary when we think about the uncertainties and whether or not we heard God’s voice correctly.
Whatever you or someone you love is facing right now, know you have a choice. You can either walk forward with faith in your Heavenly Father and His promise to protect His children, or you can hold back in fear. Join me on my personal journey from living in fear to walking in faith. My journey isn’t over, but I offer encouragement to those who are struggling to take the first step, those who have been walking for a while, or those who are ready to give up. The God I serve is a personal God who lovingly takes care of His children even in the midst of the struggles they are walking through. Think of me as your walking partner on your path as you receive encouragement from my journey.

1)  How did this story come to you?
Starting in the Spring of 2013, God began preparing our family for a battle we would be facing.  Summer of 2013, the battle began.  In November of 2013, God told me He wanted what He was doing in our lives to be an encouragement for others.  That is how the book came about.  It’s our family’s journey through a difficult time and how God provided from the big things down to the smallest detail.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It actually was a year in the making.  I was published for a short period of a time with a small publishing company.  Through that experience, God gave me the confidence to self publish this time.  He was definitely in every detail as it has been a great experience. 

3)  Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m deathly afraid of snakes.
I have always wanted to visit Australia.
I used to have a citrus allergy. 

4) What are you working on now and what’s next for you?
I have various projects in the making.  I am working on video blogging for my blog, Spoken from the Heart. I also am working on an app that takes my blogs into audio form.  In addition, I have the goal of five more books being published in 2014, Lord willing.

5) Parting comments?

Thank you so much for this opportunity.  God gets the glory for everything I do right.  I take the blame for the mistakes I make along the way.  Experiencing peace by walking where God wants me is the best feeling ever. 

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog at: http://journeysfromtheheartofawifeand...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/cheri-Swalwell.
Email:  clSwalwell9(@gmail.com
Twitter:  CheriSwalwell

BIO:Cheri Swalwell is a Christ follower who thoroughly enjoys her calling to be a wife, mother, and writer, in that order. She has a degree in Psychology from Illinois State University and enjoys writing regularly for Book Fun Magazine and LIFE TO THE FULLEST. Cheri’s first book, Spoken from the Heart: Journey from Fear to Faith is available through Amazon.  She is also a contributing author in the book, 31 Devotions for Writers. To contact Cheri or to read one of her many articles on marriage, parenting, or relationships from a Christian perspective, visit her blog at: http://journeysfromtheheartofawifeandmother.wordpress.com . She loves to interact with her readers, so send her an email at clSwalwell99@gmail.com or “like” her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/cheri-Swalwell.

Register to win Cheri Swalwell's "Spoken from the Heart? Journey from Fear to Faith"

We're happy to have Cheri Swalwell with us today talking about her book, "Spoken from the Heart? Journey from Fear to Faith." Please leave her a comment with your email address at the end of her post for your chance to win a copy.

Title:     Spoken from the Heart: Journey from Fear to Faith

Cover blurb: When faced with difficulties in life or exciting new adventures, we each have a choice. Will you step out in faith or cower in fear? Life can be scary.  Sometimes, through no fault of our own, we’re forced to deal with unemployment, a devastating health diagnosis, broken relationships, financial difficulties, or…sometimes we feel God leading us in a new direction.  It can be exciting, but also scary when we think about the uncertainties and whether or not we heard God’s voice correctly.
Whatever you or someone you love is facing right now, know you have a choice. You can either walk forward with faith in your Heavenly Father and His promise to protect His children, or you can hold back in fear. Join me on my personal journey from living in fear to walking in faith. My journey isn’t over, but I offer encouragement to those who are struggling to take the first step, those who have been walking for a while, or those who are ready to give up. The God I serve is a personal God who lovingly takes care of His children even in the midst of the struggles they are walking through. Think of me as your walking partner on your path as you receive encouragement from my journey.

1)  How did this story come to you?
Starting in the Spring of 2013, God began preparing our family for a battle we would be facing.  Summer of 2013, the battle began.  In November of 2013, God told me He wanted what He was doing in our lives to be an encouragement for others.  That is how the book came about.  It’s our family’s journey through a difficult time and how God provided from the big things down to the smallest detail.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It actually was a year in the making.  I was published for a short period of a time with a small publishing company.  Through that experience, God gave me the confidence to self publish this time.  He was definitely in every detail as it has been a great experience. 

