Trish Perry's Blog, page 5

Suzanne Woods Fisher and New Books!

The Moonlight School is about a young woman who arrives in Appalachia to help her cousin with a farfetched idea—opening the rural schoolhouses on moonlit nights so illiterate adults (over a third of the county) could learn to read and write. Would anyone come?

Before we talk with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of the historical World War II novel, Night Bird Calling, by Cathy Gohlke, is:

nina4sm@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with novelist Suzanne Woods Fisher, author of the historical novel, The Moonlight School (Revell, February 2021).

Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Moonlight School.

What’s so wonderful about this novel is that it’s based on a true story, so even if I tell you the entire plot, it won’t stop you from reading (I hope!). 
I want everyone to know about what happened on September 5, 1911. So here goes the quick version: Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education for Rowan County, Kentucky, had an idea to open the rural schoolhouses on moonlit nights to illiterate adults. She hoped 150 adults would come…and over 1,200 came! Within two years, she had eradicated adult illiteracy in her county.

How terrific!
What is it about your lead character--Lucy Wilson--that will make your readers care about her?

So, in the prior question, I gave you the basic plot. But Cora Wilson Stewart isn’t the lead character, and there’s a reason for that. Every novel needs a love story, and that just wasn’t going to work for Cora. She had been divorced three times (twice to the same man!), and marriage was not her thing. Instead, she threw her passion into her work. 
Thus, I created a fictitious character, Lucy Wilson, who came to Rowan County at Cora’s request. Lucy’s father was Cora’s cousin, and raised his daughter to enjoy a refined, well-educated life in Lexington. Facing the poverty of Appalachia was a shock to Lucy’s system. Little by little, she was able to get past her initial prejudice to discover the beauty of the culture, the traditions, the community. Helping her along in her journey was a handsome stranger with a little mystery, too.

This month I've been asking authors to imagine being contracted to write a novel about a real person. You've essentially done that with this novel.

Yes, Cora Wilson Stewart was such an intriguing woman to me—way ahead of her times. The conventional academic thinking of the day was that adults couldn’t learn to read and write. Once childhood ended, a door snapped shut. Cora accepted that thinking until three encounters changed her mind. She challenged convention…and looked what happened next!

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

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. The main character created an entire life for himself within a hotel—purpose, community, enrichment--and I think there’s a wonderful lesson about accepting circumstances that all of us need during this global pandemic.

I've heard a lot of people recommending that one, and I see it's going to be a limited series for TV, directed by Peaky Blinders director, Tom Harper. I'll need to read the book beforehand!
What are you working on now?

Just starting a new novel (first in a new series!) about an ice cream shop on Cape Cod. Set during the summer, of course.

Where else can readers find you online?

You can always find me through my website: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and also on Facebook and Instagram.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, you can access a sample from the novel by going HERE and clicking on Look Inside.

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

I liked your question, Trish, and I’d love to ask readers that same question. What makes a book one they’d recommend?

Thanks for letting me hang out with your readers, Trish! It’s always a pleasure. You’re so generous with authors and readers.

Stay well, stay home, and read!
Thank you, Suzanne, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Suzanne has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Suzanne's question above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, if you connect with me on Bookbub, you'll get alerts when my books release and when they're available at special sale prices. And if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook, just click HERE or on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Cathy Gohlke and Free Books!

After fleeing an abusive marriage, Lilliana seeks sanctuary with her great-aunt in No Creek, North Carolina, where she helps a young girl hiding troubles similar to her own, works to open a library for all regardless of the color of their skin and risks everything in a stand against violence and injustice that threatens them all.

Before we talk with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free Kindle copy of the historical romance, A Song for Her Enemies, by Sherri Stewart, is:

nj.bossman@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Cathy Gohlke, author of the historical World War II novel, Night Bird Calling (Tyndale House Publishers, January 2021).

