K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 21

Register to win Carole Brown's "The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman"

We're happy to have Carole Brown with us today talking about his book, "The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman." To register to win a copy, leave Carole 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 Carole and her book, read on!

 Title:  The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Cover blurb:  Caralynne Hayman is angry and bitter over the abuse and death of her eleven-year-old daughter at the hands of a radical religious cult--The Children of Righteous Cain. So when her husband, a founding member of the cult, suffers a massive heart attack, Caralynne allows her husband die.

Caralynne’s secret seems safe until Dayne MacFarland returns, determined to learn the truth about the cult. His investigation and his rekindled love for Caralynne lead the pair toward a confrontation with the group’s leaders.

Can Dayne’s love for Caralynne bridge the gulf of anger and bitterness that divides the community? Or will Caralynne’s deadly secrets prove too high a price for her redemption?
 
1)  How did this story come to you?
From my husband. He and I enjoy keeping up with unusual news items in the world, and the cult situation in Texas (several years ago) caught our attention. We began a “what if” session, and Dan, my husband, came up with the idea of a cult group and a woman who loses a child through abuse. The story developed from there.
How would she feel? Could she forgive? If she didn’t have God in her heart, how far would she go? And the question begs to be answered. Could you--or I--forgive? I know it’s easy to say, “with God’s help I would.” But I’ve seen people’s reactions. I’ve wept with them over the inexcusable deaths that happen, and I will say, sometimes, most of the time, it takes God.

2) Tell us the journey to getting this book published.  
In the spring of 2012, I met with Eddie Jones from the Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas who requested my agent send him the manuscript. She did, and in December, I signed a contract with them. Release date for The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman was October 21, 2013, and so far is receiving wonderful reviews!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.  
A) I collect rocks, elephants and unique music boxes,
B) I’d rather prepare party foods as a regular dinner meal, and
C) I’m terrified of snakes and heights, yet I’d rather live in the woods and hills/mountains than flat land!

4)  What are you working on now and what’s next for you? 
I’m plotting a sequel to The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman. I’m also hoping to finish a historical (light suspense) this year and planning to finish books 2 & 3 from the Denton and Alex Davies series. Book 1: Hog Insane (and no, it’s not about pigs!) is releasing around November 18, 2013. Then I have second books in two others series I work on off and on.

5) Parting comments? 
I love to connect with readers. My readers can always expect some type of suspense within my books. Sometimes it will be lighter than other times, but it’s always there along with a touch of romance and sometimes a bit of whimsy and dry humor. Anyone with questions can contact me via one of the avenues below.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown....
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/52...

I also am part of several other blogs:
Geezers Guys and Gals:  http://geezerguysandgals.blogspot.com/
Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/
Barn Door Book Loft: http://www.barndoorbookloft.net/

 

Richard L. Mabry's "Heart Failure"

