K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 22

Joselyn Vaughn's "Climbing Heartbreak Hill"

Publisher: Astraea PressCover blurb:  It started with Tara, a character from my first book CEOs Don’t Cry, being in her worst nightmare situation. Her boss goes into labor early, leaving Tara in charge of the office. It took a while to sort out who Ryan was. He went through several career changes: an IRS agent, a lawyer, a private investigator.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.I have been very blessed that Astraea Press likes my writing and my stories, making the process of submitting less nerve-wracking. I always worry though, that the next manuscript won’t make the cut.
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.I’m training for my first marathon in thirteen years. It must have taken that long to erase the pain of the first one. I write all my first drafts long hand.I still have the first keychain my dad gave me when I turned sixteen on my keys. It glows in the dark and says ‘Smile God Loves You.’
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a story set in a little town called Pine Bottom. There are canoe races, multi-level marketing schemes, and wedding dress shopping.
5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for having me. It was fun to be here. I appreciate everyone who was able to stop by. I hope you have a wonderful day. Happy Reading!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?Email: joselynvaughn@gmail.comWebsite: http://joselynvaughn.comBlog: http://joselynvaughn.wordpress.comAmazon: http://amazon.com/author/joselynvaughnTwitter: @joselynvaughnFacebook: http://facebook.com/joselynvaughnFacebook page: http://www.facebook.com/authorjoselynvaughnGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2907038.Joselyn_VaughnGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108834424670442500069/postsGoogle+ page: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/109436319714861523590/109436319714861523590/postsShelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/joselynvaughnhttp://joselynvaughn.comSweet, small town romancesHelp OneFundBoston - Climbing Heartbreak Hill - Astraea Press  

Register to Joselyn Vaughn's "Climbing Heartbreak Hill"

We're happy to have Joselyn Vaughn with us today talking about  "Climbing Heartbreak Hill." To register to win a copy, leave Joselyn 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 Joselyn and her book, read on! 
Publisher: Astraea Press Cover blurb:  It started with Tara, a character from my first book CEOs Don’t Cry, being in her worst nightmare situation. Her boss goes into labor early, leaving Tara in charge of the office. It took a while to sort out who Ryan was. He went through several career changes: an IRS agent, a lawyer, a private investigator.
 2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.I have been very blessed that Astraea Press likes my writing and my stories, making the process of submitting less nerve-wracking. I always worry though, that the next manuscript won’t make the cut.
 3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.I’m training for my first marathon in thirteen years. It must have taken that long to erase the pain of the first one. I write all my first drafts long hand.I still have the first keychain my dad gave me when I turned sixteen on my keys. It glows in the dark and says ‘Smile God Loves You.’
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a story set in a little town called Pine Bottom. There are canoe races, multi-level marketing schemes, and wedding dress shopping.
 5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for having me. It was fun to be here. I appreciate everyone who was able to stop by. I hope you have a wonderful day. Happy Reading!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?Email: joselynvaughn@gmail.comWebsite: http://joselynvaughn.comBlog: http://joselynvaughn.wordpress.comAmazon: http://amazon.com/author/joselynvaughnTwitter: @joselynvaughnFacebook: http://facebook.com/joselynvaughnFacebook page: http://www.facebook.com/authorjoselynvaughnGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2907038.Joselyn_VaughnGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108834424670442500069/postsGoogle+ page: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/109436319714861523590/109436319714861523590/postsShelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/joselynvaughnhttp://joselynvaughn.comSweet, small town romancesHelp OneFundBoston - Climbing Heartbreak Hill - Astraea Press  

James Rubart's "Memory's Door"

Got Freedom? The Next Book In The Well Spring Series Is Here!
James L. Rubart’s novel, Soul’s Gate, won both an INSPY award and a Christy Award, and now the highly anticipated sequel, Memory’s Door, has released. It’s an epic story of four warriors who have fulfilled a powerful prophecy by learning how to send their spirits into other people’s souls to fight for healing and freedom. But it’s also an extremely intimate story that explores the devastating consequences of holding onto our regrets—and how we can get free of them.
Q: I want to talk about Memory’s Door, but first let me ask you a quick question about the first book in the Well Spring series, Soul’s Gate winning a Christy. Was that a surreal moment for you?A: That’s the perfect word for it. I’d won awards for my other books, heard from many wonderful people how my stories had changed their lives—but there was something about standing up there on stage, looking out at all these people I’d admired for so long and winning an award I’d dreamed of winning for what seemed like forever that made it a surreal moment in the best way.

