Trish Perry's Blog, page 41

Mary Hamilton and Free Books!

Taylor Dixon knew having his younger sister at camp would be a pain, but he never expected the pain to go so deep.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Romancing the Widow, by Davalynn Spencer, is:

ruth_mangabhai@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. 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 Mary Hamilton, author of Speak No Evil (HopeSprings Books, August 2014).

Mary L. Hamilton grew up at a youth camp in southern Wisconsin, much like the setting for her Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series. She is a graduate of the Long Ridge Writers’ Group and a member of ACFW.

When not writing, Mary enjoys knitting, reading and being outdoors. She and her husband raised three children and make their home in Texas with a rescued Golden Retriever.

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

-- I used to hide gourmet chocolate chunk cookies in the freezer to enjoy when my kids were napping.

-- Though I love being with people, I tend to be a cocooner. I force myself to get out of the house.

-- I’m not a very random person.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Speak No Evil.

At 15, Taylor Dixon dreams of getting his driver’s license and driving racecars when he’s older. But his younger sister’s adventurous spirit keeps landing him in trouble, which means Dad refuses to let him get his license. Dad’s convinced Taylor is heading for the same jail cell as his once-favored older brother.

Taylor returns to Rustic Knoll Bible Camp, expecting softball, swimming and sermons. Then he discovers a classic Mustang in the camp’s machine shed, and the owner’s invitation to help restore it fuels his dream of driving.

But when Marissa falls for his snobbish cabin mate, the ensuing war of words and pranks escalates, threatening to destroy both the car and his dreams for the future.

Will Taylor end up in jail, fulfilling Dad’s prediction? Or will he finally learn the message found in the old Mustang’s engine?

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

Taylor is a bit of an antihero. His bullying ways haven’t endeared him to many of the other campers. But we see him hungering for some positive attention from his dad. And his subtle devotion to his younger sister is another likeable quality. He fears losing her because she’s the only one who believes in his dreams.

Do you ever attend writers’ conferences? At what point in a writer’s career do you think she or he should consider attending conferences, and why? Or why not?

I try to attend one writers’ conference a year, even if it’s only a small local one. The benefits of a conference are many, from learning the business of writing and getting a feel for the industry to networking with other beginning writers and learning from more experienced writers.

Attending a large national conference can be overwhelming for a novice writer, so start small and work up. By the time you’re ready to submit your work to an agent or editor, then you need to attend one of the national conferences. But even then, look at the agents and editors who will be there and plan to attend one where you’ll get a chance to meet with the ones you think would be most interested in your work.

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

The last novel I read was Tim Shoemaker’s Below the Surface . I highly recommend his Code of Silence series for middle grade readers. The characters are four kids in junior high school who stumble into some pretty heavy crimes. Even as an adult, I couldn’t put the books down, and I even cried near the end of the second book, Back Before Dark.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on See No Evil, the third book in my Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series. It features Steven Miller, the blind but capable camper from the first two books. He’ll be training for a half-triathlon while dealing with a possible stalker, and the book will touch on the issue of pornography as well.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.maryeellis.wordpress.com
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:






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

Taylor dreams of driving race cars when he’s older. When you were a kid, what did you dream of doing when you were older?

Thanks, Mary, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Mary has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday , August 28. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Mary's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Mary Ellis, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.

Mary Ellis and Free Books!

Madeline Howard had never intended to become a spy, but when military intelligence lands in her lap, how could she not serve her country behind enemy lines?

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Seeking Sophie, by Melody Balthaser, is:

cpk153@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. 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 Mary Ellis, author of The Lady and the Officer (Harvest House Publishers, August 2014).

Mary Ellis has written twelve bestselling novels set in the Amish community.

Before "retiring" to write full-time, Mary taught middle school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. She has enjoyed a lifelong passion for American history and is an active member of the local historical society.

She is currently working on several romances set during the Civil War. The Lady and the Officer is her current release.

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

--I have recently discovered I’m gluten intolerant. When did that happen?

--I’m not afraid of snakes, bugs, or toads. But crowds of people send me to the restroom to hide.

--I believe I can eat some form of corn every meal of the day.

I would not have pegged you as shy or an introvert, Mary! Your charm shines right through in person, and you're very comfy to be around.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Lady and the Officer.

