K. Dawn Byrd, Author

Register to win an ebook copy of Anne Greene's "Texas Christmas Mystery"

2012-02-13T16:54:00.000-05:00

We have two book giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them both out. We're happy to have Anne Greene with us today talking about her book, "A Texas Christmas Mystery." Leave her a comment to register to win and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways.

TITLE: A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY
PUBLISHER: PelicanBookGroup.com.

COVER BLURB: A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both.

Sparks fly as Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne. She needs to solve her first case. But the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle.

Derrick worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When his past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves?

HOW DID THIS STORY COME TO YOU:
I was visiting the historic town of Galveston, Texas with its sea port and off-shore oil rigs and lovely streets of Victorian homes and fell in love with the place. The off-shore oil rig I toured intrigued me, and the old homes had to house lots of mysteries. Throw a romantic Cajun in the mix with the Coast Guard and a story bubbled to the surface. The concept wouldn’t let me go until I wrote it.

TELL US ABOUT THE JOURNEY TO GETTING THIS BOOK PUBLISHED:
This journey was short and sweet. Pelican Book Groups, and my publisher there loved my first award-winning book, Masquerade Marriage, so when they wanted a Christmas story, they eagerly accepted A Texas Christmas Mystery. This book released December 2011 in a Christmas Extravaganza.

TELL ME THREE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR READERS.
I’m a world traveler and have lived in and visited twenty-five foreign countries with three additional ones coming this spring. I paint. You can see some of my pictures on my website. And, I sing in two choirs, but writing is my passion.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW AND WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?
I’m working on the second book in my Scottish historical romance series with the working title Marriage By Arrangement. I’m about half finished with the first draft. I then want to finish my WWII book about women pilots and want to write a Regency romance. I have so many ideas and books I want to write that’s I find it difficult to decide which to work on next.

PARTING COMMENTS: I love visiting with fans. And I excited to choose a winner and send an ebook of A Texas Christmas Mystery. I’ve had really good feedback on this book and know if a fan likes romance and mystery, she will love this book. Also I enjoy having people visit me at my website http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Everyone can purchase my books at http://www.pelicanbookgrou.com. Or any on-line bookstore such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Register to win Ada Brownell's "Swallowed by LIFE"

2012-02-13T16:46:00.000-05:00

We have two book giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them both out. We're happy to have Ada Brownell with us today talking about her book, "Swallowed by LIFE." Leave her a comment to register to win and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways.

LOVE IS DYNAMITE!

By Ada Brownell

I grew up observing love demonstrated among family. One of the most amazing was a relative who was a new Christian, and she showed love to her husband beyond what I, even as a child, thought was necessary.

Her husband, with training in the finer etiquettes of his heritage, expected men to be served before women.

My aunt, who I know had some fire somewhere in her bones, acted as if she were made to serve her husband, and she did it with joy. We were guests at their home after church one Sunday and boys near my age were allowed to eat with the men, while I remember thinking I would starve before girls and women were served.

I don’t think my aunt was so subservient before she became a Christian, but she did what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7, 13:14: “And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband.” As the years passed, my uncle accepted the Lord and treated his wife with kindness and respect. Not many years before he died, he sang his wife’s praises and wasn’t afraid to tell others about what a great woman she was. No longer did the men eat alone, but sat at the table enjoying the chatter of ladies.

My idea when he was such a pompous husband would be to “throw the bum out.” But God has better ways.

I’ve thought of Jesus when John the Baptist was beheaded. John was a relative and close friend. He baptized Jesus. Now the earthlings Jesus had come to save not only killed John, but brought his head on a platter.

No wonder when the disciples brought the news, Jesus immediately jumped on a ship and went to a desert place. He knew humankind could be cruel, but I imagine it was different when he took on human flesh to be one of us.

I’d have said, “Father, they’re too wicked. Let’s forget the whole redemption plan.”

Instead, when Jesus saw a crowd followed him to the desert, He had compassion on them and healed the sick. That evening he fed the multitude with five loaves and two fish. When the disciples departed in a boat the night, a storm blew in. Jesus walked on water, calmed the seas, and even invited Peter to step out onto the liquid.

What love is that?

The type He asks us to work for.

How can I be a more loving person? It’s explained in 1 Corinthians 13-3-5NLT: “If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way.”

“Let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model” from 2 Timothy 1:13 CEV.

When we study the Word we learn love is as powerful as dynamite and will take us through life more easily, just as dynamite can open a highway tunnel through a mountain.

Love is important to our happiness, both the love we receive and the love we give. God loves us no matter what, and some people love us because God put it in their hearts. But to be a complete, we must return that love and put love into action.

The greatest love of all is God’s love for us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
© Ada Brownell Feb. 13, 2012

***
Eternal life is at the heart of my book, Swallowed by LIFE: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal.

From the back of the book: Do you know you are more than a physical body? An award-winning medical and religion writer, Ada Brownell—through her research after the death of her daughter—shows why we have hope of eternal life, not only from a Christian point of view, but because of physical evidence.

The paperback book is available at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/ or from ada@adabrownell.com The e-book should be out shortly on Amazon.

BIO :Of her 17 years as a journalist, the author spent seven on the medical beat at The Pueblo Chieftain in Colorado, reporting on discoveries about the human genome, neurology, mental illness, cancer, disease prevention, treatments, medications and more.

As a free lance writer she has sold 275 articles and stories to 45 religion magazines. She also is author of a book, Confessions of a Pentecostal, published by the Assemblies of God (1978) and her writing is included in “Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers” and “Cup of Comfort for Christians” (Adams Media 2008 and 2006); “What I Learned from God While Cooking,” (edited by Cristine Bolley; Barbour Publishing, 2006); and “50 Tough Questions”, (Pentecostal Evangel Books, 2002).

Donna Fletcher Crow's "A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Myrders 2"

2012-02-06T16:39:00.002-05:00

Title: A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Murders 2
Publisher: Monarch Books, an imprint of Lion Hudson in the UK. My American publisher is Kregel Books.

Cover blurb: Felicity can’t possibly help Father Antony find the valuable missing icon. She’s off to become a nun. Then her impossible mother turns up unexpectedly. And a good friend turns up murdered. . .

Breathtaking chase scenes, mystical worship services, dashes through remote waterlogged landscapes, the wisdom of ancient holy women, and the arcane rites of the Knights Hospitaller keep the pages turning. Will Felicity choose the veil— or Antony?

1) How did this story come to you?
I have wanted to tell the stories of the mystical medieval women writers Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe for years. When my daughter, whose experiences studying in a monastery in Yorkshire provided the background for The Monastery Murders, told me about visiting an ancient abbey in Norfolk in an area so soggy the ruins were said to have sunk into the ooze and a beautiful church that survived Cromwell’s destruction because it was so wet his soldiers’ horses sank in the marsh I knew I had my setting. Then I visited the church myself and experienced climbing the bell tower. I knew I’d found the perfect spot for a chase scene.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The real journey was getting A Very Private Grave, the first book in the series published because, although I had published 30 books in the 1980’s and ‘90’s, I had been out of the publishing loop for 10 years. I found Janet Benrey in a listing of agents online, but it wasn’t until I spoke to her on the telephone that I realized she is English. She was able to sell the book to an English publisher who appreciated the English background. Each book is a challenge, though, because they wait to contract a new book based on the American sales record of the current title.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Although my favorite activities are growing roses, drinking tea and reading Jane Austen, I was a tomboy growing up. As an only child I was my father’s son, which led to many adventures on horseback and becoming Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up to Miss Rodeo America. I am also an intrepid researcher and will do whatever I have to do for a book. One of the biggest challenges was rappelling into a lava cave even though I’m claustrophobic.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
An Unholy Communion, The Monastery Murders 3, is almost complete. It’s based on a research trip I took to Wales and England last spring which included walking 126 miles from London to Walsingham. I’m also looking for the perfect Victorian murder to use in book 4 of my Lord Danvers true-crime series and planning book 3 in the Elizabeth & Richard Murders which will have Jane Austen as the background literary figure.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit today, Kdawn. I love meeting readers. If anyone has any questions for me please leave them below and I’ll drop by to answer. Can’t wait to see who wins the free copy of A Darkly Hidden Truth!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Please visit my website at http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/. I have trailers for both of the Monastery Murders on my homepage, an album of photos from each of my research trips, a lot of information about all of my books and a slideshow of my garden.

Nicole O'Dell's "Girl Talk"

2012-02-06T16:27:00.002-05:00

Q: I recently lost a lot of weight and started high school at the same time. I'm getting all sorts of attention from boys, and I just don't know what to do about it because it's so new to me. I kind of like it. . .but I'm nervous. What should I do?

That's a question I would have asked if I'd written to Girl Talk at the start of my freshman year of high school. But, I didn't know to ask. I didn't know I was facing a challenge. I simply reacted to things as I faced them. And I made mistakes. Many of them.

Each of us has a set of experiences and circumstances, some within our control, and some not, that shapes the way we look at choices, temptation, sin, peer pressure, and everything that comes up along the way. If we can help prepare girls before they find themselves staring peer pressure in the face, they'll feel more equipped to stand strong. To say NO to whatever life throws at them.

Why girls?
Hmm. What is it about girls? That's a great question. I guess I relate to them because I am one. But, more than that, I have an ache in my heart that wants to help 'em out. I've said it 1000 times, but I'll say it 1000 more, I'm sure. It's the memory of the poor choices I made as a teen, and the results of those choices, that motivates me to help today's teenagers avoid those same mistakes.

And bad decisions are one thing, but there's also the stuff girls deal with that they have no control over: Divorce, Abuse, Loss, Grief, Illness, financial strain, etc. . .etc. . . Those life-altering circumstances make it even more difficult for girls to stand against the pressure when all they want is friendship, acceptance, and love.

It takes pro-active, intentional effort to make the necessary preparations to help teens combat peer pressure.
That's why my daughters and I started the Girl Talk Column on my blog. We wanted to give girls a place they could go with those tough questions about life. The column grew and the questions built up to the point when we, along with Barbour Publishing, decided to put 180 questions from readers and our answers into a book. But it's not just any book--the vibrant, trendy format has a scrapbook-y feel as each page is full color with graphics galore. Take a look at the trailer to get a better feel for what it looks like:

And here's some info right from the back cover:
Q: My mom is always on me about what I wear. I just don’t see why it should matter to her. I mean, she got to wear the things she wanted to wear when she was young–the styles are different now, though. She won’t let me wear any shirts that show even a fraction of my stomach, and I have to actually bend over in jeans to prove to her that nothing shows in the back—if you know what I mean. She even says there’s stuff in the Bible about the way to dress right. Is that true? What should I do to change her mind?

Q: I have a friend who is pretty skinny, but she thinks she’s fat. . . . I actually heard her make herself throw up in the school bathroom a couple of times. What should I do about it? Or is it none of my business?

It’s Time for Some Girl Talk! . . .

Popular blogging trio—mother, Nicole O’Dell, along with daughters, Emily and Natalie—offer trustworthy, biblically-based advice for all your ups, downs, and in-betweens. Culled from actual questions they’ve encountered on their blog site, this fabulous resource offers real-life helps for issues including relationships, character, body image, fashion, gossip, and more. You’ll find 180 questions along with answers and related scripture selections that will both encourage and challenge you in your faith walk.

Nat, Em, and I hope you'll pass this resource along to the teens in your life. Also, the Girl Talk column is ongoing. You can write to us with your questions anytime! Contact us here.

And if you'd like to win a copy of Girl Talk, signed by all three of us, just leave a comment here. Tweeting about this post will earn you another entry if you let us know you did. I'd also love it if you signed up for my Choices e-Zine/newsletter, too--that will earn you a third entry!

Remember, it's all about choices!
_____________________________________________

Nicole O'Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries and host of Teen Talk Radio, is a mom of six—ranging from 20 all the way down to a set of toddler triplets. She writes fiction for teens including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the Diamond Estates Series. Her nonfiction focuses on helping teens make good choices and bridging the gap in parent/teen communication. On Teen Talk Radio, Nicole talks with teens and special guests about the real issues young people face today, and she loves getting out among teens and parents when speaking at youth groups and conferences. Visit http://www.nicoleodell.com/ or www.facebook.com/nicoleodell.

Emily is a straight-A fifth grader at Eastlawn School in Paxton, IL. She lives with her mom, stepdad, three sisters, and two broth- ers. Never found without her iPod, Emily loves to dance and sing. She’s a busy girl who enjoys swimming, skateboarding, and hanging out with friends. She’s active in her community and local church, and plans to be a teacher when she grows up.

Natalie is an honor student in the eighth grade at PBL Middle School in Paxton, IL. The oldest daughter of six kids, Natalie is a very loving and hands-on big sister. She’s passionate about her walk with Christ, and almost as passionate about the game of volleyball. She holds first- chair clarinet in the school band and looks forward to high school marching band. At this point, Natalie aspires to a career in the culinary arts, but is open to other possibilities.

Sexual content? Say what? Register to win a $10 Amazon gift card

2012-02-06T16:15:00.005-05:00

When I began plotting the Zoe Mack Mystery Series, I wanted to write a mystery story that was heavy on the romance. My characters are college age, which means this series could easily be a cross-over between young adult and adult. Zoe is 19 and a virgin. She is a Christian and helps her grandmother teach Sunday School. She faces the same temptations of all dating teens, but is determined to save herself until marriage. Zoe and her boyfried, Nate, kiss, but that's as far as it goes. All of my books are clean. I do address sex in that Zoe is abstaining and makes it clear to Nate that she's holding onto her convictions. Maybe some readers would call this book "edgy" because it deals with problems that teenagers face. Zoe is a good role model, one I wouldn't mind hanging out with my teenage daughter if I had one.

Just to show how different perspectives can be, check out the email below from a lady I provided a copy so she could read and review it. She's a nice lady and I have nothing against her. I'm just amazed at our difference in perspective.

Dear K. Dawn,
I finished reading this book today but don’t feel I can endorse it. I’m sorry, but my constituents are conservative and I cannot recommend this to homeschool families, etc. who don’t want such sexual content. It doesn’t seem YA with a MC 19.

And, now on to a different perspective that came from the Women of Faith blog at http://todayswomanoffaith.blogspot.com/2012/01/zoe-mack-mystery-of-love-letters-todays.html

Today's Fiction Spotlight is with author K.Dawn Byrd, whose latest release, The Secret of the Love Letters introduces endearing characters that you'll want to see more of. The heroine, Zoe, is 19 and in love and she doesn't let the reader forget it for more than a page or two at a time. Fortunately, there's a whole lot more going on and it all happens at a smart pace. At only 97 pages, there's no time to waste, but enough character development to make us want to see more of the main characters in a next installment.

Ratings:
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Profanity: No profanity, gore, or sex (a little more going weak in the knees than was necessary, but then again some readers will probably love that).
Christian Element: Low, but there.
Fun Element: Yes.
Recommended? Yes, boyfriend-obsessed heroine notwithstanding!

The Zoe Mack Series was written for those who like mystery and love romance. Yes, it is a little weak in the knees because I'm a sap for romance and let's face it, teenagers live for the next wink, the next smile, the next kiss from whoever they happen to be in love with. That said, please leave me a comment in response to this post for your chance to win your choice of my books. And, don't forget to check out the reviews that are starting to come in on Amazon.

To register to win a $10 Amazon gift card, leave me a comment. Thanks!

Becky Melby's "Tomorrow's Sun"

2012-01-30T17:51:00.002-05:00

Title: Tomorrow’s Sun
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: One house. Two loves. A century and half apart.

Her fractures have mended, her scars faded, but Emily Foster can’t move on until she makes restitution for a past mistake. Flipping houses seems like the path to her goal. Yet, instead of finding a door to the future, the 1840s house she plans to remodel opens windows to the past.

Contractor Jake Braden hates Emily’s plan to modernize the old house, but the cost of fighting for guardianship of his late sister’s twelve-year-old twins forces him to take the job anyway. When a hidden door and faded love letters connect the house with the Underground Railroad, he and Emily embark on a mission to uncover the fate of young lovers.

As Emily and Jake unravel the long-forgotten love story, words of faith in the face of fear inspire, convict, and draw them to each other. . .but will they be prepared when faced with the greatest test yet?

1) How did this story come to you?
My husband and I were having lunch at a restaurant in Rochester, Wisconsin, not far from where we live. As I read the history of the building, built in 1843 and originally called the Union House, its possible connection to the Underground Railroad sparked an idea. I looked at my husband and said, “There’s a story here.”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I’ve written for Barbour for many years and I was blessed when two of the editors approached me at an ACFW conference and asked if I would consider writing for their full-length fiction line. Later, when Rebecca Germany requested a proposal, the idea for Tomorrow’s Sun and two other books containing hidden rooms and long-forgotten writings was already cooking in my head.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) My husband and I have backpacked in the Tetons, Smokies, and Rockies—carrying all we need for four or five days on our backs.
2) As of January 19, I am the proud grandmother of an even dozen amazing kids.
3) I’m planning a road trip on the old Route 66 for my next series.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished Today’s Shadows, the third book in the Lost Sanctuary series. Right now I’m working on a proposal for another contemporary series with historical elements.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share with your readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.beckymelby.com/. Stop by and click on the link to my blog if you enjoy “spiritual Cinderella stories.” My tag line is “stories of tarnished dreams refinished by grace.” I’ve had some fascinating guests who share their real-life journeys from tragedy, disappointment, and shattered dreams to finding hope and joy through the grace of God.

Molly Noble Bull's "The Overcomers"

2012-01-23T19:24:00.002-05:00

Title: The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities by Ginny Aiken, Margaret Daley, Jane Myers Perrine, Ruth Scofield and me, Molly Noble Bull.
Publisher: Westbow Press published The Overcomers.

Cover blurb: Did you ever try to push a one hundred-pound rock up a hill with nothing but a toothpick? If you can image what that might be like, you have some idea how difficult it is for a child with a learning problem to read or spell ten simple words.

Five published Christian authors with learning disabilities wrote this book from their own experiences. It is their hope that others will be encouraged from reading how they overcame.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was on an Internet loop made up of Love Inspired authors. One day the Lord led me to tell everyone on that loop that I had a learning problem. I didn’t want to tell my long held secret to a group of published novelists I respected. Nevertheless, I told them in an email message, and as soon as I clicked send, I regretted it.

How could I have guessed that seven of the women in that group would write to say that they had learning problems, too? From that small group, The Overcomers was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
In 2007 The Overcomers was accepted for publication by a small press. However, the publisher went out of business before the book came out. In 2011 we paid Westbow Press to publish it, and now it’s available in paperback and as an e-book.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’ve never had a sense of smell. Yes, I can taste, but things might taste differently to me than they do to you.
As a teenager, I planned to be a professional singer when I grew up or a journalist.
I taught third grade, second grade and kinder for a total of eleven years before becoming a novelist.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am waiting to hear from an editor that took one of my novels to committee. If the book sells, I will polish it, and God willing, I will start on something else.

