Trish Perry's Blog, page 30

Mountain Brook Ink Summer Book Release Party and Free Books!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PDT, Mountain Brook Ink will hold a four-book release party on Facebook. Lots of books, gift cards, and a Kindle Fire will be given away, so come join us!

The books featured include In Love and War , the four-novella collection of romantic-rival stories:

Lassoed by Love by Miralee Ferrell -- Lindsey Morgan is struggling and she can no longer afford the life she's been living. The exclusive boutique she managed recently closed. Ready for a new adventure, she accepts a job at a resort. What could go wrong working at a gift shop and laying by a pool during her off hours? What Lindsey didn't expect was Steven Graham, her high-school crush, showing up--as her new boss. Steven isn't the shy, red-neck teen she'd known six years ago. He's somehow morphed into a gorgeous, aloof, more refined man. Too bad he thinks she's still the spoiled cheerleader he thought had snubbed him, but she'd change that assumption if it killed her--and with the new job description she'd been handed, it just might!

Designed with Love by Kimberly Rose Johnson -- To save her fledgling landscape business, Jessie Morgan is determined to win an important design competition--even though her major competitors are ex-fiancé Brendon Jacobs and one-time best friend Scott Meyers. Tensions are high in the quaint town of Silver Springs, Oregon as neighbors and friends take sides. Will Brendon drive Jessie and Scott farther apart, or will they join forces...and find love in the process?

More Than Meets the Eye by Trish Perry -- Jensy St. Martin is not pleased when she recognizes the latest ad man to join the Washington, D. C. agency she has long considered her professional home. Phil Quinn was a cocky, love-'em-and-leave-'em type when they attended the same high school ten years ago, and she senses he hasn't changed much since then. When the two ad designers are forced to work together on a campaign, Jensy learns more than she wants to know about the man, and his growing attractiveness becomes the least of her worries.

Hungry Hearts by Debby Mayne -- When Cameron Prater returns to Hyacinth, South Carolina, to open a restaurant a few doors down from his childhood sweetheart Melissa Shaw's diner, they are both reminded of the fierce competitiveness that drove them apart. They even try to outdo each other while volunteering for a women's shelter that their church sponsors, and they deny the fact that the sparks that brought them together years ago still zing. Can these two people put aside their rivalry--and their pride--and let their hearts take over?



Also featured tomorrow is Heart of a Cowboy , which includes historical novellas by Susan Page Davis (Hearts in Pursuit); Miralee Ferrell (Hearts Reunited); Yvonne Lehman (Have Dress, Will Marry); and Vickie McDonough (The Hand-Me-Down Husband).







Another novel featured at the release party is No Greater Love, by Theresa Morgan, which was highlighted just weeks ago on my blog: HERE









Finally, Kimberly Rose Johnson's contemporary romantic suspense novel,  A Love to Treasure, Book 1 in the Summer Dreams series, will be featured.






Many of the authors will participate in the chat, so come visit, bring your questions, join the fun, and maybe win a book, gift card, or Kindle Fire! Mountain Brook Ink Book Release Party



Finally, I want to announce that the winner of the free ecopy of Curio, by Evangeline Denmark, featured last week, is psalm103and138@...  Congratulations! I'll get your email address to Evangeline, and we'll get that book to you right away!

I hope to chat with you all tomorrow evening!

Evangeline Denmark, June Releases, and Free Books!

Trapped in an enchanted curio cabinet where porcelain figures rule and their clockwork servants plot revolution, Grey Haward must trust a new strength growing within and a strange boy in disguise if she hopes to survive and get back home.

Before we revisit with today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Sibella Giorello's Stone and Spark is:

lcenlow@ . . .

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 visit with novelist Evangeline Denmark, author of the Young Adult Steampunk Fantasy, Curio (Blink, January 2016).

[image error] Evangeline writes fiction with hints of whimsy, glimmers of fantasy, and strokes of the supernatural. Her debut novel Curio was an RT Reviews Top Pick for February 2016, and USA Today called the world-building “two levels of genius.”

A Young Adult Steampunk Fantasy with shades of The Wild, Wild West and The Wizard of Oz, Curio sets coming of age and first love against a backdrop of steam-propelled greed and societal repression.

Evangeline lives in Colorado in a house stuffed full of animals and creative people that would surely go to ruin were it not for the watchful eye of a cattle dog named Willie.

Very impressive accolades for Curio! 

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- Donita K. Paul, author of The DragonKeeper Chronicles, is my mother.

-- I’m named after the poem by Henry W. Longfellow.

-- I’m afraid of helium balloons, but only after they’ve lost some of their gas and float around the house like disembodied heads. You’re afraid of them now too, aren’t you?

It can be a bit off putting to catch something like that out of the corner of your eye!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Curio.

Grey Haward lives in a western, mining town controlled by evil alchemists known as the Chemist Council. When Grey breaks the law, her family hides her in an enchanted curio cabinet with the instructions to “Find him and bring him back.”

Thrust into a strange society of living porcelain and clockwork people, Grey must navigate a brewing revolution, escape the Porcie ruler’s obsession with her, and find a way back to her world. When she meets another human—a boy in disguise and known as the Mad Tock—she thinks he might be the one she was sent to find.

But the Mad Tock’s true identity and the secrets he knows about Grey have the power to change two worlds.

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

I like to write about characters who don’t quite fit in because I think we’ve all experienced that at some point. As a tall, powerfully-built girl, Grey feels out of place in her community, and the repressive laws of Mercury City make her even more uncomfortable in her own skin. Part of Grey’s journey is breaking out of the roles placed on her and embracing her strength and passion for justice.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I’ve kind of done my own version of celebrity mashup for my characters so, [image error]

For Grey, Jennifer Lawrence




and Sarah Chalke.





For Blaise, Ben Barnes





and Keith Longhorn.