Best selling and four time Christy Award-winning author, Cathy Gohlke, writes novels steeped with inspirational lessons, speaking of world and life events through the lens of history. She champions the battle against oppression—chains forged upon us and those we forge ourselves—and celebrates the freedom found only in Christ. 
When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband of thirty-eight years, Dan, divide their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their grown children and three grandchildren.

Cathy is one of my very favorite novelists, I should mention.
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I’ve always loved wild birds and gardening, but after a move to a townhouse during the early days of the pandemic, I feared I’d lose access to both. With so much time at home I became fascinated with container gardening and feeding birds from my back deck and small front garden dogwood tree. Flowers in pots during warm months and “flowers with wings” in the winter—I’ve loved the colors and songs in every season and have discovered we can truly bloom wherever we’re planted.

How wonderful. I swear, I lived in my townhouse for ten years, always intending to try container gardening, and I never got around to it! My brown thumb intimidates me (and the plants).
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Night Bird Calling.

When Lilliana Swope’s beloved mother dies, Lilliana gathers her last ounce of courage and flees her abusive husband for the home of her only living relative in the foothills of No Creek, North Carolina. Though Hyacinth Belvidere hasn’t seen Lilliana since she was five, she offers her cherished great-niece a safe harbor. Their joyful reunion inspires plans to revive Aunt Hyacinth’s estate and open a public library where everyone is welcome, no matter the color of their skin.

Slowly, Lilliana finds revival and friendship in No Creek—with precocious eleven-year-old Celia Percy, with kind-hearted Reverend Jesse Willard, and with Ruby Lynne Wishon, a young woman whose secrets threaten to destroy both them and the town. When the plans for the library also incite the wrath of the Klan, the dangers of Lilliana's past and present threaten to topple her before she’s learned to stand.

With war brewing for the nation and for her newfound community, Lilliana must overcome a hard truth voiced by her young friend Celia: Wishing comes easy. Change don’t.

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

Though Lilliana flees an abusive husband and father, she determines to help a young woman with troubles not unlike her own. At great risk to herself she’s a valiant protector and helper of those in need, even while making the emotional journey to learn that she, too, is a valued daughter of God and worthy of love, forgiveness and help.

Imagine you’ve been contracted to write a novel about a real person. About whom would you want to write?

I’d love to research and write about Mary Morris Knowles (1733-1807), a British Quaker widow active in the abolition of slavery movement.

I'd definitely read that book, if you ever got the chance to write it.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger taught me much about the Native American experience in orphanages and schools determined to strip a people of its language and culture, and the extent which all people will go to be free. Beautifully, exquisitely written with much heart and pathos, This Tender Land is a story and an author I will not forget.

It sounds terribly sad, too, as most novels about Native American history are. Thanks for the recommendation, Cathy.
What are you working on now?

I’ve just finished writing a second No Creek Novel, A Hundred Crickets Singing, and am ready to begin edits. Here is a rough idea: When a 1944 storm rips open a sealed attic room, the contents of a false bottom trunk expose old wounds and reveals a hidden longstanding wrong. Can clues from a Civil War diary lead Celia and Joe to right that wrong and help No Creek’s citizens toward reconciliation and a path forward, or is the threat of danger still too great?
Exciting! A follow-up ready once we've finished Night Bird Calling!

Where else can readers find you online?

www.cathygohlke.com
Face Book @ cathygohlkebooks
Bookbub
YouTube Book Gems with Cathy Gohlke
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads


The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, you can access a sample from the novel by going HERE and clicking on Look Inside.
Finally, Cathy, what question would you like to ask my readers?

When reading historical fiction, what time period and country do you most like to read?

Thanks, Cathy, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Cathy has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Cathy's question above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, if you connect with me on Bookbub, you'll get alerts when my books release and when they're available at special sale prices. And if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook, just click HERE or on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Sherri Stewart and Free Books!

She has the voice of an angel, but the devil is listening.

