Trish Perry's Blog, page 22

Susan Meissner and Free Books!

Just before the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 descends on the known world, a tobacco farmer becomes partner and heir to his uncle’s funeral home and he moves his family from the peaceful Pennsylvania countryside to Philadelphia, one of the hardest hit American cities.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Loving Treasures, by Gail Gaymer Martin, is:

phantoms_labyrinth_2005@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Susan Meissner, author of As Bright as Heaven (Berkley Publishing, February 2018), historical fiction set in two time periods, 1918 and 1925, with no contemporary layer.

Susan says, "It’s the first book of mine in ten years that isn’t a blend of the past and the current day. But this is the right architecture for this novel. I would never want to force a story construction on a book just to fit a pattern. My next book with Berkley will be a blend again of historical and contemporary time periods, but this book is strictly historical."

Susan Meissner a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include A Bridge Across the Ocean, Secrets of a Charmed Life (a 2015 Goodreads Choice award finalist) and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten women’s fiction titles for 2014. Susan is grateful and humbled to also be RITA finalist and Christy Award and Carol Award winner.

A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University. She's a pastor’s wife and a mother of four young adults. She also a writing workshop volunteer for Words Alive, a San Diego non-profit dedicated to helping at-risk youth foster a love for reading and writing.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I have a new puppy, a yellow English Lab, named Winston – after Sir Winston Churchill, of course – who fills my non-writing moments (actually, it’s every moment) with wonder and delight and constant vigilance. Puppies not only chew everything, they eat everything. As I was typing this I had to rescue a doormat from being consumed. Seriously.

Oh, yes. I remember. It's wonderful watching all of those adorable puppy clips on Facebook, and I've loved all of my dogs to death, but those early adventures can be pretty messy!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of As Bright as Heaven.

The Spanish Flu of 1918 claimed a staggering fifty million lives worldwide, and yet until I began researching to write this novel, I had not known the extent of this pandemic’s reach, nor its impact.

This is a book, then, about the preciousness of life; about how beautiful and fragile we humans are, and yet how resilient we stand in the face of crushing loss. The Spanish Flu was more than just a moment in time; it was the individual stories of countless mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers all over the world. I wanted to imagine what one of those stories might’ve been, and explore all the nuances of this idea that we only get one life – just the one – so we endeavor to make it as wonderful as we can with the time we are given.

Exactly. So often moments in world history (and Biblical history) are addressed in a few sentences or verses which distance us from the devastation of the individual experience. It helps to focus more closely on specific stories.

What is it about your lead characters that will make your readers care about them?

There are four point-of-view characters – a mother and her three daughters – who narrate the story in alternating chapters. I think it is the daughters’ innocence, as well as their individual personalities and ages – fifteen, thirteen, and seven – that account for the most empathetic moments in the telling because even though they have a mother and father who love them very much, their parents cannot shield them from what is happening in their city and in the world. The daughters’ perspectives on the flu and its impact are what I feel give this story its weight, along with the mother’s desire to protect her girls from harm while still grieving the loss of an infant son.

These four characters are just like us, really; they live in an imperfect world that is wonderful and yet is filled with forces that are often greater than we are.

Share with us a quote you like from a book other than yours. Why do you like it?

There are a great many quotes that I love from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, but this one is among my top three favorites. Albus Dumbledore says it to Harry in The Chamber of Secrets:

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

I love it because it is so simply true. We are never in complete control of our circumstances, but we can always decide what we will do in them.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I actually read Lisa Wingate’s Before We Were Yours before it released, so it’s been a few months, but it is still the book that is most memorable to me now after many weeks of reading other books. It’s a blend of both history and contemporary story threads and it deals with one of those events in the past that ought not to be forgotten. Lisa is a masterful storyteller, and she found a way to weave a tale that incorporates the incredibly awful things that a certain children’s home did in the 1930s to provide people who had money and wanted kids but couldn’t have them with sons and daughters to adopt. Not always an easy read, but the best books do usually tend to wound us a little in the reading.

And hasn't the book done well! My goodness. I haven't yet read it, but your recommendation has pushed it up on my list.

What are you working on now?