3)  Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m deathly afraid of snakes.
I have always wanted to visit Australia.
I used to have a citrus allergy. 

4) What are you working on now and what’s next for you?
I have various projects in the making.  I am working on video blogging for my blog, Spoken from the Heart. I also am working on an app that takes my blogs into audio form.  In addition, I have the goal of five more books being published in 2014, Lord willing.

5) Parting comments?

Thank you so much for this opportunity.  God gets the glory for everything I do right.  I take the blame for the mistakes I make along the way.  Experiencing peace by walking where God wants me is the best feeling ever. 

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog at: http://journeysfromtheheartofawifeand...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/cheri-Swalwell.
Email:  clSwalwell9(@gmail.com
Twitter:  CheriSwalwell

BIO:Cheri Swalwell is a Christ follower who thoroughly enjoys her calling to be a wife, mother, and writer, in that order. She has a degree in Psychology from Illinois State University and enjoys writing regularly for Book Fun Magazine and LIFE TO THE FULLEST. Cheri’s first book, Spoken from the Heart: Journey from Fear to Faith is available through Amazon.  She is also a contributing author in the book, 31 Devotions for Writers. To contact Cheri or to read one of her many articles on marriage, parenting, or relationships from a Christian perspective, visit her blog at: http://journeysfromtheheartofawifeandmother.wordpress.com . She loves to interact with her readers, so send her an email at clSwalwell99@gmail.com or “like” her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/cheri-Swalwell.

The Scent of Fear Blog Tour...

First came The Moses Conspiracy, now comes..... The Scent of Fear.The Zimmermans enjoy the tenuous peace in the wake of their hair-raising year battling the New Patriots. Unexpected visitors once again throw them into turmoil.Jim Kenneman, Director of National Security, masterminded the plan to break up a hate group ravaging the Christian community. Now, his enemies are out to eliminate him. Should he make a run for it or stick by his tried-and-true negotiating skills?Monty Addison, a topnotch operative, carried out his assignment in Bird-in-Hand. A plot to destroy his boss sends him on a mission. Without agency sanction, it may cost him everything - his career, his family, and maybe his life.Dr. Abby Weaver strives to save infants and toddlers in Holmes County, Ohio. When she meets two strangers, she can't get the tall, handsome one out of her mind. Will their paths intersect again or will dangerous times keep them apart?The Scent of Fear is available at: ~~~Amazon~~~ ~~~Barnes and Noble~~~ The Book Series

About the Author
Susan J. Reinhardt's publishing credits include her debut novel, The Moses Conspiracy, as well as devotionals, short articles, and contributions to anthologies. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.A widow, daughter, stepmom, and active church member, Susan resides in Pennsylvania. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, couponing, gardening, and finding small treasures in antique shops.You can connect with Susan at her Blog, on Twitter, and Facebook.
Blog Tour ScheduleDecember 16
~Diane Estrella, www.dianeestrella.com~Pamela Christian, http://pamelachristianministries.com/pamelas_blogDecember 17~Sandie Czosek, http://chattycrone.blogspot.com/~Linda O'Connell, http://lindaoconnell.blogspot.com/December 18~Lynn Mosher, http://lynnmosher.com/~Jill Ivy, https://lucky4jill.wordpress.com/December 19~Debbie Curto, http://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com~Cecelia Lester, http://quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/December 20~Cecelia Lester, http://quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/~Lee Privette, http://faithfamilyfrugalityandme.blogspot.com/?m=1December 21~Patti Smith, http://gridirongrannyfootballfanatic.blogspot.com/~Carene Havel, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440085.Carlene_Havel/blogDecember 22~Darlene Arroyo-Lozada, http://lovebookslozada.blogspot.com/~Karen Korb, http://stillmagnolias.blogspot.comDecember 23~Maria I. Morgan, www.mariaimorgan.com~Beckie Stoneking, www.inaminute-beckie.blogspot.comDecember 26~Leah's Good Reads, http://leahsgoodreads.blogspot.com/~Marja Verschoor-Meijers, http://sacredsabbath.blogspot.comDecember 27~Jennifer Van Huss, http://oneheartonefamily.com~Brittany McEuen, www.brittreadsfiction.wordpress.comDecember 28~Debbie Curto, http://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com~Lori Drake, http://www.perfectisboring.blogspot.comDecember 29~Kim Justice, http://breathoflifebookreviews.blogspot.com/~K. Dawn Byrd, Www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.comDecember 30~Ruth Schiffmann, http://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.com/~Janette Dolores, www.janettedolores.comDecember 31~Cindi Clubbs, http://ccclubbs.com/~Kathleen Maher, http://kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com/January 2~Jen Cudmore, http://www.jencudmore.com/~Karen Lange, http://karenelange.blogspot.com/January 7~Jeanette Levellie, http://jeanettelevellie.blogspot.com/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Giveaway
Open to US addresses only. One person will receive a $25 Amazon GC and a copy of The Scent of Fear. Please use the Rafflecopter below to be entered:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be chosen from those entries and announced January 17, 2014. Good luck!
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as e-mailed, and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Diane at That’s What I’m Here For… and sponsored by the author, Susan J. Reinhardt. The author provided me with a free copy of The Scent of Fear to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a giveaway in return for the free book.VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Teresa Pollard's "Tokens of Promise"

