Brenda S. Anderson's Blog, page 34
March 23, 2015
Meet Tori & Brant from Shannon Taylor Vannatter’s RODEO FAMILY
*** BOOK GIVEAWAY ***See contest rules below
~*~*~
I’m thrilled to welcome guest blogger Shannon Taylor Vannatter to my blog today! Shannon and I go back quite a few years, having met when we were assigned to the same critique group with author Lorna Seilstad. Back then we were all unpublished, and now a both Shannon and Lorna are multi-published.
I love giving shout-outs for my friends when their books release, and Shannon’s RODEO FAMILY recently hit the markets, so I had to invite Shannon to my blog.
Here’s the back cover blurb for Rodeo Family:
TORI EATON IS READY TO START OVER
She’s beginning a new chapter in Aubrey, Texas, away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. As she picks up the pieces of her broken life, Tori’s surprised at the helping hand the church’s new song director, Brant McConnell, offers her, and at the warm emotions he inspires.
Brant is drawn to Tori. And as their friendship grows, so do his feelings for her. But Tori is still hounded by her past, and the walls she’s built around her heart are high. Can he convince the wounded beauty that he’s exactly the kind of man she needs—and deserves?
Intrigued? I knew you would be! And to pique your interest even more, Shannon sat down and *talked* with Tori and Brant, the heroine and hero from Rodeo Family, so now I’ll turn the page over to Shannon, Tori, and Brant.
Tori, what’s the most romantic thing Brant ever did for you?
He brought me a Filet-O-Fish, fries, and a shake.
I told him that my dad used to beat my mom and as soon as she was up to it, she’d always take me to McDonald’s to cheer me up. After that, he brought me my favorite comfort food any time I was upset.
What’s the most romantic present Brant ever got you?
A Bible. He bought it for me right after I turned my life over to Jesus.
What is the most caring thing Brant ever did for you?
He risked his life to protect my daughter and me from my abusive ex-boyfriend.
What simple gesture does Brant do that melts you every time?
He loves my daughter as if she were his own.
And now let’s turn the conversation over to Brant. Brant, what’s the most romantic thing Tori ever did for you?
She trusted me. Tori hasn’t met very many trustworthy men in her life and it took her a while to let her guard down. Seeing the trust growing in her eyes when she looks at me turns me into a puddle of butter.
Do y’all have a favorite romantic restaurant?
It’s not really a romantic setting, but the first restaurant we shared a meal at was Moms on Main in Aubrey where we both live. Tori had gotten baptized that morning and she was worried about her wet hair, but I only saw the new creature she’d become after she accepted Christ.
Do y’all have a favorite song?
The Old Rugged Cross. It was the first hymn Tori played on the piano for me when I was trying to convince her to fill the position as our church pianist.
If y’all end up married, where will you go on you honeymoon?
If I can convince Tori to marry me, I’ll take her to Cancun. She’s had such a difficult year, she deserves a getaway.
Thank you, Shannon, for introducing us to Tori and Brant, and now I know my readers are all going to want to rush out and purchase Rodeo Family, so here are the links:
About Shannon Taylor Vannatter~
Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. She lives in a town with a population of around 100, if you count a few cows, and she once climbed a mountain wearing gold wedge-heeled sandals which became known as her hiking boots. Vannatter won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award in the short contemporary category, The 18th Annual Heartsong Awards 3rd Favorite New Author and #1 Contemporary Award.
She has ten published titles and is contracted for five more. Her books are available at christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, harlequin.com, and barbourbooks.com. Learn more about Shannon and her books at http://shannonvannatter.com and check out her real life romance blog at http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/.
Connect with Shannon~
Website | Inkslinker Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter
>>>Book Giveaway<<<
Shannon has graciously offered to give away one copy of Rodeo Family! To enter, leave a question for Tori or Brant in the comments.
This contest ends Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 11:59 pm CST. I will post the winner on Monday, March 30, 2015. Winner will be chosen via Random.org.
Memory Box Secrets Pre-Order Available!
