K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 47

Angela Ruth's "Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho"

Title: Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho
Publisher: Summerside Press, an imprint of Guidepost

Cover blurb: Actress Emily Van Arsdale has finally returned to her home state—with an entire film crew in tow! With stunning scenery and a reputation for hosting celebrities, Sun Valley is the perfect setting for Emily's newest romantic comedy. Tracen Lake is happy to work as a stunt consultant for the movie but not as thrilled to deal with a bunch of high-maintenance Hollywood types. Tracen is surprised, however, to discover in Emily a down-to-earth Idaho girl who does all her own stunts and loves the outdoors. As filming wraps up and Emily heads off to her next gig, will she be able to leave Sun Valley—and Tracen—behind?

1) How did this story come to you?
The story actually started out as Love Finds You in Sweet Home, Oregon—an area with a lot of water and known for outdoor adventures. This inspired Tracen's background and the whole theme of "home sweet home" versus "home is where the heart is." When the publisher asked me to move the location to Sun Valley (they already had quite a few stories set in Oregon), the swanky culture fit Emily's celebrity status perfectly.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Man, I wish publishing books was always as easy as this one turned out to be. Before selling the Sun Valley story, I had written three complete novels that couldn't find a home. All Summerside requested for their new romance line was a proposal including three chapters. I banged it out in a day. When my agent called with the good news, I was sure it would be for one of my other books that I'd slaved years over. But I'm so glad I sold this story, because I absolutely loved getting to know the characters.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. My husband left me in the middle of the writing/publication process, and I haven't finished reading a romance novel since.
2. I moved in with some neighbors who supported me through the divorce, and I dedicated the book to them for showing me what love was again.
3. God brought Prince Charming into my life, and being married to him is so much better than any romance novel. For our wedding, my publisher let us design a mock "Love Finds You" book cover with our own photo on it to put on display (left)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently writing a prayer book (similar to Stormie Omartian's series) for abandoned wives. God romanced me in such a sweet way after my divorce that I want to share that fulfillment with all unloved wives.

5) Parting comments?
Publishing my first book was an amazing experience, and it's eye-opening to learn how different readers perceive it. Be forewarned that this story is considered larger than life and includes romance scenes that will awaken your senses. But I'm proud to claim that even those who had complaints admit to finishing the whole book in one day!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I've just recently started a blog primarily for women forced to move on after their husband moves out. I'd love to have readers visit, but I'd especially love it if they passed on the blog site to anyone they know struggling with infidelity and/or divorce: www.angelaruthstrong.blogspot.com.

Lisa Lickel's "Lavender Dreams"

Title: Lavender Dreams, an anthology
Publisher: MuseItUp

Cover blurb: Ten short stories in this anthology to entertain you. More importantly, the authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties to help raise funds for cancer research each year.

Back Cover: MuseItUp Authors dedicate this book to all who have been affected in one way or the other by cancer. All royalties from the sales of this book will be donated each year to a cancer research organization, or hospice in order to further combat and find a cure.

The book is divided into three sections: non-fiction, fiction based on true stories, and fictional stories—ten stories generously donated by the authors to help raise funds for cancer.

This book is dedicated to the memory of one of our dear editors who passed away 2011 from cancer, Karen McGrath.

You will always be remembered.

1) How did this story come to you?
My short fiction, "Testing," is a revised scene from an as-yet published novel. The story features a scene from an imagined drug trial.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
MuseItUp picked up my cozy mystery series, Buried Treasure. When I saw the news about Karen, and how the other authors felt about her, I wanted to get involved as well, and offered my short story. My mom is a breast-cancer survivor and some of my friends are battling cancer. I am glad to donate the proceeds to support cancer research.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I edit a Christian spec/sci-fi/monsters magazine; I am a vacuum-cleaning freak; I can butcher deer.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Muse is re-releasing The Gold Standard, featuring a picture of the crazy cat, Carranza, on the cover. The second book in the series, The Map Quilt, comes out next April.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for featuring this book. Cancer has affected most of us in some way or another and this is one way we can help fight this disease.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My web site has all my links: http://www.lisalickel.com/

Register to win a PDF copy of Lisa Lickel's "Lavender Dreams"

There are three giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them all out! We're happy to have Lisa Lickel with us today talking about her book, "Lavender Dreams." To register to win a copy, leave Lisa 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 Lisa and her book, read on!