A Child is BornFor unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given…(Isaiah 9:6)      I remember vividly the day each of my children was born.  The last one was over thirty years ago, but it could have been yesterday.  Yes, I remember the pain, but much more I remember the great joy.  When my oldest daughter was born, total strangers came into my room to tell me she was the most beautiful newborn baby they had ever seen.  When my son was born, he was the largest baby in the nursery, so people admired him greatly too.  And when my youngest was born, she was so tiny (at least compared to the other two) but still perfect in my sight.  Kristina, my oldest is a definite Type A personality; driven, with a gift of organization, and a passion for getting things done.  My son, Kevin is Type B, seemingly content to amble through life--that is, until you put him behind the wheel of his truck on a drag strip.  Then you will see exactly how fast he can go!  I’ve never heard of a type C personality, but if there is such a thing, my daughter Kara had it.  She has been described as “tough as nails,” “a spitfire,” and her gifts were tenacity, an intense loyalty, and an ability for peacemaking that carried through everything she did.  I’ve often wondered how the same two parents living in the same household could produce three children who could not have been more different if they had been born on different planets.  But I shouldn’t have wondered.  Every child is unique and special in their own way, and a deliberate gift from our Heavenly Father to the world.        But of course, Jesus isn’t just any child.  He is the One and Only Son of God, sent to be born in a manger, live a perfect life, and die on a cruel cross for my sin.  The Bible tells us quite a bit about His personality.  He was certainly driven.  From the age of twelve, He was already about His Father’s business.  His gifts for organization and getting the job done were phenomenal.  He organized twelve men to carry the gospel to the entire world!  At the same time, He could never be hurried, content to walk everywhere He went, and even then, on His own (and His Father’s) schedule, not when other’s would demand it.  He would stop to heal an old woman even when a synagogue official wanted Him to hurry to heal his daughter, and Mary and Martha would learn that even when He was four days late, He was still right on time.  And He was as tough as the nails that were driven through His hands in His tenacity to win the battle against Satan for our souls.  The temple merchants certainly saw the “spitfire” side of His nature when He overturned the money changing tables and cleansed the temple!  He is the Prince of Peace Who brought us peace with God and peace with each other at the price of His own blood.  What kind of personality would you call that?  ABC?  We can’t really define it, can we?  He was the One and Only unique God-man, the Son of the Most High!
     This Christmas Day, as we celebrate His birth, we must consider why He came.  He came to show us Who God is in a way that nature or words in a Book could never do.  He came to show us the personality of God:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Self-Control.  He personified them all.  At the same time, He came to be that second Adam: the man Who got it right and did it God’s way so that He was able to pay the penalty for sin on our behalf.  Scientists keep looking for a missing link, but they’re looking in the wrong direction.  Jesus came to be our link to God Himself.  All God-All man, He is our Mediator, our Redeemer, our Intercessor, our Hope, and our King!  “For unto us a Child is born.  Unto us a Son is given.  And the government will be upon His shoulders.”  The first time He came as a baby in a manger.  The next time, He comes back riding on a white horse as the King of the Universe that He always has been.  Please be ready when that day comes!  God bless you.             “Tokens of Promise” by Teresa PollardInspired by The Bible, Genesis 38, “Tokens of Promise” is an imagination of the love story of Judah and Tamar.“Beware, Prince of Hebron, her witching ways are strong.”  Ben Qara’s evil words still rang in his ears.  Judah is sure he was bewitched by the beautiful Tamar.  She is all he can think about.  But no, it must not be.  He will not break his vow to Yah.  He already has a wife, and he will have only one.  Tamar must marry Er. Rescued from disgrace by the handsome Judah, Tamar is already in love with the kind stranger.  She eagerly followed Emi’s advice on how to win him.  It almost worked.  He’d promised.  If only his servant hadn’t come at that moment, she’d be his wife now instead of going home with him to be his daughter-in-law.   Why had her father agreed to this?  Surely he could see her destiny was with Judah?
Release date: June 4, 2013Category: Christian/Fiction/BiblicalISBN (paperback): 978-1938708145   Retail $14.99.  Available at Amazon.ISBN (ebook): 978-1-938708-18-3  Retail $3.99.  Available for Kindle and Nook.