For Whit, Colin Morgan






[image error] and Milo Ventimiglia.






What fun! I wish I had that program that morphs images together.

If you were contracted to write a novel based on your life, what title would you give it?

WTF: Woman Trying to Function

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

Six of Crows,by Leigh Bardugo, jumps to mind. It was stunning. The characters are complex and diverse. You can’t help but love them, and the plot and story world are totally engrossing.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on more stories in the Curio universe and also some completely unrelated projects.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.evangelinedenmark.com
Facebook page
Twitter

The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:



     CBD



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

What about Steampunk (fiction, art, cosplay) appeals to you?

As you scroll to the bottom of this post to leave your answer to Evangeline's question, take a look at the fantastic inspirational fiction releasing this month!

Contemporary Romance:

Sweet Dreams by Cecelia Dowdy -- A single mom trying to distance herself and her two year old daughter from their dysfunctional family is torn when she falls for a grieving baker dealing with his own family struggles. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

In Love and War by Miralee Ferrell, Kimberly Rose Johnson, Debby Mayne, and Trish Perry -- In this collection, four couples have to decide whether to fight or find love. A gift shop clerk at a fancy resort fights to redeem her reputation with her high-school crush turned new boss. To save her fledgling business, a landscape artist competes in a design competition against two handsome men--her ex- fiancé and her one-time best friend. An ad agent disapproves of the new playboy working at her Washington, D.C. agency, until they're forced to work together on a campaign and she finds herself falling for him. A man starts a new restaurant in the town where his childhood sweetheart owns a diner, and the sparks that fly aren't just competitive ones.

Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon -- After a devastating layoff, attorney Eric Nash heads back to the town where he grew up--only to discover that his childhood home is being transformed into a bed & breakfast. Instead of plotting his next career move in peace, he's constantly distracted by noise, chaos--and BJ Stevens, the attractive but prickly blonde architect and construction chief who's invaded the house with her motley crew. As for BJ, her client's son might be handsome, but after a disastrous romance, dating isn't high on her agenda. Yet when they join forces to create a program for Hope Harbor seniors, might they also find healing, hope, and a new beginning themselves? (Contemporary Romance from Revell [Baker])

A Love to Treasure by Kimberly Rose Johnson -- While on vacation an amateur sleuth follows left by her deceased grandmother, and ends up working with a local police officer to solve several mysterious burglaries. (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt -- Caron Hollister goes on vacation to Colorado and ends up working as a home stager for her ex-boyfriend, a realtor participating in the Colorado Springs Tour of Homes. But she can't let herself fall for him when she's already won an all-expenses paid destination wedding for her and her current boyfriend—who hasn't proposed to her yet. (Contemporary Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

General Fiction:

Sapphire Secrets by Dawn V. Cahill -- Twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary open a dance studio in honor of their late mother, whom they lost when they were six. Problem is, Livy remembers nothing of the day her mother died. The more she questions her family about that awful day, the more she suspects she's been lied to all her life. While she's seeking answers to what really happened, she keeps crossing paths with handsome engineer Scott Lorenzo, who compels her to question the New Age philosophy she was raised on. What if there is a personal God out there who cares about her? Before Livy can discover answers, a brutal accident interrupts her search. Can she find the strength to keep on with her quest, even if it means losing the two people dearest to her--her twin, and the man she loves? (General, Independently Published)

Close to Home by Deborah Raney -- Bree Cordel Whitman is a Whitman by marriage, but sometimes she forgets she wasn't born into Grant and Audrey's family. Her late husband, Timothy Whitman, gave his life for his country on a windblown hill in Afghanistan. Bree has let the love of Tim's family keep her ties to him strong--in the same way she keeps Tim's memory alive for them. But it's been almost five years, and she can't hang onto the past forever. Fighting the guilt she feels for wanting to love again, she can't help her dreams about a tall, dark, and handsome man--a man who is not her Tim. How can she accept the flirtations from Drew Brooks without throwing the Whitman family back into grieving? And how can Drew compete with the ghost of a hero and the hero's very alive family who seem to hold some spell over the woman who shares their name . . . a woman he might just love? (General from Abingdon Press)

Historical Literary:

Like a River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart -- An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope through the eyes of four people. Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine. Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the "killing ditch." He survives, but not without devastating consequences. Luda is sixteen when German soldiers attack her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits. Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Führer's plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism. (Historical Literary from Kregel Publications)

Historical Romance:

A Nanny for Keeps by Janet Lee Barton -- With no teaching positions open, Georgia Marshall agrees to become the temporary nanny for the two little girls next door. She soon becomes enamored of the precocious children and their distant widowed father, but the nobleman is out of her reach. Tyler Walker swore he'd never again give his heart away. He refuses to allow this arrangement with the pretty teacher to become permanent…no matter how much he wants Georgia by his side--forever. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

The 12 Brides of Summer Collection by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, Margaret Brownley, Amanda Cabot, Mary Connealy, Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Pam Hillman, Maureen Lang, Amy Lillard, Vickie McDonough, Davalynn Spencer, and Michelle Ule -- Meet 12 adventurous Victorian era women--a beekeeper who is afraid of bees, a music teacher whose dog has dug up a treasure, a baker who enters a faux courtship, and six more--along with the men they encounter while making summertime memories. Will these loves sown during summer be strengthened by faith and able to endure a lifetime? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron -- Lady Rosamund Easling boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her arranged marriage. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling. When Rosamund's path crosses with Mable's and the Ringlings' glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, choosing instead the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers' circus. (Historical Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson and Zondervan])

Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter by Carrie Fancett Pagels -- After her Huguenot father is arrested, aristocrat Suzanne Richelieu escapes Versailles. Handsome German peasant, Johan Rousch, risks his life to bring her to the safety of his family's farm in the Palatinate duchy, but when Suzanne's brother and the French army arrive with a warning that they plan to burn the area, she and Johan are forced to flee. With no money or options, both become indentured servants in exchange for safe passage to Philadelphia. Suzanne falls gravely ill aboard ship and marries Johan, only to survive with no memory of the wedding--a reality made worse when Johan spots the "priest" who married them working as a surveyor and later in Quaker cleric garb. Are their wedding vows valid? When Suzanne's former fiancé arrives in port, planning to abduct her, Johan must save her again-but can he do so before Suzanne is lost to him forever? (Historical Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Young Adult:

No Pizza Delivery? by Grace Marshall -- Ruth Deloach's world is sent spinning when she finds out she is going to be ripped from America's Dairyland to live in the embarrassingly small tourist town of Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. The blow is slightly lessened by the news that her father wants to start a horse ranch, but how enjoyable will it really be to live where there is no pizza delivery and a revolving door to the public? A public with a different idea of how things are done and said. To add embarrassment to her frustration she finds she knows less about horses than she presumed. Maybe the handsome ranch hand her father hires can brighten things up, then again, maybe not. (Young Adult, Independently Published)

Happy reading!

Sibella Giorello and Free Books!

During the worst week of her life, Raleigh Harmon discovers her destiny.

Before we revisit with today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Virginia Smith's Renovating the Richardsons is:

gcwhiskas@ . . .

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 revisit with novelist Sibella Giorello, author of the Young Adult novel, Stone and Spark (Running Girl Productions, November 2015).

Sibella Giorello won the Christy Award for her first novel, The Stones Cry Out. Based on real events, that novel launched the best-selling mystery series featuring forensic geologist and FBI agent Raleigh Harmon.

A fourth-generation Alaskan, Sibella now lives in Washington state with her husband, author Joe Giorello, and their sons.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

— I flunked out of college during a semester at the University of Hawaii. My dad diagnosed the problem as “beach brains.”

— I have synesthesia, where one sensory response automatically triggers another. So certain letters and numbers always appear to me as certain colors. And words have smells. Weird, I know.

— I avoid snakes, rats, and people who think they have all the answers.

I was just reading about a currently popular rock musician who has synesthesia--the person's name escapes me now. I imagine there are quite a few artists among people with the condition. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Stone and Spark.

Raleigh Harmon’s best friend is missing, and everyone says the girl ran away—including the police. But Raleigh knows different. For one thing, Drew Levinson is a smart-mouthed physics genius and the least impulsive person Raleigh knows.

Which leaves only three possibilities:

* Drew was meeting somebody in secret

* Drew was escaping her loony parents

* Or Drew didn’t choose to leave.

Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of city criminal codes, one rock hammer, and her stubborn streak as wide as the Chesapeake Bay, Raleigh scours her southern hometown for clues. Can she find Drew before time runs out?

Stone and Spark is the first book in the Raleigh Harmon mystery series. It introduces the girl who will grow up to become a forensic geologist and FBI agent—provided she survives her high school years.

I love the prequel aspect of the character's story!

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

Raleigh Harmon’s life is never easy. Her mother’s mentally ill, her long-suffering father can’t always be there for his daughter, and life never seems to agree with Raleigh’s wishes. But she never gives up, never gives into doubt, and always fights for the underdog.

Could you share with us a quote about writing that you find inspirational?

“You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.” —Irish proverb

Excellent. Just what I needed to hear today, having put off outlining my next novel!

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

Lost Light by Michael Connelly. I would recommend almost all of Connelly’s novels. They’re among the best mysteries ever written.

What are you working on now?

The next Raleigh Harmon adult mystery, the book that follows The Stars Shine Bright. Readers have waited a long time for this one, and I’m very happy to write it. After that, I’ll be writing the next young-adult Raleigh Harmon mystery. Fascinating to go back to her youth, knowing what she’ll face as an adult.

Where else can readers find you online?

I hang out daily on my Facebook page
And my website: www.sibellawrites.com
Sometimes tweeting as @sibellagiorello

The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:









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

Is there a real-life crime you would like to see solved—theft, missing person, murder?

Thanks, Sibella, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel.

Readers, Sibella has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, June 6. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Sibella's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT! I invite you to see the post below, about Harvest House's offer of a $1.99 e-copy of my contemporary romance, Tea for Two, through May. Purchase links are provided below.

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

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.

Virginia Smith and Free Books!

Thanks to the quirky Creekers, things never stay quiet in Goose Creek for long!

Before we revisit with today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Veronica Heley's False Wall is:

sydneyjames68@ . . .

Congratulations! We'll get your e-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 revisit with novelist Virginia Smith, author of the contemporary humor novel, Renovating the Richardsons , a novel in the Tales of the Goose Creek B&B series (Harvest House Publishers, February 2016).

Virginia Smith is the bestselling author of thirty novels (and counting!), an illustrated children’s book, and over fifty articles and short stories.

An avid reader with eclectic tastes in fiction, Ginny writes in a variety of styles, from lighthearted relationship stories to breath-snatching suspense.

Her books have received many awards, including two Holt Medallion Awards of Merit. The first book in the Tales of the Goose Creek B&B, The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade, is currently a finalist for the prestigious Bookseller’s Best Award.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I live a double life by also publishing fantasy stories under a pseudonym.

-- I run a small publishing company, Next Step Books, in order to provide publishing opportunities for books I believe in that have not found a home with a traditional publisher.

-- Thanks to my research on the books in the Tales of the Goose Creek B&B series, I registered as a foster mother for homeless kittens.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Renovating the Richardsons.

Al and Millie Richardson are hard at work renovating a drafty Victorian house into a B&B, and the new veterinarian, Susan, has finally found acceptance from the town--not to mention a hunky new boyfriend, Justin.