Title: Lavender Dreams, an anthology
Publisher: MuseItUp

Cover blurb: Ten short stories in this anthology to entertain you. More importantly, the authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties to help raise funds for cancer research each year.

Back Cover: MuseItUp Authors dedicate this book to all who have been affected in one way or the other by cancer. All royalties from the sales of this book will be donated each year to a cancer research organization, or hospice in order to further combat and find a cure.

The book is divided into three sections: non-fiction, fiction based on true stories, and fictional stories—ten stories generously donated by the authors to help raise funds for cancer.

This book is dedicated to the memory of one of our dear editors who passed away 2011 from cancer, Karen McGrath.

You will always be remembered.

1) How did this story come to you?
My short fiction, "Testing," is a revised scene from an as-yet published novel. The story features a scene from an imagined drug trial.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
MuseItUp picked up my cozy mystery series, Buried Treasure. When I saw the news about Karen, and how the other authors felt about her, I wanted to get involved as well, and offered my short story. My mom is a breast-cancer survivor and some of my friends are battling cancer. I am glad to donate the proceeds to support cancer research.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I edit a Christian spec/sci-fi/monsters magazine; I am a vacuum-cleaning freak; I can butcher deer.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Muse is re-releasing The Gold Standard, featuring a picture of the crazy cat, Carranza, on the cover. The second book in the series, The Map Quilt, comes out next April.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for featuring this book. Cancer has affected most of us in some way or another and this is one way we can help fight this disease.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My web site has all my links: http://www.lisalickel.com/

Register to win Angela Ruth's "Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho"

There are three giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them all out! We're happy to have Angela Ruth with us today talking about her book, "Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho." To register to win a copy, leave Anglea 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 Angela and her book, read on!

Title: Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho
Publisher: Summerside Press, an imprint of Guidepost

Cover blurb: Actress Emily Van Arsdale has finally returned to her home state—with an entire film crew in tow! With stunning scenery and a reputation for hosting celebrities, Sun Valley is the perfect setting for Emily's newest romantic comedy. Tracen Lake is happy to work as a stunt consultant for the movie but not as thrilled to deal with a bunch of high-maintenance Hollywood types. Tracen is surprised, however, to discover in Emily a down-to-earth Idaho girl who does all her own stunts and loves the outdoors. As filming wraps up and Emily heads off to her next gig, will she be able to leave Sun Valley—and Tracen—behind?

1) How did this story come to you?
The story actually started out as Love Finds You in Sweet Home, Oregon—an area with a lot of water and known for outdoor adventures. This inspired Tracen's background and the whole theme of "home sweet home" versus "home is where the heart is." When the publisher asked me to move the location to Sun Valley (they already had quite a few stories set in Oregon), the swanky culture fit Emily's celebrity status perfectly.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Man, I wish publishing books was always as easy as this one turned out to be. Before selling the Sun Valley story, I had written three complete novels that couldn't find a home. All Summerside requested for their new romance line was a proposal including three chapters. I banged it out in a day. When my agent called with the good news, I was sure it would be for one of my other books that I'd slaved years over. But I'm so glad I sold this story, because I absolutely loved getting to know the characters.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. My husband left me in the middle of the writing/publication process, and I haven't finished reading a romance novel since.
2. I moved in with some neighbors who supported me through the divorce, and I dedicated the book to them for showing me what love was again.
3. God brought Prince Charming into my life, and being married to him is so much better than any romance novel. For our wedding, my publisher let us design a mock "Love Finds You" book cover with our own photo on it to put on display (left)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently writing a prayer book (similar to Stormie Omartian's series) for abandoned wives. God romanced me in such a sweet way after my divorce that I want to share that fulfillment with all unloved wives.