The Kindle version of Memory Box Secrets is now available for pre-order! Order it now, and receive it on the official release day, April 21, 2015!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UZOWC8O
And the Winner of the Coming Home Series is …
*** Linda Covella ***
Congratulations, Linda! I hope you enjoy my Coming Home Series! And thank you for stopping by during the CIR March Madness Blog Hop!
Winner chosen via Random.org
March 18, 2015
Favorite Easter Hymns
I grew up in a very traditional church, in terms of worship. We followed the liturgy from the hymnal and sang three to four hymns every Sunday. To many, I know that sounds very boring, and yes there were plenty of times when the service was a yawner (to be fair, contemporary worship services have plenty of snooze-moments too, but that’s a topic for another day …).
The Easter service at my church, though, was never stale. I remember walking into service with the choir singing “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”, accompanied with the pipe organ. Many an Easter Sunday, I found it difficult to get through the piece, as God’s presence was so tangible.
There’s a reverence and majesty in those old hymns I just don’t feel with the repetitive pop music now used. The church we now attend has a very contemporary worship service, which is … nice … but for me it lacks the awe inspired by hymns, soprano descants, organ music, and brass that makes even this stoic Scandihoovian tear up.
The other day I was thinking about those old hymns we’d sing every Easter Sunday and the Sundays following Easter, and I had to look them up on YouTube. It’s nice to see that churches and choirs are still singing them. I’ve linked several below. Also, on my Facebook Brenda S. Anderson Author page, I’m going to start posting an Easter song of the day. Yes, I’ll include some of these old favorites, and I’ll also include several newer pieces. Should be fun!
Do you have any favorite Easter music?
FAVORITE EASTER HYMNS
I Know That My Redeemer Lives by Sam Medley
Lift High the Cross by George W. Kitchin
Thine Be The Glory by Edmund Budry, music by Handel
March 15, 2015
CIR March Madness Blog Hop!
Welcome to Brenda Anderson Books and the Clean Indie Reads March Madness Blog Hop! What a fun opportunity for readers to discover new favorite authors, with around 40 participants in this hop! Plus, you have a chance to win the March Madness Book Bundle Grand Prize with each participating blogger giving away an ebook! Please check out all the participants below and enter to win on each site.
To sweeten the pot a bit, I’m having a separate giveaway on my blog. One lucky commenter will win the first three books (e-books) in my Coming Home Series: Pieces of Granite (prequel), Chain of Mercy (book #1), and Memory Box Secrets (book #2 – coming out April 21, 2015). Giveaway details are below.
Now a little about me:
I write what I call contemporary family drama. If you’re enjoy gritty, authentic reads, then you’ll enjoy my Coming Home series.
Pieces of Granite (prequel) is about a couple who learns their unborn child has Down syndrome, and that causes a rift in their marriage.
Pieces of Granite available at Amazon | B&N | BAM
Chain of Mercy (book 1) is about a Manhattan executive who kills a teen in an auto accident so he runs from his successful life and hides as a janitor in Minnesota. But a beautiful and curious sales executive won’t let him remain hidden.
Chain of Mercy available at Amazon | B&N | iTunes
Memory Box Secrets (book 2) is about a Minneapolis executive who was abandoned by her parents years before, but then out of the blue her father wants to be back in her life.
Memory Box Secrets coming April 21, 2015!
Finding Home, the finale in the Coming Home series. After a woman is mugged by a homeless teen, she and her husband take the teen into their home.
Coming September 2015!
The Clean Indie Reads authors have teamed up to give away a huge assortment of books! To enter to win the March Madness Book Bundle Grand Prize, which includes one e-book from each author participating in the blog hop, just fill out the secure Google form below. To increase your chances, visit more of the blogs on this hop (see all their links below) and fill out the same form on each of their blog sites. One random visitor will be selected at the end of the blog hop! Many of these authors have their own giveaways, so be sure to check them out.
I’d also like to encourage you to visit the Clean Indie Reads Book Sale going on March 16 – 20, 2015! Lots of great clean reading is offered there, and most of them are at discount prices. Loading…
*** Coming Home Series Three e-Book Giveaway ***
To enter to win the first three books (ebooks) in the Coming Home Series by Brenda S. Anderson, in the comments section below, tell me who your favorite author is. Contest closes Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 11:59 pm. Winner will be announced on Monday, March 23, 2015.
March 13, 2015
Celebrating 5 Years With the Inkspers
I’m over at Inkspirational Messages today as we’re celebrating our Five Year Anniversary! Wow, it’s hard to believe that the Inkspers have been together that long!
http://inkspirationalmessages.com/still-riding-the-roller-coaster/
We’re also offering a giveaway–an Inksper mug plus a surprise bundle of books–but the contest ends today, Friday, March 13, 2015! So, hurry on over to Inkspirational Messages to enter!
March 11, 2015
Misperception
Last week I was fortunate to escape home to spend five days at a quiet writing retreat. All by myself! For a writer on deadline, it was perfect. I spent the time editing my next release, Memory Box Secrets, having received full manuscript critiques from my critique partners.
(I’m interrupting this post to say I have The Best critique partners. Period. Thank you, thank you Lorna Seilstad and Shannon Vannatter for helping me make this manuscript sing!)
Okay, back to the post …
So, I get to the end of Lorna’s critique and she said she was conflicted about the ending. That didn’t surprise me as the ending isn’t your typical Christian fiction ending, which makes me love it, of course. We corresponded a bit and when she told me what she discerned from the ending, I was horrified. That’s not what I wrote–or meant–at all! So, I read it over trying to see it from her perspective. Yes, I could see how she arrived at her conclusion, but in my mind, the ending was still clear.
(Does this remind anyone else of the blue-black, white-gold dress debate?)
Taking Lorna’s thoughts into consideration, and realizing that if Lorna perceived what she did about the ending, that others would as well. So, rather than leaving room for reader-misinterpretation, I changed the ending to be very specific. The readers will know that this is a blue-black ending, definitely not a white-gold one.
And Memory Box Secrets blue-black ending is one I absolutely love! I hope you will too!
March 9, 2015
MEMORY BOX SECRETS Cover Reveal
Ta da!
Isn’t it beautiful! Thank you to Think-Cap Design Studios for creating another amazing cover!
Here’s what Memory Box Secrets (which time-wise follows Chain of Mercy) is all about:
Newlyweds Richard and Sheila Brooks have it all. Sheila is pregnant. Richard’s business is flourishing. Their formerly broken lives have been mended, and life couldn’t be better.
Or so they thought.
Just a few years ago, Richard had thrived in Manhattan’s fast-paced business world, yet that’s the very place he abandoned his faith. Now that his faith is restored, he never planned to return to that old life. But then the New York corporation that once rejected him calls, begging him to come back. Richard knows returning is unwise, but his gut is telling him to go.
Sheila yearns to have something from her childhood to pass on to her child, but when her parents abandoned her years ago, they took all remnants of her past with them. Then, out of the blue, her aging father calls, asking to be let back into her life. Her head screams “no”, but her traitorous heart is saying “yes.”
If Richard and Sheila answer these calls from their pasts, will they risk breaking what they’ve spent so much time mending?
And here’s a peek at the full cover:
Memory Box Secrets (Coming Home Series book #2) will be officially released on April 21!
And the Winners of THE LAND UNCHARTED and UNCHARTED REDEMPTION are …
***
Madison Brooks
Samantha B
Melissa B
Congratulations on winning the ebooks! I know you’ll love Keely Brooke Keith‘s series!
***
Winners chosen via Random.org
March 4, 2015
Cornerstone – Pieces of Granite Playlist
We live in a society where independence and self-sufficiency are highly-valued, which is great, but that also makes it easy for us to forget that Christ is our cornerstone. He is our foundation. He is our strength, and we need to rest in Him.
I love the simple message in this song, Cornerstone. Christ alone is our cornerstone, and He is Lord of all!
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation…” Isaiah 28:6
Purchase Pieces of Granite
Amazon | B&N | BAM