The story I am writing right now is still a work in progress, but I can share the basics: It’s about a teenage girl, born in the Midwest, whose parents had emigrated to the US from Germany years before. Elise is an American citizen, but her parents are merely legal residents. After America enters WW2, Elise’s father, an unsuspecting and loyal-to-America chemist, is nevertheless declared an enemy alien primarily because his brother serves in the German army and his father had been a decorated WW1 hero. He is interned for the duration of the war. The family can only be reunited if Elise, her mother, and brother volunteer to be interned as well, which is what they do. It’s a book about identity, really. Are you who people say you are, even if they don’t know you, or do you get to decide who you are, even if no one around you affirms it? Most of us have heard about the internment during WW2 of Japanese-Americans living on the West Coast but few of us know German-Americans were interned, too.

Such a good point. Even as I read your description, I thought of Stewart Ikeda's excellent novel, What the Scarecrow Said, which did look very empathetically at the internment of Japanese-Americans. I have to say I never gave much thought to the fact that the same happened with German-Americans.

Where else can readers find you online?

I am here on my website: www.susanmeissner.com and on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or at Facebook. My Instagram handle is @soozmeissner.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What do you like best about reading historical fiction, and how important is historical accuracy to you? Do you think it’s ever okay for a historical novelist to bend the truth?

Thank you, Susan, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Susan has offered to give away a signed copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Susan's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Gail Gaymer Martin and Free Books!

Following the death of her abusive husband, Jemma DuPree follows her quirky mother-in-law to the resort town of Loving to begin a new life, a life she never expected and one she struggles to accept.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Thread of Revenge, by Elizabeth Goddard, is:

sallyshupe1@...

Congratulations! I'll email you for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Gail Gaymer Martin, author of the contemporary Christian romance, Loving Treasures (Winged Publications, January 2018).

Best-selling and award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin is the author of contemporary Christian romance, sweet romance, and romantic suspense with 80 published novels and over 4 million books sold. Her novels have received several national awards, including: the ACFW Carol Award and RT Reviewers' Choice Award.

CBS local news listed Gail as one of the four best writers in the Detroit area. She is the author of Writer Digests' Writing the Christian Romance and a founder of American Christian Fiction Writers. Gail is a keynote speaker at churches, civic and business organizations.

In her earlier career, she was a teacher of English, literature, and public speaking at high school and university levels and still enjoys teaching workshops at conferences.

Though living most of her life in Michigan, Gail now lives in Sedona, Arizona with her husband.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I have been blessed with two talents, writing and also singing. I’ve sung in auditioned chorale groups, church choirs and solo work since I was a pre-teen. If readers are interested, they can hear an audio from our church when I sang the song Who Am I. The song is accompanied by photos of beautiful Sedona, AZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfcRHXH8R7s&feature=youtu.be

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Loving Treasures.

Jemma Dupre, a young childless widow, longs to be independent, but she has no resources and Claire, her mother-in-law, is the only family Jemma has. After her husband Lyle's death, Claire decides to move back home to Loving.

Jemma follows her to the resort town, and with the help of her wealthy cousin, Philip Somerville who owns the resort, Claire opens a boutique, Loving Treasures.

Though Jemma assists Claire in the shop and shares her living quarters, she wants a life of her own, and when Philip, the opposite of Lyle, offers her a job at his resort, she declines, finding herself attracted to Philip and not wanting to be a charity case.

But frustrated, she accepts the job, and Philip, who had loved and lost, sees Jemma’s loving ways and wants to give her the world, yet he must show her and himself that God’s plan includes the treasure of a second chance at love.

What is it about Jemma that will make your readers care about her?

Jemma a young woman filled with faith, but finds herself making mistakes. She is trusting and hopeful, but her bad marriage creates fear and doubt about love and life. Living with her quirky mother-in-law, Jemma begins to find herself and knows she wants something she’s never had—independence, and yet when people are kind, she often looks for an ulterior motive. But as her experience grows, she gains strength and confidence in her ability and proves that she has worth she never knew.

Share with us a quote you like from a book other than yours. Why do you like it?

"You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 
2 Corinthians 3: 3.

This verse has become a guide to my writing. It reminds me that we are not just writing a story on paper, but our words and plots are touching lives and giving people hope and strength as they did with life’s troubles and failures. As writers then, we have a responsibility to write messages that are testimonies to God’s promises.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

For Such a Time , by Kate Breslin. It is the story of a young Jewish girl who is saved from a firing squad but forced into working as a secretary for the SS-Kommandant Colonel at the transit camp in Czechoslovakia, while she watches other Jews be sent off to Auschwitz. The story is of her struggle to hide her Jewish background and save some of her countrymen. Exciting from beginning to end.

What are you working on now?

Loving is a seven book series that was published in the early 2000s, and I am now reissuing them with updated edits to meet my writing standards. Loving Treasures is Book #1 and I am presently working on Book #2, Loving Hearts.

Where else can readers find you online?

I have a website and am on numerous social media.

Website: www.gailgaymermartin.com
Facebook
Twitter
GoodReads
Google Plus

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What draws you to a novel, the cover, the blurb, word-of-mouth, first few pages or something else?

Thank you, Gail, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Gail has offered to give away a free e-copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Gail's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Elizabeth Goddard and Free Books!

Marine biologist Sadie Strand is back in her coastal hometown to prove her best friend was murdered—but searching for evidence could cost Sadie her life.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winners of the e-copies of Fall'N for You, by Mary Alford, Gail Gaymer Martin, Joi Copeland, Martha Rogers, Debby Mayne and me, are:

lelandandbecky@...
Jackie_tessnair@... and
tumcsec@...

Congratulations! We'll get your books right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Elizabeth Goddard, author of the romantic suspense novel, Thread of Revenge (Love Inspired Suspense, February 2018).

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than thirty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, The Camera Never Lies--a 2011 Carol Award winner.

Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire, and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist.

A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I’m a descendant of Alamo Defender Claiborne Wright.

Well, you don't mess around with your 7th generation Texan status, do you? That's wonderful, that you know that about your heritage.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Thread of Revenge.

I love all things ocean, and especially the characters in this story. I had wanted to be a marine biologist growing up so in a way I’m living vicariously through my heroine. The hero is a Coast Guard investigator, which was fascinating to research.

Here’s the blurb: Marine biologist Sadie Strand is back in her coastal hometown to prove her best friend was murdered—but searching for evidence almost costs Sadie her life. Abducted, drugged and left for dead on a sinking boat, she’s barely rescued in time by Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Gage Sessions, an old friend.

Assigned to protect Sadie and connect three complicated cases, Gage risks his life time and again to make sure the woman he once loved survives. But although the handsome, guarded agent vows to protect her, someone will keep killing to ensure the truth never rises to the surface.

What is it about Sadie and Gage that will make your readers care about them?

Sadie wants to know the truth about what happened to her friend. Who murdered her. Sadie holds herself indirectly responsible for her friend’s death. After all, if she had been home instead of gallivanting around the world on a research trip, her best friend might still be alive.

I think we can all relate to asking those ‘what if’ questions. What if I’d done this or gone there, things might have been different, ya know?

As for Gage—the Coast Guard protector—he’s just an all-around likeable hero whose life has come full circle and he gets another chance to maybe fall in love with this girl he loved years ago.

I think readers will be rooting for him to get Sadie’s attention this time. And for Sadie to notice him—the man of her dreams that was right there in front of her this whole time, but she never noticed him.

Share with us a quote you like from a book other than yours.

“The stars shine bright when it gets dark enough. The invisible becomes visible.” 

That’s from Sibella Giorello’s The Stars Shine Bright: A Raleigh Harmon Novel, Book 5.

I love that quote because it’s deep and has all kinds of meaning. Depending on where you are in life, it could mean something different to you.

When we were camping in Yellowstone this last summer, for the first time in my life, I could see the stars all night long because we were sleeping in the back of minivan (in a special tent that attaches to minivans). At some point I would wake up and the sky would be seriously pitch black and the stars--ohmygosh--they were so amazing and bright, and I could see the Milky Way even. So it's really true the stars shine brightest in the darkest night.

Metaphorically, when we’re in our darkest place—we need to look for the stars. To me, God can more easily be “seen" there—He’s the invisible, after all.

That's lovely. And what a stunning sight that must have been at Yellowstone.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

That’s a tough question to answer since I would recommend almost everything I read—I usually read romantic suspense written by friends. I just wrapped up Lisa Harris’s Vanishing Point , so I’ll go with that one. I would recommend it because it wraps up her Nikki Boyd series and answers the question about what happened to Nikki’s sister.

What are you working on now?

Ha! Many things. I’m starting another book in my current Coldwater Bay Intrigue series, and then will soon be turning in my first book for Revell—Abducted (working title). This year is a busy writing year for me because I have five books to write—three for Love Inspired Suspense and two for Revell.

My goodness, I can't imagine. Ever since working a full-time job, I've been fortunate to even get two novellas written each year. I'm very impressed with your prolific pace!

Where else can readers find you online?

elizabethgoddard.com
Bookbub
Facebook
Twitter
ChristiansRead
Suspensesisters

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

How do you find new-to-you authors?

Thank you, Elizabeth, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Elizabeth has offered to give away a signed copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Elizabeth's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Fall'N for You Giveaway!

These sweet romances will dispel the chill in the air and warm your heart. From perfume to baked goods, six women find their happily ever after while leaves are changing to shades of gold and red.

Before we feature this week's giveaway, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Surgeon's Choice, by Dr. Richard Mabry, is:

keepinupwithus@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

Just for fun today, I'm featuring and giving away a six-novella collection which includes one of my novellas, Local Girl.

The e-collection is called Fall'N for You , and these brief snippets will give you a small clue about the flavor of each of the six novellas:




-- Did their past mean nothing to Wynonna, or is she desperately trying to keep him at arm’s length because, like him, she never got over the love they once shared? - Texas Strong (Mary Alford)








-- Even though she agrees to appear as Derek’s girlfriend to aid his possible promotion, can her growing feelings survive the past that she can’t forget? - Autumn's Fresh Beginning (Gail Gaymer Martin) 










-- Walk through the struggles with Spencer and Joy in Fall n Joy. (Joi Copeland)



-- With the help of her mother and best friend Susie, Alicia learns the power of forgiveness and opening her heart to love when it comes around to her back porch. - Love Comes Around (Martha Rogers)



-- But Sara-Penny knows better, and she understands Edie and her painful past more than Edie realizes. - Local Girl (Trish Perry) 






-- Jonathan sees through it right away, but it takes Carrie a little longer to realize what’s happening. After both of the adults know what’s going on, is there any chance of them falling for his plan … and falling in love? - Love in the News (Debby Mayne)



As you may have surmised by the collection's title, all of the stories are set during the autumn, one of my two favorite seasons (spring being the other). I love the air here in Washington, D.C. during the spring and autumn--clear and crisp. I love the blooms of the spring and the turning colors of the fall.

I plan to move across the country soon, to live closer to my kids and grandkids on the west coast. I won't miss the cold, wet, icy winters, I can tell you that. But I suspect I'll miss the fall.

Still, I know when I'm hanging out with family, enjoying the nearly constant spring and summer climate, I'll feel it's a very good trade-off.

Obviously, you don't all feel the same about winter weather, because I hear from people who happily live all over the U.S. and beyond. So, I'm going to give away the Fall'N for You e-novella set to three of the people who answer the following question in the comments section below:

Which is your favorite season where you live right now, and what is it you like about it?

If you have interest in purchasing the set, that can be done via the following button:





The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Dr. Richard Mabry and Free Books!

Surgeon’s Choice: Dr. Ben Merrick and his fiancé, Rachel Gardner, thought getting her parents to their wedding was their only problem, but then people started turning up dead.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Death at Thorburn Hall, by DeAnna Dodson, is:

dobeworld@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Dr. Richard Mabry, author of the Medical mystery with romance, Surgeon’s Choice , Indie-published (Kindle: Amazon; Print: Smashwords, January 2018).

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, now writing “medical mysteries with heart.” He is the author of one non-fiction book, four novellas, and eleven published novels. His novels have been finalists for the Carol Award, the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, the Reviewer’s Choice Award, the Selah Award, and others.

He and his wife live in north Texas. In addition to regular efforts (thus far unsuccessful) to improve his golf game, he spends much of his time trying to convince his family that sitting at his desk staring into space does indeed represent work.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I spent almost three years in the Air Force, participated in a helicopter rescue, and hate heights.

I can't imagine dealing with a fear/hatred of heights while up in the air!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Surgeon's Choice.

Dr. Ben Merrick and his fiancé, Rachel Gardner, can’t get her divorced parents to stay in the same room, much less attend their wedding together. He is also looking over his shoulder expecting more trouble from a very senior surgeon who has shown he is still smarting from a previous dust-up. Ben doesn’t know if a series of mishaps and accidents are caused by a disgruntled patient’s relatives or represent more from the older surgeon.

Then his prospective father-in-law approaches him, needing money for reasons Ben can’t fathom. Rachel has an idea about the cause of the request, but she doesn’t want to accept it. Then, when the deaths begin, Ben and Rachel begin to wonder if they can escape unscathed…and alive.

What is it about Ben Merrick that will make your readers care about him?

Dr. Ben Merrick suspects the father of his fiancé has done some bad things—he doesn’t know what, and doesn’t press her—but he stays by her side, even when things go wrong.

What special effort do you want to make in 2018 to improve your writing?

I want to remember the advice of Donald Maass: Decide what the worst possible thing can be for your protagonist. Do it. Then make it worse. I want my readers to keep turning pages to see what happens next.

Such a good reminder. I don't think I'm hard enough on my protagonists.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I spend a lot of time re-reading books by some of my favorite authors. I’m currently reading The Litigators , by John Grisham. I get a lot of legal material from his books (he doesn’t do much research, but he’s a lawyer), as well as seeing how he can get his characters into and out of trouble.

What are you working on now?

I’m editing (actually, re-writing) my next novel, Guarded Prognosis. I plan to release it in the summer of 2018. I’ve also made a start on the novella I want to release in December of 2018, Emergency Call.

Where else can readers find you online?

Readers can find out more about me on my web page (www.rmabry.com). I post twice a week on my blog (www.rmabry.blogspot.com). My Facebook page is www.facebook.com/rmabrybooks, and my Twitter page is www.twitter.com/RichardMabry. I’m also on Goodreads as Richard Mabry.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What is your preferred genre for reading? When you read mysteries, do you like those that make you leave the lights on or ones that allow you to sleep with them off?

Thank you, Richard, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Richard has offered to give away an e-copy or a print copy of his novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Richard's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

DeAnna Dodson and Free Books!

Drew Farthering goes to Scotland for the 1935 British Open, but instead of a week of world-class golf, he finds himself involved with murder, betrayal, family intrigue, and the possibility of Nazi spies.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Jerusalem Rising: Adah's Journey, by Barbara Britton, is:

tumsec@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist DeAnna Dodson, author of the historical cozy mystery (think Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham or Dorothy L. Sayers), Death at Thorburn Hall (Bethany House, November 2017).

Julianna Deering has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity.

A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey.

Her series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016), Murder on the Moor and Death at Thorburn Hall (2017).

Also, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she has written a trilogy of medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and several contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Fiction and Guideposts. She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I love doing hand sewing, particularly needleturn applique. I just got one of those fabulous cutting machines, so I can cut out patterns perfectly. I’m so excited!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Death at Thorburn Hall.

Drew Farthering arrives in idyllic Scotland for the 1935 British Open at Muirfield hoping for a relaxing holiday, but he soon finds a mystery on his hands. Lord Rainsby, his host at Thorburn Hall, fears his business partner may be embezzling and asks Drew to quietly investigate. Before Drew can uncover anything, Rainsby is killed in a suspicious riding accident.

Thorburn Hall is filled with guests, and as Drew continues to dig, he realizes that each might have had a motive. Together with Madeline and Nick, he must sort through shady business dealings, international intrigue, and family tensions to find a killer who always seems to be one step ahead.

What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about him?

I love Drew! He’s such a gentleman, the old-fashioned kind who stands when a lady comes into the room. Besides being kind and honorable, he’s funny and adventurous and wants to help people in difficult situations. He’s learned from his own mistakes that people are never quite what they seem. Best of all, he was educated at Oxford and loves classic literature, especially cozy mystery. Plus, as Madeline says, he always smells like freshly laundered linen, new books and tea and honey What’s not to love?

I love the "classic" feel of this entire concept. 