But things never stay quiet for long in Goose Creek. The inner-county softball game is coming up, and Millie volunteers Al as team manager. The softball team is a disaster. If they're not going to embarrass themselves in front of the whole county, Justin needs to play. But Justin lives just outside the city limits, and the rules say that players must live in town.

As if that weren't enough to keep the town gossips busy, a massage therapist has come to town and opened up shop. Imagine--a massage parlor!--in Goose Creek! No decent Creeker will stand for it.

It's up to Al and Millie--again--to save the day.

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

This book has an ensemble cast, so there are about five “main” characters. Still, Al and Millie are front-and-center, and their relationship is so endearing. At times they drive each other nuts, but their love is deep and enduring.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?


I’d cast British actor Geoffrey Palmer as Al Richardson. In his role in the TV series As Time Goes By, he wore a perpetual scowl on his heavy features. Not that he was always grumpy – the scowl was natural to him. That’s exactly how I picture Al.


Millie is harder to cast. I have a solid picture of her in my mind, and though I’ve looked for a model, none fit exactly. I found a few possibilities, [like Aneta Corsaut (from the Andy Griffith Show), at left, with a few more years on her].

However, you can check out my Pinterest board for the Goose Creek B&B to see them, and also some other actors I’d cast for a few of the minor roles. It’s here: Pinterest

Could you share with us a quote about writing that you find inspirational?

Ernest Hemmingway said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.” I also really like something Stephen King said: “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”

It's fascinating to see the different types of attitude that writers find motivating!

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

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. It’s about two sisters who get involved in the French resistance during WWII, and is so realistic I felt like I’d been there. Definitely not a feel-good book, but one that absorbed me.

I've seen that novel advertised on television quite a bit lately. Good to hear it's well done.

What are you working on now?

I’ve just finished up writing The Amish Widower, which will be released by Harvest House in April, and am getting ready to write a fifth book in the Goose Creek series – a Christmas novella currently called Al’s Goose is Cooked at a Goose Creek Christmas.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.virginiasmith.org
Facebook
Pinterest (though I ignore my Pinterest page for long periods of time!!!)

The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:



     CBD

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

My definition of a good book is one that so captivates me I don’t notice the author’s writing style or techniques. How do you define a good book?

Thanks, Virginia, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. 

Readers, Virginia has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 30. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Virginia's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

I invite you to see the post below, about Harvest House's offer of a $1.99 e-copy of my contemporary romance, Tea for Two, through May. Purchase links are provided below.

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

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.

Veronica Heley and Free Books!

Bea’s garden wall comes tumbling down to reveal a human skeleton – and many more skeletons in the cupboards of her neighbours.

Before we revisit with today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Teresa Morgan's No Greater Gift is:

linderellar@ . . .

Congratulations! We'll get your e-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 revisit with novelist Veronica Heley, author of the Inspirational cozy mystery, False Wall (Severn House Publishers, March 2016).

Veronica Heley celebrates the publication of her 76th book in 2016, having been in the business for over 40 years. She is currently writing two gentle crime series; the Ellie Quicke Mysteries and the Abbot Agency series. She also writes a short story once a quarter for the Methodist Recorder.

Her early books, which include more crime and some historical novels, are currently being brought out as e-books.

She’s involved with her local church and community affairs, likes to break for coffee with friends and does the garden when she has time.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--I love chocolate but hate coconut.

--My favourite colour is blue.

--I like to have something flowering all the year round in my garden.

I imagine your yard with that lovely English-garden variety and flair, Veronica.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of False Wall.

Bea Abbot watches in horror as her garden wall comes crashing down, leaving the rear of her house – and three others - wide open to trespassers. The fall of the wall also disturbs human bones in a neighbour’s pets’ cemetery.

A neighbour’s invitation to Bea and her financier friend Leon has horrifying consequences, as they both end up in hospital. It also leaves Bea’s house uninhabitable, wipes out her agency office and threatens to destroy Leon’s reputation.

Reeling from shock, Bea is distressed when Leon deserts her in an effort to rescue an important business deal.

Even with the help of her friends, can the agency survive – and what then will become of Bea’s relationship with Leon?

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

Bea is a successful businesswoman, running a domestic agency whose watchword is ‘discretion’, and she likes to pay attention to her appearance . . . but she has a nurturing nature and often finds herself taking on other people’s problems.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead role?

Bea would be a gift for any older actress who has a sense of authority – and humor!

I picture someone like Helen Mirren, who easily displays both authority and humor.


Could you share with us a quote about writing that you find inspirational?

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

But of course!

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

When life is dreary, we all need some fun to lift our spirits, so I recommend Kerry Greenwood’s series 'Miss Fisher Investigates' (Phryne Fisher Mysteries) . She has a light touch, has researched her background into 1930s Australia very well, and her books leave you feeling you’ve been eating a chocolate soufflé. But be warned; Phryne likes to enjoy a romp in bed in each of these books.

Well, I encourage my readers to heed your warning, but the series does look intriguing.

What are you working on now?

I’m working currently correcting proofs for the next Ellie Quicke story – Murder in Style - which comes out this summer, and working on the draft of the next Bea Abbot story – False Fire, which comes out at the end of the year. It’s hard to switch from one storyline to another, but it has to be done!

You certainly are prolific! 

Where else can readers find you online?

Readers can find me online at www.veronicaheley.com. Also at my blog which is blog.veronicaheley.com, and my e-books can be found at: www.veronicaheley.com/ebooks.There are over twenty of my backlist now available on e-books, and more to come. These include some more crime books, and some historicals, as well as the early Ellie Quicke and Bea Abbot stories.

The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:












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

I like cats. Both Ellie and Bea have been adopted by cats, who appear in all their later stories. Do you think they should go on the covers, too?

Thanks, Veronica, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel.