As a nurse after the battle of Gettysburg, Madeline Howard saves the life of Elliot Haywood, a colonel in the Confederacy. But even though she must move to the South, her heart belongs to General James Downing, a Union Army corps commander.

Colonel Haywood has not forgotten the beautiful nurse, and when he unexpectedly meets her again in Richmond, he’s determined to win her.

While spending time with army officers and war department officials in her uncle’s palatial home, Madeline overhears plans for Confederate attacks against the Union soldiers. She knows passing along this information may save the life of her beloved James, but at what cost? Can she really betray the trust of her family and friends?

Two men are in love with Madeline. Will her faith in God show her the way to a bright future, or will her choices bring devastation on those she loves?

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

My heroine and hero are not too “big” that they can’t admit when they’ve made a mistake. They experience tremendous spiritual and emotional growth during the story, as should we all when life tests our mettle.

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

Let’s see…I would love to see Scarlett Johansson play my heroine




and Chris Evans play hero because they have such chemistry together.




Do you ever attend writers’ conferences? At what point in a writer’s career do you think she or he should consider attending conferences, and why? Or why not?

I have attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Writers’ Conference, along with RWA and ACFW conferences many times. Fifteen years ago, I attended to learn my craft. Now although I continually try to improve my writing, I attend mainly to network and find out where the industry is headed. There is no bad time to attend. If an author can afford the cost, the money is well spent.

Excellent answer. 

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

I just finished Cajun Hearts , a collection of three novellas by Kathleen Y’Barbo. I love how her settings become a bigger-than-life character.

What are you working on now?

I am putting the finishing touches on The Last Heiress, a stand-alone romance also set during the Civil War. When heiress Amanda Dunn sails to North Carolina to reestablish the cotton trade for her father’s mills, she discovers a city embroiled in war, her estranged twin sister, and an irresistible shopkeeper.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.maryellis.net
www.maryeellis.wordpress.com
Facebook


The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:







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

Have you ever had to go against your family to maintain your ethical convictions?

Thanks so much, Trish, for inviting me back!

Always a pleasure, Mary! Thanks for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Mary has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday , August 28. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Mary's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Davalynn Spencer, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.

best regards, Mary

Davalynn Spencer and Free Books!

After losing her heart, her husband, and her hope, a young widow returns home to Cañon City and meets a rugged, worn, and disarming Colorado Ranger.

Today we're talking with novelist Davalynn Spencer, author of Romancing the Widow (Love Inspired | Heartsong Presents, August 2014).

Wife and mother of professional rodeo bullfighters, Davalynn Spencer began her writing journey in the national rodeo market and as a newspaper journalist, winning awards in both arenas. Today she continues to win acclaim with her inspirational western romance, placing second in the 2014 Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, and finaling for the Selah Award and the Holt Medallion.

Davalynn teaches writing at Pueblo Community College, and with her handsome cowboy, has three children and four grandchildren. They make their home on Colorado’s Front Range with a Queensland heeler named Blue.

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

-- I’ll eat bacon on anything but ice cream.

-- I prefer shoes without shoe strings.

-- I don’t do windows.

I remember a day when that first item might have sounded odd. But our love of bacon seems to have led to just about everything edible being available in bacon flavor, to wit:


But I digress. Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Romancing the Widow.

Martha Stanton isn’t looking for love because the light went out of her soul when her husband fell to a bullet in St. Louis. Now, back in her hometown of Cañon City, she's convinced she'll never know happiness again. Until she crosses paths with a darkly mysterious Colorado Ranger.

Haskell Jacobs has a mission, and it’s not the beautiful, flame-haired widow he nearly runs down in the street. However, she is somehow mixed up in the crime that brought Haskell to the rough-and-tumble town of Cañon City, Colorado, and soon she's entangled in the lawman's heart.

But the danger that lurks around them is all too real. Can they find strength and love in each other before it's too late?

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

Martha Stanton does not want to be called Marti. Nor does she appreciate everyone telling her what she should and should not do now that she’s a widow. Her life is set in stone as rigid as the bluffs encasing prehistoric fossils north of her hometown. As a young girl, she was fascinated by those fossils, but then she grew up and became one. Now, added to her resolve to live alone and lifeless is the unnerving presence of a mysterious man who must be more than he’s telling.

