Trish Perry's Blog, page 8

Ann Gabhart and Free Books!

Romance and adventure are in the Kentucky mountain air in this story of a woman yearning for love but caught between two worlds—each promising something different.

Before we revisit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Jim Denny's science-fantasy/spiritual warfare novel, Battle Before Time, is:

tinybutmightyml@...

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 Ann Gabhart, author of the historical romance, An Appalachian Summer (Revell Books, June 2020).

Ann Gabhart has been called a storyteller. She’s lived up to the title with thirty-five books published and more stories on the way.

Ann likes wrapping her stories around interesting historical times and events in her home state of Kentucky. She’s written about the Shakers in The Refuge, The Outsider and more, gone to the Appalachian Mountains for These Healing Hills and An Appalachian Summer, mined her family history for Angel Sister and Scent of Lilacs, found a feel good story during the 1833 cholera epidemic in Springfield, Kentucky, and more. Even her cozy mysteries under the author name A.H. Gabhart take place in the little town of Hidden Springs, Kentucky.

Ann keeps her keyboard warm out on her farm where she likes walking with her dogs or discovering the wonders of nature with her nine grandchildren. \

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

It’s been years since I bought a loaf of bread, but I’ve bought plenty of bread flour. I’ve been making sourdough bread over thirty years. At first when everybody was passing around the starter back then, I said I didn’t want to do that. Too much trouble. But then I decided to give it a try. About a zillion loaves of bread later with some doughnuts and cinnamon rolls thrown in now and again, my starter is still going strong (I actually keep two going now to be sure I have plenty) and I’m still making bread usually two times a week. I give some away and chow down on some. The scarcity of bread flour on grocery shelves has been weird during this pandemic, but so far I’m still baking.

I did the sour dough thing for awhile several years ago! I loved it--a little too much, as my waistline will attest.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of An Appalachian Summer.

In 1933 Louisville, Kentucky, even the ongoing economic depression cannot keep Piper Danson's parents from insisting on a debut party. After all, their fortune came through the market crash intact, and they've picked out the perfect suitor for their daughter. Braxton Crandall can give her the kind of life she's used to. The only problem? This is not the man–or the life–she really wants.

When Piper gets the opportunity to volunteer as a horseback Frontier Nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains for the summer, she jumps at the chance to be something other than a dutiful daughter or a kept wife in a loveless marriage. The work is taxing, the scenery jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and the people she meets along the way open up a whole new world to her.

The longer she stays, the more an advantageous marriage slips from her grasp. But something much more precious--true love--is drawing ever closer.

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

Piper Danson is a young woman caught in an era when more freedoms for women were opening up while at the same time her father is insisting she follow a more traditional path. She’s a reluctant debutant in love with a man her father no longer considers to be someone she can marry since his family lost all their money in the market crash. Piper tries to escape making decisions about her future by going to the mountains for the summer to work as a volunteer with the Frontier Nursing Service where she’ll run errands, take care of horses, and whatever needs doing. I think readers will admire her pluck and the growth of her faith as she discovers what’s most important in life.

What’s the most positive thing you can tell my readers about the state of Christian fiction today?

Readers have so many choices in Christian fiction today with mysteries, historical stories, suspense, contemporary stories that cover a range of topics, and even speculative and futuristic novels. Readers can find their favorite genres and be assured the story will have a Christian worldview.

So true! I've seen that in watching the various authors I've featured here through the years. 

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

Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse. It’s a heartwarming story about a fifteen year old boy set in the 1940’s who makes a bike ride through Florida to Key West to honor the father he loses early on in the story. I think readers will enjoy the characters, especially Peyton, and be glad to share his many adventures on the trip.

The book has definitely received high marks from reviewers. 

