K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 32

Register to win Carole Towriss' "In the Shadow of Sinai"

We have two book giveaways this week. Be sure to leave comments to win both of them!

We're happy to have Carole Towriss with us today talking about her book, "Shadow of Sinai." 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: In the Shadow of Sinai
Publisher: DeWard Publishing Company

Cover blurb: Bezalel is a Hebrew slave to Ramses II. An artisan of the highest order, Ramses has kept him in the palace even when all other Israelites have been banned. Bezalel blames El Shaddai for isolating him from his people.

When Moses and Aaron appear one summer, and El Shaddai shakes Egypt to its core, Bezalel must reexamine his anger. Over the course of the next year, Bezalel’s life becomes intertwined with those of an Egyptian child-slave, the captain of the guard, and especially a beautiful young concubine.

When spring arrives, all of them escape with the young nation of Israel. But that’s only the beginning…

1) How did this story come to you?
I was reading the Bible - I think I was in church - in Exodus 31. "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.' And I thought, 'Now how would a slave know how to do all that?' God could have just poof, given him all that knowledge, but that's no fun, and generally not how God works. So I made up a story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
A crit partner, the first fiction author for DeWard, told me they were looking for Biblical fiction. I queried them, and an hour later they asked for the full manuscript. Three months later I was offered a contract.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I love to watch weird movies. I’m short. I love Mexican food and chocolate.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am almost done with the sequel By the Waters of Kadesh. This is part of a trilogy.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for the opportunity to be on your blog. And to everyone reading this, I hope you give my book a try!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.caroletowriss.com  You can read the first two chapters for free there. Also at facebook.com/NovelistCaroleTowriss.


DeWard Publishing Company http://deward.com/?p=1965

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Sinai-Carole-Towriss/dp/1936341484/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351610453&sr=1-1
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-shadow-of-sinai-carole-towriss/1113600797
Signed By the Author http://www.signedbytheauthor.com/In-the-Shadow-of-Sinai_p_726.html

Staci Stallings' "To Protect & Serve"

Love as a Verb
My newest series is called The Courage Series (To Protect & Serve, White Knight, and For Real, which comes out the end of this week). The Courage Series revolves around a firefighter who becomes kind of the center-pin for a whole group of friends. In the course of the three novels, the characters again and again face situations that call for great courage.

However, many times when we think of courage, we tend to think of dangerous situations--fires, wrecks, etc. There are certainly enough of those portrayed in the three books, but I think by the third one (For Real) we begin to see a different kind of courage called for--the courage to love with your whole heart, to be "all in" with someone and to love no matter what.

That's a tough one because most of us have learned the art of loving when it's convenient, when it's easy. We have friends who seem great until we need something, and then they disappear. "Fair-weather" friends. But this series really points out that real friends aren't just there when things are good. Real friends are there particularly when things get rough.

When life keeps throwing curveballs meant to take you out, that's when you need friends the most--and when you, as a friend, need to be there for others the most. This is really hard, and it requires having a verb kind of love, not just a noun kind of love.

See, the noun kind of love is all hearts and flowers and champagne. It's going out to party together, celebrating, having fun. But the verb kind of love is the part that happens after the end of the movie. The part you have to step into when he loses his job or she loses her health.

It's the part that society doesn't like to focus on--the being there for someone when the chips are down and they have been stomped on by this thing called life. It's showing up when someone close to them has died and being willing to be there, with them, through the trials and the tears, through the heartache and the healing. That's the verb kind of love, and it takes immense courage.

It's the kind of courage that The Courage Series is ultimately about. Having the courage to live love, to be love, to give love--when it's easy, and when doing so might just tear your heart right out.

I think the challenge of this series is first to show the reader what the verb kind of love is, what it looks like with this set of friends, and then it challenges you to live the verb kind of love. The question is: Do you have the courage that will take?

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2012


Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a Contemporary Christian author and the founder of Grace &a Faith Author Connection. Check out Staci's brand new release...

Houston firefighter, Jeff Taylor is a fireman's fireman. No situation is too dangerous to keep him sidelined if lives are on the line. However, when control freak Lisa Matheson falls for him, she quickly realizes she can't control Jeff or the death wish he seems to have...