Haskell Tillman Jacobs is constantly at war—with himself, with outlaws, and with God. And then he meets the preacher’s daughter, a woman he can’t afford to spend time with. Except she dogs his thoughts and dreams and won’t leave him be. Maybe it’s time to surrender.

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

Martha would be played by Renee Felice Smith of NCIS Los Angeles, only with long hair. I love her spit-fire spunk.




Haskell would be, without a doubt, Michael Weatherly of NCIS. The perfect, chronically single lawman smitten by a lovely, independent woman.



Do you ever attend writers’ conferences? At what point in a writer’s career do you think she or he should consider attending conferences, and why? Or why not?

I have attended conferences annually for the last eight years. Absolutely necessary – if not for learning new things about craft, then for networking, making new writer friends, or stretching yourself by teaching a workshop.

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

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck. Not only did I love it, I turned right around and reread it because of the way Hauck uses words. It wasn’t just the setting, the characters, the plot, or the spiritual thread. It was the way she wove all those things together.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on a contemporary romance set on the California coast that involves a young, cynical reporter and a bronc-riding sheriff’s deputy with sea-green eyes.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.davalynnspencer.com
Facebook
Twitter @davalynnspencer

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:







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

How important to you is the setting of a story?

Thanks, Davalynn, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Davalynn has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, August 18. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Davalynn's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Melody Balthaser, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.

Melody Balthaser and Free Books!

On the run, Sophie’s relieved that older brother Erik has swooped in and taken her under his wing until he drops her off on Eagle Head Island at the mercy of a complete stranger.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of A Plain Love Song, by Kelly Irvin, is:

wileygreen1@ . . .

and the winner of the signed copy of Tokens of Promise, by Teresa Pollard, is:

mauback55@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing addresses, and we'll get your books to you right away. 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 Melody Balthaser, author of Seeking Sophie , (CrossRiver Media, September 2014).

Melody Balthaser lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband. They have two grown daughters and a ten-year-old son. Melody has been a student of natural health and a certified reflexologist for twenty-three years and enjoyed homeschooling her children throughout much of that time.

Melody’s passion is to encourage people to open up and let the love of God free them of fear and rejection to live the adventurous life their Creator intended. She hopes, though her fiction, readers can relax and take their own transforming journey to the Father’s heart.

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

-- I love road trips.

-- Farming is in my blood (both maternal and paternal grandparents were farmers) and one of my most fulfilling tasks is mucking out a stall. It is wonderful for my mental health!

--My husband and I got married, in Florida, on a sailboat at sunset (just the two of us, the captain and a witness).

How romantic!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Seeing Sophie.

Seeking Sophie, set in mid-nineteenth century New England, is the story of Sophie Stalz, an orphan and indentured house servant to Master Sherman. With less than one year to freedom, she becomes the object of Damien’s desires. When his advances become violent, she flees Boston leaving a severely wounded master bleeding in the stairwell.

With the help of older brother, Eric, she ends up on Eagle Head Island, Maine where she unhappily marries resident lighthouse keeper, Jackson Scott.

Burdens from the past complicate their union and, to make matters worse, a very vengeful Master Sherman is on the hunt for his runaway maid.

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

Sophie’s sweet spirit, inner strength and tenacity will have readers cheering for her at every turn.

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

Sophie- Amanda Seyfried,






Jackson- Richard Armitage,





Damien- Hugh Jackman (with black hair)



Do you ever attend writers’ conferences? At what point in a writer’s career do you think she or he should consider attending conferences, and why? Or why not?

Due to time and financial restraints I haven’t attended a conference. I believe they are important, however, for making connections, sharing lessons learned, and for encouragement that only other writers can give.

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

The last novel I read and would recommend is Kristen Heitzman’s The Breath of Dawn . Kristen is one of my favorite authors and all of her books have the perfect balance of suspense, romance and the human condition. Her novels, whether historical or contemporary, do not disappoint!

What are you working on now?

I am working on the second novel in the Drawn to the Light series entitled Chasing Clare where readers will get to know Sophie’s best friend, the sassy Irish lass, Clare O’Malley.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.melodybalthaser.com
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
melodysperspective.me

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

Where is your special place to read a good novel?

Thanks, Melody, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Melody has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, August 14. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Melody's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, 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 HERE.

Teresa Pollard and Free Books!

Experience a vivid imagining of the love story of Tamar and Judah based on Genesis 38.