5) Parting comments?
Publishing my first book was an amazing experience, and it's eye-opening to learn how different readers perceive it. Be forewarned that this story is considered larger than life and includes romance scenes that will awaken your senses. But I'm proud to claim that even those who had complaints admit to finishing the whole book in one day!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I've just recently started a blog primarily for women forced to move on after their husband moves out. I'd love to have readers visit, but I'd especially love it if they passed on the blog site to anyone they know struggling with infidelity and/or divorce: www.angelaruthstrong.blogspot.com.

RL Copple's "Infinite Realities"

Title: Reality's DawnPublisher: Splashdown Books

Cover blurb: Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, reality invaded the world. When the presence of reality emerges from under the façade of perception, lives are changed. Forever. A mystical ring binds Sisko to bless others with miracles and avoid using its power for himself, which would lead to a curse. With his friends Josh the wizard and Seth the leader of a gang of thieves, Sisko explores the emerging reality through his travels and adventures.

Journey with Sisko as reality's presence confronts and changes the greedy, the killers, the trapped, the demonic, and Sisko himself.

...Reality has dawned, and no one will be the same.

1) How did this story come to you?
I participated in a group "duel" in a critique group I was part of back in 2006. Out of that came the short story, "Steamy Realities." I had an idea after that for most stories coinciding with faith, hope, and love. The publisher of the magazine liked them and wanted to publish them in a novella, which was published in November 2007 as Infinite Realities. I added one more story to that collection to make five total that had a larger story arc. It received good reviews, but everyone complained about how short it was, they wanted more. Which is the best kind of complaint to get. So in the fall of 2010, I finally got around to writing more stories to fill in the holes and flesh out the characters better, adding on ten new stories to make a total of fifteen. That resulted in the novel-sized collection titled Reality's Dawn. So far, everyone who has read it has had good things to say about it. It has a fairy tale feel, but in an unconventional way.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The first sale was to a magazine, which is now defunct, called "The Sword Review." Bill Snodgrass was the managing editor, and also ran the parent company, Double-Edged Publishing. He took an interest in what I had done with the series and wanted to publish them as a novella. So I never had any formal submission process with him. I was just picked up. Infinite Realities was published in November 2007.

As mentioned above, I wrote ten more stories to fill out the story arc of the book in the fall of 2010. However, Double-Edged Publishing had, for all practical purposes, gone out of business, so I needed a new publisher. I also had a third book in the series yet to be published. DEP had published the second book in the trilogy, Transforming Realities, in March 2009.

I had become acquainted with Grace, who headed up Splashdown Books. She had previously reviewed Infinite Realities and gave it a five-star review, so I had an idea she might like the "new and improved" version just as well. So I sent her the manuscript for it and the third book in the series that was yet to be published. It all happened relatively quickly, in that by the beginning of February of 2011, she had decided to take all three of my books, publishing the new and improved first book as Reality's Dawn in March 2011, the sequel Transforming Realities as Reality's Ascent in May 2011, and in the near future, the third book will arrive, titled Reality's Glory.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I know the basics of Byzantine Chant and chant regularly at church. I tried to jump my car over a small ditch once, but a tree jumped in the way. My brother and I made up a whole slew of superheroes and villains and mailed them to marvel back in the early 70s; we never heard back, but I always wondered if my Magnet Man was the inspiration for Magnito.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The final book in the Realty Chronicles trilogy, Reality's Glory is scheduled to be published in the summer of 2012. I also have two books written in a new at-least-five-book series in the same world, more of a dragon story. Editing both of those.

I recently self-published the first of a two-part series on August, a space opera story called "Mind Game." I'm currently editing its sequel, Hero Game, with plans to publish it next year sometime.

I am doing an episode space opera serial called Underground, that I plan on self-publishing once it is finished and final edits done on it.

I recently published a non-fiction ebook on "How to Make an Ebook: Using Free Software." Currently at sale on Amazon, B&N, Apple, Sony, Kobo, and other online retail outlets.