Teresa Pollard is from Richmond, Virginia, and was saved at a young age.  She has a Masters degree in English and Creative Writing from Hollins College, and has served as a Sunday School teacher and children’s worker for most of the last forty years.  Married for forty years, she was devastated by divorce and the death of her youngest daughter, but God has blessed her with a new home and another grandson, and she now resides in Dacula, Georgia.  Her website is TeresaPollardWrites.com
Teresa’s books published by HopeSprings Books:“Not Guilty“, February 2013“Tokens of Promise“, June 2013

Register to win Teresa Pollard's "Tokens of Promise"

We're happy to have Teresa Pollard with us talking about her book "Tokens of Promise." Please leave her a comment with your email address for your chance to win. To learn more about Teresa and her book, read on!

“Tokens of Promise” by Teresa Pollard
Inspired by The Bible, Genesis 38, “Tokens of Promise” is an imagination of the love story of Judah and Tamar.
“Beware, Prince of Hebron, her witching ways are strong.”  Ben Qara’s evil words still rang in his ears.  Judah is sure he was bewitched by the beautiful Tamar.  She is all he can think about.  But no, it must not be.  He will not break his vow to Yah.  He already has a wife, and he will have only one.  Tamar must marry Er. Rescued from disgrace by the handsome Judah, Tamar is already in love with the kind stranger.  She eagerly followed Emi’s advice on how to win him.  It almost worked.  He’d promised.  If only his servant hadn’t come at that moment, she’d be his wife now instead of going home with him to be his daughter-in-law.   Why had her father agreed to this?  Surely he could see her destiny was with Judah?
Release date: June 4, 2013Category: Christian/Fiction/BiblicalISBN (paperback): 978-1938708145   Retail $14.99.  Available at Amazon.ISBN (ebook): 978-1-938708-18-3  Retail $3.99.  Available for Kindle and Nook.

Teresa Pollard is from Richmond, Virginia, and was saved at a young age.  She has a Masters degree in English and Creative Writing from Hollins College, and has served as a Sunday School teacher and children’s worker for most of the last forty years.  Married for forty years, she was devastated by divorce and the death of her youngest daughter, but God has blessed her with a new home and another grandson, and she now resides in Dacula, Georgia.  Her website is TeresaPollardWrites.com
Teresa’s books published by HopeSprings Books:“Not Guilty“, February 2013“Tokens of Promise“, June 2013

"Heaven's Prey" by Janet Sketchley

Title: Heaven's Prey
Publisher: Choose NOW Publishing

Cover blurb: A grieving woman is abducted by a serial killer—and it may be the answer to her prayers.

Despite her husband’s objections, 40-something Ruth Warner finds healing through prayer for Harry Silver, the serial killer who brutally raped and murdered her niece. When a kidnapping-gone-wrong pegs her as his next victim, Harry claims that by destroying the one person who’d pray for him, he proves God can’t—or won’t—look after His own. Can Ruth’s faith sustain her to the end—whatever the cost?

1) How did this story come to you?
Sometimes I pray for people I see in the news, either victims or villains. This story started with a question: "It's one thing to pray for an offender locked away in jail, but what would you do if you met the person face to face?"