To Protect & Serve
The Courage Series, Book 1
To save other's lives, they will risk their own

Buy it on Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Protect-Serve-Courage-Series-ebook/dp/B008391QB2/ref=sr_1_22?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337091378&sr=1-22

Buy it on Barnes & Noble Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-protect-serve-staci-stallings/1110805844?ean=2940014423410

"To Protect and Serve will hold you prisoner to its pages until the final one is turned. Prepare to cry, laugh, wish, love and maybe even cry again as you become enveloped in the hopes and feelings of Lisa and Jeff."
-Cindy Reiger

Register to win Staci Stallings' "To Protect & Serve"

We're have two book giveaways this week. Be sure to leave comments to win both of them!

We're happy to have Staci Stallings with us today talking about her book, "To Protect & Serve." To register to win a Kindle copy, leave Staci 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 Staci and her book, read on!

Love as a Verb
My newest series is called The Courage Series (To Protect & Serve, White Knight, and For Real, which comes out the end of this week). The Courage Series revolves around a firefighter who becomes kind of the center-pin for a whole group of friends. In the course of the three novels, the characters again and again face situations that call for great courage.

However, many times when we think of courage, we tend to think of dangerous situations--fires, wrecks, etc. There are certainly enough of those portrayed in the three books, but I think by the third one (For Real) we begin to see a different kind of courage called for--the courage to love with your whole heart, to be "all in" with someone and to love no matter what.

That's a tough one because most of us have learned the art of loving when it's convenient, when it's easy. We have friends who seem great until we need something, and then they disappear. "Fair-weather" friends. But this series really points out that real friends aren't just there when things are good. Real friends are there particularly when things get rough.

When life keeps throwing curveballs meant to take you out, that's when you need friends the most--and when you, as a friend, need to be there for others the most. This is really hard, and it requires having a verb kind of love, not just a noun kind of love.

See, the noun kind of love is all hearts and flowers and champagne. It's going out to party together, celebrating, having fun. But the verb kind of love is the part that happens after the end of the movie. The part you have to step into when he loses his job or she loses her health.

It's the part that society doesn't like to focus on--the being there for someone when the chips are down and they have been stomped on by this thing called life. It's showing up when someone close to them has died and being willing to be there, with them, through the trials and the tears, through the heartache and the healing. That's the verb kind of love, and it takes immense courage.

It's the kind of courage that The Courage Series is ultimately about. Having the courage to live love, to be love, to give love--when it's easy, and when doing so might just tear your heart right out.

I think the challenge of this series is first to show the reader what the verb kind of love is, what it looks like with this set of friends, and then it challenges you to live the verb kind of love. The question is: Do you have the courage that will take?

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2012


Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a Contemporary Christian author and the founder of Grace &a Faith Author Connection. Check out Staci's brand new release...

Houston firefighter, Jeff Taylor is a fireman's fireman. No situation is too dangerous to keep him sidelined if lives are on the line. However, when control freak Lisa Matheson falls for him, she quickly realizes she can't control Jeff or the death wish he seems to have...

To Protect & Serve
The Courage Series, Book 1
To save other's lives, they will risk their own

Buy it on Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Protect-Serve-Courage-Series-ebook/dp/B008391QB2/ref=sr_1_22?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337091378&sr=1-22

Buy it on Barnes & Noble Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-protect-serve-staci-stallings/1110805844?ean=2940014423410

"To Protect and Serve will hold you prisoner to its pages until the final one is turned. Prepare to cry, laugh, wish, love and maybe even cry again as you become enveloped in the hopes and feelings of Lisa and Jeff."
-Cindy Reiger

Dave Bond's "A Time to Build"

Title: A Time To Build
Publisher: Published by Desert Breeze Publishing.

Cover blurb: Brian Marshall lives a quiet, serious life. At age thirty-three, he’s content and reasonably prosperous. When a new client steps inside his office one July morning, and he recognizes her strikingly beautiful face, his thoughts are thrown back in time thirteen years, to a time when he committed perhaps the greatest mistake of his life.

Hallie Grover has come a long way in thirteen years. When she left central Pennsylvania as a dispirited seventeen-year old to live with her divorced mother in California, she couldn’t have imagined the path her life was to take. Will she be able to handle her new life, owning and managing a small café in McCane, Pennsylvania? And will she be able to rebuild a relationship with her sister, and a thirteen-year old girl she’s never had the chance to know?

Hallie doesn’t appear to recognize Brian. He fears she will one day remember him. He knows he needs to keep his distance, but it’s impossible.

Hallie blossoms, but is she ready to embrace a relationship she wasn’t expecting?


1) How did this story come to you?
Like most stories, it just did! This novel has actually gone through a number of significant “evolutions.” It was originally written in first person, but the publisher rejected it. I wish I could come up with a good answer to this question! Story ideas are always “popping up” in my head, and this is really the only thing I can say!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I already had a 3-book contract with Desert Breeze Publishing, and when an idea for another series came to me, I put together a proposal and submitted it. My proposal was accepted and I found myself contracted to write 6 full-length novels in a 2-year span. Concerning the journey for A Time To Build, as I just alluded to, this novel went through several iterations. It was actually originally entitled, “The Park,” based on a park where my main character loved to spend time. The last chapter was added after my editor suggested the ending, while good, needed a little more closure. And looking back, it was an excellent bit of advice.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1st, I am blind. Second, I am a male who loves to read and write romance (there are some qualifiers which I won’t discuss here!). And, third, I am a type I diabetic.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next release (after A Time To Build) is the sequel to my debut. It is entitled, “Sweet Music,” and will be available in October (2012). The manuscript for Sweet Music has just been submitted, and as of this date in June, I am now beginning to work on the sequel to A Time To Build, entitled, “A Time To Heal.”

5) Parting comments?
Based on feed-back from male readers of (mostly) my debut (The Attaché), I’ve kicked around the idea of marketing my novels as, “romance men find worth reading.” Or something like this! Not sure though, since women enjoy my novels as well.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.authordavidbond.com

Register to win Dave Bond's "A Time to Build"

We have two giveaways this week. Please scroll down and leave each author a comment for your chance to win. Also, register to win the $25 gift card and 30 book giveaway while you're here. Thanks!

We're happy to have David Bond with us today talking about his book, "A Time to Build." To register to win a copy, leave David 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 David and his book, read on!

Title: A Time To Build
Publisher: Published by Desert Breeze Publishing.

Cover blurb: Brian Marshall lives a quiet, serious life. At age thirty-three, he’s content and reasonably prosperous. When a new client steps inside his office one July morning, and he recognizes her strikingly beautiful face, his thoughts are thrown back in time thirteen years, to a time when he committed perhaps the greatest mistake of his life.

Hallie Grover has come a long way in thirteen years. When she left central Pennsylvania as a dispirited seventeen-year old to live with her divorced mother in California, she couldn’t have imagined the path her life was to take. Will she be able to handle her new life, owning and managing a small café in McCane, Pennsylvania? And will she be able to rebuild a relationship with her sister, and a thirteen-year old girl she’s never had the chance to know?

Hallie doesn’t appear to recognize Brian. He fears she will one day remember him. He knows he needs to keep his distance, but it’s impossible.

Hallie blossoms, but is she ready to embrace a relationship she wasn’t expecting?


1) How did this story come to you?
Like most stories, it just did! This novel has actually gone through a number of significant “evolutions.” It was originally written in first person, but the publisher rejected it. I wish I could come up with a good answer to this question! Story ideas are always “popping up” in my head, and this is really the only thing I can say!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I already had a 3-book contract with Desert Breeze Publishing, and when an idea for another series came to me, I put together a proposal and submitted it. My proposal was accepted and I found myself contracted to write 6 full-length novels in a 2-year span. Concerning the journey for A Time To Build, as I just alluded to, this novel went through several iterations. It was actually originally entitled, “The Park,” based on a park where my main character loved to spend time. The last chapter was added after my editor suggested the ending, while good, needed a little more closure. And looking back, it was an excellent bit of advice.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1st, I am blind. Second, I am a male who loves to read and write romance (there are some qualifiers which I won’t discuss here!). And, third, I am a type I diabetic.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next release (after A Time To Build) is the sequel to my debut. It is entitled, “Sweet Music,” and will be available in October (2012). The manuscript for Sweet Music has just been submitted, and as of this date in June, I am now beginning to work on the sequel to A Time To Build, entitled, “A Time To Heal.”