Title: Heart Failure
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, a division of Harper Collins Christian Publishing
Cover blurb:When her fiancé’s dangerous secrets turn her world upside-down, a beautiful doctor must choose between her own safety and the man she loves—and thought she knew.Dr. Carrie Markham’s heart was broken by the death of her husband two years ago. Now, just as her medical practice is taking off, her fresh engagement to paralegal Adam Davidson seems almost too good to be true . . . until a drive-by shooting leaves Carrie on the floor of his car with glass falling around her.When he confesses that Adam isn’t his real name and that he fled the witness protection program, Carrie is left with an impossible choice: should she abandon the fiancé she isn’t sure she really knows, or accept his claim of innocence and help him fight back against a faceless menace? 
1) How did this story come to you? The basic idea of a man who left the Witness Protection Program and struck out on his own, constantly looking over his shoulder, came from a newspaper article. I took that and wondered, “What if, in his new location, he fell in love and got engaged? Would he tell his fiancé? And what if someone came looking for him?” After that, the characters sort of directed me through the rest of the plot.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published. Getting all my novels published has involved a struggle. Before I received my first contract I wrote for four years, producing four novels (including multiple versions thereof) and garnering forty rejections. My initial contract for one book led to others, and once the snowball started rolling, it’s continued its journey despite a few hiccups. Heart Failure is my sixth novel, the third one published by Thomas Nelson. 
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers. 1) After I got my grade on my first Gross Anatomy practical exam during my freshman year in medical school, I seriously considered other career options. 2) I served almost three years as a doctor in the Air Force, including participating in a helicopter rescue of a seaman from a merchant ship, but to this day I’m afraid of heights. 3) I’m a proud Texan but don’t have a Western hat, and there’s a thick layer of dust on the cowboy boots sitting in my closet.
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you? I’ve recently completed the final edits on Critical Condition, which Thomas Nelson will release in April of next year. While I wait (and market the books I already have in print), I’ve been writing on my next book, working title Surgical Judgment. It begins when a gunman bursts into the ER with his brother, the victim of a gunshot wound. The gunman is holding a pistol to the head of an ER nurse whom the doctor has dated several times. The man threatens to kill both her and the doctor if his brother dies. The resolution of that situation makes the doctor and nurse targets of what they perceive as revenge killings, so that they must work to save their own lives while trying to sort out their relationship. 
5) Parting comments? Dawn, thanks for having me here. Final thoughts? How about this sign I saw recently in a restaurant. “If you like our food, tell others. If you don’t, keep coming back. Maybe it will grow on you.” To my readers, I hope you’ll like my books, but if you don’t like the first one you pick up, please give me another try. Maybe my writing will grow on you. Seriously, I appreciate the loyal support of all my readers, as well as the helping hand and kind words from writers who’ve been friends and mentors to me on my road to writing. 
6) Where can fans find you on the Internet?My web page is http://rmabry.com. I blog twice weekly at http://rmabry.blogspot.com. Fans can follow me on Facebook (my fan page is rmabrybooks) and Twitter (RichardMabry). And, of course, they can email me at Dr R L Mabry at yahoo dot com (removing the spaces, of course).

Register to win Richard L. Mabry's "Heart Failure"

We're happy to have Richard L. Mabry with us today talking about his book, "Heart Failure." To register to win a copy, leave Richard 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 Richard and his book, read on!


Title: Heart Failure
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, a division of Harper Collins Christian Publishing
Cover blurb:When her fiancé’s dangerous secrets turn her world upside-down, a beautiful doctor must choose between her own safety and the man she loves—and thought she knew.Dr. Carrie Markham’s heart was broken by the death of her husband two years ago. Now, just as her medical practice is taking off, her fresh engagement to paralegal Adam Davidson seems almost too good to be true . . . until a drive-by shooting leaves Carrie on the floor of his car with glass falling around her.When he confesses that Adam isn’t his real name and that he fled the witness protection program, Carrie is left with an impossible choice: should she abandon the fiancé she isn’t sure she really knows, or accept his claim of innocence and help him fight back against a faceless menace? 
1) How did this story come to you? The basic idea of a man who left the Witness Protection Program and struck out on his own, constantly looking over his shoulder, came from a newspaper article. I took that and wondered, “What if, in his new location, he fell in love and got engaged? Would he tell his fiancé? And what if someone came looking for him?” After that, the characters sort of directed me through the rest of the plot.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published. Getting all my novels published has involved a struggle. Before I received my first contract I wrote for four years, producing four novels (including multiple versions thereof) and garnering forty rejections. My initial contract for one book led to others, and once the snowball started rolling, it’s continued its journey despite a few hiccups. Heart Failure is my sixth novel, the third one published by Thomas Nelson. 
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers. 1) After I got my grade on my first Gross Anatomy practical exam during my freshman year in medical school, I seriously considered other career options. 2) I served almost three years as a doctor in the Air Force, including participating in a helicopter rescue of a seaman from a merchant ship, but to this day I’m afraid of heights. 3) I’m a proud Texan but don’t have a Western hat, and there’s a thick layer of dust on the cowboy boots sitting in my closet.
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you? I’ve recently completed the final edits on Critical Condition, which Thomas Nelson will release in April of next year. While I wait (and market the books I already have in print), I’ve been writing on my next book, working title Surgical Judgment. It begins when a gunman bursts into the ER with his brother, the victim of a gunshot wound. The gunman is holding a pistol to the head of an ER nurse whom the doctor has dated several times. The man threatens to kill both her and the doctor if his brother dies. The resolution of that situation makes the doctor and nurse targets of what they perceive as revenge killings, so that they must work to save their own lives while trying to sort out their relationship. 
5) Parting comments? Dawn, thanks for having me here. Final thoughts? How about this sign I saw recently in a restaurant. “If you like our food, tell others. If you don’t, keep coming back. Maybe it will grow on you.” To my readers, I hope you’ll like my books, but if you don’t like the first one you pick up, please give me another try. Maybe my writing will grow on you. Seriously, I appreciate the loyal support of all my readers, as well as the helping hand and kind words from writers who’ve been friends and mentors to me on my road to writing. 
6) Where can fans find you on the Internet?My web page is http://rmabry.com. I blog twice weekly at http://rmabry.blogspot.com. Fans can follow me on Facebook (my fan page is rmabrybooks) and Twitter (RichardMabry). And, of course, they can email me at Dr R L Mabry at yahoo dot com (removing the spaces, of course).