Readers, Veronica has offered to give a free e-copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 23. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Veronica's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

I invite you to see the post below, about Harvest House's offer of a $1.99 e-copy of my contemporary romance, Tea for Two, through May. Purchase links are provided below.

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

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.

Teresa Morgan and Free Books!

Grace Ryan and Erik Petersson work to untangle clues left by her late grandparents—clues involving a WWII conspiracy that could tear her family apart.

Before we meet today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of The Seafaring Women, by Susan Page Davis and James S. Davis, is:

lcenlow@ . . .

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 visit with novelist Teresa Morgan, author of the Inspirational Romantic Historic Mystery, No Greater Gift (Mountain Brook Ink May 2016).

In the days of carbon paper and eraser shields, Teresa worked as secretary to a manager and twenty-one engineers and scientists at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site.

She and her husband have two adult children and one granddaughter. They live in southeastern Washington State.

Teresa Morgan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Christian Life School of Theology.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--My engineer husband, like Erik in No Greater Gift, did vacuum the grass for the same reasons.

--Like Grace, we owned cocker spaniels. For ten years, we also had a Siamese cat. The dynamics of that relationship was often as entertaining as those of my feistiest characters.

--I initially chose WWII as the source of the mystery Erik and Grace must solve because my father served in that war, but was quickly drawn to the depth of courage of those caught in the Battle of Britain.

It's interesting to hear about the autobiographical tidbits in the story, Teresa!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of No Greater Gift.

History professor Grace Ryan returns to her hometown expecting to help her grandmother turn her journals and memories of WWII into memoirs. She arrives to find her grandmother being loaded into an ambulance. When she begs Grace to find the truth about a decades-old crime, whispers the word treason, then slips away forever, Grace is left to separate fact from fiction.

Then, an unwelcome inheritance strikes at her already fragile family bond. Though God’s voice seems silent, He sends someone to stand in the gap for her.

Erik Petersson, unjustly accused of infidelity, suffered through an unwanted divorce and the loss of his children’s love to his former wife’s bitterness. A physicist on sabbatical, he agrees to help Grace dig through her late grandfather’s scientific papers.

As he struggles to win back his children’s love, he and Grace are catapulted into a quagmire of truth and lies that could tear her family apart.

What is it about Erik and Grace that will make your readers care about them?

I think readers will love Erik and Grace because they’re very real people who have strength of conviction but have felt wounded by their own family members. Neither Grace nor Erik can allow themselves to compromise, but the consequences may be enormous. They both have great faith, but occasionally doubt themselves.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I’m thinking of a tall, mature Ewan McGregor





For Grace I like the looks of Jennifer Connelly with shoulder length curls.





Could you share with us a quote about writing that you find inspirational?

While I don’t remember who said it, the essence of the quote has stuck with me. “Every published work is made up of all the false starts and failures that preceded it.”

How true. Even as you mentioned earlier, sometimes we dismiss our initial plans because that dismissal leads to a better book!

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

I recently came upon an older book called Ezekiel's Shadow by David Ryan Long. An author of horror novels whose career is paralyzed by writer’s block becomes a Christian and asks himself, who am I if I can no longer write? Then he realizes he’s being stalked. Aside from the obvious mystery, I love the main character’s journey from who he was to who he is becoming. It affects his relationships in ways one wouldn’t expect.

What are you working on now?

I’d dearly like to do the second novel in this series. This one would tell Grace’s sister Shannon’s story.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.teresamorgan.com

The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:












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

What historical period and place is your favorite?

Thanks, Teresa, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel.

Readers, Teresa has offered to give a free e-copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 16. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Teresa's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

I invite you to see the post below, about Harvest House's offer of a $1.99 e-copy of my contemporary romance, Tea for Two, through May. Purchase links are provided below.

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

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.

E-book Tea for Two just $1.99 through May! Counselor...

E-book Tea for Two just $1.99 through May! 

Counselor Tina Milano has been visiting Milly’s Tea Shop regularly for the past several months. She has many friends but no steady man in her life.

Zack Cooper is a local farmer who provides Milly with fresh fruit and vegetables for her shop. As a single parent, Zack is doing his best to raise his teenage son and daughter on his own.

When the kids get in minor scrapes with the law, Milly gently encourages Zack and Tina to work together to draw the teens back before their rebellious natures land them in even hotter water.

At first Tina sees the relationship in only a professional capacity, but soon her friends notice the luscious scent of romance in the air and decide to help things along.

Tea for Two is a faith-filled novel that explores the delight of second chances, warm friendship, and unexpected romantic encounters.

Now through May 31, you can get the novel on e-book for just $1.99 at:

Kindle
Nook
Kobo
and via iBooks and Google Play!

Susan Page Davis, James S. Davis, New Releases, and Free Books!

The captain is dead, and the crew has deserted, but the captain’s staunch widow believes there are always options.

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

mauback55@ . . .

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 visit with novelists Susan Page Davis and James S. Davis, mother-son authors of the historical romance, The Seafaring Women of the Vera B. (Tea Tin Press, January, 2016).

James Samuel Davis grew up as the oldest of six children in rural central Maine. Homeschooled from first grade through high school graduation, he has always been an avid student of history and geography.

He completed an agricultural degree at Bob Jones University, then undertook an agricultural exchange including an internship on a dairy farm in Australia.

His writing credits include articles for Green Magazine and special sections of a daily newspaper. In addition to Australia, he has traveled to China and Alaska, and he made a mission trip to Micronesia in 2012.

He resides in rural Travelers Rest, S.C., with his wife and seven children.

Susan Page Davis, James’s mom, is the author of more than sixty Christian novels and novellas. Her historical novels have won numerous awards, including the Carol Award, the Will Rogers Medallion for Western Fiction, and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest.