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m doing edits on Along a Storied Trail that is scheduled to release in the summer of 2021. I went back to the Appalachian Mountains for another story, but this time instead of Frontier Nursing history, I’m following around one of the Packhorse Librarians who carried books up to people in the hills of Kentucky. Some of the people in these areas had no libraries and had never had access to books. This works program established during the Great Depression was very popular with the local people. My character shares some of the experiences along the trail and some of the stories of the people she meets. There’s romance, beautiful scenery, and books. What more could a story need?

Really! That sounds wonderful, Ann.

Where else can readers find you online?

Readers can find out more about my books and check out my blog posts at www.annhgabhart.com. I have fun talking with readers on my Facebook Author Page, Instagram, and Twitter. They can also find me on Pinterest and Goodreads . Readers can follow me on BookBub where they will be sure to hear about my new books or any special book sales.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Here’s a link to a sample reading of An Appalachian Summer

Or you can check out a sample on Amazon. HERE (click on Look Inside)

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

Piper spent a summer volunteering with the Frontier Nursing Service. How important do you think volunteer workers are to our world? Have you been a volunteer in your community?

Thanks, Ann, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Ann has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her 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, 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

Jim Denny and Free Books!

Young inventor Max McCrane builds a time machine and takes three friends on a roller-coaster ride through time and space to confront humanity’s ancient enemy in the Garden of Eden.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Bonnie Leon's historical romance, One Hundred Valleys, 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 visit with novelist Jim Denny, author of the Middle Grade (ages 9-12) science-fantasy and spiritual warfare novel, Battle Before Time (revised and updated edition, Writing in Overdrive Books, January 2020). Paperback and Kindle editions.

Jim has wanted to be a writer since he was a boy. He wrote his first short story as a third-grade class assignment, a tale of a spaceman who escaped from a prison on Mars.

He quit his day job and became a full-time writer in 1989. He's written more than a hundred nonfiction books in collaboration with Ray Stedman, Leighton Ford, D. James Kennedy, Michael Youssef, Michael Reagan, Super Bowl champion Reggie White, Star Trek actress Grace Lee Whitney, supermodel Kim Alexis, Orlando Magic founder Pat Williams, and many others.

The most fun Jim ever had as a writer was when he wrote the Timebenders series—Battle Before Time, Doorway to Doom, Invasion of the Time Troopers, and Lost in Cydonia. These books are full-tilt, thrill-a-minute science-fantasy page-turners. In early 2020, he revised and re-released all four books for a new generation of young readers.

I'm excited for my readers to introduce your books to the young readers in their lives--especially the boys! I don't often get to feature books young boys would like. 

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

At age eight, when I rode my bike to school, I had to pass a house with a pair of vicious dogs. They’d come tearing after me, snarling and snapping at my heels. After school, I told my dad about the dogs. He said, “Let’s pray about it.” So we prayed that the dogs would leave me alone. The next morning, I sped past that house—but the dogs didn’t appear. They never bothered me again.

For years, whenever I doubted the reality of God, I’d remember how my prayer was answered when I was eight years old. One day, it occurred to me: “What if Dad ‘helped’ God answer that prayer?” So I asked Dad, “Did you have anything to do with that prayer being answered?” He assured me he didn’t. God answered that little boy’s prayer, and the lesson has stayed with me throughout my life.

I love that story, Jim. What a blessing for you to see memorable answered prayer at such a young age. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Battle Before Time.

Max McCrane is the friendless “new kid” at school—but everything changes when Max shows three of his classmates the time machine he built from a rusty old VW Beetle. He calls his invention Timebender.

A nasty trick by the class bully sends Max and his companions plunging into the distant past where they encounter spirit beings—angels—fighting a war in the heavens. Their journey takes them to ancient Mars, and ultimately to an epic confrontation in the Garden of Eden.

Tempted by the alluring lies of humanity’s ancient enemy, Max and his friends must summon the faith and courage to make the right choice.