Ada Brownell's "Imagine the Future You"

WHY WE NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN By Ada Brownell

Ungodly things we assimilate into our brains (even alcohol or an illegal drug) can do things to our brains we can’t fathom.Could be like what happened to Jones, my sister Clara’s Chihuahua, a little darling dog who did all kinds of tricks and received his hamburgers “made to order” and a human-style cookie for dessert.But one day, he coughed, sneezed and gagged. He wouldn’t eat, and his condition continued for days.My sis thought Jones was dying. She couldn’t bear to put him to sleep. Her son was fighting a war and he loved Jonesy.“We can’t let Jonesy die!” she said.After nearly a week not eating, Jonesy gagged and Clara noticed something in the back of his throat. A long blade of grass hung from his nose down into his esophagus. She reached in and pulled it out. Jonesy immediately got a drink of water and ate. He lived several years afterward.Sometimes a tiny amount of filth or ungodliness can give us great grief, too.If we are forced to read offensive material, we can pray for God’s protection for our minds, but we can go further. We can ask for a substitute. Teachers usually provide something else, especially if you come with a respectful attitude.I obtained a substitute book in college when Hugh Hefner’s biography was required reading. I didn’t want that stuff in my brain. When I overheard another student say of the biography of the Playboy empire owner and founder, “That’s really a raunchy book!” I knew it wasn’t for me.A much more serious problem with our brains arises: brainwashing. I am a graduate of a secular college and saw brainwashing first hand. Secular professors often want to “reprogram” students who have faith in a personal God. If you are a science major, changing your belief systems is a top priority. I encountered anti-God teaching in psychology classes, a course on the environment, and even in music history. Mass communications classes seemed to be saturated with obscenity and we spent most of our time in the media law class studying obscenity law. Christians often are ridiculed, discriminated against, and even given lower grades or flunked if they don’t embrace the theology of secularism.Most colleges and universities promote a one-world government; teach against freedom and capitalism, and work to make secularism everyone’s religion, and the earth their God.Now secularists, and even other religions, are inserting anti-Christian and ungodly doctrines into public school education to brainwash Christian teaching implanted by the church and parents.Always remember propaganda always contains some truth, and often it doesn’t on its face attack beliefs, but gives something else to believe.One thing we learn about our brain is once we put something into it, it’s there for recall. Sometimes the things you try the hardest to forget are the ones that stick. That’s why we need to be careful what we put into our heads.
The good news is the Lord left us a book different from any textbook ever written because it never is outdated. The Bible has the only keys that open the way to eternal life, supernatural love, joy, peace and a pattern for living.It’s the only download for your brain that won’t crash the person God created you to be.©Ada Brownell Oct. 2013
* The above is an excerpt from Imagine The Future You, soon to be available on Amazon,  likely at the Amazon Ada Brownell author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06

IMAGINE THE FUTURE YOU To be released in Oct. 2013
Will you be the person you dream of being—or someone from your nightmares?
You don’t need a fortune teller to reveal your future. You are the person who determines who you will be, what your life will be like, and how your hopes and dreams will be fulfilled.
Today is the time to IMAGINE and to create an action plan for your future.
How harnessing your will can make you a championHow to make valuable deposits into your mind, detoxify harmful substances in the brain, and avoid brain washingHow to look and be your bestHow to connect with Someone who will make a difference in your lifeHow who you marry changes everythingHow to avoid traps that jeopardize your futureWhere you want your name to appearWhy you can believe God is there and interested in your futureExamples of people who grabbed their future and held on
This book will show how to make the right connections, how to grow you talents, and how to begin believing in yourself and things greater than yourself—for a wonderful Future You!