Today we're chatting with novelist Teresa Pollard, author of Tokens of Promise (HopeSprings Books, June 2015).

Teresa was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She spent most of her life as a wife, mom and grandma.

Although she received a Master’s degree in English and Creative Writing in 1989, her first novel wasn’t published until 2013.

In 2007, her life changed dramatically. Her marriage of almost 40 years disintegrated, and her youngest daughter died from cervical cancer. But God is still in control. He has brought her through it, and given her another grandchild to help raise in Dacula, GA.

I'm so sorry about your hardships in life, Teresa. So difficult.

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

--People say I’m young at heart because I like to walk or hike up mountains chasing waterfalls with my friend Krystal.

--I love red. I wear a lot of it.

--I also love hats. At church, some people call me the hat lady.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Tokens of Promise.

When Tamar is rescued from a wicked slave trader by Judah, the handsome prince of Hebron, she immediately falls for him and he’s attracted to her also, but he has a wife, and has vowed to have no other, so instead he marries her off first to his evil son Er.

Then when Yah slays Er, he marries her to his second mentally deficient son Onan. Yah also slays Onan.

So Tamar is sent home in disgrace to her family to await Judah’s third son’s coming of age. When that time passes, Shelah (the third son) comes up with a plan to make his father do the right thing by Tamar, but will that plan cost Tamar her life?

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

She’s naive and fears the God of Israel, but also gutsy and determined to fulfill the destiny she believes Yah has ordained for her.

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

I pulled up images and a beautiful young model by the name of Amina Sheikh was exactly what I thought Tamar would look like.




I think Dean Cain might be my idea of Judah.




Sometimes a writer’s imagination can be triggered with word mapping. If I give you the word challenge, what three words first come to mind, and how would you word a sentence (or 2, if needed) using all four words?

Meet, beat, or overcome. I can meet, beat, or overcome any challenge I need to in order to do what God has set before me to do.

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

My favorite book I’ve read recently was Jeremiah Peters’ A Message to Deliver . It’s a fantasy novel about a girl who comes back to earth from heaven with a message to deliver. Only problem—she doesn’t remember who she’s supposed to deliver it to, so she starts telling everyone she meets, “Jesus loves you, and He forgives you.” This novel is so beautiful, it had me in tears.

What are you working on now?

I have two novels due out in 2015. Not Ashamed, written with Candi Pullen is due in July. It’s the sequel to Not Guilty, and is the story of Charity Wright who comes home at eighteen to confront her biological father and gets caught up in a murder mystery.

The second, due in October, is called Woman of Light. It’s a story of Deborah based on Judges 4 & 5. I’m just starting the editing process on it.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.teresapollardwrites.com

Like and follow me on Facebook, and I’m also starting a new blog Teresa Talks the Taboo: Applying God’s Word in an ungodly world. I want to talk Truth about all the things most Christian writers don’t talk about: rape, abortion, depression, suicide, etc. I don’t know the URL for it yet because we’re still designing it, but look for it and come join the discussion.

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:






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

Do you know my Jesus? If not, can I invite you to know Him? He’s an amazing Savior!

Thanks, Teresa, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Teresa has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, August 7. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Teresa's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Kelly Irvin, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.

Kelly Irvin and Free Books!

If Adah Knepp, a young Amish girl, pursues her dream of being a musician all the way to the music capital of Branson, Missouri, will she find happiness or lose everything that’s important to her?

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of The Best Man's Secret, by Gail Sattler, is:

pumpkinbabjane@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. 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 Kelly Irvin, author of A Plain Love Song (Harvest House Publishing, July 2014).

Kelly Irvin is the author of the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series, both from Harvest Housing Publishing. The Beekeeper’s Son, her first novel in the Amish of Bee County series from Zondervan/HarperCollins will debut in January 2015. She has also penned two inspirational romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine.

The Kansas native is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She has been writing nonfiction professionally for thirty years, including ten years as a newspaper reporter. She has worked in public relations for the City of San Antonio for twenty years.

Kelly is married to photographer Tim Irvin. They have two young adult children, a new granddaughter, two cats, and a tank full of fish. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories and read books by her favorite authors.

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

--I became a grandma for the first time last September.

--I’m originally from Abilene, Kansas, hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower and the greyhound capital of the world.

--I hate sweet potatoes unless they’re in pie.

Congrats on your new Grandma status!! It's a fantastic club to join, isn't it?

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of A Plain Love Song.

Adah Knepp wants nothing more than to make music. It’s all she’s ever desired—to sing and play the guitar and write her own songs. That’s a dream that will never come true in the confines of her strict Amish community. But then she meets Jackson Hart, and suddenly she sees the chance for a different kind of life…a real stage, a real guitar, and a real opportunity to sing her songs to a real audience!

But pursuing her dreams means turning her back on her faith, her family, and her community—and saying goodbye to Matthew, the gentle Amish farmer she can’t get out of her mind. Is it worth giving up the only home she’s ever known to pursue her dreams?

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

Everyone has dreams. Adah’s dream of writing songs and playing them is one many people have. Because of the life into which she was born, she tries to ignore that dream. I think readers will empathize with her struggle to do what she believes is right, knowing that it means she’ll never have that dream.

Jackson Hart is a young man with a good heart who believes in what he’s doing. He’s passionate, he loves Adah, and he’s a cute cowboy who plays the guitar and sings.

How can she resist? I think my female readers will be just as conflicted as Adah about what path she should take.

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

Claire Bowen (Scarlett from the TV show Nashville) would play Adah. She’s perfect because she’s both an actress and a gifted singer.




If Brad Paisley, the country music singer who does some acting, were younger, I’d have him play Jackson Hart.




Zach Gilford (Matt Sorenson, Friday Night Lights) would be perfect for Matthew, again if he were younger.



Sometimes a writer’s imagination can be triggered with word mapping. If I give you the word challenge, what three words first come to mind, and how would you word a sentence (or 2, if needed) using all four words.

Challenge. Obstacle. Overcome. Persistence. Prayer.

Everyone has challenges in their lives. The key to overcoming these obstacles is persistent prayer.

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

All for a Story This Christy-nominated book by Allison Pittman is a historical novel filled with memorable characters. Allison has a beautiful, lyrical style of writing and she doesn’t let her characters take the easy way out.

All for a Story, set in the Roaring Twenties, is about a gossip writer named Monica Bisbane, who frequents speakeasies in Washington, D.C., for fodder for her column. The story unfolds around what happens when the former editor-in-chief of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s magazine inherits the tabloid newspaper for which Monica works and decides it should contain positive, uplifting stories. They’re oil and water, fire and ice, and the sparks fly.

What are you working on now?

I’ve finished the first draft of the second book in the Amish of Bee County series I’m writing for Zondervan/HarperCollins. The working title is The Bishop’s Son. I’ll pause shortly to do the line edits for the first book, The Beekeeper’s Son, which comes out in January 2015. This series is based on a small Amish district in South Texas, the only one in the state of Texas. The Amish families living there moved to Texas from Tennessee more than 20 years ago. It’s a tough place to make a living from farming because of the lack of rain and rocky soil. The first book explores how the world’s view of beauty is different from what God sees as beautiful.

Where else can readers find you on-line?

www.kellyirvin.com
Facebook
Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:




CBD.com



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

If an author you regularly read because you like their writing decides to try a new genre, would you follow him or her? Or are you a genre specific reader?

Thanks, Kelly, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Kelly has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, August 4. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Kelly's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, 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 HERE.

Gail Sattler and Free Books!

After preventing a bank robber from stealing his money, will Dave be able to stop Ashley from stealing his heart?

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Critical Diagnosis, by Alison Stone, is:

jenabrams5(@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. 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 Sattler, author of The Best Man’s Secret (Harlequin Heartsong, July 2014).

Gail Sattler lives in Vancouver, BC, where you don’t have to shovel rain, with her husband, 3 sons, 2 dogs, and 1 lizard, who is quite cuddly for a reptile.

When she’ s not writing Gail plays electric bass for a local jazz band, and acoustic bass for a community orchestra. In her spare time (yeah, right) Gail likes to spend time with a cup of hot coffee and a book written by someone else.

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

-- I'm attempting to learn to play cello.

-- The last thing I knitted was a sweater for my dog.

-- I've never been to Jack In The Box (they don’t have Jack In The Box in Canada).

Huh. Until you mentioned that, I hadn't realized we no longer seem to have them in the D.C. area either. I have fond memories of very late night stops there in my youth, eating tiny, limp tacos that were  so greasy I would probably gag at them now.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Best Man's Secret.

Overcome by guilt, Dave puts his life aside to help Ashley after she’s injured during a bank robbery. He doesn’t want to fall in love with her because he holds a secret he cannot share – because knowing what he cannot share will be the difference for her to love him, or leave him. Can he take the risk?

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

While Dave is brave on the outside, he is scared on the inside, and he can’t tell Ashley why until he has no choice.

Sometimes a writer’s imagination can be triggered with word mapping. If I give you the word challenge, what three words first come to mind, and how would you word a sentence (or 2, if needed) using all four words?

Victory, Contest, and Rise

Dave needed to rise to the challenge, so he could have his victory of the contest.

I think you're the first author this month who related the sentence to the featured novel!

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

Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe , a novella collection by Lena Nelson Doole, Jeannie Smith Cash, Jean Kincaid, and Jeri Odell. I’d recommend it because I enjoyed the collection, I like sweet stories.

What are you working on now?

The 3rd book in my Best Man series, The Best Man’s Secret is book one, and then coming out at Christmas is The Best Man’s Holiday Romance.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website at www.gailsattler.com and on Facebook.

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:




CBD.com


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

Where do you go to read a book you just can’t put down, and why?

Thanks, Gail, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Gail has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, July 28. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Gail's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Ann Gabhart, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.

Ann Gabhart and Free Books!

With WW II finally over and the boys coming home, the Merritt sisters are ready to pursue the plans put on hold by the war, but even in little town like Rosey Corner, peacetime life can hold challenges.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space, by Susan Lyttek, is:

lnhoog@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. 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 Ann Gabhart, author of Love Comes Home (Revell Books, July 2014).

Ann H. Gabhart, the author of several bestselling novels, has been called a storyteller, not a bad thing for somebody who never wanted to do anything but write down stories. She’s published over twenty-five books for adults and young adults with more on the way.

Scent of Lilacs, her first Heart of Hollyhill book, was a Booklist Top Ten Christian Fiction Book. The Outsider, the novel that began her Shaker series, was a finalist for Christian Fiction Book of 2009.

A starred review for Love Comes Home in Publishers’ Weekly says “…a novel tailor made for book clubs that can be treasured and shared with all who appreciate the beauty of love and family...”

Ann keeps her keyboard warm out on a farm in Kentucky where she lives with her husband, Darrell. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

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

--My grandfather was a blacksmith just like Victor in my Rosey Corner books.

--Every day, I take a walk on our farm with my dog, Oscar, and sometimes the neighbor dogs, Roxie, a St. Bernard, and PJ and Jake, two Heinz 57 dogs, go with us too.

--The Rosey Corner stories were inspired by my mother’s stories about growing up in the 1930’s. Now I’m walking the hard path of dementia with Mom as the disease has stolen all her wonderful life memories.

Heartbreaking, Ann. What a blessing that you captured so many of those memories in fiction.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Love Comes Home.

The people of Rosey Corner are celebrating the end of World War II. Everybody is ready to welcome the boys back home and get back to peacetime living.

Kate and her sisters can’t wait to step into the future they’ve only been able to dream about while the men were away at war. Kate is eager to start a family and live out her dream of happily ever after with Jay. Evangeline craves the kind of perfect life she’s read about in the women’s magazines. Victoria wants what can never be. Lorena is growing up and wondering more and more about her past.

But the shadow of the war lingers over them all as they face the challenges life throws at them. Each sister must learn to trust in the Lord’s guidance and strength as they share the joys and sorrows in their little corner of the world.

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

I have four viewpoint characters in Love Comes Home. Kate and Jay are beginning their life together after the war and facing some newlywed challenges even though they’ve been married for four years. I hope readers will also be rooting for Victoria to find happiness and for Clay who stole my heart as I got to know him in the story. He’s a good man who has many family obligations and wants so much to win the heart of the girl he loves. My Rosey Corner characters are like my own family and I hope they’ll feel like family to readers too.

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

I would make a very poor casting director since I tend to spend my free time reading books instead of watching movies, so I wouldn’t know where to start getting actors and actresses. But with the help of Google, I’ve come up with a few possible candidates for the lead roles: Kiera Knightley for Kate (even though her eyes aren’t the right color),


India Eisley for Victoria,





Brady Corbet for Clay,





and Andrew Kooman for Jay. Of course, Mr. Kooman is a writer and not an actor, but somehow I’ll talk him into taking the role. ☺


Sometimes a writer’s imagination can be triggered with word mapping. If I give you the word challenge, what three words first come to mind, and how would you word a sentence (or 2, if needed) using all four words?