Q: Authors are taught to “write what you know”, which you do by including the Pacific Northwest—where you live—into your books. You also include some pretty incredible spiritual elements in your novels. How do you come up with them? Does their inclusion mean you’ve had some unusual spiritual experiences? A: I have had some unusual experiences but I’m not sure I should call them unusual. They’re certainly not unusual when you look at Bible. I think there’s so much more to God than we allow; certainly in the westernized culture we live in. Many of us take the most speculative, supernatural, fantastical book ever written—the Bible—and turn it into a list of rules, dos and don’ts, and principles.

I try to push my readers to think beyond that. I got an e-mail recently from a pastor who asked, “Where did you get your training? Where can my staff and I get more teaching like the things in your book?” I loved it. Love hearing about people who are pressing into the deeper things of God.
Q: Tell us about Memory’s Door. What’s the overarching theme? Freedom from regret. I believe we all carry regrets, and Memory’s Door hits that issue head on. I believe it will set people free from the devastation of holding onto the past. Also, if readers liked Soul’s Gate, I think they’ll like Memory’s Door even more. The stakes are higher, the lows are lower and the battles are more epic. There were a number of scenes that brought dust to my eyes as I wrote them, and that’s always a good sign that I’ve captured a few elements that will go to the deep parts of people’s hearts. Here’s a book trailer my son and I put together that tells people little bit more about the novel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dStdRfVx7sE

 Q: So far in your Well Spring series you have Soul’s Gate and Memory’s Door. How many others will there be?A: Just one more. It’s called The Spirit Bridge which releases in May of 2014. I’m editing it right now and love the way it’s turning out. I have some brilliant editors who have really helped me shape the story into what I believe will be a stunning and powerful conclusion to the series.

Q: Please tell us three random things we might not know about you:·         I can juggle three basketballs for at least two minutes
·         I used to voice radio commercials
·         The Lee in my middle name comes from Robert E. Lee

Q: The running themes through all your books are forgiveness and restoration. Why?I think everyone has a theme that is at the core of their life—whether they know it or not. When I consult with other authors, I tell them I can figure out the theme of their life (and how they should brand/market themselves) if they’ll tell me what their three favorite movies are. In other words, what they are drawn to—what resonates with them—tells me what is deep inside them.

What resonates most deeply with me is the theme of my life is freedom. I’ve been all about that since I was a kid.  I believe most of us have too many chains around our bodies holding us back from our God designed destinies … and if we can find freedom, we can step into the glory God planned for us from before the beginning of time. So that’s what I write about.
Q: What is the best way for people to connect to you?The best way is on my Website/blog and Facebook. I just launched a new website and if people sign up for my newsletter they’ll be able to find out where I’m speaking, find out about the occasional freebie I’m giving away, and the release of new books.

As always, thanks for having me, Dawn!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart
Twitter: @jameslrubart
Website: http://jameslrubart.com/James L. Rubart is the best-selling and Christy award winning author of, ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, THE CHAIR, SOUL’S GATE, and MEMORY’S DOOR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, golfs, takes photos, and occasionally does sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com

Dorothy Featherling talks about her books...

What book(s) are you sharing this time?I’m actually covering two books in the same series today. They are romantic comedies – one of the genres I love to write. I developed the “Second Time Around” series several years ago, believing there is an interest in stories about folks who have had a broken relationship due to death, divorce, or other circumstances. Many men and women have this happen today – in fact, we’ve probably all been there at one time or another.