Ada Brownell bioAda Brownell has been writing for Christian publications since age 15 and spent much of her life as a daily newspaper reporter. She has a B.S. degree in Mass Communications and worked most of her career at The Pueblo Chieftain in Colo., where she spent the last seven years as a medical writer. After moving to Springfield, MO in her retirement, she continues to free lance for Christian publications and write non-fiction and fiction books. She is critique group leader of Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers.She is author of Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult, released Jan. 15, 2013; Swallowed by Life: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal, released Dec. 6, 2011; and Confessions of a Pentecostal, published by the Assemblies of God’s Gospel Publishing House in 1978, out- of-print but released in 2012 for Kindle. Watch for her new book on Amazon, Imagine the Future You. All the books are available in paper or for Kindle.      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/AdaBrownellWritingMinistries     Twitter: @adellerella     Blog: http://inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com Stick to Your Soul Encouragement     Amazon Ada Brownell author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06

Register to win Ada Brownell's "Imagine the Future You"

We're happy to have Ada Brownell with us today talking about her book, "Imagine the Future You." To register to win a copy, leave Ada 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. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. To learn more about Ada and her book, read on!

WHY WE NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN By Ada Brownell

Ungodly things we assimilate into our brains (even alcohol or an illegal drug) can do things to our brains we can’t fathom.Could be like what happened to Jones, my sister Clara’s Chihuahua, a little darling dog who did all kinds of tricks and received his hamburgers “made to order” and a human-style cookie for dessert.But one day, he coughed, sneezed and gagged. He wouldn’t eat, and his condition continued for days.My sis thought Jones was dying. She couldn’t bear to put him to sleep. Her son was fighting a war and he loved Jonesy.“We can’t let Jonesy die!” she said.After nearly a week not eating, Jonesy gagged and Clara noticed something in the back of his throat. A long blade of grass hung from his nose down into his esophagus. She reached in and pulled it out. Jonesy immediately got a drink of water and ate. He lived several years afterward.Sometimes a tiny amount of filth or ungodliness can give us great grief, too.If we are forced to read offensive material, we can pray for God’s protection for our minds, but we can go further. We can ask for a substitute. Teachers usually provide something else, especially if you come with a respectful attitude.I obtained a substitute book in college when Hugh Hefner’s biography was required reading. I didn’t want that stuff in my brain. When I overheard another student say of the biography of the Playboy empire owner and founder, “That’s really a raunchy book!” I knew it wasn’t for me.A much more serious problem with our brains arises: brainwashing. I am a graduate of a secular college and saw brainwashing first hand. Secular professors often want to “reprogram” students who have faith in a personal God. If you are a science major, changing your belief systems is a top priority. I encountered anti-God teaching in psychology classes, a course on the environment, and even in music history. Mass communications classes seemed to be saturated with obscenity and we spent most of our time in the media law class studying obscenity law. Christians often are ridiculed, discriminated against, and even given lower grades or flunked if they don’t embrace the theology of secularism.Most colleges and universities promote a one-world government; teach against freedom and capitalism, and work to make secularism everyone’s religion, and the earth their God.Now secularists, and even other religions, are inserting anti-Christian and ungodly doctrines into public school education to brainwash Christian teaching implanted by the church and parents.Always remember propaganda always contains some truth, and often it doesn’t on its face attack beliefs, but gives something else to believe.One thing we learn about our brain is once we put something into it, it’s there for recall. Sometimes the things you try the hardest to forget are the ones that stick. That’s why we need to be careful what we put into our heads.
The good news is the Lord left us a book different from any textbook ever written because it never is outdated. The Bible has the only keys that open the way to eternal life, supernatural love, joy, peace and a pattern for living.It’s the only download for your brain that won’t crash the person God created you to be.©Ada Brownell Oct. 2013
* The above is an excerpt from Imagine The Future You, soon to be available on Amazon,  likely at the Amazon Ada Brownell author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06

IMAGINE THE FUTURE YOU To be released in Oct. 2013
Will you be the person you dream of being—or someone from your nightmares?
You don’t need a fortune teller to reveal your future. You are the person who determines who you will be, what your life will be like, and how your hopes and dreams will be fulfilled.
Today is the time to IMAGINE and to create an action plan for your future.
How harnessing your will can make you a championHow to make valuable deposits into your mind, detoxify harmful substances in the brain, and avoid brain washingHow to look and be your bestHow to connect with Someone who will make a difference in your lifeHow who you marry changes everythingHow to avoid traps that jeopardize your futureWhere you want your name to appearWhy you can believe God is there and interested in your futureExamples of people who grabbed their future and held on
This book will show how to make the right connections, how to grow you talents, and how to begin believing in yourself and things greater than yourself—for a wonderful Future You!


Ada Brownell bioAda Brownell has been writing for Christian publications since age 15 and spent much of her life as a daily newspaper reporter. She has a B.S. degree in Mass Communications and worked most of her career at The Pueblo Chieftain in Colo., where she spent the last seven years as a medical writer. After moving to Springfield, MO in her retirement, she continues to free lance for Christian publications and write non-fiction and fiction books. She is critique group leader of Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers.She is author of Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult, released Jan. 15, 2013; Swallowed by Life: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal, released Dec. 6, 2011; and Confessions of a Pentecostal, published by the Assemblies of God’s Gospel Publishing House in 1978, out- of-print but released in 2012 for Kindle. Watch for her new book on Amazon, Imagine the Future You. All the books are available in paper or for Kindle.      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/AdaBrownellWritingMinistries     Twitter: @adellerella     Blog: http://inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com Stick to Your Soul Encouragement     Amazon Ada Brownell author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06

Free on kindle...Amazing Love...a modern Hosea & Gomer novel

If you missed it last time, it's free again! Amazing Love is free today and tomorrow!

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.

I don't know this person, but I really appreciate her review.

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Grandma's Christian Fiction November 30, 2012 By Nikki Studebaker Barcus Format:Kindle EditionWhat's a small town preacher to do when the highest paid call girl in the state of Nevada moves in? Run her out of town? Witness to her about God? Send in the little, old church ladies to take care of things? In K. Dawn Bryd's "Amazing Love", preacher Gabe Knight does the least logical thing and makes her his wife.

Modeled after the biblical story of the prophet Hosea and the prostitute-turned-wife Gomer, "Amazing Love" shows the depths of unconditional love through the modern-day romance of Gabe Knight and Dee Dillow. Dee struggles with the desire to leave behind the only life she's ever known-that of a high-class call girl and brothel owner-and the simple life she longs for in the sleepy coastal town. Gabe battles the call from his heart (and from God) to marry the woman he loves while upholding the expectations of his church and community.

Byrd excells at creating three-dimensional characters, who, while sometimes deeply flawed, resonate with the reader on a gut level. She layers in feelings, motivations, and backstory so the reader understands the characters' choices and actions. Her background in counseling helps the reader connect to the characters regardless of whether the reader could see him/herself making the same choices.

The story addresses a gamut of hot-button Christian issues that may side-track or lose some readers. Drug abuse, drinking, sexual exploitation, and very edgy love scenes may offend some readers and makes the book suitable for mature readers only. I enjoyed this re-telling of the biblical story and the ending was satisfying and has more closure than its biblical counterpart. I would recommend it to adult readers--men or women--who enjoy Christian romance and contemporary fiction.

A big thank you to the guys over at the Kindle Books and Tips blog for highlighting Amazing Love, which will start today at 10:30am central time. They have a great website. Check out their website at http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/ . Please post a like on their facebook page for Amazing Love at www.facebook.com/fkbooks

Vannetta Chapman's "The Christmas Quilt"

Tell us about your newest release-The Christmas Quilt is a story of quilting, family, and God’s grace. I adore this book and have never written anything quite like it as it centers around the making of a quilt (a 9 patch crib quilt), and it also contains nine small stories within the novel – one to go with each of the quilt panels.Is this book part of a series?It’s actually part of 2 series! The book is part of the Quilts of Love series, which you can read about at  http://www.quiltsoflovebooks.com/. There are some wonderful authors writing these books. Each book centers around the making of a quilt, and you’ll find stories from all genres—mainstream, romance, historical, contemporary, women’s fiction, and of course one or two Amish. This book also continues the story of A Simple Amish Christmas, my first Amish book. We’ll be back in Mifflin County, PA and once again rejoin Annie and Samuel.Did you learn anything new while you were writing this book?I did! I learned how to quilt a little better. It was impossible for me to write so much about quilting and not try my hand at it. I’m very much a beginner, but I do enjoy trying. I also had a woman in our town who is a fabulous quilter look over the manuscript, so I’d be sure to get the details right. I ended up dedicating the book to Martha, because she was a huge help to me.This is a Christmas story?Yes, it is. It takes place in the weeks before Christmas. You’ll definitely see the difference between how most of us celebrate Christmas and how the Amish do. You’ll also read the story of how Christmas can be difficult at times, but God is still in control. Even when we’re worried or heartsick or physically ill, God cares for us.Give us an example of one scene from the book that you particularly liked. Annie’s family holds a special benefit auction to help with unexpected medical expenses. I told this scene from Adam’s point of view, and I had a lot of fun playing with what men notice versus what women notice. I also love this practice of the community coming together to help each other. We see this in all communities—not only Amish. It’s very encouraging when people help one another.And we do see returning characters? Oh yes. Annie’s entire family is there, and we also see Kiptyn again, the young boy who is in the opening scene of A Simple Amish Christmas. I had lots of readers write me about Kiptyn, and I think they’ll be happy learning the details of his life.What’s next for you? I actually have 2 books releasing in March of 2014. The first is Murder Simple Brewed which is set in Middlebury Indiana and is a new cozy mystery series. My second release is a novella in the Amish Garden collection. 

Register to win Vannetta Chapman's "The Christmas Quilt"

We're happy to have Vannetta Chapman with us today talking about  "The Christmas Quilt." To register to win a copy, leave Vannetta 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 Vanetta and her book, read on!

Tell us about your newest release-The Christmas Quilt is a story of quilting, family, and God’s grace. I adore this book and have never written anything quite like it as it centers around the making of a quilt (a 9 patch crib quilt), and it also contains nine small stories within the novel – one to go with each of the quilt panels.Is this book part of a series?It’s actually part of 2 series! The book is part of the Quilts of Love series, which you can read about at  http://www.quiltsoflovebooks.com/. There are some wonderful authors writing these books. Each book centers around the making of a quilt, and you’ll find stories from all genres—mainstream, romance, historical, contemporary, women’s fiction, and of course one or two Amish. This book also continues the story of A Simple Amish Christmas, my first Amish book. We’ll be back in Mifflin County, PA and once again rejoin Annie and Samuel.Did you learn anything new while you were writing this book?I did! I learned how to quilt a little better. It was impossible for me to write so much about quilting and not try my hand at it. I’m very much a beginner, but I do enjoy trying. I also had a woman in our town who is a fabulous quilter look over the manuscript, so I’d be sure to get the details right. I ended up dedicating the book to Martha, because she was a huge help to me.This is a Christmas story?Yes, it is. It takes place in the weeks before Christmas. You’ll definitely see the difference between how most of us celebrate Christmas and how the Amish do. You’ll also read the story of how Christmas can be difficult at times, but God is still in control. Even when we’re worried or heartsick or physically ill, God cares for us.Give us an example of one scene from the book that you particularly liked. Annie’s family holds a special benefit auction to help with unexpected medical expenses. I told this scene from Adam’s point of view, and I had a lot of fun playing with what men notice versus what women notice. I also love this practice of the community coming together to help each other. We see this in all communities—not only Amish. It’s very encouraging when people help one another.And we do see returning characters? Oh yes. Annie’s entire family is there, and we also see Kiptyn again, the young boy who is in the opening scene of A Simple Amish Christmas. I had lots of readers write me about Kiptyn, and I think they’ll be happy learning the details of his life.What’s next for you? I actually have 2 books releasing in March of 2014. The first is Murder Simple Brewed which is set in Middlebury Indiana and is a new cozy mystery series. My second release is a novella in the Amish Garden collection. 


 

Jo Huddleston's "Claiming Peace"

Title: Claiming Peace
Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing

Cover Blurb:
A Southern inspirational historical romance novel

Facing her lowest moments, Callie’s life begins to crumble.
As he’s done with others of his extended family, can Jim help her find peace?

Visit again the Callaway family and friends in 1951 who live in the Southern Appalachians of East Tennessee. Why did Callie have an appointment with a neurologist? Will she work her way through whatever lies ahead for her and her family? Does Emmajean’s attraction for the young lawyer, Terry, blossom further or die on the vine when he wants her to meet his parents? Can Caroline and Jim find happiness in their long-delayed marriage? You’ll meet some new characters as the Callaway saga continues. Follow the Callaway family throughout the Caney Creek Series—live their triumphs, sorrows, achievements, and losses.

1) How did this story come to you?
At family reunions I would hear older generations swapping stories of times before automobiles and telephones. That motivated me to want to write about times before I was born. I set the book in the South and call it a Southern inspirational historical romance.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I wrote That Summer, book 1 in this series, I realized that a Christian publisher would probably not publish the book because of a non-Christian episode. I also thought that a secular publisher wouldn’t publish it because it was too conservative. I searched among small publishers and found Sword of the Spirit Publishing who would publish the book. Later, I learned my books are in a category folks call “edgy” Christian fiction.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I don’t like to ride elevators or be in the dark. I guess I’m clastrophobic.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m doing edits on Claiming Peace, book 3 of the Caney Creek Series. I have ideas for another series, but nothing is official yet.

5) Parting comments?
Dawn, thanks for having me on your blog. I enjoyed spending time with your readers and you.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.johuddleston.com/p/home.html
Blog: http://www.johuddleston.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.huddlesto...
Shoutlife: http://www.shoutlife.com/johuddleston

Register to win Jo Huddleston's "Claiming Peace"

We're happy to have Jo Huddleston with us today talking about  "Claiming Peace." This giveaway is for United States residents only. To register to win a copy, leave Jo 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 Jo and her book, read on!

Title: Claiming Peace
Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing

Cover Blurb:
A Southern inspirational historical romance novel

Facing her lowest moments, Callie’s life begins to crumble.
As he’s done with others of his extended family, can Jim help her find peace?

Visit again the Callaway family and friends in 1951 who live in the Southern Appalachians of East Tennessee. Why did Callie have an appointment with a neurologist? Will she work her way through whatever lies ahead for her and her family? Does Emmajean’s attraction for the young lawyer, Terry, blossom further or die on the vine when he wants her to meet his parents? Can Caroline and Jim find happiness in their long-delayed marriage? You’ll meet some new characters as the Callaway saga continues. Follow the Callaway family throughout the Caney Creek Series—live their triumphs, sorrows, achievements, and losses.

1) How did this story come to you?
At family reunions I would hear older generations swapping stories of times before automobiles and telephones. That motivated me to want to write about times before I was born. I set the book in the South and call it a Southern inspirational historical romance.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I wrote That Summer, book 1 in this series, I realized that a Christian publisher would probably not publish the book because of a non-Christian episode. I also thought that a secular publisher wouldn’t publish it because it was too conservative. I searched among small publishers and found Sword of the Spirit Publishing who would publish the book. Later, I learned my books are in a category folks call “edgy” Christian fiction.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I don’t like to ride elevators or be in the dark. I guess I’m clastrophobic.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m doing edits on Claiming Peace, book 3 of the Caney Creek Series. I have ideas for another series, but nothing is official yet.

5) Parting comments?
Dawn, thanks for having me on your blog. I enjoyed spending time with your readers and you.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.johuddleston.com/p/home.html
Blog: http://www.johuddleston.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.huddlesto...
Shoutlife: http://www.shoutlife.com/johuddleston