5) Parting comments.
To find all my books, write Molly Noble Bull in the search slot at online and walk-in bookstores.
Click below to see The Overcomers at Amazon right now and look inside for free.

6) Were can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.mollynoblebull.com/
http://writersrest.blogspot.com/
http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/

Roseanna White's "Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland"

2012-01-23T17:53:00.001-05:00

Title: Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland
Publisher: Summerside Press

Cover blurb: In 1784 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton.

Never did Lark think she’d want to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she’s loved all her life. But when he betrays her, she flees to Annapolis, Maryland, the country’s capital. There Lark throws herself into a new circle of friends who force her to examine all she believes.

Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his betrothed. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he realizes that in this new country he has come to call his own, duty is no longer enough. He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater … before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold.

1) How did this story come to you?
In a couple parts, actually. I first got the idea for a story revolving around a betrothed couple who had a falling out of prodigious proportions right after graduating from college. It was nearly five years later that I decided it would be fun to incorporate historic Annapolis into the story by making my heroine flee there. Still, the story just sat on a back burner until Summerside asked if I had any historical ideas set in Maryland for their Love Finds You line.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Well, as already mentioned above, Summerside asked if I had an idea for a Maryland title—this was after a contemporary I’d submitted was penciled into their schedule but then declined because they wanted more historicals. I whipped up a proposal for them in a week, but then went 9 months without hearing anything back—at which point they asked if I could get the full to them round about March. I got to serious work on it in January, and it’s a good thing I did—two weeks later my editor emailed to ask if I could rush it to them because they had a sudden opening. In March I got the call that it had been accepted—and 9 short months later, it hit the shelves!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Apparently quite a few are surprised when they go to Facebook and see that I’m young—only 29. And while I intend to stay 29 for a while, right this moment I’m in my first year of being 29. ;-) Next, I’m not very good about eating my vegetables—which is especially bad because my family owns a produce farm, LOL. And finally, I’m a morning person—I can bounce out of bed at 5, but don’t ask me to put a coherent sentence together after 9 p.m.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
At the moment I’m working on a Civil War era novel set in Savannah, about a whimsical heroine determined to write her perfect romance, and the disillusioned, injured sailor who isn’t so sure he’s up for being her hero anymore. And while I have nothing releasing in 2012, 2013 will be a busy year full of releases for me!

5) Parting comments?
In addition to the giveaway here, anyone who comments is also entered into my Great ANNAPOLIS Giveaway, which includes not only a book but a quill and ink set, a leatherbound journal, a Colonial doll, a Colonial mug, and two packs of gourmet hot chocolate. To read about other ways to get more entrees, check out my page on the giveaway at http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/p/great-annapolis-giveaway.html

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.roseannamwhite.com/
http://www.roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/roseanna.white

Martha Rogers' "Winter Promise"

2012-01-23T16:40:00.001-05:00

Title: Winter Promise
Publisher: Realms Fiction of Charisma House.

Cover blurb: A young doctor bound by a tragedy in his past finds forgiveness through a determined librarian and a baby he delivers at Christmas.

1) How did this story come to you?
The heroine is Rachel’s best friend from the first book and I wanted her to join Rachel in Portersfield. I decided the town needed a library and Abigail would be the best one to open it. I used the doctor’s story from the second book for the hero’s story and there I had the plot.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It is the third book in the contract for the series Seasons of the Heart.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I was a complete tomboy as child. I climbed trees and played football with the neighborhood boys.
2) I learned to cook at the age of 5 when my grandmother let me help her make cookies. She also taught me to sew.
3) I graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics, but ended up teaching English for half of my career in teaching.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m almost finished with a Christmas book for 2012. The title of it is Christmas in Holly Hill. I have a new series that will begin in 2013. It will be three books based on the years following the Armistice with Lee and Grant in 1865. I’m excited about writing it because it includes a lot of my own family history based on letters and journals of my Great-grandfather and grandfather.

5) Parting Comments:
I’m excited that my books are available for Kindle, Nook, and other E-Readers. It’s a whole new way of obtaining books. You can find me on the internet at http://www.marthawrogers.com/.

Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/7y5gcya

Amazon:

Zoe Mack & The Secret of the Love Letters

2012-01-23T16:00:00.001-05:00

When Zoe Mack moves in with her grandparents to start college, she's thrown into more mystery than she bargained for. Her cousin, Emma, is terrorized by a stalker who breaks into her house and leaves a photo-shopped image of Emma hanging from a tree. Nothing is as it seems and Emma soon learns that even the man she thinks she can trust is suspect.

Zoe can't wait to reunite with Nate, the bad boy who doesn't talk about his feelings much, but the passionate kiss he gave her last summer had to have meant something. When she arrives back in town and discovers that he's in trouble with the law, she must take matters into her own hands in order to clear his name. She has her hands full with a needy Emma, a cop who gives her the creeps, and Nate, the guy she desperately wants to call her own. Can Zoe solve the mystery, clear Nate's name, and make him fall in love with her?

If you'd like to read the first chapter, click HERE.

Penny Zeller's "Hailee (Book #3 in the Montana Skies Historical Romance Series)

2012-01-16T17:15:00.001-05:00

Title: Hailee (Book #3 in my Montana Skies Historical Romance Series, which follows McKenzie and Kaydie).

1) How did this story come to you?
I knew beforehand that I would be writing a third book in this series. Hailee Annigan’s character was inspired by a piece of mail I received regarding orphanages. I knew I wanted to write a story about a girl placed in an orphanage and how she came to find herself in that predicament.

I introduced my main male character, Nate Adams, in the second novel in my series, Kaydie, and was excited to expound on his character and follow his struggles in answering God’s calling on his life.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Hailee is the final book in my Montana Skies Series. Nate is McKenzie and Kaydie’s nephew (their sister, Peyton’s son). I was excited to conclude my three-book series with a final glimpse into the lives of those who call Pine Haven, Montana, home.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hmmm, let’s see… well, I met my husband through a prank phone call (yep, it’s true & I even wrote a blog post about it titled “Why Prank Phone Calls are Beneficial”); I threw up while dissecting a worm in junior high science class (yuck! And you guessed right, I still think worms are gross!), and the most current thing is that I am an edge-of-the-seat writer and don’t use an outline. Yep, it’s true. But don’t tell anyone.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Next on the agenda is my historical romance series set in the post-Civil War era. I recently completed the first draft of the first book and am hard at work on the second.

5) Parting comments?
I am excited to announce that the book trailer for Hailee was recently produced by Tinkertime Productions and can be seen at http://youtu.be/LEGoM43jtwA. I love the music that producer Cindy Sproles chose and I would love to hear what you think about it too!

I also wanted to say thank you to my readers for their support and encouragement. I couldn’t embark on this writing journey without you!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love hearing from my readers via –
* My website: http://www.pennyzeller.com/
* My humor blog: http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/
* My FB page www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks (Come join in the conversation of just-for-fun Fridays, where I ask a question and we all chit-chat about it)
* On Twitter: http://twitter.com/pennyzeller

Thank you again, Dawn, for having me as your guest. It was an honor to be here!

Lillian Duncan's "Deception"

2012-01-09T16:43:00.001-05:00

Title: DECEPTION
Publisher: HarbourLight Books

Cover blurb: Twins are supposed to have an unbreakable bond, but Patti and Jamie have serious “relationship issues.” Patti hasn’t seen Jamie since her twin ruined her upcoming nuptials years before. When a niece she knows nothing about calls, Patti must unravel the yarn of Jamie’s life and her disappearance.

Detective Carter Caldwell takes his job seriously, and it's his job to keep Patti and her adorable niece safe. But Patti is determined to help find her sister. Each step brings her closer to the truth, but pulls her further into a web of danger and deception.

They must find the courage and faith to continue the search for her sister. Her journey will take her down a road of deception where they will have to fight for her life and the lives of countless Americans.

1) How did this story come to you?
The story came to me as a scene popped in my head about a little girl calling a stranger and telling her that her mommy was gone and she was all alone. From that scene, came the rest of the story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It’s been a long long journey but this story was special to me and I wouldn’t give up. That’s why I’m so excited it’s finally here!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I used to know how to cook but not anymore. Since I married my husband, he loves to cook and so now if I need to cook, I have no idea how to do it.
2) I’m fluent (sort of) in American Sign Language. I say sort of because I don’t use it on a regular basis any longer and so it’s not as fluent as I’d like it to be.
3) I’m very short-under 5ft. Being that short changes the way you perceive the world and the way the world perceives you.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have several projects I’m working on but not sure where that will take me as far as my writing career goes.

5) Parting comments?
DECEPTION is a story that’s near and dear to my heart. I hope readers will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.lillianduncan.net/ or http://www.lillianduncan.wordpress.com/

Elizabeth Camden's "The Rose of Winslow Street"

2012-01-02T16:35:00.001-05:00

Title: The Rose of Winslow Street
Publisher: Bethany House

Cover blurb: Libby Sawyer’s quiet, respectable life in Colden, Massachusetts is shattered when a bold stranger from Romania invades her world. Fascinated by this enigmatic man, Libby uncovers layers of mystery surrounding Michael Dobrescu’s amazing past….and his plans for the future in which she plays a startling role.

1) How did this story come to you?
Like a lot of writers, I glean tidbits from real life stories. A few years ago there was a case in my hometown in which a man doing home renovations found $200,000 hidden in the ductwork of his house. He thought he hit the jackpot until the previous owner showed up and wanted it back. A nasty court case ensued, and it is still wending its way through the system. This incident provided the seed of an idea in which a descendant of the previous home-owner shows up at a house claiming ownership, but that is where the resemblance the real-life story ends.

The Rose of Winslow Street is set in 1879 and features a mysterious band of strangers from Europe who come to a peaceful village where they must unravel a century-old mystery that is wrapped up in the house where the heroine lives. In short order, they seize the house and proclaim ownership over it, dispossessing the heroine and her family. In order for the plot to work, I needed both sides to be highly sympathetic, yet set against each other in stark opposition, with no easy solution in sight. Michael and Libby are natural enemies, but they are also both exceptionally smart people who develop a grudging respect for each other. And sometimes the attraction of forbidden fruit is a powerful romantic draw, as Libby soon discovers.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I think all authors probably have manuscripts they struggle with, and others which simply pour out of them in a stream of inspiration. The Rose of Winslow Street was in that second category. I loved every second of writing this book, and amazingly, my publishers agreed and asked for almost no revisions. That doesn’t happen very often!

3) Tell me a couple things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I am a “stealth nerd.” I suffered from almost crippling introversion until high school, when I signed up for Drama class in an attempt to get over my shyness. It worked. Now I’m pretty good at faking poise, even though the introverted geekiness is still with me. Always will be, I suppose. I can fake it for a couple of hours before I have to withdraw into the shell of my office to recharge my batteries in private.

I am generally out of bed by 4:00 in the morning. Because my husband needs to leave for work by 6:00, and we both like to go to the gym for an hour on most days, that 4AM wake-up call is the only way it is going to happen!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next book features a character from my first novel, The Lady of Bolton Hill. It is entirely a stand-alone book, so readers will be able to hop right in, even if they didn’t read the first. Alex Banebridge was a wonderfully fun, whiplash smart character in the first book, even though he was only seventeen years old. In the next book, Alex Banebridge is all grown up and is ready to set the world on fire. Look for it in late 2012.

5) Parting comments?
Just that I am thankful for the chance to be in this business. Reading novels was a huge part of my life, and if I can give back just a fraction of the joy I have had from reading, I will be very grateful indeed. Thank you for the opportunity to help me get the word out!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I blog about the romance genre and what’s going on in the industry at http://elizabethcamden.com/blog

Ann Shorey's "Where Wildflowers Bloom"

2012-01-02T16:25:00.001-05:00

Title: Where Wildflowers Bloom
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group/Revell

Cover blurb: The War Between the States stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg—as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?

1) How did this story come to you?
I was interested in how women resumed their “normal” lives after the Civil War ended. My great-grandparents settled in Missouri (from Illinois) in 1867, so my interest is personal as well as fictional!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Where Wildflowers Bloom is the first in the Sisters at Heart series for Revell. I wanted to honor the importance of friendship in the lives of women, so each story is about a different protagonist, but their friendship ties them, and the series, together. My editor at Revell liked the idea, fortunately!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I love to spend time camping in the Oregon desert with my husband. We have a canvas wall tent, and drive to places 40 and 50 miles off the highway, with nothing around but sagebrush and an occasional range cow. We stayed out there for 10 days last summer.
2) I always wanted to play the piano, but had no discipline to stick with lessons. Now here I am committed to contracts that require discipline to meet deadlines. Hmm.
3) I like peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches. 

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on Book 2 of the Sisters at Heart series. The working title is When the Heart Heals, and the story is about a woman who’s an herbalist and was a nurse in the Civil War—a time when few women were nurses. After that, I’ll be writing Book 3, tentatively titled Love’s Sweet Beginning.

5) Parting comments?
My tagline is “Yesterday’s Women – Today’s Issues.” Readers will be able to relate to my historical fiction as the characters face the same situations women deal with today. But now we have the resources they lacked. Yet those women persevered. I love their determination.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Please visit my website, http://www.annshorey.com/, find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnnShoreyAuthor#!/AnnShorey or follow me on Twitter at Ann_Shorey.

Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog! I enjoyed the interview.

April Gardner's "Warring Spirits"

2011-12-26T18:50:00.002-05:00

Title: Warring Spirits
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing

Cover blurb: In 1816 Georgia, escaped slaves control the land just beyond the American border in Las Floridas. Lost somewhere between white and black worlds, Milly follows hope to the only place that can offer her refuge—the place Georgians are calling Negro Fort. The first, sweet taste of freedom convinces Milly that surrender is not an option. Death would be more welcome.

Major Phillip Bailey has orders to subdue the uprising and return the runaways to their masters. Forced to fight alongside Creek warriors—the same who etched the scars into his mind and flesh—Phillip primes himself for battle. But inside, a war already rages—return for the woman he thought lost to him or concede her to the enemy she loves; follow orders or follow his heart.

1) How did this story come to you?
When I finished Wounded Spirits, the first book in the Creek Country Saga, I started out writing Warring Spirits with a different story and with different main characters. But there was something about it that just didn’t sit right with me. It didn’t highlight a little known historical event, which is what I want my writing to be known for. So I went back to my research books and dug around until I stumbled upon Negro Fort and the devastation that happened there. By the end of that day, the Lord had given me the plot for Warring Spirits.

2) What kind of research is involved in writing historical novels?
Massive amounts!! I have an entire book shelf full of research books. I’ve been researching ancient Creek Country (part of present-day Alabama and Georgia) for the last decade and there’s still so much to discover.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m dyslexic and because it was so difficult, hated reading until I was about 12.
If I didn’t have a computer, I wouldn’t write. My handwriting and spelling is that bad.
I can solve a rubix cube. Takes me ten minutes, but I can do it!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
At this exact moment? Nothing. With two books having released in November, I’m focusing on marketing, but come January, I’m going to pick back up with a novel I’m co-writing with writer Michelle Massaro. Can’t wait to jump back into it!

5) Parting comments?
It’s always a pleasure to be featured here. Thank you for the opportunity to chat about my novels!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Readers can learn more about my books on my website and blog. I love to interact on Facebook!
http://www.aprilgardner.com/
http://www.aprilwgardner.com/

Staci Stallings' "If You Believed in Love"

2011-12-26T18:47:00.001-05:00

A Brother's Struggle, A Sister's Hope
An Interview with Janet Elliott, Jonathon Danforth's Twin Sister

So you want to know more about my brother, Jonathon Danforth, huh? (Janet sits back and thinks moment then sits forward.) Okay. I'll tell you about him.

For one thing he's a lot smarter than he gives himself credit for. He always has been. He could get into and out of more trouble when he was younger than any kid I knew. And he was always into something. Not bad things necessarily--like drugs or something--just stuff.

Like the time he was running that gambling ring in the third grade. He aced more kids out of dimes and quarters than most kids could ever dream of doing. Of course, Mom made him give them all back when she found out about it. But that was just Jon, you know? He was always looking for the angle, making deals, and trying to one-up somebody.

Okay, so it got him in some fights in school. He spent most of junior year in the principal's office. In fact, they very nearly kicked him out of school more than once. Not that he was a bad kid exactly. He just couldn't sit still, couldn't just be. He always had to be pushing the envelope, always testing the water, always trying to see how far he could go before someone pulled him back.

I think that's why the last year has bothered me so much. Yes, I know all about people grieving and needing time. But Jon like checked out of life, you know? I mean, he wouldn't even leave that stupid apartment for Christmas last year. "Nah, Janet," he said when I called him and begged him to come over. "I think I'll just stay here. I'm not really in the mood for tinsel and stockings."

He had me worried sick if you really want to know the truth. I mean, okay, I'm not his mom, but I am his big sister, and I know that living on pizza and beer in a dark pigsty of an apartment is just not healthy.

That's why I talked him into taking that class--the one over at the community college. Of course, English was never really Jon's style, but it was either that or Chemistry, and I didn't want to hear he'd blown the whole place up.

(She laughs and then sits back again, lost in thought.)

I just worry about him so much. (Pulling forward, her eyes are filled with tears that never fall.) It killed him... what happened. It did. It was like one minute he was one guy--my baby brother, into everything, wheeling and dealing with the world, and the next second he was this guy I didn't even recognize anymore. It scared me, you know. It really did. (One tear slips from her eye and slides down as she wipes it away and sniffs.) We're all we've got in the world now. With Mom and Dad both gone, it's just us.

I didn't want to lose him too. (Her smile is tight and sad.) Plus, he really is a great guy when you get to know him. He has such a big heart for people and for things he really cares about. I guess I just hope he finds something to care about again, you know. (She lets her gaze fall to the table.) I just want him to be happy... or at least not completely miserable.

(With a laugh, she jerks her hair back and smiles.) Sorry. I guess I get a little carried away when I talk about him. I mean, he's my baby brother, right? (She tries to smile again, this one is in apology.) I hope I haven't bored you to tears with all of this. (She shrugs slightly.) I just want what's best for him, you know? And I hope and pray he can find whatever that is, whatever the next chapter of his life is. (She nods.) Yeah, that's what I want the most... for Jon to be happy.