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

Though he’s a science wiz, Max has the same problems all kids have. He struggles to fit in at his new school. He means well, but sometimes blunders into trouble. He’s intensely loyal to his friends, he believes in God, and he’s a problem-solver. He sincerely tries to do the right thing, even when facing an unsolvable dilemma. He deals with the same insecurities, problems, and fears all kids face—but with the added stress of being chased by dinosaurs, knights in armor, or time-traveling robots.

As parents and grandparents, we see our kids learning to live with a global pandemic and online classrooms and restricted activities. In these times, the adventures of Max and his friends can provide them with inspiration, encouragement, empowerment, and a much-needed infusion of faith and hope.

Wow, all of that is sorely needed right now.

What’s the most positive thing you can tell my readers about the state of Christian fiction today?

In my conversations with my friends who are professional Christian writers, I constantly hear them talking about how they are taking their fiction in exciting new directions. We’re in a golden age of compelling, relevant, Christian storytelling with believable characters and profound (but not preachy) spiritual insights. It’s a joy to be surrounded by writers who are not only serious about their faith, but also about their craft. The best Christian fiction of all time is being written and published right now.

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

The last novel I read was C. S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces . For years it sat on my bookshelf because I had little enthusiasm for a retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. A few days ago, I picked it up and started reading—and I couldn’t put it down. It was Lewis’s last novel, and he’d spent his entire adult life preparing to write it. It turns out that the Greek myth is merely a backdrop for a compelling tale about Psyche’s half-sister Orual, a princess who learns the true meaning of sacrificial love and the lasting value of suffering for a good cause.

I haven't read that one yet, but I'll put it on my list. Thanks. I love his writing. As a matter of fact, since we're on the subject of Lewis, I want to share a stunning quote a friend posted recently, if you will all indulge me. I think it's wonderfully timely:

In 1948 C.S. Lewis, in reference to the mental shift required by living with the threat of the atomic bomb, wrote the following “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays.

In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

Isn't that perfect for our current situation? 

My apologies, Jim, for the digression. To focus again on your writing, please tell us what you're working on now?

I just finished collaborating with Pat Williams on a nonfiction book for Baker-Revell on great leaders of the American Revolutionary War. And I’ve begun work on a new adult fantasy novel with strong elements of mystery, suspense, and spiritual warfare.

You certainly have a lot of plates spinning at once! Where else can readers find you online?

You can find me at writinginoverdrive.com and waltsdisneyland.wordpress.com.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, if you would like to read a sample from the book, you can find it HERE by clicking on Look Inside

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

What kinds of books (either Christian or secular) do your children most like to read? What should I, as a Christian author, be writing to feed your kids’ hunger for good books?

Thank you, Jim, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Jim has offered to give away a free copy of his book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to his 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, 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

Bonnie Leon and Free Books!

Emmalin Hammond thought she was an heiress, but when she discovers her life has been a lie, she sets out for the Oregon Territory to find her father and hoping to discover who she really is.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Louise Gouge's contemporary romance novel, Winning Amber, is:

jarning67@...

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 Bonnie Leon, author of the historical romance, One Hundred Valleys (WhiteFire Publishing, March 2020).

Bonnie Leon is the author of twenty-two novels, including the recently released One Hundred Valleys, the popular Alaskan Skies series, and the bestselling The Journey of Eleven Moons.

Bonnie’s books are being read internationally and she hears from readers from around the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America, and Africa. She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and mentoring up-and-coming authors.

Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

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

I met and fell in love with my husband when I was just seventeen. We married two years later, and I have been married to the love of my life for forty-nine years.

Aw, now that's romantic. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of One Hundred Valleys.

Emmalin Hammond thought she was an heiress, but when her mother dies she discovers the truth of her heritage has been hidden from her. She is nearly penniless and the father she thought had died many years before may still be alive and living in the Oregon Territory. Accompanied by her uncle, she sets off from Philadelphia and crosses the country, as part of a wagon train, in search of her father.

