June McCrary Jacobs's Blog: ~ Author June McCrary Jacobs ~, page 104
May 24, 2018
~ COWBOYS OF SUMMER BLOG TOUR ~
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~
~ BLOG TOUR STOP ~
-- 'Cowboys of Summer' --
~Post Includes Interview with Sherri Shackelford,
Author Bios, Book Blurb & Giveaway~
Title: Cowboys of Summer Authors: Mary Connealy, Lorna Seilstad, Cheryl St. John, Missy Tippens, Tina Radcliffe & Sherri Shackelford Publisher: Self Release Date: May 1, 2018 Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance / Western Links*: Goodreads l Amazon
AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH SHERRI SHACKELFORD:
JUNE: Welcome to 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic', Sherri. I've enjoyed reading several of your books, especially the Christmas stories. In particular, I liked 'The Rancher's Christmas Proposal' and 'Mistletoe Bride'. What kinds of research do you gather about the Christmas customs/traditions, clothing, setting, and daily life (i.e., food preparation, housekeeping, transportation, etc.) of your chosen era before you begin writing your books?
SHERRI: I’m so glad you enjoyed those books! Thank you!! I love, love, love writing books set in the winter. There’s something terribly romantic about curling up in front of a warm fire while a blizzard rages outside.
One of the best tools of research is reading. I read a lot! Although I don’t read as much as I did before I became a writer, I just don’t have as much time anymore. One of my favorite resources is discovering the diaries of pioneer women. Nothing replaces the wonderful detail and insight of people who actually lived during that time.
That being said - I’ll admit I did log a lot of hours of Little House on the Prairie and When Calls the Heart. Historical authors have to battle perception versus reality. Did you know that ketchup has been around since the pioneer days? Ketchup was invented around 1812. I wrote ketchup into a book once and got angry letters. People just couldn’t believe the condiment was around back then! I learned my lesson about perception vs. the truth.
JUNE: As a fan of historical fiction, I appreciate and admire the efforts authors in those genres to be factual within their fiction. If that makes any sense!
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JUNE: When did you declare, to yourself or to others, that you wanted to be an author? What led you to want to write fiction?
SHERRI: I came to writing late in life. I know most authors knew what they wanted to do as toddlers, but I wasn’t one of them. I was an avid reader. I’d read 15-20 books a month. I used to write my out-of-town relatives letters. (On actual paper, no less!) People would tell me that I was a wonderful storyteller, and that I should write a book. One day I decided – what have I got to lose?
This is where ignorance is bliss. Thankfully, I didn’t know or understand what an impossible trip I was embarking on. I spent the next four years slogging away through rejection after rejection after rejection. Then one day, things just sort of clicked. I had an idea for the opening of a story. The rest is history…
To this day, I need to see the beginning of a story before I start putting pen to paper. (Or fingers to keyboard.) I’ll start with a grain of an idea, and then mull it around for a while. The characters come into play, and I decide on their motivation. After that, I have to see the opening scene. Once I can picture how the story starts – I’m off to the races!
I do some plotting, and some seat-of-the-pants writing, but I always have a general idea where the story is going.
JUNE: I can certainly relate to the rejection cycle. I'm so glad it all clicked for you so that your readers, including me, can enjoy your engaging stories.
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JUNE: Please share whether or not you have written, or would like to write, in genres other than historical romance. Would you ever consider writing non-fiction? If yes, what would be your subject matter?
SHERRI: Funny you should ask that question…this novella series kicks of a new adventure for me. After writing historical novels for Harlequin Love Inspired for five years, the line closed unexpectedly. After much soul-searching, I’m trying my hand at contemporary romantic suspense.
Since I like my publisher and my editor, I stuck with them. My first Love Inspired Suspense novel comes out in January of 2019 – No Safe Place. Writing in a new genre has been challenging. As an author, you develop a certain rhythm in your writing. I had to start all over and learn a new rhythm!
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JUNE: Do you outline your books before you begin the task of putting words on paper (or typing on your computer) or do you create the story as you write? Do you always know the ending of a book before you begin writing the manuscript?
SHERRI: Whoops! I should have read ahead. I started answering that question above. Mostly it’s a bit of both. Believe me, I sincerely wish the story came to me entirely formed. That doesn’t happen. As I get to know the characters, they often take the story in unexpected directions.
For a long time, I fought my process. I kept thinking my way wasn’t the ‘right’ way. I finally realized that whatever is working for the author is the ‘right’ way. There’s no good or bad method—whatever works for you is what’s good! (And don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.)
JUNE: That's great advice for anyone who is writing, designing, or creating anything from scratch.
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JUNE: From reading the Author Bio on your website it sounds as if you are a busy woman! Assuming you have any spare time, what do you enjoy doing for pleasure?
SHERRI: I’d like to say that things are settling down these days – but I’d be lying! Just when I think things are settling down, there’s always something else to be done. These days, I Netflix and chill in winter, and Netflix and grill in the summer.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Reading, Writing and Stitch-Metic for hosting me today! Authors couldn’t survive without bloggers spreading the word about good books. We appreciate the time and effort it takes to write a review. Your contributions make a difference!
Thank you!
JUNE: You are entirely welcome, Sherri. It was my pleasure to chat with you and learn more about your writing process. Please join me again when your new book comes out in January, 2019. Then we can talk about the differences between the historical and suspense genres!
----------------------------------------- ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
--Sherri Shackelford is an award-winning author of inspirational, Christian romance novels for Harlequin/HarperCollins Publishers.
A wife and mother of three, Sherri’s hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, “Why did I just come in here?” A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul. Look for her new adventure in Love Inspired Suspense, No Safe Place, in stores January of 2019.
CONNECT WITH SHERRI: website, facebook, twitter--Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
Photo Courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography
CONNECT WITH MARY: website, facebook, twitter, instagram You can also find Mary at these sites: Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols
--Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote.” Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor.
CONNECT WITH LORNA: website│facebook --Cheryl St. John is the award-winning author of more than fifty Harlequin and Silhouette books, as well as several independently published books. Her book Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Writer's Digest is a popular seller. Cheryl has always loved the exciting and diverse worlds available between the covers of books. As a child Cheryl wrote stories and drew covers, then stapled them into little books. She cut all the tiny book images from the book club advertisements in the Sunday paper and glued them to bits of cardboard so Barbie® had a full library.
Cheryl believes in paying it forward, and her some of her most rewarding experiences have been sharing in the successes of writers she has coached over the years.
Cheryl loves hearing from readers. You can email her at StJohn[at]aol[dot]com.
CONNECT WITH CHERYL: website, facebook, pinterest
--Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy Tippens has lived in Georgia for the last 25+ years. She is a pastor's wife and mom of three. A former microbiologist and teacher, she now focuses on her writing.
After more than ten years of working toward publication, Missy finally made her first sale of a novel in 2007. She feels very blessed to be working at home in her dream job!
CONNECT WITH MISSY: website, facebook You can also find Missy at these sites: Seekerville and Yankee Belle Cafe
--Tina Radcliffe is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist, a 2014 ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist, a 2014 Golden Quill finalist and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. She has won first place in over twenty RWA chapter affiliated contests in her career. Tina is also a short story writer and has sold over twenty-five short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Find her at http://www.tinaradcliffe.com where you can sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss her fun giveaways and bad jokes.
CONNECT WITH TINA: website, facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram-------------------ABOUT THE BOOK:As the summer weather sizzles, relax by the pool with stirring tales of handsome cowboys and the spirited ladies who wrangle them into romance. Six of Christian fiction’s most beloved authors join forces to bring you a collection of humorous, romantic and heartfelt novellas set against the sultry heat of summer.
In Mary Connealy’s, “Dr. Tess and the Cowboy”, sparks fly when Dr. Tessa Rhoades discovers dinosaur bones on Joe Holt’s ranch and decides to excavate—even if that means kicking Joe off his own land.
In “Hometown Girl” by Cheryl St.John, injured rodeo champion Justin Cooper returns to the sleepy Oklahoma town he escaped for fame and fortune--and takes his biggest tumble yet--straight into the arms of Stevie Marshall, his first love who soon has him questioning his life choices.
In Tina Radcliffe’s, “Lake Effect”, cynical cowboy Tucker Jackson knows he’s in trouble when he starts counting the days until the end of summer and praying ‘summer girl’ Jessica Richards will find a home for her heart in Paradise.
In "His Lone Star Heart" by Missy Tippens, rancher Zeb West tries hard not to fall for Beecher Brown, the feisty but off-limits sister of his best friend. As she tries to prove she's capable of running her family's ranch--the one he's trying to buy--he might just find he's met his match...for life.
Will Lorna Seilstad’s characters make “Great Strides” when Dana Etherton, the owner of a horse therapy ranch, must choose between the kids she serves and Adam Malone, the embezzler who’s been assigned to do community service there?
When Paige Monroe agrees to draw the press away from a country star’s wedding by pretending to be the look-alike bride, she wasn’t counting on having very real feeling for her decoy fiancé, Sterling Tanner. In Sherri Shackelford’s, “The Decoy Bride”, two people feigning love forget they’re acting.