Even though the series does not continue with the same characters in each book, the premise is applied to all the books – either through a female or male character.
Book 1 is “Sauce for the Goose” – Here’s the back cover copy:
“The girl has got to go!
 To save her son from a romantic mistake, Laurel Edmonds renews some former relationships of her own. Complications abound when new beau Mike Hudson is added to the mix.
 Her romantic dilemmas, her plot to save her son, and worries about her mother, aka the Bus Queen, force Laurel to cope with a fake engagement gone real, a surprise wedding, and a confession she never imagined she’d have to make.”
 Book 2 in the series is “Kissing Frogs” – Back cover copy:“Until she decides to look for a husband, Em Snider is so-o-o-o in control of her life. But her trip on the internet matchmaking highway soon shows her that she can’t control the journey.
 Her first encounter is a warning. There are toads out there! A Christian internet matchmaking service provides Em a chance to discover Prince Charming, if she can survive the shocks.
Em is soon ready to quit, or will true love still come about in a way she never dreamed if she’ll quit stepping on the brakes and let God be in control?”
Both books have a surprise ending (at least I hope it’s a surprise) that readers will hopefully enjoy.
 What are you working on now?At the moment, I have a manuscript out for critique for Book 1 of a new mystery series I’m writing – the “Staged for Murder” series. The series takes home stager Ari Ames and places her in precarious circumstances, complete with dead bodies, as she pursues her staging career. Book 1 is “Murder Outside the Box.”
I’m also editing two other books – Book 3 in the “Second Time Around” series – “Double Trouble”, and Book 1 of the “Out of Time” series (a futuristic suspense series) entitled “Time Out.”
 What do you do in your spare time?What spare time?  Seriously, there isn’t a whole lot of it…but my first choice for a pastime is always reading! (No surprise there?) I try to read in my genres and also re-read some of the classics I’ve enjoyed over the years. Some of those bygone authors told a great story so I can learn from them as well as be entertained.
 I also like to spend time with my going-on-9-year-old grandson when possible and with my sisters who all live fairly close by.
 How can fans find you on the Internet?I have a website:  www.dafeatherling.com and it will keep fans abreast of what I’m working on and what’s published and when.
 I’m also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/D.A.Featherling - please ‘like’ my author page for continuing up-to-date info about what’s going on.

Register to win James Rubart's "Memory's Door"

We have book giveaways from Dorothy Featherling and James Rubart. Be sure to leave comments to register to win both.

We're happy to have James Rubart with us today talking about his book, "Memory's Door." To register to win a copy, leave James 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 James and his book, read on!


Got Freedom? The Next Book In The Well Spring Series Is Here!
James L. Rubart’s novel, Soul’s Gate, won both an INSPY award and a Christy Award, and now the highly anticipated sequel, Memory’s Door, has released. It’s an epic story of four warriors who have fulfilled a powerful prophecy by learning how to send their spirits into other people’s souls to fight for healing and freedom. But it’s also an extremely intimate story that explores the devastating consequences of holding onto our regrets—and how we can get free of them.
Q: I want to talk about Memory’s Door, but first let me ask you a quick question about the first book in the Well Spring series, Soul’s Gate winning a Christy. Was that a surreal moment for you?A: That’s the perfect word for it. I’d won awards for my other books, heard from many wonderful people how my stories had changed their lives—but there was something about standing up there on stage, looking out at all these people I’d admired for so long and winning an award I’d dreamed of winning for what seemed like forever that made it a surreal moment in the best way.

Q: Authors are taught to “write what you know”, which you do by including the Pacific Northwest—where you live—into your books. You also include some pretty incredible spiritual elements in your novels. How do you come up with them? Does their inclusion mean you’ve had some unusual spiritual experiences? A: I have had some unusual experiences but I’m not sure I should call them unusual. They’re certainly not unusual when you look at Bible. I think there’s so much more to God than we allow; certainly in the westernized culture we live in. Many of us take the most speculative, supernatural, fantastical book ever written—the Bible—and turn it into a list of rules, dos and don’ts, and principles.

I try to push my readers to think beyond that. I got an e-mail recently from a pastor who asked, “Where did you get your training? Where can my staff and I get more teaching like the things in your book?” I loved it. Love hearing about people who are pressing into the deeper things of God.
Q: Tell us about Memory’s Door. What’s the overarching theme? Freedom from regret. I believe we all carry regrets, and Memory’s Door hits that issue head on. I believe it will set people free from the devastation of holding onto the past. Also, if readers liked Soul’s Gate, I think they’ll like Memory’s Door even more. The stakes are higher, the lows are lower and the battles are more epic. There were a number of scenes that brought dust to my eyes as I wrote them, and that’s always a good sign that I’ve captured a few elements that will go to the deep parts of people’s hearts. Here’s a book trailer my son and I put together that tells people little bit more about the novel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dStdRfVx7sE

 Q: So far in your Well Spring series you have Soul’s Gate and Memory’s Door. How many others will there be?A: Just one more. It’s called The Spirit Bridge which releases in May of 2014. I’m editing it right now and love the way it’s turning out. I have some brilliant editors who have really helped me shape the story into what I believe will be a stunning and powerful conclusion to the series.