She lives in western Kentucky with her husband, Jim, and two of their adult children.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--Susan is a stroke survivor—19 years now, and no residual effects.

--While in Australia, Jim broke his leg in a dirt bike accident while trying to intercept an escaped herd of cattle.

--Back in her post-college waitressing days, Susan once served Bob Dylan a cup of tea. With lemon.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Seafaring Women of the Vera B.

1854—With the captain dead in Melbourne, Australia, Alice Packard thinks the worst has happened, until she learns the crew has deserted her husband’s ship in favor of the goldfields. Only one old man, Gypsy Deak, sticks by her, but Gypsy alone can’t raise a crew from the depleted population.

In desperation, Alice turns to the only source of plentiful workers: the women of Melbourne. In a bold move, she and Gypsy empty a brothel, promising the escaped women a new life.

Her all-woman (save one) crew put their backs and hearts into the voyage, but Alice finds training her sailors much harder than she expected. Her faith is tested to the limit.

With a cargo to sell, angry brothel and tavern owners in pursuit, pirates to evade, and a mysterious stowaway, will the seafaring women of the Vera B. survive to tell the tale of this daring adventure?

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

Jim says: Alice is put in a very difficult situation at the beginning of the book, and she refuses to give up. As the book goes on, she bears out the responsibility for her choices, and finds she has to trust God every step of the way. This book, among other features, shows how we have to "advance on our knees" before the Lord.

Susan adds: Alice has always been dependent on the men in her life, but when she is forced to go it alone, she finds she is stronger than she ever knew.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

JIM: The primary lead character, Alice, would need to be somebody very passionate and choleric. Maybe Kara Killmer.








I suppose Miranda Otto's probably getting too old now to play Kate, the fiery second mate who leads the daring rescue attempt at the end of the book, but she would be a good one, authentic accent and all.



SUSAN: I chose Paul Copley for Gypsy









and Kevin Costner for Josiah Howard.

We both like Emma Thompson for Lady Sarah.








Could you share with us a quote about writing that you find inspirational?

SUSAN: “Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.” —Ray Bradbury

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

SUSAN: I loved Juliana Deering’s latest mystery: Dressed for Death . "A Regency-Era costume party should have been an amusing diversion, but it seems wherever Drew Farthering goes, mystery--and murder--are on the guest list."

What are you working on now?

JIM: In addition to the second Hearts of Oak book, I'm working on a young readers' pre-medieval fantasy.

SUSAN: I’m writing a historical western romance to release in 2017, and a cozy mystery in Guideposts’ Tearoom Mysteries series, launching this summer.

Where else can readers find you online?

Website: www.susanpagedavis.com
Twitter: @SusanPageDavis
Facebook, Susan: Facebook
Jim’s Page: Facebook


The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:






Nook e-book

Kobo e-book



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

We value freedom in the United States. Freedom is a major theme in The Seafaring Women of the Vera B. How do you know if you are free?

Thanks, Susan and James, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel.

Readers, Susan and James have offered to give a signed copy of their book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 9. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to their question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

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

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.

As you scroll to the bottom of today's post to answer Susan and Jim's question, check out the wonderful new Inspirational fiction releasing this month!

Amish Romance:

Amish Firefighter by Laura Hilton -- Banished from home and blamed for a barn fire at her new residence, Abigail Stutzman is desperate to prove her innocence. But God doesn't seem willing to help. Volunteer firefighter Sam Miller is determined to atone for his past. When local barn fires escalate, everyone suspects arson. And since the Miller family are among the victims, Sam means to see the perpetrators are brought to justice. When Abigail and Sam meet at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warmth of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or extinguish. And they'll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno. (Amish Romance from Whitaker House)

Biblical Fiction:

Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar -- Before Christ called her daughter . . .Before she stole healing by touching the hem of his garment . . .Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father's textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left. No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body . . . and soul? (Biblical from Tyndale House)

Contemporary Romance:

Kiss the Bride Novella Collection by Robin Lee Hatcher, Melissa McClone, and Kathryn Springer -- Picture Perfect Love by Melissa McClone: Attorney Ashton Vance is the one that got away, but he wrongly blamed wedding photographer Jenna Harrison for ruining his political aspirations. Even if Jenna can forgive him, dare he hope for a second chance at her love? I Hope You Dance by Robin Lee Hatcher: Groomsman Grant Nichols and former rodeo queen Skye Foster are no match on paper. But when the male kitchen genius and the rodeo queen-turned-dance-tutor step onto the dance floor, they create a melody all their own. Love on a Deadline by Kathryn Springer MacKenzie: Newspaper social events writer "Mac" Davis is charged with covering the celebrity wedding of her high school nemesis. The only highlight of the job is spending time with Ethan Channing, the bride's older brother—and Mac's first crush. (Contemporary Romance from Zondervan)

An Informal Introduction by Heather Gray -- An ICU nurse and a state trooper find their lives crossing paths professionally and personally. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The Cowboy's Twins by Deb Kastner -- Hardened cowboy Jax McKenna finds twin girls on his doorstep, and only new-to-the-area Faith Duggan, who needs horse-whispering Jax's assistance with her new mustang rescue, can help make Jax the daddy he longs to be. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Rescue Me by Sandy Nadeau -- First Responder Ronnie Spencer has a no-dating-firefighters rule. She lost her father to a fire, and won't risk the heartbreak of losing someone else. But when Steve McNeal returns, Ronnie's heart is tested. How can she swear off dating a firefighter when she has to work with the one man she used to love? When the unthinkable happens, Ronnie has doubts. How can a loving God allow tragedy to stalk her life again? As her faith wavers, Ronnie must decide. Will their blossoming relationship be quickly extinguished by the very thing she feared, or will Ronnie trust God and allow her heart to be rescued--even if that means giving it to a firefighter? (Contemporary Romance from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])