Before we talk with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free Kindle copies of my new contemporary romance, You're Where I Want to Be, are:

tumcsec@... and lhanberry1@...

Congratulations! I'll get your books right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's meet novelist Sherri Stewart, author of the historical romance, A Song for Her Enemies (Heritage Beacon Fiction, March 2021).

Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food and visiting the sites. 
Her trip to the Netherlands engendered a love for the town of Haarlem, and she’s learning Dutch for future visits. 
A recent widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her lazy dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who can fix anything. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe via the link at the bottom of the interview.

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

I earned my law degree in my fifties, studying at an online Christian law school while teaching full-time during the day.

Wow, that's impressive, Sherri! I would imagine that knowledge could inform some of your writing as well.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of A Song for Her Enemies.

After Nazi soldiers close the opera and destroy Tamar Kaplan’s dream of becoming a professional singer, she joins the Dutch Resistance, her fair coloring concealing her Jewish heritage. Tamar partners with Dr. Daniel Feldman, and they risk their lives to help escaping refugees. When they are forced to flee themselves, violinist Neelie Visser takes them into hiding. 
Tamar’s love for Daniel flowers in hardship, but she struggles with the paradox that a loving God would allow the atrocities around her. 
When Tamar resists the advances of a Third Reich officer, he exacts his revenge by betraying the secrets hidden behind the walls of Neelie’s house. 
From a prison hospital to a Nazi celebration to a concentration camp, will the three of them survive to tell the world the secrets behind barbed wire? 
A Song for Her Enemies is the story of a talented young opera singer and the bittersweet love that grows amid the tyranny and fear of World War II, set against the backdrop of neighbors willing to risk their lives in the German-occupied, war-torn Netherlands.

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

Tamar Kaplan was a sheltered young woman, not a hero by any means, whose main goal in life was to become a lead soprano at Haarlem’s opera. Circumstances forced her to shed her fears, take charge, and become the woman God intended her to be for the sake of her loved ones.

Imagine you’ve been contracted to write a novel about a real person. About whom would you want to write?

Corrie ten Boom has always been my hero. She offered her home as a refuge for the Jews whom God sent to her door and paid the ultimate price by being sent to three labor camps. After her release in 1945, she spent the rest of her life travelling the world to tell them that there was no pit so deep that God’s love was not deeper still.

Oh, my goodness, yes. Her book, The Hiding Place is absolutely stunning and gripping. I would recommend it to anyone. She's my hero as well, Sherri. 
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend? 
The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham is the best book I’ve read in years—so much so that I read it twice. It’s about Anke Huff, a political prisoner in a concentration camp, who is recruited to become the midwife of Eva Braun, mistress of Adolf Hitler. The story, of course, is pure fiction, but it’s believable, compelling, and most of all, beautifully written.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the sequel to A Song for Her Enemies, which takes place five years after the war’s end. Haarlem’s heart has been damaged in every way, and Tamar and Daniel are trying to find their place in it. Whereas A Song forced Tamar to respond to her world falling apart, now she is dealing with the need for justice to be done. And it starts with a painting she spirits away from her former house.

That sounds like a wonderful sequel to your current release. 
Where else can readers find you online?

Amazon author page
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
www.stewartwriting.com
Instagram
Bookbub
Newsletter sign-up

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



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

1. What heroine would you like to read about in a historical fiction?
2. Do you like to read novels with mentions of God in them? In what way?
3. Do you gravitate toward books that are realistic—even gritty—or to lighthearted books?

Readers, feel free to answer any or all of Sherri's questions. I appreciate hearing your thoughts!
Thanks, Sherri, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Sherri has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Sherri's above question(s). "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, if you connect with me on Bookbub, you'll get alerts when my books release and when they're available at special sale prices. And if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook, just click HERE or on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Free Copies of New Release: You're Where I Want to Be!