After reaching Oregon City misfortune befalls her and she is left to complete her journey alone. Forced to rely on a stranger, Jacob Landon, a mountain man from the southern part of the territory, Emmalin gathers up what little courage and hope she possesses and continues to make her way south where she will be forced to decide who she is and what kind of life she truly wants.

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

Most people do not consider being raised with privilege to be a handicap. However, when socialite Emmalin Hammond is thrown into the rigors of wilderness living, the weaknesses put upon her by the ease of her life create unique challenges that she meets with courage and tenacity, with a few stumbles along the way.

What’s the most positive thing you can tell my readers about the state of Christian fiction today?

Christian Fiction is getting better and better. Publishers and writers are stepping up, working hard, and taking more risks. They are creating unique and well written tales that capture our hearts and our minds.

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

Early this year The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron was a beautiful surprise. I’d never read anything by Ms. Cambron, and her hauntingly beautiful story captivated me. It took place in a time and place (Europe during Hitler’s occupation) that was brutal and terrifying and tells the unusual story of a woman who finds her salvation in music. The story was created in such a way I found myself wondering if it had been taken from a real life experience. I highly recommend it.

What are you working on now?

Though One Hundred Valleys was not intended to be a series, I found that when I had completed the book I still had more to discover about my characters and the story. I needed to know what happens to Jacob and Emmalin. And so ... I am now making that discovery as I write the rest of their story in book two.

Where else can readers find you online?

You can find me at:

www.bonnieleon.com
Facebook
www.bonnieleon.blogspot.com
Pinterest


The book can be purchased online via the following button:




Readers, if you would like to read a sample reading from the book, click HERE (and click on Look Inside).

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

As a writer it is important to connect with readers. I appreciate each one of you. Sometimes it’s difficult to know the best way to close the gap between my home and yours. I enjoy blogging and chatting on Facebook, but that’s about me. What would you like to see more from me and your favorite writers?

Thank you, Bonnie, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Bonnie has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her 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, 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

Louise Gouge and Free Books!

NFL superstar quarterback seeks small town diner waitress; goal, to make amends.

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Robin Lee Hatcher's split-time Christian novel, How Sweet It Is, is:

joyjournaling@...

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 Louise Gouge, author of the contemporary romance novel, Winning Amber, (independently published, May 2020).

Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes contemporary and historical romance fiction, winning the prestigious IRCA in 2005 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She also placed in the Laurel Wreath contest in 2012.

A former college English and humanities professor, Louise is a member of the Christian PEN and has been copyediting for well-known authors for fifteen years.

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

In 1964, I was backstage at the Beatles’ concert at Red Rocks Theater just outside of Denver, Colorado. Jackie DeShannon was the opening act and debuted her hit song “What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love.”

You and I touched on that memory last year--your sneaking back there with the help of an usher friend, you wild child, you. Very cool memory. Jackie's song is certainly fitting these days!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Winning Amber.

Winning is all important to him, in the game…and in love.

Single mother Amber works hard to raise her son, Noah, on her wages and tips at a small Colorado diner. With medical bills to pay, they both wear secondhand clothes and do without the modern technology Noah’s classmates have. The last thing Amber ever expected was for Noah’s father to show up and preach at her about his newfound religion, especially since Drew didn’t even know Noah existed. Now will the rich and famous NFL quarterback try to take her son away from her? With no one to defend her, is it time for her to run away…again?

Drew Buxton has always gotten what he wants. Money, girls, a successful career as the NFL’s most popular quarterback, he’s had it all…until a family betrayal and tragedy caused him to rethink his entire life and turn to God. Now he seeks to make amends to the people he’s harmed on his road to success, including the high school classmate who tutored him through his toughest classes. He doesn’t expect her to welcome his visit, nor does he expect the shock of learning he has a son. This changes everything. Now there isn’t anything he won’t do to improve his son’s life, no matter how much Amber resists.

I love this story premise, Louise. Many of us can identify with the need for forgiveness after turning our lives to God. 

What is it about Amber and Drew that will make your readers care about them?