5) Parting comments?
Based on feed-back from male readers of (mostly) my debut (The Attaché), I’ve kicked around the idea of marketing my novels as, “romance men find worth reading.” Or something like this! Not sure though, since women enjoy my novels as well.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.authordavidbond.com

Nancy Thelen's "The Color of Light"

Title: The Color of Light

Cover blurb: Can a kindness make up for a crippled body? Or heal a distrustful heart?

Jackie lives alone on the edge of a small lake. The broken stained glass in the abandoned church camp across the way is a good image of her life: beautiful although fractured. When she wins a free house makeover from a TV series, Jackie remembers how others need more than she, and decides to give it to her friend Kat who is paralyzed from MS. The house becomes a new lifeline for Kat. Jackie, though, doesn't realize her soul is as broken as Kat's body... afraid of being abandoned yet again... until she visits the church camp one more time, and finds Doug, one of the show hosts, waiting for her in the wings...

1) How did this story come to you?
I was an avid fan of Extreme Makeover-Home. As I was watching the show one evening, the idea began to form for my book, which starts out with the fictional TV show On Board.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This is the first of a series, and is actually my second book. The writing of the book was completed three years ago, but it wasn’t until this summer that I realized there were ways to publish my book that didn’t require the use of a publishing firm. I met Amy Deardon through the ACFW. She offers her services for publishing an ebook. She has walked me through all of the difficult and confusing tasks of ebook publishing; producing the final product.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
My favorite TV channel is National Geographic
The first thing I do every morning is ride ten miles on a stationary bike
I have four books written, and am working on the fifth

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working of the fourth book of the series and I’ve retained the publishing rights of my first book, Lost and Found, and hope to have it published as an ebook for Kindle by the end of the year. I’m also working on a cookbook which will include recipes for one or two servings, and I hope to publish that in the early part of 2013.

5) Parting comments?
I believe that my imagination as well as my ability to write is a gift that I have been blessed with. The world provides a vast amount of information that can be used to create stories, and I hope to be able to utilize just a sprinkling of it in my books.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blogspot: nancy-thelen.blogspot.com

Register to win Nancy Thelen's "The Color of Light"

Don't forget to scroll down and register to win the $25 Amazon gift card if you've not done so. Also, register for the 30 book giveaway below.

We're happy to have Nancy Thelen with us today talking about her book, "The Color of Light." To register to win a copy, leave Nancy 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 Nancy and her book, read on!

Title: The Color of Light

Cover blurb: Can a kindness make up for a crippled body? Or heal a distrustful heart?

Jackie lives alone on the edge of a small lake. The broken stained glass in the abandoned church camp across the way is a good image of her life: beautiful although fractured. When she wins a free house makeover from a TV series, Jackie remembers how others need more than she, and decides to give it to her friend Kat who is paralyzed from MS. The house becomes a new lifeline for Kat. Jackie, though, doesn't realize her soul is as broken as Kat's body... afraid of being abandoned yet again... until she visits the church camp one more time, and finds Doug, one of the show hosts, waiting for her in the wings...

1) How did this story come to you?
I was an avid fan of Extreme Makeover-Home. As I was watching the show one evening, the idea began to form for my book, which starts out with the fictional TV show On Board.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This is the first of a series, and is actually my second book. The writing of the book was completed three years ago, but it wasn’t until this summer that I realized there were ways to publish my book that didn’t require the use of a publishing firm. I met Amy Deardon through the ACFW. She offers her services for publishing an ebook. She has walked me through all of the difficult and confusing tasks of ebook publishing; producing the final product.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
My favorite TV channel is National Geographic
The first thing I do every morning is ride ten miles on a stationary bike
I have four books written, and am working on the fifth

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working of the fourth book of the series and I’ve retained the publishing rights of my first book, Lost and Found, and hope to have it published as an ebook for Kindle by the end of the year. I’m also working on a cookbook which will include recipes for one or two servings, and I hope to publish that in the early part of 2013.

5) Parting comments?
I believe that my imagination as well as my ability to write is a gift that I have been blessed with. The world provides a vast amount of information that can be used to create stories, and I hope to be able to utilize just a sprinkling of it in my books.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blogspot: nancy-thelen.blogspot.com

Nancy Thelen

Don't forget to scroll down and register to win the $25 Amazon gift card if you've not done so. Also, register for the 30 book giveaway below.

We're happy to have Nancy Thelen with us today talking about her book, "The Color of Light." To register to win a copy, leave Nancy 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 Nancy and her book, read on!

Title: The Color of Light

Cover blurb: Can a kindness make up for a crippled body? Or heal a distrustful heart?

Jackie lives alone on the edge of a small lake. The broken stained glass in the abandoned church camp across the way is a good image of her life: beautiful although fractured. When she wins a free house makeover from a TV series, Jackie remembers how others need more than she, and decides to give it to her friend Kat who is paralyzed from MS. The house becomes a new lifeline for Kat. Jackie, though, doesn't realize her soul is as broken as Kat's body... afraid of being abandoned yet again... until she visits the church camp one more time, and finds Doug, one of the show hosts, waiting for her in the wings...

1) How did this story come to you?
I was an avid fan of Extreme Makeover-Home. As I was watching the show one evening, the idea began to form for my book, which starts out with the fictional TV show On Board.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This is the first of a series, and is actually my second book. The writing of the book was completed three years ago, but it wasn’t until this summer that I realized there were ways to publish my book that didn’t require the use of a publishing firm. I met Amy Deardon through the ACFW. She offers her services for publishing an ebook. She has walked me through all of the difficult and confusing tasks of ebook publishing; producing the final product.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
My favorite TV channel is National Geographic
The first thing I do every morning is ride ten miles on a stationary bike
I have four books written, and am working on the fifth

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working of the fourth book of the series and I’ve retained the publishing rights of my first book, Lost and Found, and hope to have it published as an ebook for Kindle by the end of the year. I’m also working on a cookbook which will include recipes for one or two servings, and I hope to publish that in the early part of 2013.

5) Parting comments?
I believe that my imagination as well as my ability to write is a gift that I have been blessed with. The world provides a vast amount of information that can be used to create stories, and I hope to be able to utilize just a sprinkling of it in my books.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blogspot: nancy-thelen.blogspot.com

Register to win your choice of 30 books!

Book Fun Magazine is giving away 140 books by more than 100 authors of which I am one. The Signature Library Contest details can be found in the magazine. One winner will get first choice of 30 books, the next person 20, 5 people will pick 10.... it will be awesome. Just register for the magazine and you are entered... 80 pages of great articles too!

While you are there if you would click on my book cover for Amazing Love you will help me to win a competition between the authors. The Amazon photo below shows what the cover looks like. Here is the link for the magazine:

http://www.bookfunmagazine.com/i/90331


Below is the link for Amazon:

K. Dawn Byrd's "Amazing Love"

I'm pleased to announce that Amazing Love is now available in eformat and will be available soon in print!

Amazing Love, the modern-day story of Hosea and Gomer from the Bible, speaks of God's unconditional love, mercy, and grace and how much loving someone that much can cost.

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.


Read the first chapter of Amazing Love...


Youtube:


Excerpt from my prologue:
Dee signed the letter with a flourish and then read it aloud.

Maggie:
For the longest time, I blamed myself. There must be something terribly wrong with me, something so bad that even a mother couldn't love me. After years of therapy, I've learned that it's not me, it's you, Maggie. You're not capable of loving anyone. That's a terrible thing to say about a mother, but it's true.

Even here at Carpe Diem, I've continued therapy via technology. Today was a hard day because it's my birthday. As was expected, I never heard from you. Like my therapist said, it's not my fault you didn't call. It's a choice you made, Maggie, like so many other bad choices.

I used to dwell often on the things you allowed to happen to me. You had to have known that John was visiting my room almost nightly. You chose to ignore it even though he was your husband. And then, he sold me to his wealthy friends and you stood back and allowed it to happen. Whoever had the most money. That wasn't the life I would have chosen if given a choice. Even now, I long for a life of normalcy. A husband, a couple of children, and a picket fence is just a dream.

There are times I hate you, but I realize you have demons of your own. Something has happened to you to cause you to be so selfish and full of anger. That's why I try to overlook your hostility and lack of love toward me. You need a good therapist.

My therapist recommends that I write letters to you when I'm angry. It helps. This is letter 642. I've kept them all. You'll probably never read them, but they're not really for you. They're for me.

Your daughter, Dee



Amazing Love will be available soon at CBD and other outlets.