To celebrate the release of my new contemporary romance, You're Where I Want to Be, I'm going to give away a free Kindle copy to two commenters who answer my question below.
But first I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Vickie McDonough's Christian historical romance, Wild at Heart, is:
richmond.abigail@...
Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.
And now, with regard to this week's give-away, here's what You're Where I Want to Be is about:
As a pregnant teen, Delaney Shaw had to grow up quickly. Now she’s forty and embracing experiences she missed as a hard-working single mom—college, independence, and…romance? No, thank you. No time for romance.
But Delaney’s grown daughter, her best friend, and a dashing-but-vexing professor might change her mind.
Delaney’s been blessed with a chance to change her future, if her past and present hang-ups can just get out of the way.
If you would like to be entered in the book give-away, share your answer to this question:
What is something you thought was beyond your grasp--because it was too late--that you went ahead and attempted anyway, and how did it work out?
To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Vickie's above question. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.
You're Where I Want to Be can be purchased online via the following button:

Also readers, if you connect with me on Bookbub, you'll get alerts when my books release and when they're available at special sale prices. And if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook, just click HERE or on my name at the right of today's post title.
Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Vickie McDonough and Free Books!

A dime novelist travels west after a rancher challenges her facts about the frontier, but a chance meeting and train robbery changes the course of her life.

Before we talk with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Sara Beth Williams' contemporary Christian novel, Anchor My Heart, is:

tumcsec@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit novelist Vickie McDonough, author of the Christian historical romance, Wild at Heart (Mountain Brook Ink, February 2021)

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 50 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. 
Vickie’s books have won numerous awards, including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. 
When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling. 

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

When I was first married, my husband and I lived on a kibbutz in Israel for a year. We were just 11 miles from Jerusalem. It was a wonderful experience.

Wow, an entire year! That would be a terrific way to start off your marriage. Very cool.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Wild at Heart.

Under the pen name Drew Dixon, Chicago native Mariah Lansing writes dime novels detailing hair-raising adventures of heroines in the Wild West. But then she receives a letter from a rancher in the Badlands of North Dakota who challenges her meticulously researched facts. When Mariah finds her fiancé in the arms of another woman, she accepts the rancher's invitation to visit his ranch and leaves Chicago far behind.

Adam McFarland has a dream—to travel the West and document its people and beautiful landscape with his drawings. If only he weren’t tied down to the family ranch in North Dakota. When dime novelist Drew Dixon makes repeated mistakes about his beloved West, he invites the author to visit. But the person who shows up isn’t exactly who he was expecting.

Will Mariah and Adam reveal the secrets they are keeping? Or will they allow false perceptions to continue to hinder the plans God has for them?

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

Mariah is a spunky woman at a time when spirited women were looked down on. She works in the publishing field, which was a man’s world in the 19th century, but that doesn’t stop her from being successful. While she’s tough, she’s also tender-hearted and caring.

Share with us one line or paragraph from your novel that will give us a good feel for the tone of the story.

He’d do well to remember Miss Lansing could turn into a wildcat faster than he could unholster his gun, and those hatpins of hers were dangerous.

I love that, Vickie.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Karen Witemeyer’s At Love's Command . She has such tough, brave heroes who have a big heart. You can’t help but admire them. Her heroines are spirited women you’ll enjoy reading about. She also has great story lines and plenty of sweet romance and humor in them. I love her books.

What are you working on now?

I’ve taken a break from fiction writing and have been creating some non-fiction books. The most recent is a coloring book called Elephant Cuties . It’s for kids and elephant lovers.

I have two other novels releasing in the Romance in the Badlands series:

Outlaw Heart - (March 15, 2021 - available for pre-sale) and Straight for the Heart, releasing June 15, 2021.  

Where else can readers find you online?

Website: www.vickiemcdonough.com
Newsletter sign-up
Bookbub
Mewe
Twitter
Amazon Author Page
Pinterest

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



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

For the past few years, historical novels have been less popular than contemporaries. I’d like to ask readers: Do you still seek out historical books or do you mostly read contemporary, and why?