If You Believed in Love, by Staci Stallings, featuring the story of Janet's brother, Jonathon Danforth now available via Kindle & Nook at: http://stacistallings.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/if-you-believed-in-love-2/

Lisa Lickel's "Lavender Dreams"

2011-12-19T20:19:00.003-05:00

Title: Lavender Dreams, an anthology
Publisher: MuseItUp

Cover blurb: Ten short stories in this anthology to entertain you. More importantly, the authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties to help raise funds for cancer research each year.

Back Cover: MuseItUp Authors dedicate this book to all who have been affected in one way or the other by cancer. All royalties from the sales of this book will be donated each year to a cancer research organization, or hospice in order to further combat and find a cure.

The book is divided into three sections: non-fiction, fiction based on true stories, and fictional stories—ten stories generously donated by the authors to help raise funds for cancer.

This book is dedicated to the memory of one of our dear editors who passed away 2011 from cancer, Karen McGrath.

You will always be remembered.

1) How did this story come to you?
My short fiction, “Testing,” is a revised scene from an as-yet published novel. The story features a scene from an imagined drug trial.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
MuseItUp picked up my cozy mystery series, Buried Treasure. When I saw the news about Karen, and how the other authors felt about her, I wanted to get involved as well, and offered my short story. My mom is a breast-cancer survivor and some of my friends are battling cancer. I am glad to donate the proceeds to support cancer research.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I edit a Christian spec/sci-fi/monsters magazine; I am a vacuum-cleaning freak; I can butcher deer.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Muse is re-releasing The Gold Standard, featuring a picture of the crazy cat, Carranza, on the cover. The second book in the series, The Map Quilt, comes out next April.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for featuring this book. Cancer has affected most of us in some way or another and this is one way we can help fight this disease.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My web site has all my links: http://www.lisalickel.com/

Angela Ruth's "Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho"

2011-12-19T20:19:00.002-05:00

Title: Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho
Publisher: Summerside Press, an imprint of Guidepost

Cover blurb: Actress Emily Van Arsdale has finally returned to her home state—with an entire film crew in tow! With stunning scenery and a reputation for hosting celebrities, Sun Valley is the perfect setting for Emily’s newest romantic comedy. Tracen Lake is happy to work as a stunt consultant for the movie but not as thrilled to deal with a bunch of high-maintenance Hollywood types. Tracen is surprised, however, to discover in Emily a down-to-earth Idaho girl who does all her own stunts and loves the outdoors. As filming wraps up and Emily heads off to her next gig, will she be able to leave Sun Valley—and Tracen—behind?

1) How did this story come to you?
The story actually started out as Love Finds You in Sweet Home, Oregon—an area with a lot of water and known for outdoor adventures. This inspired Tracen’s background and the whole theme of “home sweet home” versus “home is where the heart is.” When the publisher asked me to move the location to Sun Valley (they already had quite a few stories set in Oregon), the swanky culture fit Emily’s celebrity status perfectly.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Man, I wish publishing books was always as easy as this one turned out to be. Before selling the Sun Valley story, I had written three complete novels that couldn’t find a home. All Summerside requested for their new romance line was a proposal including three chapters. I banged it out in a day. When my agent called with the good news, I was sure it would be for one of my other books that I’d slaved years over. But I’m so glad I sold this story, because I absolutely loved getting to know the characters.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. My husband left me in the middle of the writing/publication process, and I haven’t finished reading a romance novel since.
2. I moved in with some neighbors who supported me through the divorce, and I dedicated the book to them for showing me what love was again.
3. God brought Prince Charming into my life, and being married to him is so much better than any romance novel. For our wedding, my publisher let us design a mock “Love Finds You” book cover with our own photo on it to put on display (left)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently writing a prayer book (similar to Stormie Omartian’s series) for abandoned wives. God romanced me in such a sweet way after my divorce that I want to share that fulfillment with all unloved wives.

5) Parting comments?
Publishing my first book was an amazing experience, and it’s eye-opening to learn how different readers perceive it. Be forewarned that this story is considered larger than life and includes romance scenes that will awaken your senses. But I’m proud to claim that even those who had complaints admit to finishing the whole book in one day!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I’ve just recently started a blog primarily for women forced to move on after their husband moves out. I’d love to have readers visit, but I’d especially love it if they passed on the blog site to anyone they know struggling with infidelity and/or divorce: www.angelaruthstrong.blogspot.com.

RL Copple's "Infinite Realities"

2011-12-19T20:12:00.001-05:00

Title: Reality's Dawn

Publisher: Splashdown Books

Cover blurb: Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, reality invaded the world. When the presence of reality emerges from under the façade of perception, lives are changed. Forever. A mystical ring binds Sisko to bless others with miracles and avoid using its power for himself, which would lead to a curse. With his friends Josh the wizard and Seth the leader of a gang of thieves, Sisko explores the emerging reality through his travels and adventures.

Journey with Sisko as reality's presence confronts and changes the greedy, the killers, the trapped, the demonic, and Sisko himself.

...Reality has dawned, and no one will be the same.

1) How did this story come to you?
I participated in a group "duel" in a critique group I was part of back in 2006. Out of that came the short story, "Steamy Realities." I had an idea after that for most stories coinciding with faith, hope, and love. The publisher of the magazine liked them and wanted to publish them in a novella, which was published in November 2007 as Infinite Realities. I added one more story to that collection to make five total that had a larger story arc. It received good reviews, but everyone complained about how short it was, they wanted more. Which is the best kind of complaint to get. So in the fall of 2010, I finally got around to writing more stories to fill in the holes and flesh out the characters better, adding on ten new stories to make a total of fifteen. That resulted in the novel-sized collection titled Reality's Dawn. So far, everyone who has read it has had good things to say about it. It has a fairy tale feel, but in an unconventional way.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The first sale was to a magazine, which is now defunct, called "The Sword Review." Bill Snodgrass was the managing editor, and also ran the parent company, Double-Edged Publishing. He took an interest in what I had done with the series and wanted to publish them as a novella. So I never had any formal submission process with him. I was just picked up. Infinite Realities was published in November 2007.

As mentioned above, I wrote ten more stories to fill out the story arc of the book in the fall of 2010. However, Double-Edged Publishing had, for all practical purposes, gone out of business, so I needed a new publisher. I also had a third book in the series yet to be published. DEP had published the second book in the trilogy, Transforming Realities, in March 2009.

I had become acquainted with Grace, who headed up Splashdown Books. She had previously reviewed Infinite Realities and gave it a five-star review, so I had an idea she might like the "new and improved" version just as well. So I sent her the manuscript for it and the third book in the series that was yet to be published. It all happened relatively quickly, in that by the beginning of February of 2011, she had decided to take all three of my books, publishing the new and improved first book as Reality's Dawn in March 2011, the sequel Transforming Realities as Reality's Ascent in May 2011, and in the near future, the third book will arrive, titled Reality's Glory.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I know the basics of Byzantine Chant and chant regularly at church. I tried to jump my car over a small ditch once, but a tree jumped in the way. My brother and I made up a whole slew of superheroes and villains and mailed them to marvel back in the early 70s; we never heard back, but I always wondered if my Magnet Man was the inspiration for Magnito.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The final book in the Realty Chronicles trilogy, Reality's Glory is scheduled to be published in the summer of 2012. I also have two books written in a new at-least-five-book series in the same world, more of a dragon story. Editing both of those.

I recently self-published the first of a two-part series on August, a space opera story called "Mind Game." I'm currently editing its sequel, Hero Game, with plans to publish it next year sometime.

I am doing an episode space opera serial called Underground, that I plan on self-publishing once it is finished and final edits done on it.

I recently published a non-fiction ebook on "How to Make an Ebook: Using Free Software." Currently at sale on Amazon, B&N, Apple, Sony, Kobo, and other online retail outlets.

5) Parting comments?
One of the reasons I write speculative fiction is its ability to enable people to see the mundane in a new light, a fresh perspective they've not considered before. It's one thing to preach. It's another to experience it in your heart. Sermons and non-fiction titles are good and needful, don't get me wrong. But many people will read those and come away only mentally enriched for the moment, but not affected by them for life. Fiction has a way of putting those truths, that theology, into life and the reader gets to experience the results.

My goal is to get the reader to see something from an angle they've yet to consider, experience truth in a way they've been unable to see with their mind previously, and hopefully open up new vistas of truth in their own life. That often takes demonstrating truth rather than preaching it directly. And because of that, I think too many dismiss fiction, especially speculative fiction, and pure escapism entertainment. It does have to be entertaining to work, but just because it is entertaining, doesn't necessarily mean it is worthless.

I think if more Christians though of it as an experiential retreat instead of escapism, it would enable a higher quality of writing and affect more lives as a result.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.rlcopple.com/
http://www.blog.rlcopple.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rlcopple
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rlcopple

Chad Young talks about the faith of a young lady...

2011-12-12T19:16:00.000-05:00

This week we're not having a book giveaway, but please take a moment to read Chad Young's interview.

“The Faith of a Young Lady” by Chad Young

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’” (Luke 1:29-33)

One of the reasons I love the gospel of Luke is that it gives so much background surrounding the birth of Jesus. Put yourself in Mary’s shoes for a moment. You’re a young lady, set to be married to a young guy named Joseph. You’re minding your own business one day, probably daydreaming about your wedding, when an angel of the Lord appears to you. At this point, you didn’t even know for sure that angels existed, but this angel tells you that God will place a child inside of you, a virgin. For me personally, I think I would either pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming or start laughing and tell the so-called “angel” to leave me alone and stop playing a prank on me. I don’t think for a second I would have had enough faith to believe what the angel said was true. But listen how Mary immediately responded:

“I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

My prayer today is that the Lord would give me faith like Mary. With strong faith like hers, my struggles with sin, and pride would fade away. My love for Christ the King would grow more intimate. The will of God would seem more important than my own selfish ambition.

My prayer to Jesus: “Lord, I praise you that you are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. You are the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. You created all things for your pleasure and purpose, including me. You even died on the cross for me so I could be adopted into the family of God. Yet so often I turn away and try to live life on my own terms, seeking worldly desires instead of the desires of the King. I surrender my life to you today. Make me the person you want me to be, and help me to fall more deeply in love with you. I ask you to give me faith like Mary had on the day she found out she would give birth to you. Increase my faith so that I may help to make you famous on earth. Amen.”

About the Author:
Chad Young is the author of Authenticity: Real Faith in a Phony, Superficial World, available at Amazon. As Campus Crusade for Christ’s director for the South Carolina Lowcountry with a scope of 25 college campuses and 70,000 students, Chad resides in Charleston, SC, with his wife Elizabeth and their four young children: Wyatt, Clark, Evelyn and Josilynn. He holds an undergraduate degree from Clemson University and a graduate degree from Georgia Tech; Chad worked in the paper industry for 6 years before going into full-time ministry. He has served on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for 9 years and has also written a discipleship training manual. He has a passion for helping students learn what it means to have an authentic relationship with Christ.

Margaret Daley's "His Holiday Family"

2011-12-05T19:29:00.011-05:00

Title: His Holiday Family
Publisher: Love Inspired

Cover blurb: When Hurricane Naomi tears through a small Mississippi town, a daring rescue unites two heroes. Nurse Kathleen Hart is a single mom racked by guilt over her husband's death. Firefighter Gideon O'Brien—orphaned as a young boy—has lost too many people he cared for. To rise above the storm's devastation, Gideon helps Kathleen and her sons rebuild their home. As Christmas approaches, they discover that even the strongest of storms can't destroy a romance built on the foundation of faith.

1) How did this story come to you?
I used to live on Mississippi Gulf Coast and wanted to honor the people who rebuild after a disaster like a hurricane. They do an amazing job. They are heroes.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My publisher asked me to do a Love Inspired series, and this is what I came up with. His Holiday Family is the first in A Town Called Hope Series. The second one is in April, 2012 called A Love Rekindled and the third one is out in September, 2012 called A Mom’s Fresh Start.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I love to read and haven’t read a book in four months for pleasure.
2) I don’t want any present for Christmas.
3) I can’t think of a third thing that would surprise my readers--I’m an open book.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on my third in the Men of the Texas Rangers Series for Abingdon Press. These books are a romantic suspense (contemporary). This third book called Scorned Justice should be out in August 2013 and is about revenge. The first book in the series will be out in March 2012 and it is called Saving Hope, followed by the second one, Shattered Silence in August 2012.

5) Parting comments?
I love hearing from my readers. You can email me from my website. There is a contact form.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.margaretdaley.com/

Melanie Dickerson's "The Merchant's Daughter"

2011-12-05T19:29:00.010-05:00

Title: The Merchant’s Daughter
Publisher: Zondervan

Cover blurb: An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.
Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

1) How did this story come to you?
Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairy tale, and when I decided to do another fairy tale retelling, I knew I wanted to do a Beauty and the Beast story. I knew I wanted to set it in England and for it have a little bit of a Gothic feel. Then the story just gradually evolved. I don’t really remember too much about the process. I wrote it about four years ago.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I was still trying to get The Healer’s Apprentice published when I entered The Merchant’s Daughter in its first contest, and it won first place and The Healer’s Apprentice took fourth. But I didn’t really try very hard to get it published. Once Zondervan decided to publish The Healer’s Apprentice, my agent submitted The Merchant’s Daughter to my editor. A few months later, she asked for some changes. I did the changes, and finally, about a year after we submitted it, they said yes.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) My books are published as YA’s but I rarely read a YA.
2) I am watching the TV show Once Upon a Time, which is not surprising, but it is the first TV show I’ve followed in over twenty years.
3) I hate bananas.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have a Snow White story and a Cinderella story that are both sequels to The Healer’s Apprentice and am hoping Zondervan will publish them in about a year. Right now I’m working on a Regency for an adult Christian audience.

5) Parting comments?
I should probably say something profound like “World peace is so important and we should all do our part,” but instead I’ll say, “Please go buy my book. It’s really good.”

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love interacting with readers, so please friend me on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/people/Melanie-Dickerson/100000220838349

And please check out the awesome trailers for The Merchant’s Daughter and The Healer’s Apprentice on my website, http://www.melaniedickerson.com/

Beth Trissel's "Somewhere the Bells Ring"

2011-12-05T19:29:00.009-05:00

Title: Somewhere the Bells Ring
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Cover blurb: Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative's ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn't so bad.

To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope--until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.

As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe--in Bailey and the ghost--before the Christmas bells ring?

1) How did this story come to you?
In a vivid dream that took place in the beautiful old Virginia home place where my father grew up and I visited during the holidays about a young woman, a guest in the house at Christmas, and the mysterious gentleman she met. That dream nagged at me until I wrote the story. I’m also very nostalgic about the late 1960’s, thus the time period the story is set in, and an even earlier era 1918 and the end of WW1--that accounts for the flashbacks.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Writing it. My Faery Rose (light paranormal) editor loved the story, so the journey was all in the creation.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m a wee bit psychic. Stories and characters often come to me in dreams, also events I’d rather not know about sometimes. I pray a lot.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The next story in my ‘Somewhere’ series, the sequel to Scottish time travel romance Somewhere My Lass, while I wait to hear back from my historical editor about a manuscript I turned in, the third in my colonial frontier trilogy and the sequel to Through the Fire. I write for two different lines at the Wild Rose Press.

5) Parting comments?
If you enjoy an intriguing mystery with Gothic overtones and heart-tugging romance set in vintage America then Somewhere the Bells Ring is for you. And did I mention the ghost?

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog is the happening place and has links to everything else: http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/

Liz Tolsma's "Under His Wings in A Log Cabin Christmas"

2011-12-05T19:28:00.003-05:00

Title: Under His Wings in A Log Cabin Christmas
Publisher: Barbour

Cover blurb: Adie O’Connell, orphaned and alone in a dangerous logging camp, seeks the stability she once knew when both her parents lived. Despite the compassion and friendship offered by Noah “Preacher Man” Mitchell, she refuses to consider marriage to a man always drifting from one job to another for God.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was visiting the Camp Five logging museum in Laona, Wisconsin and thought it would be a great place to set a story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I wrote the first two chapters of the book several years ago, but wasn’t able to find a publisher for it. It sat lonely on my hard drive for that entire time. Then in August 2010, Barbour put out a call for a Christmas story with a log cabin in it. How perfect! I wrote the third chapter, polished everything, and submitted it.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Wow, this is hard for me. I’m pretty much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person.
1. I’m disorganized. O.K., very disorganized. I like to pretend I have it all together, but I don’t.
2. I haven’t read the other stories in the collection. I’m afraid they’re way better than mine.
3. I don’t like talking on the telephone.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My agent has submitted my WWII story to several publishers. Still waiting… I’m working on a prairie romance now and will soon embark on another series set in South Dakota.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for hosting me. I appreciate it and I appreciate all the readers who have bought the book and sent me such kind comments.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
They can find me at www.liztolsma.blogspot.com, http://www.liztolsma.com/, on Facebook as Liz Tolsma and on Twitter @LizTolsma. I’m also a regular contributor to The Barn Door, http://www.thebarndoor.net/

Register to win Precarious Yates' new book on human trafficking at www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com

2011-12-03T17:25:00.000-05:00

We're happy to have Precarious Yates with us talking about her new book "The Elite of the Weak." She's on our sister blog at www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com. Please leave a comment there with your email address for your chance to win. Thanks!

Tell me about The Elite of the Weak

The Elite of the Weak is set in the near future, when Babylon is rebuilt over the ancient ruins, odd political alliances are forged and strong earthquakes occur in strange places.

Trained to do covert missions from a young age, Hadassah enjoys few things more than thrills, whether it’s jumping out of an airplane, a high speed chase after a Somali pirate or crawling through the air ducts in a mafia-owned warehouse. But nothing is more thrilling than rescuing kids from human trafficking. The only thing is, she might do better on a team than on her own.

Enter Revelation Special Ops and their unique short-term mission trips. This elite group of people, R.S.O., is trained to rescue kids from the darkest forms of human trafficking. And they may just be willing to take seventeen year old Hadassah on board.

Why did you write about human trafficking?
In the summer of 2010 I knew I needed to start writing again, but I didn’t want to write about just anything. I had spent almost two years in intense study of the book of Revelation, so I knew my book would have an End Times theme. Also, by that time I had spent ten years raising awareness about the horrors of human trafficking throughout the world, and this theme snuck into everything I wrote anyway. But I took three days where I asked God what He wanted me to write about. That’s when the idea came to me for Revelation Special Ops.

We all agree that kids should not be trafficked. It’s just plain wrong on so many levels. But I prayfully wondered: will there be people trying to rescue these kids when the world as we know it starts to fall apart? It was from that question that I started writing the first book of Revelation Special Ops, The Elite of the Weak, during the 2010 NaNoWriMo. I was so inspired by the character of Hadassah that I wrote over 62,000 words in a month—by hand. I hope she inspires others too.