Work. Excitement. Desire.

If you desire to meet the challenges of life and achieve your goals, you must work with excitement and perseverance.

I love seeing how differently this month's authors react to that exercise. You've taken a very encouraging tack.

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

Not long ago I read Love's Awakening by Laura Frantz. It’s the second in her Ballantyne Legacy series. I haven’t read, Love's Reckoning , the first book in the series yet, though I do hope to soon. That didn’t keep me from falling in love with the characters in this novel or being able to follow the story line. Laura’s story is very romantic and rich in history with characters that spring to life in your imagination. If you like romance mixed in with interesting history, this is a book you will enjoy.

That's definitely a component of a good series--the reader should be able to start in the middle and still enjoy it.

What are you working on now?

I went back to my Shaker village of Harmony Hill for a new story titled The Innocent. The story is set following the Civil War and has a mystery entwined with the story about my characters, Carlyn and Mitchell. The book is scheduled to be released July 2015.

Where else can readers find you online?

You can find out more about me or my books by visiting www.annhgabhart.com. I post twice a week on One Writer’s Journal, www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com with occasional giveaways, and then Jocie, my young character in my Heart of Hollyhill series, reports from Hollyhill in the Sixties every week at www.hollyhillbookofthestrange.blogspot.com. You can join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter, and I keep some boards going on Pinterest.

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:




CBD.com


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

Trish tried to trigger my imagination with the word challenge. So now I’m using that word to get you talking. What challenging things have you done in your life or what challenging things are still on your bucket list to do someday? What attributes does a person need to meet the challenges in life?

Great questions, Ann! Thanks for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Ann has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, July 31. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Ann's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Alison Stone, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.

Alison Stone and Free Books!

When Dr. Lily McAllister finds her life and research in jeopardy, she must rely on Army physician James O’Reilly to protect her or risk losing everything.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Moon Over Maalaea Bay, by Harry Wegley, is:

lesamcc@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. 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 Alison Stone, author of Critical Diagnosis (Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, July 2014).

Alison Stone left Buffalo, New York and headed a thousand miles south to earn an industrial engineering degree at Georgia Tech in Hotlanta. Go Yellow Jackets! She loved the South, but true love brought her back North.

After the birth of her second child, Alison left Corporate America for full-time motherhood. She credits an advertisement for writing children's books for sparking her interest in writing. She never did complete a children's book, but she did have success writing articles for local publications before finding her true calling, writing romantic suspense.

Alison lives in Western New York with her husband of twenty years and their four children where the summers are absolutely gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a good book—or writing one.

Besides writing, Alison keeps busy volunteering at her children's schools, driving her girls to dance, and watching her boys race motocross.

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

-- I didn’t discover the joy of reading for pleasure until after I graduated from college.

-- I am addicted to Netflix. I am currently making my way through all the seasons of Bones.

-- I listen to books on tape when I exercise. I just finished The Goldfinch. I logged a lot of miles with that book.

It does make the walk and/or exercise more enjoyable, doesn't it, Alison? I often watch shows on my iPad while I'm on the treadmill now, and it makes me actually look forward to the experience.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Critical Diagnosis.

Researcher Dr. Lily McAllister has dedicated her life to finding a cure for a family disease and now, steps away from a promising new treatment, Lily is attacked. Only the training of army physician James O'Reilly can save her.

As the would-be CEO of his family's pharmaceutical company, James's secret dream is to reenlist. But he can't leave Lily with a bull's-eye on her back. Nor can he stay and stop her from pursuing her goal. No one can, including the stalker who shadows her every move. Still, James has lost too many people he's loved—and this time he refuses to lose Lily.

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

My lead character, Dr. Lily McAllister, has devoted her life to finding a cure for the disease that killed her mother and now afflicts her niece. I think readers will care about her because she’s smart, selfless and determined.

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

I wrote the hero with Ben Affleck in mind.




I didn’t write the heroine with any actress in mind, but now that I think of it, Jennifer Garner would make a great Lily.




Sometimes a writer’s imagination can be triggered with word mapping. If I give you the word challenge, what three words first come to mind, and how would you word a sentence (or 2, if needed) using all four words?