My heroine is a spunky, hard-working single mother who struggles to make ends meet. My hero is a famous superstar football quarterback whose newfound faith leads him to make amends for his past.

What story from the last couple of years would make a good basis for a novel?

I’m fascinated by the new discoveries of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ancient roads and beautiful artwork are being uncovered all over the Mediterranean. Novels could be written about the archeologists and what compels them to search the past. Or historical novels could make today’s discoveries a part of the story.

What a great idea. Sites like this one could provide excellent inspiration: Ancient Greek and Roman Archaeological Discoveries of 2019 

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

Erica Vetsch’s The Lost Lieutenant is a Regency romantic suspense that kept me guessing and kept me reading late into the night.

I love that book's tagline: He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

What are you working on now?

Having just published Winning Amber, I’m taking a rest. Then I’m planning to compile several of my short stories into an anthology.

Where else can readers find you online?

Web site at louisemgougeauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook
Twitter: @Louisemgouge


The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, if you would like to read a sample from the book, you can see it HERE, when you click on "Look Inside."

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

Are you a sports fan? Do you like to watch professional football? Do you consider sports heroes worthy or compelling heroes for romance novels?

Thanks, Louise, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Louise has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her 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, 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

Robin Lee Hatcher and Free Books!

He's lost his brother and she's lost her dream, but together they might find what they’re really looking for.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Pamela Meyers' historical romance, Tranquility Point, is:

friedmanc44@...

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 visit with novelist Robin Lee Hatcher, author of the split-time Christian novel, How Sweet It Is (Thomas Nelson, July 2020).

Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 80 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She's known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love.

Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®.

When not writing, Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.

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

My great-great-grandfather, Gideon M. Ashmore, was an antislavery innkeeper in Illinois. In the summer of 1845, he hid Anthony and Jane Bryant and their children, escaped slaves who had been brought up from Kentucky to work a farm owned by Robert Matson. They were kept in Illinois longer than the law allowed and ran away.

My great-great-grandfather went to an attorney by the name of Abraham Lincoln, but Lincoln had already been consulted by Matson so couldn’t represent the Bryants. Fortunately, Lincoln did not win this particular case, and the Bryants gained their freedom. It’s said that Matson returned to Kentucky without paying Lincoln his fee.

And that’s my distant connection to my favorite President of the United States.

Okay, Robin. You win the prize for the most fascinating "random thing." I would love to have something like that in my family history! 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of How Sweet It Is.

Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.

Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father , the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.

Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.

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

Since there are three lead characters in How Sweet It Is, I will select the historical protagonist, Andrew Henning. Andrew’s story is told across all three books in the Legacy of Faith series (each book is a stand-alone novel, not requiring that you read the others). Andrew is a man of strong faith and the wisdom he has gained through that faith and his own life experiences. Like Andrew’s descendants (who are the contemporary heroine and heroes in the books), I believe readers will appreciate what he has to share through the notes written in his Bible.

What story from the last couple of years would make a good basis for a novel?

Oh, my goodness. Difficult question. My stories don’t spring from anything in the news or tabloids. The only book of mine that came close was Ribbon of Years, which was birthed after the Columbine tragedy. That book isn’t about a school shooting, but as I wrote it, I answered the questions in my own heart of what it truly means to walk by faith when terrible things happen in life. That’s the sort of writer I am. While I may not tackle the big news issues of the day, my books explore the human heart and how God uses difficult circumstances in our lives.

I like that you've given an example of how a writer might be inspired by "issues of the day" to address particular feelings and choices, without the motivating event itself factoring into the story. As a writer, I find that idea very helpful.

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

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin. This story absolutely wrecked me—in the best kind of way any novel can do to a reader. I cried for the final half hour of listening to the audiobook. Beautiful. Painful. Raw. Hopeful. Unexpected. Tender. Highly recommended.

Thanks so much for that recommendation, Robin. Nothing like a good cry over a beautiful story. 