TO PURCHASE A COPY*: Amazon
GIVEAWAY:
The authors of Cowboys of Summer are giving (1) winner:
Prize:
(1) $25 Amazon Gift Card
(1) 'I Trust in God's Unfailing' Mug
(1) Reading at the Cafe Candle from Frostbeard Studios
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 21, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM on May 28, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here. ENTER HERE or use the Entry Form below Be sure to stop at a stop each day for extra entries!
TOUR SCHEDULE For the full schedule, click on the banner below or head to the
JustRead launch page or Just Commonly blog.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Saturday, May 26th: Blitz for 'Loving Grace'. Event hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 28th: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Memorial Day Feature honoring Memorial Day. I will feature a non-fiction book entitled, 'Arlington National Cemetery'.
-- Tuesday, May 29th: Book Blast for 'A Gentle Heart'. Blast includes a $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
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May 23, 2018
~ REVELL READS THE THEORY OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER ~
~ REVELL READS BLOG TOUR ~
'THE THEORY OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER'
by Author Kristin Billerbeck-- POST INCLUDES BOOK SPOTLIGHT,REVIEW & LINK TO EXCERPT --
About the Book:
According to Dr. Maggie Maguire, happiness is serious--serious science, that is. But science can't always account for life's anomalies, like why her fiancé dumped her for a silk-scarf acrobat and how the breakup sent Maggie spiraling into an extended ice cream-fueled chick flick binge.
Concerned that she might never pull herself out of this nosedive, Maggie's friends book her as a speaker on a "New Year, New You" cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. Maggie wonders if she's qualified to teach others about happiness when she can't muster up any for herself. But when a handsome stranger on board insists that smart women can't ever be happy, Maggie sets out to prove him wrong. Along the way she may discover that happiness has far less to do with the head than with the heart.
Filled with unforgettable characters, snappy dialogue, and touching romance, The Theory of Happily Ever After shows that the search for happiness may be futile--because sometimes happiness is already out there searching for you.
Link to Excerpt {Courtesy of the Publisher}
About the Author:
Kristin Billerbeck is the bestselling, award-winning author of several novels, including What a Girl Wants, Perfectly Dateless, and Perfectly Invisible. A Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year, Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. She lives with her family in Northern California.
My Review:
This book is advertised as a romantic comedy. The setting is a singles' cruise called, 'New Year, New You'. The main character, Dr. Maggie Maguire, is a research scientist working at UCLA. She is known as a happiness expert after her first book on the subject became a bestseller.
At the beginning of the story her close friends, Haley and Kathleen, seize control of Maggie and whisk her away to the cruise because she has completely withdrawn from her professional and personal life after her fiance broke off their engagement two months ago to marry another woman. Haley, Maggie's publicist, has booked them on the cruise so that Dr. Maguire can present talks to the cruise guests about happiness.
I thought it was clever how the author wrote chapter headings featuring quotations from the main character's bestselling book, 'The Science of Bliss'.
Maggie's ex-fiance, Jake Stone, was well-framed as a villain by the author. He was whiny, dependent, and manipulative. Towards the end of the story an explanation is given for all of Jake's awful behavior.
I have read dozens of book by Baker Publishing Group, one of the top Christian publishers in the United States. This particular novel did not have the strong faith element which is the usual focus of Baker's books.
Maggie lies--a lot. She calls it "lying by omission" when she discusses her untruths with her friends. I felt Maggie's best friends, Haley and Kathleen, overfunctioned throughout the book. The way the three women interacted with and treated each other seemed odd to me. Perhaps some readers would consider their snarky dialogue to be humorous. I kept thinking, why would you want to be friends with people you treated with such disdain and vice versa?
There were a lot of twists and turns in the plot and several unexpected revelations popped up at the end of the story which appealed to the mystery fan in me.
Disclosure from blogger: I received a paperback copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review to be posted on my blog and on retailer sites and Goodreads. I received no compensation for my review or posts here or on any other site.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Saturday, May 26th: Blitz for 'Loving Grace'. Event hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 28th: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Memorial Day Feature honoring Memorial Day. I will feature a non-fiction book entitled, 'Arlington National Cemetery'.
-- Tuesday, May 29th: Book Blast for 'A Gentle Heart'. Blast includes a $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
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About the Book:According to Dr. Maggie Maguire, happiness is serious--serious science, that is. But science can't always account for life's anomalies, like why her fiancé dumped her for a silk-scarf acrobat and how the breakup sent Maggie spiraling into an extended ice cream-fueled chick flick binge.
Concerned that she might never pull herself out of this nosedive, Maggie's friends book her as a speaker on a "New Year, New You" cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. Maggie wonders if she's qualified to teach others about happiness when she can't muster up any for herself. But when a handsome stranger on board insists that smart women can't ever be happy, Maggie sets out to prove him wrong. Along the way she may discover that happiness has far less to do with the head than with the heart.
Filled with unforgettable characters, snappy dialogue, and touching romance, The Theory of Happily Ever After shows that the search for happiness may be futile--because sometimes happiness is already out there searching for you.
Link to Excerpt {Courtesy of the Publisher}
About the Author:
Kristin Billerbeck is the bestselling, award-winning author of several novels, including What a Girl Wants, Perfectly Dateless, and Perfectly Invisible. A Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year, Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. She lives with her family in Northern California.
My Review:
This book is advertised as a romantic comedy. The setting is a singles' cruise called, 'New Year, New You'. The main character, Dr. Maggie Maguire, is a research scientist working at UCLA. She is known as a happiness expert after her first book on the subject became a bestseller.
At the beginning of the story her close friends, Haley and Kathleen, seize control of Maggie and whisk her away to the cruise because she has completely withdrawn from her professional and personal life after her fiance broke off their engagement two months ago to marry another woman. Haley, Maggie's publicist, has booked them on the cruise so that Dr. Maguire can present talks to the cruise guests about happiness.
I thought it was clever how the author wrote chapter headings featuring quotations from the main character's bestselling book, 'The Science of Bliss'.
Maggie's ex-fiance, Jake Stone, was well-framed as a villain by the author. He was whiny, dependent, and manipulative. Towards the end of the story an explanation is given for all of Jake's awful behavior.
I have read dozens of book by Baker Publishing Group, one of the top Christian publishers in the United States. This particular novel did not have the strong faith element which is the usual focus of Baker's books.
Maggie lies--a lot. She calls it "lying by omission" when she discusses her untruths with her friends. I felt Maggie's best friends, Haley and Kathleen, overfunctioned throughout the book. The way the three women interacted with and treated each other seemed odd to me. Perhaps some readers would consider their snarky dialogue to be humorous. I kept thinking, why would you want to be friends with people you treated with such disdain and vice versa?
There were a lot of twists and turns in the plot and several unexpected revelations popped up at the end of the story which appealed to the mystery fan in me.
Disclosure from blogger: I received a paperback copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review to be posted on my blog and on retailer sites and Goodreads. I received no compensation for my review or posts here or on any other site.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Saturday, May 26th: Blitz for 'Loving Grace'. Event hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 28th: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Memorial Day Feature honoring Memorial Day. I will feature a non-fiction book entitled, 'Arlington National Cemetery'.
-- Tuesday, May 29th: Book Blast for 'A Gentle Heart'. Blast includes a $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
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May 22, 2018
~ BLOG TOUR STOP 'DATING THE PRINCE' ~
~ BLOG TOUR STOP ~
-- 'Dating the Prince'
by Author Alina Snow --
Post includes Book Spotlight & Giveaway
ABOUT THE BOOK:Dating the Prince by Alina Snow ~ Small-town girl, Katie O’Connor has always dreamed of seeing her name in lights. Check the box for fame, a movie deal, the perfect leading role that comes with a gorgeous leading man! Katie moved to Hollywood, elbows her way into auditions, lives on a shoestring budget—whatever is required to land a deal, she throws her heart into… until she’s involved in a royal kidnapping.
As the future king, Prince Alexander refuses to rule from an ivory tower. Duty-bound, he intends to relate to his future subjects, regardless of their walk of life. Before his coronation, he needs a foolproof plan to outrun his security team and go temporarily AWOL. While visiting L.A., all it takes is a sound stage collision and Alex is blindsided by a headstrong woman who is simply irresistible. So much so, he calls in a favor in order to secure her help … as his pretend girlfriend.
Their worlds are oceans apart, but their immediate attraction is impossible to put aside, especially their nonstop banter. Miffed at being wrangled into a situation that might blow up in her face, Katie comes up with her own plan. If The Prince is serious about walking the walk of the common folk, she’s only too happy to oblige as his pretend girlfriend.
Through an ice storm, a road trip, kitchen duty, and a Texas pig race, Alex captures the hearts of the locals as well as Ms. O’Connor’s. What starts out as a deal Katie can’t refuse becomes the acting role of a lifetime… letting Prince Alexander go without a fight.
A delightfully funny retelling of 'The Prince and The Pauper' romance readers of all ages will enjoy. On a two-week 1,500-mile road trip, Katie and Alex discover the end of the road might just be the beginning of their ‘Happy Ever After’ together.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alina Snow is a Southern gal at heart. She is a librarian who adores her job. She has a degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt and loves writing offbeat romance comedy. To refuel, Alina sings karaoke, bakes sweet treats, and can be found at the Y, kickboxing. She lives in Knoxville with her husband and Callie, their doxie mix. Website * Facebook * Twitter
Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash Ends 5/31/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Saturday, May 26th: Blitz for 'Loving Grace'. Event hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 28th: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Memorial Day Feature.
-- Tuesday, May 29th: Book Blast for 'A Gentle Heart'. Blast includes a $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
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~ BLOG EMAIL SUBSCRIBER & GIVEAWAY DISCLOSURES ~
~ BLOG EMAIL SUBSCRIBERAND GIVEAWAY ENTRANTDISCLOSURES FOR THE'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC'BLOG ~
On May 25, 2018, the EU's new General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR, takes effect. The policy requires that individuals who share information, such as an email address, with an entity/company doing business on the internet be notified of how they may delete this information from the company's database.
1.) If you are receiving this post via email, you have signed up on my 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic' Blog to receive email notifications of new blog posts.
Please be assured that your email address will never be shared or sold to another party. Your information is only used by Google's Feedburner mailing list service to automatically send you the blog post notifications.
NOTE: If you no longer wish to receive email notifications of blog posts, please simply click on the UNSUBSCRIBE button at the bottom of this email and your address will automatically be deleted. I hope you will continue to choose to receive the blog post notifications, but these new regulations require that I advise you of how you can opt out of the mailing list.
2.) If you enter a giveaway on 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic', your email address and/or mailing address will never be sold to another party. Your information will be shared only with the entity fulfilling the prize such as a blog tour company, an author, or a publisher. Therefore, when you enter a giveaway on this blog, you are basically giving permission for your information to be used solely to fulfill delivery of your prize.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me via my author email address at: junemccraryjacobs [at] gmail [dot] com.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Thank you for your patience and understanding as I make a sincere effort to comply with these new regulations.
I truly appreciate your support of and interest in the content I post on 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic'!
#######################################
On May 25, 2018, the EU's new General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR, takes effect. The policy requires that individuals who share information, such as an email address, with an entity/company doing business on the internet be notified of how they may delete this information from the company's database.
1.) If you are receiving this post via email, you have signed up on my 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic' Blog to receive email notifications of new blog posts.
Please be assured that your email address will never be shared or sold to another party. Your information is only used by Google's Feedburner mailing list service to automatically send you the blog post notifications.
NOTE: If you no longer wish to receive email notifications of blog posts, please simply click on the UNSUBSCRIBE button at the bottom of this email and your address will automatically be deleted. I hope you will continue to choose to receive the blog post notifications, but these new regulations require that I advise you of how you can opt out of the mailing list.
2.) If you enter a giveaway on 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic', your email address and/or mailing address will never be sold to another party. Your information will be shared only with the entity fulfilling the prize such as a blog tour company, an author, or a publisher. Therefore, when you enter a giveaway on this blog, you are basically giving permission for your information to be used solely to fulfill delivery of your prize.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me via my author email address at: junemccraryjacobs [at] gmail [dot] com.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Thank you for your patience and understanding as I make a sincere effort to comply with these new regulations.
I truly appreciate your support of and interest in the content I post on 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic'!
#######################################
May 21, 2018
~ BOOK BLAST FOR 'RESCUE' ~
~ BOOK BLAST ~ 'RESCUE'
by Author Susan Aylworth-- Post Includes Book Spotlight, Author Bio,Excerpt & Giveaway --
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What will it take to stay alive? When Dulce wakes up hanging in a giant mapajo tree, she fears she may be a lone survivor, stranded in the Amazon rainforest. What comes next may be even worse. The last thing sixteen-year-old Dulce Donovan wants to do is move away from her friends and hot new crush. But her parents insist, and she has no choice but to get on the airplane taking her to Lima, Peru. When the plane crashes in the middle of the Amazon jungle, Dulce feels lucky to survive. But as she faces injury, disease, and deadly insects and reptiles, she discovers that the price of living is high. Injured and miles from any civilization, Dulce must push her way through a dangerous jungle, looking for any miracle that might come her way.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:
--"RESCUE is exciting and fresh and inspiring. When Dulce is one of the only survivors of a plane crash deep in the Amazon jungle, she faces all kinds of dangers as she fights to survive. A fascinating insight into one of the most mysterious places in the world and a strong heroine that will make you cheer for her determination."
--"I found myself unable to put the book down. The story is well-crafted, with twists and surprises that kept me a little on edge, frankly--wondering what would suddenly leap out (or slither up to!) Dulce next. Aylworth cleverly weaves her considerable understanding of survival skills and of the native peoples of the Amazon throughout the story. I found myself mentally cheering Dulce on, impressed with her ingenuity at dealing with the harsh realities of her environment."
--"I really liked this book. It was very interesting how this young woman was able to survive this terrible tragedy."
EXCERPT:
"For a time I just sit, my head pressed backward against the seat, my eyes closed, thinking of how desperately I don’t want to be here, how I can’t face this, how frantically I want this all to go away. But the minutes pass and I’m still hanging in the tree, recognizing that if no one has come to my rescue yet, it’s possible no one is coming. I may just have to rescue myself."
"'I am not going to die here,' I say aloud. Then I shout it to the whole forest: 'I am not going to die here!' I grasp that little lump in the tree bark with my left hand, reach up with my right, and grab my toe, yanking it free. There’s a moment of elation until I realize my left foot is slipping. I scrabble with both hands, trying to find anything to hang onto, but there’s nothing. The next thing I know I am sliding, the mapajo’s slick bark slipping by beneath me. Then there is nothing but air."
"I’m almost out of the clearing when I’m stopped cold. What I see looks like a thick, bright green vine curled around the limb of a tree. What I recognize is the ambush-hunting strategy of a pit viper, a seriously venomous threat. I know what it is because Chambi pointed one out on one of our jungle walks. Silently thanking him, I change direction. We’ll avoid that risk by leaving this clearing in an entirely different direction. Even as I think it, I realize it may be foolish; we could run into poisonous snakes anywhere. I’ll just have to be careful to keep a close watch on the foliage."
"I’m home! I don’t know how I got here, but I am standing on the porch of our home in Santa Cruz and there’s my mother! She’s running to me and I’m running to her. She is saying, “Marissa! Oh Marissa!” over and over and I just keep saying, “Mom, Mom, I missed you so much!” We hold each other and cry and then …I wake up aching, wishing my mother were here. I’ve never missed her or needed her more than I do now. I have never imagined I would miss her or want her this much. The missing is so painful, it almost chokes me."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author Susan Aylworth started her first book when she was nine. "It was called Buff, The Proud Stallion. I wrote eight whole pages." For her fifth grade career day, she stated her ambition to become "a rich and famous author." Decades later, she is pleased to have achieved the 'author' part of that goal. A former university professor, she enjoys researching backgrounds and careers for her novels. "It's one way to live many lives at once." Susan lives with Roger, her husband of 48 years, who is also a writer. Although they maintain a home in northern California, they currently serve as addiction recovery missionaries in the Navajo Nation. Susan loves hanging out with her seven children, their perfect-for-them spouses and 26 grandchildren. When she can't be with her blood family, she hangs with her fictional characters, the children of her mind. Rescue is her fifteenth published novel.
Website * Facebook * Twitter
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
$50 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash Ends 6/5/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Wednesday, May 23rd: Blog Tour Stop for 'Dating the Prince'. This clean romance is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Prince and the Pauper'. Post includes book spotlight, excerpt, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Saturday, May 26th: Blitz for 'Loving Grace'. Event hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 28th: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Memorial Day Feature. I will feature the non-fiction title, 'Arlington National Cemetery' written for middle-graders.
-- Tuesday, May 29th: Book Blast for 'A Gentle Heart'. Blast includes a $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
# # # # #
May 20, 2018
~ MMGM Feature on 'Beyond the Bright Sea' ~
~ MIDDLE-GRADE HISTORICAL
FICTION FEATURE ~ -- 'BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA' by Author Lauren Wolk --
LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:
From the author of the critically acclaimed Wolf Hollow comes a moving story of identity and belonging.
Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift on a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow's only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar.
Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn't until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and dange.
Vivid and heart wrenching, Lauren Wolk's Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family
AWARDS:
The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2018
Nominated for the Newbery Award, 2018
ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Goodreads}:
AUTHOR LAUREN WOLKLauren Wolk is an award-winning poet and author of the bestselling Newbery Honor–winning Wolf Hollow, described by the New York Times Book Review as "full of grace and stark, brutal beauty." She was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS NOVEL:
I read the author's first middle-grade novel, 'Wolf Hollow', last autumn. If you'd like to read my blog post about that book, click on this link: Link to 'Wolf Hollow' Blog Post
I found Lauren Wolk's writing in 'Wolf Hollow' to be exceptional, and I rated the book as one of my top five books I've ever read. Several months later, after reading many more books, 'Wolf Hollow' still holds its place in my top five. When I checked out 'Beyond the Bright Sea' from the public library I expected it to be a good read--but it is also an exceptional historical novel.
The story is built upon a strong foundation of an appealing oceanside setting, multi-dimensional characters, and some suspicious and mysterious events. The author skillfully peels back layer upon layer of misperceptions by the main characters and the community in which they live until the reader is left with the raw truth about many people and events. An example of this unveiling of truths is the fact that I did not know the gender of the main character for several chapters. {By the way--I was wrong in my assumption regarding Crow's gender.}
As enjoyable as the story is the 'A Note About This Book' section which immediately follows the story text. In it the author details how she came up with the idea for the plot and the research she completed to validate some of the locales and events in the story.
Don't miss reading the 'Acknowledgments' following the above section. In it the author thanks many people who contributed to the novel in various ways. In her final paragraph the author writes, "I loved writing Beyond the Bright Sea . . ." Her affection for her stories and her dedication to her craft are readily apparent to readers.
I can hardly wait to read Ms. Wolk's next middle-grade novel. I don't know when it's coming or what the subject matter will be, but I can promise you I don't want to miss a chance to read another outstanding novel written by this unique author!
I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, middle-grade fiction, fictionalized American history, and clean fiction. I suggest that this may be a good family read aloud as there are some deeply emotional themes about family, identity, and loss woven throughout the story. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Wednesday, May 23rd: Blog Tour Stop for 'Dating the Prince'. This clean romance is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Prince and the Pauper'. Post includes book spotlight, excerpt, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.# # # # #
FICTION FEATURE ~ -- 'BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA' by Author Lauren Wolk --
LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:
From the author of the critically acclaimed Wolf Hollow comes a moving story of identity and belonging.
Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift on a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow's only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar.
Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn't until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and dange.
Vivid and heart wrenching, Lauren Wolk's Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family
AWARDS:
The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2018
Nominated for the Newbery Award, 2018
ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Goodreads}:
AUTHOR LAUREN WOLKLauren Wolk is an award-winning poet and author of the bestselling Newbery Honor–winning Wolf Hollow, described by the New York Times Book Review as "full of grace and stark, brutal beauty." She was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.MY THOUGHTS ON THIS NOVEL:
I read the author's first middle-grade novel, 'Wolf Hollow', last autumn. If you'd like to read my blog post about that book, click on this link: Link to 'Wolf Hollow' Blog Post
I found Lauren Wolk's writing in 'Wolf Hollow' to be exceptional, and I rated the book as one of my top five books I've ever read. Several months later, after reading many more books, 'Wolf Hollow' still holds its place in my top five. When I checked out 'Beyond the Bright Sea' from the public library I expected it to be a good read--but it is also an exceptional historical novel.
The story is built upon a strong foundation of an appealing oceanside setting, multi-dimensional characters, and some suspicious and mysterious events. The author skillfully peels back layer upon layer of misperceptions by the main characters and the community in which they live until the reader is left with the raw truth about many people and events. An example of this unveiling of truths is the fact that I did not know the gender of the main character for several chapters. {By the way--I was wrong in my assumption regarding Crow's gender.}
As enjoyable as the story is the 'A Note About This Book' section which immediately follows the story text. In it the author details how she came up with the idea for the plot and the research she completed to validate some of the locales and events in the story.
Don't miss reading the 'Acknowledgments' following the above section. In it the author thanks many people who contributed to the novel in various ways. In her final paragraph the author writes, "I loved writing Beyond the Bright Sea . . ." Her affection for her stories and her dedication to her craft are readily apparent to readers.
I can hardly wait to read Ms. Wolk's next middle-grade novel. I don't know when it's coming or what the subject matter will be, but I can promise you I don't want to miss a chance to read another outstanding novel written by this unique author!
I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, middle-grade fiction, fictionalized American history, and clean fiction. I suggest that this may be a good family read aloud as there are some deeply emotional themes about family, identity, and loss woven throughout the story. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Wednesday, May 23rd: Blog Tour Stop for 'Dating the Prince'. This clean romance is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Prince and the Pauper'. Post includes book spotlight, excerpt, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.# # # # #
May 17, 2018
~ THE ACCIDENTAL GUARDIAN BLOG TOUR ~
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~
~ BLOG TOUR STOP ~ -- 'The Accidental Guardian' by Author Mary Connealy --
AUTHOR INTERVIEW:JUNE: Welcome to 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic', Mary. I have enjoyed reading several of your books, and I hear myself laughing out loud throughout each story. Are you known by your friends and family to possess a quick wit or is this a quality which emerges when you are writing?
MARY: Thank you so much for saying that. I appreciate it. I suppose people think I’m funny. Although those closest to me might say all my wit gets old.
JUNE: Were you funny when you were a child and teen?
MARY: Yes, but it pains me to say so because I was also really shy. So, I said funny stuff (or tried to) then started in wondering HOW I COULD SAY SOMETHING SO STUPID?! Lord, deliver us from the mental scars left by the teen years!
JUNE: I think most women of a 'certain age' have nightmares about our teenaged years. Hopefully we can all move past those frightful memories and act like dignified ladies . . .
--------------------
JUNE: One of my favorite stories penned by you is 'Runaway Bride' from the 'With This Ring?' novella collection published by Bethany House in 2016. How do you partner with other authors to collaborate on an anthology?
MARY: Ah, I loved that story. Thank you so much for mentioning it. I love doing novellas rooted in older stories already published and that one touches on the Trouble in Texas series and the Kincaid Brides series. Bethany House has teamed me up with Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings and Melissa Jagears for several four-author collections. We connect the books (with one exception) very loosely, by a theme, like an arranged or forced marriage for With This Ring? Then we talk it over with Bethany to make sure they like an idea we’ve come up with, and we then write our stories independently of each other. A Match Made in Texas is the exception and those stories were pretty tightly connected. We did a LOT of work to make sure the story flowed well and it was so MUCH work, we stopped doing it.
-------------------------
JUNE: Does the publisher arrange it or do the authors reach out to each other and then present the idea to the publisher?
MARY: I can’t remember about the first one, one of the authors or our agents might have suggested it, but now Bethany asks if we want to do another. The collections have been very popular. Our most recent is Hearts Entwined which came out January 2018.
JUNE: That book is on my TBR list!
---------------------------------
JUNE: Since you write historical fiction, what type of research do you conduct when you are working on a manuscript?
MARY: Most of my research is done online. It is so fun, I can get lost for hours reading old papers (online) and visiting National Monument websites. In fact, I have a New Year’s Resolution to GET OUT FROM BEHIND MY COMPUTER AND GO SOMEWHERE.
JUNE: Are you a history buff as far as visiting historical homes, sites, and museums for your own pleasure?
MARY: I do love museums, historically restored homes, living history museums are fantastic, I just love those. I once touched a mastodon tusk in a museum and I am SERIOUS—A whole story sprang to life, fully formed in my head. And not in like a MYSTICAL way, I just felt such inspiration from touching something so old. That book is coming out in May in a novella collection called Cowboys of Summer. My book is ‘Dr. Tess and the Cowboy’.
------------------------------
JUNE: Parents, teachers, and librarians are constantly on the look-out for wholesome historical fiction to share with their middle-grade students. Have you ever considered writing historical fiction for this age group?
MARY: I have actually had pretty good response from younger readers. There are a lot of children in my books and the romances are very sweet. I’ve got a fourteen-year-old niece who is a big fan.
----------------------------------
JUNE: You mention in your author's bio on your website you had twenty books on your computer before your first book was accepted for publication. Did any of the twenty stories make their way to publication? If yes, which of your books are from the original batch of twenty?
MARY: I absolutely did get most of them published. I count fourteen of them. Which books…let me think. You want a list? I can probably do that. Besides the published ones I’ve got five contemporary romantic cop dramas I have made into a series, and I might indie publish them someday.
Here are the published books from among my first twenty I wrote: Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon, Gingham Mountain, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree, Wildflower Bride, Clueless Cowboy, Buffalo Gal, and Ten Plagues—a thriller published under the name Mary Nealy.
Novellas: Making Her Match
Novellas—ebook novellas out of print—I might indie publish them someday too, but I feel sorry for people who’ve already read them who might buy them twice: Scent of Heaven, The Sweetest Gift, Safe Haven, and Safe Shelter.
------------------------------------
JUNE: I'd like to send out a special word of appreciation to Mary Connealy for taking the time to answer my questions. If you have not yet read one of her stories, you need to do it soon! They are engaging, entertaining, and enjoyable.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
CONNECT WITH MARY:
website, facebook, twitter, instagram
You can also find Mary at these sites: Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: The Accidental Guardian
Series: High Sierra Sweethearts, Book 1
Author: Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House Publishets
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance /Western
+To Read: Goodreads
She's the Only Witness to a Wagon Train Attack. Keeping Her Safe, Though, Means His World Is about to be Turned Upside Down.
When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes an attack by the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he's finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail. He'd hoped the days of driving off dangerous men were over, but the latest attack shows otherwise.
Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace becomes an accidental guardian when he offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until they can safely continue their journey. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing.
Trace and Deborah find themselves drawing ever closer as they work together to bring justice to the trail and help the group survive the winter--but every day closer to spring means a day closer to leaving the mountains forever.
PURCHASE A COPY*
Amazon l ChristianBook l Book Depository l Itunes
The next book in the series, THE RELUCTANT WARRIOR,
will be released later this year in October, 2018!
GIVEAWAY:
(1) Winner will win:
The Cimarron Legacy by Mary Connealy (all 3 print books)
The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy (print)
(US/Canada Mailing Addresses Only) Full terms & conditions noted on Rafflecopter form.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For the full tour schedule for more giveaway entries, head to JustRead's Launch Page HERE
TOUR SCHEDULE:
Launch Page @ JustReadJust CommonlyMay 14
100 Pages per Hour
cherylbbookblog
Kathleen Denly
Remembrancy
Stories By Gina
The Write May 15
A Simply Enchanted Life
Kat’s Corner Books
Singing Librarian Books
The Christian Fiction Girl
To Everything A SeasonMay 16
A Nest in the Rocks
Britt Reads Fiction
Daysong Reflections
Faithfully Bookish
the adventures of aimymichelleMay 17
A Baker’s Perspective
Blooming with Books
Book by Book
Heidi Reads…
The Fizzy Pop CollectionMay 18
Among the Reads
Bibliophile Reviews
Radiant Light
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
Running Through The Storms
Be sure to check out the Bookstagram Tour for The Accidental Guardian starting next week on @JustReadTours on Instagram!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Monday, May 21st: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature: 'Beyond the Bright Sea' by award-winning author, Lauren Wolk. Book Spotlight and review.
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Wednesday, May 23rd: Blog Tour Stop for 'Dating the Prince'. This clean romance is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Prince and the Pauper'. Post includes book spotlight, excerpt, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.# # # # #
[image error]
~ BLOG TOUR STOP ~ -- 'The Accidental Guardian' by Author Mary Connealy --
AUTHOR INTERVIEW:JUNE: Welcome to 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic', Mary. I have enjoyed reading several of your books, and I hear myself laughing out loud throughout each story. Are you known by your friends and family to possess a quick wit or is this a quality which emerges when you are writing? MARY: Thank you so much for saying that. I appreciate it. I suppose people think I’m funny. Although those closest to me might say all my wit gets old.
JUNE: Were you funny when you were a child and teen?
MARY: Yes, but it pains me to say so because I was also really shy. So, I said funny stuff (or tried to) then started in wondering HOW I COULD SAY SOMETHING SO STUPID?! Lord, deliver us from the mental scars left by the teen years!
JUNE: I think most women of a 'certain age' have nightmares about our teenaged years. Hopefully we can all move past those frightful memories and act like dignified ladies . . .
--------------------
JUNE: One of my favorite stories penned by you is 'Runaway Bride' from the 'With This Ring?' novella collection published by Bethany House in 2016. How do you partner with other authors to collaborate on an anthology?
MARY: Ah, I loved that story. Thank you so much for mentioning it. I love doing novellas rooted in older stories already published and that one touches on the Trouble in Texas series and the Kincaid Brides series. Bethany House has teamed me up with Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings and Melissa Jagears for several four-author collections. We connect the books (with one exception) very loosely, by a theme, like an arranged or forced marriage for With This Ring? Then we talk it over with Bethany to make sure they like an idea we’ve come up with, and we then write our stories independently of each other. A Match Made in Texas is the exception and those stories were pretty tightly connected. We did a LOT of work to make sure the story flowed well and it was so MUCH work, we stopped doing it.
-------------------------
JUNE: Does the publisher arrange it or do the authors reach out to each other and then present the idea to the publisher?
MARY: I can’t remember about the first one, one of the authors or our agents might have suggested it, but now Bethany asks if we want to do another. The collections have been very popular. Our most recent is Hearts Entwined which came out January 2018.
JUNE: That book is on my TBR list!
---------------------------------
JUNE: Since you write historical fiction, what type of research do you conduct when you are working on a manuscript?
MARY: Most of my research is done online. It is so fun, I can get lost for hours reading old papers (online) and visiting National Monument websites. In fact, I have a New Year’s Resolution to GET OUT FROM BEHIND MY COMPUTER AND GO SOMEWHERE.
JUNE: Are you a history buff as far as visiting historical homes, sites, and museums for your own pleasure?
MARY: I do love museums, historically restored homes, living history museums are fantastic, I just love those. I once touched a mastodon tusk in a museum and I am SERIOUS—A whole story sprang to life, fully formed in my head. And not in like a MYSTICAL way, I just felt such inspiration from touching something so old. That book is coming out in May in a novella collection called Cowboys of Summer. My book is ‘Dr. Tess and the Cowboy’.
------------------------------
JUNE: Parents, teachers, and librarians are constantly on the look-out for wholesome historical fiction to share with their middle-grade students. Have you ever considered writing historical fiction for this age group?
MARY: I have actually had pretty good response from younger readers. There are a lot of children in my books and the romances are very sweet. I’ve got a fourteen-year-old niece who is a big fan.
----------------------------------
JUNE: You mention in your author's bio on your website you had twenty books on your computer before your first book was accepted for publication. Did any of the twenty stories make their way to publication? If yes, which of your books are from the original batch of twenty?
MARY: I absolutely did get most of them published. I count fourteen of them. Which books…let me think. You want a list? I can probably do that. Besides the published ones I’ve got five contemporary romantic cop dramas I have made into a series, and I might indie publish them someday.
Here are the published books from among my first twenty I wrote: Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon, Gingham Mountain, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree, Wildflower Bride, Clueless Cowboy, Buffalo Gal, and Ten Plagues—a thriller published under the name Mary Nealy.
Novellas: Making Her Match
Novellas—ebook novellas out of print—I might indie publish them someday too, but I feel sorry for people who’ve already read them who might buy them twice: Scent of Heaven, The Sweetest Gift, Safe Haven, and Safe Shelter.
------------------------------------
JUNE: I'd like to send out a special word of appreciation to Mary Connealy for taking the time to answer my questions. If you have not yet read one of her stories, you need to do it soon! They are engaging, entertaining, and enjoyable.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
CONNECT WITH MARY:
website, facebook, twitter, instagram
You can also find Mary at these sites: Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: The Accidental Guardian
Series: High Sierra Sweethearts, Book 1
Author: Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House Publishets
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance /Western
+To Read: Goodreads
She's the Only Witness to a Wagon Train Attack. Keeping Her Safe, Though, Means His World Is about to be Turned Upside Down.
When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes an attack by the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he's finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail. He'd hoped the days of driving off dangerous men were over, but the latest attack shows otherwise.
Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace becomes an accidental guardian when he offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until they can safely continue their journey. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing.
Trace and Deborah find themselves drawing ever closer as they work together to bring justice to the trail and help the group survive the winter--but every day closer to spring means a day closer to leaving the mountains forever.
PURCHASE A COPY*
Amazon l ChristianBook l Book Depository l Itunes
The next book in the series, THE RELUCTANT WARRIOR,
will be released later this year in October, 2018!
GIVEAWAY: 
(1) Winner will win:
The Cimarron Legacy by Mary Connealy (all 3 print books)
The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy (print)
(US/Canada Mailing Addresses Only) Full terms & conditions noted on Rafflecopter form.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For the full tour schedule for more giveaway entries, head to JustRead's Launch Page HERE
TOUR SCHEDULE:
Launch Page @ JustReadJust CommonlyMay 14
100 Pages per Hour
cherylbbookblog
Kathleen Denly
Remembrancy
Stories By Gina
The Write May 15
A Simply Enchanted Life
Kat’s Corner Books
Singing Librarian Books
The Christian Fiction Girl
To Everything A SeasonMay 16
A Nest in the Rocks
Britt Reads Fiction
Daysong Reflections
Faithfully Bookish
the adventures of aimymichelleMay 17
A Baker’s Perspective
Blooming with Books
Book by Book
Heidi Reads…
The Fizzy Pop CollectionMay 18
Among the Reads
Bibliophile Reviews
Radiant Light
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
Running Through The Storms
Be sure to check out the Bookstagram Tour for The Accidental Guardian starting next week on @JustReadTours on Instagram!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Monday, May 21st: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature: 'Beyond the Bright Sea' by award-winning author, Lauren Wolk. Book Spotlight and review.
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Wednesday, May 23rd: Blog Tour Stop for 'Dating the Prince'. This clean romance is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Prince and the Pauper'. Post includes book spotlight, excerpt, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.# # # # #
[image error]
May 16, 2018
~ 'SAFE HOUSE' BOOK BLAST ~
~ FICTION BOOK BLAST ~
'Safe House'
by Cedar Fort Author Shannon Symonds
About the Book:
Genres: Adult, New Adult, Young Adult, LDS, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Cedar Fort Inc.
Publication Date: July 11, 2017
True, it was her prison, but it was also her sanctuary.
Where can you turn when your house is not safe? In a small coastal town in Oregon, Amber and Kelly know the deadliest people sleep down the hall. As they attempt to escape the violent, domineering men in their lives, despair fights against faith and hope as an introduction to the Book of Mormon promises them a haven they can’t find in their homes. But getting out of these abusive situations is not as easy as it appears. With their lives spiraling out of control, can they have faith that God’s grace will save them?
GOODREADS | AMAZON
About the Author:
Author Shannon Symonds
Shannon Symonds announces her first book, 'Safe House', a 2017 Whitney Award Nominee, released by Cedar Fort Publishing and Media in July of 2017.
Shannon worked for 15 years as an Advocate. She lives in a small seaside town where she works, writes, runs, and paints. She believes the word can be changed one heart at a time and then even small acts can make a difference.
GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
LINKEDIN| YOUTUBE | AMAZON | WEBSITE
Snippet:
Grace drove up the winding road, high among large new homes. They sat along the edge of the lush Oregon forest on the Pacific Coast Range Mountains. She didn’t have to look too hard for the address. An ambulance and two lit up police cars, lights silently rotating, marked the last home at the top of the steep road. Light spilled from every window and the open front door. Ancient pines and a dark old growth forest swayed in the wind behind the house. On the front porch a woman was arguing with a medic, holding a bloody rag to her face…
…Making her way to the house, she walked between patrol cars and crossed the lawn. The ambulance driver had a clipboard and was trying to explain to Emily, the victim, that she needed to sign a waiver stating she was refusing services. Ignoring the ambulance driver and looking at Officer Hart, Emily was speaking and gesturing rapidly, demanding they leave her alone.
The officer she was spitting mad at was young and good-looking. Grace didn’t know how anyone could yell at Hart. His name was absolutely appropriate. Seeing Grace, he half-smiled, showing dimples, looking grateful for the interruption.
Flashing her own half-grin, her color rose. Looking down, she hoped he hadn’t noticed.
Sneak Peek from Book 2:
Hope Experience Flanagan had to get out of the Rat’s trailer tonight. It made more sense to wait until her 18th birthday, or until the cold Oregon Coast weather warmed, but everything told her the Rat was dangerous and she was out of time.
“Come on Hope! I just want you to watch a movie with me.” the Rat begged from the other side of her locked bedroom door.
“I’m not coming out until Mom’s home!”
“See how nice I am! Your Mom hasn’t been home for weeks and I let you stay with me.”
“Just let me finish my homework,” she said nicely, trying to hide her frustration.
The flimsy bedroom door in the timeworn 1967 Rancho trailer shook angrily. Poised to move, Hope held her breath until it stopped. “You promise?” he yelled.
Finally, she heard the Rat shuffle down the little hall. Five foot one Richard Culligan, ironically known as ‘Rich’ to his friends, and Rat to her, was her mother’s latest partner in a steady stream of companions. Hope hated them all.
The lacey ice on the windows of the Rat’s ancient trailer was as much on the inside in winter as on the outside. The trailer hadn’t moved for more years than Hope had been alive. It was parked in the Yeti Trailer Haven among other molding heaps of aluminum hidden by forest, vines, and foliage which obliterated their existence. Hope thought it was the best part of the coast. Magic green that erased every sign of man if you gave it long enough.
She sat on an old sleeping bag on a bare mattress, headphones in, music playing, when hailstones began pelting the aluminum walls. Gradually the torrent picked up. Larger and larger hailstones assaulted the windows so loudly it broke through her music and then it stopped.
Everything else she owned was packed in her old orange backpack including a Ziploc bag with a picture of her missing mother. Quietly, she pulled back the red rug, moved a loose floorboard, and dropped her pack into the black hole. Then, Hope slid down through the same hole and out from under Rich Culligan’s trailer forever.
***
Grace James had a smile painted on her face, but her nylons had gradually fallen until she was sure the crotch was at her bony knees and below the hem of her skirt. She had been wearing two hour high heels for four hours and her feet begged for mercy. She stood tall, at the end of her thirties with her long blond hair sprayed into submission on stage next to her boss in the old Victorian Church, now the Bay City Performing Arts Center.
Grace’s boss Eunice had the microphone. Her gray bob looked purple in the spotlight. She took off her bedazzled cat eye glasses, and said to the audience, “Next I want to introduce our senior advocate, Grace James.”
Hailstones started pelting the large stained glass windows in the ancient hall.
Every head turned to look at the row of 20-foot windows lining both sides of the room as a cascade threatened to break through the glass. The echo was deafening and then ended almost as quickly as it started.
***NOTE: The working title for book two is 'Finding Hope' by Shannon Symonds. This book is not currently under contract and is in a draft form (although it has been to an editor).
Giveaway:
Enter the giveaway HERE.
Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.
Book Blast Schedule:
Heidi Reads…
My Book a Day
Reading for the Stars and Moon
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
Remembrancy
Singing Librarian Books
Why Not? Because I Said So!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC': -- Friday, May 18th: Blog Tour Stop for Author Mary Connealy's new release, 'The Accidental Guardian'. Post includes an author interview, book spotlight, and giveaway. Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 21st: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature: 'Beyond the Bright Sea' by award-winning author, Lauren Wolk. Book Spotlight and review.
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Wednesday, May 23rd: Blog Tour Stop for 'Dating the Prince'. This clean romance is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Prince and the Pauper'. Post includes book spotlight, excerpt, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
# # # # #
[image error]
About the Book:
Genres: Adult, New Adult, Young Adult, LDS, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Cedar Fort Inc.
Publication Date: July 11, 2017
True, it was her prison, but it was also her sanctuary.
Where can you turn when your house is not safe? In a small coastal town in Oregon, Amber and Kelly know the deadliest people sleep down the hall. As they attempt to escape the violent, domineering men in their lives, despair fights against faith and hope as an introduction to the Book of Mormon promises them a haven they can’t find in their homes. But getting out of these abusive situations is not as easy as it appears. With their lives spiraling out of control, can they have faith that God’s grace will save them?
GOODREADS | AMAZON
About the Author:
Author Shannon Symonds
Shannon Symonds announces her first book, 'Safe House', a 2017 Whitney Award Nominee, released by Cedar Fort Publishing and Media in July of 2017.
Shannon worked for 15 years as an Advocate. She lives in a small seaside town where she works, writes, runs, and paints. She believes the word can be changed one heart at a time and then even small acts can make a difference.
GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
LINKEDIN| YOUTUBE | AMAZON | WEBSITE
Snippet:
Grace drove up the winding road, high among large new homes. They sat along the edge of the lush Oregon forest on the Pacific Coast Range Mountains. She didn’t have to look too hard for the address. An ambulance and two lit up police cars, lights silently rotating, marked the last home at the top of the steep road. Light spilled from every window and the open front door. Ancient pines and a dark old growth forest swayed in the wind behind the house. On the front porch a woman was arguing with a medic, holding a bloody rag to her face…
…Making her way to the house, she walked between patrol cars and crossed the lawn. The ambulance driver had a clipboard and was trying to explain to Emily, the victim, that she needed to sign a waiver stating she was refusing services. Ignoring the ambulance driver and looking at Officer Hart, Emily was speaking and gesturing rapidly, demanding they leave her alone.
The officer she was spitting mad at was young and good-looking. Grace didn’t know how anyone could yell at Hart. His name was absolutely appropriate. Seeing Grace, he half-smiled, showing dimples, looking grateful for the interruption.
Flashing her own half-grin, her color rose. Looking down, she hoped he hadn’t noticed.
Sneak Peek from Book 2:
Hope Experience Flanagan had to get out of the Rat’s trailer tonight. It made more sense to wait until her 18th birthday, or until the cold Oregon Coast weather warmed, but everything told her the Rat was dangerous and she was out of time.
“Come on Hope! I just want you to watch a movie with me.” the Rat begged from the other side of her locked bedroom door.
“I’m not coming out until Mom’s home!”
“See how nice I am! Your Mom hasn’t been home for weeks and I let you stay with me.”
“Just let me finish my homework,” she said nicely, trying to hide her frustration.
The flimsy bedroom door in the timeworn 1967 Rancho trailer shook angrily. Poised to move, Hope held her breath until it stopped. “You promise?” he yelled.
Finally, she heard the Rat shuffle down the little hall. Five foot one Richard Culligan, ironically known as ‘Rich’ to his friends, and Rat to her, was her mother’s latest partner in a steady stream of companions. Hope hated them all.
The lacey ice on the windows of the Rat’s ancient trailer was as much on the inside in winter as on the outside. The trailer hadn’t moved for more years than Hope had been alive. It was parked in the Yeti Trailer Haven among other molding heaps of aluminum hidden by forest, vines, and foliage which obliterated their existence. Hope thought it was the best part of the coast. Magic green that erased every sign of man if you gave it long enough.
She sat on an old sleeping bag on a bare mattress, headphones in, music playing, when hailstones began pelting the aluminum walls. Gradually the torrent picked up. Larger and larger hailstones assaulted the windows so loudly it broke through her music and then it stopped.
Everything else she owned was packed in her old orange backpack including a Ziploc bag with a picture of her missing mother. Quietly, she pulled back the red rug, moved a loose floorboard, and dropped her pack into the black hole. Then, Hope slid down through the same hole and out from under Rich Culligan’s trailer forever.
***
Grace James had a smile painted on her face, but her nylons had gradually fallen until she was sure the crotch was at her bony knees and below the hem of her skirt. She had been wearing two hour high heels for four hours and her feet begged for mercy. She stood tall, at the end of her thirties with her long blond hair sprayed into submission on stage next to her boss in the old Victorian Church, now the Bay City Performing Arts Center.
Grace’s boss Eunice had the microphone. Her gray bob looked purple in the spotlight. She took off her bedazzled cat eye glasses, and said to the audience, “Next I want to introduce our senior advocate, Grace James.”
Hailstones started pelting the large stained glass windows in the ancient hall.
Every head turned to look at the row of 20-foot windows lining both sides of the room as a cascade threatened to break through the glass. The echo was deafening and then ended almost as quickly as it started.
***NOTE: The working title for book two is 'Finding Hope' by Shannon Symonds. This book is not currently under contract and is in a draft form (although it has been to an editor).
Giveaway:
Enter the giveaway HERE.
Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.
Book Blast Schedule:
Heidi Reads…
My Book a Day
Reading for the Stars and Moon
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
Remembrancy
Singing Librarian Books
Why Not? Because I Said So!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC': -- Friday, May 18th: Blog Tour Stop for Author Mary Connealy's new release, 'The Accidental Guardian'. Post includes an author interview, book spotlight, and giveaway. Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 21st: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature: 'Beyond the Bright Sea' by award-winning author, Lauren Wolk. Book Spotlight and review.
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Wednesday, May 23rd: Blog Tour Stop for 'Dating the Prince'. This clean romance is a retelling of Mark Twain's 'The Prince and the Pauper'. Post includes book spotlight, excerpt, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.
-- Friday, May 25th: Blog Tour Stop for 'Cowboys of Summer'. This post includes an interview with the author, book spotlight, and a giveaway. Blog Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
# # # # #
[image error]
May 15, 2018
~ SPOTLIGHT AND REVIEW OF 'JOEY' ~
~ WEDNESDAY NON-FICTION FEATURE ~ -- 'Joey' -- Written by Author Jennifer Marshall Bleakley{Post includes Book Spotlight, Author Bio & Review}
LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS ABOUT THE BOOK:
“A touching tale.” —Kirkus Reviews
Joey--How a blind rescue horse helped others learn to see.
The heartwarming true story of a blind horse named Joey.
At the height of his show career, this beautiful Appaloosa’s majestic stature, strength, and willingness to work made him the perfect partner. But when an injury cost Joey his show career, he moved from one owner to the next, ultimately experiencing severe abuse and neglect. A rescue group found Joey nearly dead from starvation—and blind.
Then he came to Hope Reins—a ranch dedicated to helping hurting kids who had been abused, emotionally wounded, or unwanted. By teaching these children to care for rescued animals, the Hope Reins staff were convinced they could reach kids with love and hope and show them that we are never forgotten by God.
But could the financially struggling ranch afford to take care of a blind horse that no one else wanted? Could Joey somehow learn to trust people even though the world had hurt him so badly? And what would happen—to Joey, the kids, and Hope Reins—if they failed?
A true story of friendship destined to become a classic, Joey will touch your heart and reveal the power of finding light in the darkness.
LINK TO FIRST CHAPTER EXCERPT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, who has worked as a child and family grief counselor, earned an undergraduate degree in biology from Florida Southern College and a master's degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University. Jennifer leads a women's Bible study in her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, and speaks to audiences about God's great grace and his delight in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. She writes print and online Bible curriculum for children and is a contributing author for She Believes online Bible studies. Jennifer lives with her husband, two children, and one frisky puppy. Connect with her at jenniferbleakley.com
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
Jennifer's Blog Jennifer's Facebook Jennifer's Instagram Jennifer's Twitter
MY REVIEW:
Joey's story was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time . . . This battle of emotions can be attributed to this author's astute observations, numerous anecdotes, and no-nonsense way of relating Joey's story.
Parts of this book are not for the faint of heart because the mistreatment and abuse that Joey and his fellow horses living at the Hope Reins ranch experienced before they were rescued is described in detail. We all know terrible things happen to animals in the real world, but to read about the gorry details may be a jolt to the reader's peace of mind. I know it affected me deeply.
The stories of the children and tweens whose lives and situations are shared in the book are equally as moving. I found myself rooting for each one of these damaged souls as they sought comfort and healing through working with the horses at the ranch. How many times have we each searched for something that would bring us relief when we were suffering with pain--physical, psychological, or spiritual?
The author knew Joey and many of the people included in the book. She did a lot of research, and I believe her personal experience with the Hope Reins staff and their horses enriched her telling of their stories.
The back matter includes a photo gallery of Joey, his horse companions, the center's staff, and volunteers; a heartfelt Author's Note; Acknowledgments; Group Discussion Questions; and a blurb about the mission of Hope Reins. I usually read the acknowledgments page before I begin reading the text of a book, but this time I waited until after I had read the entire book--I was not disappointed!
I will eagerly read more books by this gifted author in the future. Thank you, Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, for sharing Joey's awesome story with us! Highly recommended for fans of Christian and inspirational non-fiction, horse lovers, and animal lovers.
DISCLOSURE FROM BLOGGER: I received a paperback copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review to be posted on my blog and on retailer sites and Goodreads. I received no compensation for my review or posts here or on any other site.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC': -- Thursday, May 17th: Book Blast for 'Safe House'. Snippet and Sneak Peek of Book 2. Event Host is Singing Librarian Books.
-- Friday, May 18th: Blog Tour Stop for Author Mary Connealy's new release, 'The Accidental Guardian'. Post includes an author interview, book spotlight, and giveaway. Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 21st: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature: 'Beyond the Bright Sea' by award-winning author, Lauren Wolk. Book Spotlight and review.
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader. # # # # #
May 14, 2018
~ BLOG TOUR STOP 'THE ROAD TO FREEDOM' ~
~ BLOG TOUR STOP ~
'The Road to Freedom'
-- by Author Shawn Pollock --Post includes Book Spotlight,Ten Behind-the-Scenes Facts& Giveaway
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In 1945, World War II is ending, but not in Germany's favor. Hans Kohler is a young Mormon German who knows more about farming that being a soldier. A worn copy of the Book of Mormon is the only thing that brings him comfort.
Captain Christoph Meier seems to be the perfect German soldier. His pristine Aryan features and strong family ties to the Nazi Party should have placed him at a far better post than this unit. Instead, he's leading broken veterans and inexperienced greenies.
When the Russians attack their unit, it leaves Meier and Kohler trapped behind enemy lines. To get past snipers, the Nazi SS, and the Russian Army, they need to use all of their skills, including believing that God wants them to survive.
EXCERPT:
A rumbling rose in the distance; it was harsh, mechanized, and unwelcome. He watched as a truck appeared in the west, coming from the town he had just left.
Only one.
He sighed with relief. He could handle one, and maybe the driver could help him. He pushed himself upright and went to the shoulder of the road and waved. The truck stopped. The driver leaned over and pushed the passenger door open.
"Dobroye utro!" he said. Then, with a shake of his head, he said, "I mean, good morning! Do you need a ride?"
Christoph backed away, suddenly panic-stricken at the sound of the driver's voice. An instinct surged inside him--primal and violent--triggered by those words, that accent. He tried to push it down, but the anxiety ignited once again at the sound of the truck flaring again. His mind raced and his heart pounded. The driver had offered the ride in broken German, but "dobroye utro" was "good morning" in Russian.
In the late war, every German had learned to fear the Russians. He especially knew that fear. He had survived on it. And now, a Russian was here?
Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.
--------------------TEN BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS SHARED BY THE AUTHOR:
Author Shawn Pollock1. The working title was The Last Fall. My dad came up with it and I never knew exactly what it meant, but it had a nice "end of the war" feel to it. It became The Road to Freedom during the publication process.
2. For sharp-eyed cinema buffs - One of my favorite film genres is Weimar cinema, which is German film produced between the world wars. As such, I've included a few Easter eggs in the narrative by making allusions to the following films: M, The Blue Angel, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
3. Right after I decided to make Kohler a farmer, I happened to come across a news article about German dairy farmers in the city of Jemgum. I took this as a good sign and made Jemgum the site of the Kohler farm.
4. The character of Guy Baker was inspired by two of my great-uncles who served LDS missions in Germany in the 1930s. One of them was detained by the Gestapo and held in custody for a week. Nobody seems to know the reason why they arrested him; they may never have told him.
5. From first word to publication, The Road to Freedom took me nine years to complete. That's not nine years of continuous writing, of course. I didn't write anything for two years while I went back to school, and there were long stretches where I only wrote sporadically. I also lost a chunk of the story at one point, which really set me back.
6. The Russian movie Come and See, which depicts the destruction of a Belorussian village by the Nazis, affected me so much that I wanted to include a similar scene in my novel. I had it all planned in my mind. However, the story was the boss, as it should be, and things did not go in that direction. I did manage to make a very general reference to the Nazi practice of burning Russian villages.
7. Meier's appearance was inspired by this photo of an SS officer. I came across it as a kid in one of the World War II books in my grandfather's collection and always remembered it. I don't know who it is or what he was like (I'm betting he probably wasn't too pleasant), but I'm glad I could use his face for a good character.
8. In an earlier draft of the story, Brigitte was also named Sophie so as to create a sort of doppelganger effect between the two women in Meier's life. This ended up being needlessly confusing, so Sophie 2.0 became Brigitte. I named her after German silent film actress Brigitte Helm.
9. For sharp-eyed history buffs - I make unnamed reference to the following true events: a Nazi party rally in Munich in 1924, the execution of Masha Bruskina, the uprisings at Sobibor and Treblinka, the massacre at Babi Yar, and the Aktion Erntefest massacres in the Lublin area of Poland.
10. Meier's confrontation with Gottlieb and the 225th was very loosely based on the Vinckt massacre.
*****NOTE: Shawn was my guest on 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic' back in February. If you missed our interview, click on this link to read more about this talented author and his debut novel: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SHAWN POLLOCK
BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
DESERET BOOK -----------------------ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shawn Pollock grew up in Cache Valley, Utah, and graduated from Utah State University with degrees in Professional Writing and Instructional Technology. He works as an instructional designer in the software industry. His short story, "Hats," won first place in The New Era magazine's fiction contest. Any time not devoted to work and family goes to cooking, reading about history, and participating in the League of Utah Writers. The Road to Freedom is his first novel.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
GOODREADS FACEBOOK ------------------------- GIVEAWAY:
Post a comment on this blog post telling Shawn which of the 'Behind-the-Scenes' Facts shown above was the most meaningful or interesting to you. Two US/International winners will be chosen to each receive one ebook copy of 'The Road to Freedom'. Giveaway courtesy of the publisher, Cedar Fort, Inc. {Please note that if you are commenting using a Google account, you will need to type your email address into the comment box so we will know how to contact you should you be chosen as a winner! Thank you!} ***CONTEST CLOSES AT NOON, PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), ON TUESDAY, MAY 22nd.***
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC': -- Thursday, May 17th: Book Blast for 'Safe House'. Snippet and Sneak Peek of Book 2. Event Host is Singing Librarian Books.
-- Friday, May 18th: Blog Tour Stop for Author Mary Connealy's new release, 'The Accidental Guardian'. Post includes an author interview, book spotlight, and giveaway. Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 21st: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature: 'Beyond the Right Sea' by award-winning author, Lauren Wolk. Book Spotlight and review.
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
# # # # #
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In 1945, World War II is ending, but not in Germany's favor. Hans Kohler is a young Mormon German who knows more about farming that being a soldier. A worn copy of the Book of Mormon is the only thing that brings him comfort.
Captain Christoph Meier seems to be the perfect German soldier. His pristine Aryan features and strong family ties to the Nazi Party should have placed him at a far better post than this unit. Instead, he's leading broken veterans and inexperienced greenies.
When the Russians attack their unit, it leaves Meier and Kohler trapped behind enemy lines. To get past snipers, the Nazi SS, and the Russian Army, they need to use all of their skills, including believing that God wants them to survive.
EXCERPT:
A rumbling rose in the distance; it was harsh, mechanized, and unwelcome. He watched as a truck appeared in the west, coming from the town he had just left.
Only one.
He sighed with relief. He could handle one, and maybe the driver could help him. He pushed himself upright and went to the shoulder of the road and waved. The truck stopped. The driver leaned over and pushed the passenger door open.
"Dobroye utro!" he said. Then, with a shake of his head, he said, "I mean, good morning! Do you need a ride?"
Christoph backed away, suddenly panic-stricken at the sound of the driver's voice. An instinct surged inside him--primal and violent--triggered by those words, that accent. He tried to push it down, but the anxiety ignited once again at the sound of the truck flaring again. His mind raced and his heart pounded. The driver had offered the ride in broken German, but "dobroye utro" was "good morning" in Russian.
In the late war, every German had learned to fear the Russians. He especially knew that fear. He had survived on it. And now, a Russian was here?
Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.
--------------------TEN BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS SHARED BY THE AUTHOR:
Author Shawn Pollock1. The working title was The Last Fall. My dad came up with it and I never knew exactly what it meant, but it had a nice "end of the war" feel to it. It became The Road to Freedom during the publication process.2. For sharp-eyed cinema buffs - One of my favorite film genres is Weimar cinema, which is German film produced between the world wars. As such, I've included a few Easter eggs in the narrative by making allusions to the following films: M, The Blue Angel, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
3. Right after I decided to make Kohler a farmer, I happened to come across a news article about German dairy farmers in the city of Jemgum. I took this as a good sign and made Jemgum the site of the Kohler farm.
4. The character of Guy Baker was inspired by two of my great-uncles who served LDS missions in Germany in the 1930s. One of them was detained by the Gestapo and held in custody for a week. Nobody seems to know the reason why they arrested him; they may never have told him.
5. From first word to publication, The Road to Freedom took me nine years to complete. That's not nine years of continuous writing, of course. I didn't write anything for two years while I went back to school, and there were long stretches where I only wrote sporadically. I also lost a chunk of the story at one point, which really set me back.
6. The Russian movie Come and See, which depicts the destruction of a Belorussian village by the Nazis, affected me so much that I wanted to include a similar scene in my novel. I had it all planned in my mind. However, the story was the boss, as it should be, and things did not go in that direction. I did manage to make a very general reference to the Nazi practice of burning Russian villages.
7. Meier's appearance was inspired by this photo of an SS officer. I came across it as a kid in one of the World War II books in my grandfather's collection and always remembered it. I don't know who it is or what he was like (I'm betting he probably wasn't too pleasant), but I'm glad I could use his face for a good character.
8. In an earlier draft of the story, Brigitte was also named Sophie so as to create a sort of doppelganger effect between the two women in Meier's life. This ended up being needlessly confusing, so Sophie 2.0 became Brigitte. I named her after German silent film actress Brigitte Helm.9. For sharp-eyed history buffs - I make unnamed reference to the following true events: a Nazi party rally in Munich in 1924, the execution of Masha Bruskina, the uprisings at Sobibor and Treblinka, the massacre at Babi Yar, and the Aktion Erntefest massacres in the Lublin area of Poland.
10. Meier's confrontation with Gottlieb and the 225th was very loosely based on the Vinckt massacre.
*****NOTE: Shawn was my guest on 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic' back in February. If you missed our interview, click on this link to read more about this talented author and his debut novel: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SHAWN POLLOCK
BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
DESERET BOOK -----------------------ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shawn Pollock grew up in Cache Valley, Utah, and graduated from Utah State University with degrees in Professional Writing and Instructional Technology. He works as an instructional designer in the software industry. His short story, "Hats," won first place in The New Era magazine's fiction contest. Any time not devoted to work and family goes to cooking, reading about history, and participating in the League of Utah Writers. The Road to Freedom is his first novel.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
GOODREADS FACEBOOK ------------------------- GIVEAWAY:
Post a comment on this blog post telling Shawn which of the 'Behind-the-Scenes' Facts shown above was the most meaningful or interesting to you. Two US/International winners will be chosen to each receive one ebook copy of 'The Road to Freedom'. Giveaway courtesy of the publisher, Cedar Fort, Inc. {Please note that if you are commenting using a Google account, you will need to type your email address into the comment box so we will know how to contact you should you be chosen as a winner! Thank you!} ***CONTEST CLOSES AT NOON, PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), ON TUESDAY, MAY 22nd.***
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC': -- Thursday, May 17th: Book Blast for 'Safe House'. Snippet and Sneak Peek of Book 2. Event Host is Singing Librarian Books.
-- Friday, May 18th: Blog Tour Stop for Author Mary Connealy's new release, 'The Accidental Guardian'. Post includes an author interview, book spotlight, and giveaway. Tour hosted by JustRead Publicity.
-- Monday, May 21st: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature: 'Beyond the Right Sea' by award-winning author, Lauren Wolk. Book Spotlight and review.
-- Tuesday, May 22nd: Book Blast for 'Rescue'. Post includes book spotlight, author bio, and $50 giveaway. Event hosted by I Am A Reader.
# # # # #
~ Author June McCrary Jacobs ~
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