Challenge: experience, death, painful

Life is filled with many challenges and painful experiences, including the death of a loved one.

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

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. This was a pick by my book club. That’s what I love about book clubs: you find books you might never have read. Without giving too much away, Me Before You explores the relationship between a young female caregiver and a powerful businessman who suddenly finds himself a quadriplegic after a tragic accident. The storyline is unique and the premise really made me think about things I take for granted.

That's what I love about book clubs, too, Alison. That, and knowing you'll have people with whom to discuss the book afterward. Such a pleasure.

What are you working on now?

I am working on copyedits for Plain Peril, my February 2015 release from Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. It’s set in Amish country. I’m also plotting two other books that were recently contracted by Harlequin. One is set in a small town and involves drug dealing. The other is again set in Amish country. Apparently Amish stories are very hot right now.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website: www.AlisonStone.com
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads



The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:




CBD.com


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

Have you ever read a book where the storyline, characters or something about the book haunted you for a long time? If so, what was it about the story that stayed with you?

Thanks, Alison, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Alison has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, July 21. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Alison's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Susan Lyttek, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.

Susan Lyttek and Free Books!

Just when Guzzy thought his summer was safe… Mom got a bright idea.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Sky Zone, by Creston Mapes, is:

faithfulgirl4@ . . .

and the winner of the signed copy of Gathering Shadows, by Nancy Mehl, is:

tstam3@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. 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 Susan Lyttek, author of Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, February 2014).

Susan A. J. Lyttek, author of newly released kids’ comedy, Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space and the cozy mystery Homeschooling Can Be Murder by Harbourlight Books, wife and homeschool mother of two teenage sons, writes early mornings in the shadow of our nation’s capital. She also enjoys training up the next generation of writers online through Write At Home, and by teaching middle and high school co-op classes.

Her mystery sequel Killer Field Trip will release August 2014.

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

--I earned a marksman ribbon with the M16 when I was in the Air Force.

--I was published first in kindergarten. My mom sent in my poem to the local paper.

--My hubby and I eloped in June and then had a church wedding in October. We kept the elopement a secret from most friends and family for seven years.

I want a picture of you with that M16, Susan!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space.

I like summer. What kid doesn’t? But inevitably my mom gets some crazy idea that I need to be doing something constructive.

That’s what destroyed a perfectly good week in July. My mom and Mrs. Bartle ganged up on Shriek and me and convinced us we’d love some time with kids our age and away from our homeschools. We’d be in a drama co-op, no less, with other fourth to sixth graders. OK, that was bad enough.

But when I show up to discover I’m one of two guys amid a bunch of cackling girls… And they decide to put on a production of Sleeping Beauty and draft yours truly, Guzzy Guferntible, into the role of Prince Charming. Me, on stage, armed with a plastic sword? If that’s not a recipe for disaster, I don’t know what is.

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

Guzzy is an average kid who just happens to be homeschooled. He is a glass half-empty to mostly empty kind of person while his mom tends to see everything as light and happy. In other words, they’re opposites which makes for an interesting homeschool dynamic. He tends to get klutzy when he’s trying his hardest to do what’s right.

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

Guzzy would look like Daryl Sabara when he was a kid in the first Spy Kids movie.




His best friend Shriek looks like the girl from Polar Express.

Sometimes a writer’s imagination can be triggered with word mapping. If I give you the word challenge, what three words first come to mind, and how would you word a sentence (or 2, if needed) using all four words?

Obstacle, difficult, surmountable

The ideal character can overcome a difficult, yet surmountable obstacle.

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

Pals in Peril: Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware by M. T. Anderson. I haven’t laughed so hard and so much in a long time. So far, I heartily recommend this series for kids. In this episode we have our middle school heroes battling spies, dinosaurs, carnivores and avoiding the evil dictator… of Delaware.

What are you working on now? 

The edits for my third mystery, Plundered Christmas, as well as the second Guzzy story.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.NancyMehl.com


The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:





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

For some strange reason, I like books like the Pals in Peril series, Lemony Snicket, Hero: Second Class and other stories where authors violate the wall between author and reader and make themselves part of the story. Do you enjoy that plot device or do you find it annoying? Why?


Thanks, Susan, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Susan has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, July 17. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Susan's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Harry Wegley, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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 HERE.