What inspired you to become an abolitionist?
Eleven years ago, I took a summer job working for a company that did electronic funds transfers for non-profit organizations. You’d think a job like this would be mundane, but my boss, a former Navy Seal, was anything but mundane. He’d spent four months in early 2000 filming a documentary about forced prostitution in Eastern Europe. So my job title went from passive receptionist to an active abolitionist. I was asked to help put the presentation together, pooling articles about human trafficking from a dozen or more news sources. I learned later that my boss took this presentation to the Vatican when he had an audience with the Pope and other Vatican staff.

Once I learned about what happened to girls and women around the globe, I couldn’t be silent about it any more.

Does human trafficking only happen overseas?
There are over 100,000 kids caught in human trafficking in the USA. As many as 95% of those trafficked have been in foster care.

What are some practical steps a teen abolitionist can take?
(1) First of, get close to God. He is the great Emancipator and the great Abolitionist. A friend of mine said recently, “In Exodus 2, Moses was an activist and a revolutionary. But in Exodus 3 he became a prophet and a deliverer. That’s what... an encounter with God will do to you.”
(2) Allow the Lord to soften your heart toward those who are oppressed. It’s easy to feel compassion when they are far away, not so much sometimes when they are up close.
(3) Prayerfully, and with your parents’ full knowledge and support, befriend someone who may be on the brink. Many kids in terrible circumstances will be more likely to tell a friend they were propositioned by a pimp. Love, advice and help from peers can lead kids on the brink toward positive choices. But tell your parents and direct this friend toward the guidance counselors at school or your youth pastor. Remember that you are powerful in this person’s life (even when they mock you), but you also can’t and shouldn’t do this on your own.
(4) Get involved with organizations that work to end trafficking. Here’s a link http://precariousyates.wordpress.com/links to a list of them .
(5) Start a prayer meeting, or bring it up as a topic in your next prayer meeting.
(6) Tell friends about the issue, or tell them about books, news articles, organizations, etc.
(7) Hope in the Lord always. With God all things are possible, including a world without slavery.

Register to win a signed paperback by leaving a comment at www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com.

Jude Urbanski's "Joy Restored"

2011-11-28T17:17:00.001-05:00

Title: Joy Restored
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing

Cover blurb: Oh, this wasn't easy to finalize! I wanted to tell everything. But here's what I eventually settled on: Kate Davidson feels God has played a cruel joke with the accidental death of her husband, a troubled Vietnam vet. She is so angry at God she almost misses the incredible love offered by rich widower Seth Orbin, no stranger to loss and grief.

1) How did this story come to you?
In writing women's fiction, I seem to be drawn to themes of spinning tragedy into triumph and Kate and Seth both do this, each in their own way. My own life includes tragedies I've turned into triumph with the help of God. So I easily identify with my characters. The setting, which is on the cover, is where I was born, but left early in my life. The memory never left me though and I returned to it for the book.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
That was amazing. I had nearly relegated my first novel to my computer for 'my eyes only' when I learned of Desert Breeze. Someone wanted novels with a touch of the Vietnam era and the Depression Era! My novel links to the Vietnam era and the free accompanying download with my book is my mother's short love story set in the Depression Era. We both share the same setting. Bonanza!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I confess to a popcorn addiction; I collect rocks from sites I visit; and when in Honduras, rode in a military Hummer full of soldiers and no, I wasn't arrested. I was on a mission trip and 'looked after' by the government.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm doing a sequel to Joy Restored and it is called Nurtured in Purple. I have a completed women's fiction manuscript set in Jamaica.

5) Parting comments?
For those who dream, there is no such word as impossible. Thank you for having me, K. Dawn!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.judeurbanski.com/
Blog: judeurbanski.blogspot.com
Email: urbanski4u@aol.com

Rhonda Gibson's "A Biltmore Christmas"

2011-11-28T17:05:00.002-05:00

Title: A Biltmore Christmas
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb:Explore the luxuries of America’s largest home through the eyes of the fiction Bradford sisters. Having been orphaned, they each secure work and lodging at the Biltmore estate. Charity, a laundress; Peggy, an assistant cook, Selma, a chambermaid; and Melissa, a stable "boy" each experience adventures in employment and romance that culminate at Christmastime when the Vanderbilts’ hospitality is at its grandest level.

1) How did this story come to you?
Sylvia Barnes approached me about joining this collection. Peggy is the oldest sister and I just knew she’d be a wonderful cook but I also knew she’d be allergic to bees. The Biltmore house fascinated me from the beginning and Peggy’s story simply unfolded as I researched this wonderful piece of history.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.

I am very lucky to have a support group called The Bards Of Faith. We like to brainstorm and help each other get published. This book started with the Bards and has been a wonderful adventure. One of our members pitched the story at the ACFW conference to Rebecca Germany. She liked the idea and from there we researched and wrote our stories.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

1. The older I get the more recluse I become.

2. I love to read fantasy fiction

3. I have moved out of my writing cottage and into an office, if you’ve been following me for long, you know I LOVED my writing cottage.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?

Right now I’m working on a mail order bride historical romance. My next release will be in May and is a Love Inspired Historical titled, The Marshal’s Promise. I’m thrilled to be a part of the LIH family!

5) Parting comments?
I love writing and would enjoy hearing from readers. Feel free to email me at rgib2001@yahoo.com Thank you for having me. This has been fun!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.rhondagibson.com or visit my blog at http://rhondagibson.blogspot.com

Amanda Deed's "Ellenvale Gold"

2011-11-28T16:55:00.001-05:00

Title: Ellenvale Gold

Publisher: Even Before Publishing

Cover blurb: It is the time of Australia’s harsh rogue-filled gold rush of the 1850s when Miss Penelope Worthington suddenly finds herself orphaned, isolated and alone. With a large sheep station to run single-handedly, she has little option but to enlist the aid of a mysterious, but sinister stranger.

But who is the more treacherous? Gus—the scruffy, trespassing, ex-convict who co-incidentally shows up looking for work just when she desperately needs a farmhand or Rupert—the handsome, wealthy neighbour who would willingly marry her at the drop of a hat and solve her apparent dilemma?

Repeatedly, her faith is tested as she faces the unforgiving elements, deceit, lies and uncertainty. But where and how will it all end? But…is it the end? Will vengeance return or will Penny’s faith prevail?

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to write an historical romance set in Australia. The Victorian gold rush was a very formative part of our national identity, so I thought it would make a good backdrop to a romance.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I wrote the first draft back in 2000. It took me years to gain the courage to put it out there and then take steps to find a publisher. As it turned out, I had another novel published first, but finally this one is ready for the market.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. It surprises people that although I am an artistic person (I play music and paint occasionally), I have a passion for mathematics.
2. As soon as the weather is warm enough, I go barefoot as much as I can.
3. I wore running shoes beneath my Victorian style wedding dress (not so I could escape, but for comfort).

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am about to send the sequel to Ellenvale Gold off to the publisher. Next I plan to write the third and final installment of the Jacksons Creek Trilogy.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me on your blog today.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.amandadeed.com.au

http://amanderings.wordpress.com

Suzanne Hartmann's "Peril"

2011-11-28T16:52:00.001-05:00

Title: PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1
Publisher: OakTara Publishing

Cover blurb: A top secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments from the White House to NASCAR tracks. When unwanted publicity threatens to expose her, she herself becomes a terrorist target, with danger surrounding her on all sides. “Plenty of action and unexpected twists.” Foreword by Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

1) How did this story come to you?

The Fast Track Thrillers began as stories I created to entertain myself during my children’s music lessons and sports practices. It didn’t enter my mind to write a book until a thought popped into my head while I was taking a walk: “Why don’t you write them into a novel.” For a while I considered whether I was having a premature mid-life crisis, but finally decided that it was truly a nudge from God. The NASCAR aspect of it filtered into my stories after my daughter decided she liked watching stock car racing. I started paying more attention to the races (instead of taking a nap), and after a while, I realized that a NASCAR driver would make an exciting addition my story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.

I followed a fairly traditional route towards publication, in spite of having no clue what I was doing when I wrote the first draft of PERIL. I joined a critique group, polished up the manuscript, then spent a year and a half looking for an agent. After another serious revision pass, in which I reduced the wordcount by twenty-five percent, and rewriting the opening chapter, Terry Burns offered me a contract. He diligently queried editors for a year and a half before Ramona Tucker at OakTara offered a contract five months ago. Along the way, I’ve learned a ton about how to write a novel, which I share in my book Write This Way: Take Your Writing to a New Level, and I have made many wonderful friends.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) I wasn’t a NASCAR fan when I started writing PERIL.
b) Like one of my main characters, I was in a very serious car accident years ago.
c) I touched the Berlin Wall when it was still standing in Berlin.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
CONSPIRACY: Fast Track Thriller #2 and REVENGE: Fast Track Thriller #3 The ideas have been rattling around in my head for several years, but so far I’ve only got a narrative outline. Now that Book #1 is out, I’m getting serious about writing the further adventures of the protagonists in PERIL.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet

Website: Fast Track Thrillers (http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com)
Blog: Write This Way (http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com)

Tiffany Amber Stockton's "Bound by Grace"

2011-11-21T21:01:00.002-05:00

Title: Bound by Grace

Publisher: Barbour Publishing / Heartsong Presents

Cover blurb: While young ladies happily attend parties, gossip, and pursue eligible gentleman, Charlotte would rather run her bookshop and discuss great literature with her customers. But when her parents pressure her to agree to an advantageous match, Charlotte fears she'll be trapped in a loveless marriage. Richard Baxton feels pressure at every turn. The accidental deaths of his brother and sister-in-law leave him responsible for the family business and his niece Grace, who is unable to walk. When Grace's love for books leads him to Charlotte's bookshop, Richard is drawn to Charlotte's sweet spirit. But endless problems leave Richard unable to afford the surgery that may allow Grace to walk again and to assure Charlotte's parents that he could provide for their daughter. Time is running out before Grace is permanently paralyzed, Charlotte is forced to marry a man she barely knows, and Richard will lose the woman he loves. Will God's grace bind them together as they confront their challenges?

1) How did this story come to you?
I wrote a series that released in 2008, set in Delaware during the Colonial era. Many of my readers asked if I was going to continue that family’s story at some point. So, when my editor asked me for another 3-book series, I jumped forward a little over 100 years and continued the family a few generations down the line, using a book that figured prominently in the first book of the previous series to tie the couples together in each of the 3 books of the new series. It proved quite a challenge—albeit an enjoyable one—to research the area over 100 years into the future and map out the family lineage from where I left off to where I began with this book.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
There isn’t much to say, to be honest. Since I had already sold 8 books to my publisher, I didn’t have to do anything more than pitch a paragraph or two about this series to my editor. She loved the premise and sent me a contract from a 2-page synopsis.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) Before I married, I was the only living female Miller in my family (except my mother who married into the name).
2) My grandfather’s cousin married President Woodrow Wilson while he was president, so I’m somewhat related to “American Royalty.” :)
3) I work for international celebrity Jane Seymour, handling her fan mail and managing her web site.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently writing book 2 in this series (Stealing Hearts), and it’s due in January. My next book releases in May 2012, and it’s a novella (Colonial Courtships) with 3 other authors. I’m also working on a 3-book series for Harvest House Publishers, and there’s a possibility of another book for an ongoing series partnering multiple authors from a single literary agency working in collaboration. That’s a relatively new development, so nothing is confirmed yet.

5) Parting comments?
I’d like to thank K. Dawn for having me here today, and you for stopping by to read this interview.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Look me up anytime at http://www.amberstockton.com/. There, you will find links to my blog, Facebook fan page, and Twitter account. I love to hear from my readers, and anyone who follows or is interested in my writing career. Drop a note. I always respond within 48-72 hours, unless one of my 2 little ones interrupts my nicely made plans. :)

Jeanne Brooks' "Across the Wilderness" and "Through the Waters"

2011-11-21T20:22:00.002-05:00

Title: Across the Wilderness
Cover blurb:Isobel dreams of marriage and a family of her own after graduation from college. Her plans come to a grinding halt when her potential in-laws reject her because of her ethnic appearance. She doesn’t fit into their class-conscious, blue-blooded, American society. Broken-hearted, she retreats to the home of her last living relative, Aunt Betty. When her aunt dies, she discovers a family secret: that she isn’t who she thought she was! Isobel was raised to believe she was part Japanese and part Caucasian-American, but she finds proof that her ethnicity is totally different and that her birth mother might still be living. She determines to seek out her biological family and in the process finds a heritage far greater than she ever anticipated.

How did this story come to you?
A close acquaintance, when he was over 50 years old, learned that the man he knew as his father was not his father. The knowledge was traumatic and life-changing. That particular incident combined with my love for other cultures helped me to build this story. As the mother of bi-racial children, I also saw situations of rejection purely because of the appearance or ethnicity and wanted to carry that into my main character’s life.

Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This book is one of four books, called Journey of Faith, about friends who graduated together from a Christian college. Each book follows one woman on hers. Having self-published my first book (“Through the Waters”) it seemed natural to continue that path for this one, although I chose a different publisher for several reasons.

Title: Through the Waters
Cover Blurb: MADELINE MARIE GALLOWAY is a single, solidly Christian young woman excited about the future until she experiences the loss of her father and a violent attack resulting in a pregnancy. How could God let this happen to one of his faithful? How could she ever offer herself to her future husband now that she was no longer pure? And what about the baby? Abortion, Single parenthood? Adoption?

JIM AND SUZANNE are a young couple looking forward to raising a family and having a loving Christian home. They experience multiple disappointments until tragedy forces them toward a choice they never expected to make. Unexpectedly, the result brings them great joy, but will their happiness last? Why do tragic things happen to good people?

Watch how God carries them through their trials and tears. See how “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:27-29 KJV

How did this story come to you?
As a medical professional for over 30 years, I have had the opportunity and challenge to work with many of these situations. Probably the one event in my life that strongly impacted me was when my oldest sister became pregnant after an attack and chose to give up the child for adoption. Combining my personal experience with various individuals I’ve treated helps me build strong characters. Recalling how my faith has carried me through various losses: grandparents, father, daughter, helped me insert that into this story in a realistic manner.

Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Honestly, I never approached an agent or traditional publisher to attempt to get published. I have been writing for years, but struggled with self-esteem issues, so wasn’t willing to risk rejection. Instead, I decided to test the market by putting this quartet of books out there using self-publishing. I prayed hard about it and felt impressed to go this path, even though I knew that many did not respect self-published authors. I’m glad I chose self-publishing because it has allowed me to continue my primary job, working with soldiers before and after deploying to war. I was even able to freely give copies to soldiers heading to the combat zones without feeling guilty; the cost was on me and my publisher carried no risk.

Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I was the first female in my career field in the United States Air Force: Aircrew Egress Systems Repairman,
2) I worked in a male, medium-high security prison for nine months, and
3) I married nearly 38 years and have 10 grandchildren (guess that’s a two-fer)

What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I tend to work on multiple projects at the same time. Right now I am working on completing the Journeys of Faith, with the third named “Out of the Valley” which I hope to have out later this year, and a fourth, “Over the Mountain” which will be out early 2012 if all goes according to plan.

Parting comments?
Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite Bible verse, “I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for welfare and not for evil, plans to give you a future and a hope.” ESV

Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.jeannebrooks.com/
Facebook Author page: Jeanne F. Brooks
Twitter: Author4Him
Amazon Author Central: Jeanne F. Brooks

Edward Snipes' "I Called Him Dancer"

2011-11-21T20:21:00.001-05:00

Title: I Called Him Dancer
Publisher: GES Publishing

Cover blurb:I Called Him Dancer is about a boy growing up
in a broken home. His fragile world is shattered when his mother leaves him with a relative and walks out of his life. After seeing a man dancing with grace and acrobatics, he decides to imitate the man and discovers a natural talent for dance. His life's passion becomes dance and eventually the young man achieves his dream of Broadway. A drug addiction and his inner demons destroy his life and he eventually becomes homeless. His previous dance partner refuses to let go and reaches out to him, but he rejects her. Bitter at God and the world, the dancer embraces a solitary life on the streets. Though he lashes out at God, the Lord has other plans for the fallen dancer.

1) How did this story come to you?
In 2009, two song writers named Tralena Walker and Tom Webster visited the Atlanta Writers Club. They were scheduled to speak at the second hour of our meeting. I almost didn’t stay since I had no interest in song writing. I headed down the hall after the first session ended, but when I reached for the door, I had the strange urge to stay. At the end of their presentation, Tralena performed a song titled, Dancer, and then said, “I’ve been trying to find someone to write about this song. I think it would make a great novel.”

Until then, I was a passive spectator, but her words made my head explode. Embarrassed by the loud pop, I quickly scooped up the pieces and reassembled my head and discovered that the book was mixed into my brain matter. The whole story hit me at once. I met with them and we worked together shaping the story into what it is today.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I never expected to become a writer, much less did I plan to get published. When I was a child, I got my first book. I flipped through the pages, then tore it apart. I didn't know it at the time, but that's exactly what you do when editing a manuscript.

I hated writing when I was younger. I only did what I had to do, and sometimes not even that. Writers block was more like writers dementia. My mind didn't return to me until after... hmmm. What were we talking about?

In 1998, I became active in prison ministry. Many of the men I ministered to were eager to learn. Someone asked me if I had my studies or notes on paper. I agreed to write out the next study and then my writing career was born. The problem wasn't that I couldn't write. It was that I didn't have something to say. Or didn't realize I had something to say. Over time writing transformed from a task to a passion.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m dyslexic, but hey, slysdexics are teople poo.
I have 5 kids – all girls. I did get a male dog to get some testosterone in the house.
My favorite hobby is to tap dance on oatmeal while reciting Shakespear.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have many project going. I’m working on my new release, Sound Mind. It’s a non-fiction book about how to deal with emotions in a healthy way. This was inspired by many discussions with my 5 girls. While working through a problem with my third daughter, I realized these same issues keep coming up. Maybe it’s time to put these things on paper.

5) Parting comments?
I try to make my books affordable. The ebook version of I Called Him Dancer is only .99 cents. The ebook version of my discipleship books are free downloads from my website. All are available in print as well.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.eddiesnipes.com/
Twitter: @eddiesnipes
I’m also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Amish Fiction continues to capture readers' hearts...

2011-11-14T20:34:00.000-05:00

It's Clash of the Titles week here on the blog and we're taking a week off from book giveaways. Please take a moment to read the guest post below from Clash of the Titles' Jennifer Slattery.

Amish Fiction continues to capture readers hearts, and this Friday, I'm adding two must reads to my list. I love the promise of plot twists in The Waiting a unique Amish Fiction about heartache, love, and laughter, by Suzanne Woods Fisher. According to readers, this novel is full of surprises, sweetened by romance, and spiced by suspense. Although readers connected to all the characters, they appeared to love Jorie most of all, a woman characterized by love.