Thank you, Vickie, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Vickie has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Vickie's above question. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

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

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Sara Beth Williams and Free Books!

When Matt's life spirals out of control, to love again seems impossible--until Tara appears to walk beside him through his grief.

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Pat Nichol's women’s southern contemporary novel, Starstruck in Willow Falls, is:

mnjesusfreak@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's meet novelist Sara Beth Williams, author of the contemporary Christian romance, Anchor My Heart (Anaiah Press, March 2021).

Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. She lives in Northern California. When she's not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. 
Sara Beth is all about connecting with readers! Find her on her various links, below.
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I love playing guitar and singing.

Those are good talents to have while we're all locked down and unable to explore life as we're used to.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Anchor My Heart.

Worship leader Matt Lawson has every blessing in life he could ever ask for. In one tragic night, the future he’d so carefully planned out for himself crumbles at his feet. In the aftermath, a debilitating past affliction roars back to life and leaves him reeling in despair, unable to face the reality that he has lost everything he held dear.

Tara Pierce has spent the last five years crushing on everyone else’s man. Now, she’s about to graduate college. It’s time to put past infatuations aside and focus on her career goals. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.

Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. Warning bells clang within and Matt holds back, but their shared experiences only heighten the magnetism between them. Still, Tara senses he’s not ready to give himself away again. Risking her heart and their friendship, she is forced to put distance between them and let God step in to heal where she can’t.

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

Throughout Anchor My Heart, Matt experiences some great losses, and must learn how to both accept those losses, and find ways to rebuild. When the desire to rebuild with Tara beside him crashes into him, he’s terrified.

Share with us one line or paragraph from your novel that will give us a good feel for the tone of the story.

Stronger than the threat of panic, more potent than the overwhelming sadness he endured, was the realization that, in the black sea of his grief, Tara was his anchor.

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

I just finished A Promise to Keep by Melony Teague. It’s such a moving story of overcoming grief, and rediscovering the love you didn’t even recognize you had. Plus, with a swoony rescue hero as a male lead, and some harrowing rescue scenes, you can’t go wrong. What a great read.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a few different projects. The one project I am attempting to pitch to agents is a story of a famous musician who hides out in disguise while he’s recovering from a severe illness. While hiding out, he meets his sister’s roommate. Secrets and summery romance abound as the two figure out how in the world they can make something seemingly impossible, possible.

That's a great premise, Sara Beth! Where else can readers find you online?

Amazon
Goodreads
Bookbub
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website
Newsletter

The novel doesn't release until March 16, so watch for the purchase link to be available on Amazon soon!
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Have you ever had plans for your life fall through? What was your God-moment, when you realized that God had a different plan or a different direction for your life?

Thank you, Sara Beth, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Sara Beth has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Sara Beth's above question. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

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

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Pat Nichols and Free Books!

Hollywood swoops into Willow Falls, creating chaos and disrupting a wedding, a debut novel, and a budding romance.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of MaryLu Tyndall's time-slip romance, Timeless Treasure, is:

jrs0350@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's meet Pat Nichols, author of the women’s southern contemporary novel, Starstruck in Willow Falls (LPC Books, a division of Iron Stream Media, February 2021).

Retired from a twenty-seven-year corporate career, Pat Nichols launched her career as an author and is proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Drawing on her experience working with hundreds of women from all walks of life, she creates stories about women facing tension-laced challenges and heart-warming triumphs in the pursuit of their dreams. 
Pat is the mother of two and grandmother of four. One precious granddaughter lives with the angels. Pat and her husband of fifty-plus years live in Duluth, Georgia. 
When she isn’t writing she enjoys jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, watching movies, reading, and spending time with family and friends. 
Pat's debut novel, The Secret of Willow Inn, Willow Falls series book one, which released January 2019, is a 2020 Selah Award winner. Book two, The Trouble in Willow Falls, released November 2019. Book Three, Starstruck in Willow Falls, released February 2021.