Q: Please tell us three random things we might not know about you:·         I can juggle three basketballs for at least two minutes
·         I used to voice radio commercials
·         The Lee in my middle name comes from Robert E. Lee

Q: The running themes through all your books are forgiveness and restoration. Why?I think everyone has a theme that is at the core of their life—whether they know it or not. When I consult with other authors, I tell them I can figure out the theme of their life (and how they should brand/market themselves) if they’ll tell me what their three favorite movies are. In other words, what they are drawn to—what resonates with them—tells me what is deep inside them.

What resonates most deeply with me is the theme of my life is freedom. I’ve been all about that since I was a kid.  I believe most of us have too many chains around our bodies holding us back from our God designed destinies … and if we can find freedom, we can step into the glory God planned for us from before the beginning of time. So that’s what I write about.
Q: What is the best way for people to connect to you?The best way is on my Website/blog and Facebook. I just launched a new website and if people sign up for my newsletter they’ll be able to find out where I’m speaking, find out about the occasional freebie I’m giving away, and the release of new books.

As always, thanks for having me, Dawn!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart
Twitter: @jameslrubart
Website: http://jameslrubart.com/James L. Rubart is the best-selling and Christy award winning author of, ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, THE CHAIR, SOUL’S GATE, and MEMORY’S DOOR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, golfs, takes photos, and occasionally does sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com

Register to win a book by Dorothy Featherling

We have book giveaways from Dorothy Featherling and James Rubart. Be sure to leave comments to register to win both.

We're happy to have Dorothy Featherling with us today talking about her two romantic comedies. To register to win a copy, leave Dorothy 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 Dorothy and her book, read on!
 
What book(s) are you sharing this time?I’m actually covering two books in the same series today. They are romantic comedies – one of the genres I love to write. I developed the “Second Time Around” series several years ago, believing there is an interest in stories about folks who have had a broken relationship due to death, divorce, or other circumstances. Many men and women have this happen today – in fact, we’ve probably all been there at one time or another.

Even though the series does not continue with the same characters in each book, the premise is applied to all the books – either through a female or male character.
Book 1 is “Sauce for the Goose” – Here’s the back cover copy:
“The girl has got to go!
 To save her son from a romantic mistake, Laurel Edmonds renews some former relationships of her own. Complications abound when new beau Mike Hudson is added to the mix.
 Her romantic dilemmas, her plot to save her son, and worries about her mother, aka the Bus Queen, force Laurel to cope with a fake engagement gone real, a surprise wedding, and a confession she never imagined she’d have to make.”
 Book 2 in the series is “Kissing Frogs” – Back cover copy:“Until she decides to look for a husband, Em Snider is so-o-o-o in control of her life. But her trip on the internet matchmaking highway soon shows her that she can’t control the journey.
 Her first encounter is a warning. There are toads out there! A Christian internet matchmaking service provides Em a chance to discover Prince Charming, if she can survive the shocks.
Em is soon ready to quit, or will true love still come about in a way she never dreamed if she’ll quit stepping on the brakes and let God be in control?”
Both books have a surprise ending (at least I hope it’s a surprise) that readers will hopefully enjoy.
 What are you working on now?At the moment, I have a manuscript out for critique for Book 1 of a new mystery series I’m writing – the “Staged for Murder” series. The series takes home stager Ari Ames and places her in precarious circumstances, complete with dead bodies, as she pursues her staging career. Book 1 is “Murder Outside the Box.”
I’m also editing two other books – Book 3 in the “Second Time Around” series – “Double Trouble”, and Book 1 of the “Out of Time” series (a futuristic suspense series) entitled “Time Out.”
 What do you do in your spare time?What spare time?  Seriously, there isn’t a whole lot of it…but my first choice for a pastime is always reading! (No surprise there?) I try to read in my genres and also re-read some of the classics I’ve enjoyed over the years. Some of those bygone authors told a great story so I can learn from them as well as be entertained.
 I also like to spend time with my going-on-9-year-old grandson when possible and with my sisters who all live fairly close by.
 How can fans find you on the Internet?I have a website:  www.dafeatherling.com and it will keep fans abreast of what I’m working on and what’s published and when.
 I’m also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/D.A.Featherling - please ‘like’ my author page for continuing up-to-date info about what’s going on.

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

I gave away almost 1500 copies yesterday and Amazing Love is free again today! Amazing Love is not for the faint at heart. Check out one of my favorite reviews at the bottom of this post. To get your free copy click on the cover image or HERE.