From the back cover:
She was waiting for love--and found it in the most unexpected place. Jorie King's life is on hold. She has been waiting for Ben Zook to return to Lancaster County. Waiting for him to settle down and join the church. Waiting to marry him.But when news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie is devastated. She finds unlikely comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. Friendship ripens into love, and two broken hearts plan for a life filled with the promise of a fresh beginning--until their worlds are turned upside down.With her realistic characters whose weaknesses develop into strengths, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers a reading experience that rises above the others. You will love growing in spirit with these complex people living the simple life as The Waiting transports you into a world where things aren't as simple as they seem.

A bit about Suzanne:
When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. She started raising the first puppy after the family returned from living in Hong Kong for four years, in a 44-story highrise.

Ten puppies later, she is hooked. She says it’s like eating potato chips: You can’t stop after one. To Suzanne's way of thinking, you just can't take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth.

My second "must-read" comes from A Harvest of Hearts ,an engaging Amish Fiction about a strong-willed woman with a dream that threatens her Amish way of life, by Laura V. Hilton. Readers love the authentic realism Laura adds to her writing and image-evoking details.

From the back cover:Matthew Yoder volunteered to be part of the swap of Amish men from his Old Order Pennsylvania Amish Community, to the Amish community in Seymour, Missouri. There is nothing for him in Pennsylvania, as the youngest of twelve children, and the lack of farmland around Lancaster County, he felt he could make a better future in another district. Shanna Stoltzfus has been raised Amish, and couldn’t wait for her rumspringa so she could pursue her education. She hated having to quit school in the 8th grade to stay home and learn everything that makes a home run smoothly. But now she has earned her GED and is taking college courses, but her family is begging her to come home; her little sisters miss her. And there’s something about newcomer, Matthew Yoder that draws her attention. But is it enough to give up her dreams of education and join the Amish church?

A bit about the author:
Laura V. Hilton is a home school mom of five children – but not all five are currently homeschooled. Her sons are in college working on their associate degrees, but they are still living at home. She'd miss them if they weren’t! Her three daughters are the ones she teaches.

She's a breast cancer survivor of three years now.

She's a northern girl living in the south. Yes, she likes her tea unsweet. She has gotten acquainted with grits but she hasn’t been brave enough to try chocolate gravy. Everyone says it’s good, but seriously…gravy? She has a hard time imagining it on potatoes.

And join us next week at Clash of the Titles to meet these two great authors!

***Jennifer Slattery is a publicist, writer, and freelance editor living in the midwest with her husband of sixteen years and their fourteen year old daughter. She writes for Christ to the World Minnistries, the Christian Pulse, Internet Cafe Devotions, and Samie Sisters and her work has appeared in numerous publications. Visit her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud to find out more about her and her writing.

Jennifer Slattery
Broken Lives Saturated by Grace
Facebook
JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com
ClashOfThetitles

Interview with Lauralee Bliss

2011-11-07T16:34:00.002-05:00

Title: “A Crossroad to Love” in A Quaker Christmas
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: Christmas is a simple matter among the Quakers of the historic Ohio River Valley, but can it be a time to welcome love into four households? In Lauralee’s novella, “A Crossroad to Love” Mary Hall’s family runs an inn for weary travelers, but some guests, like Silas Jones, pressure them to compromise their steadfast Quaker ways. Could it be that Silas just needs a reminder of why simpler ways are often better?

1) How did this story come to you?
I was actually hiking the Appalachian Trail at the time the editor asked if I would be a part of this collection. I was staying with a couple then who took me in as a weary hiker, and the idea for an inn ministering to a weary traveler came into being.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I alluded to, the idea of an inn came to me while I was out hiking last year, and from that initial premise, I pieced together a storyline. I had also done extensive research on the Quakers many years ago for a biography on William Penn that did not come through. He suffered quite a bit of injustice in his life as a Quaker, so I wanted to incorporate that aspect within the story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail twice, both north and south, one of only 24 women to have done this.
2. I make brownies from scratch using applesauce nearly every day - they are easier on my digestion, and I just love them!
3. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I go all out in decorating and celebrating the season.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on another novella idea to take place in historic St. Louis. I am also writing an e-book for those interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail. And I am actively speaking about the Appalachian Trail to interested hikers.

5) Parting comments?
You never know what will cross your path on your journey in life. Just be open to what God brings your way.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.lauraleebliss.com/
http://www.blissfullifejourney.com/
http://www.blissfulhiking.com/
Readers of Lauralee Bliss on Facebook –
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-of-Author-Lauralee-Bliss/170259122202

Cover blurb: "Love Finds you in Bethlehem, New Hampshire:
Sara McGee is not what Tom Haskins expected. The artist knew he was taking a risk when he reluctantly agreed to advertise for a mail-order bride but Tom assumed the woman who answered his ad would be more refined than the penniless and uneducated Sara McGee. Tom takes Sara under his wing but he knows he can never marry her— especially now that he’s suddenly receiving attention from accomplished pianist Annabelle Loving. While Tom’s sister is bent on transforming Sara into a lady, Sara knows she can never compete with Annabelle. Nonetheless, she finds herself drawn to the lovely mountain town of Bethlehem… and to the artist who brought her here. But without a marriage to Tom, Sara knows she cannot stay. As preparations for Christmas transform the tiny town, will Tom come to understand the message of the first Bethlehem—that the most precious gifts don’t always come as they’re expected?

Mildred Colvin's "Love Returned"

2011-11-07T16:33:00.002-05:00

Title: Love Returned
Cover blurb: Megan McGinnis was pressured to give up her baby and has regretted doing so ever since. Now she’s met Scott Landis and his son, Randy. His adopted son.

About the time she falls in love with Scott, circumstances convince her Randy is the baby she gave away nine years ago. But what can she do?

If she confronts Scott, she'll lose his love, and he'll keep Randy from her. If she marries Scott without telling who she is, she'll have Randy and Scott, but be living a lie. Is there a happy ending to her life?

1) How did this story come to you?
I have always been interested in adoption and how it affects both sides of the child’s family. As an adoptive mother, I’ve experienced feelings of insecurity and uncertainty that comes with an adopted child. I’ve sympathized with the birthmother who gave her child up for adoption and admired her for doing so. Love Returned is the story of a birthmother who longs to have closure with the baby she gave away. Mostly, she wants to know if he’s happy and being taken care of.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I first wrote Love Returned a few years ago when I was active in Cub Scouting as a den leader. I even attended Cub Scout camp and researched while there for this book. I linked Love Returned with two other books set in Missouri and sent them to Heartsong Presents for their Romancing America line. Another series was selected for that spot so I put my books aside. When I learned I could self-publish, I dug this manuscript out and rewrote it, polished it, then published it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as an e-book. Since, I have released Love Returned in paperback.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

a. My husband and I married 2 months after our blind date and are still together after 40+ years.

b. We have had more than 30 children, 3 adopted, the rest fostered.

c. Sorry, that’s only two. My life is really quite boring just the way I like it.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am rewriting one of my old Heartsong Presents books, Cora. Besides lengthening the story, I’ve changed the title to Love’s Tender Call. My goal is to submit it to another publisher, but if it isn’t accepted, I’ll more than likely self-publish it since I know it’s better now than it was before.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you K. Dawn for having me back on your blog. There’s one thing many people still don’t know. You don’t have to own a Kindle or Nook to read e-books. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble have graciously provided an e-book reader download on their sites. This allows you to read e-books from your PC, many phones, and other things. Take a look and get yours for free.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I can be found at my personal blog: www.mildredcolvin.blogspot.com or a group blog with other authors: http://www.infinitecharacters.com/

Doreen Hanna's "Raising a Modern Day Princess"

2011-11-07T16:31:00.003-05:00

Title: Raising a Modern Day Princess,

Publisher: FOTF/Tyndale
Cover blurb: In Raising a Modern-Day Princess, authors Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna come alongside mothers and mentors to offer practical help in raising a generation of women to see themselves as God sees them, Daughters of the King, true modern-day princesses. In an easy-to-use step-by-step style, the authors show moms how to create a fun-filled and life-changing rite-of-passage experience celebrating their daughters’crossover into womanhood. There’s also an entire chapter to help dads or father figures understand the vital role they play in their daughters’ lives. With personal stories and advice from real moms and daughters, this book speaks to the heart of every woman who longs to instill in her daughter a true sense of purpose, value, and strength.

1) How did this story come to you?

In late 1999 I (Doreen) was asked to speak for a mother/daughter event titled, “Celebrate You’re a Daughter of the King.” In addition, they requested I include the importance of older women mentoring younger women.

My first thought after saying yes was: “What exactly does a Daughter of the King look like in today’s society? The following term came immediately to mind, “A Jewish American Princess.” I knew this was a slang term in CA referring to Jewish women in the upper class society of CA. I pondered those words for a moment and that caused me to remember some of the Jewish moms I knew in high school. I recalled how they would walk down the school hallway with a graceful boldness, on their way to the principal’s office to discuss a plan of action for their child’s misbehavior. I also began to consider that divorce didn’t seem to be an option and that family life was very important to them. They were faithful in their synagogues and they directed their children in a way that most often led to great success.

With all that in mind it prompted me to go to the library to find the answer as to why they had such a solid

foundation and sense of royalty about them. Within my research I discovered several books on a Jewish girl’s Bat-Mitzvah. I immediately found that traditionally a woman called a “mentor,” (truly a God moment already) comes alongside of their daughter for one year, at the time that she turns 12, to reinforce all that the parents and their synagogue have taught and invested in her. As I read the various subjects addressed, such as her character development, talents, understanding and memorization of the Torah (the 1^st 5 books of our Bible), and service to her community, to name a few, all led to presenting her as a “woman,” at the age of 13 on the day of her Bat-Mitzvah celebration. I quickly saw why these woman were appropriately called (not slang at all!) Princesses. They had truly been royally trained!

I felt well prepared for the event as I presented that day the purpose and power of a having a mentor in a young girl’s life enabling her to embrace her true identity in Christ, a Daughter of the King. I also incorporated Princess Diana’s “ladies in waiting, (mentors!)” that served her throughout her life available to give her wise counsel in every area of her life: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Lastly, I spoke of Rahab, a prostitute who became a Princess in the linage of Jesus who was surrounded by the women of Israel (mentors!) preparing her to one day marry a Prince.

Driving home from the event many thoughts flooded my mind. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit arrested my wandering mind with this question, “What does our American Christian culture have for our girls?” You know the obvious answer was, “Nothing.”

I began pondering on how our Christian community had not carried from our Jewish roots a very valuable tradition: Preparing and celebrating our daughters step into womanhood. I contemplated how for most of us, my generation and many before me, had either just drifted into, or defined our own rite-of-passage into adulthood. It might have been our first kiss, drink, smoke or drugs. Or, possibly more appropriately: graduating from high school, college, turning 21 or our first job.

Of course, this brought me back to what I had read about these Jewish women mentors who supported the parents and came alongside these girls equipping them for womanhood and this was well celebrated in their synagogue with family and friends where she was blessed by her Rabbi and father publicly, embracing her into adulthood with an increased measure of confidence and grace!

This was a God moment. I faced the reality of what God was asking me that day but it took me three months to say YES to Him. Why? Because I knew it meant going back to work with teen girls. That was a scary thought after having raised two of my own and the culture had changed so much how could I relate to them? Really God?! Then there was the realization that I would have to create and write a curriculum. Hey! I wasn’t a writer? 25 years of speaking and teaching women’s Bible studies, but not creating one! One of my Pastor’s favorite quotes then came to mind, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called!” Furthermore, within days I was reading my Daily Bible and just happened to be in the book of Esther (another God moment!) and read in Chapter 4 verses13-14 “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s place (I was secure serving God where I was!)…for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place (or He will use another person). Yet, who knows whether you have come to royalty for such a time as this.” That sealed it for me. It was a YES. I didn’t want to miss out on something God had called me to accomplish for His glory and ultimately for my pleasure.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.

I love telling this story because getting published was a dream come true! I had been invited by Focus on the Family to attend a gathering in 2002 with others across that country that had created rite-of-passage books, curriculums, seminars, etc. (This was a result of a friend who worked with FOTF and wanted to see me meet someone there enabling me to share what God had called me to do and had been implementing for a few years now and seeing the results.

When I arrived I was the only woman in the room and was surrounded by FOTF director Jim Weidiman, John Trent, the author of The Blessing, Randy Phillips, one of the founding members of Promisekeepers and several others unknowns like myself but had been called by God to help facilitate within our American society the importance of a rite-of-passage!

We discovered that one verse that had been instilled in all of our hearts during our development journeys. It was Malachi 4:6 “He will turn the heart of the father towards his children and the children towards their father…” We knew that this rite-of-passage was accomplishing this because we were seeing it before our very eyes.

I left that meeting praying that one day FOTF would publish my curriculum. However, the opportunity did not present itself at that time. Therefore, over the next 5 years I pitched my curriculum to various publishers. Most of them were receptive to the idea but no contract. 12 rejections later and in October 2008 at the CLASS Glorieta Writers Conference I met Brandy Bruce, a senior editor for FOTF and she immediately loved what I had presented. By January 2009 my co-author, Pam Farrel and I had signed a contract and we were on our way to writing a book! Remember I thought I would never be a writer ? Well, God keeps stretching us, ok me!, to grow me up in Him and to amazingly use me to further His plans and purposes for our teen girls. January of 2010 Raising a Modern Day Princess was released and has sold more than 20,000 copies. I still stand in awe at what God wants and can do in, through, and around us when we say YES to Him.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

1) I was a California Beach Bunny, who from the age of 3 loved the boys (so my mother told me), especially the Beach Boys!

2) I was born with black hair. Lived as a brunette until I was 58 – now I’m a blonde! I do believe that this blonde is having more fun! J

3) I left my husband after 24 years of marriage, moved out of state, filed for divorce, was gone for 13 months. However, we reconciled 6 weeks before the divorce was final. We have now been married 40 years.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?

Pam Farrel are working on two more books. One that will equip moms to Raise a Modern Day Princess from birth to pre-teens. And another that addresses the Princess within of every woman.

5) Parting comments?

I would love the opportunity to pass on to other women what God has equipped and empowered me to do for Him who have also been called speak, write, lead other women or establish a ministry.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?

www.doreenhanna.com or www.moderndayprincess.net

Shawna Williams' "The Good Fight"

2011-11-07T16:30:00.004-05:00

Title: The Good Fight.
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing.

Cover blurb: Roger Talbot's life is defined by his devotion to public service. Having just successfully prosecuted a brutal murder case, Roger turns his attention to discovering the shady dealings of Niles Parker -- the town's former mayor, Roger's old boss and the father of the woman Roger almost married.

Pennye Carrington ran away from Port Delamar with plans never to return. However, learning that her brother had murdered a family member of a famous movie star changed those plans. Pennye comes back with the hope of bringing stability to a family in disarray, but facing the torment of her childhood may be more than she can handle.

Roger's mission to bring down Niles Parker and Pennye's desire to keep her brothers out of trouble create a middle ground, where two people who couldn't be further apart, embark on a danger-filled journey of discovery to find themselves and each other.

1) How did this story come to you?
After the release of No Other, my debut novel, I had several readers ask me if the sequel, In All Things -- which was already under contract based on a proposal -- was going to be about Roger, Jakob’s rival in No Other. When I told them that it wasn’t, they expressed disappointment. While writing In All Things, however, his character crept in unexpectedly, and in a rather profound way. He was hardly present throughout the book, but his name and the impact he’d had on Jakob in the previous book kept coming up. When In All Things released, once again I had readers asking me if I was going to write a book about Roger. As I looked at certain elements of the story, I realized that the relationship between Jakob and Roger wasn’t quite finished, and that it would also serve as the cohesion in a three book series if I chose to write another book. Furthermore, Roger was a rather interesting character with a unique angle from which to explore. So, here it is. The Good Fight is the third book in what I’ve dubbed, “The Series I Didn’t Intend to Write but My Readers Made Me Do It.”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I pitched this book with a proposal. The other two books had been met with a favorable response by readers, so Gail Delaney, the EIC of Desert Breeze was excited about the prospect of a third book. We both just wish we’d known this would turn into a series a little sooner so we could’ve given it an official title.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I write Historicals, but I’m equally fond of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
2) I’m a small person, but I can out eat a giant if it’s Mexican food -- especially if it’s spicy.
3) I once performed a dance routine on a television show in Hong Kong.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I edit for two publishers, so at the moment I’m playing catch-up on some work, but I’m about to sign a contract for a sequel to my Christmas story Orphaned Hearts, which released last December with Desert Breeze. I’m also working on a story called Memoirs of a Ghost Town. It’s not a romance, and it blends a contemporary story with one set in the past. I’m unsure right now as to where I’ll pitch it. I need to finish it first.

5) Parting comments?
While The Good Fight is the third book in a series, it is written so that it can be enjoyed as a stand alone. It’s also different than the other two books in that it’s a romantic suspense and the other two are more romantic drama-ish. I wanted to take advantage of Roger’s job as District Attorney and the fact that readers have been itching to see Niles Parker experience some sort of consequence for being his sorry self. The character of Pennye became one of my favorites during the writing process. I could easily relate to her sense of adventure and sympathize with her insecurities.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.shawnakwilliams.com/
http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/shawnakwilliams
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Shawna-K-Williams/236629884245

Suzanne Hartmann's "Write This Way: Take Your Writing to the Next Level"

2011-11-07T16:30:00.003-05:00

Title: Write This Way: Take Your Writing to the Next Level
Publisher: I published this book myself because I wanted to give my readers a low-cost compilation of all the posts on my blog, Write This Way, regarding the craft of writing.

Cover blurb: Write This Way will lead new authors through the forest of grammatical rules, stylistic guidelines, and story structure as they write, and help them polish their novel to the point where it is ready to show to agents and editors.

1) How did the idea for this book come to you?
Because so many people helped me along my writing journey, I wanted to give back to the writing community. So I passed along the many lessons I learned along my writing journey in the form of blog posts. Over time, I posted over a hundred articles on my blog, Write This Way. But because there are so many and they’re scattered throughout the blog under a wide variety of categories, it takes effort to sift through them and find everything available about a specific topic. This realization birthed the idea to consolidate the articles into an easy-to-use e-book so authors could have all of the information at their fingertips as they write and revise.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It took several years to accumulate enough articles to make into a book. Once I decided that I wanted to compile the articles, I created an outline for everything I wanted to cover. I still hadn’t written about a number of the topics yet, so I laid out a schedule to post them over the next year. Health issues slowed down the process, but a year later I finally had all the articles I needed to make a book that covered every step in writing a novel from creating an outline to the last revision pass.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) I haven’t always wanted to be an author.
b) Both of my knees have been replaced.
c) I had pneumonia and bronchitis numerous times each as a child, but never had the chicken pox, measles, or mumps.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My first novel, PERIL: A Fast Track Thriller releases on Nov. 18, so I have been busy learning how to market a novel. I’m looking forward to celebrating with on-line friends at a Cyber-Party on my Facebook Author page on the release date, and with my friends and family at home a couple of weeks later. Once things calm down after the release, I will begin posting articles on my blog about things I learned regarding marketing a book, and plan to compile those articles into a follow-up book to Write This Way.