What special effort do you want to make in 2018 to improve your writing?

I’m determined to find a way to plot my stories more quickly. James Scott Bell has a wonderful book called Write Your Novel From the Middle which has an extremely useful fourteen-point list to ensure you have good structure. I highly recommend it, but I want to read more of his craft books (and those written by others) to help me get done faster.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I just finished The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer. Heyer was without question the queen of Regency romance back in the 1930s and ’40s, and her stories (with a few exceptions) are clean, humorous and so romantic! The Talisman Ring is one of my many favorites of hers, and any fan of Regency romance just has to get the three Georgette Heyer audio books that Richard Armitage has narrated: Sylvester, The Convenient Marriage, and Venetia. Swoon!

You're inspiring me to dive back into Regency reading! Thanks for those suggestions.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a book for Guideposts’ Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard series (under the name DeAnna Julie Dodson), Water Flows Uphill. The main character, Priscilla, has concerns about the stranger who has quite suddenly declared his love for her cousin Joan. Is he sincere or just using her to cover up something illegal? It’s a fun contemporary cozy mystery.

Where else can readers find you online?

On the web: www.juliannadeering.com
www.deannajuliedodson.com
On Facebook: AuthorJuliannaDeering and
julie.dodson
On Twitter: @DeAnnaJulDodson
On Goodreads: Julianna_Deering

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

I would ask them “What kind of book would you like to read that nobody seems to be publishing right now, at least in Christian circles?”

Thank you, DeAnna, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, DeAnna has offered to give away a signed copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to DeAnna's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Barbara Britton and Free Books!

When Adah volunteers to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, she soon discovers not all of Judah’s enemies lie outside the crumbling rocks.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Christmas Trinkets, by LoRee Perry, is:

mommystuck1@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Barbara Britton, author of the Biblical novel, Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey (Harbourlight Books, December 2017).

Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches.

Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults in the Christian fiction and Mainstream markets. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb’s debut novel, Providence: Hannah’s Journey, released in October of 2016 from Harbourlight Books and kicked off her Tribes of Israel series. Her second book, Building Benjamin: Naomi’s Journey, released in April of 2017. Her Biblical fiction series continues with the release of Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey.

She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I love to dance. I grew up during the Disco-era and belonged to a teen disco called The Quake.

Oh my, yes. That was definitely my life! I still love to dance. I break out into dance all the time at home. I wish all exercise was that fun. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Jerusalem Rising.

I stumbled upon Nehemiah 3:12 which mentions the daughters of Shallum who helped Nehemiah rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. I decided to bring their story to light.

When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.

Nehemiah challenges the men of Jerusalem to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Should her father who rules a half-district of Jerusalem be forgotten forever?

Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside of the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same rocks they hope to raise.

What is it about Adah that will make your readers care about her?

Adah loves her family and wants her father to remembered with all the other builders of the wall. But Adah’s father has no son. Adah volunteers for a difficult task to bring honor to her family, even though it puts her life in danger.

How much prep work do you usually do before you start writing a novel?

I review the Biblical story and see if there is enough information for a full-length novel. I am married to an ordained minister, so my basement is a theology library. I research for a week to see why this story is in the Bible and what themes I can develop. It takes me about nine months to write and edit a book before I submit it to my publisher.

That's very cool about your resources!

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I finished a Middle Grade trilogy by my friend Sandy Brehl. Mari's Hope tells the story of teenagers who were part of the Norwegian resistance to the German occupation of Norway during WWII. My husband is Norwegian, and it is very hard to find clean fiction for young readers.

That sounds like an amazing story topic for teenageers.

What are you working on now?

I am working on another Old Testament Bible story and I have a Historical Young Adult novel going before a publication board.

Where else can readers find you online?

Readers can find out more about my Biblical fiction on my website, or on my Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter pages.

The book can be purchased online via this button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

In Jerusalem Rising Adah creates perfumes, a craft she learned from her mother. Do you have a favorite perfume?

When I was battling breast cancer, a friend sent me Clinique’s Happy. I still use it.

Thank you, Barbara, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Barbara has offered to give away a free e-copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Barbara's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

LoRee Peery and Free Books!

Will a key unlock a lonely author and a shop owner’s wounded hearts, as well as their matching jewelry?

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Murder in Disguise, by Donn Taylor, is:

sharyhauber@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist LoRee Peery, author of the contemporary Christian romance, Christmas Trinkets (White Rose Publishing, December, 2017).

Christian romance author LoRee Peery writes to feel alive, as a way of contributing, and to pass forward the hope of rescue from sin. She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. LoRee clings to I John 5:4 and prays her family sees that faith.

She has authored the Frivolities Series and other e-books. Her desire for readers, the same as for her characters, is to discover where they fit in this life journey to best work out the Lord’s life plan.

She is who she is by the grace of God: Christian, country girl, wife, mother, grandmother of 12, great-grandmother of one, sister, friend, and author. She’s been a reader since before kindergarten.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

Perfume has never been my thing. I prefer naturals like essential oils, especially lavender.

I come across far fewer perfume-wearing people these days. I don't know if that's a change in my environment or a social change. I know plenty of people allergic to perfume. I'm only allergic to people who slap on way too much! 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Christmas Trinkets.

She was looking for coffee and conversation. He was looking for a quiet place to write. What they found was a connection that would make this Christmas unforgettable.

Hayley Wolfe shares a kinship with the lost and lonely. Growing up without a father taught her that you can’t always count on people. Her strong faith in God taught her that her Heavenly Father is unshakable. When she meets Kameron Kohl at her antiques and coffee shop, she’s immediately drawn to his warmth and charm.

After being abandoned on the steps of a church as a baby, Kameron has spent his life rejecting God and meaningful relationships. But Kameron never expected to meet Hayley. Her faith in Christ, her inner beauty and selfless openness towards strangers, has Kameron falling hard. Hayley wants to investigate further the connection between Kameron's keychain and her locket. As friendship turns to love, Hayley will have to rely on God to soften Kameron’s heart. Will the connection between their Christmas Trinkets lead them to love or unanswerable questions?

What is it about Kameron that will make your readers care about him?

Hearts go out to orphans. Abandoned on the church steps, Kameron always felt his birth was a mistake. He loses himself in the fictional characters he creates and makes heroes out of those lost youth. Deep down, he wants love and acceptance. He’s had that assurance, as well as biblical promises, but they’ve stayed in his head and not reached his heart. Until he meets Hayley.

How much prep work do you usually do before you start writing a novel?

Each book is different. Sometimes I have a lot to start with, other times it’s only one thing. The last story I brainstormed began with a pig’s squeal. Tons of random thoughts came to me while I waited in the hospital for my husband’s pre-and post-op surgery. I give myself a week to know my characters and to get a sense of the plot points for the story. They end in HEA, of course, since I write romance.

I love those random thoughts! Some real gems in there, sometimes.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

A Twist of Faith by Pepper Basham. Country and city, romance and comedy. I find it difficult to write humorous phrases or scenes, so love it when I laugh out loud as I read another author. Different cultures, family, serious moments, swoon-worthy times, a dream-worthy hero, and strong heroine. The book had it all.

What are you working on now?

I’m figuring out the last scene in Courting Country. Then I’ll go through the whole story and layer in details like emotion. My next Christmas novella is a seed right now that will be fleshed out soon. I’m waiting for a sign such as that pig’s squeal to get me going.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.loreepeery.com
Twitter
Facebook
Pelican Book Club profile: http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

If you could go into a bookstore and buy any book, what would be your first choice? Mine is romantic suspense, especially by authors I follow.

Thank you, Trish, for the opportunity to be your guest today.

Thank you, LoRee, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, LoRee has offered to give away a free e-copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to LoRee's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Donn Taylor and Free Books!

Among intrigues at a state university, Professor Preston Barclay proves that a supposed suicide was actually murder.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of What Hope Remembers, by Johnnie Alexander, is:

aspella@...

Congratulations! I'll email you for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Donn Taylor, author of the (nearly cozy) mystery, Murder in Disguise (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, October 2017).

Donn Taylor led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterwards, he completed a PhD at The University of Texas and taught English literature at two liberal arts colleges.