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

Shannon Vannatter's "Arkansas Weddings"

Title: Arkansas Weddings
Publisher: Barbour
 
Cover blurb: Arkansas Weddings: Love’s never easy in three Arkansas romances.

Pastor Grayson loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. He knows he needs to move on, but it’s not until florist Adrea Welch arrives at his church that the seeds of healing are planted in his heart.

Laken left home eight years ago and never looked back. Who knew when she applied for the promotion to postmaster that she’d end up in Romance, Arkansas, and much too close to her past—and Hayden Winters?

Shell doesn’t have a good reputation. But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she’s back in town with a job to do. Ryler also has reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don’t include Shell.

But God’s love can soften the hardest heart and overcome the darkest past. These hearts may not know it, but they’re about to change.

2) How did this story come to you?Arkansas Weddings is a 3 in 1 collection of my first three published books. Each story is set in Romance and Rose Bud. Both small towns are real and in west central, Arkansas. The Romance Post Office provides a re-mailing service. People send their Valentine cards and wedding invitations there to be re-mailed with a unique hand-stamped postmark from Romance. Couples also go there to get married at the post office or the Romance Waterfalls.

Rose Bud’s claim to fame is the Darden Gifford House. The house was built in the late 1800’s and is on the historical registry. I incorporated the local flavor into all three stories.

The first story—White Roses came from my dad getting my mom and me flowers or a balloon every Valentine’s Day. And I thought if anything happened to either of us, he’d probably continue the tradition and take his gifts to the cemetery. Once I caught the interest of an editor, the publisher wanted to make the book into a series.

Book 2 was based on this line from White Roses: Sylvie’s husband, an alcoholic, never stepped foot in church. Their two children, both grown and gone with lives of their own, never came for a visit. Instead of having empathy for the plight of Helen and Wade, since alcoholism controlled Sylvie’s life as well, she took all her heartache and picked apart the lives of others.

That’s all I had to go on when I decided that one of Sylvie’s children could be female. After I delved into Lauren Kroft’s psyche, I decided she never came home because her mother is a gossip maven and her father is the town drunk. Enter the heroine for White Doves.

Book 3 came from this line from White Roses: Just two years ago, she’d been the soon-to-be bride blissfully planning her own ceremony. Until three weeks before the big event, when Wade crushed her illusions with his curvy blond floozy, clad only in a towel.

From the time I wrote that line, I wanted to delve into the floozy. What would make a woman bust up an engagement? Why was she like that? I soon learned Shell Evans had a chip on her shoulder. Raised by a promiscuous mother, Shell learned everything in the school of hard knocks. And it skewed her view of the world. Low self-esteem put her on a constant search for love and she looked for it in all the wrong places just as her mother had. And Shell became the unlikely heroine of White Pearls.

3) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It took me 9 1/2 years to get published. During that time, I attended writer’s group meetings and conferences, and read everything I could get my hands on about learning to write and getting published. Finally in 2008, I attended my fifth American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference and pitched White Roses to an editor. Her eyes lit up over my story. Actually, I think it was the setting that sparked her interest, but hey, I’ll take it.

4) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
* My favorite TV channel is Halmark
* My favorite ice cream topping is caramel
* I still have my tonsils.

5) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just turned in the 6th book in my Texas rodeo series which comes out in April. I’m finishing up a proposal for my editor for three more books. After that, I’m going to finish a book about this French guy who has bugged me for several years. He’s the type of character who won’t leave me alone until I write his story.

6) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me Dawn. I’ll be around today if anyone wants to ask any questions.

7) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: shannonvannatter.com
Blog: shannonvannatter.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannontaylo...
Twitter: stvauthor
 

 

Register to win a print copy of Shannon Vannatter's "Arkansas Weddings"

We have two book giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and register to win June Foster's also.

We're happy to have Shannon Vannatter with us today talking about her book, "Arkansas Weddings." To register to win a print copy, leave Shannon 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 Shannon and her book, read on!

Title: Arkansas Weddings
Publisher: Barbour
 
Cover blurb: Arkansas Weddings: Love’s never easy in three Arkansas romances.

Pastor Grayson loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. He knows he needs to move on, but it’s not until florist Adrea Welch arrives at his church that the seeds of healing are planted in his heart.

Laken left home eight years ago and never looked back. Who knew when she applied for the promotion to postmaster that she’d end up in Romance, Arkansas, and much too close to her past—and Hayden Winters?

Shell doesn’t have a good reputation. But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she’s back in town with a job to do. Ryler also has reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don’t include Shell.