Falling for the Hometown Hero by Mindy Obenhaus -- After returning home wounded from an IED attack, former soldier Kaleb Palmer is hailed as a hero. But survivor's guilt makes him feel like a fraud. He hopes setting up a business in Ouray, Colorado, will give him a purpose and help him forget. But his new office manager has her own plans. Grace McAllen brings light and hope wherever she goes, and she's getting Kaleb to open up. As she helps him make Mountain View Jeep Tours a success, Kaleb realizes a happy ending is in reach, if he can convince Grace to stay in town--and his life--forever. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Her One and Only by Becky Wade -- When NFL super star Gray Fowler is threatened by a stalker, his team hires a professional bodyguard to ensure his safety. But when Gray's "protection" turns out to be a woman half his size, he's indignant. Will Dru Porter--a former Marine and expert markswoman--prove herself worthy of the job? And meanwhile, who's going to guard Gray's heart? (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

Historical Romance:

Sofi's Bridge by Christine Lindsay -- Can Sofi trust Neil, whose gentle manner brings such peace to her traumatized sister and such tumult to her own emotions, and can Neil, the gardener, continue to hide from Sofi that he is really Dr. Neil Galloway, a man wanted for murder? (Historical Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin -- For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. She loves the wartime challenges of her new job but spurns the attention of society boy Ens. Archer Vandenberg. As Arch's destroyer battles U-boats along the East Coast, Lillian uncovers a black market drug ring. Arch and Lillian work together on the investigation, but can he ever earn her trust and affection? (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])

His Prairie Sweetheart by Erica Vetsch -- After being jilted at the altar, Southern belle Savannah Cox seeks a fresh start out West and accepts a teaching position in Minnesota. But between her students' lack of English, the rough surroundings and sheriff Elias Parker's doubts and distrust, Savannah's unprepared for both the job and the climate. However, she's determined to prove she can handle anything her new town throws her way. Elias gives it a week--or less--before the pretty schoolteacher packs her dainty dresses and hightails it back home. But no matter how many mishaps he has to rescue her from, Savannah doesn't give up. Yet the real test is to come--a brutal blizzard that could finally drive her away, taking his heart with her… (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense:

Murder Comes by Mail by A. H. Gabhart -- Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane must desperately try to protect those he loves when a serial killer threatens all he holds dear in Hidden Springs. (Cozy Mystery from Revell [Baker])

The Progeny by Tosca Lee -- Emily Jacobs is the descendant of a killer. Now, she's become the hunted in a 400-year-old war between the offspring of "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer of all time, and a secret society dedicated to erasing every one of her posterity. She's on a quest that will take her to the secret underground of Europe and the inner circles of three ancient orders--one determined to kill her, one devoted to keeping her alive, and one she must ultimately save. (Supernatural Thriller from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

Medical Judgment by Richard L Mabry, MD -- Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They've stalked her, then set a fire at her home, and she has no idea what will come next. Her late husband's best friend and a recovering alcoholic detective are trying to solve the mystery before it's too late, but both appear to be vying for her affection as well. Sarah finds herself in constant fear as the process plays out. The questions keep mounting. Who is doing this? Why are they after her? What will they do to her? Will it mean her death? And, meanwhile, whom can she trust? (Medical Thriller from Abingdon Press)

Romantic Suspense:

Sins of the Past by Lynette Eason, Dee Henderson, and Dani Pettrey -- In Dee Henderson's "Missing," a Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing. Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two realize her disappearance is no accident and begin a race against the clock. In Dani Pettrey's "Shadowed," adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young fisherman nets the body of an open-water swimming competitor who may actually be a possible Russian defector. Lynette Eason's "Blackout" delivers the story of a woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong. The loot has never been found--but her memory of that night has always been unreliable. Can she remember enough to find her way to safety when the true culprit comes after her? (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])

Medusa's Hands by Monica Mynk -- When Megan's friend goes missing, she has to team up with her alcoholic stepbrother to save her from a human trafficking scheme. (Romantic Suspense from Mantle Rock Publishing)

Women's Fiction:

Home to Chapel Springs by Ane Mulligan -- Trouble comes to Chapel Springs in the form of a homeless author, a heartbroken daughter, and a theatre ghost. (Women's Fiction from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

All About Mercie by Sharon Srock -- Scottlyn Rich is sixty-seven days from her wedding to Grant Weber, but she feels more orphaned and adrift than ever. Until her mother walks through the door. Grant Weber has spent two years earning Scottlyn's trust and can't believe how easily she accepts her mom's excuses. There's something off about Jocelyn Rich and he's determined to find answers even if it costs him everything. Will Scottlyn allow deception to derail her future, or will she take hold of wisdom and realize that her life truly is all about Mercie? (Women's Fiction from A Blonde and a Prayer Books)

The Mercie Collection by Sharon Srock -- The Mercie Collection is three novellas in one. For Mercie's Sake: A teenage victim of rape is disowned by her family when she refuses to abort the child she carries. Determined to raise her baby, she finds refuge with a widowed school teacher harboring sorrows of her own. Begging for Mercie: College student Scottlyn Rich is about to celebrate her daughter's first birthday when she receives news that the young man who raped her has died in prison. His grieving mother wants custody of Scottlyn's child. Can God find a way to bring peace to both women, or will someone end up begging for Mercie? All About Mercie: Scottlyn Rich is weeks away from her wedding to Grant Weber, but she feels more orphaned and adrift than ever. Until her mother walks through the door. Grant Weber has spent two years earning Scottlyn's trust and can't believe how easily she accepts her mom's excuses. He's determined to find answers even if it costs him everything. Will Scottlyn allow deception to derail her future, or will she take hold of wisdom and realize that her life truly is all about Mercie? (Women's Fiction from A Blonde and a Prayer Books)

Happy reading!

Elizabeth Goddard and Free Books!

Nothing can stop Sylvie Masters from scuba diving to find her mother's downed plane—except possibly the hit man determined to keep the truth from surfacing.

Before we meet today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of James Rubart's The Five Times I Met Myself is:

grandaddya@ . . .

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 revisit with novelist Elizabeth Goddard, author of the romantic suspense novel, Tailspin (Love Inspired Suspense, April 2016).

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than twenty-five romance novels and counting.

A seventh generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated with a B.S. degree in computer science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dream of becoming an author.

She currently makes her home in Minnesota where she serves with her husband ministry.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I hate to fly.

-- I played the cello in my high school orchestra.

-- I love slow cooker meals.

I'm definitely with you on the flying! Or, at least, I hate waiting to fly. And sitting in the cramped row for hours!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Tailspin.

Set in southeast Alaska, Tailspin is book 5 in my Mountain Cove series.

My heroine, Sylvie Masters, is diving, searching for her mother’s downed plane when she is met by another diver who is holding a knife and attacks her. She escapes to a nearby island and is running for her life when my bush pilot hero comes to her rescue.

 He hates to dive and she hates to fly, but turns out they are both looking for the same downed-plane. His mother was the bush pilot and Sylvie’s mother was the passenger. They must both overcome their fears and pool their resources to discover the truth that someone is willing to kill for in order to keep hidden.

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

Both characters play a leading role and both are strong characters.

Readers will care about Sylvie because she’s strong and won’t give up searching for the truth about what happened to her mother. She only wants closure but searching for answers puts her life in danger. Add to that, she is also the long-lost Warren sibling from my first Mountain Cove book.

My bush pilot hero is easy to care about—he’s the swashbuckling hero of my contemporary story. Readers who have read previous Mountain Cove novels have already met him, and know he deserves his own HEA.

I love that you incorporated those characters from previous stories.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Emily Blunt would play Sylvie Masters, my diving instructor heroine,




and Liam Hemsworth is just perfect for Will Pierson.






How would you complete this sentence: Had I known twenty years ago what I know today, I would have … 

I would have started writing and submitting my work much sooner, believing in myself much more.

Amen to that! I love seeing young authors, with that early sense of direction, getting into publishing and starting a long career. 

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

I just finished reading The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. I was in the mood for a gothic novel, and The Winter Sea was all that and more, weaving true historical facts in with a modern story. Wonderful!

What are you working on now?

I just turned in the second book in a new series called Wilderness, Inc., set in the Wild Rogue Wilderness of southwest Oregon, and this week I’ll be starting on the third book.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website of course, elizabethgoddard.com
Facebook
Twitter
Christiansread.com
suspensesisters.blogspot.com
cleanromancereadscafe.blogspot.com


The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:




     CBD

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

What is your favorite adventure romantic suspense—either movie or novel?

Thanks, Elizabeth, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel.

Readers, Elizabeth has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 2. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Elizabeth's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

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

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.

James L. Rubart and Free Books!

What if you could talk to your 23 year old self? What would you say to them?

Before we meet today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Marta Perry's The Rebel is:

wesnpam@ . . .

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 revisit with novelist James L. Rubart, author of the contemporary, "slipstream" novel, The Five Times I Met Myself (Harper Collins Christian Publishing, November 2015).

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man's body. He thinks he's still young enough to water ski like a madman and dirt bike with his two grown sons, and loves to send readers on journeys they'll remember months after they finish one of his stories.

He's the best-selling, Christy, INSPY, and RT Book Reviews award winning author of seven novels as well as a professional speaker. During the day he runs his marketing company which helps businesses, authors, and publishers make more coin of the realm.

He lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I used to be a semi-pro magician.

-- I’m a scuba diver.

-- I crushed the fingers of my right hand under a table saw when I was one and a half. Doctors said the fingers would never grow. They did. Miracle? Yes.

I do love how the adventure you've incorporated into your personal life--whether by choice or accident--seems to give energy to your creativity in writing.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Five Times I Met Myself.

What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?

Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.

So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.

Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.

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

Brock has regrets—just like we all do. Life hasn’t turned out the way he wanted it to. He wishes he could go back and make different choices. He longs to make things right, so in many ways he is us. We want to do the same things, so we care about Brock because we care about ourselves, and find so much of ourselves in Brock.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Brock- A younger version of Harrison Ford





Karissa- Diane Lane





Young Brock- Miles Teller





Ron- Christopher Meloni






Dr. Shagool- Gary Oldman







How would you complete this sentence: Had I known twenty years ago what I know today, I would have …

Taken more risks, stood up for myself more, lived more in the moment than in the past or the future.

I would imagine you delved into much of that while writing your current novel.

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

Just re-read ARENA , by Karen Hancock. It’s brilliant modern day version of Pilgrims Progress, but not overt.

I think that was the first Inspirational Sci-Fi novel I ever read, and I loved it. So exciting. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't recognize it as Pilgrim's Progress. Now I want to read it again!

What are you working on now?

I’m just wrapping up my next novel, The Long Journey to Jake Palmer, and it’s a fun one. It’s about a man who is searching for a lost corridor at the end of a lake in Oregon, where if he finds the corridor and gets through to the other side, he’ll get what he wants most in the world. It comes out in August.

Where else can readers find you online?

On my website jameslrubart.com where they can subscribe to my newsletter which is the best way to keep up with what I’m doing. Also, on Facebook and on Twitter: @jamesLrubart


The book can be purchased online via the following buttons:




     CBD

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

What’s the one choice you would ask your twenty three year old self to make differently?

I love that question! Looking forward to hearing what people say. (I'll post too.)

Thanks, Jim, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel.

Readers, Jim has offered to give a signed copy of his book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, April 25. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Jim's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

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

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.