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

My husband and I have been blessed with opportunities to visit thirty-one countries, nineteen during cruises. Our most enjoyable cruise? The eastern Mediterranean because we shared the two-week trip with my mom and dad. Our two favorite destinations? Hands down, Venice Italy and Eze France where we stayed at Chevre D’Or, a magical hotel built in the side of a mountain.

How lovely, Pat! I've only done one cruise, but my sister and I always dream about doing European cruises together. Yours sound wonderful. I love Venice.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Starstruck in Willow Falls.

A Hollywood film crew and famous actors swoop into Willow Falls to film a full-length motion picture, disrupting the town’s new normal as a popular North Georgia tourist destination and turning the town’s lovable, quirky residents into groupies and wannabe movie stars.

Rachel Streetman worries her life-long dream to act is drifting into oblivion and leaving behind bitter regret. Weeks away from marrying Charlie Bricker, she questions if auditioning for a role in the movie will boost her lackluster career or open the door to a lifestyle incompatible with the small-town life she has come to accept.

Emily Hayes’ release of her debut novel is upstaged by the Hollywood invasion. When she and Rachel accept the job as the director’s liaisons, their patience is stretched to the limit by starstruck residents and ego-driven stars. An unexpected visitor and a medical emergency create additional challenges and eye-opening revelations.

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

Emily, the town’s newspaper editor and an aspiring author, grew up in Willow Falls. She wrote her first novel to draw attention to her town’s unique history and encourage folks to visit. Rachel abandoned her dream to act to follow in her father’s footsteps in his Atlanta-based business until she met Charlie Bricker and discovered the truth about her past. Sadie returned to Willow Falls after serving a thirty-year sentence for killing the town hero. 
The three women were strangers until tragedy and a long-held secret brought them together in The Secret of Willow Inn. In Starstruck in Willow Falls they each face new challenges and triumphs as they continue to pursue their dreams in a small southern town populated with lovable, quirky residents, where everyone knows everyone’s business.

Share with us one line or paragraph from your novel that will give us a good feel for the tone of the story.

Tomorrow’s edition of the Willow Post loomed large in Emily Hayes’ mind as she drove past Willow Falls’ picturesque, century-old storefronts. No one—other than the mayor, the town council, and the paper’s reporter—had a clue about the chaos scheduled to descend on this quaint little town. As editor of the weekly newspaper, she knew all too well that more than a handful of residents would blame her for keeping the news under wraps.

Sounds like fun!
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I was privileged to read an advanced copy of Bent Tree Bride which releases April 2021. Author Denise Weimer masterfully weaves historical events with engaging fictional characters in a heart-warming romance set against the backdrop of the War of 1812.

What are you working on now?

Two weeks ago, I finished a complete re-write of the first manuscript I wrote back in 2014, a fictional story inspired by a young woman who drifted in and out of our lives for three decades. Next step? Submit a proposal to my publisher, then wait for a response. Nail-biting time again. 
Blessings with that, Pat.

Where else can readers find you online?

patnicholsauthor.blog
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Goodreads
Bookbub


The book can be purchased online via the following button:



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

What is your favorite travel destination and where would you most like to visit?

Thanks, Pat, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Pat has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Pat's above question. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

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

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Free Kindle for Everyone! The Perfect Blend.

Greetings, readers! I wanted to give you a heads up that the Kindle copy of my romantic comedy, The Perfect Blend, is free on Amazon, available only through this Sunday, February 7. 

From the back cover: If you enjoy the novels of Debbie Macomber, you’ll love this perfect blend of recipes and romance set in a small town with a big heart.

Steph Vandergrift is in need of a job. She left everything behind to elope with Middleburg attorney Rick Manfred, never imagining he would stand her up at the altar. Now, hoping just to get by until she can decide what to do next, Steph thinks she’s found the perfect position at the local tea shop.

Kendall James, one of the kindest and most eligible bachelors in the area, meets Steph and proceeds to pursue her. But by the time Steph feels able to consider dating again, her runaway fiancé returns and tries to win her back. Steph is wary, but she and Rick always seemed to blend so well. Are they truly meant to be together, or does God have something else in mind?

To download your copy, click the button below. Just a little early Valentine's gift from me to you. Happy reading!

MaryLu Tyndall and Free Books!

When two worlds collide—one of a young lady in search of treasure to remove a family curse and the other of a three-hundred year ancestor pirate—lessons from the past affect the future, and both must run from those who would see them dead.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Linore Burkard's Regency romance, Miss Tavistock’s Mistake, is:

gcwhiskas@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's talk with MaryLu Tyndall, author of the time-slip romance, Timeless Treasure (Ransom Press, December 2020).

A Christy Award finalist and winner of two Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards, MaryLu Tyndall dreamt of tall ships and swashbuckling heroes during her childhood years on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. 
She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before she penned her first novel. Now, with more than twenty-five books published, she makes her home in California with her husband, six children, four grandchildren and various stray cats. 
MaryLu's hope is that readers will not only be entertained but will be brought closer to the Creator who loves them beyond measure. 

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

I love to oil paint and have several of my masterpieces around the house!

I should have had you send us a picture of one of them. It looks like you also enjoy gardening! One of the things I enjoy about California is the weather that essentially allows for year-round gardening.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Timeless Treasure.

Timeless Treasure is a Time-slip Romance. Part of it takes place in the past and part in the present. Yet there’s a connection between the two time periods through ancient letters, ancestors, and buried treasure.

The only thing Lexie Cain’s mother left her after her death was a folder full of ancient letters and an old coin. Determined to remove the curse of poverty and crime from her family’s past, Lexie sets off to Charleston, S.C. to find the mythical treasure of Stede Bonnet.

Professor Barret Johnson represents everything Lexie hates. Born to wealth and privilege, Barret’s family are pillars of the community, successful, educated, Christians who never suffered a day in their lives. Yet she has no choice but to allow him to help her decipher the letters.

As the couple read each letter, we are transported into the past where we follow the adventures of Stede Bonnet from his start in Barbados, through each success and failure, and his eventual connection with Blackbeard himself.

Lexie discovers a kindred spirit in her ancestor, Bonnet, and lessons learned from the past soon drift into the present. But someone is after the letters, and soon Barret and Lexie find themselves in grave danger. They must figure out the puzzle Bonnet left them and retrieve the treasure before whoever is after them gets desperate enough to end their lives.

What is it about Lexi and Stede that will make your readers care about them?

Lexie had a difficult childhood that I believe many people can relate to. Her father left her, her mother struggled to make ends meet, and at one point they were homeless. Consequently, Lexie has a huge heart for the poor and is constantly giving out of her own need to help others. She is smart, independent, but because she lived on the streets and even spent some time in Juvenile hall. She can be a bit rough around the edges.

The other lead character is the pirate Stede Bonnet, a real historical figure known as the gentleman pirate. Despite his profession, he has a good heart and good motives for his actions. Yet, for all his efforts, he keeps choosing the wrong path. His is also a love story that is sure to touch the reader’s heart.

That's one thing I love about time-slip novels--the reader is often treated to two gripping stories made even more so by their connection through time.
Speaking of time, the year 2020 was a rough one for most of us. What do you think God wants you to focus on in 2021?

Aside from bringing glory to God through my books, my mission is also to alert Christians to the soon return of Jesus and encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

Amen to that, MaryLu! It's time to be loving but bold about Him. 
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Michelle Griep’s, The Thief of Blackfriars Lane . I love anything by Ms. Griep. Her writing is full of adventure, romance, and witty dialogue that keeps me turning pages.