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Heaven's Prey is my first novel, and it went through several rewrites plus a long search for a home. Not many publishers want to take a chance on a new author with an issue-laden novel, especially when it's set in Canada. Choose NOW Publishing tackles issues without flinching, and their editing team brought out the best in my story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1- Although my novel is about the redemption of a serial rapist-murderer, I'm not comfortable reading stories that put women in this kind of danger.
2- I once worked in the busiest McDonalds in London, England.
3- Every year I make a birthday cake for my characters (hey, I needed some kind of reward for persevering so long!)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm revising the next story in the Redemption's Edge series, Secrets and Lies, and doing some initial plotting for book 3.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for including me on your blog. Exposure is crucial for small-pubbed and self-pubbed authors without huge marketing budgets behind us!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I most like to connect with readers at my website: janetsketchley.ca. It's kind of like having them come to visit. Wish I could find a way to offer them tea and cookies! The Heaven's Prey bonus features page has a link to read the prologue and chapter 1 for free, plus character interviews and other tidbits. My blog, Tenacity, is part of the site, and I post weekly reviews, devotionals and features. I also have a Facebook author page and I spend a bit of time on Twitter.

Register to win "Heaven's Prey" by Janet Sketchley

We're happy to have Janet Sketchley with us today talking about her book, "Heaven's Prey." To register to win a copy, leave Janet a comment with your email address and if you've not done so, place your email address in my feedburner box to the right to receive weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Janet and her book, read on!

Title: Heaven's Prey
Publisher: Choose NOW Publishing

Cover blurb: A grieving woman is abducted by a serial killer—and it may be the answer to her prayers.

Despite her husband’s objections, 40-something Ruth Warner finds healing through prayer for Harry Silver, the serial killer who brutally raped and murdered her niece. When a kidnapping-gone-wrong pegs her as his next victim, Harry claims that by destroying the one person who’d pray for him, he proves God can’t—or won’t—look after His own. Can Ruth’s faith sustain her to the end—whatever the cost?

1) How did this story come to you?
Sometimes I pray for people I see in the news, either victims or villains. This story started with a question: "It's one thing to pray for an offender locked away in jail, but what would you do if you met the person face to face?"

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Heaven's Prey is my first novel, and it went through several rewrites plus a long search for a home. Not many publishers want to take a chance on a new author with an issue-laden novel, especially when it's set in Canada. Choose NOW Publishing tackles issues without flinching, and their editing team brought out the best in my story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1- Although my novel is about the redemption of a serial rapist-murderer, I'm not comfortable reading stories that put women in this kind of danger.
2- I once worked in the busiest McDonalds in London, England.
3- Every year I make a birthday cake for my characters (hey, I needed some kind of reward for persevering so long!)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm revising the next story in the Redemption's Edge series, Secrets and Lies, and doing some initial plotting for book 3.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for including me on your blog. Exposure is crucial for small-pubbed and self-pubbed authors without huge marketing budgets behind us!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I most like to connect with readers at my website: janetsketchley.ca. It's kind of like having them come to visit. Wish I could find a way to offer them tea and cookies! The Heaven's Prey bonus features page has a link to read the prologue and chapter 1 for free, plus character interviews and other tidbits. My blog, Tenacity, is part of the site, and I post weekly reviews, devotionals and features. I also have a Facebook author page and I spend a bit of time on Twitter.

A note from the author:
[Giveaway – we can do a print giveaway US-only, or if you want to expand it worldwide we can give an e-copy if the winner is outside continental US. They'd have to specify their country in the comments if we do it that way.]

"Amazing Love," a modern Hosea & Gomer story

If you've read Amazing Love and reviewed it, thanks so much! If you've read it and not reviewed it, please take a moment to do so.

Gabe Knight, a pastor in a small coastal town, finds his life is turned upside down when Dee Dillow arrives and hires him to remodel an estate she's inherited from her aunt. Dee dashes his plans for wedded bless when on a drunken binge, she divulges that she's the highest paid call girl in Nevada and part-owner of the ritziest brothel in the state.

Gabe falls in love with her, but can't believe he's hearing the voice of God when a still, small voice tells him to marry her. After much questioning, they marry and he is deliriously happy. Until, Dee betrays him. 

Gabe soon discovers just how hard it is to have the unconditional love God calls him to have for his wife, the kind of love God has for his children. When faced with losing her, Gabe realizes what true love is, how much it hurts, and just how much God loves and is willing to sacrifice for his children.

Amazing Love is a contemporary version of the Hosea and Gomer story from the Bible.