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a new split-time novel. The historical setting is the late 1800s, and the contemporary story is present day. There isn’t a whole lot more that I can share about my WIP at this stage.

But I’m very excited to share about the book I finished revising just before the shelter-in-place orders began in March. Rich Beyond Measure: Zlata’s Story (Guidepost Books, July 2020) is my first novel with a biblical setting.

The protagonist is the poor widow who gave the two mites, everything she had (Mark 12:41-44). I was quite nervous going into it, afraid I might misrepresent the Jewish culture. But in the end, it turned out to be a blessed experience. Every day I spent time in the Gospels, reading the words of Christ and studying His ministry in Capernaum and Jerusalem. And through my research I learned things I hadn’t known before (or, if known, hadn’t fully understood) despite 40+ years of Bible study.

I hope that readers will be blessed by the story too.

An exciting new direction for your novels! Where else can readers find you online?

My website: robinleehatcher.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
BookBub

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, f you would like to read a sample from the book, you can access it HERE

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

What is your favorite time setting in fiction? Do you enjoy split-time (dual-time, slip-time) fiction? And if so, who are some of your favorite authors?

Thank you, Robin, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Robin has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her 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, 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

Pamela Meyers and Free Books!

Hannah’s life couldn’t be sweeter—a marriage proposal and law school. Then the Great War intrudes and everything sours.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Zoe McCarthy's contemporary Christian romance, The Irresistible Woman in a Blue Dress, is:

teamob4@...

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 visit with novelist Pamela Meyers, author of the historical romance, Tranquility Point , Mantle Rock Publishing, May 2020.

Pam has written most of her life, beginning with her first diary at age eight. Her novels, set in and around her hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, include Surprised by Love in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Safe Refuge, and Shelter Bay, Books One and Two in the Newport of the West Series.

Pam resides in northern Illinois with her two rescue cats. She’s an hour or so away from Lake Geneva where she can be found researching and nosing for new story ideas.

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

During the course of one year, I lived in the Midwest and on both coasts of the U.S.

A very thorough-sounding exploration of the country! 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Tranquility Point.

Despite the overhanging threat of the Great War involving the U.S., progressive Hannah Murphy is determined to make the summer of 1916 a memorable one before jumping into the demands of law school— her ticket to effecting change in how women are viewed. When she unexpectedly reacquaints with Ted Bauer, who is no longer the gangly boy who long ago had a crush on her, life becomes all the sweeter as they fall in love.

Everything sours when Ted enlists in the British Army in hopes of quelling the discrimination directed at his family because of their German roots. Unable to sit idlily by, waiting for her fiancé’s return, after the U.S. declares war on Germany, Hannah joins the Women’s Land Army and learns that there is more than one way to influence change.

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

Like her mother and grandmother before her, Hannah Murphy is willing to buck the “system” and tackle challenges that up to now were relegated only to men, yet at the same time she is an attractive, loyal, and loving woman.

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

I’ve not read many novels of late because I’ve had four books under contract in four years, but I would recommend anything by Deborah Raney or Catherine West for Womens Fiction and Denise Hunter for Contemporary Romance. All three authors write captivating stories that depict strong women and how, despite their strength, they still lean on God to get them through the dark places.

What are you working on now?

Rose Harbor, Book 4 in my historical romance series. It’s homefront WWII.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.pamelasmeyers.com
Facebook
www.hhhistory.com on the fourth of each month.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



If you would like to watch Pam reading a sample of the book, go HERE.

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

Has the Coronavirus Quarantine changed your reading habits and preferences? If so, how?

Thank you, Pam, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Pam has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her 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, 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

Christmas in July!

Exciting 99 cent sale! Winged Publications is featuring some of its most popular Christmas-themed novels, novellas, and sets this month, all for only 99 cents each!

Whether you're in the mood for Christmas reading in July or would simply like to take advantage of the July sale to stock up for holiday reading several months from now, you're bound to find some titles of interest! I've listed the books and their Amazon links below. Story summaries are available at each of the linked pages. Happy reading!

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Also, it's not too late to leave your answer to Zoe McCarthy's question of June 22, below. We'll have a drawing for a free copy of Zoe's The Irresistible Woman in a Blue Dress next week.

Miss Apprehension for 99 Cents!

Here we are, readers, still in lockdown. So, once again I hope to provide you some accessible fun for your at-home reading. I'm dropping my book prices.

For five more days--through Saturday, July 4 --my contemporary romance, Miss Apprehension, is available in e-book format for only 99 cents. 

Here is the summary of this contemporary romance:

Miss Apprehension

The setting for Cherise Paul’s destination wedding couldn’t be more romantic. So why does she feel she’s being dragged down the aisle? She doesn’t plan to run away and become entangled with the famous young actor, Niles Adair, and his film crew, but circumstances unfold exactly that way.

When her fiancé, Jerry Gallagher, re-enters the scene, Cherise must decide: What does she want? What is she afraid of? What does she not understand? And who would have thought that Spanx could play such a pivotal role in one woman’s destiny?


The book can be purchased via the following button (the price will lower on the site):




I hope you'll take advantage of this story while it's so readily available. And please remember to read about featured author, Zoe McCarthy, below, and subscribe and/or leave your answer to her question to be entered in the drawing for a free copy of her new release!

Zoe McCarthy and Free Books!

Fashion model Vivian Day’s Mustang breaks down in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, and her rescuer, Brayden Cole, reluctantly introduces her to a simpler life style.

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Amanda Cabot's historical romance, Out of the Embers, is:

teamob4@...

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 visit again with novelist Zoe McCarthy, author of the contemporary Christian romance, The Irresistible Woman in a Blue Dress (December 2019).

Zoe M. McCarthy was pegged an expressive analytic in a professional personality test. Isn’t that an oxymoron? But it’s true. Zoe couldn’t survive without expressing her creative imaginings. Yet, this retired actuary* and introvert receives her energy from being alone in her home office overlooking the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains.

Believing opposites distract, Zoe has seven indie or traditionally published Christian contemporary romances. Her stories involve tenderness and humor and heroes and heroines who learn to embrace their differences. Zoe also has a book out on writing, Tailor Your Fiction Manuscript in 30 Days.

She and her husband, grandparents of six, enjoy canoeing and spending time at their lake cabin, where she writes during month-long sabbaticals—alone.

*Actuaries perform the mathematical analysis for insurance companies, pricing products and estimating reserves to pay claims.

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

At ages 7-10, I lived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during the rise of Papa Doc; at ages 15-16, I lived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis; and at age 20, I lived in Bangkok, Thailand during the Vietnam War.

Sounds like maybe someone's parent(s) served our country!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Irresistible Woman in a Blue Dress.

Overworked Chicago fashion model Vivian Day flees a difficult photo shoot in Roanoke, Virginia, and heads for a three-week vacation in Tennessee. But when Vivian detours into the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, her Mustang breaks down on a remote mountain road.

Home-improvement-store manager Brayden Cole gives the frustrated woman wearing a blue gown and flip-flops a ride and, while her car's in the shop, a room at his mother's house in Twisty Creek. Brayden's mother urges him to entertain the big-city woman. Brayden, who considers himself a magnet for women’s woes, reluctantly introduces Vivian to the mountain lifestyle and breathtaking views.

Now, as Vivian experiences the simple mountain life, she realizes her stressful career and demanding agent, who's her mother, are draining joy from her life.

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

Although a fashion model in the Chicago market, she doesn’t use her beauty for her personal benefit, and through little fault of her own, she faces tougher problems than the average woman.

If your publisher asked you to write a novel incorporating the coronavirus in some respect, what might you write about?