But God’s love can soften the hardest heart and overcome the darkest past. These hearts may not know it, but they’re about to change.

2) How did this story come to you?Arkansas Weddings is a 3 in 1 collection of my first three published books. Each story is set in Romance and Rose Bud. Both small towns are real and in west central, Arkansas. The Romance Post Office provides a re-mailing service. People send their Valentine cards and wedding invitations there to be re-mailed with a unique hand-stamped postmark from Romance. Couples also go there to get married at the post office or the Romance Waterfalls.

Rose Bud’s claim to fame is the Darden Gifford House. The house was built in the late 1800’s and is on the historical registry. I incorporated the local flavor into all three stories.

The first story—White Roses came from my dad getting my mom and me flowers or a balloon every Valentine’s Day. And I thought if anything happened to either of us, he’d probably continue the tradition and take his gifts to the cemetery. Once I caught the interest of an editor, the publisher wanted to make the book into a series.

Book 2 was based on this line from White Roses: Sylvie’s husband, an alcoholic, never stepped foot in church. Their two children, both grown and gone with lives of their own, never came for a visit. Instead of having empathy for the plight of Helen and Wade, since alcoholism controlled Sylvie’s life as well, she took all her heartache and picked apart the lives of others.

That’s all I had to go on when I decided that one of Sylvie’s children could be female. After I delved into Lauren Kroft’s psyche, I decided she never came home because her mother is a gossip maven and her father is the town drunk. Enter the heroine for White Doves.

Book 3 came from this line from White Roses: Just two years ago, she’d been the soon-to-be bride blissfully planning her own ceremony. Until three weeks before the big event, when Wade crushed her illusions with his curvy blond floozy, clad only in a towel.

From the time I wrote that line, I wanted to delve into the floozy. What would make a woman bust up an engagement? Why was she like that? I soon learned Shell Evans had a chip on her shoulder. Raised by a promiscuous mother, Shell learned everything in the school of hard knocks. And it skewed her view of the world. Low self-esteem put her on a constant search for love and she looked for it in all the wrong places just as her mother had. And Shell became the unlikely heroine of White Pearls.

3) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It took me 9 1/2 years to get published. During that time, I attended writer’s group meetings and conferences, and read everything I could get my hands on about learning to write and getting published. Finally in 2008, I attended my fifth American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference and pitched White Roses to an editor. Her eyes lit up over my story. Actually, I think it was the setting that sparked her interest, but hey, I’ll take it.

4) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
* My favorite TV channel is Halmark
* My favorite ice cream topping is caramel
* I still have my tonsils.

5) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just turned in the 6th book in my Texas rodeo series which comes out in April. I’m finishing up a proposal for my editor for three more books. After that, I’m going to finish a book about this French guy who has bugged me for several years. He’s the type of character who won’t leave me alone until I write his story.

6) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me Dawn. I’ll be around today if anyone wants to ask any questions.

7) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: shannonvannatter.com
Blog: shannonvannatter.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannontaylo...
Twitter: stvauthor
 

 

June Foster's "Give Us This Day"

    Give Us This Day is June Foster's debut novel, the first in The Bellewood Series. Jess Colton gave his life to the Lord but failed to surrender an old habit. Fueled by alcohol, he spent the night with a former girlfriend, ignoring his Christian principles. Convicted of his wrong doing, he quit drinking but discovered another addiction. Now he can't manage his life as his weight soars and diabetes threatens to claim him. Jess is baffled when the beautiful Holly Harrison declares her love.

    Holly Harrison lived  to please herself. But everything changed when a deadly motorcycle accident altered her life forever. Nowhere else to turn, she looked to God for answers. Now, she's convinced no Christian man would find her attractive. She doesn’t plan on falling in love with  the handsome Jess Colton, seeing past his bulk to the godly, tender man within. When Jess drives a wedge between them, she loses hope of a future together.
  
  Can Holly overcome her handicap? Does Jess find control over his eating and his life? Only God can provide the answers.
  
  June Foster is a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She's  written four novels for Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day – February 1, 2012, As We Forgive – September 1, 2012, and Deliver Us – April 1, 2013, and Hometown Fourth of July – July 1, 2012. June's book, Ryan's Father, will be available from WhiteFire Publishing January 2014. For All Eternity, Red and the Wolf, and Misty Hollow, God willing, will be published in the near future. June loves to write stories about characters who overcome the issues in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives.