K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 38

Register to win Zoe Mack & A Case of Fatal Attraction

Leave a comment for your chance to win a download of my newest release, Zoe Mack & A Case of Fatal Attraction. It's a college-age mystery that's heavy on the romance.

Zoe is thrilled when she lands her first paying case until she learns she'll be going undercover at a local blood bank. The fact that she faints at the sight of blood makes working there more than difficult. Who would steal blood and what would they do with it? Is her creepy vampire-like coworker using it in a cult ritual?


When Zoe learns that Nate will be working undercover with her, she's overjoyed. She soon finds that the gorgeous Rikki's attraction to Nate is too distracting and considers throwing him off the case. Zoe questions his loyalty even as Nate proclaims that she's the only girl for him.

Nothing is as it seems and Zoe has no clue who can be trusted. Who's stealing the blood? Is it the director? The vampire-like guy with the fangs who wears all black? Or, her gorgeous co-worker who has a thing for Nate?

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Carol Cox's "Love in Disguise"

Publisher: Bethany House
Cover blurb: Can she solve the crime before they uncover her true identity?

Jobless and down to her last dime, Ellie Moore hears about a position with the Pinkerton Detective Agency and believes it’s the perfect chance to put her acting skills and costumes to use. Reluctantly, the agency agrees to give her one assignment, one chance to prove herself. Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie travels to Arizona to begin her investigation. When the need arises, she also transforms into the dazzling Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.

Mine owner Steven Pierce is going to lose his business if he can’t figure out who’s stealing his silver shipments. In his wildest dreams, he never expected to receive help from a gray-haired widow . . . or to fall in love with her beautiful niece.

Then the thieves come after Lavinia and Jessie. Ellie isn’t safe no matter which character she plays! Should she give up and reveal her true identity? What will Steven do when he realizes the woman he’s falling in love with doesn’t really exist?

1) How did this story come to you?
Stories featuring a master of disguise have always fascinated me, and I’ve wanted to write about a character like that for some time. Then Ellie Moore came along, with her background in the theater and her thirst for adventure, and I knew I’d found a heroine who had all the qualifications to carry it off.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I love writing historical fiction, stories set in my home state of Arizona, and romantic suspense. I developed a three-book proposal that blended all of those elements, and I was thrilled beyond words when Bethany House loved the idea as much as I did. I feel like I’m livin’ the dream!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) Even though I grew up in the desert—or maybe because of that!—my favorite vacation spot is at the beach. Pretty much any beach will do, I’m not picky. Just give me sand and surf, and I’m happy.
b) My dad was a dairy farmer, and I could drive a tractor before I could drive a car.
c) I have to drive 50 miles (one way) to reach the nearest Wal-Mart, movie theater, or mall.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on the edits for another historical romantic suspense set in Arizona. Look for it to come out in 2013. In this one, the hero—a widower with an ornery young son—and the heroine—a former governess who is tired of dealing with unruly children—are vying for control of a mercantile while dealing with an array of demanding customers and quirky townspeople, as well as trying to find out who’s behind the sinister happenings that have been plaguing the town. Lots of fun!

5) Parting comments?
Writing is a rather isolated profession, so I love interacting with readers. I’m grateful for all the e-mails and messages I receive that make the writer-reader connection come full circle!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Visit my website at www.AuthorCarolCox.com. Sign up for my newsletter and leave a comment on my blog, the Trail Journal. You can also find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/carol.cox. I love connecting with readers that way!
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Register to win Carol Cox's "Love in Disguise"

We're happy to have Carol Cox with us today talking about Love in Disguise. Leave her a comment with your email address to register to win a copy and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Carol and Love in Disguise, read on!

Publisher: Bethany House
Cover blurb: Can she solve the crime before they uncover her true identity?

Jobless and down to her last dime, Ellie Moore hears about a position with the Pinkerton Detective Agency and believes it’s the perfect chance to put her acting skills and costumes to use. Reluctantly, the agency agrees to give her one assignment, one chance to prove herself. Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie travels to Arizona to begin her investigation. When the need arises, she also transforms into the dazzling Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.

Mine owner Steven Pierce is going to lose his business if he can’t figure out who’s stealing his silver shipments. In his wildest dreams, he never expected to receive help from a gray-haired widow . . . or to fall in love with her beautiful niece.

Then the thieves come after Lavinia and Jessie. Ellie isn’t safe no matter which character she plays! Should she give up and reveal her true identity? What will Steven do when he realizes the woman he’s falling in love with doesn’t really exist?

1) How did this story come to you?
Stories featuring a master of disguise have always fascinated me, and I’ve wanted to write about a character like that for some time. Then Ellie Moore came along, with her background in the theater and her thirst for adventure, and I knew I’d found a heroine who had all the qualifications to carry it off.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I love writing historical fiction, stories set in my home state of Arizona, and romantic suspense. I developed a three-book proposal that blended all of those elements, and I was thrilled beyond words when Bethany House loved the idea as much as I did. I feel like I’m livin’ the dream!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) Even though I grew up in the desert—or maybe because of that!—my favorite vacation spot is at the beach. Pretty much any beach will do, I’m not picky. Just give me sand and surf, and I’m happy.
b) My dad was a dairy farmer, and I could drive a tractor before I could drive a car.
c) I have to drive 50 miles (one way) to reach the nearest Wal-Mart, movie theater, or mall.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on the edits for another historical romantic suspense set in Arizona. Look for it to come out in 2013. In this one, the hero—a widower with an ornery young son—and the heroine—a former governess who is tired of dealing with unruly children—are vying for control of a mercantile while dealing with an array of demanding customers and quirky townspeople, as well as trying to find out who’s behind the sinister happenings that have been plaguing the town. Lots of fun!

5) Parting comments?
Writing is a rather isolated profession, so I love interacting with readers. I’m grateful for all the e-mails and messages I receive that make the writer-reader connection come full circle!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Visit my website at www.AuthorCarolCox.com. Sign up for my newsletter and leave a comment on my blog, the Trail Journal. You can also find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/carol.cox. I love connecting with readers that way!
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Staci Stallings' "To Protect & Serve"

Publisher: Spirit Light Publishing
 Cover blurb: Houston firefighter, Jeff Taylor is a fireman's fireman. He's not afraid of anything, and no situation is too dangerous to keep him on the sideline if lives are at stake.

Lisa Matheson runs a semi-successful ad agency that's on the brink of falling apart. Her employees are incompetent and her schedule has become exhausting. When she takes on a client with a brilliant idea for a big conference, she thinks that maybe, finally this is her lucky break. However, the fire station wasn't what she had in mind for finding conference speakers. When she falls for a handsome but shy firefighter, it's possible that life might just be going her way for a change. The only problem is she can't control Jeff and the death wish he seems to have...

1) How did this story come to you?
I was writing another story, and when I write, I create a soundtrack for the story and I pull pictures from the 'net of people who look like my characters. At the time a young lady who was working for me became interested in "the process" of how I wrote the books. So I was sharing the pics, etc. For this book, I had one member of a 90's boy band; however, instead of liking him, she "fell for" one of the other guys in the band. She kept asking when I was going to write HIS story. Finally, just to tell her definitively that wasn't going to happen, I said, "Okay, God, if I was going to write his story, what would it be?" To Protect & Serve dropped into my lap.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
In August of 2011, I read an ebook about how to put your book for sale as an ebook. I had dabbled in ebooks before, but at that point I decided to go big in ebooks. By October I had 13 ebooks for sale and I was seeing a steady climb in sales. By January, I knew this new venue was where I was meant to be publishing. After my ebook "Deep in the Heart" climbed to the #1 spot on four category lists, I decided to take the plunge with "To Protect & Serve," the first of a three-part series with the other two coming out in July and November 2012.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I love to Wii snowboard--all the action, none of the hospital bills.
When I was young, I grew up on a dairy farm and did a lot of milking and feeding cows with my parents and siblings.
When I was in 11th grade, I drove tractor out in the middle of nowhere for a whole summer. I spent my days plowing up and down fields, listening to the radio, and meting out my lunch and snacks so I would have enough for the whole day because the nearest "store" was 30 minutes away--about the same distance as the nearest other person on the planet.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Many projects are going at the same time right now. I am working on getting three books out in print (they have all been released as ebooks and climbed the Amazon charts, so people want them as paperbacks now). I have the second in The Courage Series coming out in late July. I am finish-editing three short story collections and a Bible study to come out some time by the end of the year. And of course, I'm keeping up with my husband, three kids, house, two businesses, two large extended families, and all of our pets!

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much to all of my readers and reviewers and to God. I always hoped this day would come, but there were moments in there I wasn't totally sure it wasn't all a pipe dream. However, my early readers were very encouraging, my reviewers have just been awesome as have my writing friends and host bloggers. And of course, God is just completely and totally awesome to have put the pieces in this puzzle just the way He did all the while keeping me focused on something I couldn't even see back then.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My Christian Living blog: http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com/
Info about my Romance Novels: http://ebookromancestories.com/
Coming soon: http://www.stacistallings.com for the latest and greatest!
My giveaway book will be an ebook, so the person will need to have either a Kindle or a Nook.

THANKS, K. Dawn! I've enjoyed my time on your blog!

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

We're happy to have Staci Stallings with us today talking about To Protect & Serve. Leave her a comment with your email address to register to win a download copy and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Staci and To Protect & Serve , read on!

Publisher: Spirit Light Publishing
 Cover blurb: Houston firefighter, Jeff Taylor is a fireman's fireman. He's not afraid of anything, and no situation is too dangerous to keep him on the sideline if lives are at stake.

Lisa Matheson runs a semi-successful ad agency that's on the brink of falling apart. Her employees are incompetent and her schedule has become exhausting. When she takes on a client with a brilliant idea for a big conference, she thinks that maybe, finally this is her lucky break. However, the fire station wasn't what she had in mind for finding conference speakers. When she falls for a handsome but shy firefighter, it's possible that life might just be going her way for a change. The only problem is she can't control Jeff and the death wish he seems to have...

1) How did this story come to you?
I was writing another story, and when I write, I create a soundtrack for the story and I pull pictures from the 'net of people who look like my characters. At the time a young lady who was working for me became interested in "the process" of how I wrote the books. So I was sharing the pics, etc. For this book, I had one member of a 90's boy band; however, instead of liking him, she "fell for" one of the other guys in the band. She kept asking when I was going to write HIS story. Finally, just to tell her definitively that wasn't going to happen, I said, "Okay, God, if I was going to write his story, what would it be?" To Protect & Serve dropped into my lap.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
In August of 2011, I read an ebook about how to put your book for sale as an ebook. I had dabbled in ebooks before, but at that point I decided to go big in ebooks. By October I had 13 ebooks for sale and I was seeing a steady climb in sales. By January, I knew this new venue was where I was meant to be publishing. After my ebook "Deep in the Heart" climbed to the #1 spot on four category lists, I decided to take the plunge with "To Protect & Serve," the first of a three-part series with the other two coming out in July and November 2012.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I love to Wii snowboard--all the action, none of the hospital bills.
When I was young, I grew up on a dairy farm and did a lot of milking and feeding cows with my parents and siblings.
When I was in 11th grade, I drove tractor out in the middle of nowhere for a whole summer. I spent my days plowing up and down fields, listening to the radio, and meting out my lunch and snacks so I would have enough for the whole day because the nearest "store" was 30 minutes away--about the same distance as the nearest other person on the planet.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Many projects are going at the same time right now. I am working on getting three books out in print (they have all been released as ebooks and climbed the Amazon charts, so people want them as paperbacks now). I have the second in The Courage Series coming out in late July. I am finish-editing three short story collections and a Bible study to come out some time by the end of the year. And of course, I'm keeping up with my husband, three kids, house, two businesses, two large extended families, and all of our pets!

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much to all of my readers and reviewers and to God. I always hoped this day would come, but there were moments in there I wasn't totally sure it wasn't all a pipe dream. However, my early readers were very encouraging, my reviewers have just been awesome as have my writing friends and host bloggers. And of course, God is just completely and totally awesome to have put the pieces in this puzzle just the way He did all the while keeping me focused on something I couldn't even see back then.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My Christian Living blog: http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com/
Info about my Romance Novels: http://ebookromancestories.com/
Coming soon: http://www.stacistallings.com for the latest and greatest!
My giveaway book will be an ebook, so the person will need to have either a Kindle or a Nook.

THANKS, K. Dawn! I've enjoyed my time on your blog!

Martha Rogers' Spring Hope

Publisher: This book is published by Realms Fiction Division of Charisma Media

Cover blurb: Libby ran away from an abusive father and life in a saloon straight into the arms of a deputy sheriff. Can Cory forgive her past and give her the life and love she’s always wanted?

1) How did this story come to you?
The forgiveness for a lifestyle unacceptable to a Christian parallels my own journey to forgiveness toward my brother and his lifestyle of sin and degradation.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Actually, this one was easy as it is the fourth book in the Seasons of the Heart series. My editor liked the concept of the story as presented in the proposal.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Well, they might not know I was in nursing school before changing my major and going into Home Economics. They also might not know I have a bum knee from playing tackle football with the boys when I was fourteen. I also sang in a concert at Mozart’s concert hall, in Salzburg, Austria.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on a new series set in the years just after the Civil War. The first book is loosely based on my own great-grandparents and their love story. I did a lot of genealogy research and what I found led me to writing the story of my great-grandfather and his journey home from the Civil War in 1865. He and my great-grandmother Sally were married in June of 1865. When we visited the church where they were married, and I read a letter he had written to her, I knew I just had to write it. I used their names in my book as a tribute to them.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me as a guest. I am still amazed even after three years that I will have ten published books when my Christmas one is released in September.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.marthawrogers.com/  and on the blog: http://www.justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/

Register to win Martha Rogers' Spring Hope

We're happy to have Martha Rogers with us today talking about Spring Hope. Leave her a comment with your email address to register to win a copy and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Martha and Spring Hope, read on!

Publisher: This book is published by Realms Fiction Division of Charisma Media

Cover blurb: Libby ran away from an abusive father and life in a saloon straight into the arms of a deputy sheriff. Can Cory forgive her past and give her the life and love she’s always wanted?

1) How did this story come to you?
The forgiveness for a lifestyle unacceptable to a Christian parallels my own journey to forgiveness toward my brother and his lifestyle of sin and degradation.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Actually, this one was easy as it is the fourth book in the Seasons of the Heart series. My editor liked the concept of the story as presented in the proposal.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Well, they might not know I was in nursing school before changing my major and going into Home Economics. They also might not know I have a bum knee from playing tackle football with the boys when I was fourteen. I also sang in a concert at Mozart’s concert hall, in Salzburg, Austria.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on a new series set in the years just after the Civil War. The first book is loosely based on my own great-grandparents and their love story. I did a lot of genealogy research and what I found led me to writing the story of my great-grandfather and his journey home from the Civil War in 1865. He and my great-grandmother Sally were married in June of 1865. When we visited the church where they were married, and I read a letter he had written to her, I knew I just had to write it. I used their names in my book as a tribute to them.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me as a guest. I am still amazed even after three years that I will have ten published books when my Christmas one is released in September.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.marthawrogers.com/  and on the blog: http://www.justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/

Becky Melby's "Yesterday's Stardust"

We're happy to have Becky Melby with us today talking about Yesterday's Stardust. Leave her a comment with your email address to register to win a copy and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Becky and Yesterday's Stardust, read on!

Title: Yesterday’s Stardust
Publisher: Barbour

Cover blurb: Journalist Dani Gallagher’s zeal to make a difference hinders her objectivity. While trying to help a teen gang member, her lack of “street smarts” angers Nicky Fiorini, chef and manager of Bracciano Restaurant. Ignoring Nicky’s warnings, Dani is intent on writing a story about gang activity in his neighborhood.

In an alley near the restaurant, Dani finds a tattered journal. The diary, written in the 1920s by a girl caught in the web of organized crime, mentions Bracciano—and a hidden treasure. In spite of their explosive meeting, Dani convinces Nicky to help her uncover what happened to the girl and her secret.

Attraction ignites as they work together, but both are hiding secrets of their own. Nicky isn’t ready to talk about the incident that hardened his heart toward God. When a fight erupts and Dani is caught in the middle, Nicky is furious to find Dani’s been learning about teen gangs by joining one.

The diary leads to a hidden room, and the secret, but have they missed the most valuable treasure?

1) How did this story come to you?
The seeds of this story began many years ago. I was writing with my dear friend and writing partner Cathy Wienke at the time. I was working in a ministry with at-risk teens and we brainstormed a story about a reporter who gets overly involved with a teen gang and a handsome Italian chef who thinks she’s crazy. We had a few chapters written when we decided to abandon the project for another story. When the opportunity for a full-length series came my way, Cathy gave her blessing. I created new characters and plot lines and developed the historical thread, but this story wouldn’t be what it is without her input.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I was blessed to be asked by Barbour, for whom I’d been writing since 1994, to develop a proposal for a full-length series. I’m so grateful they liked the concept for the Lost Sanctuary Series.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I had a near-death experience when I was 26.
2. I wish I owned an ATV.
3. I’ve backpacked in the Tetons, Rockies, and Smokeys.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently between contracts and working on a proposal for a three-book contemporary series. Each story will also include a second plot thread going back to the nineteen-forties, -fifties, and –sixties. I’m also working with three other amazing authors on a proposal for a novella collection. This compilation will include both contemporary and historical stories.

5) Parting comments? Thank you so much for inviting me!

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

Register to win Becky Melby's "Yesterday's Stardust"

We're happy to have Becky Melby with us today talking about Yesterday's Stardust. Leave her a comment with your email address to register to win a copy and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Becky and Yesterday's Stardust, read on!

Title: Yesterday’s Stardust
Publisher: Barbour

Cover blurb: Journalist Dani Gallagher’s zeal to make a difference hinders her objectivity. While trying to help a teen gang member, her lack of “street smarts” angers Nicky Fiorini, chef and manager of Bracciano Restaurant. Ignoring Nicky’s warnings, Dani is intent on writing a story about gang activity in his neighborhood.

In an alley near the restaurant, Dani finds a tattered journal. The diary, written in the 1920s by a girl caught in the web of organized crime, mentions Bracciano—and a hidden treasure. In spite of their explosive meeting, Dani convinces Nicky to help her uncover what happened to the girl and her secret.

Attraction ignites as they work together, but both are hiding secrets of their own. Nicky isn’t ready to talk about the incident that hardened his heart toward God. When a fight erupts and Dani is caught in the middle, Nicky is furious to find Dani’s been learning about teen gangs by joining one.

The diary leads to a hidden room, and the secret, but have they missed the most valuable treasure?

1) How did this story come to you?
The seeds of this story began many years ago. I was writing with my dear friend and writing partner Cathy Wienke at the time. I was working in a ministry with at-risk teens and we brainstormed a story about a reporter who gets overly involved with a teen gang and a handsome Italian chef who thinks she’s crazy. We had a few chapters written when we decided to abandon the project for another story. When the opportunity for a full-length series came my way, Cathy gave her blessing. I created new characters and plot lines and developed the historical thread, but this story wouldn’t be what it is without her input.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I was blessed to be asked by Barbour, for whom I’d been writing since 1994, to develop a proposal for a full-length series. I’m so grateful they liked the concept for the Lost Sanctuary Series.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I had a near-death experience when I was 26.
2. I wish I owned an ATV.
3. I’ve backpacked in the Tetons, Rockies, and Smokeys.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently between contracts and working on a proposal for a three-book contemporary series. Each story will also include a second plot thread going back to the nineteen-forties, -fifties, and –sixties. I’m also working with three other amazing authors on a proposal for a novella collection. This compilation will include both contemporary and historical stories.

5) Parting comments? Thank you so much for inviting me!

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

Dani Pettrey's "Submerged"

Title: Submerged.
Publisher: Bethany House

Cover blurb: A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers. One single clue. Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a town that doesn't forget. She's returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart... but doesn't seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he's not the same guy she left behind.

Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

1) How did this story come to you?
I watched a movie about cave divers and I was fascinated. It got me thinking about what type of person would pursue something so extreme and dangerous for a career, and Cole McKenna was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I met my editor at the ACFW conference after his Spotlight Session. He asked to see the first three chapters. A few weeks later, I got a request for the full. A few weeks after that he told me they were going to present it for contract. The day I got ‘the call' was amazing. I had been writing for a number of years and received my share of rejections, so getting the ‘go ahead’ on a story I loved so dearly was pure joy.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I write my first drafts longhand.
2) I married a cowboy.
3) I love the Regency period.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Shattered, book two in my Alaskan Courage series, will be a February 2013 release. It’s Piper McKenna’s story and I had a blast writing it. Lots of sparks in this one.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for having me. It’s been a pleasure.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love connecting with readers and writers online. Be sure to drop by and say hi.
Website: http://www.danipettrey.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DaniPettrey
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DaniPettrey