5) Parting comments?
My desire behind compiling this book is to help writers take their writing to a new level. There is a great deal to learn in the world of writing, but it is all learnable. If you have a story, you can rework it, tweak it, and polish it. Be persistent and willing to learn, and you will eventually make it to publication.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My Website – FastTrackThrillers (http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com/)
My Blog - Write This Way (http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/)
Facebook – Suzanne Hartmann – Author http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Suzanne-Hartmann-Author/45955180933
Twitter - @SuzInIL (http://twitter.com/#!/SuzInIL)

Cynthia Hickey's Fudge-Laced Felonies, Candy-Coated Secrets, & Chocolate-Covered Crime

2011-11-01T19:42:00.002-04:00

Title: Fudge-Laced Felonies, Candy-Coated Secrets, Chocolate-Covered Crime.

Publisher: These three books were originally published through Barbour and are now available as ebooks on www.Amazon.com and www.smashwords.com

Cover blurb: Summer Meadows walked into church on Sunday, not to find God but to search for a killer. While transplanting the rosebush her church's handsome greeter, Ethan Banning, inadvertently killed, Summer and Ethan discover a hidden stash of diamonds, a rusty can full of cash, and a bloody-gardening glove. This discovery sets Summer and her candy-making aunt on a search for a killer.

As Summer gets closer to the truth-not only of the theft but of her true feelings for Ethan-the diamond thief hatches a plan to hush the feisty sleuth.

1) How did this story come to you?
When Barbour announced they were opening their cozy mystery line, a friend told me I should try writing for it. I didn’t know what a cozy was and told her no. She dared me, and the rest is history.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Fudge-Laced Felonies was originally titled Buried Beneath the Midnight Blue and won first place in a contest where I acquired an agent, who sold the book to Barbour in less than a month. Books two and three followed in the consecutive years.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m shy, I’m the detention monitor at my local school, and I have seven children.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My agent has asked me to write historical romance and I have several proposals awaiting answers. Of course, they all hold a mystery of some kind.

5) Parting comments?
NEVER give up. Perseverance wins in this game.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.cynthiahickey.com/

Deanna Klingel's "Avery's Crossroad"

2011-10-31T21:24:00.007-04:00

Title: Avery's Crossroad

Avery’s skills as a doctor and his dog Gunner’s friendly personality make the pair a welcome sight to the soldiers in the Civil War hospitals. But mending wounds is not the only challenge Avery faces. Dwindling supplies, insufficient medical facilities, and local troublemakers add to the stress of the war. Avery realizes that the real wounds of the war—the wounds of the soul—will take years to heal. But he finds hope for the future in his deepening friendship with Claire, a girl from back home who shares his passion for helping the wounded. Together they pray for the long war to end.

1) How did this story come to you?
The Avery & Gunner stories came to me from Avery himself as he wiggled into my heart and my writing soul. He's fictional, but not to him and me.

2)Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The journey to getting this book published was almost as long as Avery's journey. In 2006 the book was in the hands of Brubaker Ford Agency in UK. They loved the story and their editor worked intensely with me. It was a wonderful learning experience. In 2008 Avery & Gunner's Civil War Chronicles, as it was then all 5 years in one big book, went to the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna and apparently created a stir. The agents & editor were very excited. A couple of large publishers in NY were interested, one talked about film rights. They gave us specific "to do's" which we did post haste. In 2009 we were close to closing a deal when the request came to make it "edgier." They wanted Avery and Claire to have "more realistic sexual behavior toward each other." I gagged. I'd been totally cooperative to this point, but I know this boy Avery and he wouldn't do what they were suggesting. It was 1861; Avery was a 14 year-old Quaker, a farmer, homeschooled by two well-educated Quakers. We aren't talking about 21st century behavior. I said I could do anything they asked except compromise my character. Avery could live out my life in the drawer. They walked. I had a consultation with God. Is this what you want me to do? If not, tell me what you want. I can do other things. I don't have to write. I was really wondering if I could write for today's market based on what these publishers said. The agents said they'd done all they could do, and we parted ways. Then one morning I was hurrying out the door, saw this strange logo on my screen, hit print, shut down the computer and left. I discovered this odd poster dangling off my printer later, practically waving to get my attention. I'd never seen it before, had no idea who sent it; I still don't. It was an invitation to Write2Ignite, a Christian Writers' Conference. Christian Writers? Really? I never knew. It was close, inexpensive; what did I have to lose? The speaker was dynamic and said everything I needed to hear: there IS a market for my work. My first workshop facilitator convinced me. I stopped into her room later to thank her for her words of conviction, how important it was to me to hear those words. She asked me to come in and talk to her. She wanted to know what my experience had been to elicit this kind of response. I told her about Avery and Gunner. She said she'd like to have a look at that. I didn't know then what I know now. She was the aquisitions editor for Journey Forth Publishing, BJU Press. Avery's Battlefield, 1861-1862 was released in March 2011, and Avery's Crossroad, 1863-1865 in September, 2011.

3)Tell me three things about yourself tht would surprise your readers.
Three things that would surprise readers about me? I'm married almost 50 years, have 7 children, like to travel, garden, golf, read, write. None of that is very surprising. I'm pretty wide open, and I think reading my books probably tells you all you need or want to know about me. You might be surprised that I'm really rather shy! Really!

4)What are you working on and what is next for you?
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Rafka Press will release my next YA nonfiction, Bread Upon the Water. I'm currently rewriting Rebecca & Heart, a short ebook story, into a YA length. I've got two finished manuscripts, Cracks in the Ice and Waiting With Elmer, that I hope a publisher will want, and I'm currently writing a nonfiction YA, Rock and a Hard Place. Your question was what is next for me? Only God knows.

5)Parting comments?
I'm passionate about literacy. I hope everything I write inspires someone to want to read more books.

6)Where can fans find you on the internet?
You can find me at http://www.booksbydeanna.com/. If you google my name you can also find me on other blogspots.

Dana Pratola's "The Covering"

2011-10-31T21:24:00.006-04:00

Title: The Covering
Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Cover blurb: What do a woman of faith and a heathen biker have in common? The devil of course.

1) How did this story come to you?
I’ve always been fascinated by glimpses into the spirit realm, whether through God’s Word, testimonies, or fiction, like Frank Peretti’s Darkness series. I wanted to illustrate that forces for Good and evil are always at work around us and the lengths God will go to to show us the Truth.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I tell everyone, it was only God. I couldn’t afford to attend a writer’s conference, so God led me to a free online conference where I pitched the book to Nicola Martinez. In five minutes I had a request for the entire manuscript and signed the contract shortly thereafter.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. This year marks the first time I’ve read the entire Bible, cover to cover. I always intended to but this year I actually did it, lol.
2. I know many women won’t agree, but I DO NOT find Brad Pitt sexy. I just don’t get what the big deal is. 3. I can get almost any knot out of anything.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next book is about a young woman who is suddenly gifted with an extraordinary singing voice, how she uses her gift, and the consequences of her choices. Of course there is a love interest – an autobiographer doing her story.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me, it was a blast =-)

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.danapratola.webs.com/ or facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Dana-Pratola-Author/221067454600043

Donita K. Paul's "Dragons of the Watch"

2011-10-24T19:32:00.001-04:00

Title: Dragons of the Watch

Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah

Cover blurb: Trapped in a forgotten city, bound by secrets, Ellie and Bealomondore must enlist the dragons of the watch to find freedom.

Ellie knows exactly where she is going. She just wants to experience the pomp and circumstance of a royal wedding, then settle into a simple life with a country husband.

With too many choices, Bealomondore’s future is a tangle of possibilities. He is respected, well-known, and admired among the elite of Chiril, but Wulder demands he narrow his focus and follow his Creator, one step at a time.

Both Ellie and Bealomondore’s plans are thwarted when they find themselves lost in an isolated city. As they discern the needs of a group of wild children and a very old man, clues began to surface and a bigger picture is revealed. With the help of the dragons of the watch, can the two tumanhofers find the way out—and perhaps discover their connection to something greater than themselves?

1. How did this story come to you?
My son is a literature nut. This is a good thing, because he is getting his doctorate in medieval English with an emphasis on theatre. He and I were talking one day, and he mentioned bottle cities. These are enchanted places where the inhabitants are more or less stuck inside the boundaries. The two that come to my mind are Brigadoon and Shangri-la. Modern readers are more familiar with Kandor, a bottled city in the Superman series.

2. Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.

This is the third book in the Chronicles of Chiril. Bealomondore had made a good impression on my readers and many of them were disgruntled that he didn’t “get the girl” at the end of the first book. As I read the letters from readers, I realized I had a hero worth developing for the last book. That required a new heroine and a unique problem for them to solve.

3
. Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I make jewelry. I have a very decent voice, but can never remember the lyrics to the songs I belt out while vacuuming. I’ve never been to Europe.

4. What are you working on now and what's next for you?

I’m taking a couple of old manuscripts from my Christian romance writing days and putting them out as e-books. Taming the Wild Wind was a story I wrote for my mom right before she died. She had always been fascinated by Native Americans. We are part Cherokee. Wild Wind is a story about a free spirit in a very restrictive society, who goes to the Indian Territory to open a mission school. I love the message of that story. The heroine discovers so much about herself and God as she experiences some fun and exciting adventures. You can find it here:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taming-the-Wild-Wind-ebook/dp/B005IIRB1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316188102&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-the-wild-wind-donita-kathleen-paul/1105099654?ean=2940013046665&itm=1&usri=taming%2bthe%2bwild%2bwind

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/84838

Lulu.com: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/donitakpaulatmsndotcom

I’m still writing fantasy. I have five books planned for the Sage Street Wizards. These are characters from the Christmas novella, Two Ticket to the Christmas Ball. My daughter and I have two new Roger and Padraig picture books that are looking for a publishing home. And I am working on a new story world that has dragons and quests, two of my favorite things.

6
. Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.donitakpaul.com/; and for my children’s books: http://www.dragonandturtle.com/

5.
Parting comments?

Dina Sleiman's "Dance of the Dandelion"

2011-10-24T19:31:00.002-04:00

Title: Dance of the Dandelion

Publisher: WhiteFire Publishing

Cover blurb: Love's quest leads her the world over.

Dandelion Dering was born a peasant in the English village of Arun, but her soul yearned for another life, another world. One filled with color and music, with adventure and passion . . . with more. Haunted by childhood memories, Dandelion determines to find a better existence than the life every peasant in the village contents themselves with. Even if her sweetheart William’s predictions prove true, and her journey leads straight to heartache.

From her sleepy hamlet to the intrigue of castle life, from the heart of London to the adventurous seas, Dandelion flees from the mistakes of her past, always seeking that something, that someone who will satisfy her longings.

Will Dandelion ever find the rhythm to her life's dance . . . or did she leave her chance for true love at home in Arun village?

1) How did this story come to you?
I first had the idea for this book in 2001. It was based roughly on a plot from an old Eugene O’Neil play where the heroine loses her true love in a war and spends the rest of the story looking for a man who can take his place. I combined this idea with the Biblical Greek definitions of love. Then I set it in medieval England to remove it from our current religious mindset and schisms. Et voila…Dance of the Dandelion was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This book was a hard sell because of the medieval setting. Of course, when I wrote it I had no idea the time period would create a problem. Lots of agents and editors turned it down for this reason alone. However, they all seemed to agree that the writing was strong, so I didn’t give up. WhiteFire Publishing is a small press that specializes in hard to market books, so it was a perfect fit.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) For one thing, my nose is pierced. I wear a small crystal stud and a lot of people don’t even notice it.
2) My daughter is the cover model for my book. I had based the childhood version of the heroine on her years ago, so it was a wonderful blessing to get to use her for the photo shoot.
3) I’ve lead worship dance ministries for the better part of seventeen years.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Early next year I’ll have an inspirational nonfiction book coming out with WhiteFire that will take a deeper look into many of the subjects I cover in Dandelion, including freedom in Christ, intimacy with Christ, worship, and inner healing. The book is an unconventional mix of memoir, essay, poetry, even some short stories.

Currently, my agent is shopping a contemporary series I’ve written. This one is women’s fiction with a heaping helping of romance and a sprinkle of comedy. It features a veiled Muslim, a blonde ballerina, and a bi-racial hippie chick who search together for meaning and truth.

5) Parting comments?
I would say that while I’m still finding my genre niche as an author, there are some things you can always expect from me like authentic Christianity, inner healing themes, a focus on intimacy with Christ, and a lyrical style. My tagline is “Dance with Passion,” and I hope that comes through in all my writing.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://dinasleiman.com – blog and website
http://inkwellinspirations.com – group website
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1573808600 - facebook

Lisa Lickel & Shellie Neumeier's "A Summer in Oakville"

2011-10-24T19:29:00.002-04:00

Title: A Summer in Oakville
Publisher: Black Lyon Publishing
Cover blurb:
One Magical Summer in Oakville, Wisconsin,
Love Finds its Way through Four Entwined Lives.

Meet Tessa, Lindsay, Art and Andy.

Tessa Hasmer Murphy has a secret. Estranged from her husband, will she let a past love and a fight to save the family farm destroy her marriage and daughter Lindsay’s happiness?

Lindsay Murphy plans to live on her grandparents’ farm until she can find a job, but developer Brandon Calloway has other plans for the property. As she wages war against him, will she lose her heart and the farm both?

Widower Arthur Hasmer’s life and that of his son, Andy, spiral out of control. Then old friend, Dana London, reenters the picture with the power to help them all back to love, joy and faith.

Andy Hasmer has the ultimate bummer life. No mom, not much of a dad, no future. When he’s sent to the farm and wrecks the truck, nothing could be worse than the lousy job he takes to pay Grampa back—except maybe putting up with the pastor’s daughter, Ella.

1) How did this story come to you?
Lisa: I have to take the blame for coming up with the convoluted idea – four stories in one book was the theme of our original target publisher, romantic stories, but then we worked it out so that the stories worked with each other to tell one tale. The theme, trying to keep the rural life they are familiar with, can’t bear to give up even though the adult children don’t farm or live on the home place, is a very real problem in the US that few people understand. The way of the family farm has passed, and while we don’t purposefully try to villainize anyone, not even the developers, I do want to draw attention to the fact that single families can’t make a living, in general, from an 80-120-acre farm in the 21st century. We still grow our own food, but fewer urban children truly understand where it comes from, and it would be a shame if we lost that connection.

Shellie: Well said, Lisa! I was privileged to be a part of this collection, since it is so much more than four romantic tales. A Summer in Oakville epitomizes the difficulties rural Wisconsin—America—has experienced for generations, and it highlights the beautiful strength you find in family ties and homegrown roots. To answer your question, Dawn, the stories, Andy’s and Lindsay’s, came to me as I listened and watched my neighbors and friends…Lisa included.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Lisa: When I heard that Barbour Publishing (the publisher of my first novel, a mystery called The Gold Standard) offered one more opportunity for authors in the form of “Four-in-One” novels, I asked my new writing friend Shellie if she’d be interested in writing one with me. You can read more about that here. http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Summer-in-Oakville/200940583288468#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=202789583103568&id=200940583288468

Shellie: Not everything was as we imagined, but it was as God ordained. Fortunately, neither Lisa nor I could let this family’s story sleep, and I’m so grateful it didn’t sleep long! How’s that for vague:D. **giggles** No really check the FB fan page.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Lisa: You mean, without scaring them away? Um…I’m probably the only woman in the world who wishes her hair would start thinning, I like science fiction and history, but not really at the same time, I would give up chocolate before bread.

Shellie: Oooh, can I tell Lisa’s? :D. JK, though I’m sure she’d have fun telling a few of mine;). I bet readers don’t know I’ve gone spelunking and loved it (no, really…crawled through tunnels and little caves, they have those in Wisconsin); I’m actually shy, but I work hard at overcoming that little trait (requires a lot of down time); and I have a wretched sense of humor that surfaces only when I’m tired.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Lisa: I’m working on a couple of projects; one is the rewrite (again) of a story I like about a couple trying to make their marriage work in today’s busy-ness. He’s a former medical missionary who was forced to return to the states and who never planned on getting married; she’s a businesswoman who planned to marry her parent’s choice for a husband and live quietly, boringly ever after. Then God laughed. I’m also teaching some more online and in person workshops and working with some other local authors on signing and panel talk events.

Shellie: I have a mid-grade chapter book, co-written with my youngest two kiddos, entitled The Wishing Ring which releases in February 2012. I’m also cleaning up a story near and dear to my heart. It’s a story about an autistic seventeen year-old boy. Imagine Rainman meets Karate Kid, only this time a trophy isn’t at stake, its Delaney’s life.

5) Parting comments?
Lisa: thank you for having us! We love to chat with folks, and would enjoy visiting your bookclubs, too. For some fun recipes, visit our Summer in Oakville Facebook page.

Shellie: Yes, thank you! We’d love to hear your family’s story too. Leave us a tale in the comments below and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a copy of A Summer in Oakville. I don’t know about your relatives, but I’m thinking not every family has just one black sheep…

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Lisa: All my links can be found on my web site: http://www.lisalickel.com/

Shellie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001729933656
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/shellie_c
Website: http://shellieneumeier.com
Booktrailer: http://youtu.be/D0iUtvrC_PU
http://www.amazon.com/A-Summer-in-Oakville-ebook/dp/B005KF6I2E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319498851&sr=8-2

Cara Lynn James' "Love by the Book"

2011-10-24T19:26:00.001-04:00

Title: Love by the Book

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Cover blurb: Savor this sweeping love story set in a lavish seaside mansion in 1901 Rhode Island.

Melinda Hollister is a society lady, intent on finding a rich husband before her peers discover her quickly diminishing wealth. Nick Bryson is all business, focused on making a name for himself in his father’s steamship line. Despite the marriage of their siblings, they rarely gave each other a second glance—until a tragic accident results in Melinda and Nick being appointed as co-guardians of their three-year-old niece Nell.

In order to get better acquainted with Nell and one another, Melinda and Nick agree to spend the summer in their own private quarters of the Bryson family vacation home, Summerhill. As their love for Nell grows, so does their attraction to each other. And for the first time in their lives, they sense that God has a bigger plan in motion.