I’d feature a heroine living in a small Virginia town dealing with job loss, financial issues, and virus exposure by an unwanted old boyfriend. When she has a fever, she seeks medical help. She tests negative, but the new intern doctor at her doctor’s office learns from her records she suffered a concussion from a robbery attack recently. Her beautiful, sad eyes above her mask capture his heart. He becomes her secret champion, leaving grocery bags of food on her doorstep. Then …

Aww, that's sweet.

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

I recommend Lisa Carter’s Under A Turquoise Sky . Lisa effectively introduced me to the Navajo people in an entertaining and often humorous witness-protection story. Loved the little dog, Taco, and his relationship with the tough protection agent.

Well, that sounds intriguing! What are you working on now?

I just finished and sent to my editor the contemporary Christian romance, Across the Lake, that will first come out in a fall collection in September 2020. I’m now returning to my first speculative Christian novel whose story has captured my creative thoughts.

Where else can readers find you online?

Amazon Author Page
Website: zoemmccarthy.com

The book can be purchased online via the following button:




Readers, if you would like to see a sample reading from the book, you'll find it HERE--Click on "Look Inside."

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

What are the main ways you find the books you read, i.e. word of mouth, Facebook groups, BookBub, etc.?

Thank you, Zoe, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Zoe has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her 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, 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

Amanda Cabot and Free Books!

With her home destroyed and a killer after her, a young woman flees to the Texas Hill Country with an orphaned girl, never dreaming that a handsome horse rancher will hold the key to her past and her future.

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Cathy Richmond's historical inspirational romance, Off the Ground, is:

quiltinglady@...

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 again with novelist Amanda Cabot, author of the historical romance, Out of the Embers (Revell, March 2020).

Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city.

Her inspirational romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, have garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers Best awards.

A popular workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve their dreams of publication.

Impressive resume, Amanda! Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I love to sew, make all of my own clothes, and dress dolls as Christmas gifts for the local women’s shelter.

My goodness. I'm surprised you also have time for writing. That's not an easy hobby. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Out of the Embers.

When the orphanage where she’s been living ever since her parents’ murders is deliberately burned, Evelyn Radcliffe knows she was the intended victim. Fleeing to the Texas Hill Country with the only other survivor, six-year-old Polly, she changes her name, pretends Polly is her sister, and opens a restaurant.

But danger lurks, even in seemingly peaceful Mesquite Springs, and she fears that not even the love of Wyatt Clark, the handsome horse rancher whose reluctant bid for mayor reignites old hostilities, can keep her and Polly safe.

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

Though she’s endured almost unbearable heartbreak, Evelyn hasn’t been broken. While she continues to live in fear of the man who killed her parents and who’s been watching her ever since, she’s braver than she admits to herself, devoted to the orphan she loves like a daughter, and determined to make her own way in the world.

Humble, brave, and noble. I love that.

If your publisher asked you to write a novel incorporating the coronavirus in some respect, what might you write about?

Since I write books set in the nineteenth century when coronavirus was unknown, it’s unlikely my publisher would ask me to do that, but if they did, I’d write about the typhoid epidemics that swept through the country, emphasizing the ways communities banded together to help each other survive.

I do think many people have become more interested in historic epidemics as a result of the current challenge. 

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

I thoroughly enjoyed Regina Scott’s A Distance Too Grand . Flawless research on early explorations of the Grand Canyon and nineteenth century photography combined with a memorable love story made this an historical romance that lingers in my memory.

I can see it's been very well reviewed.

What are you working on now?

I just finished the first round of my publisher’s edits on Dreams Rekindled, the second Mesquite Springs book, and am currently writing the third in the series.

Where else can readers find you online?

Here are my links:

www.amandacabot.com
Facebook
Twitter
amandajoycabot.blogspot.com

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, if you would like to read a sample from the book, you'll find it HERE.

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

What is the most difficult situation you’ve ever faced? How did you deal with it? What lessons did you learn as you surmounted the difficulty?

Thank you, Amanda, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Amanda has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her 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, 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