5) Parting comments?
One of the reasons I write speculative fiction is its ability to enable people to see the mundane in a new light, a fresh perspective they've not considered before. It's one thing to preach. It's another to experience it in your heart. Sermons and non-fiction titles are good and needful, don't get me wrong. But many people will read those and come away only mentally enriched for the moment, but not affected by them for life. Fiction has a way of putting those truths, that theology, into life and the reader gets to experience the results.

My goal is to get the reader to see something from an angle they've yet to consider, experience truth in a way they've been unable to see with their mind previously, and hopefully open up new vistas of truth in their own life. That often takes demonstrating truth rather than preaching it directly. And because of that, I think too many dismiss fiction, especially speculative fiction, and pure escapism entertainment. It does have to be entertaining to work, but just because it is entertaining, doesn't necessarily mean it is worthless.

I think if more Christians though of it as an experiential retreat instead of escapism, it would enable a higher quality of writing and affect more lives as a result.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.rlcopple.com/
http://www.blog.rlcopple.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rlcopple
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rlcopple

Register to win RL Copple's "Infinite Realities"

There are three giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them all out! We're happy to have RL Copple with us today talking about his book, "Reality's Dawn." To register to win a copy of "Infinite Realities," leave R.L. 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 R.L. and his book, read on!

Title: Reality's Dawn
Publisher: Splashdown Books

Cover blurb: Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, reality invaded the world. When the presence of reality emerges from under the façade of perception, lives are changed. Forever. A mystical ring binds Sisko to bless others with miracles and avoid using its power for himself, which would lead to a curse. With his friends Josh the wizard and Seth the leader of a gang of thieves, Sisko explores the emerging reality through his travels and adventures.

Journey with Sisko as reality's presence confronts and changes the greedy, the killers, the trapped, the demonic, and Sisko himself.

...Reality has dawned, and no one will be the same.

1) How did this story come to you?
I participated in a group "duel" in a critique group I was part of back in 2006. Out of that came the short story, "Steamy Realities." I had an idea after that for most stories coinciding with faith, hope, and love. The publisher of the magazine liked them and wanted to publish them in a novella, which was published in November 2007 as Infinite Realities. I added one more story to that collection to make five total that had a larger story arc. It received good reviews, but everyone complained about how short it was, they wanted more. Which is the best kind of complaint to get. So in the fall of 2010, I finally got around to writing more stories to fill in the holes and flesh out the characters better, adding on ten new stories to make a total of fifteen. That resulted in the novel-sized collection titled Reality's Dawn. So far, everyone who has read it has had good things to say about it. It has a fairy tale feel, but in an unconventional way.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The first sale was to a magazine, which is now defunct, called "The Sword Review." Bill Snodgrass was the managing editor, and also ran the parent company, Double-Edged Publishing. He took an interest in what I had done with the series and wanted to publish them as a novella. So I never had any formal submission process with him. I was just picked up. Infinite Realities was published in November 2007.

As mentioned above, I wrote ten more stories to fill out the story arc of the book in the fall of 2010. However, Double-Edged Publishing had, for all practical purposes, gone out of business, so I needed a new publisher. I also had a third book in the series yet to be published. DEP had published the second book in the trilogy, Transforming Realities, in March 2009.

I had become acquainted with Grace, who headed up Splashdown Books. She had previously reviewed Infinite Realities and gave it a five-star review, so I had an idea she might like the "new and improved" version just as well. So I sent her the manuscript for it and the third book in the series that was yet to be published. It all happened relatively quickly, in that by the beginning of February of 2011, she had decided to take all three of my books, publishing the new and improved first book as Reality's Dawn in March 2011, the sequel Transforming Realities as Reality's Ascent in May 2011, and in the near future, the third book will arrive, titled Reality's Glory.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I know the basics of Byzantine Chant and chant regularly at church. I tried to jump my car over a small ditch once, but a tree jumped in the way. My brother and I made up a whole slew of superheroes and villains and mailed them to marvel back in the early 70s; we never heard back, but I always wondered if my Magnet Man was the inspiration for Magnito.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The final book in the Realty Chronicles trilogy, Reality's Glory is scheduled to be published in the summer of 2012. I also have two books written in a new at-least-five-book series in the same world, more of a dragon story. Editing both of those.

I recently self-published the first of a two-part series on August, a space opera story called "Mind Game." I'm currently editing its sequel, Hero Game, with plans to publish it next year sometime.

I am doing an episode space opera serial called Underground, that I plan on self-publishing once it is finished and final edits done on it.

I recently published a non-fiction ebook on "How to Make an Ebook: Using Free Software." Currently at sale on Amazon, B&N, Apple, Sony, Kobo, and other online retail outlets.

5) Parting comments?
One of the reasons I write speculative fiction is its ability to enable people to see the mundane in a new light, a fresh perspective they've not considered before. It's one thing to preach. It's another to experience it in your heart. Sermons and non-fiction titles are good and needful, don't get me wrong. But many people will read those and come away only mentally enriched for the moment, but not affected by them for life. Fiction has a way of putting those truths, that theology, into life and the reader gets to experience the results.

My goal is to get the reader to see something from an angle they've yet to consider, experience truth in a way they've been unable to see with their mind previously, and hopefully open up new vistas of truth in their own life. That often takes demonstrating truth rather than preaching it directly. And because of that, I think too many dismiss fiction, especially speculative fiction, and pure escapism entertainment. It does have to be entertaining to work, but just because it is entertaining, doesn't necessarily mean it is worthless.

I think if more Christians though of it as an experiential retreat instead of escapism, it would enable a higher quality of writing and affect more lives as a result.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.rlcopple.com/
http://www.blog.rlcopple.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rlcopple
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rlcopple

Chad Young talks about the faith of a young lady...

This week we're not having a book giveaway, but please take a moment to read Chad Young's interview.

"The Faith of a Young Lady" by Chad Young

"But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'" (Luke 1:29-33)

One of the reasons I love the gospel of Luke is that it gives so much background surrounding the birth of Jesus. Put yourself in Mary's shoes for a moment. You're a young lady, set to be married to a young guy named Joseph. You're minding your own business one day, probably daydreaming about your wedding, when an angel of the Lord appears to you. At this point, you didn't even know for sure that angels existed, but this angel tells you that God will place a child inside of you, a virgin. For me personally, I think I would either pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming or start laughing and tell the so-called "angel" to leave me alone and stop playing a prank on me. I don't think for a second I would have had enough faith to believe what the angel said was true. But listen how Mary immediately responded:

"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

My prayer today is that the Lord would give me faith like Mary. With strong faith like hers, my struggles with sin, and pride would fade away. My love for Christ the King would grow more intimate. The will of God would seem more important than my own selfish ambition.

My prayer to Jesus: "Lord, I praise you that you are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. You are the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. You created all things for your pleasure and purpose, including me. You even died on the cross for me so I could be adopted into the family of God. Yet so often I turn away and try to live life on my own terms, seeking worldly desires instead of the desires of the King. I surrender my life to you today. Make me the person you want me to be, and help me to fall more deeply in love with you. I ask you to give me faith like Mary had on the day she found out she would give birth to you. Increase my faith so that I may help to make you famous on earth. Amen."

About the Author:
Chad Young is the author of Authenticity: Real Faith in a Phony, Superficial World, available at Amazon. As Campus Crusade for Christ's director for the South Carolina Lowcountry with a scope of 25 college campuses and 70,000 students, Chad resides in Charleston, SC, with his wife Elizabeth and their four young children: Wyatt, Clark, Evelyn and Josilynn. He holds an undergraduate degree from Clemson University and a graduate degree from Georgia Tech; Chad worked in the paper industry for 6 years before going into full-time ministry. He has served on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for 9 years and has also written a discipleship training manual. He has a passion for helping students learn what it means to have an authentic relationship with Christ.

Beth Trissel's "Somewhere the Bells Ring"

Title: Somewhere the Bells Ring
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Cover blurb: Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative's ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn't so bad.

To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope--until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.

As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe--in Bailey and the ghost--before the Christmas bells ring?

1) How did this story come to you?
In a vivid dream that took place in the beautiful old Virginia home place where my father grew up and I visited during the holidays about a young woman, a guest in the house at Christmas, and the mysterious gentleman she met. That dream nagged at me until I wrote the story. I'm also very nostalgic about the late 1960's, thus the time period the story is set in, and an even earlier era 1918 and the end of WW1--that accounts for the flashbacks.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Writing it. My Faery Rose (light paranormal) editor loved the story, so the journey was all in the creation.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I'm a wee bit psychic. Stories and characters often come to me in dreams, also events I'd rather not know about sometimes. I pray a lot.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The next story in my 'Somewhere' series, the sequel to Scottish time travel romance Somewhere My Lass, while I wait to hear back from my historical editor about a manuscript I turned in, the third in my colonial frontier trilogy and the sequel to Through the Fire. I write for two different lines at the Wild Rose Press.

5) Parting comments?
If you enjoy an intriguing mystery with Gothic overtones and heart-tugging romance set in vintage America then Somewhere the Bells Ring is for you. And did I mention the ghost?

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog is the happening place and has links to everything else: http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/

Melanie Dickerson's "The Merchant's Daughter"

Title: The Merchant's Daughter
Publisher: Zondervan

Cover blurb: An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.
Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

1) How did this story come to you?
Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairy tale, and when I decided to do another fairy tale retelling, I knew I wanted to do a Beauty and the Beast story. I knew I wanted to set it in England and for it have a little bit of a Gothic feel. Then the story just gradually evolved. I don't really remember too much about the process. I wrote it about four years ago.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I was still trying to get The Healer's Apprentice published when I entered The Merchant's Daughter in its first contest, and it won first place and The Healer's Apprentice took fourth. But I didn't really try very hard to get it published. Once Zondervan decided to publish The Healer's Apprentice, my agent submitted The Merchant's Daughter to my editor. A few months later, she asked for some changes. I did the changes, and finally, about a year after we submitted it, they said yes.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) My books are published as YA's but I rarely read a YA.
2) I am watching the TV show Once Upon a Time, which is not surprising, but it is the first TV show I've followed in over twenty years.
3) I hate bananas.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have a Snow White story and a Cinderella story that are both sequels to The Healer's Apprentice and am hoping Zondervan will publish them in about a year. Right now I'm working on a Regency for an adult Christian audience.

5) Parting comments?
I should probably say something profound like "World peace is so important and we should all do our part," but instead I'll say, "Please go buy my book. It's really good."

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love interacting with readers, so please friend me on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/people/Melanie-Dickerson/100000220838349

And please check out the awesome trailers for The Merchant's Daughter and The Healer's Apprentice on my website, http://www.melaniedickerson.com/

Margaret Daley's "His Holiday Family"

Title: His Holiday Family
Publisher: Love Inspired

Cover blurb: When Hurricane Naomi tears through a small Mississippi town, a daring rescue unites two heroes. Nurse Kathleen Hart is a single mom racked by guilt over her husband's death. Firefighter Gideon O'Brien—orphaned as a young boy—has lost too many people he cared for. To rise above the storm's devastation, Gideon helps Kathleen and her sons rebuild their home. As Christmas approaches, they discover that even the strongest of storms can't destroy a romance built on the foundation of faith.

1) How did this story come to you?
I used to live on Mississippi Gulf Coast and wanted to honor the people who rebuild after a disaster like a hurricane. They do an amazing job. They are heroes.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My publisher asked me to do a Love Inspired series, and this is what I came up with. His Holiday Family is the first in A Town Called Hope Series. The second one is in April, 2012 called A Love Rekindled and the third one is out in September, 2012 called A Mom's Fresh Start.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I love to read and haven't read a book in four months for pleasure.
2) I don't want any present for Christmas.
3) I can't think of a third thing that would surprise my readers--I'm an open book.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on my third in the Men of the Texas Rangers Series for Abingdon Press. These books are a romantic suspense (contemporary). This third book called Scorned Justice should be out in August 2013 and is about revenge. The first book in the series will be out in March 2012 and it is called Saving Hope, followed by the second one, Shattered Silence in August 2012.

5) Parting comments?
I love hearing from my readers. You can email me from my website. There is a contact form.

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