What are you working on now?

I’m in the process of plotting out my next novel in my Legacy of the King’s Pirates series, which is a fan favorite series. I haven’t yet named it, but, God willing, I hope to release it in 2021. Christian pirates? You’ll have to pick up of my books in the series to find out.

I love it. Where else can readers find you online?

I’m very active on my Website/Blog which is : www.marylutyndall.com. Also:
MEWE
Twitter
Bookbub
Amazon


The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, you can read a sample of the book HERE by clicking on Look Inside.

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

What is the most important thing you look for in a Christian novel?

Thank you, MaryLu, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, MaryLu has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to MaryLu's above question. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

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

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Linore Burkard and Free Books!

“Burkard combines elements of Sense and Sensibility and The Importance of Being Earnest to craft a delightful and comedic story that will certainly please historical fiction aficionados and those who enjoy wholesome, romantic stories.” Kirkus Review

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Barbara Britton's Biblical novel, Lioness: Mahlah's Journey, is:

sallyshupe1@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with Linore Burkard, author of the traditional (sweet and clean) Regency romance, Miss Tavistock’s Mistake : The Brides of Mayfair, Book One (Lilliput Press, June 2020).
Linore Rose Burkard is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite, and hopeless romantic. An award-winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first book opened the genre for the CBA. 
Besides historical romance, Linore writes contemporary suspense (The Pulse Effex Series, as L.R. Burkard), contemporary romance (Falling In), and romantic short stories.
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I like making homemade versions of things, from laundry detergent and toothpaste to cheese.

Well, you've probably kept yourself busy during the lockdown, then! What a convenient talent for these times. 
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Miss Tavistock's Mistake.

The story hinges on mistaken identity and misunderstandings, which, although it may sound familiar, has unique twists. Miss Tavistock is very young, lovable, and gets caught in her own web (the “mistake” the title refers to). 
As she and the hero, Captain Rempeare, are thrown together and get to know each other, romance blossoms, but the web thickens—rather humorously—until it seems there is no escape. 
The story question is, how can she undo her mistake without losing the love of the honorable hero?

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

She’s forthright and wears her heart on her sleeve to a humorous level. When the book opens, she’s a child who has just lost her parents. Readers empathize with her quickly.

The year 2020 was a rough one for most of us. What do you think God wants you to focus on in 2021?

Finding my peace and rest in Him. The more the world disappoints us, the more we are reminded that we’re just pilgrims passing through. But digging deep into the Word is the only way, in my experience, to find that promised peace. It’s not incidental. It can’t be manufactured. It comes from God as we soak in His Word, and so that’s where I need to focus.

I so agree. I find myself worrying about the future quite a lot these days, more for my kids and grandkids than for myself. But God is in control, and He provides peace during those times of worry. He has a plan and loves us, so we do need to lean on Him and His Word.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Something New , by P.G. Wodehouse. I loved the humor, much of it tongue-in-cheek, as well as the wonderful, easy descriptions of characters. Wodehouse captures people with all their eccentricities—he loves to capture eccentrics—and it makes for very funny reading. He always manages to get a sweet, light love story in the mix of satire, comedy, and manners. Right now I’m reading his complete works.

I'm a big Wodehouse fan too--a bit like Oscar Wilde in his humor and ability to poke fun at the upper class of his time. 
Where else can readers find you online?

My website is www.LinoreBurkard.com

I’m on Facebook but transitioning to FreedomBook and MeWe. For now, my reader’s group is still on Facebook and I welcome readers to join me there. I post illustrations and images from the Regency as well as book news and sales. Come on over! Facebook.com/LinoreBurkardReadersGroup

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, you can read a sample of the book HERE by clicking on Look Inside.

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

What period of historical romance do you most enjoy reading, and why?

Thank you, Linore, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Linore has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Linore's above question. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

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

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE