Norma Downing and Free Books!

A promise made to a young woman’s dying father brings complications and conflict to her life.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Delight Yourself in the Lord...Even on Bad Hair Days, by Kristin Billerbeck, Sandra D. Bricker, Diann Hunt, Debby Mayne, and myself, is:

Lgm52@ . . .

and the winner of the signed copy of His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is NOT, by Sandra D. Bricker, Loree Lough, Cynthia Ruchti, and myself, is:

kimberlyj503@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you both today to get your mailing addresses, and we'll get your devotionals to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

Remember to enter your email address when you comment, as described in today's drawing information, below. If you win the drawing but haven't left your email address, I can't contact you!

Now let's meet novelist Norma Downing, author of A Promise Made (Crosslink Publishing, December 2013).

Norma has been writing for years and just recently has been learning more about the craft of fictional writing. She hopes to honor and glorify God through her writing, while also entertaining her readers.

She has been married to her wonderfully encouraging and supportive husband, Tom, for almost 28 years. She is a mother of four homeschooled daughters. Three have graduated, and the youngest daughter is in high school. Norma lives with her family in Virginia.

Please tell us a couple of random things we might not know about you.

--I milk a goat every morning. We have three dairy goats because of a cow’s milk intolerance in the family.

--I went back to school several years ago and earned a degree in Medical Laboratory Technology in December 2011.

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

After her parents are killed in a wagon accident, Emily Wallace feels as if she is all alone on the farm in Kansas. She discovers Drew Harris, her father’s right hand man who has been like an older brother to her for ten years, has made a promise to her dying father to find her a Godly husband.

It becomes apparent they have feelings for each other. Even though she feels she is ready for this, Emily needs to mature and seek God’s will before she can have a relationship.

Drew must overcome issues from his past before he can feel he is the man Emily’s father had in mind. Will they both come to realize they need to look to God for guidance and direction if they wish to have a future together?

Why will readers care about Emily?

I believe my readers will feel empathy for the main character as she faces the different struggles in her life. They may relate to the feelings of not being good enough that the hero deals with. Seeing the characters deal with the issue of realizing that God is in control and not fighting against Him could be an encouragement as well.

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

This was a difficult question for me since I don’t watch that many movies. I had to consult with my movie-watching daughters. They suggested Amy Adams for the role of Emily


and Liam Hemsworth for Drew. I have actually seen these actors in movies so I approved of their selections.



What is one improvement you’d like to make in your life in 2014?

I would like to try to schedule my time better. I need to take more time for writing and writing related endeavors.

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

I just finished The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen. It was an excellent book with elements of romance, suspense, and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have all of her books that I have read.

What are you working on now?

I am working on another historical romance, this one set in Civil War times. A young couple enters an arranged marriage just before the hero goes off to the war. There are issues such as prejudice and physical ailments that they deal with as well as just the difficulties of war and a marriage to someone they hardly know.

Where else can readers find you online?

I am on Facebook, Twitter, and I have a blog:

Facebook
Twitter
www.Normadowning.wordpress.com

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








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

If you knew that you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what book besides the Bible would you take with you?

Thank you, Norma, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Norma has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, January 20. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Norma's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

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

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

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.