Yet old habits die hard – and Melinda and Nick each find it difficult to resist the pull of their former worlds.

When the unthinkable happens, they find themselves faced with seemingly impossible choices and a new understanding of God’s true love.

1) How did this story come to you?
My editor suggested I write a ‘marriage of convenience’ story because it would be really different from my first two books in the Ladies of Summerhill series, Love on a Dime and Love on Assignment. Right from the beginning the idea intrigued me, so it was fairly easy to develop characters and a plot. I already had the setting of Newport, Rhode Island during the Gilded Age. The plot turned out to be more complex than I’d initially envisioned, but lots of fun to write.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Since Love by the Book was the third novel in a contracted 3 book series, it wasn’t difficult to get it published! It was harder to get the story just right for my editor. I’m glad she was so exacting because it made the story much stronger.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I don’t take escalators unless I have no alternative, I could live on popcorn, and I can’t carry a tune unless I’m singing with a group.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next book is called A Path toward Love. It’ll be released in July 2012. It’s set during the Gilded Age and it takes place in central Florida and Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. I’m working on revisions right now and they’re keeping me very busy. Too busy.

5) Parting comments?
If you’re a writer hoping to get published, I really encourage you to persevere. Don’t get side tracked by discouragement, your inner critic or anything that keeps you from learning the craft.

9) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.caralynnjames.com and http://www.seekerville/.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/pages/Cara-Lynn-James

Register to win a Mistaken Identity t-shirt and a free download

2011-10-18T19:44:00.000-04:00

I'm giving away a Mistaken Identity t-shirt and a free download of the book to two winners! I have only size medium and large in stock. When you leave your comment, please tell me what size just in case you win. Don't forget to leave your email address and if you've not signed up to receive weekly updates about book giveaways, please plug your email address into the feedburner box to the right!

Eden Morgan makes a list of six goals to accomplish in order to have the best summer ever. Getting a boyfriend, which is perhaps the most important goal, becomes complicated when she and her best friend, Lexi, fall for the same guy. Since Lexi is popular, gorgeous, and always gets her guy, Eden thinks she doesn't have a chance.

Channing Johnson is everything Eden's ever dreamed of and she can't believe he just moved in next door. When he starts showing interest in her, she's overjoyed...until she sees him out on a date with Lexi. He says Lexi talked him into it to repay her for tutoring him. Lexi says they're in love.
Eden doesn't know who to believe and is forced to choose between her best friend and the guy of her dreams. Nothing is as it seems and no matter who she chooses, someone will get hurt.

For your chance to win, please leave a a comment with at least one goal you'd like to accomplish in order to make your life even better, funner, or just easier.

Rose McCauley's "Christmas Belles of Georgia"

2011-10-17T19:58:00.002-04:00

Title: Christmas Belles of Georgia
Publisher: Barbour

Cover blurb: Four letters are mailed from Monticello, a small antebellum town in Georgia. Sisters once, now heirs to a historic plantation, each young woman must come to terms with the circumstances of her birth…Will the sisters receive a traditional Christmas gift…of love?

1) How did this story come to you?
Jeanie Smith Cash developed the idea and asked me and Deb Ullrick and Jeri Odell to join her.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
We submitted a proposal to Barbour consisting of our four synopses and my first chapter, since I was the new author. Then I received my contract last September at the ACFW conference in front of 600 people! I wrote the rest of the book last November, and it is now in stores!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I took violin lessons in second grade, I have been married forty-three years, my husband is the romantic one, but I write romance stories!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have 4 more proposals waiting at Barbour, so I hope and pray one or more of them sells, so I get to enjoy doing all of this over again! I also have a women’s fiction for which I hope to find interest from an agent and publisher.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for hosting me, K. Dawn. I’m glad we can visit each other’s blogs.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.rosemccauley.com/ and http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

"This Time for Keeps," a novel about second chances...

2011-10-16T11:26:00.001-04:00

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if you'd married your first love?

India McGuire's peaceful life is shattered when on the night of her engagement to David Richards, she comes face to face with Chase Porter, a long lost love. India must come to terms with her overpowering feelings for Chase and choose between David, the neighbor who says he loves her, and Chase, the man who broke her heart.

Chase's plans of leaving quietly turn to disaster when he finds that it's impossible to disappear without seeing India one last time. Feelings begin to surface that he believed buried forever and he finds himself fighting to win her back even as David struggles to hold onto her.

India longs to follow her heart, but she's been hurt too deeply. Who will she choose? The neighbor who can provide stability or the man she vowed to love forever who may once again heed to the call of the open road?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/This-Time-for-Keeps-ebook/dp/B005VKMQUG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318690937&sr=1-2
Desert Breeze: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-218/This-Time-For-Keeps/Detail.bok
B & N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-time-for-keeps-k-dawn-byrd/1103372329

Coming soon to christianbook.com and other ebook outlets.

Clash of the Titles Kicks Off Tournament of Champions

2011-10-15T19:35:00.000-04:00

COTT Kicks Off Tournament of Champions

Guest post by Jennifer Slattery

Last week, Clash of the Titles launched their first annual Tournament of Champions with two clashes and four talented authors. In Clash one, CS Lakin, author of Someone to Blame, and Marianne Evans, author of Heart Crossing, went head-to-head in a nail-biting, literary duel. In Clash two, our very own Gail Pallotta, author of Love Turns the Tide, competed against Clare Revell, author of A Season for Miracles. All four excerpts rocked, and this was a tough call, but you, our faithful readers chose two Tournament of the Champions' finalists.

Those finalists were Marianne Evans and Gail Pallotta.

Exciting stuff, and yet, the games weren’t done. In the next round, COTT staff cast their votes, and once again, one writer rose to the top and will advance to the next round.

That author is…

Marianne Evans!

And here’s a glimpse of what a COTT champion excerpt looks like:

“Collin Edwards stood before the funeral assembly. Heat crawled up his body. He clutched the edges of the podium where he stood and cleared his throat. The gesture was in vain. His throat constricted so much it hurt. Before the altar, just to the right, rested a flag-draped casket.

He looked down, at a piece of paper upon which he had crafted the words to a eulogy…” (Read more of Excerpt B here.)

About the novel, Heart Crossing:

Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.

Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God, and the community of Woodland . Lately though, she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.

A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists, but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better. Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.

Can Daveny trust in Collin’s fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?

We’d also like to congratulate our prize-winning readers:

Jessica R Patch! She won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Elaine Cooper.

LoRee Peery! She won a free bookmark design from Delia Latham.

Larry Hammersley! He won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Author Anne Patrick.

Join us this week for more fun and prizes as four more authors jump into the ring hoping not only to advance to the next round, but ultimately reign as the Clash of the Titles’ champion of champions! Remember, every vote counts! Each vote gets your name thrown into the hat for our fab-tabulous grand prize give-away comprised of fourteen novels!

Visit our Tournament of Champions page for a complete list of prizes.

*** Jennifer Slattery is the marketing manager for Clash of the Titles. She writes for Christ to the World Ministries, the Christian Pulse, and Samie Sisters and has written for numerous other publications. She also works for Tiffany Colter, the Writing Career Coach, as a professional manuscript evaluator and publicist. You can find out more about her and her writing at her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud. You can find out more about her critique and publicity services at Words That Keep.

Robert Wilson's "The Poison of Thorns: The Dragon's Back #1"

2011-10-10T20:40:00.001-04:00

Title: “THE POISON OF THORNS: The Dragon’s Back #1”
Cover blurb: "The Poison of Thorns [The Dragon's Back #1]" unfolds as an intriguing and action-packed Christian Fantasy with bards, dragons, swords, and mysterious black-robed villains lurking in the shadows.

Ten long years after the mysterious murder of their parents, two brothers have just been freed from incarceration in a prison-like orphanage. Against their wills they are torn apart and launched into separate quests against conflicting and dangerous forces. Independently they struggle to learn the truth and to resolve the unanswered cries for vengeance that have long consumed their lives with the poisoned thorns of unresolved bitterness. Finding themselves pitted against a strange and hostile world, overwhelmed with many questions; it becomes their individual obsessions to find the answers and rescue each other.

Why were they locked away in that out-of-the way orphanage for ten long years, when they had living kin who would gladly have claimed them? Who are the sinister black-robed “Dragonmen” and what is their hidden agenda. And why are these blackrobes so interested in the two teenaged brothers that they would mobilize all of their considerable resources to possess them?

What is the significance of the shape of their isolated continent? Is it true that it appears to be a gigantic Dragon floating above the endless depths? What about the rumors that man-sized, almost invisible dragons are stalking their nights?

And finally, who are the mysterious followers of the mythical Gryphon? Why do they alone, of all the diverse peoples of Dragonsback, have the ability to swim in the dark bottomless waters that surround their land? And most importantly, is the mysterious Swimmer who took part in the deaths of the boys' parents still available… for retribution?

1) How did this story come to you?
The story arose from a very dark time in the life of my family, when a supposed “Christian Leader” destroyed a fledgling ministry that we had thought was God’s will for our lives. Many months of depression and bitterness followed this event, until a wise Christian lady led each member of my family though Dr. Neil Anderson’s “The Bondage Breaker”. She showed us the destructive spiritual warfare nature of bitterness in the lives of believers and we each gained victory. The concept behind the story [a thorn-wielding society living on the back of a land shaped like a dragon] actually was given to me after that by my eldest son, Joshua. He and I then brain-stormed to flesh out the rules for this fantasy land and I began writing.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had been to multiple Christian Writers’ Conferences [winning some awards] and submitted manuscripts to multiple agents and publishers, without any favorable response. I actually started writing decades ago and was sitting on two completed novels, each in a different series. “The Poison of Thorns” is actually the second novel that I have self-published: the prior one I had published less than a month before is an apocalyptic Sci-Fi novel dealing with intense Spiritual Warfare subjects. I had thought I had a Christian publisher all lined up for that first novel, when they suddenly backed out. I am the proud owner of a Nook e-reader and I received at that time an email from B&N telling me that they had opened up e-publishing though their online Pubit! service. I also found out that Amazon’s CreateSpace would allow me to create POD paperbacks. So I contacted a Christian artist I had met online about doing my covers and quickly formatted and submitted first the Sci-Fi novel, then, less than two weeks later, “The Poison of Thorns”.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a) I telecommute as a programmer from my home in FL for an international company located in CA.
b) I am a singer-songwriter who has written around 100 songs [mostly Scripture songs].
c) I am an accomplished scroll saw artist, specializing in elaborate and life-like 3-D wooden artwork.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on the final edit of the second novel in the Dragonsback Trilogy and hope to have it published within the next month. Once that is done, I will step back and decide if I want to finish the Trilogy or switch back to my “Earth – The Arena” Sci-Fi series [Book 1, “THE PLAYERS” is already published and the second book in the series is about 1/3 done.]

5) Parting comments?
Thank you, Dawn, for all you do to promote good Christian writing!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My Web Page: http://www.robtdwilson.com/ [under the “Novels” tab]
My Blog: http://robtdwilson.wordpress.com/
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/RobertDennisWilson

Susan Meissner's "A Sound Among the Trees"

2011-10-10T20:39:00.003-04:00

Title: A Sound Among the Trees
Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah

Cover blurb:
On a historic Fredericksburg street, Holly Oak stands in quiet elegance. The cannonball wedged between stone and timber is a silent reminder of what the house endured in the Civil War. When Marielle Bishop marries into the family and is transplanted from the arid west to her husband’s home, she’s soon led to believe that the house brings misfortune to the women who live there.

As a young bride, Susannah Page was rumored to be a Civil War spy for the North, a traitor to her Virginian roots. Her great-granddaughter Adelaide, the current matriarch of Holly Oak, doesn’t believe that Susannah’s ghost haunts the mansion, but that the house itself bears a grudge toward its tragic past. As Marielle struggles to fit into her new role as wife and stepmother, unsettled by the strange sense of sorrow she feels inside Holly Oak’s walls, she must uncover the truth about Susannah, and reconcile her belief that it is people—not houses—that hang on to the past. History can’t be undone, but truth uncovered can set the women of Holly Oak free.

1. How did this story come to you?
I’m not a fan of war, but I am drawn to any backdrop of human drama where the stakes are high, courage and sacrifice go hand-in-hand, and relationships are refined by fire. You see that in spades with the Civil War. I’ve watched Ken Burns’ The Civil War on PBS several times over the course of my adult life; it moves me every time I see it. The backdrop of the Civil War is a proving ground for sacrificial love in the historical part of this novel. In the contemporary part, it is the hold the house seems to have on the past that is the proving ground for the people who now live in it.

2. Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I pitched this idea verbally to my editor over the phone. I wanted it feel almost like a ghost story. I knew it wouldn’t actually be about a haunted house, but I very much wanted the characters and the house to be gripped by events in the past that changed them. I am grateful to WaterBrook Multnomah for giving me the green light to pursue this with just the idea and basic premise in hand.

3. Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
First, I’ve never had to deal with any of the tragic life events I put my characters through! Whenever I write about a dysfunctional family I always feel the need to mention that. I have a great family; wonderful parents, a loving soul-mate and kids I am so proud of. I am so incredibly thankful for the people in my life. Secondly, I really do not like mayonnaise. Or black licorice. Thirdly, I am finding that the more I write, the harder it gets. I seriously thought the more you did something the easier it became. Not so with writing novels. I think it’s because I raise the bar each time I start a new book but I start at the same place each time: on blank page with a whole lot of nothing staring back at me.

4. What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am putting the finishing touches on a book called The Girl in the Glass which will release this time next year. This book is set partially in Southern California and partially in Florence, Italy. My main character heads to Florence for some complicated reasons and while there she becomes friends with a woman who claims she is the last Medici and that she can hear Florence’s amazing statues and paintings talking to her. . .

5. Parting comments?
Thanks so much for having me! I love, love, love spending time talking about books and writing.

6. Where can fans find you on the internet?
You can find me at http://www.susanmeissner.com/ and on Facebook at my Author page, Susan Meissner, and on Twitter at SusanMeissner. I blog at http://www.susanmeissner.blogspot.com/. I also send out a newsletter via email four times a year. You can sign up for it on my website. I love connecting with readers! You are the reason I write.

Jennifer Hudson Taylor's "Highland Sanctuary"

2011-10-10T20:39:00.002-04:00

Title: Highland Sanctuay
Publisher: Abingdon Press is the publisher

Cover blurb: Caithness, Scotland (1477) Gavin MacKenzie is hired to restore the ancient Castle of Braigh. He discovers a hidden village of outcasts that have created their own private sanctuary from the world. Among them is Serena Boyd, a mysterious and comely lass who captures Gavin’s heart. The villagers have an intriguing secret, while Serena harbors a deadly past that could destroy her future. When a fierce enemy launches an attack against them, greed leads to bitter betrayal. As Gavin prepares a defense, the villagers unite in a bold act of faith, showing how God’s love is more powerful than any human force on earth.

1) How did this story come to you?
I've always loved historical romances set in Scotland. The highlands have always fascinated me and since so many of my ancestors were Scots-Irish, I wanted to write about that setting. When my daughter was born with a seizure disorder and we were surrounded by hospital staff, had access to medications, and support, I began to wonder what it would have been like for a family in 15th century Scotland.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I first pitched it to my editor at the ACFW Minneapolis Conference. I knew she was considering my debut novel at the time and wanted to tell her about the sequel. At that time she wasn’t interested, but after my debut novel came out, she asked if I had any other Scottish historicals. I pitched it again and the second time they made an offer on it. So a “no” isn’t always a permanent “no”.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I am a workaholic. I have a full-time job, then I come home and write til late at night.
2) I have become a coffee-holic in the last few years. My husband's family have always been huge coffee drinkers, I guess they finally got to me.
3) My dream is to go to Scotland. Although my books are set in Scotland, I've never been fortunate enough to actually go.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a Quaker historical set in the heart of Piedmont North Carolina in 1858, called A Path of Promise.

5) Parting comments?
No matter what your dreams or goals in life are, never give up, persevere and continue to press through.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.jenniferhudsontaylor.com/
www.facebook.com/jenniferhudsontaylor
www.twitter.com/jt4novels

Lillian Duncan's "Pursued"

2011-10-10T20:38:00.001-04:00

Title: PURSUED
Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Cover blurb: Reggie Meyers has spent her life pursing the American Dream, but now she’s the one being pursued— by an unknown killer. Putting her trust in Dylan Monroe, a man she barely knows, will either be the best decision she ever made or the last.

Reggie’s a big city lawyer and Dylan’s a country farmer. In the normal course of events, their lives would never intersect but some accidents just aren't meant to be avoided. When Reggie crashes into Dylan, it makes a bad day even worse or so she thinks. Dylan, on the other hand, is intrigued by the feisty lady lawyer and wrangles a way to spend a bit more time with her by offering to drive her home after the accident. And so the journey that will change both their lives begins...

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to write a story that showed the different mindsets of “city folks” and “country folks.” To put a twist on it, I wanted the heroine to be the high-powered ambitious attorney and the hero to be the “simple farmer.”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I submitted to White Rose Publishing because I wanted a publisher with experience in both ebooks and print books. It seemed like a good fit. They gave me some wonderful feedback which I listened to and revised the book. I was absolutely delighted when White Rose Publishing accepted the book and offered me a contract.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I’m hooked on TV crime shows with my favorite being NCIS and Criminal Minds a close second.
2) I used to love to cook, but now I’m spoiled because my husband is a wonderful cook! On the rare occasion when he asks me to fix dinner, I stand in the kitchen and wonder what I should do!
3) I’m very short—4’8”. It can be difficult at times, especially when I need something off the top shelf. But most people never forget me because of my height—and that’s a very good thing!!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on revisions of my new book, DECEPTION, to be published this fall. DECEPTION is the story of a set of estranged twins. When a niece she knows nothing about calls, Patti must unravel the truth of her sister’s disappearance. I’m also working on a sequel to PURSUED.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog. If there are any would-be writers out there, I have three pieces of advice. First is never to give up, if it happened for me then it can happen for you. And the second thing is if you are serious about writing, join American Christian Fiction Writers. And the third thing is, never give up!!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is: http://www.lillianduncan.net/ and my blog is: http://www.lillianduncan.wordpress.com/

Lena Nelson Dooley's "Christmas Love in Lake Tahoe"

2011-10-03T19:41:00.002-04:00

Title: Maggie’s Journey
Publisher: Realms, a fiction imprint from Charisma House

Cover blurb:
A girl who’s been lied to her whole life…
Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she was adopted. The daughter of wealthy merchants in Seattle, she feels betrayed both by her real parents and by the ones who raised her.

Maggie desires a place where she belongs. But her mother’s constant criticism and reminders that she doesn't fit the mold of a young woman of their social standing have already created tension in their home. With the discovery of the family secret, all sense of her identity is lost.

When Maggie asks to visit her grandmother in Arkansas, her father agrees on the condition that she take her Aunt Georgia as a chaperone and his young partner, Charles Stanton, as protection on the journey. Will she discover who she really is and, more importantly, what truly matters most in life?

1) How did this story come to you?
This story had been percolating in my brain and heart for several years. It’s book one in my McKenna’s Daughters series about identical triplets separated at birth.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Several years ago, when Tracie Peterson was the acquisitions editor for Heartsong, she was interested in the series, but she left the company to concentrate on her own writing before it was contracted.

In the intervening time, my agent Joyce Hart has sent it to several editors. At least three of them were very interested, but the series didn’t make it through committee. Then in 2010, she sent it to Strang/Realms, which later became Charisma House, and they bought the series very quickly.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
For the first 20 years of my life, I was painfully shy.
I wear a brace on my left leg.
I wasn’t a redhead, but I became one as soon as I could.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Book 2 of McKenna’s Daughters, Mary’s Blessing, has been written and will release May 2012. I’m writing book 3, Catherine’s Pursuit, right now, and it will release January 2013. I’m also contracted for another series with Realms—Restored Hearts—so l’ll plunge right into writing them.

5) Parting comments?
I love my readers. They’re the reason I write. I love to connect with them, and I love to hear from them.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lenandooley
http://www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley
www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts – my official fan page
http://www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley - my profile
http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/ – Bustles and Spurs
http://justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/ – Just the Write Charisma

I will give away a copy of Christmas Love in Lake Tahoe.

Winnie Griggs' "Home for Thanksgiving"

2011-10-03T19:40:00.002-04:00

Title: Home For Thanksgiving (a novella in the Once Upon A Thanksgiving anthology)
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Historical

Cover blurb: All that stands between Ruby Anne Tuggle and a fresh start is an escort to Tyler, Texas. Rancher Griff Lassiter is too kind to refuse, but too wary of being hurt again to offer anything but protection on the journey.

Then a fever forces an unexpected detour and a chance to find the place they both belong...

1) How did this story come to you?
I’d previously written two books that featured Griff Lassiter’s siblings in lead roles. When my editor asked me to pen a novella with a Thanksgiving theme I immediately thought about Griff and how I’d like to write his story. After that it was a matter of figuring out his backstory and finding a heroine to complete him.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I mentioned above, my editor invited me to write a novella, so the journey to getting a contract was pretty simple. Writing the book was another story. While Griff had appeared as a secondary character in three other books, he was still a bit of a mystery to me. He was such a guarded character that it took a while for me to ‘figure him out’. But it was totally worth the effort - I absolutely fell in love with him as I wrote the book.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I have a BS degree in Mathematics, I’m a total brain teaser nerd, and I’m a recovering hoarder.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just turned in a book that will be the third in a three book continuity for Love Inspired Historicals called the Irish Brides trilogy. The series features three sisters who immigrate to America in 1850 and settle in the Boston area. The series kicks off in April 2012 and my book, A Baby Between Them, will release in June 2012. I’m currently working on the proposal for a brand new three book series set in the East Texas area in the 1870s. The connecting thread in these books will be that all three women are survivors of a single accident and will show how the accident impacted their lives.

5) Parting comments?
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes: “Successful writers are not the ones who write the best sentences. They are the ones who keep writing. They are the ones who discover what is most important and strangest and most pleasurable in themselves, and keep believing in the value of their work, despite the difficulties.”~ Bonnie Friedman

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love to hear from readers! My website is http://www.winniegriggs.com/ .
You can also find me on Facebook.

Susan Page Davis' "The Lady's Maid"

2011-10-03T19:39:00.004-04:00

Title: The Lady’s Maid
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: The Lady’s Maid features Elise Finster, who accompanies her young mistress, Lady Anne Stone, on a voyage to America in 1855. Lady Anne’s father has died, and her Uncle David is the new Earl of Stoneford—if he steps forward and claims the title. But David disappeared into the American West when Anne was a baby. Now it’s up to her and Elise to find him. Obstacles abound. Mules to tend, a lazy hired man, rugged mountains, unexpected romance, and a sinister stranger stand in their way. The Lady’s Maid is the first book in the Prairie Dreams series, and released October 1, 2011.

1) How did this story come to you?
My editor asked for a prairie story, and I was working at the time on a different book that involved royalty (Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island). I read a lot about the customs and protocol of the day. The idea of aristocrats on a wagon train struck me as a fun way to bring the Victorian period to the West.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Although this book was requested by the editor, I did have a false start. At first I had suggested another idea. She liked it “all right” but wasn’t crazy about it. I certainly wanted to give her a story she was crazy about, so I did some brainstorming and came up with my elegant ladies crossing the plains.

Once that was settled, it was a matter of fleshing out the plot, writing the book, rewriting, doing edits and revisions, and so on—the usual journey of about eighteen months from idea to publication.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
It’s really hard to surprise people these days, but I’ll try. I am a Mayflower descendant and a stroke survivor, and I have no sense of fashion whatsoever. Oops, for anyone who knows me, that is no surprise.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on the third book in this series, A Lady in the Making. (Lady Anne’s Quest comes in between). After that, I’ll be writing a contemporary mystery.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me over, Dawn. This series is a lot of fun to write, and I hope the readers love the characters and their adventures as much as I do.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is at http://www.susanpagedavis.com/.

Purchase links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/161626439X/suspagdav-20
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ladys-Maid/Susan-Page-Davis/e/9781616264390?itm=1&usri=the%20lady%20s%20maid
CBD:
http://www.christianbook.com/ladys-maid-prairie-dreams/susan-davis/9781616264390/pd/264390?item_code=WW&netp_id=881498&event=ESRCN&view=details

Brenda Bradley's "The Boaz Factor"

2011-09-26T22:15:00.003-04:00

Title: The Boaz Factor
Publisher: Ellechor Publishing House

Cover blurb: Looking for Love? Knowing who Boaz is will free you from looking for love in all the wrong places. You will be encouraged, remembering the priority is not you finding him, but him finding you focused and determined.

Found, but not Chosen?Grounded in scripture, truth and past experiences, The Boaz Factor will first help you to see truths that shift the paradigm of your relationships. Then, through practical, hands on application using her "Me Time" Devotional thoughts and prayers, Elder Brenda Bradley gives you a new plan to obliterate the cycle!

For women currently in a relationship, knowing who Boaz is will save your heart from putting more time into something that will not materialize.

Based on the Biblical account of Boaz and Ruth, The Boaz Factor will take you on a journey of self-discovery, highlighting why we hurt from past relation ships and why we continue in a cycle of false relationships that we desire to be real.

1) How did this story come to you?
Ruth is one of my favorite ladies in the Bible. I wanted to explore relationships, so I examined the relationship between Ruth and Boaz.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I met a graphic design artist on line whose work I admired. She connected me with Ellechor Publishing House. I was preparing to do it myself, but it worked out beautifully another way.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I am star trek fan! A horrible Gardner (I will kill grass) and I love day old Pizza.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am putting finishing touches on the play, “Seasons of Change” that brings the book to life!

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for this opportunity! It was never in the plan for us to be in pain behind our relationships. It is time to flip the script. It is time for Boaz!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Facebook, elderbrendabradley.com

James Rubart's "The Chair"

2011-09-26T21:57:00.001-04:00

Title: THE CHAIR named TOP PICK for September by Christian Retailing Magazine
Publisher: B&H Fiction

Cover blurb: If you were given an ancient looking chair and told Jesus Christ made it, would you believe them? When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe’s antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was built by Christ, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts to wonder: Could this chair heal the person whose life I destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy’s healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. But the mysterious woman who gave him the piece insinuates it is Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why? Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he reveals.

Searching for truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it, Corin soon realizes he isn’t the only one willing to do almost anything to possess the power that seems to surround the chair.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was reading an article about a Jewish historian from the first century who noted that some of the plows Jesus made were so well constructed they lasted until the second century.

It made me think, "What if Jesus made something that lasted until today? What if it was a chair? What if it was a chair he sat in after he was resurrected? What if it contained Jesus' healing power? And what would an ordinary person do if the chair was given to him?

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I got the idea in the summer of 2008 and B&H bought it and BOOK OF DAYS (my second novel) in late '09 so I had the premise for a long time before I started writing it—which was the fall of 2010. But it wasn't until I brainstormed the story with three author friends that the plot fell into place. (Thanks, Great Ones!)

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
• I used to voice and appear in radio and TV commercials.
• I almost lost three fingers on my right hand when I was 1 ½ years old
• I used to be a semi-pro magician

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
In the spring I signed a new five-book contract so I'll be penning a few more novels! It's a continuation of my dream and it's still surreal to think I'm getting paid for something I love to do. Right now I'm working on my fourth novel and I love where the story is going.

5) Parting comments?
The heart of this book is about the restoration of relationships and came from a falling out (and reconciliation) with one of my best friends. My desire is people will read this book and find the hope of restored relationships in their own lives and it will set them free.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Web site: http://www.jameslrubart.com/
Facebook: James L. Rubart
Twitter: @jimrubart

Thanks for having me, K. Dawn! Always fun to be here.

Diana Buckley's "Betsey Anne"

2011-09-26T21:56:00.001-04:00

Title: Betsey Anne
Cover blurb: Drawn by a charm that Jefferson seemed able to turn on and off at will, and longing for a home and children of her own, Betsey Anne plunged into marriage with a man she hardly knew. But life on the Michigan homestead was far from idyllic in a rough, two-room cabin with a dirt floor. Though neighbors cleared their land and developed successful farms, Jefferson was unable to make a living on his place, leaving Betsey, a skilled seamstress, no choice but to take in sewing as she struggled to care for her growing family. Jefferson's charm was more consistently "off" than "on," and frequently, he would be absent from home for days at a time with no explanation. Duty became Betsey Anne’s constant companion, though sometimes she viewed it as a penance to be borne and other times she virtually wrapped it around her shoulders like a warm blanket. Always, she longed for the peace, contentment and fulfillment that others seemed to find so easily. Would it elude her forever? Or would she finally see that it had been within her grasp all along? Set in rural Michigan during the Civil War, Betsey Anne is a story of love and loss, hardship and joy, and a young woman’s journey to lasting inner peace.

1) How did this story come to you?
Betsey Anne is based loosely (very loosely) on the story I read in letters that my grandmother’s grandmother had saved over a period of many years. My grandmother gave me the letters when I was 16 years old, and as soon as I read the first one, I knew it was a story I had to tell.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I like to put it this way: I spent several years researching, about a year writing the book, about a year and a half editing, and editing, and rewriting and editing. I spent about 18 years saying to myself, “What if I can’t really do it?” I’ve learned that the 18-year part was really of no actual value! Also of no value were the 12 years I spent waiting for a publisher to knock on my door and say, “Hey, have you got the next great American novel stashed in the bottom of your closet?”

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1 – most of my professional writing experience is in the political arena; ads, letters to the editor, fundraising letters, brochures, website content.
2 – I grew up on the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona.
3 – I am an avid hobbyist; I sew, quilt, gild (who even knows what that is?), make cards, turn pens on a lathe, and play the piano (very badly!). Plus I’ll probably pick up at least two new hobbies within the next year!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished an authorized biography, on contract, for a Texas politician with a fascinating life he wanted to preserve for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I have begun writing a novel titled “Flight of the Suburban Housewife” and I am researching a sequel to Betsey Anne. Because I am a stickler for accurate historical detail, the research will take at least as long as the writing, but it is also just as much fun.

5) Parting comments?
Please read Betsey Anne! And if you have a dream you’ve been putting off for fear you can’t really do it – get over that and get on with it! You won’t be sorry! Also, if your book club is interested in reading Betsey Anne, a friend of mine has prepared some lovely book-club-style questions and answers to go along with it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I’m on Facebook under Betsey Anne and under Diana Buckley; if you’ll “like” Betsey Anne, you’ll be among the first to know when Flight of the Suburban Housewife hits print. If you would like, you can e-mail me at diana1985@sbcglobal.net; or find Betsey Anne on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Jamie Carie's "Pirate of my Heart"

2011-09-26T20:25:00.004-04:00

Title: Pirate of my Heart
Publisher: B&H Publishing

Cover blurb:She gave up everything for a chance at true love . . .

When her doting father dies, Lady Kendra Townsend is given a choice: marry the horrid man of her uncle’s choosing or leave England to risk a new life in America with unknown relatives.

Armed with the faith that God has a plan for her, Kendra boards a cargo ship and soon finds herself swept away by the rugged American sea captain Dorian Colburn. But this adventurous man has been wounded by love before and now guards his independent life.

He wasn’t prepared to give up anything for anyone…

No swashbuckling man needs an English heiress with violet-hued eyes to make him feel again or challenge his faith with probing questions—or so he thinks. It is not until Dorian must save Kendra from the dark forces surrounding her that he decides she may be worth the risk.

1) How did this story come to you?
I just had so much fun with these characters! Lady Kendra Townsend is so sweet and loving to everyone around her. But when she meets Dorian, he really rocks her world and tests her "goodness." Dorian fights his feelings for her for a long time. He doesn't want to need her or love her, but he can't help it. There are sparks flying between these two which makes for a great story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Well, this is book six in my second three-book contract with B&H Publishing. Fortunately, I get to write just about anything I want (I would discuss it with them if it strayed away from historical romance though). It took me eight years to break into publishing with my first book, Snow Angel, now I’m blessed to have continuing contracts offered to me.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) My parents were deeply involved in the Charismatic movement when I was growing up and I have lots of wild stories about that. I’m thinking to write a memoir type book soon.
2) My favorite card game is a mid-west classic - Euchre. I love playing it with neighbors and my boys.
3) I twirl my hair…constantly. I think I might have a bald spot on my right side and have got to quit this habit!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently working on a Regency era, three-book continuous series called The Forgotten Castles series. The first book, The Guardian Duke (February 2012) is set in England and Ireland. The second book, The Forgiven Duke (July 2012) is set in Iceland and the third book, A Duke’s Promise (Fall 2012) which I am writing now, is set in Italy. Here’s the back cover blurb for book one - The Guardian Duke:

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

5) Parting comments?
A big thank you to book lovers and bloggers! Getting the word out about a new book is almost as important as writing it and I appreciate opportunities like this more than you know!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.jamiecarie.com/
Blog: http://jamiecarie.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamie.carie
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jamiecarie
Google “Jamie Carie” for lots of reviews!

Brandon Barr & Mike Lynch's "After the Cross"

2011-09-19T20:28:00.003-04:00

Title: After the Cross
Publisher: Ellechor Publishing

Cover blurb: Colton Foster, once hailed as a renowned expert in Latin, Hebrew and Greek, had his reputation destroyed when a shadowy antiquities dealer outwitted him with master forgeries from Solomon s Temple. Years later, his career and self-respect still in pieces, a team discovers an 800-year old letter in Istanbul and his life takes a pivotal turn. The job of translating the letter, purportedly revealing the hidden cross of Jesus, is his for the taking, and with it a chance to redeem himself.

Mallory Windom is smart, beautiful, and skilled at getting what she wants. A linguistic prodigy with a dark history, she trusts no one, an important skill in the black market antiquities trade where she regularly sells her expert talents to the highest bidder.

As Colton and Mallory hunt for Christianity s most prized relic, mysterious forces seem bent on stopping them at every turn. They soon discover that the most important struggle of their lives is not around them, but from within, testing their beliefs, their ethics, and their growing love for one another.

1) How did this story come to you?
ML: A few years back I watched a documentary on TV about Helena, the mother of Constantine. He's considered the Roman Empire's first Christian emperor. She converted from paganism to Christianity in her 70's, and went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem a few years after that. Inspired by the stories she had read about Jesus in the Gospels, she wanted to see the places where Jesus lived and performed His miracles, the most important being the place where He was crucified. After arriving in Jerusalem in 327 A.D., she was horrified to see that a Roman temple had been built on Golgotha, and ordered it be torn down immediately. As the soldiers set about breaking down the temple, they discovered what she believed to be the actual cross of Jesus buried nearby. It became a holy relic of Catholic Church for many years, until it disappeared from history eight centuries later. As I was watching this documentary I wondered what it would be like if Jesus' cross in our time, and the impact it would have on the world. And thus our story was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
ML: It took Brandon and me about a year to write the book, and get into publishable shape. Then it was a matter of sending it out to different publishers, until we received an e-mail from Ellechor Publishing, saying they were very interested in the story. After our agent negotiated a publishing contract with them, we had a signed deal. The book came out 11 months after that.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
BB: I’ve had three pet rats, each named Mr. Rathead. I love studying theology and apologetics. One of my favorite genres to read is science fiction and fantasy.
ML: I pride myself for never having owned a cell phone, I taught myself how to juggle and ride a unicycle, and I was an extra in a movie once.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
BB: Currently Mike and I are working on a science fiction novel, and in the future, we have a historical novel in mind.

5) Parting comments?
ML: Brandon and I appreciate your interest in After the Cross, and letting people know about the book. Thank you for giving us this opportunity.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
BB: http://www.brandonbarr.com/
ML: http://www.mikelynchbooks.com/

Laura Hilton's "A Harvest of Hearts"

2011-09-19T20:27:00.002-04:00

Title: A HARVEST OF HEARTS
Publisher: Whitaker House

Cover blurb: A Harvest of Hearts Book 2 of the Amish of Seymour series, September 2011

Matthew Yoder volunteered to be part of the swap of Amish men from his Old Order Pennsylvania Amish Community, to the Amish community in Seymour, Missouri. There is nothing for him in Pennsylvania, as the youngest of twelve children, and the lack of farmland around Lancaster County, he felt he could make a better future in another district. Shanna Stoltzfus has been raised Amish, and couldn’t wait for her rumspringa so she could pursue her education. She hated having to quit school in the 8th grade to stay home and learn everything that makes a home run smoothly. But now she has earned her GED and is taking college courses, but her family is begging her to come home; her little sisters miss her. And there’s something about newcomer, Matthew Yoder that draws her attention. But is it enough to give up her dreams of education and join the Amish church?

1) How did this story come to you?
I was praying about an idea for a second book in the series and God answered

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I wrote a proposal for book one (three books and a synopsis) and blurbs for this book and one other, and it sold.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I met two of the stars of Hee Haw when I was a waitress (work/study program) at the College of the Ozarks
2. I am a breast cancer survivor.
3. I love lighthouses – and have visited most of the ones in Michigan

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on book one of another series that hopefully someone will want.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://laurav.hilton.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512?ref=ts