Now retired from college teaching, Donn writes suspense and mystery fiction as well as literary poetry designed for the ordinary reader. His historical novel Lightning on a Quiet Night was a finalist for the Selah Awards in 2015, and his mystery Murder Mezzo Forte was a finalist there in 2017.

Donn is a frequent speaker at writers' conferences and study groups. He lives near Houston, TX, where he continues to write fiction, poetry, and essays on ethics and U.S. foreign policy.

And I'll add that I had the pleasure of sitting with Donn at lunch years ago at a conference, and a kinder gentleman I've never met. 

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

When Mildred and I were stationed in France, we rented a Piper Pacer from the Aero Club at Toule Rosiere AFB in France and flew it to Copenhagen for a vacation. She proved to be an excellent navigator. We watched a Danish-language movie, and for two hours we didn't understand anything but the shooting and kissing.

Ah, yes, shooting and kissing--the two universal languages. That's a lovely memory, Donn.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Murder in Disguise.

Official verdict: Suicide. But why would that vigorous department chairman commit suicide? Did he kill himself to avoid disgrace from exposure of his rumored activities on the dark side?

When visiting professor Preston Barclay questions his long-time friend's suicide, he receives threats. Press has enough problems already in proving his competence to students and faculty in the newly hostile environment of the state university. That task is made more difficult because the new department chairman does all he can to undermine him. And the sexy siren assigned as his student assistant creates problems with Press's courtship of his colleague Mara Thorn.

The more things don't add up, the more dangerous the threats become, and the more determined Press becomes to clear his friend's name.

But can he and Mara prevail against the well-organized forces of police, campus radicals, and an unseen but powerful criminal organization that increasingly puts their lives in danger…?

What is it about Press that will make your readers care about him?

Press maintains his personal and academic integrity despite all pressures of campus politics. He cannot stand pretentiousness, and he is determined to find the truth, regardless of the consequences: A life built on comfortable falsehoods is not worth living.

How much prep work do you usually do before you start writing a novel?

My preparatory work varies greatly. I did extensive research on Colombian society, history, politics, and geography before writing The Lazarus File. Although Mildred and I both grew up in Northeast Mississippi in the time setting of Lightning on a Quiet Night, we both did a lot of miscellaneous research. In the state archives we even tracked down an automobile license tag from the period. However, much less research was required in the campus settings for my mysteries because my academic experience and membership in the National Association of Scholars made me already familiar with the environment and its problems. The new research required was limited to details of the crimes.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I've been privileged to read Mary Hamilton's novel Pendant [image error]. It is a well-crafted suspense novel with interesting and believable characters and an intriguing situation. It will keep you glued to your chair until you finish it.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on one more in the Preston Barclay Mystery series. After that, I'm not sure. For several decades I've been fascinated by an idea. Would it be possible to write a contemporary novel generally imitative (or adaptive) of Renaissance epic romances like Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, Tasso's Jerusalem Liberated, and Spenser's The Faerie Queene? It would be quite a task, and I doubt that I'll ever try it. I also doubt that it would be publishable as commercial fiction. But still, it's a fascinating idea . . .

I do love the retelling of classic stories in modern form, although going as far back as the Renaissance sounds rather daunting! If you decide to take that on, I'd love to hear about it. 

Where else can readers find you online?

My page on Amazon is tinyurl.com/y7mpsskd.
My Web site is www.donntaylor.com.
My Facebook page, where I post something every day (mostly funnies), is Facebook.
My Twitter page is Twitter.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers? 

What happens to you when you read fiction? Can you describe the total experience?

I love that question! I'm looking forward to your answers, readers.

Thanks, Donn, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Donn has offered to give away a free e-copy of his novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Donn's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Free Today Only: 'Tis the Season!

For my subscribers: Today only, my Christmas romance novella, 'Tis the Season, is available for you to download free to your favorite e-reader.

As the result of a recent BookSweeps offer, many new subscribers signed on to my blog. In thanks, today I provided the new subscribers with the Amazon link below.

'Tis the Season

I wanted to provide the same thanks to my current subscribers. The novella will only be free today, so click now if you would like the free gift.

I hope you have all had a beautiful Thanksgiving, and I look forward to featuring more inspirational novelists and their books, including today's author, Johnnie Alexander. Just scroll down to read about Johnnie and the book she will give away next week!